confusion causes
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Discussion

SebastienClement

Original Poster:

1,952 posts

169 months

Monday 1st July 2013
quotequote all
Right. My grandmother is 84. Mentally she was spot on until February. She suffered a bowl blockage and was rushed info hospital. She was treated successfully but became utterly confused. I'm not talking about mild confusion but to the point of hallucination. At this point she was on NO drugs.

They then decided she had a utility which she was treated for. Mentally she got a bit better, but never returned to "normal". The post two weeks she had been really bad again, but docs day no problem and no uti

While she was in hospital she was given dementia tests, but again showed no problem.

Ideas?

Xerstead

724 posts

207 months

Monday 1st July 2013
quotequote all
Dehydration can cause various problems, including confusion. From what I've read, as people get older they lose the 'thirst reflex' so they don't feel thirsty and won't get the urge to have a drink. Given the recent warmer weather, she will need to drink more than she did when it was cold. It sounds obvious, but if you don't feel thirsty you won't drink as much.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration

Also, various infections can have negative effects but you've said the docs have ruled that out.


Edited by Xerstead on Monday 1st July 23:18