Delirium: A Patient Story at Leicester's Hospitals

This is David and his wife Gloria’s story. Two years ago David was treated at Leicester’s Hospitals for community acquired pneumonia. During his admission David experienced an episode of delirium. Patients with delirium frequently experience hallucinations, false ideas or paranoia. These symptoms can be very distressing and frightening for patients and their families.

[sarcastanaut]

My dad is currently experiencing this after surgery for bladder cancer. Its extremely upsetting and scary and depressing. This video has been very helpful and seeing David being lucid and cognizant has given me hope. Thank you.

[foundingtitan]

My mother is currently going through Delirium after she lost pulse during Haemodialysis due to drop in glucose and blood pressure, and was given CPR and shifted to Emergency. Then she started having it and it's been more than 7 days. It has slowly decreased but is still persistent. Makes me extremely sad and terrified to see her like this. The doctor says it will decrease gradually but doesn't know when. Oh God! Please cure her.

Edit: It's been a month since she has been discharged from the hospital. Her condition isn't better. The same problems remain, she often has apoxia, but at least her Delirium has gone down. It almost disappeared, though once or twice she speaks in her sleep. Might be dreaming or something. Thank you God that she at least overcame this fearful situation. Please give her strength to face other challenges that she's going through.

[DamienRoweArts]

The whole world should know about delirium.

[marcoburattin]

This video is the introductory educational tool for our regional training today! It is the perfect start for a patient centred learning event.

[Ihfmpw]

I can relate, I have had this frightening experience when I was in hospital with pneumonia in January this year . It was awful and I remember it so well, it happened twice . I can’t forget it.

[nawresskacem]

sounds like it was a tough and frightening experience for both of them, i'm glad it was resolved. they sound like two lovely people and i feel bad that David regrets how he acted though he had no control over it. it is not your fault David, i am sure they forgive you wholeheartedly and understand.

[normanchristie]

My wife is currently recovering from bowel impactio n and a subsequent spinal fusion. Is now in full nursing care in a care home. She was three months in hospital in three different hospitals. She became very distressed within a a few days and given more painkillers for abdominal pain. When she was transferred to the Spinal unit the surgeon phoned me to check that she didn't have dementia.
The operation was successful but her recovery was delayed by not eating, nausea, bileousness; yet more painkillers and more morphine than a crack den. Discharged to a local community hospital for assessment and discharge. Unable to engage with therapies still sick and in pain. Transferred to nursing home with full nursing care. Five days later she was sent to A&E diagnosed as having paraylitic ileas same diagnosis as three months ago. Spent a week in hospital being infused. Returned to the care home. After three months in quiet bedroom and caring staff she is slowly recovering from the delirium; still doubly incontinent and unable to stand.

[philp]

Advice?
How do you orientate a patient back to their surroundings?
It makes me think should I ask family members if there are any smells in their homes that would be familiar (scented candles or a particular fragrance someone close to them wears) .. but some advice on orientating a patient back to their surroundings would be a great help as I'd like to try it out of it ever happens again where I work as it's the most challenging thing I've ever come across and I think maybe a holistic approach would be a nice little curve ball and maybe help the situation and at least give the patient a bit of reassurance that people are trying to help him in reality as this man said he knew the difference between reality and fiction.
Liked this video.. thanks x

[gouravbamotra]

Sir i think one of my family member is suffering from the same from last two days after he was given medicine to control the eye pressure , he says that bomb is blowing off and somerhing like that ... please help and guide me what to do sir / mam

[annessafranco]

My mother fell and broke her hip. That was 15 days ago and she started experiencing delirium right after her surgery (2nd day). In addition to the anesthesia they found that she has a UTI which could also be the underlying cause. They plan to discharge her on Thanksgiving day. While this sounds great, she lives alone and I live in a different state. I'm faced with possibly placing her in a nursing facility, especially if she’s still in this mental state. I hate that she is going through this and it's just a wait and see game. I've been speaking with her care team everyday. A neurologist finally saw her yesterday and has placed her thiamine, B1. Does anyone know if this has been helpful for anyone going through this?

[banzobeans]

This recording is helpful for sure. But I‘m left wondering: where‘s the support this man deserves in working through the experience after the fact? And did his wife get any support when his husband came home in a semi-delirious state?

[lin]

I agree you have no idea that this is not real, I wrote and directed an episode of MASH and watched it too right in the clear air in front of me.

[jacobyoung]

I'm glad you put their names of their heads, because, if you hadn't, I'm sure I couldn't have figured out which one was Dave and which one was Gloria!

[missnamak]

Best patients in the world are British. Very reserved, high gratitute and polite