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George Burns had a great line when someone said "Who would want to live to be 100 ?" His answer was "A man who is 99 ! ) As someone who has had a heart attack and stroke, when you are laying on that table and they say they are going to "try to save you", life becomes very valuable and precious. That is when the survival instincts kick in the strongest. That being said, as I get older , and things on my body do not work as well as they once did, I do not know if I will want to get really old and see my quality of life deteriorate drastically. I am more accepting of my mortality now than when I was young. My only regrets will be the pain my passing will put on my Sons. Don
I disagree with hunterseat. I have always rehearsed and planned what I would do in certain emergencies or severely traumatic situations. Even as a kid, I used to think that envisioning something terrible--like my parents getting divorced or a parent dying--and meditating on how I would feel and respond was helpful to me. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Little did I know that even as a child I was onto something--and idea now recognized in mental health as Stress Inoculation. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I guess I figure that when something extremely upsetting/stressful DOES happen, I won't be in the best frame of mind to make decisions, so why not make such decisions now, when I'm calm and clear-headed and not in that situation? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I'm very confident that if/when I'm diagnosed with cancer that I'll stick to the plans I've already made.
Last edited by Tracysherm; 10-29-2013 at 11:30 AM..
Reason: only way to separate paragraphs today is with annoying lines. but less annoying that a smushed up single paragraph.
To be fair, I cannot say much for sure since I've never (not yet) been faced with the tough situation & decisions.
I'm childfree by choice, have no spouse, so there isn't anyone to worry about leaving behind.
My parents died suddenly, a few years apart-they didn't live long enough to require caregivers.
I'm very much about "quality" of life, and I'm oriented to the here and now,
unable to tolerate present pain for some imagined future benefit.
I'm a big believer in hospice, compassionate palliative care-we all shall die, but what kind of death will it be ?
I'd prefer to go out in a comfy bed at home than to be hooked up to ghastly torturous machines in a hospital.
Most Americans are in denial that death is a reality and have been brainwashed to think chemo actually works . . .the sentiment that one is going to "fight" cancer, or whatever, is also a cowboy attitude.
I don't fear death, per se - only unbearable pain.
You are probably in the minority with your acceptance.
Having had to face this when my husband was on life support and having made the choice to let him go I think I would really much prefer to go peacefully than to be kept here if my life would not be able to return to a reasonable quality. I think it comes down to fear. How afraid are we to die? I find that a lot of people are terrified of death. Any death. But especially their own. People today don't see death so it is less of a reality and more frightening to them.
I kind of consider myself a "survivor" too, but more in the way of surviving some external challenge. I'm a bit of a prepper, so I have food and potable water and supplies stored in case of a major natural disaster. If I was in a small plan crash in the wilderness, I'd probably be able to make some sort of shelter, dress my wounds, find water, find edible plants, and make some sort of signal so I could be found. I'd be likely to try to help other survivors, dress wounds, etc. Of course if my injuries are life-threatening, and if environmental factors are not favorable to staying alive, like freezing temperatures, at some point I would just say "okay, it's my time; I tried." Even financially, I prepare, having an emergency fund, necessary insurance, etc. So if a challenge comes from outside of me, I would be a "survivor." But if the problem comes from my own body, and surviving means depending on others, being dependent, and going through a lot of stressful, even painful procedures, utilizing resources that others might benefit from, then I probably would find a point to just say "it's my time." I guess one of my issues is not wanting people "attending to me" by both definitions of the word--I am not comfortable with people paying lots of close attention o me for any length of time, and I am not comfortable with anyone taking care of me. I don't even like being in a beauty salon, with someone attending to me, so being in a hospital would be exponentially worse for me.
I am the same way! I was told that was a weakness of mine. I guess if my family was willing to do what it takes, I would roll with it. But then again, I have never been in chronic pain and I have health right now. So I could easily change my mind once disaster strikes.
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I was told that was a weakness of mine. I guess if my family was willing to do what it takes, I would roll with it. But then again, I have never been in chronic pain and I have health right now. So I could easily change my mind once disaster strikes.
