Fatigue (feeling very tired) is one of the most common symptoms in the last days of life. A person's fatigue may become worse every day during this time. Drowsiness, weakness, and sleep problems may occur. Drugs that increase brain activity, alertness, and energy may be helpful.
The end-of-life period—when body systems shut down and death is imminent—typically lasts from a matter of days to a couple of weeks. Some patients die gently and tranquilly, while others seem to fight the inevitable. Reassuring your loved one it is okay to die can help both of you through this process.
You'll start to feel more tired and drowsy, and have less energy. You'll probably spend more time sleeping, and as time goes on you'll slip in and out of consciousness.
The first organ system to “close down” is the digestive system. Digestion is a lot of work! In the last few weeks, there is really no need to process food to build new cells.
Your loved one may sleep more and might be more difficult to awaken. Hearing and vision may decrease. There may be a gradual decrease in the need for food and drink. Your loved one will say he or she doesn't have an appetite or isn't hungry.
There are three main stages of dying: the early stage, the middle stage, and the last stage. These are marked by various changes in responsiveness and functioning. However, it is important to keep mind that the timing of each stage and the symptoms experienced can vary from person to person.
Gasping respiration in the dying patient is the last respiratory pattern prior to terminal apnoea. The duration of the gasping respiration phase varies; it may be as brief as one or two breaths to a prolonged period of gasping lasting minutes or even hours.
If someone is being discharged from a hospital or hospice, they will usually be given two weeks' supply of all of their medicines including their anticipatory medicines, unless they already have supplies at home. If the anticipatory medicines are prescribed by a GP, they might get just a few days of medicines supplied.
Final Weeks of Life
Increasing weakness and/or exhaustion. Increase in the need to sleep, having to spend the large majority of the day in bed/resting. Difficulty eating or swallowing fluids. A decrease in the patient's ability to communicate and/or concentrate.
Fear, anxiety and anger are all commonly seen characteristics of patients with terminal illnesses. As your loved one's health declines, you may notice them develop bitterness or anger. This is called terminal agitation. Along with this, terminal delirium and terminal restlessness may also present themselves.
Someone with a terminal illness may live for days, weeks, months or years. It often depends on their diagnosis and any treatment they are having. It can be difficult for healthcare professionals to predict exactly how long someone with a terminal illness will live (their prognosis).
Decompensation progresses over a period of minutes even after the pulse is lost. Even when vascular collapse is the primary event, brain and lung functions stops next. The heart is the last organ to fail.
Transitioning is the first stage of dying. It describes a patient's decline as they get closer to actively dying. Generally, when one is transitioning, they likely have days — or even weeks — to live. I have seen some patients completely skip the transitioning phase and some stay in it for weeks.
Mottling of skin occurs during the last week of life. Sometimes it may occur sooner or within just a few days of death.
Terminal agitation is typically seen during the hours or days before death and can be distressing and overwhelming for caregivers.
As a result of discontinuing eating, patients can die in as early as a few days. For most people, this period without food usually lasts about 10 days, but in rare instances, it can last several weeks.
A death rattle can occur when a person who is dying is no longer able to swallow, cough, or otherwise clear saliva and mucus from the back of the throat, and because secretions in the respiratory tract may be increased . The sound varies. It may be a crackling, wet noise that is amplified as the person breathes.
Many people lose consciousness near the end of life. But they may still have some awareness of other people in the room. They may be able to hear what's being said or feel someone holding their hand.
Pre-Death Energy Surge. Some people experience a brief surge in energy in the hours or days before death. This may last from a few minutes to several hours. During this time, your loved one may talk more, be interested in engaging in conversation, or interested in eating or drinking.
Body System Shutdown
The body shuts down as the end gets closer. The heart doesn't pump normally which leads to lower blood pressure and less blood going to the arms and legs and other organs like the kidneys. With less blood going to the kidneys, the kidneys stop working which leads to smaller amounts of urine output.
Periods of rapid breathing, and no breathing for brief periods of time, coughing or noisy breaths, or increasingly shallow respirations, especially in final hours or days of life.
People often become more drowsy and sleep more towards the end of life. This is one of many signs that a person may have when they are in their last few days and hours of life, but not everyone will experience this.