Living Will

BZButterfly79 · November 30, 2010

I am sitting here filling out all the questions in order to get paperwork ready before my surgery and I have to say I am super super uncomfortable, the questions they ask on the will are so sad...have any of you created one before? I did not expect it to be so uncomfortable, for one I don't even know where I want to be laid to rest or where...I guess these are all questions that remind us we are only here temporarily but I stopped in the middle of it to come in and post my feelings about this. How about you, have you done one of these?

Neanie in Texas · November 30, 2010

I am a pre-sleever also. I have done my paperwork also. I am also an RN and by law those are questions that health care faciities and providers have to ask you. It has to do with Living Wills, Advanced Directives, Medical Power of Attorneys and other documents that health care facilities need in order to take care of you in the event that you have some sort of complication or adverse event. This is not just for the sleeve surgery but any surgery. All these documents do is give you a voice of how you want to be cared for in the event anything was to happen that you needed life support, feeding tubes, etc. to sustain life. If you read these documents, it states that it gives you voice in how you want to be cared for in the event that you cannot voice your wishes. You can designate a family member to make these decisions for you. If you do not have a Living Will, then the State in which you live will have a line of authority set as to who can legally make these decisions for you. Please do not be freaked or uncomfortable. It is a formality. I have one, my husband has one, my parents have one. In time of need, you will feel much better knowing that you made the decision of how you want your final days to be taken care of. You have the power to make your own decisions by completing one of these forms. Please let me know if you have other questions, please do not put off this important surgery by being uncomfortable with legal forms. Just formality. You go girl.

I am sitting here filling out all the questions in order to get paperwork ready before my surgery and I have to say I am super super uncomfortable, the questions they ask on the will are so sad...have any of you created one before? I did not expect it to be so uncomfortable, for one I don't even know where I want to be laid to rest or where...I guess these are all questions that remind us we are only here temporarily but I stopped in the middle of it to come in and post my feelings about this. How about you, have you done one of these?

lamsunshine · November 30, 2010

I work for an attorney that specializes in Estate Planning, and I have to agree with Neanie in Texas. What my attorney tells everyone is remember Terri Schiavo a few years ago with the feeding tube, and the family fought her parents wanted to keep her alive, and her husband said that Terri did not want to remain alive under those conditions, if she had a living will there would not of been a question about what she wanted. That is one example of why Estate Planning is important. I know it is a hard subject to think about, but it is an important one. If you have any questions about any of the documents make sure you ask. Just know you are doing a good thing by being prepared.

myrori · November 30, 2010

I filled one out as to my wishes about life support should I not recover to the point of functional life. My husband got mad at me and did not want me to turn it in as he thought I should just tell him what I want. I just went through watching my Dad die and I knew his wishes, he made them loud and clear but never put anything on paper so he ended up on life support and I knew he did not want that if he would not recover to be able to care for himself. It was a long road watching him decline on support and finally other family members let go.

In the face of greif you can not trust loved to think logically, you need to speak for yourself, and think of it this way, this is not just for your surgery but for every day of your life. I think we have more chances of being in a bad car accident then dying from our procedure. Everything will be ok.

rain · November 30, 2010

I have both a Living Will, and a medical POA, because, as someone pointed out above, even though things seldom DO go wrong, they can go wrong. I mean... look at Karen Ann Quinlan... she didn't even have surgery, she mixed drugs with a cocktail or something and was a vegetbale for 20 years before she finially passed on.

My hospital asked me about that right away, and you should prepare yourself... they will also tell you all KINDS of scary things right before the surgery. I believe this is a legal obligation to tell people all the bad news, along with the good.

Even if you decided NOT to have the surgery, you should have a Living Will and POA, to relieve your loved ones of any horrible consequences.

Good luck... chin up and straight ahead!