Hi Guys

I need some serious medical opinion about my mom. Before that let me provide some background about my mom.

She is going to be 69 years old in 2017.
In 2015, she was admitted to ICU for 10 days diagnosed with sepsis caused by e-coli infection. In order to treat her both e-coli infection and sepsis, the doctor had to sedate her completely where she was tubed and breath with the help from the machine. She was given few course of very strong anti-biotic and also alot of strong drugs to sedate her. She also spent another 10 days in the normal ward for recovery.

She was discharged and recovered now. However, i do noticed some changes in her. My mom used to be very active where she will go out to meet friends and do some shopping, but she don't like to go out now, she doesn't want to meet her friends that often and claiming it is boring. She is moody all the time and I asked her many many time why is she boring and moody, she said she don't know. Even going out with me or eating anything also seems to be boring. She is quite negative and seems nothing can interest her... luckily she is still working a little now to keep her busy.

I feel very stressful taking care of her as everyday and I will need to find topics to talk to her and also do my best to make her feel happy, but it doesn't help much. I started to think maybe my mom lack of some sorts of hormone or nutrients resulting moody and etc... or maybe she is having some depression and etc.... i really have no idea... i tried to convince her to meet doctor, but she don't want to...

Is there anyone here can help to provide some medical opinion?

Thank you very much guys...

Hi,
Treatments might include psychotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy as well as EEG biofeedback, a technique in which patients are trained to increase or decrease brain-wave activity in the parts of the brain related to their complaints. The EEG, which has been around for more than 90 years, is a map of the brain’s electrical activity and reflects a patient’s emotional and cognitive states.
I believe that your mum will respond well to EEG biofeedback training. EEG biofeedback or Neurofeedback is direct training of brain function, by which the brain learns to function more efficiently. It is totally safe, painless, non-invasive and no side effect.

Speedy recovery for your mum sir. Just a question, do you ever consider some traditional medication?

So many random medical advises here which also serve to promote their own businesses.

t/s,
Your mother has depression most likely, which is rather common in the elderly. You didn't mention anything about your father, and I suppose he is no more around. Loneliness especially when kids have left the house causes depression in the elderly. It is best that you see a GP first who can then refer your mother to a psychiatrist who can treat the depression. Not going for some random EEG and psychotherapy which can be only suggested by neurologists/psychiatrists!

Hi. Thanks for the reply. May I ask whether who is able to diagnose whether or not my mom need EEG biofeedback training? A normal GP or meeting a neurologist? My mom is quite careful in taking care of her health as her previous admission really was a nightmare to her.

Hi. Thanks for your reply. I don't mind traditional treatment but I will need to have a diagnosis done to find out the real problem before taking any treatment.


Hi. Thanks for your reply. I did suspect some mild depression or could be lack of some hormones or nutrient in her body. But I really hope can find a way to diagnose the problem. Yes, my dad is not an issue as they divorced for almost 30years. My elder sister and myself is still living with my mom, my elder sister is not married and I need to take care of my mom.. so she still have her kids to accompany her . But frankly only I am doing all the take care work.. the other siblings are not helping at all... So I dont think she is feeling lonely due to kids not around ..

Agree with dave that depression among the elderly is common, especially after a long illness or major surgery.

My mother was hospitalized for a period mid 2015 and only recently she regained her previous vigor. Subsequently she had mild depression and tried anti depression medication for a short while (doesn't work and makes the condition worse).

If you were considering anti depression medication for her please be careful as they may not suit everyone. My suggestion is to encourage her to go for daily morning/evening exercise/qigong at nearby parks. Exercise release endorphines which promote positive feelings.

Thanks thanks... i didn't consider any anti-depression medication ... my mom did got for morning exercises until last week she decided to stop going due to she met a small care accident and she started to worry this and that.. seems like i got to find ways to get her to start her morning exercises ...

I am still looking for ways to diagnose her problem and of course to convince her to meet a doctor...

it is not easy to take care of an elderly and being a good child is the toughest thing to do in the world

It's likely that they gave your mum benzodiazepines, such as
midazolam, together with muscle relaxants, to sedate your mum
in the hospital.

It's possible that the depression your mum had was from the
benzodiazepines, aggravated by interaction with muscle relaxants.


Benzodiazepines are known to cause depression, but that is more
with chronic use.

It's possible the high bolus dosage which they gave her IV in the
hospital may have long term lingering effects.


The elderly are particularly subsceptible to the side effects
of benzodiazepines.

http://web4health.info/it/bio-benzo-sideeffects.htm


However, I think it is more likely that your mum has PTSD, or post -
traumatic stress disorder, of which depression is a symptom.


PTSD is known to occur after discharge from the ICU, particularly
in elderly patients, months or even years later.

Depression by itself, without PTSD, can also occur after discharge.


Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD.

Was your mum placed on the ventilator in the ICU ? That would
have increased her likelihood of developing PTSD or depressive
symptoms months or even years after discharge.


You could bring your mum back to the hospital and relate her
current condition to her. They may refer her to other specialists,
such as psychiatrists, for treatment.


Hiro Koo (Zeropoint9) is a qualified psychologist trained in hynotherapy
practising in the New Mind Center in Wisma Hrih Lotus (former Alhambra
cinema, then an art gallery) in Jalan Setapak.

http://www.newmindcentre.com/p/about.html


Hypnosis, together with biofeedback, is a viable adjuctive or even standalone therapy for PTSD, depression and many other psychological and physical conditions - even cancer.


If you find that later that other doctors cannot improve her condition,
you can take your mum to him.

If you wish to try traditional Chinese medicine as well, I go to this quite
experienced lady practitioner in Pandan Jaya every now and then.

She even has some Malay patients.

https://www.facebook.com/Klinik-Pakar-TCM-Y...96117660597358/

https://foursquare.com/v/%E8%91%89%E4%B8%AD...4b0a34ac620861d



Are Intensive Care Factors Associated with Depressive
Symptoms Six Months after Acute Lung Injury ?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769249/


Associations between sedation, delirium and post-traumatic stress
disorder and their impact on quality of life and memories following
discharge from an intensive care unit.

" After 2 months vs. 6 months, 297 patients vs. 248 patients were interviewed.
PTSD was found in 7% vs. 5%, anxiety in 6% vs. 4%, and depression in 10%
at both interviews. "

http://www.danmedj.dk/portal/page/portal/d...B4630/B4630.pdf




Memory, delusions, and the development of acute posttraumatic
stress disorder-related symptoms after intensive care.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/11373423/



Risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
following critical illness requiring mechanical ventilation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/17316452/



Psychological wellbeing, health related quality of life and memories
of intensive care and a specialised weaning centre reported by survivors
of prolonged mechanical ventilation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24308899/


Post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress symptoms
following critical illness in medical intensive care unit patients.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2151890/



Post-traumatic stress disorder in somatic disease: lessons
from critically ill patients.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/18037018/


PTSD and depression are also common in relatives of patients
who pass away in the ICU.


ICU care associated with symptoms of depression and posttraumatic
stress disorder among family members of patients who die in the ICU.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3071273/



Physical and mental health in patients and spouses after
intensive care of severe sepsis.


" A significant proportion of patients and spouses (26% - 42%) showed
clinically relevant scores of anxiety and depression; approximately
two thirds of both, patients and spouses, reported posttraumatic stress
symptoms defined as clinically relevant. "

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23222259/




Depression in general intensive care unit survivors.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19165464/




This post has been edited by Tham: Jan 7 2017, 02:15 PM

Post-traumatic stress disorder managed successfully with
hypnosis and the rewind technique: two cases in obstetric patients.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/26162981



Hypnosis as an effective management of a child with
posttraumatic stress disorder after perineal trauma.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24815600/



Hypnosis can reduce pain in hospitalized older patients:
a randomized controlled study.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4714456/



Hypnosis after an adverse response
to opioids in an ICU burn patient.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/9647460/

Hi Tham. Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. I can't remember the name of the sedatives the hospital used. I only remember it was those very expensive sedative as the Anesthesian said it was safer for my mom due to her age. Yes, my mom was on the ventilator for about 7 days in the ICU. Other than sedative, she was also given few type of antibiotics at the same time to treat her Sepsis and pheumonia, Some steroid, and one drug to controls stable her blood pressure..can't remember the name edi.

It never occur to me that PTSD could happened after few years... I think I should bring my mom back to meet the same doctor for initial diagnosis. I also got the info about Hiro Koo and will definitely consider it after my mom met the doctor from the hospital for initial assessment. Now the biggest challenge is to convince her to meet the doctor.

Dude, sorry to hear yer mom got an E.coli sepsis. That coulda easily killed her, ya know that dont ya? At 69, she musta put a helluva fight. Am glad she made it.

When geriatrics get major physiological insult like this (geriatrics when u are above 65; sorry to categorize, but its just the way it is), she will lose several degrees of Cognition; she will (almost certainly), get some level of Cognitive Impairment. Not nice, but just the way body and mind react following a major hit like that at this age. Its like a dent on the pewter teapot, you know? Aint easy to get it back in shape.

And post-major illness depressive symptoms are not to be laughed at too.

Sorry I can only explain, and that I cant help ya.

Hi... yes yes... the sepsis almost killed her. Luckily she made it but her health now is now as strong as before.. she is not active like she used ...

going to bring her back to the hospital to meet the same Physician that treated her today..... this doctor have all the details and she is very good...

What can be done is to jog her mind, eg show her pics of her grandkids, talk to her about olden days memories, bring her out to the market if she's up for it. Give her simple tasks too, eg asks her if she could sort out some buttons etc (you will find simple things for her to do around the house).

If you are up for it, go to this link below, and asks her the few simple questions on page 2.
http://www.zielinskifam.com/papers/MMSE.pdf
Good luck dude.

Hi guys... first of all I would like to thank everyone for taking your valuable time to comment here. All info here helps me alot and really thankful.

Finally brought my mom to meet our family doctor which knows every single medical history of my mom. The doctor said my mom is having initial stage of depression. It could be from the side effect from the drugs that treated her sepsis 2 years ago.

She is given Xanax 1/2 pill before sleep for 10 days and she is sleeping well and alot .... at least now i saw her smile more and also happier after the first day.

Now I am a little concern is she sleeps too much and she is still sleeping now.... she did turn her body during sleep.. and waiting for her to wake up and see whether she is getting better or not