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MIL (turns 85 this coming Sunday) CKD, Caregiver says she is sleeping. I think not. When someone has been unresponsively asleep for 4 days - I'm not expert - but that qualifies for coma in my book. No mottling, but legs have a yellowish tint (kidney toxins). I suspect her pacemaker is what is keeping her alive - not that "she is fighting". Skin and bones. They are using a tiny little sponge to occasionally wet her mouth. Not sure how long the pacemaker will keep things going. Anyone have any insight???

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The toxins will kill her. It can take 2 weeks for a person to die after the kidneys give out. My friend, went off of dialysis and was gone within the week. My daughter is an RN and says those pacemakers keep going after the person passes.
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I am so sorry. Get another medical opinion other than the caregivers. The pacemaker likely isn't keeping your MIL alive. Most pacemakers will stop working once the body is no longer emitting electrical impulses. So your MIL is likely leaving this world, but the pacemaker is still working because she hasn't died yet. That being said, if your MIL has the kind of pacemaker that's more like a mechanical heart (vs just keeps the heart beating regularly), it would keep beating, but that kind of pacemaker comes with a monitor that would beeping like crazy and you'd also get a call from her cardiologist (because those patients are regularly monitored).
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Laineyisat Aug 2023
Thank you, Jojo for your reply to my post.
Just came back from the care center and she had just passed....
A loss, but such relief. Thanks again.
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You need to call hospice and have her evaluated. Perhaps they could keep her more comfortable.
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Thank you, JoAnn, for your reply to my post.
Just came back from the care center and she had just passed....
A loss, but such relief. Thanks again.
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pamzimmrrt Aug 2023
Lainey I am so sorry
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The pacemaker is responsible for triggering a heart beat ONLY. That is to say that it is responsible for the "electrical system" of heart operation. It will not keep an elder alive. The heart, lungs and kidneys will shut down from age of disease process leaving only that "blip " on the screen of the pacer attempting to trigger a beat. The heart will be non-responsive. Speak to the MD for a thorough explanation if this is worrisome to you.
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So sorry for you and your family's loss today. 🌹

You were very right to question the condition of your Mil.
Even though no one else may have done so on her behalf, you did!
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Call 911?
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If she is not on hospice because you do not mention it, then call 911, Imagine if she dies and you call the police since she will not have an official hospice person the make out a death certificate. She will get the medical examiner. Consider if they look at this and want to charge with neglect.
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Lainey
So sorry for the loss of your MIL. It appears she had a peaceful death although stressful for her loved ones.
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So sorry for your loss.
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