What are the signs and symptoms of...

[jschut, BSN, RN]

impending death from COPD? What can I expect as the time draws more near? My patient is already sleeping more, already has +3 pitting edema in his feet, tends to become confused ALOT these days.

His daughter, my friend, was asking about what to expect and some things to watch out for and I told her about the lungs filling with fluid and the more frequent trips to the hospital and the edema....what else can be expected as time nears?

Thanks everyone! I sure do appreciate this!

[leslie :-D]

impending death from COPD? What can I expect as the time draws more near? My patient is already sleeping more, already has +3 pitting edema in his feet, tends to become confused ALOT these days.

His daughter, my friend, was asking about what to expect and some things to watch out for and I told her about the lungs filling with fluid and the more frequent trips to the hospital and the edema....what else can be expected as time nears?

Thanks everyone! I sure do appreciate this!

julie,

it sounds like your patient is a candidate for hospice and not a moment too soon. the lethargy and confusion would probably be related to hypoxia and elevated co2. are you his home health nurse? what is his doctor doing for him? please, if he is truly in end stage copd, get him on morphine and also a scopalimine patch or levsin gtts. or better yet, get hospice.... poor guy.

leslie

[leslie :-D]

julie,

it sounds like your patient is a candidate for hospice and not a moment too soon. the lethargy and confusion would probably be related to hypoxia and elevated co2. are you his home health nurse? what is his doctor doing for him? please, if he is truly in end stage copd, get him on morphine and also a scopalimine patch or levsin gtts. or better yet, get hospice.... poor guy.

leslie

sorry, but i want to add that copd is typically not a peaceful death....there is often much anxiety so ativan should be added to his regimen.

you may or may not see circumoral cyanosis; see if he's using his accessory muscles as he struggles harder to breathe. but there are several interventions that can be used to make him more comfortable, and it sounds like this might be a priority. best wishes.

leslie

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

I lived this with my father...it is not a pretty death. They get more tired, but also more agitated and confused due to hypercapnia. They are constantly SOB and cyanotic. They do get puffy, but not all do. They need a lot of sedation to keep calm and sleep.

I hope the end isn't too far....it is a rough way to die.