Terminally ill hearing music??

Nurses General Nursing

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i spoke to a terminally ill patient that heard music that was not auditable to others. he stated he heard “twelve days of christmas”, another song by johnny cash, and three other songs over and over in his head until he knew all the words to the song. a psychiatrist was called in to interview him. but he was adamant that he heard the music. have any of you every had a terminal patient do this, or something simular prior to death??

Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

my grandmother hummed along to music the rest of us were unable to hear. when asked to sing the songs, she said she only knew the melody, and would hum the same 2-3 tunes over and over. she said there were words but she couldn't really make them out. we asked her who was singing and her reply was "the angels".

she also saw a man waiting for her, when we told her to go with him, she said "not yet, he says i have to wait until the 28th". yup, she died on the 28th.

i spoke to a terminally ill patient that heard music that was not auditable to others. he stated he heard "twelve days of christmas", another song by johnny cash, and three other songs over and over in his head until he knew all the words to the song. a psychiatrist was called in to interview him. but he was adamant that he heard the music. have any of you every had a terminal patient do this, or something simular prior to death??

Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Why would you not go out hearing music?? I really, truly hope that when I go, I will hear sweet tunes , mixed with the voices of the family I love.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I have heard that patients close to death have visions of angels, family members and religious icons. I have also heard of them hearing music. I would hope to have all of these peaceful experiences before crossing over to say hello to my loved ones as well.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

My stepmother's father heard music in the days before he died. My stepmother heard it too but nobody else did. And he told her, "I've gotta go, Mom's calling me home for supper."

Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

Had a sister die at home years ago; she was 4 and I was 13. She wanted me to keep looking up at the ceiling and kept saying "can't you hear them"? Said she heard singing. At one point was reaching up grabbing at something/someone not visible to me. Yes I believe your dying patient was very credible.

Expect the end to come soon, if it hasn't already.

What a beautiful way to leave this Earth!

This is a sort of off subject, but this is what happened during two different pregnancies.

When I was pregnant with my third child, I had one patient say to me and my fellow student (I wasn't even showing and she couldn't have seen me anyway as the bed was almost to the sky when I walked in the room to help move her) "Oh, here comes the baby!"...Needless to say, we were kind of freaked out at that one.

The last one was when my husband's grandma was in hospice and she kept saying the "The baby is so beautiful, the baby is so beautiful!" I hadn't told anyone that I was pregnant yet. The aunts (big Polish family were just waiting to find out which of the "kids" were pregnant. Turns out Gramma was right, that baby is beautiful ! :saint:

Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

My mother kept saying she was hearing 'The Dark Island'(a Scottish tune)when she was dying.At the time I thought it must be on the hospital radio,but now I'm not so sure! I hope I go out to music!

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Absolutely---music and other things/visions. Bless their hearts

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