I like Duchess's line of thinking:
If you can't wipe your own behind nor make it outside on your own, time for a lead pill.

Before all those shenanigans kick in though, do your loved ones a favor- have a living will properly in play and ready to be executed.
(Why make your last memory one of not just heartache and grief but also a world class hassle?)

(06-08-2012, 05:02 PM)username Wrote:

(06-08-2012, 04:21 PM)ramseycat Wrote: Well not FOREVER. That was an exaggeration. But you know what I mean. You could live in a vegatative state for years. Just look at Dickly.

Rams, it's vegetable and vegetative, you silly wingnut. Although I did discover that there's a company that makes Veg-tables.

Are you tired again today?

I am still tired. But Ima tell you a secret. I spell shit wrong to annoy people here. It never fails. Anytime anyone makes a typo or spells something wrong, someone always has to mention it. Now sshhh.

Lyer!

(06-08-2012, 06:55 PM)username Wrote: Lyer!

Hmmm something doesn't look right.

(06-08-2012, 05:10 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: I like Duchess's line of thinking:
If you can't wipe your own behind nor make it outside on your own, time for a lead pill.

I would suffocate if I couldn't get outside, if I could never be in nature again. Life wouldn't be worth living to me...not kidding.

We had a discussion in here about having a loved one care for us if we couldn't manage even the most basic of things, like going to the bathroom on our own & I think every woman participating in that discussion agreed that they would rather be dead than have their man wiping their bottom. Ugh. Makes me shudder to even consider it.

I dunno. I felt like my dad died as gracefully as one can but those last few weeks, he became pretty helpless. He died within two months of his diagnosis.

He knew that when the time came he would be offered morphine and that death would soon follow. He was able to give the nurse a thumbs up when she told him she was going to administer it.

He brought me in to this world and I watched him leave it. He became more dignified in my eyes because he accepted his fate, wrapped up a lot of things for my mom and died with all his remaining kids and my mom with him.

I hope to go quickly but I think sometimes we're not that fortunate and that takes a lot of courage.

(06-08-2012, 07:13 PM)Duchess Wrote: I think every woman participating in that discussion agreed that they would rather be dead than have their man wiping their bottom. Ugh. Makes me shudder to even consider it.

It's an awful situation. I've had clients who I know OD'd on purpose rather than have a family member or professional caregiver bathe and change/toilet them. Hardest cases are the ones where one spouse has severe dementia or Alzheimer's and the other is trying to do it all for them, but there is no necessity for "life support" for years. Neither has a choice especially if funds are limited. Love may conquer all, but it's a hard way to spend the golden years.

Living Wills/Advanced Directives are easy to set up and execute. I think it's worth it to have one if you know what you want and don't want. Easier on your loved ones if life support becomes an issue.

But if I'm ever a vegtable, pull the damn plug.

One more thing. There's a certain grace involved in knowing that death (and its potential discomforts) are as natural as giving life.

I'm afraid to die. I hope I don't make a scene.

(06-08-2012, 07:48 PM)Duchess Wrote:

I'm afraid to die.

You have to stop that.

I'll ask Buddha what to do for you.

(06-08-2012, 07:48 PM)Duchess Wrote:

I'm afraid to die. I hope I don't make a scene.

I'm not wildly looking forward to it either!

But I know I won't make a scene. I think there's a certain calm resignation that comes over a lot of people when their time is near.

(06-08-2012, 07:48 PM)Duchess Wrote: I'm afraid to die.

Look, I am too, and I know the guy who runs the joint upstairs. Just don't piss yourself.

I know you just fucked up Duchess' zen with that one, aussie.

(06-08-2012, 07:57 PM)aussiefriend Wrote: Just don't piss yourself.

Thanks for putting that in my head. Thanks a bunch!

You looking like Mickey Rourke yet?

(06-08-2012, 07:57 PM)aussiefriend Wrote:

(06-08-2012, 07:48 PM)Duchess Wrote: I'm afraid to die.

Look, I am too, and I know the guy who runs the joint upstairs.

Yessss! There's a pot dealer in the afterlife!!

(06-08-2012, 07:48 PM)Duchess Wrote:

I'm afraid to die. I hope I don't make a scene.

Me too, and I didn't even go to Catholic School.

My guess would be that after you die you just go back to the earth and create dust and energy. You don't exist anymore than before you were born except in the minds of the people who remember you. I could be wrong, however, and I'm in for eternal torture for not following the gospel.

(06-08-2012, 08:05 PM)Duchess Wrote:

Next appointment for that stuff is in August. I am having some laser this month. It's very very minimal. It's not freaky extreme stuff. That would be weird.