If medical staff have removed a nasal feeding tube and the patient's bed says, "Nil by mouth"...

[Carrotsandcelery]

...is the patient not being fed at all?

A relative of mine has suffered a severe stroke. She has now had her nasal feeding tube removed and there is a sign on her bed saying, "Nil by mouth". Is she being starved to death or would there be another reason for this?

[MitchiestInge]

maybe is parenteral nutrition thing?

[Himalayanbalsam]

She should be getting some sort of nutrition I think. The nil by mouth will be because the stroke has affected her swallowing and she cannot take food by that route.

Bear in mind that her energy needs are not anything like yours are as she is not active. Choking/inhaling food will do her far more harm than reduced nutrition for now.

Are you visiting - can you ask the nurses?

[Carrotsandcelery]

She does have another drip in her arm.

What is parenteral nutrition?

She is not going to have an op but she was being transfered to another hospital.

[Carrotsandcelery]

We were visiting but the transfer will make this much more difficult. My parents will hopefully be able to make the journey though and have been asking questions up until now.

[MitchiestInge]

intravenous feeding I think

nutritional stuff going into veins?

[Carrotsandcelery]

That is a relief. Thank you everyone.

[MitchiestInge]

just thought - if your relative is dying maybe there won't be any sort of nutrition though

you could ask if they are on Liverpool care pathway? hope you get some information soon

[bilblio]

Yep, agree with what everyone else says. I'm a speech & language therapy assistant, we also cover eating & drinking & swallowing.
There's a very high risk of food or fluids going down the wrong way (being aspirated) when people have strokes. It can cause choking, or pneumonia. It's called dysphagia. Often it's temporary and as your relative improves she should be able to manage food and fluids again, although she'll probably need a modified diet for a while, soft foods etc.
The nil by mouth should be a temporary measure and she'll be seen by a speech & language therapist who'll assess further.

[Carrotsandcelery]

She is not really conscious just now. She was sort of on Friday but yesterday she wasn't really. I think she probably is dying.

[MitchiestInge]

:( is she very old?

[Carrotsandcelery]

She is 89 Mitchie and has lived a full and busy life. It is very sad though as we all love her very dearly.

[coccyx]

still needs hydration

[Carrotsandcelery]

She died this morning. I am so Thanks for all the information everyone.

[bilblio]

So sorry Carrots. :(

[Carrotsandcelery]

Thank you.

[MitchiestInge]

sorry for your loss carrotsandcelery, sounds like she will be greatly missed

[Carrotsandcelery]

She will be Mitchie. She had an amazing life though with a lot of love in it.

[MitchiestInge]

what a lovely thing to be able to say of someone, hope it is a comfort

hope you have family/friends around too?

[jasper]

a great life and a peaceful death. You can't ask for more