Re: The Mention of Physician Assisted Suicide--long

[Guest guest]

I must agree with Jane on this one! Anyone thinking of killing themselves

over RA or anything should be evaluated by a doctor and given anti-

depressants. See if that makes a difference for you. Your depression is

clouding your judgement and getting in the way of rational thinking. I know

when I felt suicidal, I did believe I was rational.

There has been 2 times in my life when I wanted to kill myself. Once in 1996

when I had Costochondritis so badly that I could barely get enough breath to

speak and just had to lie in bed. I didn't want to live like this. Well, guess

what, I found a Pain Doctor and got better.

The second time was when I was in love with someone (my ex-boyfriend) who

was marrying someone else. I just didn't want to live without him, couldn't

take that pain. That was in 1999 and I met someone else, just started

dating,,,anyway long story short, I am now married to a wonderful man.

I am very sick right now again with Costo but my point is, things change in

your life. Even though I have had Chronic Pain and Illness between RA and

Costo for 2 years now, there is joy and happiness in my life. I have my

husband, good friends and 4 cats who bring me joy. I have travelled to

beautiful places like Bryce Canyon in Utah or Cape May, NJ, I have seen

beautiful art, and felt the love of my husband. None of this would have been

possible if I had ended my life.

Nothing we have is going to kill us. We can get better. My RA right now is

about 90% improved. You never know what Life has in store for you, do you

really want to miss out on it? Life is a gift, no matter what.

I hope this makes everyone think.

-- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " chafarm123 " <chafarm@a...>

wrote:

>

>

> One of you had mentioned physician assisted suicide, and I must

> weigh-in here.

> Yes, it is true that some countries are permitting a euthanasia of

> sorts for those who live in severe pain and who have no reasonable

> expectation of recovery.

> Although suicide is always an option for every human being

> whether their pain be psychic or physical, I would like you each to

> consider something.....

> Suicide is a permanent solution to what could potentially be a

> temporary problem. There is research going on all over the world on

> RA, Lupus, ulcerative colitis,scleroderma, and Crohn's disease and a

> myriad of other autoimmune disorders. It is a matter of time before

> some REAL tangible progress is made in the management of all of these

> illnesses. Progress on RA is likely to be made by accident while

> working on another illness entirely.

> In all honesty I am quite depressed myself. I am limited

> considerably compared to a year ago in terms of my occupational value

> and also in terms of my ability to do things with my four children

> and my husband that we once enjoyed. I am having to sell my beloved

> farm.

> However, any type of suicide doesn't solve the problem for the

> person who suffers. It creates a deep loss which can eat through and

> destroy a family. When people commit suicide, their families suffer

> not only the loss of a beloved family member, but they suffer the

> guilt of not having recognized the depth of pain, depression and

> frustration of their loved one. Their children blame themselves

> forever. Some psychiatrists believe and will tell your family that

> the person who committed suicide was angry with them and that this

> was a motivating factor in their choice, even though this may not be

> true. The families of those who have committed suicide often later in

> life choose this themselves. You may be blazing the trail for your

> spouse or for your children, or even for your neighbor or a friend.

> Lastly, while you are in pain enough to consider this, you need

> to examine what you feel about God. Some faiths believe that God

> does not admit us into heaven when we have taken the life He has

> given us. Other faiths believe that a loving God would understand our

> choice. You need to search carefully what YOU believe before doing

> something irrevokable.

> I cannot say that suicide has never entered my radar screen.

> Most adults who have lived a life of any depth or who has experienced

> any losses will tell you it has, at least at some point.

> My choice at the moment, is to hang on, taking whatever morsels

> from the candy store my physicians provide to slow the progress of

> this thing. I enjoy what I can and limit my contact with those who

> annoy me or erode my resolve. (And there exist a lot of this type of

> people !)

> Please think about the points I've raised. It may be time to ask

> your doctor about a mild antidepressant such as amytriptaline, to

> help shore you up while all of this research continues. Remember, a

> cure might not be found for all of us, but it may well be found for

> some or even most of us. This thinking is as much a reality as the

> possibility of suicide, and it too is a valid choice.

>

> Best wishes to each of you,

> Jane

[Guest guest]

Life is short and not always pleasant God knows I have asked myself if it is worth all the pain and discomfort I go though... There is not one day I can think of in the last year that I have not been in pain. I am still waiting to discover "My Cocktail" BUT......I know there will be one..... You need to know that there is a cocktail of meds that will make you feel better... Hang in there... You will get relief.

I told my RA Doc I was having problems with depression..... and he said... I am not surprised.... but didn't offer me any anti depressants,.

I have a co worker in my office trying to get me fired.... based on what her Uncle is going though that has RA.... Since her uncle is getting relief she can't understand why I am not....

This is a great group... for the first time in a long time I feel I have support from ... people who understand what I am going though....

My best to all

Chrisina

Chrisina DenBaugh, CEOwww.Adoption-Free-Search.orgEmergency Medical Locators for Adoptees"Dedicated to adoptees whose lives are imperiled by medical crisis"Free Medical locations Locating and obtaining biological medical histories For the adoption community and all in needBiological family traces for transplants availableStaff members are online 24/7 To handle emergency searches.Donations of old databases, year books, cross directories greatly appreciated Fax: 775-845-4334No one should die because they are adoptedIF YOU CAN FOSTER OR ADOPT A DOG IN ANY STATE PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ONCE. Feed a Dog in Need Click on site below http://www.animalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa/237Donations are not currentyTax Deductible http://www.adoption-free-search.org/Donate.htm

[Guest guest]

Thankyou .

I hope you are well, travelling and enjoying life for many years

to come.

Best wishes,

Jane

> >

> >

> > One of you had mentioned physician assisted suicide, and I must

> > weigh-in here.

> > Yes, it is true that some countries are permitting a

euthanasia of

> > sorts for those who live in severe pain and who have no

reasonable

> > expectation of recovery.

> > Although suicide is always an option for every human being

> > whether their pain be psychic or physical, I would like you each

to

> > consider something.....

> > Suicide is a permanent solution to what could potentially be

a

> > temporary problem. There is research going on all over the world

on

> > RA, Lupus, ulcerative colitis,scleroderma, and Crohn's disease

and a

> > myriad of other autoimmune disorders. It is a matter of time

before

> > some REAL tangible progress is made in the management of all of

these

> > illnesses. Progress on RA is likely to be made by accident while

> > working on another illness entirely.

> > In all honesty I am quite depressed myself. I am limited

> > considerably compared to a year ago in terms of my occupational

value

> > and also in terms of my ability to do things with my four

children

> > and my husband that we once enjoyed. I am having to sell my

beloved

> > farm.

> > However, any type of suicide doesn't solve the problem for

the

> > person who suffers. It creates a deep loss which can eat through

and

> > destroy a family. When people commit suicide, their families

suffer

> > not only the loss of a beloved family member, but they suffer the

> > guilt of not having recognized the depth of pain, depression and

> > frustration of their loved one. Their children blame themselves

> > forever. Some psychiatrists believe and will tell your family

that

> > the person who committed suicide was angry with them and that

this

> > was a motivating factor in their choice, even though this may not

be

> > true. The families of those who have committed suicide often

later in

> > life choose this themselves. You may be blazing the trail for

your

> > spouse or for your children, or even for your neighbor or a

friend.

> > Lastly, while you are in pain enough to consider this, you

need

> > to examine what you feel about God. Some faiths believe that God

> > does not admit us into heaven when we have taken the life He has

> > given us. Other faiths believe that a loving God would understand

our

> > choice. You need to search carefully what YOU believe before

doing

> > something irrevokable.

> > I cannot say that suicide has never entered my radar

screen.

> > Most adults who have lived a life of any depth or who has

experienced

> > any losses will tell you it has, at least at some point.

> > My choice at the moment, is to hang on, taking whatever

morsels

> > from the candy store my physicians provide to slow the progress

of

> > this thing. I enjoy what I can and limit my contact with those

who

> > annoy me or erode my resolve. (And there exist a lot of this

type of

> > people !)

> > Please think about the points I've raised. It may be time to

ask

> > your doctor about a mild antidepressant such as amytriptaline, to

> > help shore you up while all of this research continues.

Remember, a

> > cure might not be found for all of us, but it may well be found

for

> > some or even most of us. This thinking is as much a reality as

the

> > possibility of suicide, and it too is a valid choice.

> >

> > Best wishes to each of you,

> > Jane

[Guest guest]

, I don't believe your co-worker understands what pain

is. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work on

another...........Joyce M

----- Original Message -----

From: CHRISINAD@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 7:03 PM

Subject: Re: Re: The Mention of Physician Assisted Suicide--long

Life is short and not always pleasant God knows I have asked myself if it is worth all the pain and discomfort I go though... There is not one day I can think of in the last year that I have not been in pain. I am still waiting to discover "My Cocktail" BUT......I know there will be one..... You need to know that there is a cocktail of meds that will make you feel better... Hang in there... You will get relief.

I told my RA Doc I was having problems with depression..... and he said... I am not surprised.... but didn't offer me any anti depressants,.

I have a co worker in my office trying to get me fired.... based on what her Uncle is going though that has RA.... Since her uncle is getting relief she can't understand why I am not....

This is a great group... for the first time in a long time I feel I have support from ... people who understand what I am going though....

My best to all

Chrisina

Chrisina DenBaugh, CEOwww.Adoption-Free-Search.orgEmergency Medical Locators for Adoptees"Dedicated to adoptees whose lives are imperiled by medical crisis"Free Medical locations Locating and obtaining biological medical histories For the adoption community and all in needBiological family traces for transplants availableStaff members are online 24/7 To handle emergency searches.Donations of old databases, year books, cross directories greatly appreciated Fax: 775-845-4334No one should die because they are adoptedIF YOU CAN FOSTER OR ADOPT A DOG IN ANY STATE PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ONCE. Feed a Dog in Need Click on site below http://www.animalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa/237Donations are not currentyTax Deductible http://www.adoption-free-search.org/Donate.htm

[Guest guest]

Chrisina, some people with cancer respond to treatment and others die of the cancer. It's not as severe with RA but the analogy serves to show that all diseases are not the same or not all people respond to a treatment in the same way. Maybe your coworker is guilty of harassment and needs to be reported to Human Resources. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: CHRISINAD@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 5:03 PM

Subject: Re: Re: The Mention of Physician Assisted Suicide--long

Life is short and not always pleasant God knows I have asked myself if it is worth all the pain and discomfort I go though... There is not one day I can think of in the last year that I have not been in pain. I am still waiting to discover "My Cocktail" BUT......I know there will be one..... You need to know that there is a cocktail of meds that will make you feel better... Hang in there... You will get relief.

I told my RA Doc I was having problems with depression..... and he said... I am not surprised.... but didn't offer me any anti depressants,.

I have a co worker in my office trying to get me fired.... based on what her Uncle is going though that has RA.... Since her uncle is getting relief she can't understand why I am not....

This is a great group... for the first time in a long time I feel I have support from ... people who understand what I am going though....

My best to all

Chrisina

Chrisina DenBaugh, CEOwww.Adoption-Free-Search.orgEmergency Medical Locators for Adoptees"Dedicated to adoptees whose lives are imperiled by medical crisis"Free Medical locations Locating and obtaining biological medical histories For the adoption community and all in needBiological family traces for transplants availableStaff members are online 24/7 To handle emergency searches.Donations of old databases, year books, cross directories greatly appreciated Fax: 775-845-4334No one should die because they are adoptedIF YOU CAN FOSTER OR ADOPT A DOG IN ANY STATE PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ONCE. Feed a Dog in Need Click on site below http://www.animalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa/237Donations are not currentyTax Deductible http://www.adoption-free-search.org/Donate.htm

[Guest guest]

Chrisina,

You need to contact your boss, the coworker's boss, and HR in writing

about this person. Not everyone has the same troubles with this stupid

disease. In fact, I do pretty good on most days, while so many of you

are unable to work. I'm lucky in that my boss is a real sweetie and he

has the sugar disease and his wife is very sick. He has known about my

RA from the beginning and hired me permentant regardless of it and

missed days and late. He faught very hard to get me on the payroll.

Got to love that guy.

Friday, I started a comment about the building to get the ladies' room

door handle changed from a knob to a lever. My hand can't take turning

it anymore. they said they would change it and now I have to make sure

they don't charge our company for it. I will get them on a ADA claim

if they do. (Only one handicap bathroom in the building - 12 floors.)

They charge us $500 everytime we are open when they aren't - heating/AC

bill. Burns my butt everytime.

Document this harassment now before the coworker gets his/her way.

Lynette

Harold Van Tuyl wrote:

Chrisina, some people with cancer

respond to treatment and others die of the cancer. It's not as severe

with RA but the analogy serves to show that all diseases are not the

same or not all people respond to a treatment in the same way. Maybe

your coworker is guilty of harassment and needs to be reported to Human

Resources. God bless.