The ending days.. maybe

We had a few scare recently. Some time ago when my FIL was having a sponge bath, his oxygen level dropped to the 40's. This was the lowest we've seen so far. Normal oxygen level in a healthy person is 99, at 92 your cells starved of oxygen starts to die and can cause damage to internal organs. For that few days we finally accepted the fact that he might have less days than we anticipated. We got his bank accounts settled, he spoke about what he wants done to his house, I gave him a haircut and we bought him food he has been craving for. For a few days his oxygen level lingered in the 80's and dropping to the lowest of 40's and 50's. Slowly somehow it stopped dropping so low, remaining in the low 90's and only dropping to 60's when he exert himself slightly. When I mean exert himself slightly, I mean him peeing, coughing, eating, talking and even laughing. He cannot handle the simplest of activity.

Recently he is unable to sleep and is breathless almost 80% of the day. His weight dropped from a very low 41kg to 38kg. We had to employ a night nurse to care for him as it is getting too much for my mother in law who is unable to sleep as well. Mentally he is relatively sharp except that he has moments he seems spaced out and takes a long time to know we are talking to him. He has requested to be moved to a hospital thinking that it would be better for him. We will be meeting his doctor next week to talk about this. I tried reading up on others who had gone through or taken care of family members with IPF and it seems going to a hospital may not be a wise decision. Doctors at the later stage of IPF have nothing else to recommend and patient usually end up being neglected. Many choose to come home to die. This is a wonderful link if you want to hear some IPF stories and be encouraged that you are not alone. Click on People's stories on the left bar.

http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.uk/

Trying to convince my father in law to stay at home is going to be tough. Hopefully we can get a doctor to come and talk to him. We have asked a few and most rejected saying they have done what they can for him. Telling this to my FIL without hurting him is a big challenge. Let's see how the meeting go next week. Meanwhile, trying to stay positive for him.