If you had bad health issues would you go on?

Shorty2U · ‎03-09-2010

I read online about a couple in PA that they found dead in their home after 3 weeks. They left a suicide note they both wrote explaining. Evidently they both had health issues and the wife shot the husband and then herself. I find it sad this was their only choice. But I understand it. They were more or less confined to their home 24/7. (The article didn't say what illnesses they had).

I have health issues. My back is bad off and on, today its terrible. since last night Right now I haven't slept all night due to back pain. I cant get up the stairs and I reclined on the recliner but never slept. When my husband got up he had to literally pull me off the chair while I screamed in pain. I am literally shuffling through the house just to get to the downstairs bathroom.

I get shots which don't work like they did and I see a pain team and my meds aren't working. There is no use going to Emergency, they give me a shot that wears off when I get home.

My point is, I get fed up too and admittedly have thought about not being here anymore when Im this bad BUT I can NOT and will NOT do that to my family.

I had a cousin who committed suicide after a bad injury and job loss. He retrained himself and no one hired him so he gave up. His family (wife and children) suffered terribly and continue to be in counseling and are having a rough time. His mother (my aunt died) a year after him, they say from a broken heart.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make~ The Beatles

Irshgrl31201 · ‎03-18-2010

It depends on how bad off and how much pain I was in. I think it is selfish to want someone to suffer simply because you don't want to lose them. Unfortunately doctors assisting this in a non painful way isn't legal here so it is left up to the person and/or family to end it sometimes.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
JFK

deepwaterdotter · ‎03-09-2010

I would hope that I am braver than to end my life at my own hands. Fortunately, my health is not in such a desperate condition.

chessylady · ‎05-01-2010

The will to live is very strong in most people. However I would not condemn someone who commits suicide because I do not know the depths of another's pain. I have had episodes of back pain that you describe where I had to steel myself just to get out of bed. Thankfully, it got better. We are all different but what helped me most was a muscle relaxer. I still have a prescription but rarely use them. Good luck to you.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

i worke in ICU for 42 years and saw many sad situations. often when a person's prognosis is bad and the doctors know they are in terrible pain the doctors will ask the family to allow us to withdraw care and let them die. often there will be one family member who is against it and because of that it will not be done. The patient will continue to suffer. i think every person has a right to figure out for themselves as much as possible how and where they would like to die. hopefully, then they will have a designated SO who will see - within the law - that their wishes are fullfilled.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 3/9/2014 Irshgrl31201 said:
It depends on how bad off and how much pain I was in. I think it is selfish to want someone to suffer simply because you don't want to lose them. Unfortunately doctors assisting this in a non painful way isn't legal here so it is left up to the person and/or family to end it sometimes.

My cousin was married to an MD when she found out she had ALS. She was in her early 50s
and had 5 children.

Her husband helped her end her life when she was going to have to go on a ventilator. She was very talkative, outgoing and musically gifted and didn't want to face life not being able to communicate through speaking.

She got pneumonia and instead of treating it aggressively, her DH made sure she was comfortable and she died peacefully surrounded by her family. We all had a chance to go to CO. and say goodbye.

Pope John Paul II and Jackie Onassis passed the same way.

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

The only thing that stops me is my family. I could not do that to them. When the time comes, they all know what I want and they have promised to follow through.

They have it worse with their father, who they never see because he lives 3,000 miles away. He is physically in good shape (80 years old) but pretty much gone mentally from a stroke ten years ago. That is worse, IMO. They will go out to visit him and the very next day he will be saying they never come to see him. They get so upset.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

NoelSeven · ‎03-09-2010

Shorty -

In spite of your bad back, you still have much to enjoy in life, and you have a wonderful husband who is able to help you.

There are others in much worse shape and with multiple conditions that are life threatening. I held my best friend's hand as she died from pancreatic cancer, each day bringing a new horror for her. You just can't compare that kind of suffering with the pain that is routine for me and for you.

Some people have no one to help them, or their significant other is ill, also. Some soil themselves or can't get out of bed, or have nothing to look forward to.

A Thrill Of Hope The Weary World Rejoices

lulu2 · ‎03-09-2010

My husband and I have discussed this. We've both had some physical battles. I do not think I could cope with or have my family watch if I were to receive a diagnosis of ALS.