[Leslie]

As you well know I have been dealing with a heart condition for many years, 3 hearts surgeries this last year. My doctors will not give me any garentee that my coronary artery will not cut off again because of a heart defect. If this happens I would go into cardiac arrest. I am thinking of signing a DNR. Does signing this mean I am totally depressed or is this a natural feelings when under these situations? There is no heart surgery left to try to help this heart condtion.

Leslie

[Zen888]

I strongly suggest you speak with a medical professional regarding this matter.

Dubz

[Leslie]

Heart surgeon and cardiologist have left this up to me and understand my wishes if I sign.

Leslie

[(JD)]

Why sign this? What's to say that there won't be something in the (even near) future that will fix this? I know how you are feeling.. I do. I've had DNR orders for myself... (pre accident) ... I don't have any now... as things did change.

What you might want are forms expressing your wishes should you have to go on life support. You can fine tune your wishes... and make them very explicit.. (i.e. if you are on life support for xx days/weeks and 3 MDs have stated there will not be any change... then... ) I would even make sure they didn't just starve you to death...

If you fear your heart will not last anyway, a DNR isn't necessary, as they can't revive you if it fails... DNR means they don't try... If you don't have hope for yourself, then allow the medical teams have hope for you, and at least try. We don't know what's around the corner for us...

[Leslie]

Thanks for responding to this post.You all have interestings thoughts on this subject. This topic has many ways of looking at life its self. When signing a DNR does that mean you have given up all hope? I was just wonder how others felt about this subject. Does our depression feelings want to take over sometimes?

Leslie

I come from a family that has had alot of cancer and other deseases where they have had to make the choice to continue or sign a DNR and two family members had to make the hard choice of signing a DNR and pulling the plug on family members who never wanted to consider that option or didn't have the time to do so. Signing DNR's is not about giving up or being depressed. its about how the person wants to live out the rest of their life should it come down to being permanently attatched to a respirator and other life saving devises until their last organ goes AFTER all life saving techniques have been tried and failed. Signing a DNR is not something to be done in a spur of the moment of should I or shouldn't I because this may happen even if it hasnt happened yet but is a fearful thought.

Talk it over with your physician and a therapist to be sure you completely understand the situation and the purpose and content of the DNR , paperwork because once that paper is signed it is a permanent part of your file and no matter what happens be it a car accident or heart failure or even swimming and you drown, if you are unconscious and stop breathing (even if your heart is still beating) the medical team cannot attach any thing to you including respirator or oxygen to help or save your life. all they can do is keep you comfortable while you die however slow or fast that may be.

Also there may be no more surgeries that can help the heart you do have but there is the transplant listings for donor hearts, all patients in the united states are placed on that list by their physicians automatically when there is no more medications, surgeries and so on options available

and a relative of mine has had shuts put in bypassing arteries including a coronary and is living a happy full life. maybe this is an option instead of keep repairing the same artery that keep failing.

[SS8282]

[Leslie]

Yes very helpful posting ,

Thank you,
Leslie
PS I have asked about other ways of keeping artery open, it is the design of my heart that keeps this area from being open the way it should. Not going for a heart transplant.

Leslie

[Zorah]

_Sky's advice is very sound

You should be very specific.

I have signed several of these for myself, when my kidneys failed, & once for my mother, who was 96, & twice for my h, who has a terminal diagnosis.

You should specify EXACTLY which circumstances you would not want to be revived under, eg, life support for ever, probable brain damage, quality of life issues etc.

I took legal & medical advice on this several times. If you want to talk about it, feel free to PM me.

My h has also refused the transplant possibility, although we found it a very hard decision.

I wish you the best possible outcome with your surgery.

Just wondering how you are doing?

Please let us know if you are able.

Hope all is well.

Petunia

[Zorah]

Has anyone heard from Leslie ??

Does anyone know how she is ?

((((((((((((Leslie))))))))))))))))

[(JD)]