Syringe driver

Hi Jessie 

My husband was put on syringe driver towards the final week. He vomitted and the doctors decided that it will be risky to give medicines orally after that. He was then put on syringe driver. I can’t recollect exactly the medicines that they gave but I am sure he was given morphine to keep him pain free. He was already unconscious at that stage  

Hope this helps. Take care of yourself. Sending you hugs and lots of love of positive energy. 

Dear Jyo

Thanks for your reply.  My brother is conscious, lucid at times, sometimes confused. However he is so agitated, oral medication wasn't controlling the agitation and he's been getting so distressed.  Just wondering how sedated he will be?

I hope you're well, sending you love xx

Hi Jessie

Hy husband was put on the syringe driver once he couldn't swallow solid food anymore. It did make it easier for his medications, and he just had soft food after that, soups etc. It was so much better for his agitation etc. He had his for a week and half, and if he did look like he was in pain or getting agitated then the nurses would come out and give extra meds through the driver. He was more settled but definitely sleeping a lot more, although as we discovered many a time that he was taking in conversations around him, and would suddenly answer us. It was in his last 4-5 days that he started hallucinating more, not horribly though, things like raising his hands to have a drink and a fag, like he was dreaming he was in the pub. After watching him in pain, and getting stressed, it was like a blessing that he seemed far more peaceful. Unfortunately his tumour was growing very rapid, so seizure activity still happened, especially when he was being moved by the carers, so more meds were put through his driver. Don't worry about him being sedated, like I said he'll still hear sounds around him and react to them, but his thoughts should be more peaceful, and he should be kept pain free. 

Sending love to you and your brother

Thank you Jac

I'm sorry to hear about your husband.

My poor brother has been extremely agitated for so long now, although I dread losing him I know this is no quality of life, hopefully he'll be calmer now he's on the driver.

How long did your husband carry on eating and drinking?

I guess I'm trying to work out how long we may have, there's not many family to visit and I'd like to think he has people with him.

Love to you ️ xx

Hello Jessie

My husband stopped eating a week before he passed away. He did continue drinking small amounts but not very often. I was told to keep his mouth moist by using a soft toothbrush, but he'd often try sucking and biting this, so I would know to give him a drink. It is different with everyone,  but it can all change so quickly, as I found out. The last 2 days he didn't really want to open his mouth for me to moisten his lips, and once that happens I think you'll know. They should realise in the care home, and you'll be told when they think he's coming to his last few days, so you can be there with him. 

So sorry to hear this is happening to your brother, you sound like you are very close. 

Much love ️ xx

Yes I'm extremely close to my brother and it's been horrific to see what he's been through. He lived alone and I've always been the person he contacted for anything.  The dreadful thing is  knowing the eventually outcome was never going to be good but still going through what I can only describe as torture.

Hi Jessie

Like Jyo, my late husband was put on a syringe driver in the final week. He had suffered a seizure/stroke on the Saturday night/Sunday morning and that impacted his level off consciousness before he was admitted to our local hospice on the Monday.

The syringe driver made keeping him comfortable and settled much easier than if the nurses were administering separate medications. He was barely conscious for a couple of days and the levels of consciousness gradually decreased. In the last day or so he actually had two syringe drivers but the key thing was that he was pain free and calm until he passed away peacefully.

I don't believe that there are any hard and fast timelines though. The syringe driver is just a mechanism to make administering the drugs easier.

Sending you a huge virtual hug and lots of strength

love n hugs

Wee Me xx

Thanks for the replies.  It's so difficult isn't it going through this. I've been through this before with other family members but somehow GBM seems another level. I know there's no timeline for this but guess I'm just looking for other people's experiences. 

I so want him to stay with us but not living through this agony so it's such a conflict. I feel we have a way to go yet.

sadly a GBM journey is a whole different level. 

Sending love and light and hugs

Wee Me xx