Guest guest Posted October 11, 2002 Report Share Posted October 11, 2002 I want to thank everyone who responded in reference to the living will question I posed to the group. You all have given me alot of suggestions, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it. Thanks again. Regards, jerrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2002 Report Share Posted October 11, 2002 I want to thank everyone who responded in reference to the living will question I posed to the group. You all have given me alot of suggestions, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it. Thanks again. Regards, jerrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2002 Report Share Posted October 14, 2002 Joanne, The choice of a feeding tube is an individual decision and everyone should decide for themselves what is correct in their own mind. In our case my wife and family decided on placing a feeding tube and it gave my wife three additional years of life (and quality of life). The tube allows liquids to go directly into the stomach without getting into the lungs. Liquids are the most difficult thing to swallow for most MSA patients. My wife got over her pneumonia and recovered much of her ability to swallow soft and ground foods. She was able to eat a varied diet and see our grandkids for three more years. Without that three years, our two youngest grandkids would not remember their grandmother. The PEG is easy to take care of and use. I did it for three years and am not unhappy that I used the tube. It is also an easy operation with little pain. My wife finally died peacefully in bed at home in November 2001 (3 years and 3 months after getting the PEG). I personally do not feel the PEG was an extraordinary measure in her case and my kids do not either. My wife did not want a trach tube and that was her decision - but it never came up as a problem. She was able to communicate to the end. All of those decisions should be made by the individual with all information available to them before they make the decision. Take care, Bill Werre ======================================================= cyberturtle707 wrote: >The subject of my father's living will has come up in my family in >the last few weeks. He was hospitalised because of aspiration >pneumonia and the possibility of a feeding tube came up. My >father does not want one either. This is a difficult topic of >discussion not that he can carry on much of a conversation >these days. He has since come out of the hospital and he is >feeling " better " . He can swallow some soft foods and also needs >thickit. He chokes easily. We came to understand that the >function of the living will is to express his feelings if he would not >be able to. . We live in Canada but I am sure that this is also the >case in the US. I beleive that a feeding-tube is an extraordinary >measure. I wish that, as a society, we paid more attention to the >quality of people's lives as they approached it's end so that they >could die in dignity and at peace. > >peace, Joanne > > >If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may >unsubscribe by sending a blank email to > >shydrager-unsubscribe > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2002 Report Share Posted October 14, 2002 Joanne, The choice of a feeding tube is an individual decision and everyone should decide for themselves what is correct in their own mind. In our case my wife and family decided on placing a feeding tube and it gave my wife three additional years of life (and quality of life). The tube allows liquids to go directly into the stomach without getting into the lungs. Liquids are the most difficult thing to swallow for most MSA patients. My wife got over her pneumonia and recovered much of her ability to swallow soft and ground foods. She was able to eat a varied diet and see our grandkids for three more years. Without that three years, our two youngest grandkids would not remember their grandmother. The PEG is easy to take care of and use. I did it for three years and am not unhappy that I used the tube. It is also an easy operation with little pain. My wife finally died peacefully in bed at home in November 2001 (3 years and 3 months after getting the PEG). I personally do not feel the PEG was an extraordinary measure in her case and my kids do not either. My wife did not want a trach tube and that was her decision - but it never came up as a problem. She was able to communicate to the end. All of those decisions should be made by the individual with all information available to them before they make the decision. Take care, Bill Werre ======================================================= cyberturtle707 wrote: >The subject of my father's living will has come up in my family in >the last few weeks. He was hospitalised because of aspiration >pneumonia and the possibility of a feeding tube came up. My >father does not want one either. This is a difficult topic of >discussion not that he can carry on much of a conversation >these days. He has since come out of the hospital and he is >feeling " better " . He can swallow some soft foods and also needs >thickit. He chokes easily. We came to understand that the >function of the living will is to express his feelings if he would not >be able to. . We live in Canada but I am sure that this is also the >case in the US. I beleive that a feeding-tube is an extraordinary >measure. I wish that, as a society, we paid more attention to the >quality of people's lives as they approached it's end so that they >could die in dignity and at peace. > >peace, Joanne > > >If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may >unsubscribe by sending a blank email to > >shydrager-unsubscribe > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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