From the practical (like does it hurt?
), to the taboo (do our bodily fluids really justrelease?)
and the personal (how can we deal with our death anxiety?)
here are all your questions that Julie answered about death and dying:
1.
“What does the actively dying phasefeel liketo the dying person?
Do we know?”
“When someone is dying, can they hear or feel us?”
“When someone is dying, does it hurt?”
That does not necessarily hurt, but the disease and its symptoms can cause pain.
The actual act of dying likely not.
“What happens with a pacemaker or defibrillator during the final minutes of death?”
“Do you lose control of your bodily fluidsimmediately?”
JM:Not everyone at the end of life will lose control of their body fluids.
It’s not like everyone will suddenly urinate and defecate because they have died.
Not everyone does if you die suddenly, that likely won’t happen.
Maybe not as often as you normally would, but you still have them.
They can have a bowel movement; they can urinate.
That can happen immediately upon death, but it doesn’t always happen.
“My mom has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t know who anyone is.
Will she recognize those at her bedside at the last stage of dying?”
And I had no idea how to respond, so I just held his hand.
And then, how can we deal with our own fears, right, ourownfear?
Again, it’s the same thing.
It’s through talking about it.
Awareness around the fear can really help loosen the grip.
I hope that helps.
I love that question.
“I have 200 medical problems.
I usually have a healthy emotional attitude about it all, but sometimes its overwhelming.
Will the doctors tell me when they think I’m nearing my time?”
“I have incurable cancer and have felt/been very close to dying on several occasions.
Medical science has kept me alive thus far.
I’m still in my 20s and don’t expect to live to see 40.”
Now, how can you work on that?
I think this is exactly how it works: by asking questions.
And because of that, how do you want to spend the rest of your time here?
