Audrey Curtis's Experience with Delirium

Audrey Curtis experienced delirium post-operatively which was extremely traumatic. And, two experts in Australia share their view on the challenges surrounding delirium and some solutions to address them.

[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 this story has been very helpful and has given me hope.

[JohnDoe-wbht]

My mum at 92 had half hip replacement after a fall. Approx 24 hours after successful operation the delirium stage started. None of which was explained before surgery. Of a ward with 6 elderly hip replacement surgeries...all suffered real threat type delirium, "someone's trying to kill me", " they keep looking at me", "they're after me". Obviously for a relative witnessing this its also scary. Unfortunately the nurses seemed so accustom to the delirium the patients were treated with indifference. But even when a patient was reassured, the patient was " stuck" in that false reality. Fortunately that stage seemed to last just around 12-24 hours. This "delirium" most defiantly needs to be discussed post operation with patients and relatives. If it is at your hospital..lucky you...if not...be prepared..it does pass (length of this stage seems to depend on previous medical history). Point of note..if a patient is also suffering an illness where they are not able to communicate, then it is very traumatic to witness.

[nrlloyd]

I'm 53 and late last year i contracted sepsis from infection. I ended up in Liverpool hospital in Sydney, NSW, had open heart surgery to replace a damaged heart valve and was kept in an induced coma for a week. My hallucinations were many, and horrific. It took me a while to believe they weren't real and once I did I imagined it was all over and i could focus on my recovery. Now 6 months later i discovered quite by accident while watching something on youtube about covid 19 patients that what I'm now experiencing is like ptsd. I wish I'd been told about this. I want to follow up on this now so that other people can be helped if they experience time in the icu.

[chrysalis]

Benzodiazepines and alcohol, either can give you delerium tremens with a seventy per cent death rate. Always go to hospital if you have symptoms despite the fear. I nearly died last month. Thankfully I was sent back to make amends with my lost life and apologize for things I regretted making public.i should have journalled privately. I live my life now like I could die anytime and try to leave positive messages and memories as I have a feeling my time is short.

[simonmaverick]

I had very severe delirium following open heart surgery at StBarthomews in London UK in 2019. I caused a lot of damage in the hospital and scared a lot of nurses. Thankfully, I was discharged home a week later and made a full recovery.

[AppleSlap]

I spent a month in the hospital after having an emergency ileostomy. I was completely out the first week but when I started to wake up, I had a brain diffuse. I have all these vivid memories and oddly one involved heavy metal music. I also continuously ripped my feeding tube and IV out and then put in restraints because I kept trying to leave the bed. The delusions are really traumatic for me.

[robertbendik]

they can be astral entities ...which attack people when you quit alcohol or benzodiazepines, anesthetics can cause hallucinations, like ketamine or propophol.

[ruffmeow]

I had this after surgery. I was sure I was alone on the planet. As I tried to remove tubes so I could react - my brain said "it's not real - stop". Thanks goodness

[aakashdeepsingh]

At every winter of year my Grandpa is having delirium he became so much confused in day and night but sometimes he became fully well .. he is with my deaf grandma in upper storey of our house.. So whT can i do?

[DamienRoweArts]

The whole world should know about delirium google it, ask about it , read about it