![]() These symptoms are common and not necessarily uncomfortable for the dying person.Ĭool skin, especially the hands and feet – As circulation slows down, the hands, feet, fingers and toes (the extremities) become cooler and turn a bluish colour. Restless moving, twitching, groaning or calling out – These symptoms are part of terminal restlessness, a type of delirium that may include agitation, anxiety, anguish and anger, all of which can be very distressing for carers to see. Talk to the palliative care team about how delirium can be controlled. The person may drift in and out of consciousness and eventually become unresponsive.ĭelirium may occur when waste chemicals (toxins) build up in the brain as vital organs begin to shut down, but it can also have a range of other causes, such as fever or constipation. A person who is dying may not be aware of where they are or who else is in the room, may speak or reply less often, or may respond to people who can’t be seen by others in the room. It can involve a lower level of consciousness memory loss hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) delusions (false beliefs) mood swings and sleep disturbances. Loss of bladder and bowel control sometimes happens in the last stages of the dying process, but does not always happen.ĭisorientation and confusion – Carers are often unprepared for the person becoming disoriented and confused. As the person eats and drinks less, they will produce less urine and faeces. Medicines may be prescribed for constipation, a common side effect of some pain medicines. ![]() A catheter may be inserted into the bladder to drain urine and avoid a blockage. Listening to this change in breathing pattern can be upsetting, but it is thought that it is not painful for the person.īladder and bowel changes – As the body’s systems slow down, the person may have trouble emptying their bladder. Medicines can help dry up any mucus or you can try changing the person’s position in the bed. If mucus builds up in the throat, it can create loud, gurgling sounds, which some people call a “death rattle”. This is a loud, deep breath followed by a long pause (may last from five seconds to as long as a minute), before a loud, deep breath starts again. You may hear an irregular breathing pattern known as Cheyne-Stokes. Near the end, some people have a sudden burst of alert behaviour.īreathing changes – Breathing may become rattly, irregular and laboured. They may find it hard to concentrate and they may stop talking. Little interest in the outside world – The dying person may gradually lose interest in people nearby. Giving fluids at this time doesn’t improve symptoms. The person may begin to resist or refuse food or drink, and weight loss can occur. Sleeping more – The dying person has less energy, and often they may spend most of the day sleeping or resting.Įating and drinking less – As the body slows down it uses less energy and the person doesn’t need to eat or drink as much. In medical terms, the dying process is viewed as the body’s systems closing down. These physical changes don’t occur in any particular order. If you would like to know what to expect, this section describes the physical changes in the last days and hours of life.Įach death is different, but as a person nears the end of life there are often common signs. Others prefer to take one day at a time and ask health professionals for explanations as the need arises. Some family and friends find that information about the physical process of dying helps ease their fear and anxiety. Search research by cancer type or topic.Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.13 11 20 – Speak to a cancer professional.Cancer information for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.Podcast: The Thing About Advanced Cancer.
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