Hi CL303,

I'm not sure what is causing this but it doesn't sound good.

I'm not any professional but the being up and down in a lot of pain and very restless legs could be bad for your mother in law.

I think it is best to keep her still and lay her down when the pain occurs.

I think what the doctors said could be true so stay close to her!

Aswell, I would like to know how old she is.

Thanks, Black Knight

Thanks for your reply. She is 73. 

We we are trying to keep her lay down and is doing this more today but regularly trying to her up. 

I think its a matter of days but unsure.

They have given her some sedation today and she seems a lot more settled. I just struggle to understand how someone one their final days can be so active. 

She’s a lot less restless this evening and hopefully she will feel better too with more pain relief.

i just wondered if anyone else has experienced similar?

Thanks you CL303

Hi CL,  there is an end of life phase where the person becomes more active.  It’s like the candle burns brightest just before it goes out.  I read about it when my Nan was actively dying.  Sometimes a patient who has been asleep a lot wakes up and is like normal.  Sometimes they have a sudden burst of energy.  They can’t get restless and pluck at the sheets, my Nan got restless legs and twitched a lot.  She pass within a week of that happening.  So sorry you’re going through this. My heart goes out to you and your family xxx

Hi this is something I'd like to know as well, my father has head and neck cancer which has spread to his lungs and elsewhere and was told he has months to live. He has now lost over 5 stone in weight with 9kg coming off in the last two weeks. My sister is staying with him but he is incredibly restless and up and down all night, he is off balance but still managing to walk about. He isn't eating much and incredibly weak but doesn't want to give up. It feels like he has went downhill rapidly in the last week but he is still trying to maintain his routine. He used to come over to my work and help me from 9am til 6pm which kept him going now he forces himself to come over for maybe an hour then has to get home again. His breathing is rattling and sounds like the death rattle today yet he is still going around. How could this be? 

Hi Stuart, I’m almost certain that the death rattle is litterally when they are just hours or a day away from death.  The mucus builds up from them not taking fluids anymore.  They certainly wouldn’t be walking around outside with a death rattle.

there is a good guide on Cancer .Org (link below)  about the stages of dying. I’ve read it many many times so I was prepared for my mum’s end, but she died suddenly out of the blue in the end.  However, I watched my Nan die over the course of 8 weeks and it does follow a predictable path.

There is a comprensive guide here, https://www.cancer.org/treatment/end-of-life-care/nearing-the-end-of-life/death.html

I hope this helps you 

L

I am sorry for all your losses, I lost my  father to Dementia in May this year, but just lost a very dear friend, she had and fought non hodkiins lymphoma twice, she didn’t die from this as she was cancer free, she died of pneumonia due to having a chest infection aandd not strong enough to fight it. I’m now referring to the death ratttle as mentioned earlier, people normally get that when they are not able to swallow and the spit and mucus gets caught in the  throat, causing a rattle sound, if someone is in hospital they can and are normally given medication to help stop this happening..... 

watching a loved one go through the latter stages is a very sad and frightening time. But just let them know you are there and comfort them. God Bless You All