Live until you die!

By Dr Tomlin Paul

With all of our musings on living longer and better, have you ever thought about how long you would like to live? Last week, one of my patients celebrated 101 years. How about that as a goal for you?

You have a choice over a lot of things, such as how long you sleep at nights and how long you microwave your dinner. However, one thing you cannot ethically do is to set your clock for an end-of-life alarm. Just as my patient was getting into her second century of life, I received an advanced health-care directive from another patient, who has made a choice that he does not want his life to be prolonged under certain conditions.

He's in good health but he is taking the lead to say to me: "Doc, when that time comes, I don't want you to do everything you can to save me!".

Appointment with death

Some persons tell me that once they have good health, they don't mind living longer; others want to live to see their family grow up and see the grandchildren. Some also just want to live up to 100 as it is a nice round number and sounds great. Our appointment with death, which can sound a bit scary, is not known to anyone. Even in the midst of dying, asking your doctor how much time you have left is fraught with danger.

Many years ago as a younger doctor, I saw an 82-year-old patient at her home having heavy bleeding from a stomach ulcer. She was very pale and had a weak pulse and low blood pressure. There was no doubt that she needed emergency treatment in a hospital. But she made a decision, supported by her relatives, that she must be treated at home. I did the best I could and asked them to prepare for the inevitable. On my visit to her home early the next morning, my dying patient was sitting up in bed and eating oats porridge. She went on to live for another five years.

Beyond the average

It is estimated that Jamaicans, on average, are living a bit beyond the so-called 'three scores and 10'. But, of course, you are not the average person! And if you are over 50 and working at it, there's a good chance you might well beat that statistic. So, what should be your approach? In the book Nigger of the Narcissus by Joseph Conrad, the key character is very ill with TB and dying on a boat at sea.

His shipmates ask why he came on the boat if he knew he was not well. He says, "I must live until I die … . Mustn't I?"

At the end of the day, I think that's the real answer to the question 'How long would you like to live?'. Indeed, your blessings are renewed every morning. So, wake up, grab them thankfully and live longer and better until your time comes!

Dr Tomlin Paul is a family physician at Health Plus Associates in Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.

Live until you die!