I have HIV and i am not scared of dying but I am very frightened of dying in pai!
Question: I have HIV and i am not scared of dying but I am very frightened of dying in pain !.!.!.!?
I am proud of myself that I have (almost) overcome my fear of dying because I was counseled about it for two years after my diagnosis in 2001!.
Death is not imminent and my treatment is going very well!. I told my doctor (HIV expert) of my concerns and he simply said he believes in euthanasia which isn't exactly what i wanted to hear!.
I don't want to hasten my death at the end - I simply want to be made comfortable and relieved of any pain!.
Unfortunately I have heard that even the highest doses of morphine can't stop breakthrough pain!.
What do you think, advise on this issue!?
All comments gratefully received and please state if you have any experience with this issue - personally or professionally
Thanks in advance!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Death is not imminent and my treatment is going very well!. I told my doctor (HIV expert) of my concerns and he simply said he believes in euthanasia which isn't exactly what i wanted to hear!.
I don't want to hasten my death at the end - I simply want to be made comfortable and relieved of any pain!.
Unfortunately I have heard that even the highest doses of morphine can't stop breakthrough pain!.
What do you think, advise on this issue!?
All comments gratefully received and please state if you have any experience with this issue - personally or professionally
Thanks in advance!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
My brother died from Pancreatic cancer last December!. It is true and possible that morphine will not be completely effective!. My brother was on very high doses of morphine and it gradually stopped working well!. Therefore he was prescribed Dilaudid, first as injections and later in an i!.v!. pump!. I was told that Dilaudid is stronger than Morphine!. Dilaudid took care of his pain and worked especially well in the i!.v!. pump!. The i!.v!. pump is filled with Dilaudid and you receive it via an i!.v!. line!. It will pump the drug into you every few minutes and if more is needed at certain times to kill your pain then you can push a button and it will send more drug into you!. I think that you can be rest assured that towards the end of life you will be able to be made comfortable and have your pain relieved!. There are more drugs than just morphine available and there are various ways of delivering the drugs to your body to get the relief that you need!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
When the time is near they will give you enough morphine !. I have witnessed this with both my father and my aunt!. They seemed to have passed peacefully!. My prayers are with you!.I have a very close relative diagnosed 11 years ago!. I know the pain ,frustration, and all the questions you must have experienced!.No, it's not a death sentence!.Take care of yourself!. We will all experience it one day!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I don't know, but I do know that I am praying for you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'll pray for you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Until I was diagnosed with cancer and I was forced to stop volunteering I was a practical support volunteer for our local HIV-AIDS alliance group!.
HIV is becoming more manageable all the time so unless you have an AIDS related cancer that will soon bring about your death I really do not think you should be spending a lot of time worrying about an event that might be 20 or 30 years down the road!. I'm not trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation but things are changing for the better as far as having new and effective disease management tools and your time could be better spent worrying about other issues!. If you are fixated on dying and pain then possibly you are depressed and should either share your fears with a support group or seek out private counseling!.
It has been my experience that infectious disease-HIV Drs!. are on the cutting edge for excellent pain control and probably are among the best equipped Drs!. to deal with end of life pain issues!. With AIDS you typically die of an infection so the pain is not the overpowering excruciating pain that might be found from an end stage bone tumor or other type cancer notorious for difficult to treat pain!.
The one AIDS patient that I helped care for up until his death who had AIDS-RELATED lymphoma was in pain but this was manageable with oral morphine syrup so his pain was not what you would call intractable or out of control!.
My advice is to figure out why you are worrying so much about this issue now and then get help from either your Dr!. or an HIV counselor to help you get past this fear!. Volunteer and help other people who are in worse shape than you!. Volunteering to help others will help you learn to minimize your own aches and pains plus deal with your own inner fears!.
all the bestWww@Answer-Health@Com
HIV is becoming more manageable all the time so unless you have an AIDS related cancer that will soon bring about your death I really do not think you should be spending a lot of time worrying about an event that might be 20 or 30 years down the road!. I'm not trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation but things are changing for the better as far as having new and effective disease management tools and your time could be better spent worrying about other issues!. If you are fixated on dying and pain then possibly you are depressed and should either share your fears with a support group or seek out private counseling!.
It has been my experience that infectious disease-HIV Drs!. are on the cutting edge for excellent pain control and probably are among the best equipped Drs!. to deal with end of life pain issues!. With AIDS you typically die of an infection so the pain is not the overpowering excruciating pain that might be found from an end stage bone tumor or other type cancer notorious for difficult to treat pain!.
The one AIDS patient that I helped care for up until his death who had AIDS-RELATED lymphoma was in pain but this was manageable with oral morphine syrup so his pain was not what you would call intractable or out of control!.
My advice is to figure out why you are worrying so much about this issue now and then get help from either your Dr!. or an HIV counselor to help you get past this fear!. Volunteer and help other people who are in worse shape than you!. Volunteering to help others will help you learn to minimize your own aches and pains plus deal with your own inner fears!.
all the bestWww@Answer-Health@Com
Have you talked to Hospice!? They specialize in end of life comfort!.
Have you talked to your doctor about hypnotic drugs!? They induce sleep, but don't suppress breathing etc!. It is possible you could be placed in an "induced" coma for your final few days!.
Your doctor's objections are likely ethical, legal and political!. Remember:
Your physician took an oath to do no harm!. Some interpret this literally!.
Your physician could get into trouble legally, including arrest and loss of license!.
Your physician may have a political feelings on Euthanasia based on current mis-use in other countries!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Have you talked to your doctor about hypnotic drugs!? They induce sleep, but don't suppress breathing etc!. It is possible you could be placed in an "induced" coma for your final few days!.
Your doctor's objections are likely ethical, legal and political!. Remember:
Your physician took an oath to do no harm!. Some interpret this literally!.
Your physician could get into trouble legally, including arrest and loss of license!.
Your physician may have a political feelings on Euthanasia based on current mis-use in other countries!.Www@Answer-Health@Com