Quality of life: How far would you go to save your life.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 18, 2009

Right now? If I drop dead and while I'm reasonably healthy and have a small child, I think I'd like you to pound on my chest and crack a few ribs if you have to. If I'm dead I'm dead, but if I make it back, then I might just have a few more years with my little one.

God forbid, though, if I develop some horrible disease for which there is no cure or a remote chance for one, that DNR/DNI/no trach/PEG document will be signed as fast as I can grab a pen. As crass as this may sound, I have no interest in being a carrot with a cough reflex. When it is my time and I know it, crank up the mo-feen and let me go, and throw a party afterward. (And as my late dear grandfather said about his dead sister "Make sure you dig it deep, so she don't claw her way out!")

A coworker of mine has a DNR order signed and in her mail folder on our unit. She has said this so many times I can quote her verbatim: "If you find me on the floor, do not do a damn thing. If you bring me back, I will be ****** off. If you don't, I will come back and haunt your ass for even trying." :)

husker_rn, RN · May 18, 2009

We're going thru this right now. Hubby with colon cancer...surgery successful. Mets to the liver....RFA unsuccessful. Has been having routine chemo to keep the wolf at bay but tired all the time. We agree that quality time is more important than quantity time. So, he has begun to talk to the family about quitting chemo and enjoying life while he can. Tough to hear when it's a loved one but the choice I would make, too, if I was in that position. Luckily his VA chemo nurses, NPs and doc respect and support him.

sicushells, RN · May 18, 2009

The vast majority finish the journey when it's time.

I really like that phrase. It's perfect.

Lovely_RN, MSN · May 18, 2009

I know for sure that I don't want a peg or to be on a vent in a LTC...the rest I'm not sure about.

TuTonka · May 19, 2009

When it comes tp death I feel that is the pts choice and should be prepared for that possiblity early in life and let the family know what you want done. No guess work on theitr part. If I were in that position ...I will come back and haunt their a&^ if they don't let me die with dignity. I do not care what the MD is saying about well there is a chance she will recover or improve. Scr^%#$ that nonsense and let me go!. As for easy decision??? Yep made it along time ago when it was thought I might have cancer. If able I will end it myself before anyone will have to make that decision for me. I am not afraid of death...just how I die concerns me.

TuTonka

Nepenthe Sea · May 19, 2009

I have always sworn that I am going to get DNR tattoed across my chest, No feeding tubes tattoed across my stomach and No Enemas across my butt! :)
Seriously - if I can take food orally and enjoy it, then let me go. I think Feeding Tubes are terrible if there is no hope of regaining the ability to eat.

I actually know someone who did have "Do Not Resuscitate" tattooed across his chest. They misspelled 'resuscitate', though, and when I pointed this out, he said "It's not punk-rock if you spell it right!" (Yeah, he's a little different..) :chuckle

TuTonka · May 20, 2009

We're going thru this right now. Hubby with colon cancer...surgery successful. Mets to the liver....RFA unsuccessful. Has been having routine chemo to keep the wolf at bay but tired all the time. We agree that quality time is more important than quantity time. So, he has begun to talk to the family about quitting chemo and enjoying life while he can. Tough to hear when it's a loved one but the choice I would make, too, if I was in that position. Luckily his VA chemo nurses, NPs and doc respect and support him.

I read an article about asperagus. I do not know what if anything it can do,however , this article stated 2-4 TBSP of pureed organic asperagus has rid people of cancer. If can not hurt to try it. Use it two to three times a day. My prayers are with you. God bless.

TuTonka

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · May 20, 2009

Barring brain death, I want everything done.It's the principle of the thing. I come from a long line of very stubborn people that leave this earth kicking and screaming. My 89 year old grandmother who was mentally sharp until the end finally told them off after they had come to see her for the 3rd time about a DNR..we also asked her if she wanted us to call her priest, "What for, I don't need him yet!" was the answer.

"quality of life" can be a subjective thing.

Keysnurse2008 · May 20, 2009

It is very easy to say " I wouldnt want to live with this/that". But in reality you never know until you are faced with that decision. Then....you just might realize " Hey there are worse things that living with a feeding tube , on dialysis etc etc". If you have kids....you dont want to leave them alone in this world to face the cold cruel world alone....so you might be suprised what you would endure for them.

TuTonka · May 21, 2009

I agree with your tag line....too many facilities throw you in with minimum orientation via reading and put you on the floor to sink or swim...It is not safe,unethical or right by any means but it still happens even today. agency nurses are not treated as well as travel nurses at any timenor are they treated well bu the majority of staff nurses.

TuTonka

AOx1 · May 21, 2009

I agree, I don't think you can really be certain until you are there. I always thought I would want everything done, but last year, when things took a turn for the worse and things looked grim, I had a LOT of thinking to do. What would be best for my husband? For my family?

Things turned around and the only thing I am certain of anymore is that whatever someone else chooses to do, it isn't my choice. It's theirs (at least ideally; sometimes the family wants to do everything while the patient says "Let me go"- that's pretty tough).