Day 4 with no food, no water. Thoughts?

It sounds as if it won’t be long now. Hospice started my father on morphine and Ativan two days before he died. I think it relaxed him enough to stop fighting. The day before, I was told that it might be a week before he passed, and I was horrified that he would suffer that long. He breathed like that for only half a day and passed away after everyone had left except my mother who was sleeping peacefully in the same room.

Keep talking to her. Hospice said that even when they are unresponsive, they can still hear, so I sang to him, and read Bible verses, prayed aloud for him, and used a baby brush to brush his hair. Tell your mother that you will be OK. Remember to take care of yourself by remembering to eat and drink and breathe deeply and evenly. My prayers are with you during this vigil.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I went through this with my dad and he lasted about 10 days without food or water. He would go for a full minute between breaths.....and I'd hold MY breath, waiting to see if he'd take another. His vital signs were pretty good though, in spite of everything, and I was freaking out, thinking he'd live for a month like that, and the thought was killing me. The hospice nurse told me she thought dad wouldn't let go with all his loved ones in the room, and that's what was holding him back and keeping his vital signs stabilized. Right then and there, I ushered everyone OUT the door and off to a restaurant for dinner. Not 5 minutes after we left, dad's vital signs began to decline. He passed away that night at 2 am.

Sending you a big hug and a prayer for a quick and peaceful, pain free transition for your dear mom.

No. Without any fluid you are close to the end. Watch for cooling and some fluid retention, some bluing of color in extremities. Watch for cheyne-stokes breathing where they breathe in a few. Then no apparently breathing. A gasp and a few breathes. Just very irregular. Wishing peace for this vigil of love and caring.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. My mom went seven days without food or water. I think I must have said good bye over twenty times thinking this is it, this is it. I stayed by her side for the duration. The one day I left early was the night she died. I so wanted to be there but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Hang in there. Our thoughts are with you Army Aunt.

I had this experience with my great grandfather. Unfortunately it is near the end unless the goal is to have her pass peacefully very soon. Hospice is there to dope them up(make them comfortable) so they can pass on. If she is not eating or drinking and you want her off of Hospice you should consult the doctor and have a feeding tube inserted. I don't know the details of your situation but we took my grandfather off of Hospice and he lived another 2 years. He had a feeding tube...he eventually started eating again. When it was for sure that he was passing away...that's when we called Hospice.