How long??

Tross760

Isn’t this always the question? How long for this or that or the other. 

I am wondering at this point, how long can mom hang in there only drinking a total of one ensure a day? That is only 150 calories. I hate seeing her go through this.... am curious of other peoples experiences with the decline of eating on hospice at end of life stages.  

Quilting brings calm

I think it’s different based upon each persons’ general health.  The average seems to be about 10 days if no food or water.  Not sure how a daily Ensure would change that. 

I’m so sorry you have to go thru this extended period of grieving while she is still here. It must be difficult to deal with. 

zauberflote

T, talk to your hospice nurse about this. There's a wonderful little book by Hank Dunn called "HardChoices for Loving People". It speaks of a dying person's body's changing needs. As the body shuts down, some parts just don't work at all any more. If you've read things like that, you know she's not in any distress from hunger or thirst. If she's not in distress, that can help put your heart at ease. She's preparing for a journey which requires her to pack nothing at all. 

All that said, it is indeed difficult to watch, as you say. 

Tross760

Thank you Quilting and Zauber. 

It has been tough to watch. Mom continues to drink 1 ensure or less daily. The last few days she is exhibiting a lot of terminal agitation. I have read quite a few of the resources like "Hard Choices for Loving People". It is helpful, it just seems like you never know how to apply it with your own LO. Everyone is slightly different and I am trying to determine if this is her end, pre dying phase. 

I just don't want to see her suffer. If not so much physically, more mentally. She is all over the place and has next to zero touch with reality based on what she does happen to talk about. 

Thank you all for your support. 

Quilting brings calm

Tross - I’m continuing to think of you and your Mom.  

I checked on something just because it would matter to me.  The experts seem to think she doesn’t feel hunger or pain from hunger at this point.  So you can ease your mind on that point. In fact they seem to think that it would be painful internally for her to eat/ drink a lot because her body can’t process it.   I would think the ensure might help keep her mouth etc from being dry though.