I am starting to do my research on this subject due to not wanting to end up like my mother with dementia. I hope not. Whatever it takes to not have to suffer and make those around me suffer. If I do decide to exit myself, i want to do it my way, and surrounded by those who matter the most and by throwing a party and getting in my best clothes with my hair and makeup done.
I took a bunch of pain pills, and all I did was throw up. If I had my guns, well I don't. Don't give me any crap about god, any god would not allow this situation.
How bad does it have to get? I have Parkinson's. I can still "function" but am shaky, clumsy, sad, and scared all the time. I have a loving family but I feel I have lost the quality of life. I am 84 years old and have lived a full life. I am not afraid to die but rather afraid to have to live with my increasing disabilities. I am considering voluntary suicide in Switzerland but my family thinks it's too soon.
My heart goes out to you, so perhaps this information - if you haven't seen it - will be of help to you. My Mother went through dehydration and starvation because I didn't know any more to do for her 17 years ago. I would give anything to have had the knowledge contained in the "Peaceful Pill e-handbook" which you can find online. When the time comes, I now have what I need to exit in an easy and painless way before its too late, thanks to the instruction in the book and their forum. I was “present” by phone when this method was used by three different friends, so I know it’s reliable and peaceful. I just wish that Robin had done more research and found this better way. Please feel free to write me with any questions, if you would like: email4911@protonmail.com
just a couple ( or more ) pain patches ingested orally will put a person into terminal respiratory distress . near end of life most people dont have unfettered access to their meds tho . that complicates that scenario . i think its a new age in america with fundamentalism on the decline and common sense will soon rule this country . we are not slackers in the common sense department imo .
It is good to know that someone is actually "thinking". On the Today Show this morning the Robin Williams autopsy was discussed and they said another extenuating circumstance was that Robin Williams had Lewy Body Dementia. They interviewed a friend who had known Robin Williams since 1979 and had seen Robin Williams the last month of his life. He said that Robin Williams had lost weight and was frail and scattered and closed the interview with a statement to the effect that "something was definitely wrong". The story closed with “it is better to get help for your condition rather than go through with suicide”. I am so angry and tired of the “pop advice” offered by an unthinking media to those facing a disease like dementia, or Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s. This story brought back all of the sinking, desperate feelings my family and my Mother faced as we groped for help during the final stages of her life. Forget growing a beard for Ebola, how about growing a beard for compassionate care of the elderly and terminal?
I do believe the media and medicine has a responsibility to encourage people to continue living. I do believe that they should encourage people to get help. There are many occasions where suicide is a stupid answer to a short-term circumstance that looms large but in perspective, if one continues to live, is really nothing.
My Mother died in July at 81. She was miserable and depressed because my father died the previous July and she “could not see a damned thing and could not read or do crossword puzzles”, she was dizzy “all the time”, she had to go to the bathroom “all the time”. She was miserable and was left with only the TV and her children but “no good times ever again.” We all thought that it was a result of her diagnosed dementia, participating in Hospice care with my father, losing my father, moving to assisted living, and poor health. Huge life challenges and changes for anyone, much less a person with dementia. Doctors and pharmaceuticals only offered limited palliative help and many emergency room visits but no healing. I want to emphasize that my mother had extensive medical care and neurological workup for many years. Please, no advice on the miracle of new medications from any well intentioned readers, we sought help and ultimately, the only thing that really made my Mother happier was her family, eating good food, Starbucks Caramel Macchiato, and Zoloft.
The Hospital helped my mother die of dehydration during her “recovery” from her final fall. The Hospital took away almost all of the few remaining things that made her happy, food and Starbucks Caramel Macchiato (Zoloft can only do so much) because she failed a swallow test. The medical profession gave my Mother a legitimate, foolproof, easy, way to die without “committing suicide”. Medical assistance and rehabilitation stopped the eating and drinking by imposing lifesaving precautions that took most of the remaining joy from Mother’s life. As far as legalities were concerned, the hospital and rehabilitation was blameless. Ethically, you decide.
Finally, my point. We need to consider a legitimate way to allow people to die with dignity (let’s not confuse suicide with allowing people to die) without forcing people that are facing Robin William’s circumstances to hang themselves. Robin Williams had been working through depression for what appeared to be his entire life and was then faced with a disease that was going to make his depression worse, plus take his movement, mind, memories, and skills. His disease appeared more advanced than previously made public. I am sure he could afford and had the most excellent medical care. With that, much like my mother, he would be faced with an army of doctors pushing any pharmaceutical solution that might work, dealing with the side effects in the emergency room, recovering, and facing a new barrage of pharmaceuticals.
Thank you for actually discussing the issue of Parkinson’s and dementia and the end of life without cloaking it in senseless advice to mindlessly seek help. Medical help reaches a point of diminishing returns. I understand that the hands of medical professionals are tied because of laws and lawsuits. However, many medical professionals need to re-focus on common sense, compassion, and quality of life for anyone stricken with a rapidly advancing, debilitating disease. I only hope that I can find one of these medical professionals when my time comes.
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My Final Exit: Starvation or Assisted Suicide?
My heart goes out to you, so perhaps this information - if you haven't seen it - will be of help to you. My Mother went through dehydration and starvation because I didn't know any more to do for her 17 years ago. I would give anything to have had the knowledge contained in the "Peaceful Pill e-handbook" which you can find online. When the time comes, I now have what I need to exit in an easy and painless way before its too late, thanks to the instruction in the book and their forum. I was “present” by phone when this method was used by three different friends, so I know it’s reliable and peaceful. I just wish that Robin had done more research and found this better way. Please feel free to write me with any questions, if you would like: email4911@protonmail.com
All the best,
L.N.W.
I do believe the media and medicine has a responsibility to encourage people to continue living. I do believe that they should encourage people to get help. There are many occasions where suicide is a stupid answer to a short-term circumstance that looms large but in perspective, if one continues to live, is really nothing.
My Mother died in July at 81. She was miserable and depressed because my father died the previous July and she “could not see a damned thing and could not read or do crossword puzzles”, she was dizzy “all the time”, she had to go to the bathroom “all the time”. She was miserable and was left with only the TV and her children but “no good times ever again.” We all thought that it was a result of her diagnosed dementia, participating in Hospice care with my father, losing my father, moving to assisted living, and poor health. Huge life challenges and changes for anyone, much less a person with dementia. Doctors and pharmaceuticals only offered limited palliative help and many emergency room visits but no healing. I want to emphasize that my mother had extensive medical care and neurological workup for many years. Please, no advice on the miracle of new medications from any well intentioned readers, we sought help and ultimately, the only thing that really made my Mother happier was her family, eating good food, Starbucks Caramel Macchiato, and Zoloft.
The Hospital helped my mother die of dehydration during her “recovery” from her final fall. The Hospital took away almost all of the few remaining things that made her happy, food and Starbucks Caramel Macchiato (Zoloft can only do so much) because she failed a swallow test. The medical profession gave my Mother a legitimate, foolproof, easy, way to die without “committing suicide”. Medical assistance and rehabilitation stopped the eating and drinking by imposing lifesaving precautions that took most of the remaining joy from Mother’s life. As far as legalities were concerned, the hospital and rehabilitation was blameless. Ethically, you decide.
Finally, my point. We need to consider a legitimate way to allow people to die with dignity (let’s not confuse suicide with allowing people to die) without forcing people that are facing Robin William’s circumstances to hang themselves. Robin Williams had been working through depression for what appeared to be his entire life and was then faced with a disease that was going to make his depression worse, plus take his movement, mind, memories, and skills. His disease appeared more advanced than previously made public. I am sure he could afford and had the most excellent medical care. With that, much like my mother, he would be faced with an army of doctors pushing any pharmaceutical solution that might work, dealing with the side effects in the emergency room, recovering, and facing a new barrage of pharmaceuticals.
Thank you for actually discussing the issue of Parkinson’s and dementia and the end of life without cloaking it in senseless advice to mindlessly seek help. Medical help reaches a point of diminishing returns. I understand that the hands of medical professionals are tied because of laws and lawsuits. However, many medical professionals need to re-focus on common sense, compassion, and quality of life for anyone stricken with a rapidly advancing, debilitating disease. I only hope that I can find one of these medical professionals when my time comes.