RE: Terminal Illness - Would you want to hear the ... - Page 2

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Ms X wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
My doctor pulled no punches. I had a heart attack ten days ago. There was a delay to the Cath lab until Monday where I was transported to a major hospital had 3 stents and a balloon. I am now in heart failure/congestive heart failure all because of the delay. I was put on aspirin, drugs and morphine but time is muscle and the damage was already done by the time I got to the other hospital and got the procedure.

I went from an active woman loving life to someone that can't walk 3 feet without becoming breathless. The prognosis he claims is guarded. Stage 3 is very scary but I need to know my future. So yes, the truth allows me to celebrate life and appreciate every day.
I hope your rehab goes well, Trinity. It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. My mother is alive today because she was in a hospital waiting for Monday when my doctor sister called a cardiac surgeon she knew on his cell. He was at the mall and went directly to her hospital. My mother was transferred and got the angioplasty that weekend. Look at the former vice president, ****** Cheney. He had his first heart attack at 39 and is now I think in his 70s. I wish you all the best. Don't give up.

Thanks..a heart transplant did come up but a donor would be hard to find. Glad to hear your mom was treated quickly. A second opinion is in the works for July ...but the inability to breathe and blood work , echo and EKG had similar results with a 40% ejection rate. How much our lives can turn on a dime.

Marp · ‎03-09-2010

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
I have two sisters and two nieces who are RN's. They've all worked in Intensive Care, Emergency rooms, MedStar (where people are helicoptered in, etc).

They all said they'd want to know. That started me thinking. I'd definitely want to know. My late husband dropped dead in front of me. He'd been in perfect shape. They never found out what caused him to die.He was 58 years old.

My brother's girlfriend was way younger than him (in her early 50's). She died driving him down the road, just stopped talking and the car started drifting. When he pulled her out of the car, she was gone. I don't know what she died from but she hadn't been ill.

When your time comes, it comes, plain and simple, sometimes no matter what you do.

There are a lot of things I know my late husband would have planned to do if he'd had time. He wouldn't have wanted to know because he was always afraid of dying. (A lot of people are).

I'm not and I've never been, I, like most people, just wouldn't want it to last a long time. I'm sure everyone might feel like that. Mainly I wouldn't want my family to suffer.

My sister (the RN) worked for about 2 years in a Hospice. She said it was the most rewarding job she'd had. She said (unlike most people think) it was sad and dreary. I used to crochet blankets to keep there for people. They were bright and cheerful.

We start dying from the minute we are conceived. It's the one sure thing in life. So, to summarize, yes, I'd definitely want to know. I'd like to write letters to my loved ones and get things in order. I'd also like it to be quick though. Ha!

I absolutely do not mean this to be snarky. Why wait until you are told you are dying to write those letters? I wrote a from the heart letter to my great aunt about two years before she passed and I can't begin to tell you how much it meant to her not only to have an expression of how much she meant to me but also the opportunity to share even closer experiences during the time she had left.

I also make it a practice to periodically make I love you phone calls to friends and family that mean a great deal to me. I feel better knowing they know how important they are to me and they feel good having been told.

What is good for the goose today will also be good for the gander tomorrow.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@MyGirlsMom wrote:
@Trinity11

I wish you all the best and prayerfully within time, medication, therapy and doctors care you will recover.

Thank you. I really have a lot left to do. I'm hanging in there for the long term.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

I would like to know. My husband most likely wouldn't.

Ms X · ‎09-13-2012

@Trinity11 wrote:
@Ms X wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
My doctor pulled no punches. I had a heart attack ten days ago. There was a delay to the Cath lab until Monday where I was transported to a major hospital had 3 stents and a balloon. I am now in heart failure/congestive heart failure all because of the delay. I was put on aspirin, drugs and morphine but time is muscle and the damage was already done by the time I got to the other hospital and got the procedure.

I went from an active woman loving life to someone that can't walk 3 feet without becoming breathless. The prognosis he claims is guarded. Stage 3 is very scary but I need to know my future. So yes, the truth allows me to celebrate life and appreciate every day.
I hope your rehab goes well, Trinity. It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. My mother is alive today because she was in a hospital waiting for Monday when my doctor sister called a cardiac surgeon she knew on his cell. He was at the mall and went directly to her hospital. My mother was transferred and got the angioplasty that weekend. Look at the former vice president, ****** Cheney. He had his first heart attack at 39 and is now I think in his 70s. I wish you all the best. Don't give up.
Thanks..a heart transplant did come up but a donor would be hard to find. Glad to hear your mom was treated quickly. A second opinion is in the works for July ...but the inability to breathe and blood work , echo and EKG had similar results with a 40% ejection rate. How much our lives can turn on a dime.

I just looked up 40% ejection fraction, Trinity, and it doesn't seem catastrophic, though, obviously, I'm no expert. 50-75 is normal. 40% is not the worst by any means. Will that improve over time with rehab?

I tried to copy a table I found, but could not. Don't give up. Do your rehab and take each day as it comes. See what your second opinion person offers.

It turns out the table was copied.

Ejection Fraction Numbers:
50-75%	Heart's pumping ability is Normal
36-49%	Heart's pumping ability is Below Normal
35% and Below	Heart's pumping ability is Low

-Read more : http://www.hrsonline.org/Patient-Resources/The-Normal-Heart/Ejection-Fraction#sthash.OWfK9L7k.dpuf@ -- Follow us: @hrsonline on Twitter | HeartRhythmSociety on Facebook

Pandalady · ‎05-14-2011

@Trinity11 Lots of healing thoughts and prayers for you! May God bless you!

I'm not short...I'm fun size!

itsmetoo · ‎03-10-2010

@Trinity11

I am so sorry this has happened to you. My brother also has congestive heart failure and like you, went from being healthy and active to not being able to walk three feet. It can be a slow process but over time you can gain some of your strength back. He is much better now than when it originally happened. Do you know what your ejection fraction is?

wilma · ‎03-13-2010

I want to know anything and everything about my medical condition. I have been chronically ill and have had serious illnesses in the past. My doctors always told me the truth about possible treatments, surgeries, and the odds of success. I wouldn't want it any other way. There were a few times when the doctors gave me some pretty lousy odds on making it through, but I am still here at age 50+. After several years of good health, I have been diagnosed with a blood disease. I am undergoing treatments that may or may not help me. My doctor has been open and honest with me about everything. That's what I want.

QVCkitty1 · ‎05-23-2015

I would like to know, that's just me, but I have always hated surprises of any kind. I would like time to make my peace with it.

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@MyGirlsMom wrote:
I watched a Frontline episode last night entitled: Being Mortal

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/as-real-as-it-gets-inside-the-making-of-being-mortal/

It was a close up look at terminal patients and their doctors. Some doctors felt like they never wanted their patients to lose hope, so they tried one more medicine..one more study, etc.

There were patients who knew their days were numbered and wanted to leave hospice and die at home.

I just discussed this with my husband, I don't want to know if "my time" is limited..yes, please lie to me. He feels just the opposite.

Doctors cannot lie to or mislead patients about their medical conditions, even if they have a terminal illness, even if a spouse asks them to. It would be a the ultimate in malpractice and unethical. Every patient has the right to decline any treatment, any time. Doctors can't and do not make those decisions for patients. They can propose treatment, therapies, medications, studies the the patient always has the right to decline. I didn't click on the link just like I wouldn't have watched the program. The subject is just too depressing and for me it would serve no useful purpose.