MIL update - long

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Monty

Monty

Group Buy Coordinator
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
8,587
Location
Pearland, Texas, USA.
If you were following the current CSUSA GB I'm currently running, you probably saw my post where we had to take my mother-in-law to the ER Saturday night.
She had been back at home for about 5 weeks recovering from a triple by-pass she had on April 12. She has been confined to bed because an extremely arthritic hip and was undergoing PT here at the house to regain use of the hip.
Thursday night she started exhibiting signs of dementia and hallucinating. Called her Dr on Friday and took her to the ER. They ran several tests and a CT scan and nothing showed up so the sent her home. Friday night it started getting worse so we called 911 and had her taken back to the ER. Ran tests again and all were still negative although they did observe her having hallucinations. She was admitted for observation and an MRI. We were told that that her symptoms fit what is know as Sundowners Syndrome.
The MIR came back negative, but she failed a swallow test so they ran a barium test which she passed.
Well, it's been two days now and she is back to perfectly normal and no one can explain what happened to cause her to the hallucinations.
The only thing they found was an infection in one of the incisions from where the vein was removed for the by-pass.
They are now transferring her back to a rehab hospital to try and heet her back to walking.

I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers for her.
 
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We will have your MIL and the rest of the family in out prayers.
Hang on keep your head high and turn it over to GOD.it's all in his hands now.
GOD BLESS!!!!
 
Sundowners are more common than most folks know. I worked night shift as a nurse for about 5 yrs and was called to deal with them all the time. Sometimes you have to shoo rabbits sometimes it alot worse. I will be praying for your family
 
Sundowning is common in the elderly, especially post surgery or if there is an infection. One way to counteract this effect is to install daytime light bulbs in your light fixtures. The light spectrum affects parts of the brain that react to a lack of daylight. Often this small change can make a difference for people. There are also some medications that can be used to help if the problem persists.
 
Monty

Hope things get better and all is well. I have to tell you I just went through this with my 87 year old Mom. The symptoms you mention are exact what she experienced and it was due to the anesthesia for the surgery and also what kept it going was the pain killers which were oxicodine. It was until we were able to get my Mom off the painkillers that her holusinations disapeared.
 
Update

MIL appears to be OK. All tests were negative and she was moved to a rehab hospital in Clear Lake. The Drs think the hallucination episodes were caused by a bladder infection as she hasn't had any more episodes.
She will be in rehab for 3 weeks working with the PT to get her up and mobile again.
Thank you everyone for your prayers.
 
Mannie - It seems your retirement could not have come at a better time. I think you will be able to appreciate the time you have to be with the family while you MIL recovers. Our thoughts and prays are with you and you family.
 
Mannie, I'm no doctor in any sense, But The exact same thing happened with my dad when he had his by pass. He was only 45 at the time. After being home for two weeks, he became real confused and hallucinating. They admitted him to the hospital to run test, he called me at two in the morning, freaking out because he had watched him self walk into his room, sit down and start laughing. This went on for several days, he woke up one morning and was perfectly fine. He also had an infection in his sternum. His heart surgeon said that it was caused from the medicine used to put him to sleep and from being on the by pass machine for so long. He said it was not uncommon?
 
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