UTI or dementia?

Pepsee:
You said "Mom fell yesterday what a horrible experience! She bent down to pick something up in the yard and fell backwards against the brick wall."

While this can happen to anyone, especially older people as balance becomes difficult, do beware that the anti-anxiety meds CAN cause balance problems in older adults. One of the reasons our doc gave for not filling an Rx was this. However, the need overrode the concerns in our case (I *really* had to push back, multiple times - even saying we're not planning on dosing her all the time, just as needed!!!)

So watch for balance issues. If possible, as her overall condition improves, as doc if any of the anti-anxiety or anti-depression meds can either be scaled back (lower dose - doc only prescribed a very low dose for our mother) or change dosage to "as needed."

Disgustedtoo, Thank you and your so right!

We call Xanax "the stupid pill" because people we know on prescribed Xanax are air heads. LOL So we definitely don't want Mom taking it long term. We wouldn't know what's causing memory problems.

Her Dr. Didn't prescribed it for her, the ER did on her third or fourth day here, when she was totally freaking out. She only gets a small dose .25 when she has a panic attack. And that's been only once a day 2-3 times a week. Thank God. However she gets 2 at night .5 to sleep. And her fall was first thing in the morning. That's why I think you hit the nail on the head.

Tonight we are starting Trazadone for sleep....fingers crossed.....her Dr. Is not a fan of Xanax for her.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your valuable experience!

Pepsee...  I've been wondering the same thing.  I am the only caretaker of my mother.  She is worse after my dad died 2 1/2 years ago..  Not eating or drinking right.  I can't stand over her all day, due to she won't do what I say anyway... 

To get to the point ;)  She has kept a UTI since dad died.  She too recently has lost 10 pounds.  Every other month, she will mention that her pee looks different and it smells.  I told her she has another UTI.... she then denies it.  GEEZ,,,  she has been on antibiotics for months..  Not working.  She gets more confused than usual.  That's when I know something is totally wrong.  She is 85 and I don't know if left with antibiotics that don't work, that it could turn into something worse. 

I'm calling the doctor tomorrow and fight mom for another pee test, but I'm going to have her order a test called cystology test of the urine, and make sure it isn't cancer also.

Hope this helps! 

Stay True to yourself!!

my mom had a UTI that caused dementia symptoms. Like you, I kept asking where’s my mom. Apparently, UTI’s are common in dementia patients. My mom had mild dementia but the UTI made her fully demented. When your moms seems to be getting that way have her checked for UTI. A couple of things have helped avoid UTIs: Bergamot oil (I mix a few drops with coconut oil and put it in a diffuser). AZO Cranberry, I use gel because she won’t take meds so I pierce a hole and put it in her coffee or any drink, adds flavor. Add Apple cider vinegar to bath water or sponge bath. Working so far, hope it helps someone else.

Fortunately for me and my mom, I had a friend who gave me a heads up on UTIs and dementia. Her elderly mother had "gone nuts" whenever she had a UTI, so when my mother began showing symptoms, I was prepared. Trouble is, like most people, Mom gets nausea and diarrhea with most antibiotics, however she tells medical caregivers that she is "allergic" to them. I've noticed some are getting savvy to this and asking her what the symptoms are when she takes antibiotics; she goes off about the stomach issues and they realize she's not allergic at all. The UTIs are either remarkably recurrent or they just never clear up at all. Seems like she's had one for 5 straight years. She does wear Depends and has to be prompted sometimes to change them, She has begun using vast amounts of powder as well, which I would be concerned about if she hadn't had a total hysterectomy years ago. She is in a memory care assisted living facility now and whenever the UTIs bring on another of what we've come to call "her goofy spells," they call us to take her in for testing. The last time they did so was at 5:30 pm one weekday when I was out of town. Of course, my sister and brother wanted no part of going over there, so it was me again. I told the nursing assistant who called that I did not believe this was an emergency and if they would try to keep her calm and comfortable, I would call her doctor first thing in the morning. They panicked and told me I HAD to take her to Urgent Care or the ER immediately. By the time I got to her, it was about 7:15 and Urgent Care closed at 8. They took a urine sample. They felt she possibly had appendicitis(?!) and told me they were referring her to the ER. When we got to the ER, there was a 5 hour wait. The triage nurse gave her a quick exam and told me there was no appendicitis and no reason why she needed to be seen that night. Waiting until morning to see her own physician would have been the wiser course. I got her some dinner, took her back to the facility and saw that she was in bed with some Tylenol before relating the same to the nurse on duty. Mom was exhausted and irritable from being dragged to Urgent Care and ER, and for what? To be told to rest, drink and see her doctor as soon as possible. I begged the facility director not to panic next time, but just give her supportive care and call and alert me that she needs to see the doc the next day. These UTIs are rarely serious but CAN sometimes lead to sepsis in the elderly, which could be fatal, so it is always a good idea to get antibiotics onboard. I don't agree with the anti-depressant though. Mom was on Xanax for years and I feel it contributed to her dementia.