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He is very ill with an interstitial lung disease. He thinks he can still do things that he did in the past which he is unable to do physically now, like getting out of bed and walking. He thinks he is in a former place that he lived. He asks questions about events that happened long ago and thinks they are happening now. Thanks.
If Hospice is not on board, may be the time to have them come in. They will help to keep DH comfortable.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Yes, this is delirium. The doctor(s) need to find the cause immediately. There are medications that can help get it under control. Blood sugar that skyrockets or deeply drops can be another cause. You might want to take him to the ER.
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Reply to MG8522
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herefolk 10 hours ago
Yes, it's better to just take him to the ER instead of waiting to get an appointment with the doctor.
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What you're describing sounds like it could be delirium rather than dementia, and that distinction matters enormously.
Delirium is an acute state of confusion that comes on relatively quickly and is extremely common in people who are seriously ill, especially with conditions affecting oxygen levels like interstitial lung disease. It causes exactly what you're describing, confusion about place and time, believing they're somewhere they used to live, asking about past events as if they're happening now, thinking they can do things their body no longer allows.
The important difference between delirium and dementia is that delirium often has a treatable underlying cause. Low oxygen levels, infection, medication interactions, dehydration, pain, sleep deprivation, any of these can trigger it in someone who is seriously ill. Treating the underlying cause can sometimes resolve the confusion significantly.
Please contact his doctor today and describe exactly what you wrote here. Use the word delirium specifically; it will help them understand what you're seeing and take it seriously as an urgent concern rather than a general decline.
A few things worth mentioning to the doctor: when the confusion started, whether it came on suddenly or gradually, whether it is worse at certain times of day, and whether his oxygen levels have been checked recently.
You are clearly paying very close attention to him. That attentiveness could make a real difference in getting him the right help quickly.
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unretired 11 hours ago
Thanks!
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