I must admit that, despite all of the optimism and wishful thinking about Parkinson's research, I have periods of utter dread in which I fear that when I reach the most unbearably painful stages of the disease, I won't have a way out.
I'd very much like to have the equivalent of a "magic pill" - maybe some combination of opiates or opiates and alcohol, that would release me from existence if it became necessary. In other words, "Painless Death Insurance."
I realize that some States allow for people with terminal diseases to go into hospice and receive increasing amounts of pain killer, but PD is not a terminal disease. There's such a bias against suicide in this country, probably supported by the religious fundamentalists who claim to know what's best for our souls, that I think that it'll be a long time before we see any humane change of policy regarding assisted suicide or euthanasia.
What the hell am I supposed to do? Find a local drug dealer?
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Alock2020
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I don't really want to think of that I would never judge anybody else for thier choices thatbut that isnt for me I don't know how bad it would have to get before I would allow myself to think like
I lean towards skepticism because of lack of evidence. I speculate that after death, the person doesn't exist, just as he/she didn't exist before conception.
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“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.”
FYI you can actually get thrown in jail or mental health unit for talking about this....facebook.com/groups/2631566... the fb group death with dignity...oregon is the only state i think so far that will assist if your non resident. hang tough...
I am not here to start a debate, but I do wish to clarify something that I find inaccurate. (I have read this phase over and over in various places and I'm not staying silent anymore. Apologies that I am starting with you - I know we all have a lot on our plate with our day-to-day struggles with PD.)
It's your statement that "... probably supported by the religious fundamentalists who claim to know what's best for our souls". People of faith in Christ follow the Bible and it's the Bible (Jesus specifically) who dictates their beliefs in choosing life vs. death. So, it would seem to me that folks distaste for the faithful is misplaced. Your distaste is actually that you don't agree with God who wrote the Bible. (Or if it's against Muslim people, the God who wrote the Koran. Or Mormons, Joseph Smith who wrote The Book of Mormon, etc.) Are their people who are believers that are jerks? Of course. Sadly, we find distasteful people in every group.
If you choose to death over life that is a very personal decision and the choice shouldn't rest on anyone else dictating to you their beliefs. Not everyone follows the same Owner's Manual, but I suspect if someone has talked to you about this it is, most likely, because they truly care even if it doesn't feel that way. In our society we need to give each other an extra dose of love and grace.
I wish you all the very best as you move forward in your journey with Parkinson's. I certainly can relate to your concerns. I am a sincere Christ follower and I wrestle with this issue because of my faith.
Switzerland - assisted suicide and they allow for 'suffering' from an illness that is irreversible. Many with Parkinson's go there. That's my plan. pegasos-association.com/req...
the statistics of physician assisted dying in California (where I live) show that 13% of people taking this rout had neurological disorders including ALS and Parkinson’s. I wonder how they got certified that they would live less than six months?
I recently read this book. It's a very thoughtful account of death by someone who is a death doula. Just watch out for the story about the hunter friend of his. Big trigger warning needed there. But the book is really worth reading IMHO. audible.com/pd/Die-Wise-Aud...
I understand your point quite well. When my meds are not working I have such a grim View on just about everything, that's when I worry the most about the future. And it scares the crap out of me. They used to call pneumonia the old man's friend and I'm kind of hoping that at some point I would just aspirate something into my lungs and then pass away from pneumonia. That's my plan. Probably not a very good one but so far that's what I've come up with. A lot of PD people also die from Falls but that's pretty scary since that's the one thing I spend most of my time trying not to do. We will each in our own way deal with what's in front of us and do the best we can. I try to stay in the present and as you know that can be a challenge. This is a subject that's very uncomfortable for people but I also think it's important that we're able to bring it up because it is a reality that we live with.
I have at least 5 serious medical terminal conditions, have been tested for Parkinson's disease twice, both negatively, although my father had it! I can talk to GP's, Doctor's, Specialist's, etc, even A&E, they see my medical record, and cry, stop the conversation, cut off, my personal GP I have not seen his face in many years, my young neighbour whom I've known since birth [had heard I had PC] only 12 gave me a big hug, I cannot work in the garden now, my fractured skull from double seizure, irreparable brain damage, thus 3.am! Some relatives cannot look me in the face, have not see them for years, even my favourite cafe, I get slipped a freebee, I am a prime example for legal euthanasia a lot of medical friends over the years readily agree with me! I am 67. I have a burning ambition to travel, completely daft 😵I have been disabled most of my life, confined to one town but always wanted to expand? I want to commit suicide, almost feel it is in everybody's best interest! I have high pain threshold, using useless pain killers over my life, became immune to them! I am an Agnostic, my only real comfort, have been over forty years, my belief is strong and comforting, theologize late at night, bringing comfort to my soul👍
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