My Grandpa - What Could Be Wrong?

It's probably an infection somewhere in his body causing the dizziness and disorientation. Also, for people that age they can get hospital dementia (that's what we called it, there could be a proper name for it). It happened to my grandmother and my father (both in their 80s) when they stayed in the hospital more than a couple of days. They got really agitated, didn't remember where they were and kept trying to get out of bed. They also began to get mean to the people around them. However, within a day of being home, they were back to their normal behavior. When my dad was in the hospital it did take a few days to find out what was wrong. They had to rule out a lot of things before they found out what it was. It took days to discover the bladder infection in my dad after ruling out other problems.

My first guess is the same as everyone else's -- UTI. Second guess is an electrolyte imbalance, followed by a TIA, or a B12 defiency. After that the possibilities are scarier, but also a lot less likely.....

At his age, it could be any number of things. Anything metabolic involving the liver, kidneys, or other organs can cause an imbalance of key factors in the body - glucose, electrolytes, etc. It could still be something more neurological, maybe "mini-strokes" or blood clots or maybe his heart problem is causing low oxygen to his brain. Or it could be he's developing dementia and has been borderline "okay" for a while but it's progressed.

Talk to your grandma and try to get some answers from the doctors if you can - keep the lines of communication open. That's about all you can do right now, while the doctors and nurses do their jobs.

He is 86 and that could just be the problem. Dementia starting to set in is a
possibility.

Check out his medications and make sure nothing new has been introduced recently. If he has a lot of different doctors prescribing different meds, there could be a drug interaction. I can't tell you how many times I have been through this with my in-laws.

UTIs can cause weird symptoms like that in elderly people. My dad actually had hallucinations due to a UTI. Perhaps suggest a urine specimen.

I'd check for middle ear infections - it can mess with your balance.
Agitated and restless makes me think of hyperthyroid issues.
Is he on any supplements or medications?
As we age we need smaller dosages otherwise our systems get overwhelmed - our kidneys and liver are not as efficient as they use to be.
I'm sure they are checking his blood for enzymes which would indicate heart / pace maker issues.
I hope they figure it out and fix it soon.

UTI, inner ear infection, did they check for these? I'm so sorry - I hope they figure it out soon.

I would assume they checked his medications? If he reciently got something filled, it may have been the wrong pill or dosage.

Or there is a infection somewhere. How's his white count?

Urinary tract infections and bladder infections can cause these symptoms in the elderly.

My grandma is 92 and typically her mind is clear as a bell. When she starts having mental problems it is usually due to Urinary Tract Infections. Did they do a urine culture?

My other grandma needed vitamin B12 supplements to help her mental function. Without it she was ornery.

Another cause of dizziness could be fluid behind the ear, which a CAT scan should have detected.

It could be dehydration all the way over to a small stroke. The whole world of health issues....I hope they find what it is. It's scary when something like this happens.

Does he (and grandma) take a good, whole-foods based daily multivitamin/mineral supplement? It sounds like he could be low on specific nutrients. Many elderly people are, first because they eat less as they age/food just isn't interesting or tastes good to them, and second because as we age, a lot of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes that our bodies took for granted as we grew up and lived our lives are now either depleted or getting depleted, just because of aging.

Rainbow Light 50 plus Mini-Tab™ Age-Defense Formula -- 180 Tablets ($24), or MegaFood DailyFoods® Men Over 40™ -- 180 Tablets ($65--very good company) would be the place where I'd start--both formulas have just about everything he would need to get everything back in line. You can find both at vitacost.com, a very good online store for both supplements, personal care products, and allergen-free foods. I have no affiliation with them other than to let others know of the wonderful products they carry, many of which are very good supplement companies. I have used them for over 5 years to buy all of my supplements and have found that I have saved hundreds of dollars a year.

Is he on medication for his heart? At his age and if he's on any pharma drugs at all, he should also be taking CoQ10, a co-enzyme that is very important to the body, as it provides energy to the mitochondria, the powerhouse that runs the body's energy.

And, as another poster mentioned, if your grandfather isn't drinking enough liquids/water, he could be dehydrated. Dehydration will make a person dizzy and disorientated. Of course, the hospital should be able to tell that from any blood work they run--but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll mention anything to you about it. Just make sure that Grandma and Grandpa are drinking at least 10-8 oz glasses of water a day. Drinking and urinating enough will also make sure they don't have to deal with or worry about urinary tract infections or bladder/kidney infections because the body is being cleaned out.

Another tidbit your grandparents might find helpful: drinking 2 tsp of pure lemon juice in hot water every morning upon wakening and before eating is one of the simplest ways to cleanse/detox the liver, gallbladder, and kidneys. If everyone did this, few people would end up with stones in their liver, gallbladder, or kidneys. Or the stones would pass through and not build up and cause problems.

it could be so many things. my FIL has been in and out of the hospital for this very issue. they keep him and run a gazillion tests, sometimes even having to strap him down when he gets agitated enough. but they have yet to figure it out. i think it's just combination of old age and the various ailments that come with it. i also think that pharmaceutical toxicity is a HUGE issue for the elderly that gets very little attention. is he on a lot of px drugs?
i'm so sorry, and hope he improves soon.
khairete
S.

I was also going to suggest checking for a urinary tract infection. This has happened to my elderly grandmother.

Has he had in medication changes? My kids grandpa recently spent several days in the hospital because his doc had changed his muscle relaxers.

I haven't read the other answers, but I felt that way not too long ago and was diagnosed with really low vitamin D.

At his age, it's very common to get a UTI and have these symptoms. I would make sure they check for that.

I know you are worried about your grandfather. Let the hospital finish all of their tests and try to get a diagnosis. I would mention that sometimes dehydration causes dizziness and disorientation but I am sure that the hospital has him on an IV drip with fluid. Did your grandfather fall or hit his head on anything prior to developing problems? Make sure that if he did, that your grandmother tells the doctor. Good Luck! I will say a prayer for your Grandpa!