My mum died earlier this year from breast cancer, she was diagnosed 18 months ago and we knew it was terminal for 3 weeks before she died. I was with her at the end, she choose to stay at home (I moved back in). She was out of bed and downstairs the day before she died, with the help of a stair lift and wheelchair (her choice to get out of bed) The day she died she had a few sips of tea, a bite of a strawberry and was awake off and on throughout the day (not out of bed, but awake enough to say when she wanted more pain relief and answer me when I spoke to her) I just wanted to know of other people's experiences at the end. I know there's not really much point. I can't change anything. But my mum was awake in the day, was still taking her pain relief orally, she was on low flow oxygen 1.5. Is this normal at the end? The nurses had brought syringe drivers, diamorphine and whatever else to the house ready. I was in her bedroom the whole night, she had some more oramorph, went back off to sleep. She moved around a bit later on, I asked her if she wanted more oramorph she didnt answer and then she was gone. I'm just curious as to whether this is common? Still taking pain killers orally, still lucid, still moving herself to get comfy? And then gone. The paramedics when they came were so surprised nothing like that had been used. I am grateful that it didnt get to that stage, but just wondering is it normal and would she have been in pain and not been able to say? Although she had spoken to me 3 hours earlier to say she wanted more oramorph? Just a little confused.
