Confusion after tracheostomy

Hi JKE 

So sorry to hear about your Mum. I know you have mentioned that she is to have quite major surgery. I can say that I happily survived on 1500 Calories when I was in treatment but I am quite small at 5'2"

As you have suggested , maybe a UTI is a possibility.

Do let us know how she is when you get to see her.

JKE said:

is confusion after tracheostomy

Hi Dani, yes mum is 5ft 1 and 37kg, her texts this morning are no longer making sense and are just a random collection of letters and numbers. Yes big op due 1st of October, I did try and add a bio so I don’t have to explain every time but not sure if it’s showing… 

she’s also on chlordiazepixide to help with alcohol withdrawal which may contributing to the confusion. Will be trying to collar a doctor as I’ve not spoken to any doctors since she was admitted on Wednesday, I was supposed to get a call Thursday from the doctors after the tracheostomy was put in but presume they were busy

Good evening JKE, i never had confusion after having a trachy fitted but it took me about three days to begin feeling normal again, and I was not allowed to get out of bed unless a nurse or member of the family assisted me. It could be linked to the drug she is taking for the alcohol. I once remember when i was on a ward and a man opposite me kept getting out of bed and walking around and i believe it had to do with the side effects of the anesthetic drug. A few times i had to press my buzzer to get the nurse to stop him from getting out of bed this lasted for two days. I also had trouble writing down a sentence that made sense for the first two days so hopefully your mum will be feeling a bit more with it in a couple of days, wishing you all the best and hope the visit went ok. 

                                                                             Chris x

JKE said:

I did try and add a bio so I don’t have to explain every time but not sure if it’s showing… 

Yes. It’s there Thank you. It really does help. 

JKE said:

she’s also on chlordiazepixide to help with alcohol withdrawal which may contributing to the confusion.

Ah yes

severe drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, clumsiness, or unsteadiness

 are the side effects

Good job you are there 

It must be hard for both of you. 
xx

Hi, 

spoke to the doctor today which was good, confusion is all part of the medication for withdrawal and should hopefully settle by the end of the week. the only coherence was how throughly hacked off she is, she never wanted to have trach fitted but it was 100% required given the rather rapid growth of the tumour. She’s feel she’s worse off now than before and I can totally appreciate the fact she can’t speak, eat and drink now when she was managing before. If she see her consultant it’s probably safer she can’t speak given the barrage of abuse I sense may be aimed at him! However if the confusion settles she may write a few expletives. 

the staff on the ward are amazing and one of the nurses gave me a massive hug after I had a wobble out of sheer tiredness and frustration of not being able to help or do more for her

On a happier note I went to the funfair with my husband and daughter this afternoon and then had an afternoon nap which was seriously needed! 

JKE said:

On a happier note I went to the funfair with my husband and daughter this afternoon and then had an afternoon nap which was seriously needed! 

Great that they are with you. It would be awful to do this on your own. 
Best foot forward tomorrow xx

Hi JKE

So sorry to hear what you and your mum are going through at the moment. Glad to hear that the reason for her confusion has been identified. Sometimes after an anaesthetic confusion can occur especially as we get older so this may also add to the issue. This does settle over a few days.

Glad you feel a bit better after your nap. It is a tough time so do look after yourself and give yourself some time out.

Best wishes

Lyn

Hi so mum has undergone lots of test etc and is now apparent she has had about 4 stroke in different parts of her brain on the right side. 

now in limbo whilst multiple discussion with stroke team and Ent happen to decide what happens next. 

will be signing off for a while to get my head round it all

Had the call today to say they’d rediscussed Mum in the MDT. They are now making her palliative. She’s still waiting for a transfer to a stroke unit and then likely hospice after due to the tracheostomy. I’m heading up first thing in the morning so I can be there when they tell her. 

fair to say it’s been a pretty cruddy 6 weeks.

Oh I am so sorry. 
I’m glad she has hospice care for her last days. I think it makes so much difference. They are so good at looking after their patients. I hope you can stay with her. Lots of hospices do. Hugs.