unstoppable pc

Please don't judge me crazy, but I've been wondering what will happen when my body is ready to die. Will the pacemaker keep on ticking and will this expand the amount of time it would take to die - waiting for the liver to give, up, the lungs, the bladder, etc? so that instead of dying, your body just hung in there! Would they remove the pacemaker when all signs of life are depleted? I asked my doctor this and he actually ran out of the office and told me I was freaking him out! and he did not reply! Seems to me the heart (if you are not having a heart attack) will continue to be nued to palpitate and keep pace if the computer pacemaker is in good condition. I hope I made myself clear. Thanks

6 Comments

Thinking. It's what we do.

by Gotrhythm - 2014-07-21 01:07:09

I don't think you are crazy or morbid. You are simply asking the same questions many of us wonder about.

Your doctor---well, as we say in the South, bless his heart. It is the nature of things that doctors will have patients who die. A doctor who cannot contemplate death, and who "freaks out" when you ask about it, is the one who is not in touch with reality. Poor soul.

Ian's answer that you will die, PM or not, is true (and is the AMA party line) but it doesn't really address the questions many PM patients have. Because while a PM won't keep you alive forever, depending on other health factors, it could keep you alive a long, long time.

For children and young people, that's very good news, but for people at the other end of life, issues about quality of life make the PM's dependability more problematic.

Many philosophers have urged their students seeking enlightenment to contemplate their death as one step along the path. Without question, having a PM changes the equation.

I understand your concern

by Lurch - 2014-07-21 01:07:11

I have always been goal oriented in my life. Currently, my goal is to live to 102 and be shot by the jealous husband of a 28 year old! So far, so good.

However, I have had "the talk" with my family. If I am in a situation where there is little or no hope for me to recover sufficiently to live a good life, turn this thing off!!!

I am updating my Advanced Directive to include those instructions.

Hmm...

by laughingarcher - 2014-07-21 03:07:33

I've wondered this very thing! You're not crazy at all. (Or perhaps we both are?) I tell my husband I'm going to outlive him and his many successors now that I'm bionic!

I'm going to ask my cardiac nurse this question when I chat with her next. I'll post what I find out!

Cheers! and thanks for the interesting question! :-)

Don't want to scare you but ...

by IAN MC - 2014-07-21 03:07:36

You know those films you've seen about Zombies , where dead people chase you through deserted towns , well guess what zombies are ! Yes, they all had pacemakers !

Nice thought but in reality as soon as you die there are changes in the pH ( acidity ) of the blood and tissues which means that the heart muscle dies and will not carry electrical impulses. As someone on here once delicately described it " Dead meat don't beat !"

A torch doesn't work when the bulb has expired !!

So if you are buried with your PM you just lie there ( unless you decide to go for a zombie walkabout ) and the PM battery gradually wears out.

If you decide to be cremated the PM has to be removed beforehand because it has the nasty habit of exploding from the heat of the cremation !

Cheers

Ian

Unstoppable pc

by Lifeisgood - 2014-07-21 05:07:17

Wow! Thanks everyone who gave your views and knowledge to my question re whether my pc would keep on ticking even tho I were ready to die. I actually learned more information and have more questions to ask my cardiologist now. Ian's reply was my good laugh for the day and also gave me new info since I plan to be cremated. The view of asking someone to take responsibility for end-of-life also gave me food for thought. I have all the necessary powers of attorney and directives, but my children would have to decide. I will think on that. Thanks to every one who replied. I love this site Mary.

great conversation!

by judyblue - 2014-07-22 05:07:09

Thank you all for contributing. I also got a lot to think about.
judy

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.