Mom is 84, has congenital heart disease - she got a UTI and was acting crazy so her regular doctor sent her to the ER. Well, in her State of crazy, she checked herself out before she could be properly treated for the UTI. We finally talked her into going back to her doctor but before she got a chance she fell and hit her head. Now she was rushed to the hospital where she was given antibiotics for the uti and had catscans, and MRIs for a potential brain bleed. They sent her to another hospital with a good neurology dept who gave her more tests and determined it was not a brain bleed - just a large hematoma? I think. In any case she was finally sent to rehab and is done with the UTI meds and is still acting confused off and on. At first I thought the confusion would go away with the meds but it hasn't. She is also on oxygen right now because she is weak. Can anyone relate to this? Im so scared that this is how she will always be. Im trying to digest this thought and accept it but I don't want to believe it. I know you guys aren't doctors but do you think she will ever be herself again? Up until this fall/UTI she was on the ball for the most part. A little foggy when she first would wake up but still played scrabble etc. I'm so worried.
After we finally received a clear UTI report, I have gotten a routine of a strong probiotic, cranberry juice and pills, and D-Mannose. Mom's UTI's have gone away with this combination, BUT I still have her urine checked every 4 months to make sure she's clear.
At 84 with a hematoma it will take several weeks to recover. The hematoma is blood on the brain from the fall trauma- it'll take awhile for that blood to be broken down and reabsorbed by her body. Give her time. The fall plus the UTI are two significant events for an elderly person. CHF can be controlled most of the time, and her oxygenation is important- it may do her good to be on oxygen if she is not on it already.
Hopefully she will improve within a month or two.
Good luck!
Have you had a care meeting with the rehab staff? When my mom went to rehab after her stroke, they pointed out to us that she had developed vascular dementia. We believed it would "clear up". It didn't
Talk to the therapists and nursing staff at rehab. Go to the scheduled care meeting. Ask them what level of care she will need going forward.