Hi all, I used to be on here f or my father and now I'm back for my mother. :) She had a recent brief hospital stay for a dislocation of her (replacement) hip. She stayed overnight and is now home. She is doing fine except my siblings and I have noticed that she seems a little "off." Not sure I can describe "off" but it is like the hospital stay aged her 5 years. the er visit was a week and a half ago and she has been fighting with my brother and acting a bit "ditzy" and very emotionally immature which she is but not all the time. she is 79. my sister and me are wondering if it's something medical. I live with my mother, my sister is out of state, my brother is out of country. Has anyone had this experience?
Hospitals have different noises, different smells, people are talking at all hours of the day depending on where one's room is located. Your eating food you aren't familiar with, this hospital food had way too much spice for me to enjoy as I like basic fare.
The room itself the small window, similar to a basement window, was behind the bed so I wasn't able to see if it was sunny outside or raining or if it was night unless I turned on the TV to cable news.
Once home it took me a few days to get back on tract, and the antibiotics were doing a tap dance in my stomach which didn't help.
If your mother was given pain meds and/or was prescribed a new med to continue while at home, that could affect her as well. Research any new drugs and their side effects.
When I had emergency surgery almost 2 years ago, by the last day I was unsettled to the point that I couldn't sleep. The air was dry, my nasal passages were dry, I was having trouble breathing, I hadn't had fresh air for 4 days, I missed the fragrance of rain, the freshness of a breeze. I couldn't wait to get out of there and get outside.
It was raining when I left; I just stood in the parking lot, opened my arms and thought "free at last!"
So, yes, hospitals are disorienting.
Pamper your mom, play CDs of her favorite music, spend extra time with her and help her through this.