Signs that death is approaching.
One Foot in the Gravy
I found the following in Medical News Today. To see the entire article, visit https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320794. I found it to be a helpful list of things to expect as someone begins the process of dying. Having one, two or three of these symptoms is not a sign that the individual is going to die in the next few days. Having all or most of them typically means that the individual’s body is shutting down, which can take a year or longer.
You may be reluctant to talk about the fact that death is not far away. I’m tracking several measurements that converge less than 18 months from now when the probability of my death within a month reaches 50%. I want to be able to discuss this with my family, but not everyone is willing. My pulmonologist knows that I will refuse a ventilator, because I don’t believe I would ever come off it.
As the saying goes, see you on the other side.
1. Decreased appetite.
2. Sleeping more
3. Becoming less social
Spending less time with others. It isn’t personal, try not to be offended.
4. Changing vital signs
As a person approaches death, vital signs may change in the following ways:
Blood pressure drops
Breathing becomes shallower or more labored
Heartbeat becomes irregular and difficult to detect
Urine may be discolored.
If brown or rusty urine occurs on its own, without other signs, there may be a medical problem that needs addressing.
5. Changing toilet habits
People approaching death may pass less solid waste less often. They may also urinate less frequently.
6. Weakening muscles
7. Dropping body temperature
Offering a blanket is fine.
8. Experiencing confusion
Occasional confusion or incoherence shouldn’t be dismissed as an inevitability of growing old. My stepmother is 95 and as aware as ever. One of my mother’s aunts returned to substitute teaching at the age of 101. A cousin of hers retired as a surgeon at 96 to go on an African safari.
Difficulty speaking is different. It can indicate a stroke has occurred and should be evaluated by a medical professional.
9. Increasing pain
Pain levels can increase as death approaches. If an individual is under hospice or palliative care, consult with the medical professional. I am in a palliative care program and have spoken openly with the nurse practitioner and my family. If they can be avoided, I do not want opiates or opioids. They interfere with respiration and can lead to constipation. Worry about dependency or addiction seems misplaced if someone is likely to die in a few weeks; several years is a different situation. Extreme pain accompanied by very high blood pressure – systolic (top number) over 170 and/or diastolic (bottom number) over 90 can cause a stroke and is an emergency.
10. Hallucinations
If the individual has dementia, these can occur as part of the disease. Try to be comforting. Be aware that not all hallucinations are visual. Following general anesthesia, I’ve had auditory hallucinations. My migraines are sometimes preceded by olfactory hallucinations, the smell of smoke.