memory loss in UC?

Paddy, seven weeks in the hospital is a long time. Older people removed from familiar surroundings, bombarded with new sights, sounds, terminology and diseases can become disoriented. Memory problems are not a feature of UC, although severe anemia might lead to them. Prednisone can cause emotional instability ranging from easy crying to rage reactions. Xanax is a sedative and can lead to confusion and memory problems. Often apparent "dementia" is caused by combinations of medications.

If she's being treated for mental health issues, she deserves to be evaluated by a qualified psychiatrist. When dememtia is suspected, evaluation by a psychologist is also indicated. As a former nurse, I know hospitals are quick to medicate people who are unhappy, agitated, confused or just plain complain too much. If she wasn't endangering herself or anyone else before the Xanax was started, I'd request a trial of at least five days off of it to see if her mental status improves. Remicade doesn't cause confusion, and I'm not familiar with Ativa and couldn't find it on the internet. I'd also be interested to see if she did better in her own home, receiving treatment on an outpatient basis.

It could be that your mother is beginning to experience symptoms of dementia, but in fairness to her, other causes for her memory loss need to be ruled out before that diagnosis is made. And if I understand right and the doctor is giving her an "adjustment disorder" diagnosis based on the fact that she has UC, that doctor is an incompetent fool. It's been thirty years since any competent healthcare professional believed UC was caused by a "neurotic personality." If he's saying the adjustment disorder is because of the UC, he needs to check his diagnostic criteria. By definition, adjustment disorder is diagnosed only when other the person does not meet the diagnostic criteria for any other psychiatric disorder - such as depression or anxiety disorder, and when the symptoms are not related to a physical health issue - such as dementia.

See if you can get her checked out by the psychiatrist/psychologist combo. The psychiatrist really only prescribes medicaton. A psychologist can test for cognitive problems and a psychologist or counselor can provide help to her in coping with a difficult diagnosis. Good luck, and I hope she's soon well enough to get home where she's in familiar surroundings.

There's also a link between poor gut ecology and short-term memory loss, general fuzzy-headedness, etc. There's certainly a brain/gut link.

Hi Judy, Sue, Quincy, and "Princesa"

Thanks for your many, considered insights into the UC/hospitalization experience. They help put things in a more hopeful perspective.

Judy- I meant Ativan, not Ativa. I was told by her doctor (GM) that stopping Xanax abruptly can cause anxious people - as anyone going through seven weeks of hospitalization would be - to become extra anxious, but I did suggest that she try stopping her morning Xanax to see if it would make any difference to her fuzziness. Today was a really good day for her, from what I could see, in terms of her memory and alertness. The adjustment disorder, by the way, that the doc dx'ed meant that the depression/etc. was caused by her colitis, not the other way around. She is seeing a psychologist once a week now, and for the time being seems to want that, though earlier this week she didn't. It's a day-by-day thing.

Sue- She is getting Ensure "shakes", which are calorie and nutrition packed, and she seems to like and digest these pretty well. She may be starting tube feeding, b/c she's still not holding onto her weight (87.1#, down from a normal of 115#). I agree that diet seems to have a big impact on her clarity, and until things resolve further physically it won't really be possible to know exactly what's going on mentally.

"Princesa"- Hopefully the lactobacillus (2 tabs, 4x/d) is helping fix that situation too. She's been on Flagyl for a total of a month, probably, over the past seven weeks, so no doubt her gut ecology is pretty depleted.

Quincy- She's getting folate (B9) and thiamine (B1), but not B12. I think I'd read elsewhere that B12's important for memory and maintaining brain function, especially as we age. I also thought that B-vitamins needed one another to be fully effective, so if she's not getting the others she probably should. I think her Ensure beverages are pretty good for the B's.

I appreciate all your perspectives and advice, and as others have written here before, this forum is really invaluable in helping a person feel that they (or their parent) are not going through it blind, helpless, and alone.

Mike

Post Edited (paddyk) : 8/13/2008 11:36:54 PM (GMT-6)

Thank you so much for your reply 😊