My mom (82) got a UTI which caused short term memory problems. She has been diagnosed with Primary CNS and has been on Hospice. A recent MRI showed no advancement with cancer growth in her head and no brain bleeds. About a week or so into the antibiotics for the UTI she suddenly (it seemed) started to have real problems with walking and is now using a walker. I have heard a fall/broken hip can hasten death, but can a UTI do this as well? It's tough and stunning to watch this play out.
Frequent UTIs are never a good sign. In my mother's case, the UTIs made her very confused and that resulted in stumbling, falling, and breaking her hip. She then had hip surgery which accelerated her dementia, and she never recovered from that. 3 months after she broke her hip, she passed.
This is sort of along the lines of many people that I've known who have passed. There is a series of infections and a general lack of movement in the person. They have something happen and become bed bound. Then the dying process really speeds up as a bedbound person doesn't move and begins to decline mentally.
In itself a UTI probably isn't fatal, but everything that happens to a person when they start having many of them, can be.
Then again, they may make a full recovery and overcome it. There's literally no way to know.
Given that your Mom historically has been a good eater and a good walker and prior to the UTI had a decent memory I'm praying Mom will still have some good days and enjoy her food and walking (even with a walker). Hopefully Mom's memory will also clear.
UTI's take a lot out of 80 year olds.
We found good nutrition, movement and sunshine to be helpful.
I'm praying your Mom has some quality days.
"One study suggests that the antibiotic levofloxacin may increase the risk of tendon ruptures. Levofloxacin is part of a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolone."
Take a look at what type of antibiotic she was on. Cipro is commonly prescribed and is also a fluoroquinolone.
If she was a long time walker, like you mentioned, her leg muscles should be pretty good. If she was on a fluoroquinolone I would suspect a side effect as a result of the antibiotic and I'd discontinue fluoroquinolone for her.
I'm sorry you're going thru such a thing and wish you peace and acceptance of whatever comes.
In someone already on hospice, even a “simple” UTI can drain what little reserve they have left. I’ve seen people go from walking fine to needing full support in just days. It doesn’t necessarily mean the cancer progressed - sometimes the infection alone just overwhelms the system.
It’s heartbreaking to watch, but sadly pretty common.
And with all else on your poor mom's plate, it would be almost impossible to differentiate between what is the worst culprit. She is weakened by age and by several incidents and illnesses. This weakness makes her more susceptible to problems. I know that the MDs must at this point be doing a good workup on blood panels to make sure there is no sign of sepsis in blood from her ongoing problems. I hope she does better soon.
It can really change a person mentally. And yes it is heartbreaking to witness, unfortunately.
I hope you can find some peace.
Any illness can also cause or increase a mental decline.
Untreated (and you say your mom's UTI is being treated) but untreated a UTI can lead to sepsis and death. And in some cases a person is unaware that they have a UTI.
There is a possibility that once the UTI has cleared and given a bit of time for mom to recuperate she may return to her base line functioning then again maybe not this may be the new "normal". So prepare for either case.
"..a fall/broken hip can hasten death..." This could be for all sorts of reasons: the large bone break can cause a deadly blood clot; it can get a post-op infection; a destabilized elder in rehab can not be getting enough fluids and nutrition; etc.
In someone already on hospice, even a “simple” UTI can drain what little reserve they have left. I’ve seen people go from walking fine to needing full support in just days. It doesn’t necessarily mean the cancer progressed - sometimes the infection alone just overwhelms the system.
It’s heartbreaking to watch, but sadly pretty common.