Hospital-based Confusion aka Delirium

In this episode of I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN with Dr. Sullivan, board certified neuropsychologist Dr. Karen D. Sullivan discusses hospital-based confusion, also called delirium. This quick change in mental consciousness or cognition is associated with poor outcomes, so she discusses the four primary symptoms, three subtypes, the HELP program and prognosis. Learn more at www.icfyb.com

[@cris_miko]

Great lecture. I hope if this happens to me that someone can advocate for me.

[@waleyefish9026]

What do you Expect!! I had Major Surgery they give you Anesthesia and then hook you up to a Morphine Pump. I thought I was sitting on a couch with 2x4 sticking out of my stomach. Luckily my Daughters a Nurse and I told her. They turned down the Morphine pump.

[@nadeemazeez5989]

Excellent presentation !

[@sdddawson]

My husband was in and out of the hospital multiple times before he died of heart failure. Most of the time he had delirium, thought he was being imprisoned, and probably hallucinated. When he would get home, he would be fine. One time he called me around midnight and told me that he was imprisoned, so I went over there, told him he could check out AMA (by this time he was OK, just waiting for the doctor in the morning), and he did. Best decision we ever made. He came home and slept 8 hours, almost unheard of at the time.

[@ginalaraeyount9591]

My husband was in STICU for an extended amount of time (3 months) after an accident. It was the most horrible time in our 21 year marriage and yes I was his advocate. Thank you for speaking on this topic. I had no idea until I was in the throws of it. ❤

[@susanmusnicki8583]

Did he have a positive outcome? I feel like I have lost my mom and at times myself. If this isn’t HELL I really can’t fathom worse

[@ginalaraeyount9591]

@susanmusnicki8583 Yes, he did! Slowly, over 2022, his cognitive abilities returned to normal. He weaned himself off all the drugs they had him on for pain. His concussion symptoms got better, and he is his old self again. Now I will say this, my husband is still in his 50s. He suffered horrible trauma from a head-on collision, and his organs shut down after a 13-hour surgery. I don't know your Mom's situation, but I feel like if you don't trust what her Dr's are telling you, then get another opinion. You are her only voice, so speak up. ❤️🙏❤️

[@adrienneericsson]

Thank you for your video. We recently experienced severe ICU and hospital delirium with our 91-year old mother after 2 back to back ICU stays and then weeks later a 3 day hospital stay. When we first started to experience her hallucinations and stories (calling us from the Hospital telling us she was at a Party in Monterey and we needed to bring her purse to her, or seeing seagulls flying in her room or talking to a person sitting next to her in bed who had been dead for that last 15 years), we were shocked, and I ran to my computer and google her symptoms. We then went to the Hospital staff and asked them if this was delirium, and their very nonchalant response was, "Yeah, we see this all the time," and dropped it. We could not believe that NO ONE let us know about this condition or seemed to really care she was going through this. There were times I would visit her in the hospital, and I would have to step out to cry due to how upsetting it was to see this normal person enter the hospital and then view her losing her mind day by day. I see that Hospitals and Doctors are trying to get the word out about this, but they need to do a much better job of educating families about it during the hospital stay and what happens when they get home! I would now like to know what effect this has had on her brain? Her short-term memory loss has incredibly increased since experiencing all this Hospital delirium in the last 3+ months.

[@TK.000]

I'm so sorry you're going through that also. My mom is going through it now and you're right, the hospital staff acts like it's just another stubbed toe. They don't take it seriously at all and in my mom's case, it was their fault she got the delirium. She didn't even have surgery. She apparently had a UTI that they found out when they took a sample in the emergency room and never treated it. She was in the hospital for six days and I watched her decline rapidly after the third day. They also abruptly took her off the medication that she had been taking for 20 years that can't be stopped suddenly. So she was going through withdrawals. They dismissed her from the hospital to a nursing rehab place to help her cracked knee that she did not have surgery on, without treating her UTI, constipation, dehydration or delirium. It's devastating. I hope my mom gets her faculties back. And I hope your mom gets full recovery as well. I want my mom to come home but they won't let her because she can't walk. I have been making phone call after phone call to get this resolved. Wondering if I should have her go to The hospital again, but she would have to be transferred to a different one because I won't have her go back to that same hospital.

[@jupiterthesun3217]

Months of the year backward? Omg 😱 I just realised that I’m demented !

[@melindamorgan1736]

I found this all quite frightening!! I have mild memory and cognitive impairment and having to go through something like that is too much to think about.

[@mollydiana]

Thank you SO MUCH for this video. I'm so terrified about my mother's current delirium in the hospital. This is so so so helpful!!

[@TaraCharlotte-me3sb]

I had delirium detoxing from alcohol 🍷 I’m never drinking again!!!

[@tinasilvercat6923]

Big shout out to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia which was able to recognize it right away.

[@edwardhitti3422]

You somehow described exactly what my dad is going through.

[@thelynnwiseman]

Hi found your video very informative. I had been admitted to hospital mum it's a little complex but hardly i had a UTI and kidney infection and delirium set in , for me I was in a spaceship with Marilyn Manson as my avitar.. Hardly my fav childhood move 'flight of the navigator ' was my reality. The hospital was an air force base and I was trying to navigate my way to home (I suppose to my mind and body) that was in June 2021 and I'm only now discovering your amazing video.. I still struggle but I think I have come a long way since hospital.. My go-to saying is my brain doesn't work like it did in hospital, or my brains like downloading info to me. If I'm honest I'm still struggling and trying to educate myself on how my brain works and functions now.. Some days are easier than others but overall it's just mind bogglingly confusing to me how I went from "normal" to this. what ever this is .. Anyway thanks again this video was helpful.. I had a question but I can't remember it now, damn,. Is there anything I can look into as a complete beginner on the subject to help me understand how to get myself no to a more cognitive self. Hope that all made sence, as I don't make much at all these days :) hope you have an amazing day best wishes from little old me who's 47 today!

[@naylaG3]

I am utterly astounded that doctors fail to inform a patient's family about delirium. Instead, when we notice unusual behavior and express concern, they dismiss it as normal. We had to conduct our own research and were not provided guidance on how to assist. Witnessing my loved one in such a state was the most frightening experience of my life. It deeply upset me to realize that even the nurses weren't treating the patients with the dignity they deserve.

[@johnrobbins9928]

Hello doctor. It’s as if you are talking exactly about my 73 yr old stroke patient wife. It’s been 2 yrs since the stroke. She’s home and we are learning to live with her stroke conditions. Although ! ......... She is experiencing the same things you are talking about. Her neurologist has not given any suggestions as to what to do except to give it time. In your opinion,... should we begin a relationship with a psychologist? Thank you dr.

[@dariobotkuljak9673]

been there. I am saddened with the fact that doctor havent been able to find the cause of it. I did, and helped myself

[@TK.000]

Hospitals need protocol for some type of prevention. They knew my mom had a UTI and didn't treat it. I watched the delirium onset and told the nurses and the doctor. They wouldn't give her an antibiotic. She went 6 days without it. She's in a nursing home right now. They discharged her with an active UTI, severe constipation, dehydration and delirium. They also took her off a med that should never be just stopped. So withdrawal from that too. It's a disgrace.

[@captainman2clever351]

My mum has delirium but no underlying cause. She had low sodium but thats fine now She's in nhs and not getting better She is hallucinating and in agony

[@Horsewomann]

I do Clinical Documentation Integrity and Delirium vs Encephalopathy is one of our big issues when it comes to documentation. Physicians seem to use the terms interchangeably, but there is a HUGE difference in coding between the two. Do you feel that Encephalopathy is more appropriate when the cause is treated and there is rapid improvement versus the long, slow improvement (sometimes) in patients with true delirium?

[@nancyferrari6743]

Thank you for this as I was hospitalized 3 weeks ago with post-Covid pneumonia. You addressed all the trauma with delirium. It was during my follow up visit with my primary physician who mentioned delirium. I was very unhappy with the nursing staff who only said confusion was going on. I wasn’t attended to properly. Thank God I wasn’t combative like my Mom was. Instead my brain went into protective mode and I was in different locations. I feel bad for my husband who was trying to let me know where I was but let it go until I was ready. Grateful for him and his patience with me and the hospital staff. Thank you again for providing the education I needed.

[@oksanatrofimchik1693]

Did you think you were anywhere but at the hospital? My dad is in the hospital but says he’s at home, post heart attack 😭

[@nancyferrari6743]

@@oksanatrofimchik1693 Yup. Delirium manifested right away and I was in different places for the first 3 days. It eased up once my pneumonia started responding to antibiotics. The visions I had were very real in my mind. It took a few weeks to shake them off. Be patient with your Dad and praying for his recovery 🙏

[@oksanatrofimchik1693]

@@nancyferrari6743 thank you so much for your response and your prayers, God bless 🤍

[@JenserBierfan]

Thank you very much for your video. My significant other (41) was hospitalized four days ago and has had a significant change in behavior two days ago. Your video puts my mind at ease and I will talk to the hospital staff and bring this up to their attention.

[@amberrose3427]

Bless you. Yes all this information was extremely helpful. I’m going to look up HELP program right now. I’m just hoping we have this in my area of California. My dad is going through this and we are getting no help from VA. You are an Angel and helping people more than you know. I can’t thank you enough 🙏

[@icareforyourbrainwithdr.su7103]

Thank you for your message and I hope your Dad gets better soon. You can learn about help and implement it yourself to him. A lot of it is super practical.

[@angc.1331]

Thank you, again, for another great topic on brain health. I think I experienced this while in the hospital when I was diagnosed with Guillain Barre'. I'm so glad I discovered your channel. Oh, how I wish I lived near your practice. You would be my doctor.😊

[@lissagrimaldo1127]

Is the treatment for post stroke delirium any different?

[@teesa8]

I am actually very angry that the hospital didn't educate us about delirium in the pre op visit for my dad's surgery. And it took weeks to get a geriatiric specialist involved

[@pickleballgal3297]

Can you please follow up with your statin video that you posted 8 months ago? You stated in the video that you would reveal what your course of action was. Did you start taking statins? Thank you

[@icareforyourbrainwithdr.su7103]

Yes! I am working on it now an it should be out in a few weeks :-) Thank you for your patience!

[@happyness2858]

I am so grateful for this video I am going through this right now with my mom and I am far away planning to go to her....thank you so much

[@icareforyourbrainwithdr.su7103]

@@happyness2858 it’s one of our most underserved areas of care. I’m glad it was helpful.

[@suemusicmad5778]

We found that the medication that my mom is given when admitted to hospital - mostly the " little blue pill ", some tranquilizers and medications such as Amitriptyline and Trepiline, stuff that has sedative effects is the root cause for her confusion. She has no brain-health issues, at age 92 she still remembers very well and her mind is sharp - but these chemical concoctions drs administer do not agree with her system and brain. We always inform medical staff that she is allergic to Trepiline. She is ok if only given general pain meds. Thank you for discussing this great topic and shedding more light on the subject.

[@icareforyourbrainwithdr.su7103]

Good for you in paying close attention and figuring out the source!

[@kevywilliams3304]

BECAUSE PHARMACEUTICALS ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@amberrose3427]

Doesn’t help they are trying to kill people off. Doctors just don’t care anymore. I been contacting fathers doctor and he don’t even respond. This is exactly what’s happening to my dad since May 1. I just found these videos. My mom and myself didn’t know what’s happening with him. Pure evil how people are being treated now at hospitals. My dads a veteran, I really feel they feel if hes gone they save money. Yet illegals are coming over and getting everything free. Our whole government and Rockefeller medical monopoly pure evil

[@tinasilvercat6923]

True! My mom's antibiotic caused her sodium to crash to 110 (thank god she lived) which was part of the onset of the delirium in the hospital. Then it was just one med after the other. Her memory issues prior to his had been worsening every time she got a flu shot.

[@Mike-fd7dq]

Thank you so much for your guidance

[@susanmusnicki8583]

God bless you for sharing this information as I’m suffering watching my mom’s mental health go from 0-100 overnight. After a bad fall and being in a nursing rehab facility approximately a month + lost mental status in one day. Going in and out of the hospital then to another rehab facility only to become worse eventually hitting staff. Facility sent her to hospital approximately 1+ months and I’m seeing her decline daily. The doctors refuse t give her a diagnosis of Dementia in which my brother is 100% sure she has. Doctors say it’s Delerium and are trying to get medication to work. It’s killing me to know and see the restraints 😂 My mom was always healthy and active. Her largest issue was many falls. Watching these programs have been my biggest help to understand what and how to deal with this. Now today she tested positive Covid I feel lost 😢

[@chuckdaddyo]

I’m so glad I found this. My mother has so many of the precursors for hospital delirium and is exhibiting them currently. I’ll look in the HELP. Thank you

[@wayneferrier8096]

Intelligent lady she explains everything witch stupid doctors in the hospitals don't my mum's delirium has got worse they didn't treat it as they should have i think she has the type 2 delirium.she not the same person she was 7months ago.ive come home after seeing her and broke down at my wits end

[@TalkToMe711]

I am literally at the point of running into the hospital I was at and talking to someone who was there the night I was in the ICU. I'm so curious about what's going on and piecing together my images. I just don't know how... Any tips?

[@michaelodoherty6453]

Thankyou very useful I have shared with our non clinical staff in a Mental Health Residential Unit. We are currently dealing with a mental health client with delirium. Regards Michael RMHN

[@tinasilvercat6923]

It would have been very helpful if this was in closed caption.

[@yvettetait9608]

❤

[@carynkunz7522]

Thank you so much for this information. No problem with the video quality.

[@monicagreen9644]

Thank you for the information!

[@BOB_WEAVE]

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