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The main sign of imminent death. Harbingers of imminent death

The main sign of imminent death. Harbingers of imminent death

Why be afraid of death? While you are alive, she is gone, and when she comes, you will no longer be, - said one wise man.

It is said correctly, but for some reason it does not reassure. People are afraid of death. This is an axiom. So it was, so it is and, most likely, so it will always be. Anyone who says they are not afraid of death is lying. Everyone. And to myself too. Understanding the inevitability of death, man has always wanted to know when it will come. Experienced people spoke about the seal of death on the face of the doomed. The authors of novels often endowed their heroes with this ability. Let us recall how Pechorin (Lermontov's Hero of Our Time) saw the seal of death on Vulich's face. In works about the war, one can also find such episodes.

But that is literature, but what about life?

These signs are there, they are not a myth. They have long been painted on the points and included in all the instructions for caring for seriously ill patients. In bedridden patients or very old people, before passing away, the following signs are observed:

The person does not want to communicate with anyone. He does not need company, he is immersed in himself. This is self-isolation.
The patient begins to talk to someone who is not seen by others. These may be people who have long passed away, most often parents, children or a spouse.
Then the desire to eat disappears. The patient is difficult to seduce even with his favorite dishes. He eats either very little or refuses food altogether.
Out of 24 hours, he is awake only 5-6, the rest of the time he sleeps.
Constantly complains of weakness. At first he refuses to walk around the room once again, then sits down with difficulty, then does not want to move at all.
The change in mood is striking. A feisty vixen suddenly emerges from a cute, delicate aunt, from whom you can learn a lot of interesting things about yourself. Laughing and optimistic suddenly begins to shed tears for no reason. A courteous man turns into a boor and a foul-mouthed man.
The patient's consciousness is clouded. At times he does not recognize those around him, does not recognize the place where he is. His conversations are like nonsense.
Changes in breathing, frequency of urination and defecation, urine color.
Conclusion: in about a month, an attentive person can see the signs that death sends.

All of the above applies to seriously ill people. But young people leave life every day - accidents, traffic accidents, suicide, war. Can't you see these signs here? Or did the writers speak about the mysterious seal of death not for the sake of a red word?

Is it possible to see the seal of death on the face of a young man?

There is no intelligible answer from science here. There is a "Prognostic" of Hippocrates, in which he gives Full description seals of death. But the famous doctor lived in the 5th century BC and, from the point of view of modern medical science, has not been an authority for a long time. But there are a lot of mystical stories. Here are a few examples from the field of "near-scientific" knowledge:

Great Patriotic War. Recruits are sitting in the trenches near Rzhev. Rifles in their hands, helmets on their heads, the same expression on their faces. It is a mixture of fear, hope and bewilderment. The gray-haired foreman, who was retreating from Brest, peers intently into the faces of the soldiers, then sighs: out of ten, only two will return alive from the battle, the rest are not residents. The battle showed that the foreman was not mistaken. By the way, he shaved without looking in the mirror. He explained it this way: he was afraid to see the seal of death on his face.

Do you think it's mystical? But this foreman is a real person with a first name, last name and address. He passed away on November 20, 1996.

Now it's not about the war. There are many such examples in civilian life. A man (a real person, died on June 10, 1976) on Tuesday morning asked his wife to gather all the children with their families on Saturday at 12 o'clock. The wife asked: “Will it be a holiday?” He replied: “No, a wake. My". He was so serious that his wife did not dare to ask again. On Saturday morning he got on a horse, she was frightened of something and suffered. The man hit his head and died. The children arrived on time.

And these are not famous psychics, these are ordinary people. What part of their brain turns on to determine if there is this terrible seal on a person’s face? No answer. Neither the "seers" themselves, nor those who are trying to consider this phenomenon from a scientific point of view, know it. The only thing that scientists could do was to collect the testimonies of eyewitnesses and participants, systematize the data and bring it into a single table.

What changes in the face before death?

Let us immediately omit the dim or completely disappeared glow of the aura. Only 7% of respondents see it.
But the gray coating on the face, which appears and disappears, was noticed by 45% of the respondents. They called it "grey cloud". According to them, it was this cloud that allowed them to assert with one hundred percent guarantee that a person stands with one foot on the verge of death.
82% said that the face of a person who will soon die became absolutely symmetrical. These words were confirmed by professionals - pathologists. As a rule, both sides of a person's face are not the same. For some, the irregularity of the face is pronounced and noticeable at first glance. Usually these are the consequences of a disease, for example, inflammation of the trigeminal nerve or paralysis of the facial nerve. Sometimes the habit of chewing on one side is to blame for the asymmetry. In this case, the irregularity will not be immediately noticeable. Experts say that asymmetry is present on the faces of 98% of people. And it disappears on the face of a dying person.
Erasure of facial features can only be noticed by those who know the person well. But a detached look, turned inward, is seen by 90% of respondents.

What does death smell like?

There are people who claim to smell death. No, this is not the nauseating stench that a decaying body emits. This is precisely the smell, and for each person who has this gift, he has his own. Someone claims that he smells chrysanthemums, someone smells of violets. Some smell the dug-up earth and decaying leaves. There are those who generally find it difficult to determine what components this terrible smell consists of. There are hundreds of examples, and they are all similar. A man entered the room, there was the smell of death, which came from a specific person. After some time (from one day to two weeks) came the news of death. There is a mention of a woman who entered an intercity bus, smelled the earth there and realized that it was impossible to ride on it. She got out and exchanged her ticket for another flight. In the evening, on the news, she heard about a terrible accident in which all the passengers on that bus died.

Premonition of death

There are plenty of examples here. When a person dies, everyone immediately begins to remember the smallest details of his behavior. And suddenly it turns out that a completely careless person put his financial affairs in perfect order just a week before his death. And someone told a friend that he would soon leave, that his days were numbered. Poets write poems in which they say goodbye to the world, to relatives and loved ones. Maybe a coincidence, or maybe a premonition.

What is this? The raging fantasy of people who imagine themselves to be oracles? Fashion feature? Wanting to be different? No one undertakes to assert with complete certainty that all this talk about the seal of death and its smell is nonsense. A drop of doubt still remains.

Especially when it comes to a serious chronic illness, relatives should be prepared for his death. And although no one will give an accurate forecast of how long a bedridden patient can live, by the combination of several signs, one can predict his imminent death and, if possible, prepare for it.

Signs of approaching death

Most often, signs of imminent death of a bedridden patient can be observed in a few days (in some cases, weeks). The behavior of a person, his everyday habits are changing, physiological signs are manifested. Since the attention of a bedridden patient is focused on internal sensations for a long time, he very sensitively feels all the changes that occur. At this time, many patients begin to increasingly talk to their relatives about the approaching death, sum up the life they have lived. The reaction at this stage is very individual, but, as a rule, a person becomes depressed and really needs the support and attention of his family. Further manifestation of signs of impending death enable the family to accept the thought of an imminent loss and, if possible, alleviate last days dying.

Common signs of impending death in bedridden patients

All signs of impending death in bedridden patients are associated with the gradual failure of internal organs and the death of brain cells and are therefore characteristic of most people.

Type	sign
Physiological	Fatigue and sleepiness
	Respiratory failure
	Lack of appetite
	Urine color change

	Cold feet and hands
	puffiness

	Sensory failure
Psychological	Loss of orientation, confusion
	Closure
	mood swings

Fatigue and sleepiness

One of the first signs of imminent death of a bedridden patient is a change in habits, sleep and wakefulness. The body tries to save energy, as a result, a person is in a state of constant sleep. In the last days before death, a bedridden patient can sleep 20 hours a day. Great weakness does not allow to fully wake up. Sleep disturbances occur a few days before death.

Psychological signs

All this affects his emotional state. Relatives feel his detachment, isolation. Often a bedridden patient at this stage refuses to communicate, turns away from people. It is important for relatives to understand that such behavior is a consequence of the disease, and not a manifestation of a negative attitude towards them. In the future, a few days before death, the decline is replaced by excessive excitement. A bedridden patient recalls the past, describing the smallest details of long-standing events. Scientists have identified three stages of changing the consciousness of a dying person:

denial, struggle;
memories. Dying thoughts in his past, analyzes, far from reality;
transcendence. In other words, cosmic consciousness. At this stage, a person accepts his death, sees the meaning in it. Hallucinations often begin at this stage.

The death of brain cells leads to hallucinations: often dying bedridden patients say that someone is calling them or suddenly start talking to people who are not in the room. Most often, visions are associated with the afterlife, with the concept of heaven-hell.

Note. In the 60s. California scientists conducted a study that showed that the nature of a dying person's hallucinations has nothing to do with education, religion or intelligence level.

No matter how hard it is for relatives at this moment, one cannot contradict and try to refute the delusions of the dying. For him, everything he hears and sees is reality. At the same time, confusion of consciousness is observed: he may not remember recent events, not recognize relatives, not orient himself in time. The family will need patience and understanding. Communication is better to start with your name. Violation of the perception of reality can be observed a month before death. Delirium begins 3-4 days before death.

Refusal to eat and drink

At the same time, there is a refusal to eat. Due to the lack of movement and prolonged sleep, the patient's appetite decreases, and the swallowing reflex may disappear. The body no longer needs a lot of energy, the metabolism slows down. Refusal of food and water is a sure indicator that death will come very soon. Doctors do not recommend trying to force feed. But you can moisten your lips with water, this will at least slightly alleviate the condition. The next sign appears partly as a consequence of the refusal of water.

Kidney failure and associated signs of death

Due to the lack of water entering the body, the amount of urine excreted becomes much less, its color changes. Urine becomes dark red, sometimes brown. The color changes under the influence of toxins that poison the body. All this signals that failures in the work of the kidneys begin. Complete cessation of urination is a symptom that the kidneys have failed. From that moment on, the clock is already counting.

During this period, the bedridden patient is no longer too weakened and the process of urination cannot be controlled. Intestinal problems are added. Kidney failure leads to severe swelling of the hands and feet. Fluid that the kidneys no longer excrete accumulates in the body.

Symptoms associated with impaired blood circulation

With the onset of the terminal stage falls, blood circulation becomes centralized. This is a protective mechanism of the body, which in a critical situation redistributes blood flow to protect vital organs: the heart, lungs, brain. The periphery is not sufficiently supplied with blood, which causes the following signs of death in bedridden patients:

cold feet and hands
the patient complains of cold
wandering spots appear (primarily on the feet).

Venous spots begin to appear shortly before death on the feet and ankles. Often they are mistaken for cadaveric spots, but their origin is different. Venous spots in a dying person appear due to slow blood flow. After death, they turn blue.

Violation of thermoregulation

Brain neurons gradually die off, one of the first to suffer is the department responsible for thermoregulation. A bedridden patient before death either becomes covered with perspiration, or begins to freeze. The temperature rises to a critical one (39-40°), then to drop sharply. When the temperature rises, it is recommended to wipe the body of the dying person with a damp towel, if possible, give an antipyretic. It will not only help bring down the fever, but also remove the pain, if any. Before death, the temperature begins to gradually drop.

Respiratory failure

General weakness affects breathing. The slowdown of all processes leads to the fact that the need for oxygen is significantly reduced. Breathing becomes rare and superficial. In some cases, noted difficult, intermittent breathing. Most often it is associated with the fear experienced by the dying. At this moment, he needs the support of his relatives, the understanding that he is not alone. As a rule, this is enough for the breathing to even out.

In the last hours, wheezing, gurgling in the chest may appear. This is due to the stagnation of fluid in the bronchi. The person is so weakened that he can no longer clear his throat on his own. And although this does not cause him any discomfort (at this point, the body's reactions are already very muffled), you can turn him on his side so that the sputum comes out.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration may also be observed. This is the phenomenon when breathing changes in waves from rare and shallow to deep and frequent. Having reached a peak at 5-7 breaths, a decline begins, then everything repeats.

Relatives need to constantly moisten or lubricate the lips of the dying. Mouth breathing causes severe dryness and can add further discomfort.

Sensory failure

A decrease in blood pressure leads to the fact that a person hears practically nothing before death. In addition to rare moments of enlightenment, he hears a constant ringing, tinnitus.

The eyes also suffer. Lack of moisture and normal blood supply lead to a painful reaction to light. Often debilitated patients cannot open or close their eyes. At night, you can notice that the patient sleeps with his eyes open. At the same time, the eyes may sink from weakness, remaining open.

Despite the fact that it is very difficult for relatives, it is necessary to moisten the cornea with drops.

A couple of hours before death, a person loses his sense of touch. He does not feel touch, does not respond to sound.

Interesting! Scientists have proven a direct link between the loss of smell and near death. Statistically, old man, who has ceased to distinguish smells, dies within five years.

Other signs

In addition to the above, nurses in the nurses identify several more signs indicating an imminent death.

Signs before death (dying bed patient):

the smile line is lowered;
a person complains of nausea;
the "mask of death" appears. The nose is pointed, the eyes and temples fall in, the ears turn slightly inside out;
stripping (carthology). Before death, it is manifested by restless hand movements, reminiscent of collecting crumbs.

Not all of the symptoms listed are always manifested, but a complex of several is a sure sign of an early death. Signs of death in bedridden patients from old age do not differ from those described above. Some diseases, in addition to the general ones, cause specific symptoms of the death of a bedridden patient.

Death of a bedridden patient due to a stroke

The highest percentage of mortality from stroke in the hemorrhagic course of the disease. After a stroke, the patient is bedridden for 2-3 weeks. 80% of these cases are fatal. When first of all, the blood supply in the brain stem is disturbed, and specific signs of the death of a bedridden patient appear.

A bedridden patient after a stroke (signs before death):

"closed person" The patient completely loses the ability to move (can only lower and raise the eyelids), while the consciousness remains clear;
convulsions, muscles of the arms and legs in hypertonicity;
asynchronous movements of the eyeballs associated with damage to the cerebellum;
breathing becomes loud, with long pauses.

These signs of death in a bedridden patient after a stroke indicate irreversible processes in the body and an early death.

Important! Scientists have found that the survival rate of women after a stroke is 10% lower than that of men. However, stroke is the third leading cause of death for women.

Death of a bedridden patient with oncology

With oncology, things are a little more complicated. How a person with cancer dies depends on the type of tumor. The location of the metastasis causes different symptoms and sensations in the dying person. However, there are some general signs:

pain syndrome intensifies;
sometimes gangrene of the legs develops;
paralysis of the lower extremities may also occur;
severe anemia;
weight loss.

Death from cancer is always painful. Ordinary painkillers at this stage no longer help, the condition improves only after taking drugs. An exhausted person needs peace and family support.

Death, its stages and signs

State	Stage	Description
Terminal	Preagonal	A defense mechanism to reduce suffering. Irreparable processes of destruction occur in the body
	Agonal	The body's last attempt to prolong life. All powers are ejected in a brief burst of activity
	clinical death	Stopping the work of the heart and lungs. 6-10 minutes
biological death		Irreversible stop of all vital processes in the body. 3-15 minutes
Final death*		Destruction of neural connections in the brain. Death of the individual

* - the term "final death" is accepted within the framework of a theory that tries to include the destruction of the personality in the stages of dying. In accordance with the concept, the destruction of the neural connections of the brain occurs a few minutes after biological death. It is with the destruction of ties that the death of a person as a person occurs.

Terminal state

The preagonal stage can last from several days to a couple of hours. On it, a bedridden patient may experience the following symptoms:

vomiting with black masses, other biological fluids of the same color (before death, uncontrolled emptying of the bladder and intestines is observed). Most often, this symptom is observed in oncology;
pulse is frequent;
mouth half open;
pressure drop;
change in skin color (turns yellow, turns blue);
convulsions and convulsions.

The onset of clinical death is preceded by the stage of agony. The agony can last from several minutes to half an hour (cases have been recorded when the agony lasted for several days). The first sign of the onset of agony is a breath in which the entire chest is involved, including the muscles of the neck and face. The heart rate is accelerating arterial pressure rises briefly. During this period, a bedridden patient before death may feel relief. The circulatory system is changing: all blood is redirected to the heart and brain to the detriment of other internal organs.

Breathing stops first, the heart still continues to work for 6-7 minutes. Clinical death is diagnosed in the presence of the following symptoms:

stop breathing,
the pulse on the carotid arteries is not palpable,
extended .

Only a doctor diagnoses clinical death. The difficulty is that in some diseases, the processes of vital activity do not stop, but become barely noticeable. There is a so-called "imaginary death".

In the absence of breathing for 5 minutes, cell death begins in the brain. There comes the final stage of death - biological.

biological death

There are early and late signs of biological death:

Early	Cloudy, dry cornea	After 1-2 hours
Early	Beloglazov's symptom (cat's eye)	30 minutes after death. When the fingers squeeze the eyeball, the pupil is deformed, acquiring an elongated shape
Late	Dry skin and mucous membranes	1.5-2 hours. Lips tight, dark brown
	body cooling	Body temperature drops by 1 degree for every hour that passes after a bedridden patient dies
	The appearance of dead spots	Occur when dying (after 1.5 hours) and continue to appear for several hours after death. The reason is that the blood descends under the force of gravity and becomes visible through the skin.
	Rigor	A bedridden patient after death already after 2-4 hours undergoes rigor mortis. Rigor numbness will completely disappear only after 2-3 days
	Decomposition	/No/

Of course, even having noticed and correctly assessed all the signs, one cannot be absolutely prepared for the death of a loved one. But you can try to make his last hours and days as comfortable as possible. Psychologists and doctors give the following recommendations for relatives of a dying bedridden patient:

to see the suffering of a family is a heavy burden for a dying person, therefore, if there is no strength to cope with emotions, it is better to use a sedative;
if a person does not recognize an imminent death, one cannot convince him;
if the dying person expresses a desire, invite a priest.

The most important thing that is required from loved ones at such a moment is attention and love. Conversations, tactile contact, moral support, readiness to fulfill any request - all this will help the bedridden patient to adequately meet his death.

Video

If you are dying or caring for a dying person, you may have questions about how the process of dying will work physically and emotionally. The following information will help you answer some questions.

Signs of approaching death

The process of dying is as diverse (individual) as the process of birth. It is impossible to predict the exact time of death, and how exactly a person will die. But people who are on the verge of death experience many of the same symptoms, regardless of the type of disease.

As death approaches, a person may experience some physical and emotional changes, such as:

Excessive drowsiness and weakness, at the same time periods of wakefulness decrease, energy fades.

Breathing changes, periods of rapid breathing are replaced by pauses in breathing.

Hearing and vision change, for example, a person hears and sees things that others do not notice.

The appetite worsens, the person drinks and eats less than usual.

Changes in the urinary and gastrointestinal systems. Your urine may turn dark brown or dark red, and you may also have bad (hard) stools.

Body temperature fluctuates from very high to very low.

Emotional changes, a person is not interested in the outside world and individual details Everyday life such as time and date.

A dying person may experience other symptoms, depending on the disease. Talk to your doctor about what to expect. You can also contact the Terminally Ill Assistance Program, where they will answer all your questions regarding the process of dying. The more you and your loved ones know, the more prepared you will be for this moment.

Excessive sleepiness and weakness associated with approaching death

As death approaches, a person sleeps more, and it becomes more and more difficult to wake up. The periods of wakefulness become shorter and shorter.

As death approaches, the people who care for you will notice that you are unresponsive and that you are in a very deep sleep. This state is called a coma. If you are in a coma, then you will be bed-bound and all your physiological needs (bathing, turning, feeding and urinating) will have to be controlled by someone else.

General weakness is a very common phenomenon with the approach of death. It is normal for a person to need help with walking, bathing, and going to the toilet. Over time, you may need help to roll over in bed. Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers, or a hospital bed can help a lot during this period. This equipment can be rented from a hospital or terminally ill center.

Respiratory changes as death approaches

As death approaches, periods of rapid breathing may be replaced by periods of breathlessness.

Your breath may become wet and stagnant. This is called "death rattle". Changes in breathing usually happen when you are weak and the normal secretions from your airways and lungs cannot get out.

Although noisy breathing may be a signal to your loved ones, you will most likely not feel pain and notice congestion. Since the fluid is deep in the lungs, it is difficult to remove it from there. Your doctor may prescribe oral tablets (atropines) or patches (scopolamine) to relieve congestion.

Your loved ones may turn you on the other side so that the discharge comes out of the mouth. They can also wipe these secretions with a damp cloth or special swabs (you can ask at the help center for the terminally ill or buy them at pharmacies).

Your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to help relieve your shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy will make you feel better, but will not prolong your life.

Changes in vision and hearing as death approaches

Visual impairment is very common in the last weeks of life. You may notice that you have trouble seeing. You may see or hear things that no one else notices (hallucinations). Visual hallucinations are common before death.

If you are caring for a dying person who is hallucinating, you need to cheer him up. Recognize what the person sees. Denial of hallucinations can upset the dying person. Talk to the person, even if he or she is in a coma. It is known that dying people can hear even when they are in a deep coma. People who came out of a coma said that they could hear all the time while they were in a coma.

hallucinations

Hallucinations are the perception of something that is not really there. Hallucinations can involve all of the senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste, or touch.

The most common hallucinations are visual and auditory. For example, a person may hear voices or see objects that the other person cannot see.

Other types of hallucinations include gustatory, olfactory, and tactile hallucinations.

Treatment for hallucinations depends on their cause.

ChangesappetiteWithapproachof death

As death approaches, you are likely to eat and drink less. This is due to a general feeling of weakness and a slower metabolism.

Since nutrition is so important in society, it will be difficult for your family and friends to watch you not eat anything. However, metabolic changes mean you don't need the same amount of food and fluids as you used to.

You can eat small meals and liquids while you are active and able to swallow. If swallowing is a problem for you, thirst can be prevented by moistening your mouth with a damp cloth or a special swab (available at a pharmacy) dipped in water.

Changes in the urinary and gastrointestinal systems as death approaches

Often the kidneys gradually stop producing urine as death approaches. As a result, your urine turns dark brown or dark red. This is due to the inability of the kidneys to properly filter urine. As a result, urine becomes very concentrated. Also, its number is decreasing.

As appetite decreases, some changes also occur in the intestines. The stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass (constipation) as the person takes in less fluid and becomes weaker.

You should tell your doctor if you have bowel movements less than once every three days, or if bowel movements are uncomfortable. Stool softeners may be recommended to prevent constipation. You can also use an enema to cleanse the colon.

As you become more and more weak, it is natural that you find it difficult to control your bladder and bowels. A urinary catheter may be placed in your bladder as a means of continuous drainage of urine. Also, the terminally ill program can provide toilet paper or underwear (these are also available at the pharmacy).

Changes in body temperature as death approaches

As death approaches, the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature begins to malfunction. You may have a high temperature, and in a minute you will be cold. Your hands and feet may feel very cold to the touch and may even turn pale and blotchy. Changes in skin color are called patchy skin lesions and are very common in the last days or hours of life.

Your caregiver can control your temperature by wiping your skin with a damp, slightly warm washcloth or by giving you medications such as:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Ibuprofen (Advil)
Naproxen (Alev).
Aspirin.

Many of these medicines are available as rectal suppositories if you have difficulty swallowing.

Emotional changes as death approaches

Just as your body prepares physically for death, you must also prepare emotionally and mentally for it.

As death approaches, you may lose interest in the world around you and certain details of everyday life, such as the date or time. You can close in on yourself and communicate less with people. You may want to communicate with only a few people. This introspection can be a way of saying goodbye to everything you knew.

In the days leading up to death, you may enter a state of unique conscious awareness and communication that may be misinterpreted by your loved ones. You can say that you need to go somewhere - "go home" or "go somewhere". The meaning of such conversations is unknown, but some people think that such conversations help prepare for death.

Events from your recent past can mix with distant events. You can remember very old events in great detail, but not remember what happened an hour ago.

You can think of people who have already died. You may say that you have heard or seen someone who has already died. Your loved ones can hear you talking to the deceased person.

If you are caring for a dying person, you may be upset or frightened by this strange behavior. You may want to bring your loved one back to reality. If this kind of communication is bothering you, talk to your doctor to better understand what's going on. Your close person may fall into a state of psychosis, and it may be scary for you to watch it. Psychosis occurs in many people before death. It may have a single cause or be the result of several factors. Reasons may include:

Medications such as morphine, sedatives and pain relievers, or taking too many medications that don't work well together.
metabolic changes associated with high temperature or dehydration.
Metastasis.
Deep depression.

Symptoms may include:

Revival.
hallucinations.
Unconscious state, which is replaced by revival.

Sometimes delirium tremens can be prevented with alternative medicine, such as relaxation and breathing techniques, and other methods that reduce the need for sedatives.

Pain

Palliative care can help you relieve physical symptoms associated with your condition, such as nausea or difficulty breathing. Controlling pain and other symptoms is an important part of your treatment and improving your quality of life.

How often a person feels pain depends on their condition. Some deadly diseases, such as bone cancer or pancreatic cancer, can be accompanied by severe physical pain.

A person may be so afraid of pain and other physical symptoms that they may consider suicide with the assistance of a doctor. But death pain can be effectively dealt with. You should tell your doctor and loved ones about any pain. There are many medications and alternative methods (such as massage) that can help you deal with the pain of death. Be sure to ask for help. Ask a loved one to report your pain to the doctor if you are unable to do so yourself.

You may want your family not to see you suffer. But it is very important to tell them about your pain, if you cannot stand it, so that they immediately consult a doctor.

Spirituality

Spirituality means a person's awareness of the purpose and meaning of his life. It also denotes a person's relationship with higher forces or energy, which gives meaning to life.

Some people don't often think about spirituality. For others, it's part of everyday life. As you approach the end of your life, you may be faced with your own spiritual questions and challenges. Being associated with religion often helps some people achieve comfort before death. Other people find solace in nature, in social work, strengthening relationships with loved ones, or in creating new relationships. Think of things that can give you peace and support. What questions concern you? Seek support from friends, family, relevant programs, and spiritual guides.

Caring for a dying relative

Physician-assisted suicide

Physician-assisted suicide refers to the practice of medical assistance to a person who voluntarily wishes to die. This is usually done by prescribing a lethal dose of medication. Although the doctor is indirectly involved in the death of a person, he is not a direct cause of it. Oregon is currently the only state to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

A person with a terminal illness may consider suicide with the assistance of a physician. Among the factors that can cause such a decision are severe pain, depression and fear of dependence on other people. A dying person may consider himself a burden for his loved ones and not understand that his relatives want to provide him with their help, as an expression of love and sympathy.

Often a person with a terminal illness contemplates physician-assisted suicide when their physical or emotional symptoms do not improve. effective treatment. Symptoms associated with the dying process (such as pain, depression, or nausea) can be controlled. Talk to your doctor and family about your symptoms, especially if these symptoms bother you so much that you think about death.

Pain and symptom control at the end of life

At the end of life, pain and other symptoms can be effectively managed. Talk to your doctor and loved ones about the symptoms you are experiencing. The family is an important link between you and your doctor. If you yourself cannot communicate with the doctor, your loved one can do this for you. There is always something you can do to ease your pain and symptoms so that you feel comfortable.

physical pain

There are many pain relievers available. Your doctor will choose the easiest and most non-traumatic drug for pain relief. Oral medications are usually used first because they are easier to take and less expensive. If your pain is not acute, pain medications can be bought without a doctor's prescription. These are drugs such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. It is important to stay ahead of your pain and take your medications on schedule. Irregular use of medications is often the cause of ineffective treatment.

Sometimes pain cannot be controlled with over-the-counter medications. In this case, more effective forms of treatment are needed. The doctor may prescribe pain medications such as codeine, morphine, or fentanyl. These drugs can be combined with others, such as antidepressants, to help you get rid of the pain.

If you cannot take pills, there are other forms of treatment. If you have trouble swallowing, you can use liquid medicines. Also, drugs can be in the form of:

Rectal suppositories. Suppositories can be taken if you have trouble swallowing or feel sick.
Drops under the tongue. Just like nitroglycerin tablets or heart pain sprays, liquid forms of certain substances, such as morphine or fentanyl, can be absorbed by the blood vessels under the tongue. These drugs are given in very small amounts – usually just a few drops – and are effective way pain management for people with swallowing problems.
Patches applied to the skin (transdermal patches). These patches allow pain medications, such as fentanyl, to pass through the skin. The advantage of patches is that you instantly receive the required dose of medication. These patches are better at controlling pain than pills. In addition, a new patch must be applied every 48-72 hours, and tablets must be taken several times a day.
Intravenous injections (droppers). Your doctor may prescribe treatment with a needle inserted into a vein in your arm or chest if you have very severe pain that cannot be controlled by oral, rectal, or transdermal means. The drugs may be given as a single injection several times a day, or continuously in small amounts. Just because you're hooked up to a drip doesn't mean your activity will be restricted. Some people carry small portable pumps that provide them with small doses of medication throughout the day.
Injections into the region of the spinal nerves (epidural) or under the tissue of the spine (intrathecal). For acute pain, strong pain medications such as morphine or fentanyl are injected into the spine.

Many people who suffer from severe pain fear that they will become addicted to pain medications. However, addiction rarely occurs in terminally ill people. If your condition improves, you can slowly stop taking the medicine so that dependence does not develop.

Painkillers can be used to manage the pain and help keep it tolerable. But sometimes painkillers cause drowsiness. You can only take a small amount of medication and endure a little pain and still be active. On the other hand, maybe weakness doesn't matter to you of great importance and you are not disturbed by drowsiness caused by certain medications.

The main thing is to take medicines on a certain schedule, and not just when the need arises. But even if you take medication regularly, sometimes you may feel severe pain. This is called "pain breakouts". Talk to your doctor about what medications should be on hand to help manage breakouts. And always tell your doctor if you stop taking a medicine. Sudden termination may cause serious side effects and severe pain. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage pain without medication. Alternative medical therapies can help some people relax and relieve pain. You can combine traditional treatment with alternative methods such as:

Acupuncture
aromatherapy
Biofeedback
Chiropractic
Pointing images
Healing Touch
Homeopathy
Hydrotherapy
Hypnosis
Magnetotherapy
Massage
Meditation

For more information, see the Chronic Pain section.

emotional stress

During the period when you learn to cope with your illness, a short emotional stress is normal. Non-depression that lasts more than 2 weeks is no longer normal and should be reported to your doctor. Depression can be cured, even if you have a terminal illness. Antidepressants combined with psychological counseling will help you cope with emotional distress.

Talk to your doctor and family about your emotional stress. While grief is a natural part of the process of dying, it doesn't mean you have to endure serious emotional pain. Emotional suffering can exacerbate physical pain. They can also reflect badly on your relationships with loved ones and prevent you from saying goodbye to them properly.

Other symptoms

As death approaches, you may experience other symptoms as well. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you may have. Symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, constipation, or shortness of breath can be managed with medication, special diets, and oxygen therapy. Have a friend or family member describe all of your symptoms to a doctor or terminally ill worker. It is helpful to keep a journal and write down all your symptoms there.

The following information will help you answer some questions.

Signs of approaching death

The process of dying is as diverse (individual) as the process of birth. It is impossible to predict the exact time of death, and how exactly a person will die. But people who are on the verge of death experience many of the same symptoms, regardless of the type of disease.

As death approaches, a person may experience some physical and emotional changes, such as:

As death approaches, a person sleeps more, and it becomes more and more difficult to wake up. The periods of wakefulness become shorter and shorter.

General weakness is a very common phenomenon with the approach of death. It is normal for a person to need help with walking, bathing, and going to the toilet. Over time, you may need help to roll over in bed. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers or a hospital bed can be very helpful during this period. This equipment can be rented from a hospital or terminally ill center.

As death approaches, periods of rapid breathing may be replaced by periods of breathlessness.

Your breath may become wet and stagnant. This is called "death rattle". Changes in breathing usually happen when you are weak and the normal secretions from your airways and lungs cannot get out.

Your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to help relieve your shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy will make you feel better, but will not prolong your life.

Hallucinations are the perception of something that is not really there. Hallucinations can involve all of the senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste, or touch.

The most common hallucinations are visual and auditory. For example, a person may hear voices or see objects that the other person cannot see.

Other types of hallucinations include gustatory, olfactory, and tactile hallucinations.

Treatment for hallucinations depends on their cause.

As death approaches, you are likely to eat and drink less. This is due to a general feeling of weakness and a slower metabolism.

As appetite decreases, some changes also occur in the intestines. The stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass (constipation) as the person takes in less fluid and becomes weaker.

Your caregiver can control your temperature by wiping your skin with a damp, slightly warm washcloth or by giving you medications such as:

Many of these medicines are available as rectal suppositories if you have difficulty swallowing.

Just as your body prepares physically for death, you must also prepare emotionally and mentally for it.

Events from your recent past can mix with distant events. You can remember very old events in great detail, but not remember what happened an hour ago.

You can think of people who have already died. You may say that you have heard or seen someone who has already died. Your loved ones can hear you talking to the deceased person.

If you are caring for a dying person, you may be upset or frightened by this strange behavior. You may want to bring your loved one back to reality. If this kind of communication is bothering you, talk to your doctor to better understand what's going on. Your loved one may fall into a state of psychosis, and it may be scary for you to watch it. Psychosis occurs in many people before death. It may have a single cause or be the result of several factors. Reasons may include:

Symptoms may include:

Sometimes delirium tremens can be prevented with alternative medicine, such as relaxation and breathing techniques, and other methods that reduce the need for sedatives.

How often a person feels pain depends on their condition. Some deadly diseases, such as bone cancer or pancreatic cancer, can be accompanied by severe physical pain.

You may want your family not to see you suffer. But it is very important to tell them about your pain, if you cannot stand it, so that they immediately consult a doctor.

Spirituality means a person's awareness of the purpose and meaning of his life. It also denotes a person's relationship with higher forces or energy, which gives meaning to life.

Caring for a dying relative

Often, a person with a terminal illness contemplates physician-assisted suicide when their physical or emotional symptoms do not receive effective treatment. Symptoms associated with the dying process (such as pain, depression, or nausea) can be controlled. Talk to your doctor and family about your symptoms, especially if these symptoms bother you so much that you think about death.

Pain and symptom control at the end of life

If you cannot take pills, there are other forms of treatment. If you have trouble swallowing, you can use liquid medicines. Also, drugs can be in the form of:

Painkillers can be used to manage the pain and help keep it tolerable. But sometimes painkillers cause drowsiness. You can only take a small amount of medication and endure a little pain and still be active. On the other hand, weakness may not matter much to you and you are not bothered by drowsiness caused by certain medications.

The main thing is to take medicines on a certain schedule, and not just when the need arises. But even if you take medication regularly, sometimes you may feel severe pain. This is called "pain breakouts". Talk to your doctor about what medications should be on hand to help manage breakouts. And always tell your doctor if you stop taking a medicine. Sudden cessation can cause serious side effects and severe pain. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage pain without medication. Alternative medical therapies can help some people relax and relieve pain. You can combine traditional treatment with alternative methods such as:

For more information, see the Chronic Pain section.

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What are the signs that death is near?

Among the signs of the extinction of a person, a decrease in appetite can be noted, a person not only eats less, because it becomes more difficult for him to digest food, but also begins to drink less. There is a slowdown in metabolism and gradual dehydration of the body. From this, drowsiness appears, he wants to sleep constantly and waking up is difficult. This is from the fact that the protective mechanism is turned on, falling into hibernation. Weakness progresses, sometimes it is not only difficult for a dying person to simply turn in bed, but even to swallow a sip of water. There is a clouding of consciousness and disorientation from what suffers, among other organs, and the brain. There may be a desire to isolate oneself from the whole world, self-isolation. Difficulty urinating causes swelling, especially swelling in the legs. Urine rarely comes out, it has a dark color, due to the fact that toxins are not removed from the body in time with urine, they accumulate in the blood, kidney failure occurs and a silent falling into a coma. Hands and feet begin to get cold, because the body directs blood first of all to the most important organs - the brain, heart, liver. Impaired blood circulation causes the appearance of various venous patterns on the limbs and in places of their compression, the so-called "cadaveric spots". Facial features are sharpened, it becomes more symmetrical. Just before death, the last burst of enlightenment of consciousness is possible, after which a person usually dies.

fading process human life It can be individual, but there are some common signs that will help relatives prepare for this serious test. Excessive drowsiness, changes in breathing (prolonged breath holding), loss of appetite, fluctuations in body temperature. On an emotional level, changes in a dying person can also be noticeable, when a person ceases to be interested in the outside world, everyday life, etc. Not infrequently, the dying days are accompanied by hallucinations, delirium, when the patient begins to say something incomprehensible to us, or communicates with someone invisible. It is necessary at this stage to communicate as much as possible with the dying person, if it is not a burden to him.

In a bedridden patient approaching care, signs of impending death may vary. But there are several common signs that precede death.

He may experience mental anxiety, torment from the fact that not everything has been done, but something that has been done cannot be corrected. The psychological balance is disturbed, the emotional background changes. The mood can change from closeness, complete silence to a state of psychosis, when a person disturbs loved ones, pulling them over trifles. From categorical demands for euthanasia to complete indifference and apathy.

Relatives have to put up with this or alleviate the situation with drugs.

Appetite disappears, swallowing becomes difficult, problems appear in the gastrointestinal tract (constipation). Requires a laxative or an enema.

On the last day there is considerable relief, when the patient can even get up and do something. The phase is quickly replaced by relaxation, irreversible fading of activity, accompanied by the fading of vital functions. Growing weakness, fatigue from lack of energy. Increasingly, the patient is dozing or sleeping. Due to the relaxation of the sphincters, urine leakage and fecal incontinence are possible.

From severe exhaustion, the eyeballs sink down until the eyelids do not close. Then the relatives of the eyes of the dying person need to be moistened, for example, with saline.

The ability to hear is preserved, but auditory and visual hallucinations, confusion, loss of orientation are possible. It is not worth convincing the patient that he sees (hears) something that is not there, so as not to excite him. The kidneys begin to fail, the urine is very dark, even reddish, edema appears. The skin turns pale, wandering venous spots may appear under it. Breathing quickens, unstable, intermittent. Before the very end, the blood rushes to the heart and brain, therefore the limbs become cold.

Thermoregulation is disturbed, there are changes in the patient's sensations from freezing to a feeling of heat.

Terminal tachypnea (wheezing) appears from the movement of mucus in the lungs and bronchi. If you turn the person on their side, wheezing decreases.

Dying passes quietly, as they say, "the easy way".

But there is also a "difficult road", agonal delirium, accompanied by strong excitement, disorientation up to psychosis. May be accompanied by agitation, causeless fears and anxieties, speech anxiety, attempts to escape, etc. Logical reasoning becomes impossible.

The dying person, in addition to providing regular care, also needs psychological participation, which facilitates the patient's feelings about the inability to serve himself and the awareness of the approaching death.

In general, predictors (features) are divided into explicit and conditional. According to the clinics where cancer patients lie, a third of them do not have obvious physiological symptoms before death.

But in most cases 3 days before. there is a decrease in response to verbal irritation, reaction to gestures and facial expressions of the staff. The "smile line" falls, the voice sounds in an unusual timbre (grunting of the vocal cords). Hyperextension (relaxation) of the cervical muscles with increased mobility of the cervical vertebrae. The pupils stop responding to light. Possible bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

If at least half of the symptoms are present, then the doctors mean a sudden death.

I heard that there are six signs of impending death.

I did not find a description of all six.

I know that something is happening with the ears. Somehow determined by the ears.
according to the color of the eyes - they become colorless or dull. It's like a light goes out in them. But it can happen to many old people.
skin - I don’t know what is with the skin, but there is some secret in the state of the skin.
heels. Spots appear on the heels due to circulatory disorders.
Should food refusal be included here? Almost loss of interest in food, and in water. They only moisten their lips and mouth a little, in order to say something else in the end.

The person himself can feel the approach of departure.

For example, my grandmother said goodbye to everyone and asked everyone for forgiveness a few days before her death. It was strange for me, especially since I didn’t know about forgiveness then, I thought that they apologize (ask for forgiveness) only when they are guilty.

When my father fell ill for the first time in my life, I saw death in his eyes. The sisters did not believe. But he didn't want to live. I also saw the unwillingness to live in the eyes of my father-in-law, when he also fell seriously ill. But the father-in-law of the older sister, after two heart attacks and a severe stroke, got out, albeit not for long after the stroke. And even when he was on artificial nutrition and almost did not regain consciousness, it was clear that he was not going to die. And then a miracle happened before my eyes: grandchildren arrived, he looked at them, his eyes cleared up and he died easily.

Death is always near. It is always within walking distance. It’s just that sometimes she reminds of herself by touching us and this cannot be confused with anything. Then we quickly realize "what are we talking about? why are we here? and what else are we supposed to do?" For those who remember it, life is like a dance - the last dance and death takes another step back to admire.

People who cared for the dying claim that there are such signs:

the dying begin to see the dead;
they themselves know that the hours are numbered, even if there is a sharp improvement in the disease;
see dreams with dead relatives calling them;
according to some signs, their reality is changed and poorly understood by others.

Before death, usually a person becomes bright and beautiful, the blush returns. From physiology, there is a cleansing of the body. I saw how a person often went to the toilet, although he did not eat anything for several days. And yet, as if all the sorrows leave him. But this, when they are preparing for death, this does not apply to sudden death.

There are different options that a person who has passed away can no longer say. I think that death comes unexpectedly, unfortunately, no one asks. Although I know and saw that people felt better before leaving for the other world, it seemed that they started to get better, and then immediately and unexpectedly.

If this is your close, dear person, for example, by blood, a sister, perhaps a chronically ill or disabled person. Often there are visits to doctors, and hospitals also happen, even resuscitation. All forces and means are always mobilized to cure, to pull a person out of the disease. Always and definitely! Every time you get scared when you feel unwell or a call about another ambulance, hospitalization. But if, along with this, a terrible intuition of a bad outcome suddenly permeates this time, this is not a hint from God, how such a phenomenon is interpreted, this is a signal to you from a loved one, that very spiritual connection manifests itself at the most critical moments of life. Then, caring for and observing the patient in intensive care, daily changes are visible, with excellent care and the availability of medicines. In the soul, there is hope for recovery and salvation by all means, even such non-medical ones as baptismal water, rituals by a priest in a hospital, as well as the help of believers in different cities, when they pray for salvation, they usually ask about it those places where they have been, saints like Optina Pustyn, for example.

But the fading is noticeable: you can touch the limbs, look at the connected equipment, the eyes are most noticeable lack of brilliance and recognition of relatives, if you ask at least to blink, this does not resonate in the last day, or hours, if before that there was a reaction, even a change in mood , excitement.

It is bitter, incomprehensible and unfair, visiting every day, in intensive care, to hope and believe, but at the same time to observe, at the moment of your stay next to the patient, the reaction of the staff (watching us!). This is also a good test or litmus test. I agree with the physiological signs listed in other answers, especially about kidney failure and coma. This is almost always the case for everyone. I regret that I found out the answers to a similar question almost six months ago, and in a day we would have celebrated her birthday together. I was left alone. This is a terrible loss for me, half a year, I do not share with anyone. She closed her door. On her birthday I will repeat: "The Earth has become poorer with one flower, the Sky is richer with one star!"

Lying patient: signs before death. Changes with a person before death

If there is a bedridden patient in the house who is in serious condition, then it does not prevent relatives from knowing the signs of impending death in order to be well prepared. The process of dying can take place not only in the physical, but also in the mental plane. Given the fact that each person is individual, then each patient will have their own signs, but still there are some common symptoms that will indicate an early end life path person.

What can a person feel as death approaches?

This is not about the person for whom death is sudden, but about patients who are ill for a long time and are bedridden. As a rule, such patients can experience mental anguish for a long time, because being in their right mind, a person perfectly understands what he has to go through. A dying person constantly feels on himself all the changes that occur with his body. And all this eventually contributes to a constant change of mood, as well as the loss of mental balance.

Most bedridden patients close in on themselves. They begin to sleep a lot, and remain indifferent to everything that happens around them. There are also frequent cases when, just before death, the health of patients suddenly improves, but after a while the body becomes even weaker, followed by the failure of all vital body functions.

Signs of imminent death

It is impossible to predict the exact time of departure to another world, but it is quite possible to pay attention to the signs of impending death. Consider the main symptoms that may indicate an imminent death:

The patient loses his energy, sleeps a lot, and the periods of wakefulness become shorter and shorter each time. Sometimes a person can sleep for a whole day and stay awake for only a couple of hours.
Breathing changes, the patient may breathe either too quickly or too slowly. In some cases, it may even seem that the person has completely stopped breathing for a while.
He loses his hearing and vision, and sometimes hallucinations can occur. During such periods, the patient may hear or see things that are not actually happening. You can often see how he talks to people who have long been dead.
A bedridden patient loses his appetite, while he not only stops eating protein foods, but also refuses to drink. In order to somehow let moisture seep into his mouth, you can dip a special sponge into the water and moisten his dry lips with it.
The color of urine changes, it becomes dark brown or even dark red, while its smell becomes very sharp and toxic.
Body temperature often changes, it can be high, and then drop sharply.
An elderly bedridden patient can get lost in time.

Of course, the pain of loved ones from the imminent loss of a loved one cannot be extinguished, but it is still possible to prepare and set yourself up psychologically.

What does drowsiness and weakness of a bedridden patient indicate?

When death approaches, the bedridden patient begins to sleep a lot, and the point is not that he feels very tired, but that it is simply difficult for such a person to wake up. The patient is often in deep sleep, so his reaction is inhibited. This state is close to a coma. The manifestation of excessive weakness and drowsiness naturally slows down some of the physiological abilities of a person, so in order to roll over from one side to the other or go to the toilet, he will need help.

What changes occur in respiratory function?

Relatives who care for the patient may notice how his rapid breathing will sometimes be replaced by breathlessness. And over time, the patient's breathing can become wet and stagnant, because of this, wheezing will be heard when inhaling or exhaling. It arises from the fact that fluid collects in the lungs, which is no longer naturally removed by coughing.

Sometimes it helps the patient that he is turned from one side to the other, then the liquid can come out of the mouth. Some patients are prescribed oxygen therapy to relieve suffering, but it does not prolong life.

How do vision and hearing change?

Minute clouding of consciousness in severe patients can be directly related to changes in vision and hearing. Often this happens in their last weeks of life, for example, they stop seeing and hearing well, or, on the contrary, they hear things that no one else can hear except them.

The most common are visual hallucinations just before death, when it seems to a person that someone is calling him or he sees someone. Doctors in this case recommend agreeing with the dying person in order to somehow cheer him up, you should not deny what the patient sees or hears, otherwise it can greatly upset him.

How does appetite change?

In a lying patient, before death, the metabolic process may be underestimated, it is for this reason that he ceases to want to eat and drink.

Naturally, to support the body, one should still give the patient at least some nutritious food, therefore it is recommended to feed the person in small portions, while he himself is able to swallow. And when this ability is lost, then you can’t do without droppers.

What changes occur in the bladder and intestines before death?

Signs of imminent death of the patient are directly related to changes in the functioning of the kidneys and intestines. The kidneys stop producing urine, so it becomes dark brown, because the filtration process is disrupted. A small amount of urine can contain a huge amount of toxins that adversely affect the entire body.

Such changes can lead to a complete failure of the kidneys, a person falls into a coma and dies after a while. Due to the fact that the appetite also decreases, changes occur in the intestine itself. The stool becomes hard, so there is constipation. The patient needs to alleviate the condition, so relatives who care for him are advised to give the patient an enema every three days or make sure that he takes a laxative on time.

How does body temperature change?

If there is a bed patient in the house, the signs before death can be very diverse. Relatives may notice that a person's body temperature is constantly changing. This is due to the fact that the part of the brain that is responsible for thermoregulation may not function well.

At some point, body temperature can rise to 39 degrees, but after half an hour it can drop significantly. Naturally, in this case, it will be necessary to give the patient antipyretic drugs, most often using Ibuprofen or Aspirin. If the patient does not have the function of swallowing, then you can put antipyretic candles or give an injection.

Before death itself, the temperature instantly drops, the hands and feet become cold, and the skin in these areas becomes covered with red spots.

Why does a person's mood often change before death?

A dying person, without realizing it, gradually prepares himself for death. He has enough time to analyze his whole life and draw conclusions about what was done right or wrong. It seems to the patient that everything he says is misinterpreted by his relatives and friends, so he begins to withdraw into himself and ceases to communicate with others.

In many cases, clouding of consciousness occurs, so a person can remember everything that happened to him a long time ago in the smallest details, but he will not remember what happened an hour ago. It is scary when such a state reaches psychosis, in which case it is necessary to consult a doctor who can prescribe sedative drugs to the patient.

How to help a dying person relieve physical pain?

A bedridden patient after a stroke or a person who has become incapacitated due to another disease may experience severe pain. In order to somehow alleviate his suffering, it is necessary to use painkillers.

Painkillers may be prescribed by a doctor. And if the patient does not have any problems with swallowing, then the drugs can be in the form of tablets, and in other cases, injections will have to be used.

If a person has a serious illness that is accompanied by severe pain, then it will be necessary to use drugs that are available only on prescription, for example, it can be Fentanyl, Codeine, or Morphine.

To date, there are many drugs that will be effective for pain, some of them are available in the form of drops that drip under the tongue, and sometimes even a patch can provide significant assistance to the patient. There is a category of people who are very cautious about painkillers, citing the fact that addiction can occur. To avoid dependence, as soon as a person begins to feel better, you can stop taking the drug for a while.

Emotional stress experienced by the dying

Changes with a person before death concern not only his physical health, but also affect his psychological state. If a person experiences a little stress, then this is normal, but if the stress drags on for a long time, then most likely it is a deep depression that a person experiences before death. The fact is that everyone can have their own emotional experiences, and there will be their own signs before death.

A bedridden patient will experience not only physical pain, but also mental pain, which will have an extremely negative impact on his general condition and will bring the moment of death closer.

But even if a person has a fatal disease, relatives should try to cure the depression of their loved one. In this case, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants or consult a psychologist. This is a natural process when a person becomes discouraged, knowing that he has very little left to live in the world, so relatives should in every possible way distract the patient from sorrowful thoughts.

Additional symptoms before death

It should be noted that there are different signs before death. A bedridden patient may feel those symptoms that are not defined in others. For example, some patients often complain of persistent nausea and vomiting, although their illness is in no way related to gastrointestinal tract. Such a process is easily explained by the fact that due to the disease the body becomes weaker and cannot cope with the digestion of food, this may cause certain problems with the work of the stomach.

In this case, relatives will need to seek help from a doctor who can prescribe medications that alleviate this condition. For example, with persistent constipation, it will be possible to use a laxative, and for nausea, other effective drugs are prescribed that will dull this unpleasant feeling.

Naturally, not a single such drug can save a life and prolong it for an indefinite time, but it is still possible to alleviate the suffering of a dear person, so it would be wrong not to take advantage of such a chance.

How to care for a dying relative?

To date, there are special means for the care of bedridden patients. With the help of them, the person who cares for the sick, greatly facilitates his work. But the fact is that the dying person requires not only physical care, but also a lot of attention - he needs constant conversations in order to be distracted from his sad thoughts, and only relatives and friends can provide spiritual conversations.

A sick person should be absolutely calm, and unnecessary stress will only bring the minutes of his death closer. To alleviate the suffering of a relative, it is necessary to seek help from qualified doctors who can prescribe all the necessary drugs to help overcome many unpleasant symptoms.

All the signs listed above are common, and it should be remembered that each person is individual, which means that the body in different situations can behave differently. And if there is a bedridden patient in the house, his signs before death may turn out to be completely unforeseen for you, since everything depends on the disease and on the individuality of the organism.

If you are dying or caring for a dying person, you may have questions about how the process of dying will be physically and emotionally. The following information will help you answer some questions.

Signs of approaching death

As death approaches, a person may experience some physical and emotional changes, such as:

Excessive drowsiness and weakness, at the same time periods of wakefulness decrease, energy fades.

Breathing changes, periods of rapid breathing are replaced by pauses in breathing.

Hearing and vision change, for example, a person hears and sees things that others do not notice.

The appetite worsens, the person drinks and eats less than usual.

Changes in the urinary and gastrointestinal systems. Your urine may turn dark brown or dark red, and you may also have bad (hard) stools.

Body temperature fluctuates from very high to very low.

Emotional changes, the person is not interested in the outside world and individual details of everyday life, such as time and date.

Excessive sleepiness and weakness associated with approaching death

As death approaches, a person sleeps more, and it becomes more and more difficult to wake up. The periods of wakefulness become shorter and shorter.

General weakness is a very common phenomenon with the approach of death. It is normal for a person to need help with walking, bathing, and going to the toilet. Over time, you may need help to roll over in bed. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers or a hospital bed can be very helpful during this period. This equipment can be rented from a hospital or terminally ill center.

Respiratory changes as death approaches

As death approaches, periods of rapid breathing may be replaced by periods of breathlessness.

Your breath may become wet and stagnant. This is called "death rattle". Changes in breathing usually happen when you are weak and the normal secretions from your airways and lungs cannot get out.

Your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to help relieve your shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy will make you feel better, but will not prolong your life.

Changes in vision and hearing as death approaches

hallucinations

Hallucinations are the perception of something that is not really there. Hallucinations can involve all of the senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste, or touch.

The most common hallucinations are visual and auditory. For example, a person may hear voices or see objects that the other person cannot see.

Other types of hallucinations include gustatory, olfactory, and tactile hallucinations.

Treatment for hallucinations depends on their cause.

ChangesappetiteWithapproachof death

As death approaches, you are likely to eat and drink less. This is due to a general feeling of weakness and a slower metabolism.

Changes in the urinary and gastrointestinal systems as death approaches

As appetite decreases, some changes also occur in the intestines. The stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass (constipation) as the person takes in less fluid and becomes weaker.

Changes in body temperature as death approaches

Your caregiver can control your temperature by wiping your skin with a damp, slightly warm washcloth or by giving you medications such as:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Ibuprofen (Advil)

Naproxen (Alev).

Many of these medicines are available as rectal suppositories if you have difficulty swallowing.

Emotional changes as death approaches

Just as your body prepares physically for death, you must also prepare emotionally and mentally for it.

Events from your recent past can mix with distant events. You can remember very old events in great detail, but not remember what happened an hour ago.

You can think of people who have already died. You may say that you have heard or seen someone who has already died. Your loved ones can hear you talking to the deceased person.

If you are caring for a dying person, you may be upset or frightened by this strange behavior. You may want to bring your loved one back to reality. If this kind of communication is bothering you, talk to your doctor to better understand what's going on. Your loved one may fall into a state of psychosis, and it may be scary for you to watch it. Psychosis occurs in many people before death. It may have a single cause or be the result of several factors. Reasons may include:

Medications such as morphine, sedatives and pain relievers, or taking too many medications that don't work well together.

Metabolic changes associated with high temperature or dehydration.

Metastasis.

Deep depression.

Symptoms may include:

Revival.

hallucinations.

Unconscious state, which is replaced by revival.

Sometimes delirium tremens can be prevented with alternative medicine, such as relaxation and breathing techniques, and other methods that reduce the need for sedatives.

Pain

How often a person feels pain depends on their condition. Some deadly diseases, such as bone cancer or pancreatic cancer, can be accompanied by severe physical pain.

You may want your family not to see you suffer. But it is very important to tell them about your pain, if you cannot stand it, so that they immediately consult a doctor.

Spirituality

Spirituality means a person's awareness of the purpose and meaning of his life. It also denotes a person's relationship with higher forces or energy, which gives meaning to life.

Caring for a dying relative

Physician-assisted suicide

Pain and symptom control at the end of life

physical pain

If you cannot take pills, there are other forms of treatment. If you have trouble swallowing, you can use liquid medicines. Also, drugs can be in the form of:

Rectal suppositories. Suppositories can be taken if you have trouble swallowing or feel sick.

Drops under the tongue. Just like nitroglycerin tablets or heart pain sprays, liquid forms of certain substances, such as morphine or fentanyl, can be absorbed by the blood vessels under the tongue. These drugs are given in very small amounts - usually just a few drops - and are an effective way to manage pain for people who have trouble swallowing.

Patches applied to the skin (transdermal patches). These patches allow pain medications, such as fentanyl, to pass through the skin. The advantage of patches is that you instantly receive the required dose of medication. These patches are better at controlling pain than pills. In addition, a new patch must be applied every 48-72 hours, and tablets must be taken several times a day.

Intravenous injections (droppers). Your doctor may prescribe treatment with a needle inserted into a vein in your arm or chest if you have very severe pain that cannot be controlled by oral, rectal, or transdermal means. The drugs may be given as a single injection several times a day, or continuously in small amounts. Just because you're hooked up to a drip doesn't mean your activity will be restricted. Some people carry small portable pumps that provide them with small doses of medication throughout the day.

Injections into the region of the spinal nerves (epidural) or under the tissue of the spine (intrathecal). For acute pain, strong pain medications such as morphine or fentanyl are injected into the spine.

Painkillers can be used to manage the pain and help keep it tolerable. But sometimes painkillers cause drowsiness. You can only take a small amount of medication and endure a little pain and still be active. On the other hand, weakness may not matter much to you and you are not bothered by drowsiness caused by certain medications.

The main thing is to take medicines on a certain schedule, and not just when the need arises. But even if you take medication regularly, sometimes you may feel severe pain. This is called "pain breakouts". Talk to your doctor about what medications should be on hand to help manage breakouts. And always tell your doctor if you stop taking a medicine. Sudden cessation can cause serious side effects and severe pain. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage pain without medication. Alternative medical therapies can help some people relax and relieve pain. You can combine traditional treatment with alternative methods such as:

Acupuncture

aromatherapy

Biofeedback

Chiropractic

Pointing images

Healing Touch

Homeopathy

Hydrotherapy

Magnetotherapy
Meditation

For more information, see the Chronic Pain section.

emotional stress

Other symptoms