List of Partners vendors. Diagnosis of a terminal illness brings with it an immediate reshuffling of your priorities, as well as a wealth of new challenges and concerns.
Here are 10 practical tasks to help you deal with a terminal illness regarding the many issues that arise after learning your remaining time is limited. We fear most what we understand least, so empower yourself by learning everything you can about how your illness will affect you. In addition, learn to recognize common end-of-life symptoms so you can treat them, if possible, and improve the quality of your remaining time.
There is no correct way to deal with a terminal illness, and you will experience a tremendous range of emotions in the weeks or months ahead, from anger and resentment to fear and depression. While such feelings are normal, how you will react to and manage them on any given day will be unique to you. You know yourself best, and only you can determine the things most important to you in the time you have left. Depending upon the nature and extent of your illness, and after discussions with your healthcare provider s and loved ones, ask yourself if you wish to pursue all of the treatment options available to prolong your life.
Or would you rather focus on enhancing the quality of your remaining time and spending it with your family and friends?
Somewhere in between? Making an informed decision about how you wish to chart your remaining course can help alleviate feelings of helplessness and fear. To some extent, all of the tasks in this article will help you plan for a "good death"—one in which you decide to die on your own terms and as comfortably as possible —but you should also choose where you wish to die.
While the nature and extent of your illness, treatment methods and the priorities you set will influence your decision, there are many options available to you.
While many Americans would prefer to die at home, others might choose a hospital, nursing home or hospice facility, which can offer a greater level of skilled treatment. After contemplating which setting you most prefer, discuss it with your healthcare provider s and loved ones to make sure it is a viable option.
With so much thought and attention focused on you and your illness, it might be easy to forget that your loved ones will also experience a wide range of emotions as they attempt to cope with the thought of losing you. Your family and friends might also feel awkward or uncertain about what to say or how to act around you as they worry about uttering the wrong thing or reminding you about your illness. In addition, fears concerning future financial support, childcare or other practical matters will undoubtedly cross their minds at some point and likely trigger intense feelings of guilt for being "selfish" at a time like this.
Therefore, as much for them as for yourself, sit down with those who love you and discuss honestly and openly how you're feeling , and allow them to express their thoughts and emotions, as well. Let them know how important their support is to you and that, as much as you can, you will be there to support them too. The previous task helped improve the emotional support that you and your family will require in the days and months ahead, but you should also focus on creating a "practical support network" as soon as possible.
You should also consider creating an advance healthcare directive, which puts your specific desires about your future healthcare in writing. This legally binding document encompasses two parts.
The first is a durable power of attorney for health care, in which you will name someone a proxy who can make medical decisions for you should you become unable to do so. The second part is a living will, in which you can spell out the treatments you want or don't want at the end of your life. These documents, which both you and your healthcare provider must sign, specify that you do not want a full resuscitation effort if the time comes.
Finally, consider donating some or all of your organs or tissue, if possible, in order to give others the gift of life. You can include your instructions in the advance healthcare directive. A person may completely stop eating a few days before they die.
When this happens, it helps to keep their lips moistened with lip balm, so that they are not uncomfortable. Without metabolic energy, a person will sleep a lot more. If a person is caring for a dying loved one who is sleepy, they should make them comfortable and let them sleep. When their loved one does have energy, they should encourage them to move or get out of bed to help avoid bedsores. It is not unusual for a person to feel uncomfortable letting others see them losing their strength.
If this is the case, it is advisable to arrange visits when the person dying is up to seeing someone. Seeing this and the other changes in a loved one may be distressing. But these changes are not painful, so it may help to try not to focus overly on them. Because a dying person is eating and drinking less, their bowel movements may reduce. They may pass less solid waste less often. They may also urinate less frequently. These changes can be distressing to witness in a loved one, but they are to be expected.
Speaking to the hospital about a catheter for the person may help. Weak muscles mean the individual may not be able to carry out the small tasks that they were able to previously. Drinking from a cup or turning over in bed may no longer be tasks they can do. If this happens to a dying person, their loved ones should help them lift things or turn over in bed.
In the days before a person dies, their circulation reduces so that blood is focused on their internal organs. This means very little blood is still flowing to their hands, feet, or legs. Their skin may also look pale or mottled with blue and purple patches. The person who is dying may not feel cold themselves.
Offering them a blanket is a good idea if a relative or friend thinks they may need one. When a person is dying, their brain is still very active. However, they may become confused or incoherent at times. This may happen if they lose track of what is happening around them. A person caring for a loved one who is dying should make sure to keep talking to them. Explaining what is happening around them and introducing each visitor is important.
A person who is dying may seem like they are having trouble breathing. Their breathing may suddenly change speed, they might gasp for air, or they may pause between breaths.
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