Terminal aggitation

sara711

My mom has taken a spiral over the past month now unfortunately. She was walking, talking and even traveled on an airplane with me two and a half months ago to visit my sister. She started to have screaming episodes in the middle of the night a few weeks ago and now they are during the day as well. Hospice has been trying different medications to help and she is now on morphine. I was told that once the morphine stops working then that probably means she has entered into terminal agitation and then we might want to have her go to the Hospice house. I have never heard of terminal agitation. Why did her neurologist not warn us about this? Maybe because they didn't want to scare us? This disease is torture in itself, but now to watch my mom screaming at the top of her lungs when she is awake, to then be put back to sleep with morphine... I didn't know it could get this bad. I try to create a calming environment when she is screaming, but it seems like nothing helps now besides the morphine. How long can someone live like this? It's so incredibly hard to watch.

M1

Probably not long sara. It's not for the faint of heart and if it would make it easier on you to have her go to inpatient hospice, do it. There is no shame in that. Take whatever help you need at this point. Comfort is the only object now....

mommyandme (m&m)

Did anyone check for a UTI with this sudden decline? I’m not sure terminal agitation would be an upfront topic for a neurologist. IMO terminal agitation goes with a transition to end of life scenarios and not all patients experience it. A neurologist is trying to help the living. Your hospice team is probably your best source for end of life expectations, protocols and procedures.

Im so sorry you’re in this place on your journey. I hope your mom finds some peace and comfort soon.