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 Hi Margot
My Grandma is 97,8 months and 9 days. She started with an intestinal blockage 8 weeks ago on Saturday. After 2 weeks it hadn't dissolved so the family decided to let her go by taking her off the I.V. That was all she was getting. After they took the I.V. out they began to give her sips of water.She was a very thirsty person! The blockage dissolved itself at 5 weeks. They began to give her some pureed foods and more fluids. Now at 8 weeks she hardly talks doesn't have more than a sip or two during the day and doesn't want to eat. She would have 3 teaspoons of porridge every 3 days before. She sleeps most of the time and is on morphine. They took out her catheter yesterday as there was really no urine coming out. It has gotten very concentrated and could fill an egg cup. How long does it take for the kidneys to shut down? Do they have to have no fluids? Her heart is still strong and we believe that is what is keeping her alive. He last readng was 135/60 for blood pressure and her oxygen with the nose pieces is 86. Can you give us any information on this. We can't seem to find anything on the internet.We know that once they take the I.V. out of a person that the family has insisted upon it can take a week or a bit longer. This is taking its toll on the whole family as we are expecting a call any day to say she is gone. It's tough as we are 1500 km's away. We use to call her twice a week and now can't as she can't really hear us. We love her so much and just want her to go to heaven and be with Grandpa. Any information would help. Thanks, A very tired Granddaughter.
Answer Hello Sylvia and thank you for writing,
It's hard to guess without knowing everything, although you were very thorough in your question. People can sometimes linger for weeks or even months with what seems like almost no food or fluids, but luckily this is not the norm. I would think that the Morphine will keep your Gramma comfortable and drowsy so she will slip away peacefully. If she is truly getting only sips of fluids and no supplemental calories I would guess (and it's only a guess based on experience) that she will slip away within two weeks from the time the IV was discontinued.
I hope this information helps a bit and I wish you and your family the very best.
