Follow
Share

I can't even though hes 89 and bad health. He's 89 weighs about 100lbs. I dress, bathe, help him out of bed. Some days he hss strength to push walker other days its a wheel chair. He's on oxygen all the time snd still has a hard time breathing. He has copd, emphysema, prostste cancer. It hurts to see him struggle to breathe. But I just cant give him morphine around the clock for no reason. Am I wrong? I haved prayed that he goes in his sleep. His mind is still sharp.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
My good friend struggled with this. I told her you don't have to give the full dose. You don't have to dope up the patient, but if they are crying or in pain, give them what they need to be comfortable. No one is asking you to kill him, just make him comfortable and leave the rest to God.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

i think its pointless to continue fighting once the dying process has begun. hospice monitors vitals and they know when organs start failing. i wanted to ease up on the morphine so mom could talk to us again but she was dying and it would have been selfish. in my moms case hospice heard no sounds from her digestive system and knew the process had begun. i think your dad needs to be free from his pain.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

If his mind is sharp, maybe ask him what makes him most comfortable; if he wants it, please consider honoring this. His body is in a weakened state and pain even thought not evident can still take a lot of energy to fight the pain vs vitals.

He might be saying no or be indifferent because he senses you aren't comfortable with it. My dad began increasing his use toward the end..to maximize his comfort. There were times when he wouldn't ask but I could see it in his eyes that he needed something. I always gave it to him. My mom couldn't and it was part of her needing to hang on and wanting more awake and lucid vs sleepy and zoned out.

It sounds like hospice thinks he is entering a new end phase. Please talk more with them. They have so much more experience with these things and palliative care then we do. Try to trust them. Ultimately it's yours and dads decision, but it's okay and you can be at peace with it.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter