Hospice nurse shares the four physical stages of dying
A hospice nurse has shared the four things that happen to your body in the months, weeks and days before you die.
Julie McFadden, who specialises in end of life care, shares videos about death and dying on social media to open up the conversation on the taboo topic, to help better prepare people for death.
In her latest video, a viewer asked Julie what the dying process actually looks like, as the nurse explained that it all depends on how, when and why you pass away.
However, she said there are four things that happen to the body as the end draws near.
The first stage of dying is slowing down, which can happen up to six months before you die, with the symptoms being very "generalised".
Julie says, "For instance, you’re just going to be generally tired, generally lethargic, not eating and drinking as much, probably being less social."
According to Julie, the second stage is a sharp decline in strength, as she explains, "The closer you get to death – let’s say three months out – you’re going to be more debilitated."
"It’s going to be difficult for you to leave the house, you probably are eating and drinking very little throughout the day, and you’re sleeping more than you’re awake."
Before the last stage of life, Julie describes a period of "transitioning" which happens around a month before death and can include a phenomenon known as "visioning".
The nurse says, "This is when people will start seeing dead relatives, dead loved ones, dead pets, things like that."
She says that typically, someone "can be up and having a normal conversation with their family", all the while "saying they’re seeing their dead father in the corner who is smiling and telling them he’s coming to get them soon and not to worry."
According to Julie, this final stage of death is considered the most "distinct time in the dying process" when the body starts to fully shut down.
"The actively dying phase is what scares people, because they’re not used to seeing it and they don’t know what the heck’s going on," she says.
‘Metabolic changes’ such as a difference in skin colour, high and low temperature, or the ‘death rattle’ – a gurgling noise (also known as terminal secretions) caused by a buildup of fluids in the throat and upper airways – follow before they later pass on.
However, while it’s natural to find these things upsetting, Julie assures people this stage is a "normal part of death and dying", and "it’s not hurting your loved one."
"It’s important to be educated about what death actually looks like. Movies and television don’t do it justice, then people see it in real life when it’s their loved ones and they freak out," she said.
Image credits: YouTube / Instagram