My mom is in ICU. Doctors are telling me I need to agree to not resuscitate her if she chokes from eating AGAIN...............

My heart dropped when they told me this. I am an only child and my moms best friend. She was diagnosed in 96 with HD. She has always been very healthy and fit. Her entire life she ate and exercised constantly! I think that is what has keep her with us this long. I had to put her in a nursing home last year. She went down hill from their. She is still a very happy chatty girl even though we cant understand her speech at all anymore. I am really scared. I dont want to make a decision that is not right for my mom. I CANT IMAGINE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE IN SIDE HER HEAD! all the badgering, peopling making fun of her. cops hand cuffing her at a rodeo because they thought she was drunk and on drugs. She has been to Hell and back several times with this disease and now someone else how to make the chose whether she should live this hellish life any longer. My mom is my hero! I know most people wouldn't last 1 day living the life of a person with HD.

I ask for prayers and if you have any good ideas on how I can keep her with us and keep her from choking please talk to me.

Bless all of you who are faced with this life journey that only the strong can and will survive! HD SUCKS!!!!!!!

praying for you and your mom!

If you are her next of kin and your mother has not specified her wishes in advance in a health care directive, then this is your decision. It is not the doctor's decision. If you feel your mother is still enjoying some quality of life, then a feeding tube is an option.

I am very sorry you are facing this decision. I was in the same place as you a few years ago with my mother, I realize you will miss your mom. At this point I think you have to decide if you are keeping her alive for your own sake or for hers? Did your mom express what her wishes?

Praying for you!
Pam

Please do not let the doctor's pressure you into doing what they want. You need to follow your heart and beliefs. It will be you that has to live with whatever decision is made, not them. When your mom recovers from this latest episode, try to talk to her about what she wishes. She may not be able to respond verbally, but if she's able to squeeze your hand or nod, you will at least have that.

Prayers are going up for you and your Mom.
Mike



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2012 05:55PM by mikee.

my prayers are with you I dont know If I ever need to take that decision for my husband, it will be hard he already did his will and told me he does not want to resuscitate him if that ever happen to him.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

You may want to ask for a swallowing evaluation and see if a specialist can come in and recommend how to prepare her foods. My mom changed to puree foods and has to be supervised drinking her water. There are special thickeners for beverages if liquids are too thin for her.

I agree with the statement: Please do not let the doctor's pressure you into doing what they want. You need to follow your heart and beliefs.

My father has been on pureed food for about 2 years now, as well as Thickeners in his liquids. He was choking ALOT, and I got nervous..so pureed he went. So far he has only aspirated once when eating on pureed diet. It took me about a month to learn how to puree to the texture he needed but now I am a pureeing PROFESSIONAL.! If you want to chat, message me. I know how hard this is. I really really do.