Your death. How do you want it to come?

[Donger]

I know what you're saying about "mind still intact". I reckon being mentally impaired might be harder on the loved ones than on the sufferer. They could be blissfully happy. Oblivious to all else but happy.

It would be nice to think so, and hopefully in some instances ths is the case. Unfortunately my mum, and both of my inlaws were left extremely agitated, confused and unsettled by various forms of dementia. It is also extremely difficult to keep being as nice, and as tolerant and patient as you would like to think you are, to someone with advanced dementia, and some of your irritation is bound to get through to them. It really isn't nice at all. I do get where you are coming from, though, and it would be lovely to think that you could just go pleasantly loopy and chuckle yourself to death.

 

[MarkF]

It is also extremely difficult to keep being as nice, and as tolerant and patient as you would like to think you are, to someone with advanced dementia, and some of your irritation is bound to get through to them.

Very True. I often wonder if my late father's last lucid moments in life were spoilt by the irritation of others.

 

[Donger]

Very True. I often wonder if my late father's last lucid moments in life were spoilt by the irritation of others.

As long as you know you did your best for him, you have to tell yourself you made a difference and that, on some level, he appreciated that.

 

[yello]

I do get where you are coming from, though, and it would be lovely to think that you could just go pleasantly loopy and chuckle yourself to death.

I know what you're saying too. And as what you are saying is clearly based on personal experience, I hope my semi-flippant posting wasn't hurtful or offensive. I apologise if so.

My only serious point was that mental illness can be more distressing for the family and friends than for the sufferer. I personally wouldn't want to be in such a situation (that is, the suffer) not for myself (because, as I said, I could be oblivious to it all) but because of the distress my condition might cause for loved ones.

 

[Donger]

I know what you're saying to. And as what you are saying is clearly based on personal experience, I hope my semi-flippant posting wasn't hurtful or offensive. I apologise if so.

My only serious point was that mental illness can be more distressing for the family and friends than for the sufferer. I personally wouldn't want to be in such a situation (that is, the suffer) not for myself (because, as I said, I could be oblivious to it all) but because of the distress my condition might cause for loved ones.

Don't worry. I didn't take the slightest offence. I guess it's harder than you might think to get a point across with the right tone in a paragraph of text. I do write quite good angry letters, however, so if I really had been annoyed you would have been left in no doubt at all!

 

[yello]

I guess it's harder than you might think to get a point across with the right tone in a paragraph of text.

Indeed it is. I reckon many forum disputes are caused more by differences in interpretation than fundamental differences in opinion.

 

[postman]

I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather, and not screaming in fear like the passengers on his bus.


GC

I love that one,i was going to post the same.

 

[MikeG]

So long as I die before my kids, and my old age and decrepitude hasn't wrecked their lives, then I'll be happy. Obviously, I'd prefer to get taken by a pride of lions than to just have a longer than normal sleep in the corner of some friendless old people's home in a wheelchair whilst a bunch of idiots sing Underneath the Arches. I'd really like to be somewhere near compos mentis , and still recognise friends and family.

 

[young Ed]

Times were slow in old Sweden and that is what constituted as a good day's entertainment!!

i bet they still ate the pork for christmas!
Cheers Ed

 

[numbnuts]

Non Omnis Moriar

 

[MikeG]

Non Omnis Moriar

Oh yes you will.........

 

[tadpole]

Having looked it in the face a couple of time, I don't want to die of cancer, nor do I want to die looking up at the underside of a car.
I don't want my family to suffer with me through another long illness, Facing that i'd take my bike up to the top of Snowden in the winter with a bottle of 40 year old scotch, and a decent pork pie, and wait.

 

[tyred]

Preferably as painlessly as possible with just enough warning to ensure my bank balance reads zero so I can get maximum enjoyment from my money and with enough time to wrap a load of worthless rubbish up in newspapers to give my greedy relatives that never speak to me plenty to do to sort through it

I donate my bikes, car and tin-opener to science.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Having already died on the operating table and been brought back...

Judging by your photo, either the doctor lied to you or your recovery has a way to go yet.

GC

 

[Roadhump]

Before my kids is the main thing. After that, as painlessly as possible and causing as little distress as possible to my loved ones.

Sorry to be so cheerful, but it seems there are few painless or pleasant ways out of this world. I read a book last year called "How we die" by Sherwin Nuland (available via Google on PDF if you're interested) in which he uses his medical experience to describe what happens in the process of dying in various ways and none seem to offer a pain or stress free exit. Not that it scared me, I just realised it is best not to give too much of a s***, other than the less pain the better and the less distress to my loved ones the better.

Ah well, more beer......