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Pattijean Asked September 2016
How long can someone last when they start refusing meals?
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Lately my mom, 102 years old, has started to sleep through meals and refuse medication and even having her teeth put in. Around noon she wakes up a bit and eats maybe some soup or a pudding. This has been going on for over a week. How long can the body last on such little sustenance? I worry if I miss a day that will be the day she goes. I feel guilt but I am tired and stressed at seeing her sitting in her wheelchair and just sleeping and drooling. Does anyone know how much the body can last without proper nourishment?
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DDDuck Sep 2016
I suggest you take her to emergency room if they decide she is a failure to thrive or other diagnosis they may put in a peg or gastroeintestinal feeding tube in her stomach where you can feed her via specific formula; in any case the iv fliuds wont hurt. also try ensure it comes in different flavors and give pedialyte or adult mineral and electrolyte fluids. Now I am reading she is in a nursing home . I dont understand why they dont refer her for a peg if she is not eating, I would persist on them addressing thisl
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Pattijean Sep 2016
A hospice has refused her since she is in a nursing home with supposedly palliative care (not so much that I see). We do get some fluids into her on a daily basis and she seems very thirsty at times and will drink. Not sure if it is more to please us or not.
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pamstegma Sep 2016
Not long. Do you know how to check for dehydration? Can you ask the MD to send a visiting nurse? You could call Hospice for an evaluation, too. Get some stress relief by bringing in someone for an impartial opinion.
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