This was the second time this has happened. Three weeks ago mom was unresponsive after sleeping all night for twelve hours. The hospice nurse came in and was able to wake her up. Fast forward, yesterday was the same thing, only this time it happened right after breakfast and she feel into a deep sleep and was once again unresponsive. However, this time her extremities were cold, irregular breathing, with pulse and oxygen levels rising and falling. My sister was able to wake her when she was changing her. Soon after she was hungry, had some food and went back to sleep. She woke (after 13 hours) this morning on her own and was hungry once again. Hospice has taken her off of all meds except for Respirdone. Overall she has been declining and I honestly expected her to pass last night. Question is....should we be disturbing her from her sleep or allowing her to wake on her own? Has anyone else experienced this?
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I wouldn't wake the person. I'd take my cue from them as to sleeping, waking, eating or not.
This does sound much like EOL behavior, and while it can be hard to watch, all you can do is help them to be comfortable and loved.
Does she have Hospice? If not, a consult would not go amiss.
Good Luck.