Mom is still having visions even after being treated for UTI. How long do these last?

Agree with kym here I have had this with my mum on several occasions my doc now knows NOT to give her the meds after a UTI or a chest infection - the main times when this happens - these meds are usually used for a different type of dementia than your mum probably has. For my mum the meds made it ten times worse after just 2 tablets.

UTIs are the very devil - in fact any infection is. My mum still sees people but in a different format than she has when she has an infection. We talk about it now and I never contradict her we just talk gently and calmly about what or who she is seeing.

It is helpful if you can establish what she see ie man/woman/child/people/what they are wearing/doing because that tells the psych doctors a lot. You also need to note down what time she sees these people/where she is/what else is happening/has she just woken up from a doze while the TV is on.

I was at the Psych yesterday with mum and these were all the questions he asked her so clearly they have importance/significance. My mum's incidences tend to be when she has dozed in the chair while the TV is on and seem to occur about 10 minutes after I have been in to check on her so it might be thatit registers but not consciously - I have some more monitoring to do now because we established yesterday she didnt tell me EVERY time she saw someone so we dont have a clear picture just yet but we will.

As for loss of weight that needs a doctors input - you could boost her calorific intake with food supplement drinks but take advice before you do she may just be forgetting to eat and need more prompting thatn your Dad is giving, she may need to eat less but more often and sometimes an overfull plate just puts some older people off eating altogether...
..good luck hun

We had similar problems with a medication my mom was put on. It was Lyrica, so If she's having these problems check with the doctors about the side effects of the medications and they may take her off the ones that could be a problem. After we took her off this medication she went back to her regular dementia, not hallucinations, etc. As far as help goes, continue to push your dad for help. It took me about a year to get help, but after finally getting them to agree to help, they are happy that we did.

If it is Dementia with Lewy Bodies then in the UK it is well recognised that antipsychotics often make it worse and in some cases considered to be dangerous from one of our sites some help for the care givers :

How to help someone manage Lewy Body Dementia

When it comes to helping someone manage the symptoms of LBD, small things can often make a big difference.

Create a routine. It may help people with Lewy Body Dementia to have predictable routines, especially around meal times and sleep times.
Establish a nighttime ritual. Try to establish bedtime rituals that are calming and away from the noise of television, meal cleanup, and active family members. Limiting caffeine consumption during the day, discouraging daytime napping, and encouraging exercise can help curb restlessness at night.
Modify tasks. Break tasks into easier steps and focus on success, not failure.
Walk together. Taking a walk with the patient with LBD is a win-win activity. Being outdoors and exercising is vital for the health and state of mind for both the patient and you.
Strengthen senses. Have a doctor evaluate each the patient’s five senses in order to identify and treat any abnormalities. Then ask about exercises to improve them.
Make lifestyle changes. To help minimize the risk of fall-related injuries, you can help stabilize blood pressure. Help your loved one stay well hydrated, exercise, take in adequate sodium (salt), avoid prolonged bed rest, and stand up slowly.
source http://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia/lewy-body-dementia.htm
However an additional tip from one of the care homes I visited is that remove all flowered/patterned stuff from the room because people can start to see faces in carpets/ curtains etc. plain plain plain seems to alleviate some of the stress and they use lavender fragranced polish, cleansing materials and sachets in pillows. We can but try and see what works best.

My Mom, who died 8 months ago :( , had Macular Degeneration and Vascular Dementia. She saw things quite frequently. Although she had UTI's now and then, the hallucinations didn't seem to be attributed to that. Her visions were always harmless, like animals or small children, sometimes a group of ladies. I would tell her that if it was something or someone that only she could see, and not us, that they were most likely a Guardian Angels coming to spend some time with her, and make sure she was okay. They were there only for her benefit. She seemed to like that, and wasn't anxious or worried about it when she thought of it that way. It may help to ease your Mom's anxiety or fear about this if you try that tactic, so she thinks of the visions as special and protective for her. Best wishes to you and your Mom and Dad.

My grandmom whom we lost at 102 at a nursing home due to their negligence and lack of care ( They were not even changing her clothes, helping her to the bathroom or even giving her water. imagine ) went through all that. I took care of her for 35 years and we lost her in less than two weeks at a nursing home in New york. At first grandmom did not want to drink too much water and this started to cause hallucinations in her. then she could not sleep at night. it becomes like a cycle according to her neurologist. At the hospital they would put her on IV fluids and she would recover quickly. So as long as they get their sleep, eat, and drink lots of fluids they will stay well and not hallucinate. One they start hallucinating , not sleep and not drinking water then it becomes like a giant unstoppable snowball. Take care of her while you can. We are shocked at the cruelty of these animals at the nursing homes.

Hi, MamaVic. It sounds as though your mother may have Lewy Body Dementia. One of its hallmarks is visual hallucinations that often get worse when attempts are made to treat with typical antipsychotics. A number of unrelated drugs, such as statins and Benadryl can aggravate the hallucinations as well. Lewy Body Dementia is the second most common form of dementia behind Alzheimer's, but most people have never heard of it, and the average doctor has no clue how to diagnose or treat it. It's really important to get a correct diagnosis in this instance, because your mother's medications may need major adjusting in order for there to be any peace. Other caregivers for LOs with LBD will be your best ally. Arm yourself with the wisdom of people on similar paths, because you will have to be your mother's advocate in the face of clueless medical professionals whose instinct is to throw antipsychotics and sedatives at such patients, and increase the dose when the behaviors get worse.
Check out lbda.org and YouTube videos by Teepa Snow. If you're on Facebook, you'll find a warm and helpful group called Lewy Body Dementia Carers. It's a closed group, but knock, and the door will be opened. Good luck!

I think there are two things to consider when thinking about having outside help. One is that it does cost money and many people think they cannot afford it. The second is that they have to come to the point they can accept help. Many many stubborn people out there!

Have to agree with whats been said urine SHOULD be absolutely clear though not clearish - sounds like she still has the infection. Typically, the healthier you are, the lighter your urine colour. The ideal healthy urine colour is a straw yellow colour. And please tell me why am I discussing the colour of urine at stupid oclock (00:35 in the UK) ah yes that would be mother, wide awake and with TV blaring because she refuses to wear her hearing aid

I was told by a hospital nurse that sometimes after an episode of delirium and hallucinations due to UTI that the confusion can last for several months later, sometimes less severe but pops up at times. I seem to be going through this with my own Mom right now. The first 2 times she had delirium she came out of it in about 3 days or so, Now it seems to be less confusion but still is there at times and not up to full cognitive level after 3 weeks.

My mom had simular effects when taking Eracept. I took it out of her meds boxes. Told the dr. He made no comment, so left it up to me. I'm all she has, I make many decisions for her because someone has to. I really hope you'll check her meds. I read the papers on every new pill to know what to watch for.
Hallucinations are pretty obvious tho.