Discussion Ask a mortician.

[badatparties]

What do you think happens after death if anything?

 

[HNR17114168]

What's the funniest situation you have had? Like family with the best sense of humor about having to do a funeral? Any crazy stories about wanting loved ones dressed a certain way, or funny music/foods at a memorial? @mehdone

:-)

 

[Schmopo]

With your line of work being up close and personal with death and seeing the deceased, has your job influenced or challenged your values or beliefs in regards to death itself or beliefs in religion or afterlife?

 

[sad_dude]

What is the amount of formaldehyde or formalin that is enough to kill me quickly? If it's not quick, can you elaborate on the adverse reactions?

tyia

 

[black.over.green]

Hello. I'm so sorry to hear that you've been struggling with cancer, I truly hope you're doing better now.

If you're still around here and feel like answering, may I ask you something?

How do you perceive the living human body?

Whenever I see organs, blood, bones and so on (even in images) I start to feel very strange and uncomfortable. I begin to see myself as this fragile bag of meat and fat and tubes and red liquid… and it makes me feel disgusted and detached, like I can't find beauty in being alive.

How is it for you? When you look at a living body, do you ever automatically think about what's inside, the organs, the systems or what they would look like if the person were dead?

And if anyone else feels the same way, or knows how to deal with it — please let me know.

 

[Arvayn]

Hi @mehdone ! I made an account just for your thread specifically. I'm currently an apprentice studying to become a full fledged mortician (mostly for the love of the game instead of any pay), and I just wanted to tell you that I think your gesture is incredibly cool. Personally, I found it all very enlightening and educational as somebody about to enter the field for the first time very soon, and I appreciate you greatly.
Commiserations for your encounter with cancer.

In the country I'm from, postmortem care tends to be rather underfunded and neglected, especially because there is a severe lack of willing workers in the field; so, I can expect that I'll be having to work with rather bare-bones tools and resources.

My questions: Do you have any advice for how to improvise when it comes to avoiding unhealthy exposure to chemicals like ammonia, putrescine, cadaverine, etc. without having gear that's entirely up to standard?
Additionally, physically and visually handling the bodies will be no problem for me, but I suspect I'll particularly struggle with the scent, especially at first. In the event that I don't have access to neutralizing sprays, what could I bring that would be an acceptable substitute?

 

[mehdone]

Hello. I'm so sorry to hear that you've been struggling with cancer, I truly hope you're doing better now.

If you're still around here and feel like answering, may I ask you something?

How do you perceive the living human body?

Whenever I see organs, blood, bones and so on (even in images) I start to feel very strange and uncomfortable. I begin to see myself as this fragile bag of meat and fat and tubes and red liquid… and it makes me feel disgusted and detached, like I can't find beauty in being alive.

How is it for you? When you look at a living body, do you ever automatically think about what's inside, the organs, the systems or what they would look like if the person were dead?

And if anyone else feels the same way, or knows how to deal with it — please let me know.

The human body is a surprisingly fragile, yet resilient thing.

I mean clearly, because I'm still alive and here.

Hi @mehdone ! I made an account just for your thread specifically. I'm currently an apprentice studying to become a full fledged mortician (mostly for the love of the game instead of any pay), and I just wanted to tell you that I think your gesture is incredibly cool. Personally, I found it all very enlightening and educational as somebody about to enter the field for the first time very soon, and I appreciate you greatly.
Commiserations for your encounter with cancer.

In the country I'm from, postmortem care tends to be rather underfunded and neglected, especially because there is a severe lack of willing workers in the field; so, I can expect that I'll be having to work with rather bare-bones tools and resources.

My questions: Do you have any advice for how to improvise when it comes to avoiding unhealthy exposure to chemicals like ammonia, putrescine, cadaverine, etc. without having gear that's entirely up to standard?
Additionally, physically and visually handling the bodies will be no problem for me, but I suspect I'll particularly struggle with the scent, especially at first. In the event that I don't have access to neutralizing sprays, what could I bring that would be an acceptable substitute?

When I first entered this field, the embalming room I worked in literally pulled the chemical fumes directly into and across my face.

So, the basics are important. A respirator is your friend, but that should be obvious. I'm curious as to why you'd be exposed to ammonia?

For the scent- I've been "blessed" with severely jacked up sinuses, so most of the time, except for cases of severe decay, I can't smell anything.

If I needed to cover the scent? I'd carry Ozone spray with me.

 

[It'sMyLife]

The human body is a surprisingly fragile, yet resilient thing.

I mean clearly, because I'm still alive and here.

When I first entered this field, the embalming room I worked in literally pulled the chemical fumes directly into and across my face.

So, the basics are important. A respirator is your friend, but that should be obvious. I'm curious as to why you'd be exposed to ammonia?

For the scent- I've been "blessed" with severely jacked up sinuses, so most of the time, except for cases of severe decay, I can't smell anything.

If I needed to cover the scent? I'd carry Ozone spray with me.

Glad to see you back around md! Your thread is a top ten favorite at SS.

 

[Xi-Xi]

What is a mortician doing in a place like this...?
Also, would cremation or burial be an easier and more convienient option? I'm not exactly worried about my burial (it will probably be in an unmarked grave, anyway), so I just want to know which option is easier for the people handling me if I was found.

 

[Cauliflour]

I don't want people stripping my corpse, that feels like an invasion of privacy. Do you have to change the clothes when preparing a coffin body for a funeral? Can't I just be wearing whatever blood stained outfit I was wearing before?

 

[mehdone]

Glad to see you back around md! Your thread is a top ten favorite at SS.

I'm glad I could be of service. If my life and experience can help anyone, in any way? Well, at least I accomplished something.

What is a mortician doing in a place like this...?
Also, would cremation or burial be an easier and more convienient option? I'm not exactly worried about my burial (it will probably be in an unmarked grave, anyway), so I just want to know which option is easier for the people handling me if I was found.

A mortician in a place like this?

Simple. I've chased death my entire life, why wouldn't I make it my career?

Cremation is a more comfy, and affordable, option.

I'm glad I could be of service. If my life and experience can help anyone, in any way? Wel, at least I accomplished something.

A mortician in a place like this?

Simple. I've chased death my entire life, why wouldn't I make it my career?

Cremation is a more comfy, and affordable, option.

Hah! That was supposed to say, "a more convenient option", but I think I'll leave it as is.

I don't want people stripping my corpse, that feels like an invasion of privacy. Do you have to change the clothes when preparing a coffin body for a funeral? Can't I just be wearing whatever blood stained outfit I was wearing before?

Unfortunately…. If you're a suicide, a coroner is going to do an investigation.

They are going to strip your body, it's necessary in order to do a proper autopsy.

After that, by the time you come to me? You can be buried in the plastic bag that you arrive in.




Alright, folks. I think it is time for me to close this thread.

I'll check in occasionally, and do my best to respond to private messages, but, I think I'm done with the public replies.

I hope I've helped at least one of you. I hope my responses to your questions have put your mind at ease, or at least… helped. I tried my best. Thank you all, answering your questions helped distract me from my own death.

I may not be actively suicidal anymore, but that doesn't matter when life and cancer says, "fuck you".

I don't have the energy to fight this shit and keep up with this thread, which is probably obvious from my increasingly sporadic replies.

Once again, I hope I've helped, at least one of you. I hope I've helped you find peace. I hope I've helped you understand the after death side of things.