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Mom is skin and bone, weighs between 60-70lbs. She is showing signs of fluid on lungs. Her respirations are very limited. Has been having seizures off and on for days. She has been in a comatosed state since Thursday wee hour of morning. She is un-responsive when awake. I swab her mouth periodically. When she is awake I have tried some "thickened" water but she no longer will allow fluids in, just runs out of corner of mouth. I am sure dehydration has set in by now especially of moms low intake levels prior to this.I know in my heart there is no coming back. So now, I have to leave it in Gods hands. I am still searching for answers in order to allow myself to let go. It sucks, when you no longer have that control of a situation. My world has evolved around her for so long. I am lost. Just pray that she remains at peace and passes without too much suffering. I tell her off and on its okay to go. Last evening, I sponged her off and put on a nice set of PJ's, I put her hair up in rollers. I told her I was making her pretty for her journey with Jesus. My mom was alway very neat with herself so I thought that would be of some comfort. Maybe this is or not her time, I wish I knew the answer.

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how long can a Parkinson patient live after they no longer take food or liquids
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how long can a Parkinson Patient live after they no longer take food or liquids
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There are no answers. It is all in God's hands. You are doing the right things, for her and yourself. I have cared for many elderly relatives. It is difficult but it is amazing when you know they have gone home with Jesus. You miss them, of course, and you grieve as usual. But you know that you have done everything you can to keep them comfortable. I think the most important thing is to let them know it is okay for them to go Home. My aunt held on for days. I finally convinced my uncle to let her go and to tell her. He went in her room, shut the door, came out with tears and she was gone four hours later. She just needed to know he would be okay. Life is tough--it would be nice if we could all leave peacefully, but that does not always happen. God bless you and prayers for you.
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I have learned from hospice that the body actually prepares for dying by not needing food or fluids. Any food or fluids during the active dying process may aspirate into the lungs and become painful...eating and fluids may actually cause pain during the dying process. For months before, I offered Mom various foods on a tray that she liked, and she would eat what she chose. It became less and less. The last days I had to feed her. At the end and about 4 days before she passed any bites of applesauce or yogurt would actually run out of her mouth and she kept her mouth closed to any food indicating she did not want any. She lost the ability to swallow and that it often an indicator that the dying process has begun. Hospice was a tremendous help, and I would urge anyone with a loved one showing any signs of this type of decline to call hospice right away. They will evaluate your loved one and take care of everything.
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Crystalveistys, I think you need to have a talk with her Hospice nurse about what to expect. With no food or fluid, maybe a week or two. You might want to go see her while you still can.
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My mom is im nursing home on hospice she hss had a hard time swallowing for two weeks she has been on puree food has been eating maybe 3 bites a day and a little carton of necture apple juice yesterday nothing at all two sips og the juice how long can she go on like this
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My mom is in the nursing home with denentiare this week she once a day has maybe taken 3 bites of puree food and drank very little yesterday she had maybe to swallows of apple juice i live in ala and her in florida how long can she go on like this she woke up very little yesterday she is having a hard time swallowing for weeks they have called in hospice how long can she go on for like this
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Wow. Belowry, it sounds as if your stepmother is all over the place and doesn't know which way to turn. What a nightmare.

What you can do about it… It sort of depends on what your relationship with her is like, and whether she's likely to see you as a source of support and constructive advice or as a critic and a threat. Very difficult piece of diplomacy for you at the best of times, and all the more so if you're not close. How do you get on with her? I assume she has Medical Power of Attorney?
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So sorry you are going through this, it must be heartbreaking. Hopefully your mother will pass soon. As many people have said, this is painless for her at this point, but very painful for you. Over 40 years ago my Dad was dying of pancreatic cancer. He had been in the hospital for almost two weeks, unable to eat or drink, almost unconscious. I was young, but still wondered why he was lingering. Then I saw that they were feeding and hydrating him IV - no wonder he lingered in pain and delerium from pain killers. We asked the doctor to stop the IV, make him comfortable. After that, he passed within 2 days. We felt bad doing it, but that IV was not making him better, not relieving his pain, it was just prolonging his dying and pain.
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The nurseing home said today their facility cannot keep him if trac was removed. If his wishes stated not to keep alive by trac/feeding tube, After his stroke 3 mths ago,nobody has said he was terminal, but would likely need alot of care.. If the decision to stop life support was exorcised by spouse, shouldnt he be moved to a hospice? Can you adhere to some directives, but ignore some at same time? What do I do if I believe spouse's decision making are due to caregiver burnout?
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Has Hospice been called in? The NH may not be able to give Morphine on a regular basis due to regs, but Hospice can. Hospice can also provide a social worker to sit with the family and discuss all the options. End of life decisions are terribly difficult and painful to make; adding family conflict to them makes the pain worse.
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My stepmother has signed papers to stop life support based on her feeling that the quality of life if he recovers from a stroke wont be worth it. He's 85, the doctors cannot predict how much he will recover, how long it takes and future prognoses untill he wakes up more. She states his medical directive not keeping him alive with a trac and feeding tube, to support this decision. If the doctors say it;s a slow process for nuerological healing, and after 2 mths, she feels justified without consult from doctors. Comfort care being the plan is no food/water but all other meds, and morphine.Its 3 days now and I believe he starting to show signs of the improvement we hoped. Nurseing home gives morphine if they walk by and he looks like he is in pain, not full time.Starving him, trac still in, is conflicting his directive and is cruell.Is it ok to stop life because you assume the future will be bleak? And if you are, why elongate the process and only cut food, not regular meds, and suffer without morphine full time???
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Helen, fluids will keep her going for a week or two. Now is the time to call family and friends to say goodbye if they wish to. Now is the time to write the obituary if you can and make funeral arrangements. So sorry you have to face this, I hope you are not alone.
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It doesn't sound like she has long to live. If the IV drip is for hydration that could extend the dying process but if it's for pain, which is likely, she's likely in the death process. I'm sorry that you have to go through this but if they are keeping her comfortable then that's the best that can be done.

Take care of yourself, Helen. Many of us have been through this.
Carol
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Mum in hospital now bedridden dementia swallow gone no food for week now on IV drips is this going to get better or how long will this last for?
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Father is in final stage congestive heart failure. Weak, sleeps for days at a time, very little food, little cereal, boost or pepsi (he loves). Some days nothing at all. Throwing up food and phlem time to time. Mind comes and goes. Lost a lot of weight. How long can he last without food or water and exercise?
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my has CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE and has fluid around her lungs as has type 2 diabites with in the last 4 days she has refused to eat and with in the last 2 days she has refused her medications and has been drinking less water dont know what to do
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I'm so sorry for the grief your dealing with daily. I hope by this time your mom has peacefully passed. I work at a nursing home and have seen residents linger for 10 days with no food or water. We don't know what keeps some of our dear residents going. Sometimes they seem to be waiting for a child to come visit. Your in my prayers.
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My husband was in a Convelescent home. He had Frontotemporal Dementia. When he walked in, he went from walking to Wheel Chair and then Bedridden, and died in 19 days. I believe it was because he made the decision not to eat or drink. I don't think it was a conscious decision but more on a soul level. We tried to feed him but he would not swallow, it would come right back out of his mouth. While he was in his right mind he had told me he would not want to live debilitated. I believe he made the choice not to eat or drink.
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I am an asian indian 77 years, had a stroke in april of 2010 and then a spinal fusion surgery. Can barely walk with a stick for 200 feet. I think I will live for next two years. I have Medicare A & B plus UHC POS from employer. I Need indepepended care living. How can you help me. Thanks.
Krish Bhadra
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Dear Yellowfeever.....
I pray that your Mom is at peace and I ask that God put his healing arms around you for strength and comfort. God bless you for taking such wonderful care of your Mom.
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Hi Yellowfeever,
I'm so sorry for you. By now your mom has likely passed, or she soon will. People can go a long time without food, but lack of hydration will take her first. If she's still alive, please call you local hospice. They can tell you that she is in a state where she is not suffering from lack of food or hydration. She is beyond that. You are the one suffering. Please call hospice or another organization like your church, once she's gone, for some grief counseling. You've handled this alone for so long. My deepest sympathy.
Carol
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Forgot to add that mom hasn't had any food/fluid since Tuesday at breakfast time. The little I did get in her between Tueday afternoon thru wednesday evening she vomited it back up instantly.
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