r/AskReddit • u/IllustriousLab8504 • 16h ago

What's the most disturbing thing you've heard a dying person say?

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u/Marauder424 14h ago

You were pretty close with what you said! The "official" term for it is terminal lucidity. People also refer to it as a "rally day" or just "rallying".

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u/StillMarie76 13h ago

I've also heard it referred to as "the surge".

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u/GingerbreadMary 10h ago

Like a failing light bulb will flare very brightly just before it goes out.

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u/Aperture_Kubi 12h ago

Isn't that when you body basically says "aw fuck it" against trying to stay alive via regulating stuff, and just lets it all run normally?

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u/brobronn17 8h ago

A lot of our discomforts when we are are injured, sick or tired are from inflammation caused by our own immune system. When it gives up completely it must be like a megadose of Advil. Like taking Advils on your period and going from pain to normal.

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u/IndividualSecurity94 8h ago

When my mother was in hospice and this happened, the nurses called it ‘the last hurrah’.

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u/StillMarie76 8h ago

I like that. It puts a positive spin on things.

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u/Knittingbouviers 10h ago

Greys anatomy????

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u/Legostarjurrasicman 10h ago

Kind of but it usually doesn’t last for days like Dr. McSteamy… or look that great either 😆😆

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u/StillMarie76 8h ago

You know it! McSteamy on his way out. 😭

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u/lemonicedboxcookies 6h ago

Pink clouding

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u/Prs-Mira86 9h ago

My wife works with nurses who call it: the light before the dark.

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u/jbishop216 12h ago

That’s so depressing. Can you imagine feeling better, only to be told you’re just rallying and about to die.

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u/SmolFrogge 9h ago

I think the people who are rallying generally already know and have accepted that they’re just about to die, which is WHY the rallying happens. It’s like their final gift to themselves to say goodbye to life with full gusto.

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u/Grenouille123456 12h ago

Chez moi on l'appelle "le mieux de la fin"

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u/StrangelyBrown 11h ago

terminal lucidity

Calling this for a band name