My mom is on day 4 on her having no bowel movement..a suppository today. Hospice said that she is on her end of life. My question is how long can she survive with no water (except mouth swab when she lets us) or no food. If she eats it’s only applesauce and that maybe 1 spoon a day. She has not eaten or drank in the last 2 days and her bowels are not moving. But she is still urinating. How can that be when she doesn't drink? Please help.
Try to concentrate purely on your mother's comfort in the immediate here-and-now, and forget about normal routines like bowel movements and fluid intakes. You're there to swab her mouth if she seems dry, ask if she wants anything else, hold her hand, let her know she's loved. Those are the things that really matter.
Do you have anybody else with you for support, or just hospice?
A hospice patient of mine lived for over 2 weeks without eating or drinking anything. It's mind boggling.
Maybe the "old" nurse can get her to eat and drink when no one else can. Or, maybe she just did it that day. Each day can be different.
It's so hard to "sit and wait" for life to end. We want to DO something.
Sit with her, hold her hand. Her favorite music would be relaxing or hospice may have a music therapist who can come and play an instrument and sing.
I'm sorry for you both.
My Granny was just a few days, I think she was in ICU for 5 days and was only lucid for the first two. She was ready, but made it to her birthday.