Detoration is heartbreaking

Hi 

I have posted before about my mum, she was given weeks to live on the 3rd march. after only being diagnosed on the 20th February.  She is at home with my dad.   

She has been pretty much bed bound since coming home and always had oxygen tubes in.  The only time she leaves the bed is to use the commode which she takes about 30 mins to recover from each time.

 

I have seen a real detoration in the last week. Although she is swollen on the tummy, legs and arms she seems very withdrawn if that make sense. She seems very pale too. She keeps getting bouts of high temperatures. Feeling sick, constipation, dirahea. She has said she doesn't feel it come sometimes.

She now sleeps most of the day.  Maybe Alert for an hour or two a day.  She eats very little maybe a little toast or a yoghurt .

She sometimes seems confused and teary.

Although she has many end of life symptoms. 

I still don't know how close we are?

I don't want to lose my mum but I don't know how long she can go on as she is.  

I don't really know what Im posting for.  I just need to talk it out my system. 

How long did the end go on for u? 

I am so tired and drained and can not do anything but overthink. I am still working full time with 3 kids and visiting mum as much as I can to help my dad. But I feel like I'm not doing any of those things very well. 

 

Mum passed away this morning (7/04/2021) at 3.47 am.

The last 24 hours have been horrendous

 

 

 

 

Parents
  • Hi there ...

    Oh my , your getting pulled in every direction ... can you take a bit of time off work .. even a few days ... there's not many managers that would not understand what your going through right now ... be kind to yourself .. your not super woman ... just human ... if you keep doing this you will crack ... you need to breath...

    I know you want an answer to your question ... if only we had a cristle ball ... but in my lifetime and looking after those near the end of their journey... some live far longer then expected ... and some go far quicker ... there's no logic ... even those expierance can only give a rough estimation ... 

    I'd say she sounds like she's comming close but I'm only guessing from what you said ... have her medical team put in a driver for her meds ... that's usually one of the last things they can do to keep her pain to a minimum... talk to her carers ...ask what they think ... I'm so so sorry your going through this heartbraking time at the moment....it's one of the hardest things you'll ever do ..

    But hold on in there ... please ask for help for you .. you can talk to Marie Currie ... look on their website .. they are there for your mum's last journey and to chat to the family too ... they can listen and advise you ... sending you a vertual hug... Chrissie x 

Reply
  • Hi there ...

    Oh my , your getting pulled in every direction ... can you take a bit of time off work .. even a few days ... there's not many managers that would not understand what your going through right now ... be kind to yourself .. your not super woman ... just human ... if you keep doing this you will crack ... you need to breath...

    I know you want an answer to your question ... if only we had a cristle ball ... but in my lifetime and looking after those near the end of their journey... some live far longer then expected ... and some go far quicker ... there's no logic ... even those expierance can only give a rough estimation ... 

    I'd say she sounds like she's comming close but I'm only guessing from what you said ... have her medical team put in a driver for her meds ... that's usually one of the last things they can do to keep her pain to a minimum... talk to her carers ...ask what they think ... I'm so so sorry your going through this heartbraking time at the moment....it's one of the hardest things you'll ever do ..

    But hold on in there ... please ask for help for you .. you can talk to Marie Currie ... look on their website .. they are there for your mum's last journey and to chat to the family too ... they can listen and advise you ... sending you a vertual hug... Chrissie x 

Children
  • Thank u so much for Ur reply. And kind words. 

    I think sometimes the unknown is far worse then the reality sometimes. Oh for a crystal ball. 

    The strange thing is there has been no one medical out to visit my mum since the day after she left hosp. So 3 weeks. I'm not sure if this is something they wanted as my dad is reluctant to chase it up and as said he will phone of he feels they are needed.  So no drivers have been given.  But her morphine has increased. 

    I know things can change quickly and every night I wait for a phone call. But I also know that there maybe many weeks of this to come too. It's so incredibly hard. X

  • Just thought this might help - we had the same experience with Macmillan's district nurses, and didn't have a syringe driver offered. It's very much led by you I think, but please just call them if you want advice or even just to talk things through, as once you're looking after someone at home I think they just assume you're ok if they don't hear from you, and they just check in with you every few weeks x