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DoggieMom86 Asked February 26, 2024

ICU delirium?

Mark has been in the ICU for over a month now. His leg was amputated and he gets dialysis three times a week. He is still getting a lot of IV antibiotics. He is not making sense when he talks and forgets that I have talked to him or brought him things. He has forgot how to use the phone and claims his ATM card. Is this just ICU memory loss?

DoggieMom86 Feb 26, 2024
This hospital is horrible at communicating with me especially since when he first came out of surgery he decided to tell them that he didn't them to share info with me. He is angry and upset about having to go into skilled care (I understand, it is not a great scenario for anyone) and is kind of being spiteful because we will have to get a "Medicaid divorce" so he will be able to afford care. Unless I badger the crud out of them, I don't get updates, and now they can't give me updates because he doesn't want them to. Trust me, I did not expect his health to go downhill this fast. I did know about the kidney disease and that we would most likely be facing dialysis at some point. However, the bone infection and lung cancer popped up within the last two years.

I try to talk to him and he just gets mad saying "It's my money and it's none of your business!" I wish I could explain to him that yes, it is your money, but soon the skilled facility will be taking that whole check minus maybe thirty bucks to pay for his care. I can understand some ICU fogginess (who wouldn't lose track of the days or time of day etc) but the fact that he is saying his ATM card won't work and he wants me to withdraw cash (not a little amount like $30 but over $300). He is saying he owes someone at the hospital and we are just confused as ever.

Geaton777 Feb 26, 2024
I agree that you need to speak to his doctor about these symptoms. He may have a UTI, hospital delirium, a TIA, or the a reaction to the antibiotics.
waytomisery Feb 26, 2024
My sister had delirium from metabolic encephalopathy , along with pneumonia and sepsis .

The second time she had delerium in a hospital stay for back surgery , an MRI revealed moderate chronic ischemia of her white matter , which confirmed my guess that she had undiagnosed (earlyish ) vascular dementia .

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Daughterof1930 Feb 26, 2024
Please speak with the doctors about this. I saw it in my dad and know how scary it feels. In my dad’s case he did come out from it. But a medical professional involved in this needs to better advise you. I’m sorry you’re both experiencing this

AlvaDeer Feb 26, 2024
Hard to say if this is permanent or is ICU delirium, but as you may well know, ICU delirium is a thing. Few patients who get out of ICU remember much about it at all.
You, on the other hand, have a gentleman who is very, very ill and in many of his most vital organs. His lungs alone, with their deficits are not allowing enough 02 to the brain.

This just can't be predicted.
I am sorry to hear this update that he isn't progressing well.
Do the doctors tell you that this is expected, or "not good"? Do you have any indicators from medical at all?

waytomisery Feb 26, 2024
A doctor would have to answer that question . Have they done a CT scan or MRI of his brain ?

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