Walk away and let nature take its course

[Anonymous]

I have major heart issues. I have also experienced extreme medical trauma.
My heart issues are treatable and I could cobble together treatments and procedures that would prolong my life.
The problem for me is working within the medical community. For me working through the system does not seem to be compatible with the life I want to lead. Putting my life in the hands of medicine is proving to be too much for me.
I’m at a point where I need to decide if I want to let nature take its course or continue fighting for my life in a system of extreme dysfunction that I have lost confidence in.
If you have found yourself in this place please share your thought process.

[Anonymous]

I am in a similar position but with a different diagnosis. Surgeons want to cut open my head and I'm not very enthusiastic about the idea. So I've told them they can't do it unless there's an emergency situation.

You can stay under an arms length care like I am - take the pills, go for intermittent check ups but don't get sucked into the every month / invasive stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have major heart issues. I have also experienced extreme medical trauma.
My heart issues are treatable and I could cobble together treatments and procedures that would prolong my life.
The problem for me is working within the medical community. For me working through the system does not seem to be compatible with the life I want to lead. Putting my life in the hands of medicine is proving to be too much for me.
I’m at a point where I need to decide if I want to let nature take its course or continue fighting for my life in a system of extreme dysfunction that I have lost confidence in.
If you have found yourself in this place please share your thought process.

Then why not try an alternative eastern approach at the very least? I get your frustration but don't let the current system force you make the decision to just give up and walk away. Travel to another country that might offer you a different approach, just an idea.

[Anonymous]

Seems like either way you would benefit from working with a therapist to come to a decision that you are satisfied with and choosing out of power rather than avoiding what you don't like.

Maybe it would be pretty clear once you started working through it, but this is such a major decision, that I think you would gain clarity and peace from working with someone on it.

[Anonymous]

My mother has Multiple Sclerosis. Many years ago, she nearly died from the side effects of one medication her doctor had given her. Since then she has any other treatment. Her MS progresses slowly but inexorably.

It's her decision. I don't think I would have rejected everything - I'm a scientist, I can read the literature myself on what looks promising and what sounds too dangerous, and articulate my concerns clearly to my doctors, since I speak the same language. But my mother isn't coming from the same place, both from a knowledge/training and personal experience standpoint, and I get that.

I would encourage you nonetheless to keep a close eye on possible treatments and advocate for the ones you want to your doctors. You can always have a productive conversation about what works, what doesn't, and what lower-key course of action you could take.

[Anonymous]

Correction: "Since then she has refused all other treatment."

[Anonymous]

Is there a person you can hire to be a care navigator? I know insurance companies have this service but I'm not sure if that is the right person. There must be consultants out there who do this for a fee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have major heart issues. I have also experienced extreme medical trauma.
My heart issues are treatable and I could cobble together treatments and procedures that would prolong my life.
The problem for me is working within the medical community. For me working through the system does not seem to be compatible with the life I want to lead. Putting my life in the hands of medicine is proving to be too much for me.
I’m at a point where I need to decide if I want to let nature take its course or continue fighting for my life in a system of extreme dysfunction that I have lost confidence in.
If you have found yourself in this place please share your thought process.

My cousin faced this decision and stopped all treatment, dying at age 36yo. His parents spent the rest of their years blaming each other.

I know I haven't been through it personally, but I wonder if it wouldn't be helpful to get therapy, maybe medication (maybe there's an anti-anxiety pill that would help) and maybe ask a relative to help you. I think it's a lot to ask someone who is very ill to navigate medical issues. If the insurance company won't help you, is there a hospital social worker that could? I'm sorry for your added stress.

[Anonymous]

Yoga,
PBWF.
IF.
10K steps a day.
Supplements.
Alkaline diet.
Ayurvedic oil treatments.
8 hrs of sleep.
No alcohol, tobacco, white sugar, fried stuff, baked goods, food made outside your home, stale food.

[Anonymous]

How old are you?

[Anonymous]

So create a DNR and a power of attorney outlining exactly what your parameters are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yoga,
PBWF.
IF.
10K steps a day.
Supplements.
Alkaline diet.
Ayurvedic oil treatments.
8 hrs of sleep.
No alcohol, tobacco, white sugar, fried stuff, baked goods, food made outside your home, stale food.

what an idiotic response to the op

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yoga,
PBWF.
IF.
10K steps a day.
Supplements.
Alkaline diet.
Ayurvedic oil treatments.
8 hrs of sleep.
No alcohol, tobacco, white sugar, fried stuff, baked goods, food made outside your home, stale food.

what an idiotic response to the op

+1. Yoga? IF? What in the world!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yoga,
PBWF.
IF.
10K steps a day.
Supplements.
Alkaline diet.
Ayurvedic oil treatments.
8 hrs of sleep.
No alcohol, tobacco, white sugar, fried stuff, baked goods, food made outside your home, stale food.

I really don’t think you’re convincing OP to want to live with these suggestions.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, OP. I completely understand where you’re coming from. I don’t think that’s a crazy position at all. It’s an extremely personal decision. I watched my dad die a long, terrible death from cancer and vowed I would never take as many treatments as he did. Buuuut I’m now a single mom to a young child, so my calculus would change. Only you can decide.