skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

Before You Die, Have You?

3 years ago

The death arrangements thread reminded me that I haven't filled out a new POLST. Do you have one? Each state has an official form, the Practitioner Order For Life-Sustaining Treatment. It directs what measures you want taken by medical personnel. (DH and I already have powers of atty. for health care.) I was able to download my state's form. I want to discuss it with my MD, then it has to be witnessed -- and given to providers.

I'm too old and frail to survive CPR without broken bones. I'll be DNR on the form.

I will die of my blood cancer (multiple myeloma) if I do not receive ongoing treatment to combat it, and I will be 80 next year. Because I don't want to prolong my dying:

I do not want to be intubated. When I am terminal, I do not want IV nutrition nor IV hydration beyond what may be required to provide pain medication. (The body can be sustained for a long time with only water.)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Lars
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Yes. My doctor has a copy of it, as does my lawyer, and I have a copy of it myself.
maifleur03
3 years ago
Lars and others I am finding fewer doctors have what used to be called "admitting privileges". While doctors can send you to a hospital they can not treat you there. While my doctor wants to know that I have one he can not present it to the hospital for me.
Related Discussions
Top 10 pepper sites to visit before you die.
Q
Comments (13)
It's not close, but Guam has wild hot peppers growing all around the island. Since the Brown tree snake eradicated all the birds on the island, I was surprised at how wide spread the plants range in the jungle areas. Once you try some Guam booney peppers, you will want to enlist in the navy or air force to get there. BTW, I am always looking for seeds from Guam. chuck
...See More
100 foods to try before you die?? Lets make our own list!!
Q
Comments (43)
I've eaten horse, during the PBB scandal when all the cattle were poisoned and dropping over from PBBs in the cattle feed. LindaC, I bought Pocky at my local Meijer's and sent it to dishesdone, they had a chocolate and a strawberry version. Ashley says she's gotten it at WalMart right next to the college, it's a cookie shaped long and thin, not as big around as a pencil and dipped in chocolate or strawberry fudge. I have eaten crocodile AND alligator, and black pudding which Grandma used to call blood sausage. Nettle tea tastes icky and "green" but is supposed to be a diuretic and make your hair shiny, I can't figure out what the heck those two things have to do with each other, but I've tasted it because it's also supposed to be helpful for anemia. I didn't see that it helped. I had chicken tiki masala at a restaurant in Ann Arbor with Elery. It was basically a chicken dish with a curry kind of sauce over rice. Eh. I'm not a huge fan of curry. Paneer? Elery likes cheese. A lot. So we tried this, it kind of reminded me of the homemade yogurt cheese I make by putting yogurt in a strainer and letting it drain for several hours. Criollo chocolate is just a variety of cocoa bean. It's expensive and I found it to be very mild, I wasn't all that impressed with THAT either. I think I bought it at Fresh Market, and everything there is expensive so maybe that's just why it cost more. Tom Yum is just soup. I think it had coconut milk in it and it kind of reminded me of Chinese hot and sour. Annie
...See More
Do or die time- What do you wish someone had told you?
Q
Comments (33)
I wish I knew then about making sure that the flooring contractor would check on how level the slab was. Midway through laying the ceramic in the kitchen, his guy came upon a hump in the floor and although they made it work, well that was stupid. Don't skimp on the floors if you get tile. Go for something that's nice and flat (no beveling) so the mop will at least touch the grout, and of a high hardness. Mine is chipping where they meet from things being dropped on it. If I had to do it over, I actually think I'd go for the highest quality, cushioned vinyl roll out on the market, or at least a very high quality porcelain tile. I had Kentile (sp) in my old kitchen that was 15 years old and looked like new. Can't get it anymore, but sometimes I wish I'd pulled those tiles up and brought them with me! I didn't want wood because I have an engineered wood, BR1111 Amendiom surrounding the kitchen, and it's entirely too soft and scratches too easily for kitchen use. And, what a nightmare that would have been with them trying to glue down those floors on a big hump in the slab. I'm waiting and gathering before I proceed further, to soak up as much as I can from the experience here.
...See More
What is the cutest way you have decorated a die cut?
Q
Comments (2)
I made a s'more out of tan cardstock glued to a piece of cardboard for thickness I had paper marshmallows and choc showing along the sides I had it open like a little book to reveal a s'more recipe inside. My hubby thought it was silly.(but what does he know?) It was cute and great for camping pages. I even found paper with toasted marshmallows on it. Vee
...See More
bpath
3 years ago
The person (s) with medical poa should have a copy and at some point carry it with them. When it's needed, it's needed immediately.
Kathsgrdn
3 years ago
Just make sure you tell your family. Seen it too many times where family does the exact opposite of what the person wanted, including my brothers in the case of my dad.
Lars
3 years ago
My doctor is associated with UCLA, and he has put my document into the UCLA records. If I go to a hospital, it will be a UCLA hospital, and it will have the records that my doctor has submitted for me.
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
3 years ago
When we moved to Florida from Illinois, updating things like this were priority for us. New wills, new HCPOA, new everything. Copies were sent to my three sons and my physician has copies. Every time I see a new medical person, I take along the appropriate papers and have them copied for their files. Pulmonologist, Cardiologist, Orthopedic surgeon, Neurologist, even the PT people after my shoulder surgery.

I figure in another couple of years, we'll update things, based on our current health and the health of our beneficiaries. I is the right thing to do.
jill302
3 years ago
My husband and I have this form, although it is called Advanced Health Care Directive. Our children know where it is located. Currently we are reasonably healthy, but you never know what might happen.

We were very thankful my mom had completed this form. At the end of her life, it really helped us make sure the decisions we were making on her behalf, were consistent with her wishes.
jupidupi
3 years ago
Wow, Chisue! By your comments, I'd imagined you to be in your 30's or 40's. You have such an open and fresh attitude. Your body may be betraying you, but your mind is obviously 100% there. And to be almost 80 with your husband by your side! I'm so sorry to hear about your health problems. But I'll be your age in another 15 years, and I aspire to be lively as you!
yeonassky
3 years ago
I'm not entirely sure if what I would like to have done is even possible. I would like to be put into a grave for multiple people but I would like to have a mushroom suit or a fungus suit on. It is supposed to biodegrade your body without releasing all the toxins in it. I would like not be cremated or buried in a casket.

Apparently at least in the states the mushroom suit costs $1,500. Hear it would probably be quadruple that. We have a weak dollar..

But then you still need a burial site. I just don't think there's any reason to have a grave site. I'm not sure any of my family is that sentimental anyway. Loving yes but sentimental no.
OutsidePlaying
3 years ago
Each state may be different so you maybe should check. And the similar documents are likely called something different. In our state it is called an Advanced Health Care Directive I think.

Our attorney who prepared all our documents even recommended we carry a copy of our health care directives and POAs in our vehicles. Pretty much so they were accessible to us at any time. And of course our executors have a copy of our wills and these documents too and know our wishes.

Related Stories

UNIVERSAL DESIGN 10 Questions to Ask Before Sharing Your Home With Aging Parents

By Laura Gaskill

Honest conversation is key to deciding whether it makes sense to have your parents move in with you

MOST POPULAR 5 Ways to Pare Down Your Stuff — Before It Gets in the Door

By Laura Gaskill

Want to free up some room around the house? Rethink gift giving, give yourself a shopping mantra and just say, ‘No, thank you’ to freebies

LIFE 5 Things to Think About Before Adding an In-Law Suite

By Gwendolyn Purdom

Multigenerational households are on the rise, but there’s a lot to consider when dreaming up a new space for mom or dad

GARDENING GUIDES Make Sure You Read This Before Buying New Plants

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Follow these 10 plant-selection tips to avoid buyer’s remorse

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

EVENTS Don't Throw Away Another Household Item Before Reading This

By Mitchell Parker

Repair Cafe events around the world enlist savvy volunteers to fix broken lamps, bicycles, electronics, small appliances, clothing and more

HOUSEKEEPING Don't Touch Another Stain Before You Read This

By Mitchell Parker

Even an innocent swipe with water may cause permanent damage. Here's what to know about how rugs and fabrics react

PETS What You Need to Know Before Buying Chicks

Ordering chicks for your backyard coop? Easy. But caring for them requires planning and foresight. Here's what to do

CONTRACTOR TIPS 10 Things to Discuss With Your Contractor Before Work Starts

By Ventana Construction LLC

Have a meeting a week before hammers and shovels fly to make sure everyone’s on the same page

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Before and After: Cheerful Color in a Farmhouse Bathroom

By Morgan Province

Colorful wallpaper and a painted bathtub refresh a Michigan family’s first-floor bathroom

Sponsored

More Discussions

Oh no! Another one!

734

Have you found any bargains or deals lately?

50

Let's start a chain reaction game -- Part 4

215

Smile today - 5/5/24

11

I guess someone couldn't "bear" it

80