Weekends suck especially when you are stuck in the hospital. It becomes a ghost town. Parking lot is empty. Front lobby and halls are empty. No procedures done…unless of course emergency ones.
Waiting is the norm. While waiting, Wiley went in and out of a sleeping state. Cogent conversation did not occur because he was seeing people who weren’t there. He was describing the picture on the wall as it changed shape and scenery. Then puppies began romping on the bed and monkeys were cavorting on the wall. He began reaching for things suspended in midair. He was in an airplane flying to Atlanta…Oh my sweet Jesus. What was going on?
I was told some doozies about the cause of his behavior change – dementia getting worse…really? (Remember, he went to work on Monday.). Drying out….pleeez….Tobacco withdrawal..come on. What was being written in his chart?
I went home, researched, and found a possible cause. HOSPITAL DELIRIUM. Remember that.
It makes sense that someone who was in a weakened, septic state, who had been transported by ambulance to hospital, who spent hours in the emergency room, who was shot up with pain killers, antibiotics, anxiety medications, oxygen, IVs, and who changed rooms three times, be confused. Good gawd, I was conscious but I was gawd-damned confused. What next??
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/when-patients-suddenly-become-confused
Over time and many, many days and weeks, it became clear that every time his oxygen levels dropped and his infection spiked, out came the puppies and the monkeys. Not one of his hospital professionals seemed to know about it, offer it as a suggestion, or take me seriously when I mentioned it. Not one.
The Missing Handbook 