The hospice nurse has said that in mom’s situation her brain will eventually shut down. It’s a slow process. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?
Yes, I'm living this at the moment. Basically, mthr's body has to wear out. Her mind is gone, which means her broken brain will eventually not be able to remember how to chew and swallow right. Her liver & kidneys are already deteriorating from age, her bones are brittle, and she is just existing. The battle for us is to keep them comfortable - not in pain and not in fear.
There's a great book by Dr. Atul Gawande called, Being Mortal, which deals with the realities of end of life treatments. Mthr was very thorough in her research and knew she did not want artificial feeding, antibiotics, or surgery when she only had a year to live. Being on hospice means 6 months, so we know it's time for this. Reading the book allows us to understand how difficult these interventions make the process of dying. All mthr wanted was pain killers and anxiety drugs. And that's what she'll get when the time comes.
Right now, any virus or flu will cause mthr to get pneumonia because she doesn't remember how to cough. Pneumonia has been called "the old man's friend," because it's a relatively quick death. Tylenol will make her comfortable from fever, and an anti anxiety meds will allow her to not be afraid. Another drug will dry up her breathing so she won't feel like she's drowning. The lack of oxygen will allow her to get sleepy and gently pass. This is what I hope for her, a good, gentle death. Not one where there is pain, anxious people running around, and injections and bright lights and surgeries to save her so she can exist a few more months. No, I want her to have a gentle, peaceful death. There is Gospel music playing in her room and sometimes she hums to it. Soon she can meet her Maker.
My mother's "vital signs" were fine up until about 45 minutes before her death. So not sure how much they tell you, depending upon the underlying condition of the patient.
There's a great book by Dr. Atul Gawande called, Being Mortal, which deals with the realities of end of life treatments. Mthr was very thorough in her research and knew she did not want artificial feeding, antibiotics, or surgery when she only had a year to live. Being on hospice means 6 months, so we know it's time for this. Reading the book allows us to understand how difficult these interventions make the process of dying. All mthr wanted was pain killers and anxiety drugs. And that's what she'll get when the time comes.
Right now, any virus or flu will cause mthr to get pneumonia because she doesn't remember how to cough. Pneumonia has been called "the old man's friend," because it's a relatively quick death. Tylenol will make her comfortable from fever, and an anti anxiety meds will allow her to not be afraid. Another drug will dry up her breathing so she won't feel like she's drowning. The lack of oxygen will allow her to get sleepy and gently pass. This is what I hope for her, a good, gentle death. Not one where there is pain, anxious people running around, and injections and bright lights and surgeries to save her so she can exist a few more months. No, I want her to have a gentle, peaceful death. There is Gospel music playing in her room and sometimes she hums to it. Soon she can meet her Maker.
My mother's "vital signs" were fine up until about 45 minutes before her death. So not sure how much they tell you, depending upon the underlying condition of the patient.