My mother is dying right now, how long does it take after death rattle has started?

Question

Her body is deterating very quickly.Liver has almost stoped working(liver cancer).She is not making sense when she is talking(when she is awake only when I arose her).Reps are about 12-16 per min. BP well is was pretty good this after noon when hospice came in, it was 140/80.When she drinks water she is choking very badly.SHOULD I GIVE HER WATER?? She just chokes on it really bad but she is very thirsty.I DO NOT want deprive her of water.PLS HELP

Answer 1

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I hope you have contacted Hospice as they can guide you through this final journey.

Here is some information for you inregards to the end of life (I answered this for another cancer patient):

No one really knows exactly when anyone will die, even cancer patients. The last days of life can be different for every patient. However, there are some 'physical signs' that the end of life is close.

1. Drowsiness, increased sleep, and/or unresponsiveness (caused by changes in the patient's metabolism).

2. Confusion about time, place, and/or identity of loved ones; restlessness; visions of people and places that are not present; pulling at bed linens or clothing (caused in part by changes in the patient's metabolism).

3. Decreased socialization and withdrawal (caused by decreased oxygen to the brain, decreased blood flow, and mental preparation for dying).

4. Decreased need for food and fluids, and loss of appetite (caused by the body's need to conserve energy and its decreasing ability to use food and fluids properly).

5. Loss of bladder or bowel control (caused by the relaxing of muscles in the pelvic area).

6. Darkened urine or decreased amount of urine (caused by slowing of kidney function and/or decreased fluid intake).

7. Skin becomes cool to the touch, particularly the hands and feet; skin may become bluish in color, especially on the underside of the body (caused by decreased circulation to the extremities).

8. Rattling or gurgling sounds while breathing, which may be loud; breathing that is irregular and shallow; decreased number of breaths per minute; breathing that alternates between rapid and slow (caused by congestion from decreased fluid consumption, a buildup of waste products in the body, and/or a decrease in circulation to the organs).

9. Turning the head toward a light source (caused by decreasing vision).

10. Increased difficulty controlling pain (caused by progression of the disease).

11. Involuntary movements (called myoclonus), changes in heart rate, and loss of reflexes in the legs and arms are additional signs that the end of life is near.

Answer 2

it could be hours or days now.....no one ever dies like the text book indicates... everyone is different. How about her kidneys? are they working properly? The kidneys will also shut down before death. You can check for mottling of the extremities as well. (blotches on the extremities) Usually once mottling starts, it's not too much longer. But I've seen different people do different things when they approach the dying process. As far as the water.... I would not let her gulp or suck through a straw. Take the straw and do like when you give a baby cola for the first time, with your finger on the top controlling the flow. If she aspirates on the water, that is not good. She could drown in her own fluids. Sorry I can't give a specific answer. God Bless!!

Answer 3

Oxycodone will relive your mom's discomfort. Give it to her in the strongest dose you can find. My mom too had thirst and no ability to swallow. She had a no I.V. directive (that I honored) and Hospice was of no help. Oxycodone is a pain relieving drug that is given to people in great pain and at the end of their life. You may (will) have to bang on some doors to get it. My opinion is to provide comfort at the risk of creating an addiction or organ damage (right, an insane thought, but care professionals think this way for many reasons). We had no pain management (She could not clearly indicate she was in pain, only moan). I ended up using lip balm and dripping water slowly from a washcloth into her mouth (this may cause pneumonia if she aspirates the water).

The death rattle... My friend died with MS, living for five days after fluids had been removed, respiration at 3 to 14 breaths per minute.

Death Sucks. Pain serves no purpose.

Answer 4

I am very sorry to hear that you are losing your mother,,my prayers are with you.My grandmother died from liver cancer.I never heard a death rattle.Everyone dies when it is their time.There is no answer to that.Wet an ice cube and rub it on your mothers mouth to wet her lips .You can also take a small piece of cloth,wrap it around a small stick like a popsicle stick,just whatever you have.Keep it very wet and swab it around in your mother's mouth so she can get water without choking.Or give her 2 or 3 very small ice chips at a time she will really appreciate that.Keep the ice chips no bigger than a dime so she won't choke.If you don't have chipped ice,just put ice in a baggie,cover it with a towel and hammer it to break it into chips.Your mother is lucky to have you.Bless you both.

Answer 5

Mottling Before Death

Answer 6

It's very hard to tell how long it will be, I know it 's very frustrating to not know. The sponges they use in the hospital (called toothettes usually) seem to be effective at quenching thirst but not giving so much as to choke on- which can cause aspiration pneumonia. When someone can't swallow effectively it's better to give very small amounts, which on the sponge is very little yet she can also suck some out of it and feel her thirst satisfied.

Answer 7

My mother, as most slowly dying people do, had the death rattle for two days before she passed away. It won't be long once it begins..

For the thirst, do this: Soak a wash cloth, with cold water, and let her suck the water out of the cloth. Keep her lips moist. Do this constantly until she is at rest.

Tell her you love her all you can before she passes. Will help her AND you. God bless and good luck. Pops

Answer 8

I am so sorry you are going through this terrible time. As far as the water goes, ask the hospice nurse or the doctor what is the best thing to do. As far as how long it takes, no one can tell you that. Certainly it is close, but that could still be days or weeks.

Answer 9

Hospice should advise you what to do. I think they usually have them sip from a straw or give small chips of ice. But check with them.

I'm sorry you are having to go through this with your mother.

Answer 10

I'm so sorry for you! I don't really have any answers for you but just wanted to let you know that I'm very sorry for your pain. May God bless you and your Mother.