stephie
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 117
- Reason
- CALS
- Diagnosis
- 01/2007
- Country
- US
- State
- mn
- City
- coon rapids
For four years I search this site to try and prepare myself for what the end would be like for my husband. Now that he has passed away, I would like to share this with others who are trying to prepare themselves.
I do not want to upset or offend anyone, so please do not read any further if you do not wish to know! I will tell you that it was much more peaceful than I had anticipated.
My husband signed up for hospice about 2 months ago. He was almost completely paralyzed, could not speak, and his breathing was quite low, but he was still using bipap only at night. Hospice started him on low doses of Morphine to take away the "air hunger" feeling, so he was much more comfortable. He had a great quality of life until the last couple of days. He got up every morning, got on his computer, and spent the day watching T.V. and following the stock market online. He had long chats with both of the kids when they came home from school.
A couple of weeks ago he felt like he could not breathe. I gave him several doses of Morphine and called the hospice nurse. She came out and gave him more medication until he fell asleep. I was afraid that he would not wake up in the morning, but he did. He felt a little better and wanted to get out of bed. He was up for about 15 minutes when he began gasping for air. He knew it was the end and he asked me (on the computer) to let the nurse do whatever it took to keep him comfortable. The hospice nurse arrived and gave him medication every 2 hour to keep him asleep and breathing comfortably.
Once John was asleep, he never gasped for air. His body was more relaxed than it had been in a long time and his face was peaceful. I had enough time to call the family and he died 12 hours later. He did not wake up, his breathing just got slower and slower until he quit breathing. His greatest fear was that he would die gasping for air, and he did not. He slept peacefully until the end.
I know that every situation is different, but my husband was able to die as he lived- on his own terms.
I do not want to upset or offend anyone, so please do not read any further if you do not wish to know! I will tell you that it was much more peaceful than I had anticipated.
My husband signed up for hospice about 2 months ago. He was almost completely paralyzed, could not speak, and his breathing was quite low, but he was still using bipap only at night. Hospice started him on low doses of Morphine to take away the "air hunger" feeling, so he was much more comfortable. He had a great quality of life until the last couple of days. He got up every morning, got on his computer, and spent the day watching T.V. and following the stock market online. He had long chats with both of the kids when they came home from school.
A couple of weeks ago he felt like he could not breathe. I gave him several doses of Morphine and called the hospice nurse. She came out and gave him more medication until he fell asleep. I was afraid that he would not wake up in the morning, but he did. He felt a little better and wanted to get out of bed. He was up for about 15 minutes when he began gasping for air. He knew it was the end and he asked me (on the computer) to let the nurse do whatever it took to keep him comfortable. The hospice nurse arrived and gave him medication every 2 hour to keep him asleep and breathing comfortably.
Once John was asleep, he never gasped for air. His body was more relaxed than it had been in a long time and his face was peaceful. I had enough time to call the family and he died 12 hours later. He did not wake up, his breathing just got slower and slower until he quit breathing. His greatest fear was that he would die gasping for air, and he did not. He slept peacefully until the end.
I know that every situation is different, but my husband was able to die as he lived- on his own terms.
