Terminal Agitation

[WalterHWhite]

I wonder if someone can help please. My DM is having end of life care at home. They increased her medication last night and I was told that she would be much more peaceful today.

She has stopping being sick but is still very distressed and agitated. I’m not with her at the moment as I’ve popped home for a bit. District nurses are involved and trying to get her medication right.

Does anyone know if terminal agitation is a symptom of her not being ready to go yet? It’s heartbreaking to see her so distressed and isn’t really what she or I thought end of life would be like.

Any information would be great. Thanks

I agree with the previous posters that it's not a horrible thing to say at all. Watching a loved one go through the agitation is beyond awful and I was very relieved when my Mum became calm before the end after two horrible days of this. I'm so sorry for what you've been going through.

Thinking of you OP.

Thank you so much for your support. All of you. It really means a lot and of course has cleared up some doubts and questions that I had.

Carers asked this morning for a different type of nightdress - because she was so stiff. I didn’t need to know that!

Her breathing is getting quieter. Still no agitation though. I feel quite traumatised by this and I haven’t led a sheltered life or anything. I can only hope that she’s at peace very soon.

I get it totally, I sat with my mum as she was dying because my dad refused to and I was "but I'm just a kid and I need an adult"

I said to one of the nurses "she's dying, she won't get better but yet we have to wait and watch for her to die? How is that fair when you couldn't do that to a pet?"

My mum died a week ago in hospital. She was quite agitated on the day she died, she had some sedation late afternoon. Her breathing changed in the evening and she passed away very peacefully a couple of hours later. It's so tough, thinking of you