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I don't know anything about what happens at the end, but I'm starting to learn. We don't know why mom is having pain, but hospice says it's the process of Alzheimer's/dementia. She's been in and out of hospice many years, but has never been in pain this long (3 weeks) and was recently prescribed and is taking Norco 3 times a day. She looks good/comfortable and briefly here and there clasps her hand tight. Should I be concerned about this amount of Norco? I know it makes her feel better, but I don't want it to cause her other ill effects. Sorry if sound silly asking this. I just worry about her.

I think you should let her have the medications. There is no sense letting a person suffer at the of life.
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Reply to KathleenQ
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It is in no way silly to be concerned about your Mom's condition. Keeping her pain-free and peaceful are the goals.

Norco can cause constipation, but not sure how much your Mom is eating at this point? Constipation can cause some pain and cramping high up near the ribs and anywhere below. Talk to the hospice nurses or your Mom's doctor.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Roseformom, apparently your mom is now dying, so of course you want her taking as much of the pain medication that will keep her as comfortable and pain free as possible.
The dying process itself can be extremely painful as the organs start to shut down, so be grateful that hospice has found a medication that keeps her pain down. That is a blessing for sure.
At this point it really doesn't matter what "ill effects" it may cause her if she seems to be resting comfortably.
Enjoy whatever time you may have left with her and make sure that you leave nothing left unsaid.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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NO ONE understands pain. After all these years and all this research we still wonder at the fact that sometimes sugar pills can cause our own system to think we got pain meds, and our own system will create pain relief for us out of a sugar pill.
We know that people can form "pathways" of pain out of habit.
We know that some pain medications can cause rebound pain in some patients.
But with all we know, we still know very little about pain. Add that to a diagnosis of dementia in which the patient cannot even give a GOOD account of pain, where it is, what level it is, what its characteristics are, and basically you have come to the point where, in a case like your mom's, the only answer is RELIEVE IT.

Your Mom is elderly, on hospice, unable to describe her pain. There is no reason not to relieve her pain. BUT there are side effects to most pain meds including constipation that can actually obstruct a bowel. That is to say, it can kill. As you are at a level where "something" is going to kill, I think the important thing is that on hospice and end of life care, your mom has relief.

Every person, every patient, is a mystery. And we do not always solve it.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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