*Triggering* Death from Pneumonia

[Tink2007]

Triggering and probably not the place but posting for traffic:

Has anyone experienced the loss of someone from pneumonia?

Was the death peaceful or was it horrible? What happened? Trying to prepare myself

It’s often Called the old mans friend, it’s often a kindness to pass away after a short illness like pneumonia, allowing people to pass away peacefully with little intervention.

Sorry if it’s something you’re going through personally at the moment

I'm sure the experience varies but for my Grandmother it was very peaceful. She just slept away and there was no death rattle.(Although the death rattle is disturbing for the person's loved ones, not so fir the person themselves. They aren't generally aware of it) Her breathing became gradually slower and then she didn't take another breath and that was it.

Yes, my dad. Very peaceful and calm. He wasn’t distressed at all and was unconscious/asleep for a good while before he actually died, and when the end came there were a few noisy/rattle breaths, but he wasn’t aware what was happening and just slipped away. Wouldn’t mind going that way myself.

Sorry for what you’re going through.

They just slip away ….. no drama no pain

Yes- they simply looked like they were sleeping for a few days beforehand. Then the breaths got shallower and shallower until they stopped.

My relative had cancer, so this was actually the 'best' outcome, it was very calm and peaceful.

Isn't pneumonia often the "official" cause of death in people with terminal illnesses?

I thing it varies a lot. It is often given as the cause of death as it is what finally finishes someone off. I don't think there's any pain though.

My late dad. He had a fall, was taken into hospital, couple of days later pneumonia set in (he had emphysema/COPD and lying down let infection get on the lungs which were already compromised by years of smoking). He just lay there semi-conscious, breathing slowed, shallowed, got rattly, stopped. Like CrohnicallyEarly said.
Of deaths I've heard of - some awful - it's not usually terrible apart from the loss itself.

My experience was a particularly aggressive infection and it wasn’t pleasant. Good pain relief made a difference though, the hospital palliative care team were amazing.

For my mother aged 93 it was very peaceful. One morning she was as unresponsive having been up and talking the night before. She was gone by early afternoon.

💐

My dd died of pneumonia. The very end was distressing as her last breaths sounded painful. But it was over quickly, and I got to hold her the whole time.

My great aunt died from pneumonia. She knew nothing about it. It was very quick. She died in her sleep. This was 26 years ago, and I've wished ever since that all of my loved ones could go the same pain free way that she did. It was also the best funeral I've ever attended.

Yes, my gran. She was on a lot of palliative care meds so hopefully didn't feel anything but it wasn't peaceful to watch, she seemed to be fighting for breath til the end . Glad to read for others it was peaceful, hopefully my gran was the exception rather than the rule.

Both my elderly parents died from pneumonia. In December, my dad who had dementia was taken into hospital and I went with him. He had an oxygen mask on and was struggling to breathe. Although he was given antibiotics, after 2 days, the doctors had decided that the level of oxygen in his blood was so low that they withdrew care from him. This meant that they stopped the antibiotics and the drip. They kept him comfortable and we gave him water, juice and yoghurt. It was v hard witnessing him struggle to breathe, but within 3 days he had passed away. I kept asking the Drs if they could give him sedatives so it would be less distressing for him. They didn’t but they did give him morphine. I have to be honest, it was heartbreaking watching him struggle to breathe, but his demise was mercifully short.

Sorry I can’t be more positive, just being honest with you. Just try and keep them comfortable, make sure they are hydrated and have appropriate pain medication. And get the drs to be really honest with you.

Mixed responses, I see.
But in my relatives case, there was no other cause of death. This may explain why it was peaceful and quick.
If it comes because of a secondary cause, then I can't comment. But I do hope you are ok

My Mum died from bronchial pneumonia in September. She was fine all day, felt ill about 5pm, was blue lighted to hospital at 10.30pm, went into cardiac arrest on arrival & was in a medically induced coma until she passed at 1pm the next day.
We sat with her all night & when the end came, it was a peaceful as I think it could have been.
Sending you love at what is going to be a difficult time.

to everyone who has had very sad / very tragic experiences x

@cupofteaplease. Are you Bea's mum?

Thank you all. I’m so sorry for your losses and hope I haven’t caused any of you upset.

It’s my grandad. X

OP. I lost my mum, not to pneumonia, but in a similar way to PP's accounts. It was hard and many years on I struggle to think about it. Hope you're ok

@Tink2007 I wish you and your Grandad peace x

Please talk to the HCPs, OP. All symptoms that cause distress to the patient - like shortness of breath - can be controlled with good palliative care. Palliative care can't necessarily actually stop patients being short of breath, but it can stop them being aware of the shortness of breath, IYSWIM

Symptoms like a 'death rattle' (which can start a few days before death) can seem upsetting to relatives, but actually not be distressing to the patient. HCPs should be able to talk you through this and reassure you that the patient is not in any distress.

My mum was in a care home with vascular dementia but died of pneaumonia. She became unresponsive and unable to swallow her (liquid) meds the day before she died. We decided to stop treatment and let her stay in her home. She became subconscious (like she was asleep) and her breathing became raspy for a time and then settled. It gradually slowed. Her extemeties became cool, hands and feet which was something staff checked. She never appeared in any discomfort and in the morning her breathing slowed right down and stopped. I was with her the whole time. After the hell that can be severe dementia her death was so calm which I am so grateful for. There care home had a plan in place had she needed pain relief in the night but it wasn’t an issue.