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The first thing is that after 2-3 days you get extremely dehydrated. That results in a lot of changes in the body. Your mucous membranes and your skin get very dry. Your mouth cracks. It's very uncomfortable. Your urine becomes very concentrated and acidic, making it uncomfortable to urinate. Then your heart rate increases, your blood pressure decreases, and after about the third day, your kidneys start to develop problems. When the kidneys are damaged enough, they cannot get rid of the poison in the body. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) builds up. The effect that this has on the body is to give you a type of lethargy, and has an almost anesthetic effect. It can also result in seizures. The poison builds up and drives the person towards unconsciousness after a period of days. The cause of death is usually seizures or cardiac arrhythmia because of an electrolyte imbalance.

I'm not given to crying, but I'm choking back tears and rage reading this. Sheer utter rage.

Regards, Ivan

If it's any consolation, there are many like you who feel for Terri in her horrific situation. Not all of us are pro-death. Be thankful that you are capable of feeling compassion unlike some here who have no pity. Try to channel your anger constructively either through prayer or action.

I know what you mean. And I keep thinking to myself, as angry (and sad) as I have become during this whole process I can't can't even imagine what the Schindler family must be going through.