Death of Cousin, Sleep Apnea & Pain Pills Update

[5catsandcountin]

Well,

the funeral was yesterday and my aunt said it went well.

Evidently the cause of death was because....a few weeks ago she had two slip and fall accidents that left her with crushed discs and a fuzed spine...due to the pain, she was using pain meds...due to her weight, she used more than she should have. Although there was no overdose found, pain meds at all will do harm.

Evidently there is a switch in the brain that goes on to remind the body to start breathing again if the body stops.....pain meds make this trigger stop working, and this is what killed her.

My uncle was admitted to ICU 2 nights ago by my aunt who found him not breathing as well. They diagnosed him with sleep apnea and now he cannot take his pain meds as well. Which...he has been on these meds for ten years and survived...I don't know what he is going to do now.

He had back surgery that screwed him up years ago and most of the time he is in horrible pain and crawls around the house...he was so sad and hurting, he did not even attend the funeral. He is only 65.

My aunt found him on the floor the night before methodically picking up spilled batteries and talking to himself...please, thoughts and prayers...this is not easy on her.

Oh, and by the way..I found out my cousin just turned 37 this last b-day not 38....adore your loved ones and make the most of the time..and DO NOT take sleep apea lightly....

[meiam]

my father went to a sleep disorder clinic and stopped breathing 3 times in 1/2 an hour, so at night he has to be hooked up to a machine that helps him breath, it is a problem that is caused from pain meds also, he has had back surgery 3 times and takes time released morphine daily...it's very bad

[yayi]

Oh dear, so sorry to hear of this! My MIL was on time release morphine after her surgery. Pain meds were too risky.

[fwan]

dying really sucks

[LaceyDF]

My dad had to be hooked up to a machine at night-time when he slept when he was a little kid. He still has it a bit---he snores very loudly and then all of a sudden will stop and you can tell he stops breathing for short amounts of time. It's very scary.

I am really sorry to hear about your cousin and your other family members

[kittylover4ever]

Oh Lisa, I've been wondering about you and your cousin. I'm so sorry this has happened. God bless her. My boss just found out he has sleep apnea......I'll have to make sure I tell him to take it seriously!

[5catsandcountin]

Thank you for the kind words folks...it has been a trying week.

It took me 15 years to be able to talk about the death of my cat without crying ...I am sure this will be just as hard.

I think I mentioned my uncle decided he could not handle the funeral..and now he is off ALL pain meds...which my aunt says he has been on many for 20 years...he is now going through drug withdrawls. I called earlier and he was coughing terribly in the background.


My ability to grieve and find closure is finding ways to remember her and share that with the family. I was able to find some garnet earrings * Chris's birthstone* with faith hope love on them for her daughter and now I am on a search for something for my aunt. I am putting together goody boxes for the kids and finding scrapbook supplies for them as well.

I also found sympathy cards with stallions on them * Chris used to train horses and take in wild hurt mustangs* and the sayings were perfect..thank God for ebay!

I am spending more time on the phone with my aunt since she doesn't have Chris now...hopefully soon they will be able to sell their place in Montana and get to Oregon...we are hoping to get closer as well.

thanks again folks

[WellingtonCats]

Well I'm glad the funeral went well. Sorry to hear.

[Beckiboo]

Your uncle should seek out a pain clinic. He will be very surprised by the new treatments for pain. Sometimes there are exercises that can help, or non-medication relief methods. I am sorry for your family's loss.

[5catsandcountin]

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

Your uncle should seek out a pain clinic. He will be very surprised by the new treatments for pain. Sometimes there are exercises that can help, or non-medication relief methods. I am sorry for your family's loss.

I love this idea, unfortunately his insurance won't cover it and he is in a very rural area in Montana.

They packed up all her belongings yesteray and everyone is back at school and work...life goes on.