Mom has been crying (without tears) for hours at a time. It is pretty much a daily occurrence now. We have been giving her Lorazepam at least once per day, but will give it more often now. It doesn't really help, though. The hospice nurse came out yesterday and instructed us to give it to her every 8 hours to see if we can get it to stay in her system longer. In addition, she said to try morphine (small dose) to see if she is in pain. (Mom cannot tell us.)
While Mom seemed to calm down a little during the day yesterday -- she was walking around a little and standing (with assistance, of course), when I went to change her into her pajamas at 5:00, she started crying. She cried until after I left at 7:00. Nothing calms her, except looking at a picture of my granddaughter. Music doesn't help. Talking to her doesn't help. I gave her more morphine at 5:30, but it's obviously not physical pain. So, I will stop that. It appears to me to be her mental state.
When I arrived this morning at 8:00, Mom was quiet. Then the hospice aide came to bathe and dress her. Mom started crying as soon as the aide started changing her clothes. (This seems to be a pattern.) I gave Mom Lorazepam, but at 10:00, she was still crying.
Even though she appears to be talking when she is crying, very little of what she says is understandable. One thing she did say last night while crying, though, was "Daddy." That is what she called her father.
I contacted the hospice nurse this morning and she said she will talk to the doctor. She doesn't feel she has a UTI because the appearance of her urine is fine. Even if the doctor orders a sample, the only way they would get that is with a straight catheter. Mom will not stand for that. She is still a strong fighter.
What the nurse did say was that it could be end-of-life anxiety. How long does that anxiety (on average) tend to last before they give in?
There is no time frame on this, Mapotter. No one can predict what’s in the future for Mom. My own mother became more or less comatose and the last time I saw her, 3 of us couldn’t wake her. But your mom has gone the other way. I honestly don’t think she is “crying” even though she may be making sobbing sounds. It’s her way of communicating now, even if only with herself.
My heart hurts for you. I hope you all find some peace some way, some how. Keep posting here, ecause it’s not just me. We ALL care. Xxoo
I will try the Haldol again tonight. Can you let me know if you ended up giving your Mom the dosage of the Ativan and Haldol in between and let me know how that went?
Take Care :)
We started her on Morphine on Wednesday afternoon, she died Friday afternoon.
Cwillie, thank you.
I called the hospice nurse and she said to try Haldol tonight and see if that calms her. It is in her kit that has the Morphine. Can you please let us know if anything helps your Mom?
Day 2... I arrived and the aide was here. Mom was quiet, but just staring. She refused breakfast so far. I prayed that God would just take her in her sleep before I got here... I can't stop crying...
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