EP is a community where members connect through shared life experiences-- like MS--and so much more. You are not defined by any one thing, so be your true self and find others just like you at
Experience Project.
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Please continue to participate at ThisIsMS because you are an experienced voice. Your input helps those of us who are not so directly affected but who want to help figure out this disease.
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: London, ON, Canada
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:
I received a preliminary autopsy report for Marg.
Her primary cause of death was sepsis brought on by severe pancreatitis. Although her pancreatitis was not life threatening when she was admitted to hospital, it quickly became very severe and very quickly. Add to this her poor eating habits in recent months which resulted in very low protein levels, her system simply didn't have the reserves to fight off the other problems.
At some point in the last few months and although she kept it to herself, I have to believe that Marg knew how sick she was getting and what quality of life lay ahead of her....and it wasn't good.
They say that MS doesn't kill you but in this case and after breaking her leg 6 years ago, it certainly provided the ground work for other severe situations to manifest themselves with Marg.
The final autopsy results won't be available for some 8-10 months and perhaps I will know more at that time.
Joined: Mar 26, 2005 Posts: 593 Location: Northamptonshire, England.
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:18 am Post subject:
Harry,
I regard it as a privilege that you feel able to share this information with us at what must be a very sad time for you.
I absolutely agree with what you say about the whole " MS doesn't kill you" thing. I suppose it's true in a technical, literal sense, but I'm sure it can leave you in a weakened state and vulnerable to opportunistic infections.
My mum had several infections while in hospital: she had difficulty swallowing and I believe she may have aspirated some water several times, (she was supposed to be nil by mouth, but she was still given food and drink by grossly incompetent Health Care workers – don't get me started on the NHS), she also had a very weakened capacity for coughing – as I do – so she was unable to clear things which went down the wrong way. These two things were because of MS, and they led to infection, so I've concluded that MS indirectly led to her death. _________________ Dom
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: London, ON, Canada
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:13 am Post subject:
Dom,
TwistedHelix wrote:
Harry,
I regard it as a privilege that you feel able to share this information with us at what must be a very sad time for you.
Yes, this is a sad time for me but when one can share information with others who are in the "same boat", the thought that someone can benefit from Marg's experience makes it easier to get through each day.
Over the years I have seen how MS has affected hundreds of friends and what it did to Marg and your mom. It is a disease without a conscience and can slice you one piece at a time. If you can stay slightly ahead of it then you can have some quality of life along the way.
When Marg saw her quality slipping away, her outlook changed and it was very difficult to watch from a spouse's point of view. While not a pleasent experience I have certainly learned to understand how a person in her predicament views life. Hopefully I can share that with those who require some assistance along the way.
Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 735 Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:54 am Post subject:
Why are you having these autopsies done, how will it benefit you or us? What you said about Marg's outlook changing really hits home, god bless her.
Quote:
When Marg saw her quality slipping away, her outlook changed and it was very difficult to watch from a spouse's point of view. While not a pleasent experience I have certainly learned to understand how a person in her predicament views life. Hopefully I can share that with those who require some assistance along the way
_________________ ~i guess i know i just hate how it sounds~
I see seven towers
But I only see one way out
Joined: May 04, 2006 Posts: 3403 Location: Mid-Michigan
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:18 pm Post subject:
It would be interesting to know how many, if any, death certificates actually list MS as the cause of death. I've always assumed, I'm sure because I've read it somewhere, that most people with MS, who die before their time, actually die of complications as a result of MS, but it seems that in only a very few cases would it be completely accurate to list MS as directly causing their heart to quit beating.
I'm not sure that's unusual as far as diseases go because when my Great Grandpa died in 1967 the death certificate didn't list cancer as the cause, although there was no doubt that it weakened his system to the point that something was bound to quit.
Bob _________________ Wife diagnosed with MS in Feb. 2006 and is a participant in the Tovaxin IIb clinical trial.
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: London, ON, Canada
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject:
robbie wrote:
Why are you having these autopsies done, how will it benefit you or us? What you said about Marg's outlook changing really hits home, god bless her.
Quote:
When Marg saw her quality slipping away, her outlook changed and it was very difficult to watch from a spouse's point of view. While not a pleasent experience I have certainly learned to understand how a person in her predicament views life. Hopefully I can share that with those who require some assistance along the way
Why? Two main reasons:
1) Marg got very sick after she was admitted to the hospital and the docs could not tell me what actually caused her death. I'm not sure if you have ever been in a similar situation but it is important to know these things when it comes time to obtaining closure.
2) I am trying to share knowledge in the hope that others may learn when it comes to this disease. Also, because Marg had MS for over 36 years, they were going to do a detailed examination of her brain. The information that they may discover is going to be passed on to the MS Clinic at the same hospital. Marg's neurologist may just learn something from this report that will help him in the treatment of other MS patients.
Bottom line...this info may just help a few readers on this forum and that's what ThisIsMs is all about.....sharing information and ideas with those who have MS. I hope this answers your questions.
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: London, ON, Canada
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject:
Lyon wrote:
It would be interesting to know how many, if any, death certificates actually list MS as the cause of death. I've always assumed, I'm sure because I've read it somewhere, that most people with MS, who die before their time, actually die of complications as a result of MS, but it seems that in only a very few cases would it be completely accurate to list MS as directly causing their heart to quit beating.
Bob,
I'm willing to bet that very few death certificates list MS as an actual cause of death. Heck, they don't even know what causes the disease and know even less about the mechanism of how it effects the body. But one thing is for certain.....the disease certainly provides a "home" for other problems to develop.
Joined: May 04, 2006 Posts: 3403 Location: Mid-Michigan
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:25 pm Post subject:
HarryZ wrote:
I'm willing to bet that very few death certificates list MS as an actual cause of death.
Absolutely. About the only type of instance which came to mind was like the young subject of the Prineas and Bartlett study, such an immediate and intense attack that it stopped even the involuntary muscles and was the direct cause of death.
the Z man wrote:
Also, because Marg had MS for over 36 years, they were going to do a detailed examination of her brain. The information that they may discover is going to be passed on to the MS Clinic at the same hospital. Marg's neurologist may just learn something from this report that will help him in the treatment of other MS patients.
First, many thanks. That's a hard decision at such a time like but it is such a great help to knowledge base.
Second, thanks for explaining. I wasn't going to ask but, like robbie, I was wondering.
Bob _________________ Wife diagnosed with MS in Feb. 2006 and is a participant in the Tovaxin IIb clinical trial.
Put me down on the list as one who is interested in your wife's autopsy report. I have been diagnosed about the same time frame as she was, so the state of her brain is important to me too.
It is unfortunate that the only way to actively pinpoint the decay of the brain in MS is after death.
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: London, ON, Canada
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:35 pm Post subject:
Gwa,
Quote:
Put me down on the list as one who is interested in your wife's autopsy report. I have been diagnosed about the same time frame as she was, so the state of her brain is important to me too.
It is unfortunate that the only way to actively pinpoint the decay of the brain in MS is after death.
gwa
OK...but you'll have to wait quite some time. I've been told that it will take 8-10 months before the final report will be completed!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
We encourage you to also visit our Multiple Sclerosis story and support community on Experience Project.
Experience Project is a vast and powerful community where people connect anonymously through life experiences. It's made by the same people who built This is MS,
on the premise that no one life experience-- like having MS-- defines a person. It now covers over 2 million life stories. Find and share yours!
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
