Why do bladder infections make you delirious?

If she's incontinent, you've got to be certain she's getting her Depends changed promptly. Wash the area with mild soap and water each time. I take mom to the bathroom every two hours. If I'm late; she's wet. Even slightly wet gets changed. She had a bladder infection in the nursing home; hasn't ever had one at my home. The nursing home kept her in regular diapers, and I doubt they changed them regularly. I think this is a main reason.

Another could be that she's wiping herself back to front after a bowel movement. That's a quick way to get a bladder infection. Getting old ain't for sissies. We can't even WIPE ourselves the way we want to anymore. ;)

a couple of years ago my father had to go to ER, found out he had a bladder infection (among the other problem), but the nurse kept asking him certain questions, of course my dad would kinda make a joke of it. I said you cannot joke when nurses/doctors asking you questions. bottom line; the nurse said that in older individuals when getting bladder/uti infections, it goes quicker to the brain than younger patients.

I think frequent changing of diapers / Depends is important. I place a thick absorbent pad (the overnight kind) inside the Depends which can be quickly exchanged after each movement. Saves effort and money. Cranberry juice morning and night is also helpful in preventing UTI's. Keep your mom well hydrated, she will get less infections.

My Mom got these continually and the hallucinations would begin. All for the reasons mentioned before. I took her to a Urioulogist per her prime care physicians request and they now have her on a low grade antibiotic. She hasn't had a bladder/urinary infection in months and she sleeps better now as well.

My Mother has had numerous UTI's and we have tried many things... cranberry pills a probiotic (per the urologist recommendation )... I think that she does not drink enough and she is afraid of being incontinent... She has dementia, so she does not remember... It is not easy to deal with. I would just encourage fluids and remind them to go to the bathroom frequently...

My mom's dr said that those "extra pads" inside the depends make UTI's more common and easier to get, Now I am confused! Mother ALWAYS has some kind of UTI, and does wear depends. In the rehab facility post surgery she was not allowed to wear anything but a depends. AND she was taken to the toilet every 2 hrs, and she hated it, but no UTI's in their care. Now back home and she's sick again.

Watch chicken intake - chickens can be infected with ecoli that you ingest. Here's a good write up about it: http://nutritionfacts.org/2014/01/28/how-avoiding-chicken-could-prevent-bladder-infections/

I posted a question earlier from my iphone and I am not sure that it went through. So I will ask again and pardon me if I did it twice. Mom started bleeding last night and she said it was her period and this (she says) has happened before after menopause. Mom is 85. She wiped today and it was bright red on the toilet paper. Now I have called her dr. but her appointment is not until Thursday, we are unable to get there any sooner. She also woke up talking about how she was roaming all night long (in her sleep) and that she is very tired today, which is nothing new for her, she is always very fatigued every day. She asked me if I needed to get a urine sample when I went to the bathroom at 6 am. Then she asked me if she needed to give a urine sample. I know how they get worse if its a uti, but I guess I was just wondering if the bleeding is familiar to anyone. Thanks.

I it vaginal bleeding or bleeding from her urethra? Is she uncomfortable at all or in pain? At 85 it has be frieghtening to her. Has she had a hysterectomy? I think I would try to get her in to see the Doctor before Thursday. If you explain I think they would give you an appt sooner. I would do all the things we did for a period have her rest and drink fluids and also just keep her comfortable. take care...

Thanks for responding so quickly. I asked mom if she had pain while going the bathroom and she said no, there is no pain. And she was not afraid, she said, quess what I had a surprise today, I got a period. It sure looks like period blood, what do I know. Everyday I realize I know nothing about this disease. No hysterectomy. She basically rests all day and night now. So I am giving her (and have been forever) cran-grape twice a day now for constipation. The doctor is not in today and tomorrow I will not have a ride so I am kinda stuck with Thursday. Its like there is something new everyday.

bless your heart... I am glad she is not in any pain... take care and try not to worry okay.... You are a good daughter!

my mother was bleeding in the same way. Come to find out it was a bladder/UTI type infection. The bleeding stopped as quickly as it came.

To add on to my above post. She was treated with antibiotics. She tries to drink more water and cranberry juice once or twice daily. We live in the desert so its harder for her to stay hydrated.

not to scare you but my father (I know men don't get periods) started having prostate issues 7 years ago, went off and on with issues urinating, they did surgery for the prostate issue, but for some reason he kept having blood when urinating, then he said it was nothing but blood (at 3 am).....so off to the ER, they couldn't get catheator up, did emergency surgery.....he had a large tumor inside the bladder area and that is why he was bleeding, the tumor filled the bladder with blood. I hope everything will be okay and maybe just something minor.

I think a lot of elderly people don't want to drink a lot of water so they don't have to go pee so often. My mom does that, and so do my in-laws. There've been issues with dehydration with my mom as a result, plus a nasty UTI.
You could see about her taking cranberry supplements. If her doctor approves that can help some. AZO makes something that's pretty good, too, but again, only if her doctor approves. Those can be good to have around just in case.

Then I will for sure keep the doctors appointment. I was thinking that since it was gone that it was nothing.

Unexpected bleeding should always be checked out.

From what I've read, it's the lack of oxygen to the brain that causes the delerium. A medical expert may be able to confirm that.

I don't know, but perhaps toxins get in the system which are circulated through the brain also. I've read about D-Mannose on this site and elsewhere, but perhaps folks who have not heard about it should read about D-Mannose which may cure bladder infections. It is sold in health food stores and online.

Thanks everyone for the advice. We are for sure going to the dr tomorrow. She is acting so much worse than usual. Even my son could not believe how much worse it was. She got really upset with me when she asked about her mother being dead. I tried to blow it off and she said why did nobody tell me she died. She died in 2001 at 101 years old. Mom was getting kinda mad so I just told her and then she forgot about it. I hate hate hate this disease, its the most cruel thing that anybody should ever have to live through.

And not only that, mom is in such severe paid from arthritis in her shoulders and bone on bone in her knee, she whimpers sometimes. She is on 60 mg of oxycodone and it barely touches the pain. I am really frustrated about her pain management dr. I have called him two days in a row to see if we can increase it as long as there were no hallucinations and he is not returning my call, as he is at a loss for what to do. Well who is the doctor and professional here. Not me.

She must not be drinking enough fluids. Get her on cranberry supplements, not the sugary liquids which will only make the UTI worse. Make sure she is wiping with a cleansing disposable wipe, and encourage more healthy flora in her gut like yogurt (Stonyfield or another non-sugary yogurt). Keep drinking water flushing out the bacteria and have her on an anti-biotic for five days, but she has to also be taking a lactobacillus supplement. Have her tested for CBC, TSH, and vitamin D. She may have a resistant form bacteria.

As a Rehabilitation Clinical Nurse Specialist I worked with persons who had spinal cord injuries, who are at very high risk for UTIs as well as men & women who had had strokes - another vulnerable population. 1) Forget the Cranberry juice. The intent is to acidify the urine to reduce the risk of bladder infections, but it requires several gallons of cranberry juice to do this effectively. 500 mg. of Vitamin C is both more effective and significantly cheaper! 2) Sufficient daily fluids are also important and how much each person requires depends partly on where s/he lives. 2 litres is probably minimum for most climates. In warm climates it should be closer to 3 litres (unless the person is on restricted fluids due to congestive heart failure). 3) Frequent toileting, yes, Believe me, I do understand the issue of being concerned about peeing in one's pants. I would begin with a visit to a urologist who is used to working with elderly persons & can evaluate if the older person has stress incontinence or urge incontinence -- or bladder cancer, which does occur in both older men and women. Begin with a thorough urological workup.

Can diabetics have Cranberry Juice? Mum has diabetes type 2.

Not sure about diabetics being allowed cranberry juice, now that I think of it. You could probably get the unsweetened kind or the herbal supplements which work well enough.

They do make low sugar and diet cranberry juice and they are pretty tasty. I'm not sure if she could drink enough to make it worth her while. A pill form may be easier.

My husband has a glass of cranberry juice along with his diabetes 2 medicine (Metformin) every morning and night. He tolerates it well and I think it helps prevent UTI's.

I know that a few years ago my aunt who is now 85 started what looked like a period and come to find out that she had polyps which where in her uterus and they were removed by quick out patient surgery just thought would share