I am looking after my 77 year old dad who had lung cancer which has now spread. A month ago after radio therapy he was as right as rain even though we knew he could not be cured. Suddenly the cancer began to spread and dad became ill. After weeks of care at home using oral medicines he lost the ability to eat or drink, could no longer safely give him medicines or drink. 

He has not been for no2s now for 3 weeks or more and has been on the driver for 6 days now. 

Here is the paradox with the driver. 

Before the driver dad always had a niggling pain which he was constantly aware of which meant he knew something was wrong and was therefore happy to be put on the commode for a wee and get back into bed knowing something was amiss with him. He was very lucid at this time and still cracking jokes. 

Once the driver was put in within a short time his pain was completely gone, no pain at all. There began the problems despite the fact he was unable to eat, rapidly loosing weight and too weak even to stand up, the moment the pain disappeared he believed he was no longer ill and so became he'll bent on no longer staying in his bed. This led to extreme anxiety and distress not only for him but us as well. 

Over a couple of days he was kept calm by additional anti anxiety injections, the sum of which were added to his daily driver change/refill. After a couple of days he was sleeping but not in a coma and he was rousable at care time. 

After a couple of days he is now pretty much asleep and Un rous able even when talked to. He is however also shutting down internally his breathing today is very erratic he is sweating even though it is not particularly warm, he is however peaceful and pain free.  I am sure that he will just stop breathing later today and slip away.  

Initially I dreaded the thought of the driver, however it is fitted very quickly does not need veins, it goes under the skin and works fairly  quickly. 

In dad's case we could no longer do anything for him no drink no food no medicine. The driver has helped us and him to gently and peacefully go from that point to his journeys end which hopefully will be soon. 

So don't fear the driver it is not the end of things it just makes the end easier for everyone. 

I sit here listening and typing, dad is still breathing erratically and is still comfortable. we cannot stop what is happening inside him but at least we can make him oblivious to it and keep him calm and pain free. 

Hope this helps anyone else who is worried about this. 

Good luck everyone.