Follow
Share

My dad has end stage renal failure. And recently he’s refusing to eat any food for the past 5 days. He’s just drinking water. He says the smell/taste of food make him nauseous and makes him want to vomit. He sleeps throughout the day, and doesn’t sleep much at night. How long can he survive without any food? Any caregivers out there experience the same issue with someone with end stage renal failure?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
If he is in fact transitioning from this life to the next, he no longer needs food as his digestive system is shutting down, and it can be quite painful if he is forced to eat and drink. Let him be your guide right now, as he knows what he needs and doesn't.
I'm hoping you have hospice on board by now as they will better be able to explain to you what the body goes through as it prepares to die, and will give you peace of mind.
My husband during his 6 week dying process didn't eat for 41 days or drink for over 25 days, and hospice told me that he had broke their record of 5 weeks with no food. However that is not normal, as most people will die within a few weeks of not eating or drinking.
So the best thing you can do right now(other than get hospice on board if they're not already)is to make sure that you have said everything you feel you need to to your dad before he leaves this earth, as you don't want to have any regrets or wish you would have said something and didn't.
May God bless you and your dad during this time of transition.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report
pauley Sep 2022
Thank you for the respond. It’s really helpful. I will respect his wishes as he knows his body the best. We are just making him comfortable with the help of hospice. God bless you.
(2)
Report
Please don’t force him to eat. His body intrinsically knows exactly what he needs and it seems food is not needed. We kept my dad hydrated with sips of liquids. Later, his smart nurse told me to make ice chips out of his favorite drink and he enjoyed that until the end of his life. Going without food is not painful but being forced to eat certainly can be, I’m sorry you’re watching this process, it often feels helpless and lonely. I wish you both peace
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
pauley Sep 2022
thank you. May I asked how long did your dad last until the end of life without any food?
(0)
Report
See 2 more replies
You DO NOT 'make him eat', my friend. You hire hospice now to keep your dad comfortable as he transitions from this life to the next. If you have not already done so, please call dad's doctor for a referral to hospice for an evaluation right away.

Wishing you and your dear father peace as you deal with all that lies ahead.
Helpful Answer (9)
Report

I’m glad you asked this question because I think my 92yo mom might be nearing the end, too. She doesn’t have renal failure but is near the last stage of Alzheimer’s. over the past few days, she has shown no interest in food and says she’s not hungry. She has taken to her bed for hours at a time, only getting up for perhaps an hour occasionally. She sips water but usually only when prompted. I have read the responses and will follow their wise advice and just let her be. Fortunately, we have said all we need to say, so no regrets. She is pain-free, which is a blessing. Thanks to everyone on this forum for sharing.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

There were a few hunger strikers in jail in Northern Ireland a few years ago, and they were not force fed. They accepted water. My memory is that they died at about 60 days. However they were fit and well younger men before the strike, so that is probably a maximum. (It sounds a bit like Nazi camp experiments, but it did happen)
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

My friend's sister, who had been mentally ill for most of her life, decided to stop eating and drinking because she didn’t want to live anymore. Her family supported her decision. It took her about five days to pass.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

My dad has s3 ckf. He has lost about 30 percent of his weight in the past year and quit eating for about a week. My sister the surgeon wanted to reach out to hospice, but he still had and has all his adls. He’s since started eating some again.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

Onice you work with hospice, as they visit, staff will guide you on how long he can last based on his intake
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

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