End of life

My sister is currently with me at home in a hospital bed.

She has Glioblastoma (brain cancer) we was told by her oncologist she has anything from 2 weeks to 3 months to live. 
It will be 2 weeks this Thursday, my sister is getting no better, she more or less has every tick on the list of end of life, the strange thing is she always is ok when she wakes in morning for a few hours , then the rest of the day she sleeps and has non stop seizures, breathing difficulties, confusion, lack of appetite, it's so cruel all this.

Mu question is, do I ring the hospice for advise, and would they arrange transport to the hospice if needed? As she is non mobile plus double incontinant too.  
 

thanks for reading x 

  • Hi there Pintail ️
     

    I am so sorry to hear what you and your family are going through with your sister - I couldn't scroll past and not post back to you. My dad has cancer which is why I am on here, and as you said this disease is so so cruel. 

    My advice for you here, is if even for a second you think that your sister is getting closer to 'the end', then please don't waste any time contacting the hospice or getting in contact with cancer nurses (I am sure your local hospice could put you in contact with nurses if your sister wanted to stay at home) 

    My nan passed at home a few years back due to cancer. She decided that she wanted to pass at home. The onset of death from symptoms to 'the end' happened quite quickly for her, and unfortunately we didn't have the right care or pain medication for her when she passed, which resulted in quite a traumatic and stressful death. I would hate for anyone else to go through this, so I would say please contact your local hospice for help and advice of how to make your sister more comfortable ️
     

    All the best for you x

  • Oh blimey, 

    what an absolutely heartbreaking situation, how on earth are you coping with this alone.

    Absolutley contact the hospice. Take every ounce of assistance they offer you. 
    You both need it to make an incredibly difficult and harrowing time a little easier to bear.

    End of life care is the entire purpose of the hospice movement and they are incredibly good at what they do.

    Make this time 'easier' for both of you and get the experts on board.

    Take care

    Hilts

  • Hello,

    Have to strongly disagree with reply from SJP92, particularly as they say they did not have the right care and medication at home.

    It appears that medical help is no longer an option for your sister and brave on you for having the courage to take care of her at home 24/7. 

    I think you should definitely try to get your sister into a hospice where they will take very good care of her and also help you with all that you are going through - so ring them first thing in the morning!.

    Best Wishes (You are not alone)

     

  • Hi, I'm so so sorry to hear your sister has Glioblastoma. I just had to reply as your first sentence 'my sister is currently with me at home in a hospital bed' brought back so many memories for me. My sister had the same devastating brain cancer and I watched her deteriorate in a hospital bed in the lounge. How are you? Please look after yourself too. Did you contact the hospice? Yes they will arrange transport for you. Please don't feel alone, I'm thinking of you and your sister. XXX

  • Hi, i looked after my husband at home till the end, that is where he wanted to be. He was very strong and determined till the end which made it easier, 2 days before he went he was still crawling down the hallway to get to the toilet cause he didn't want to 'be a bother'. Towards the end the hospice came round to the house and put in a catheter, not sure if this is an option,  she sounds bedridden? The hospice should definitely be involved, they can give a lot of advice, ours was doing home visits for us but I'm not sure what happens these days, that was at the start of covid and during lockdown. They wouldn't come much because of that but the district nurses were our heroes,  they came every day to fill his pain pump and helped me enormously,  when they were concerned they rang the hospice themselves for advice from the drs. You definitely need help, it's finding the right channel. I also had my mother-in-law move in to help me with him and the children, would've been much harder alone, is there someone who could be with you? Don't be afraid to use the hospice if you're struggling, that's what they're there for xxx