I thought since the Arlington, TX area has been in the news this week that I would write a story about my time there. I lived there from 1991-1993. During that time, I had two vocal cord surgeries that I've blogged about before. I want to talk a little about the time after that in this blog.
As a result of the surgeries, I had to begin wearing a ventilator at night to sleep well. Not a thrill for a newly married couple. I had to go overnight for a couple of days to have a sleep study done to get the correct settings for my machine. That all went fine but two things didn't go over so well with me. First, they sent in a psychologist to see me. Well, I nipped that in the bud. As soon as they introduced themselves, I said 'just stop right there, I have nothing to say and I better not get a bill for this.' The second thing that happened is more of my focus here. This is the time of my life when I began having my swallowing and coughing troubles so the doctor recommended I get a feeding tube to help avoid the problem. Needless to say I was shocked and told him I was not ready for that kind of invasive intervention and would deal with it. Twenty years later now, I think of all the enjoyment of food I've had and the pleasure I would have missed all those years.
I tell this story to say that you must heed advice but in the end, you have to decide what is best for you. My doctor now has recommended a trach for me for some years now. When I found out that it would result in me no longer being able to speak or eat ever again, I took that option off the table. Medical technology is great but 'you' must decide your limits. By the way, this in no way advocates euthanaseia. There is a time tho to resist further medical attention.
This also plays out in your eternal fate. Heed advice but only you can decide for yourself.
