AboutMargot RN BScN CGN Expertise I nursed my own Mother and Grandmother at home when they were dying so I have personal experience with the emotions involved. I have also spent the last 15+ years as a Registered Nurse caring for The Elderly and Terminally Ill and it has brought me great satisfaction. I am willing to answer any questions I can.
Experience
Past/Present clients Hundreds of Long Term Care Residents as well as hundreds of Cleitns and families in the community (including my Mother and Grandmother).
Question I am a professional caregiver 50-80 hrs/wk. My favorite client has a specific breathing pattern while asleep. He sleeps about 20 hrs a day. He is 94, with good general health. He takes 6-8 deep breaths, and then breathing is quiet for 20 seconds. I have heard that there is a medical term for this, and is related to shutting down.
Answer Hi Jim and thanks for writing,
What you describe sounds like "Cheyne Stokes" which is an abnormal pattern of breathing, in which breathing is rapid for a period and then absent for a period, can be seen in patients with heart failure, strokes, traumatic brain injuries and brain tumors.
It is also commonly seen towards the end of life when the body is starting to shut down, but it only lasts a few days at the most and if your client has done it for a while I would not think it is a sign of him "shutting down".
