Let me give a brief history: My mom is 52 years and has had chronic pain most of her life due to back problems. Most notabley is a sack of fluid on her spine that has calcified(pseudomenigiseal??) Also has chronic fatigue syndrome and was recently given a pacemaker.
The reason I write, though, is b/c a little under a month ago she was placed in the hospital for pneumonia. She was experiencing high fever and hallucinations but no apparent lung ailments (from what I was told by family). She was in the hospital for three days and released. For the first week she was extremely fatigued but ok considering. However, for the past two weeks she has been experiencing extreme mental confusion. From the time she wakes up until she goes to bed she is 'out of it'(That is the best way I know how to describe it). At first I thought she was taking too many pills (is prescribed oxycodon, loracet, valium, etc. by pain management dr. for chronic back pain) but my dad says that she is barely taking her daily doses b/c she is so out of it. She looks drugged, has a hard time w/ comprehension, etc. There are times when my dad has to feed and clothe her! They have been to their pain doctor a couple times since her contracting pneumonia and he says that the mental confusion is lingering affects of the pneumonia, but this just does not sit well w/ me. This is the worst I have ever seen my mom and I have a hard time beleiving that it is b/c of the pneumonia. Also, she does not have a fever or any serious breathing issues (phlegm, coughing, etc.).
Could this really be b/c of the pneumonia?
Right now my Dad and I are at a loss!!
Thanks,