No one can predict the moment of death . But physicians and nurses involved in end-of-life
care know that certain symptoms are usually
associated with the body's shutting down. These
signs of approaching death are specific to the
natural dying process (apart from the effects
of particular illnesses the person may have). Not all dying symptoms show up in every
person, but most people experience some
combination of the following in the final days
or hours:
1. Loss of appetite Energy needs decline: The person may begin to
resist or refuse meals and liquids, or accept only
small amounts of bland foods (such as hot
cereals). Meat, which is hard to digest, may be
refused first. Even favorite foods hold little
appeal. Near the very end of life , the dying person may be physically unable to swallow. How to respond: Don't force-feed; follow the
person's cues even though you may be distressed
by a loss of interest in eating. Periodically
offer ice chips, a popsicle, or sips of water.
Use a moistened warm cloth around the mouth
and apply balm to the lips to keep them moist and comfortable.
2. Excessive fatigue and sleep: The person may begin to sleep the majority of
the day and night as metabolism slows and the
decline in food and water contribute to
dehydration. He or she becomes difficult to
rouse from sleep. The fatigue is so pronounced
that awareness of immediate surroundings begins to drift. How to respond: Permit sleep. Avoid jostling
the person awake. Assume that everything you
say can be heard, as the sense of hearing is
thought to persist, even when the person is
unconscious, in a coma, or otherwise not
responsive.
3. Increased physical weakness: A decline in food intake and lack of energy
leads to less energy, even for activities like
lifting one's head or shifting in bed. The
person may even have difficulty sipping from
a straw. How to respond: Focus on keeping the person
comfortable.
4. Mental confusion or disorientation Organs begin to fail, including the brain:
Higher-order consciousness tends to change.
"Few conditions leave people hyperaware when
they're dying," says palliative-care physician
Ira Byock, author of Dying Well. The person may not be aware of where he or she
is or who else is in the room, may speak or reply
less often, may respond to people who can't be
seen in the room by others (see Passing Away: What to Expect When Witnessing a Loved One's
Death), may seem to say nonsensical things, may be confused about time, or may act restless and
pick at bed linens. How to respond: Remain calm and reassuring.
Speak to the person softly, and identify
yourself when you approach.
5. Labored breathing Breath intakes and exhales become raggedy,
irregular, and labored: A distinctive pattern
called Cheyne-Stokes respiration might be heard:
a loud, deep inhalation is followed by a pause
of not breathing (apnea) for between five
seconds to as long as a full minute, before a loud, deep breath resumes and again slowly
peters out. Sometimes excessive secretions create loud,
gurling inhalations and exhalations that some
people call a "death rattle." How to respond: The stopped breathing or loud
rattle can be alarming to listeners, but the dying
person is unaware of this changed breathing;
focus on overall comfort. Positions that may
help: the head slightly elevated with a pillow,
sitting up well-supported, or the head or lying body tilted to the side slightly. Moisten the
mouth with a wet cloth and moisturize with lip
balm or petroleum jelly. If there's a lot of phlegm, allow it to drain
naturally from the mouth, since suctioning it out
can increase its quantity. A vaporizer in the room
might help. Some people are given oxygen for
comfort. Be a calm, physical presence, stroking
the arm or speaking softly
6. Social withdrawal : As the body shuts down, the dying person may
gradually lose interest in those nearby. He or
she may stop talking or mutter unintelligibly,
stop responding to questions, or simply turn
away. A few days before receding socially for the
last time, the dying person sometimes surprises
loved ones with an unexpected burst of alert,
attentive behavior. This can last less than an
hour or up to a full day. How to respond: Be aware that this is a natural
part of the dying process and not a reflection
of your relationship. Maintain a physical
presence by touching the dying person and
continuing to talk, if it feels appropriate,
without demanding anything back. Treasure an alert interlude if and when it occurs, because it's
almost always fleeting.
7. Changes in urination Little going in (as the person loses interest in
food and drink) means little coming out:
Dropping blood pressure, part of the dying
process (and therefore not treated at this point,
in tandem with other symptoms), also contributes
to the kidneys shutting down. The concentrated urine is brownish, reddish, or tea-colored. Loss of bladder and bowel control may happen
late in the dying process. How to respond: Hospice medical staff
sometimes decides that a catheter is necessary,
although not in the final hours of life. Kidney
failure can increase blood toxins and contribute
to a peaceful coma before death. Add a bed pad
when placing fresh sheets.
8. Swelling in the feet and ankles: As the kidneys are less able to process bodily
fluids, they can accumulate and get deposited in
areas of the body away from the heart, in the
feet and ankles especially. These places, and
sometimes also the hands, face, or feet, take on a
swollen, puffy appearance. How to respond: Usually no special treatment
(such as diuretics) is given when the swelling
seems directly related to the dying process. (The
swelling is the result of the natural death
process, not its cause.)
9. Coolness in the tips of the fingers and toes In the hours or minutes before death, blood
circulation draws back from the periphery of
the body to help the vital organs: As this
happens, the extremities (hands, feet, fingers,
toes) become notably cooler. Nail beds may also
look more pale, or bluish. How to respond: A warm blanket can keep the
person comfortable, or he or she may be
oblivious. The person may complain about the
weight of coverings on the legs, so keep them
loose.
10. Mottled veins Skin that had been uniformly pale or ashen
develops a distinctive pattern of purplish/
reddish/bluish mottling as one of the later
signs of death approachin: This is the result
of reduced blood circulation. It may be seen first
on the soles of the feet. How to respond: No special steps need to be
taken. Note: These general signs of impending death
can vary in sequence and combination from person
to person. If a person is on life support
(respirator, feeding tube), the process dying
follows can be different. The signs of death
listed here describe a natural dying process.

sad

Scary... Just the type of thread I don't like to read.

life is too hard so death got to easy, believe it or not

I'm experiencing at least 5 of those symptoms

This is just sad, death where is thy sting?
@jeffreyjamez I'm sending you strength dear, please hang in there, I'll say a prayer for you

xcelsia:
This is just sad, death where is thy sting?
@jeffreyjamez I'm sending you strength dear, please hang in there, I'll say a prayer for you

thank you!

JeffreyJamez:


thank you!

You're welcome

JeffreyJamez:
I'm experiencing at least 5 of those symptoms

.I hope you are receiving care at the moment friend? Fight it, victory is yours!

xcelsia:
You're welcome

ur very wicked

ghost1718:
ur very wicked

What did I do?

xcelsia:
What did I do?

what DID u say to that dude ??

ghost1718:
what DID u say to that dude ??

Say to who?

xcelsia:
Say to who?

lol maybe i quote wrong person, forgive me

ghost1718:
lol maybe i quote wrong person, forgive me

Lol it's okay, have a pleasant day

xcelsia:
Lol it's okay, have a pleasant day

how is urs going ??

ghost1718:
how is urs going ??

Great thanks, hope yours is great as well

xcelsia:
Great thanks, hope yours is great as well

dont really no until evening

ghost1718:
dont really no until evening

Ok well just try to make the best of your day if you can, stay blessed

xcelsia:
Ok well just try to make the best of your day if you can, stay blessed

thanks sweetly

xcelsia:
Ok well just try to make the best of your day if you can, stay blessed

vote for my main man chibwike

ghost1718:
vote for my main man chibwike

Yeah I promised him

xcelsia:
Yeah I promised him

o.k. Thanks, hope ur day was cool ??

Smh........ Nobody wants to die but death is inevitable