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Mom is 84, has congenital heart disease - she got a UTI and was acting crazy so her regular doctor sent her to the ER. Well, in her State of crazy, she checked herself out before she could be properly treated for the UTI. We finally talked her into going back to her doctor but before she got a chance she fell and hit her head. Now she was rushed to the hospital where she was given antibiotics for the uti and had catscans, and MRIs for a potential brain bleed. They sent her to another hospital with a good neurology dept who gave her more tests and determined it was not a brain bleed - just a large hematoma? I think. In any case she was finally sent to rehab and is done with the UTI meds and is still acting confused off and on. At first I thought the confusion would go away with the meds but it hasn't. She is also on oxygen right now because she is weak. Can anyone relate to this? Im so scared that this is how she will always be. Im trying to digest this thought and accept it but I don't want to believe it. I know you guys aren't doctors but do you think she will ever be herself again? Up until this fall/UTI she was on the ball for the most part. A little foggy when she first would wake up but still played scrabble etc. I'm so worried.

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I read your post. Congenital heart disease is in basic terms a predisposition, born with, to be more likely to develop heart disease, cardio-related, vascular, circulation, a-fib or TIA/stroke/dementia potentials and includes bypass or other type corrections. Medications, pacemakers, nutrition, schedule all play a factor, regular doctor visits, exercise, walking, proper rest. It just depends if condition is very serious above what is normal cardio-related issues that control. Cardiologist, EKG and primary doctor on the same plan is what helps manage it and keep it in control. I am pretty sure a UTI can cause dementia-like symptoms which is why a urine test confirms yea/nea. If don't have a UTI, can still have other dementia-like symptoms related to vascular/heart type issues that can come with age also. Good to rule, confirm UTI and treatment. Sometimes a urologist is recommended if falling, sleep, have to wake to use restroom a lot. Can be foggy if up 3-5 times even for one night or more. Hematoma, cat scan, MRIs concern is usually in regards to whether intracranial bleeding is occurring. once that is ruled out, the hematoma can be that bleeding occurred between the skin and above the skull, and pain can still be around for awhile, due to blood above skull and under the skin still present, but subsides. Sounds to me she experienced a lot of varying trauma in a short time, so give it more time. One day at a time. Keep up the regular visits to primary doctor. Also, understand heart medications have side effects and based on documenting issues to primary, i.e. fall history, i.e. often, once a month dates and times. With heart patients, a doctor might lower medications dosage for stroke or other due to age 80 and over because falls, equilibrium. Taking medications for illness and then going back is confusing for any patient, even an 84 year old. You responded so daily activities of things she likes to do is great. Add other things like trivia Q&A 20th century, newspaper reading together and discussing news, local, national, even discussing history facts, etc. The more engaged she is with things that interest her, the less confused she will feel and can rebuild confidence as she adjusts. Also vocal, talking helps. Keep her talking and using her voice daily. That helps also I think I have learned; that gets overlooked a lot.
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What kind of congenital heart disease? Or do you mean congestive heart failure?

Have you had a care meeting with the rehab staff? When my mom went to rehab after her stroke, they pointed out to us that she had developed vascular dementia. We believed it would "clear up". It didn't

Talk to the therapists and nursing staff at rehab. Go to the scheduled care meeting. Ask them what level of care she will need going forward.
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I am thinking OP meant congestive heart failure.
At 84 with a hematoma it will take several weeks to recover. The hematoma is blood on the brain from the fall trauma- it'll take awhile for that blood to be broken down and reabsorbed by her body. Give her time. The fall plus the UTI are two significant events for an elderly person. CHF can be controlled most of the time, and her oxygenation is important- it may do her good to be on oxygen if she is not on it already. 
Hopefully she will improve within a month or two.
Good luck!
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Thank you all for responding! I think I did mean congestive heart failure. I am very grateful for your responses and I think I just need to give mom more time and myself a little more time to just accept what will be !
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Yup, sounds like my Mom. It was determined she had a TIA, but hindsight says UTI's and dehydration may have been the culprit. Keep checking for the UTI'S because at the beginning, reaccurance was frequent with my Mom.

After we finally received a clear UTI report, I have gotten a routine of a strong probiotic, cranberry juice and pills, and D-Mannose. Mom's UTI's have gone away with this combination, BUT I still have her urine checked every 4 months to make sure she's clear.
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