Palliative Sedation

cindoe

I was not as strong as most here who had a loved one pass. I didn't want her in pain by no means, but it was too hard to watch her not given food or water, and to be drugged into a coma. It was the best I know but it was hard cause you always think this is not the time. Maybe I'm just not a strong person cause it was hard to handle watching. So please tell your loved ones that this is what you want, it will not be as hard on them.

Love and Peace,

Cyn

barbe1958

Cyn, a very good point! You two were unprepared for how fast her cancer spread. Most of us have a bit longer to get used to the idea of dying and have the chance to have "the" conversation with our loved ones. I think because my DH has watched me with both parents, he is better prepared (though who really is??) for when my time comes.

apple

Katie... I've experienced 3 at home hospice events.  The nurses are very good (at least here in KS) about making sure everyone is comfortable.. the mourners, the siblings, the patient. My mother in law was basically in a coma for weeks, and my father in law - just a matter of hours.  Both were very comfortable.  One issue I had, was WHO adminsters the drugs near the end.. we had a bit of an argument with one sister in law..  Fortunately, HER daughter, who was absolutely wonderful, who worked at a nursing home, lovingly just took over.

My mother, who died in a hospital had a bit rougher time actually, because my sister kept barging in saying 'she doesn't want oxygen'.. every 10 minutes, even tho she had only been in the hospital a matter of hours.

I will definitely choose 'palliative sedation'.

Trickling

I want to thank you all for this thread. It has meant so much to learn so much beforehand in a caring way. I am revising my advance directives to include "palliative sedation".  I am one of those who didn't even know about it though I had attempted to talk with doctor about end of life.

I just discovered a radio interview with Maggie Callanan, an author/nurse who has practiced palliative/hospice care for 20+ years. I hope you will accept this posting as a way of expressing my encouragement and gratitude.

Radio interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kojj-OrS5Jk

Some of you are probably familiar with not only Maggie's books but also the very practical book, Jane Brody's Guide to the Great Beyond by Jane Brody, which I also discovered thanks to your thread.  

TriciaK

My Dad was given sedation but not told beforehand and nor were we:(

I'm sad about that and think he would have wanted to say things to us given the chance, he remained in a drug induced coma until he passed and I think Euthanazia is some thing that should be allowed at a time like this, I've done it for my pets and hated to see them suffer and its tragic any human being has to suffer this:(

barbe1958

Tricia, are you sure they didn't just give him enough morphine to be comfortable? I had my Mom and Dad, both, 'wake' up during their coma and talk to me. Freaked me out! That's when I realized they were just barely under. Just enough to keep them painfree. Then as death approached, their comas were deeper. I: feel so sad for you, sweetie! We still talked to our parents while they were comatose as they say they can still hear you.

suz45

Thank you for starting this thread. I didn't realize there was a difference between euthanasia & palliative sedation. I'm not sure if dh would be able to make this decision on his own, but this has made me realize I should talk to a few family members about what we decide to do in the end. I'm wondering if this is what one of my home-care nurses and a family (relative) nurse were asking me about when trying to start "hospice" conversations lately??

hugz Suz

barbe1958

Suz, euthanasia actually puts you to death. This sedation makes it comfortable as you die. Same result, really. You don't take on food or water - all IV's are stopped. No point in feeding a dying body. Some people don't like to think of their family member hungry, but that poor patient then has to process that food and eliminate it! Way too much work.

Hospice would probably automatically give you sedation. That's why once people enter hospice at a certain stage it's only a couple of days. Morphine reduces your oxygen intake as well. Everything starts to shut down pretty quick.

I'm pretty sure they'd help your DH understand the ramifications of the sedation. It's not exactly black and white though....just "sedation to keep your loved one comfortable". My brother still stays my Mom was killed by morphine and no food/water!! Could be, but there's a point where you just don't turn back.

Blessings2011

When it was my mom's time, she was given morphine for pain, and - because she had such a fluid build-up in her lungs - she was also given atropine. She'd struggled so hard just to breathe, and within minutes of being given the atropine, she settled back against the pillow so peacefully again.

The morphine did not initially put her into a coma....it relaxed her so that she knew we were there, and when she did stop talking, her last words were "The angels...." The look on her face was so expectant, so hopeful, I didn't want to interrupt her transition.

She passed with a smile on her face.

barbe1958

Wow! That's the way I want to go! Both my parents passed at peace. It's so much more humane. I don't want to die at home though, as my family has to live in those rooms after I'm gone. Also, after seeing some of the body functions that need attending - like sucking mucus out of my Mom's throat - I knew I wanted the superior machines in a hospital. Let them do the clean up afterwards, not my family!

whisper2

It seems surreal to say this (and actually talk with the hospice nurses about this) but my mother-in-law is under hospice care and I was told that due to the nature of her disease, they would have to heavily medicate her towards the end. I am guessing palliative sedation.  Right now she is pretty with it, but does get more confused- especially about dates, when people are coming over, things like that.  I guess I'm just wondering what it will be like when we get to that point.  I imagine that we will all get to tell her goodbye but if she is heavily medicated, maybe she won't know what is going on and we won't get that last peaceful moment with her actually reacting to us?  I guess you never really know how it's going to go, but it's constantly on my mind...