Syringe driver

[sadtimeshardtimes]

DF has had a driver put in with Morphine and Midazolam.
He’s receiving palliative care with daily visits from nurses carers and carers.
He can’t swallow his medication so the driver was put in a couple of days ago.

How long is average for people to carry on now. We want to have an idea what to expect. One of us is with him all the time during the day but just Dm at night in her room.

He hasn’t eaten or drunk anything in 2 days now.

It awful to see him like this but he does look mostly comfortable and only heeded one top up injection so far.

Not eating or drinking is probably a better guage than being on a driver. People can be on drivers for some time. My mum was put on a driver the day she was admitted to hospice. She spent 7 weeks there before she died. She stopped eating probably 10 days before her death, and stopped drinking maybe 4 or 5 days before?

Wishing you strength and peace, it's the most difficult thing I've ever been through. X

So sorry you are going through this. As said above not eating or drinking is a better indication. I have went through this with both my parents now and from my experience you will see the change.
My dad lasted around 7 days once on the driver and no food or fluids just mouth care. My mum was only around 24hrs. They put her on a second driver as she was showing discomfort she passed around 10minutes after the second driver was added.
sending you so much strength at this difficult time x

I’m sitting here now. His eyes are half open. I can’t tell if he’s distressed or not. He doesn’t look peaceful at all. He can’t speak so he might even be asleep

My heart goes out to you @sadtimeshardtimes it's heartbreaking to watch your parents slip away.🌸

This gives some indication

My dad died recently. He was on a syringe driver for a couple of days. He was eating and drinking ( small amounts) till the last day.

Thinking of you,OP. It's such a difficult time .

I would say 2-4 days likely… less than a week

Play his favourite music, discuss things you want him to hear, encourage anyone who wants to say goodbye to do so.

I hope he remains peaceful and settled.

My DH managed to survive four days once at this point. My mil lasted three days.
It’s hard, my heart goes out to you.

sorry spell check struck.

My DH was in a similar state for 36 hours. The palliative care nurses gave him additional meds when he started to have noisy breathing. Call them if he's distressed or his breathing changes. I'm so sorry for you and your family, I know this is so hard on everyone.

My Mum took 11 days to pass after getting a syringe driver - she was beyond ready to go so it took us all (including GP & nurses) by surprise. Sending you virtual hugs, it's a hard wait.

The nurse came back and gave an injection to settle him. I’ve popped home to shower and I’ll go back later so DM is not alone overnight.

I got DC to say goodbye as we left in case she doesn’t want to go again.

Only Thursday he was sitting up eating and talking. I can’t believe how fast he’s gone downhill

Thank you all for your kind words and experience

My son (28) went to the cinema with his dad on the Sunday (in a wheelchair as his balance wasn’t good), was eating on the Monday, by the Tuesday he had deteriorated a lot, couldn’t take anything orally, meds or food, was drinking sips of water but even that came up. Wednesday syringe drivers and moved downstairs and heavily sedated and not communicating, eyes half open but settled. He spoke with a whisper on the Saturday but only a few words and went back to sleep. Dr came out early hours of Sun morning as breathing not good, was given an injection. Two hours later, he was gone. We played his Spotify music from the minute he came downstairs till the end. We were very lucky that we had a hospice at home nurse overnight on the Saturday, she called the dr out and supported us.

Jack was diagnosed June 2022 with a glioblastoma, two operations and radio/chemo kept him stable and still working for 2.5 years. It was only the last 6 months that he slowly went downhill, still working up until May when we were given the news that it would be palliative care only.

Our beautiful boy fell asleep for the last time on the 29th June.

Play music and keep talking to your dad xx

Oh gosh I’m so sorry. That’s heartbreaking.

Oh gosh that must be so hard @BellaVita I can't even imagine your heartache.

So desperately sad to lose Jack at such a young age.

Thinking of you all. 🌺

@BellaVita heartbreaking. Sleep well jack x

@sadtimeshardtimes , I’m really very sorry you are going through this. It’s just awful, I’ve been there twice. I’m glad your dear dad is peaceful. He can still hear you, do talk to him. I think you’re looking at a couple of days. Sending you strength. Xx

My partner lasted two days with a driver sending you strength

He’s gone. Thank you all. It was peaceful which is all I could hope for.

@sadtimeshardtimes Oh lovely, so sad for you. It's so difficult losing a parent.

Wishing you strength and peace. 💐

@sadtimeshardtimes im sorry for your loss. I’m glad your DF was at peace at the end.

So sorry. Sending much love to you all xx

My mum only lasted a few more days but she’d barely been eating for about a week or so. The last 24 hours she became very distressed and started to try and get up ( she was non weigh baring from the Friday and she died on the Monday morning) .

thinking of you all, it’s such a difficult time but I hope he is peaceful and just slips away when he’s ready.

Oh I’m so sorry I didn’t see this. Thinking of you all Op and glad he’s found peace

Thank you all again for your kind words.