Sorry for bringing up this subject again, but I can’t get it out of my mind that there are people dying of cancer in hospice wards right now, and they are suffering in terrible pain, and no one is addressing that pain.
Since my dad died in early December I can still hear the hospice nurse tell us that he is resting comfortably. Remember, he was supposed to be given pain meds every two hours and after I asked how long since his last dose, the same nurse said it’s been 5 hours. The man was unable to respond except for widening his eyes when talked to. His mouth and lips were so dried and cracked he could not udder a sound. He couldn’t move at all. Resting comfortably? Have any of you ever had a severe case of dry mouth? I have from some meds I was taking.
He was not given any nourishment or hydration because they said fluid was accumulating in his stomach and causing more pain. However I can’t help but feel that something can be done. Maybe some kind of wax or oil based coating for the mouth and throat so he could swallow. What about a permanent spinal block when the last few days approach? It’s not like in the movies, you know when the last few days are here.