On May 12, 2010 2:29 AM mimi3535 wrote:
my mom has pancreatic cancer stage 4. she is 5 months sinces diagnosis, she is currently doing home hospice. anyone going through a smilar situation, i would like to know the signs to look for when the end is nearing. thanks
~Hugs
You have an advantage with hospice already there. Ask them your questions; they should be able to tell you. With my dad; his body was already shutting down when I called (I didn't know it). When they came, they assessed him; cathed him; they could tell his body was shutting down by the color of his urine & the scent his body was giving off.
I was told to give morphine - how much & how many times, he didn't want a full dose & was pretty much in charge of it up until the end. When he lost the ability to speak; I had him blink his eyes, asking if he was in pain; he was not. I don't doubt that not dosing him fully helped him go faster.