My mom was admitted to hospice care officially two days ago, after not eating for three days and barely drinking for two. She has now not ate in 5 days and not drank in 4 (occasional ice chip for dry mouth). The last 24 hours she has mostly slept but during the night she has developed a fever. I was expecting her body to start cooling as her final days approached. Is a fever common also?
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
I'm glad your mom doesn't have to fight this anymore.....peace
There's nothing that can prepare us for the loss of a parent, and losing your Mom is especially hard. Sending you big hugs....we know how hard this is. Take your time grieving, and don't let anyone tell you in the coming weeks/ months that you should be "over it" - this is a different process for everyone. Grieve in your own time and handle things as you need to. You're always welcome to come back here and vent or talk to us if you need to as well. Many of us have been there.
I sat with my mom until the end. She passed away as I expected despite the nurses still insisting on it being days not hours. I called them and said it would be hours due to her breathing through the night with labor loud breathing. They insisted she still had a week left but they would stop by midafternoon. I called my dad who was at work saying there were hours. I was right, 3 hours later she died peacefully. It was hard yet peaceful.
Just take it easy on yourself and her. Let things progress as they will. It's really hard to watch but stay strong and positive. She's so lucky to have you guys with her and for you to be so patient with her.
Sending prayers and strength,
Hugs, Bella
You have recieved excellent advise above so try and stay positive.
Hospice nurses are indeed good at giving you a time frame but what they see are changes from day to day. One day it may look like two weeks and the next three days then that night or hours.
As a hospice nurse I once told another nurse that her patient would pass at 10 am on Sunday morning. Not because I was psychic but because I had seen her and knew the time was short and she and hubby were very religious and had their own service every Sunday morning. The nurse called me at midday to tell me that I had been correct. Many patients did pass on a Sunday if they had strong religeous beliefs.
Yes it's very difficult to watch but you will cherish this time you have together. It's a hard time but was very spiritual for me. I was so blessed to have been there with my mother.
It was also the most difficult time of my life at the same time.
My thoughts are with you.
Sending you courage and a big hug
Both my parents were on hospice. With my dad, the hospice said he had about two weeks - daddy passed about four days later. When hospice told me my mom was "transitioning" and it would be several days to a week - I immediately went and saw my mom. Mom passed about 16 hours later.
Yes - hospice nurses are the experts in recognizing the signs of imminent death - but often times death occurs on its own timetable.
I'm so sorry for what your going through.
When my Mom was on Hospice, I got a call that within 48 days she would be passing, and the Hospice was right on that call. Same with my Dad.