My Battle With Oxycontin June 21, 2008
Posted by Bob Aronson in Drugs and Alcohol.2 comments
Author’s note. This is the first time I have written a blog and posted it on both of my blogsites. I did so because this topic is like an iceberg, most of the scope of the problem lies hidden under fathoms of lies, deception and incredible suffering by patients, families and friends. For more information on addiction generally log in to my favorite treatment center in Minnesota, www.hazelden.org
When writing blogs I always make an attempt to personalize them often I cannot but this one along with a few others were easy. For example, I have written three blogs on how drugs and alcohol may have a negative effect on human organs. I wrote them because I am a recovering alcoholic (July 17, 1982) and may have ruined my heart due to extremely heavy drinking (up to two quarts of vodka a day). This destructive behavior may have led to the dilated cardiomyopathy I suffered and the subsequent heart transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida on August 21, 2007.
Today’s blog will in some way I hope, help others who are substance abusers or are concerned about family members and/or friends who may be. This missive will only address abuse of prescription medication but let me be perfectly clear. I am not opposed to drug use made necessary by a medical condition or to social drinking. My purpose is to offer some information that might help people know when they have crossed the line from “need” to “want,” admit it to someone else and seek and accept help.
Just a bit of background. When the medical team positions a patient on the table for a transplant, they place your left arm above you and at an awkward and unnatural angle. Many patients suffer some post operative, but temporary discomfort (that’s what the docs call it, I call it screaming pain).
So here’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Since my transplant, I’ve experienced “discomfort” in my left arm, pneumonia in both lungs, torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders and carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. After trying several different painkillers, only Oxycontin offered me some relief. I knew when Oxycontin was prescribed for the intense pain I was suffering that I was at risk, but all other pain relievers had failed and, believe me, the pain was almost unbearable. There were times when it was so bad I screamed and cried and even then, I fought the urge to take yet another Oxycontin. In the end, though, the Oxycontin won. While the pain had ended, the physical need only got stronger. I knew almost immediately that I had become dependant on Oxycontin. As Roseanne, Roseanna Danna used to say on Saturday night live, “It’s always something.”
I’ve experienced “cold turkey detox” several times in the past and while not as wild as Frank Sinatra’s scene in “The Man With The Golden Arm” It is not far off the mark. Nausea, diarrhea, hot and cold flashes, heavy perspiration, hallucinations well, the list of symptoms is quite long. I was not looking forward to doing it again but I knew I had to get “off the Oxycontin.”
I did some on-line research and called some friends for advice and recommendations. Many of them gave me the same name – a clinic in Jacksonville, Florida that specialized in pain medicine, detox and related issues. I saw a Doctor there Thursday, and began my Suboxone outpatient treatment yesterday. As of this moment, I am at over 48 hours Oxycontin free, feeling very good and show none of the symptoms of detox I had experienced so many times in the past. I am well aware that Suboxone can create problems as well as solve some, but with the help of my AA and NA friends the physicians at my clinic and my wonderful wife Robin, I will recover from this as I did from Alcohol. You see if I don’t recover from it, I will most certainly die from it and there is no greater disrespect I can show my donor family than to let Oxycontin run, ruin and end my life.
So if you are hooked on prescription painkillers you must do three things, 1) admit that the substance has taken control of your life, 2) Tell someone close to you about your “problem.” and 3) seek and find help, accept it and follow the program. For information on 12 step programs see http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.com/ or http://www.na.org/index.htm.
Most family physicians are not qualified or licensed to prescribe some of the drugs (like Suboxone) that can help you. Only a specialist can truly offer the right kind of help and monitoring. They are not easy to find. Some may want you to go through treatment; others will help you on an outpatient basis. That decision can only be made by you and your doctor.
The Clinic I use is: NEXSTEP INTEGRATED PAIN CARE, INC. 904-288-8311, their website address is http://www.nexsteppain.com/ they might be of direct help if you are in or near Jacksonville. If you are in a more distant city, they might be able to direct you to experts in your area. In the interest of full disclosure, I have not been compensated, nor will I be compensated by NEXSTEP or anyone else. My blogs are for public usage and not copyright protected and I accept no compensation or consideration of any kind for any of the blogs I write.
This has not been an easy trip but it certainly has opened my eyes once again as to my character flaws and strengths. Thank you to my friends, family and my wonderful wife Robin for your unfaltering support. And — readers, if you are so inclined put in a word for me when you talk to “him.”
Please read and comment on my Organ Donation and Transplantation blogs on
http://bobsnewheart.wordpress.com
Also…visit my Facebook site, Organ Transplant Patients, Friends and You at http://tinyurl.com/225cfh OR — my Facebook home page http://www.facebook.com/home.php
Women Are a Little Steamed — So Here’s More Steam June 17, 2008
Posted by Bob Aronson in Campaign 2008.3 comments
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In the June 23, 2008 issue of Newsweek Magazine, Anna Quindlen writes, “….everyone suggests you’d better pay close attention to us (middle-aged white women) since we are used to being chronologically overlooked, and we’re a little steamed about that fact (www.newsweek.com).” Steamed, says I, may be putting it a tad too mildly. Women I have heard from are, “Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.”
They are frustrated and rightly so, their champion, Hillary Clinton, was defeated, shuffled away and not heard from since. Many Hillary supporters have vowed to vote for Senator John McCain in protest. Senator Obama is likely to get most of the women’s vote but he will not get it automatically. He has to work for it, and calling women “Sweetie” as he did a female reporter recently, did not endear him to many of the feminine persuasion. Obama must pay more than “lip service,” to women’s issues.
McCain, though, has a tougher row to hoe. Simply put, he is no friend of “right” thinking women. Want reasons? Here are just a few:
McCain supports overturning Roe v. Wade. In February 2007, the Associated Press (AP) quoted McCain as stating, “I do not support Roe v. Wade. It should be overturned.” In May 2007, he reiterated his desire to overturn Roe v. Wade during an appearance on Meet the Press. Since 1983, in votes in the House and the Senate (where he has served since 1987), McCain has cast 130 votes on abortion and other reproductive-rights issues, 125 of these votes were anti-choice. www.prochoiceamerica.org/assets/files/mccain_fact_sheet.pdf
In 1990, McCain voted NO on legislation to extend the Title X federal family planning program, which provides low-income and uninsured women and families with health care services ranging from breast and cervical cancer screening to birth control.
McCain is an antagonist of sensible family planning and effective sex education. In 2005, he voted “no” on a $100-million allocation for preventive health care services targeted at reducing unintended pregnancies, especially teen pregnancies.
In 2006, he voted against funding for comprehensive, medically accurate sex education for teens.
The Arizona Senator is much more comfortable with President Bush’s wasteful and utterly ineffective abstinence-only approach. The New York Times Web site reported the following exchange with a reporter in Iowa in March 2007 www.nytimes.com:
Q: “What about grants for sex education in the United States? Should they include instructions about using contraceptives? Or should it be Bush’s policy, which is just abstinence?”
McCain: (Long pause) “Ahhh. I think I support the president’s policy.”
Q: “So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”
McCain” — “uhhh, you stumped me.”
According to the Obama Website http://www.barackoblogger.com/2008/06/john-mccains-record-on-womens-issues.html
McCain opposed the Equal Pay Bill for Women, He said, “They need education and training’ Instead.
McCain skipped a vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that would ensure women have the opportunity to recover back pay for discrimination once they discover it. [Source: aflcio.org; H.R. 2831, Vote 110, 4/23/08; Associated Press, 4/28/08]
There is no limit to the number of anti-women votes McCain has cast and if you get into children’s and senior’s legislation the list of transgressions gets even longer. McCain truly is the third act of the Bush administration.
So, women, forget about your feelings being hurt by the sexism, shoddy news coverage and other slights suffered by Hilary Clinton. Staying home or voting for McCain is not the way to protest. The way to protest is to work even harder. Put pressure on Obama, too, make him reflect your views in his campaign. That is the way you will make an impression, that is the way you will reach the goals for which you have fought so hard. Throwing your hands in the air and not voting or voting for McCain is saying, “I give up.” Do you?
Please read and comment on my Organ Donation and Transplantation blogs on
http://bobsnewheart.wordpress.com
Also…visit my Facebook site, Organ Transplant Patients, Friends and You at http://tinyurl.com/225cfh OR — my Facebook home page http://www.facebook.com/home.php
Bush, Pope Meet — Pope Reverses Abortion Decree June 13, 2008
Posted by Bob Aronson in George W. Bush.add a comment
Aronson Press (AP) June 13, 2008
Dateline – The Vatican
By Bob (Scoop) Aronson
U.S. President George W. Bush (GWB) met briefly today with Roman Catholic Pope Benedict at his Vatican quarters. We secretly recorded this conversation between the two of them in the Vatican gardens.
GWB Howdy yer popeship
POPE May the lord be with you Mr. President (what stupidity will come out of his mouth this time ?)
GWB How y’all doin’?
POPE I’m well my son, and how is your health?
GWB Well, I got this corn on my toe, hurts like hell- er… heck
POPE I’m sorry, perhaps we can have the Vatican physician look at it (maybe Dr. Ciochetto will look at his head, too, it looks like a corn).
GWB Awesome, but shucks, no your Popeship, I got ma own sawbones, his name is Scholl, I bet you heard of him. He makes these tiny corn pads that lift off that corn in a couple days. He is one of our leading eggheads. He also makes them ‘gellin’ shoe inserts. I’m ‘gellin, are you ‘gellin’ yer Popeness?
POPE I’m sorry?
GWB Ah’ll bet them thar slippers you wear are hard on yer feet. Slip in a couple of these Sholl’s gellin inserts and yer dogs’ll feel great, make ya feel jis like yer walkin on water, kinda like ol you know who (wink wink).
POPE Who?
GWB You know, the Governor of Florida – what’s his name Christ? Hey…my lil brother Jeb used to have that job.
POPE He walks on water?
GWB Jeb? No, but he’s surrounded by it. Have you ever been to Disney World Mr. Pope?
POPE No Mr. President I have not (I think I’m in Disney world right now, and he’s Goofy. How do I get out of here).
GWB Ah just love Mickey Mouse, Ah watch his cartoons all the time and his girl Minnie is a really hot lil’ number if ya know what ah mean (wink wink)
POPE No, and I don’t think I want to. Mr. President I apologize but I really have to go (I think I’ll change my position on abortion and he’s my example of why).
GWB Hey ah know all ‘bout those prostrate glands. Takes me forever to pee.
POPE No…I mean I have to go
GWB Whoops, sorry, have you tried sweet potatoes? Mom used to make me eat them when I had diarrhea and they really worked.
POPE Good-bye Mr. President, May God walk with you and guide your thinking (does this jerk think?)
GWB It’s been a pleasure yer popeliness. And oh yeah, ah’ll be sending you some of Doc Sholl’s stuff. Ah don’t think he has anything for prostrates though and I’ll check on sweet potatoes, too.
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Also…visit my Facebook site, Organ Transplant Patients, Friends and You at http://tinyurl.com/225cfh OR — my Facebook home page http://www.facebook.com/home.php
MCCAIN; HE STILL BELIEVES THE BUSH LIES June 12, 2008
Posted by Bob Aronson in Campaign 2008.add a comment
“False Pretenses”
“Following 9/11, President Bush and seven top officials of his administration waged a carefully orchestrated campaign of misinformation about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.”
According to the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) (http://www.publicintegrity.org/WarCard/?gclid=CLGolOe175MCFQdggQodfFtLVQ) “The Iraq war was built on at least 935 lies by seven key people in the Bush administration including the President himself (President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of state Collin Powell, Deputy Defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Press Secretary Air Fleischer and his replacement Scott McClellan). President Bush, for example, made 232 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and another 28 false statements about Iraq’s links to Al Qaeda. Together this cabal made at least 935 false statements in the two years following September 11, 2001.” The lies outlined in the January 23, 2008 CPI report entitled “False Pretenses” are verifiable and backed by solid evidence under a comprehensive fact checking policy http://www.publicintegrity.org/Content.aspx?context=about&topic=data_accuracy_policy&id=707 the investigation was conducted and written by Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith.
The point of this blog is this: If the war was built on lies and John McCain supports the war then it follows that the Senator from Arizona also supports the lies. Why would anyone support a presidential candidate whose campaign is built on at least 935 lies? Staying in Iraq for the next 5 years or 100 years will not change the foundation of fallacies upon which the war was built. To take this a bit further, let us assume that President Bush knew that 500 of the statements were “tainted” and the rest were outright fabrications. That’s really giving Bush the benefit of the doubt, but what the heck, I’m a liberal. Logic, then, dictates that because the truth has been exposed and McCain should have known it that McCain is an even worse liar than Bush. Simply put, if you support a lie after you know it is a lie then you are a worse liar than the people who told the original lie. Right?
Again, according to the CPI report, “It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to Al Qaeda. This was the conclusion of numerous bipartisan government investigations, including those by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (2004 and 2006), the 9/11 Commission, and the multinational Iraq Survey Group, whose “Duelfer Report” established that Saddam Hussein had terminated Iraq’s nuclear program in 1991 and made little effort to restart it.”
Because examples are important and because I suspect you, dear reader, will click on the CPI site to see for yourself, I will use just a few of their examples.
1. On August 26, 2002, in an address to the national convention of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, Cheney flatly declared: “Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.” In fact, former CIA Director George Tenet later recalled, Cheney’s assertions went well beyond his agency’s assessments at the time. Another CIA official, referring to the same speech, told journalist Ron Suskind, “Our reaction was, ‘Where is he getting this stuff from?”
2. In the closing days of September 2002, with a congressional vote fast approaching on authorizing the use of military force in Iraq, Bush told the nation in his weekly radio address: “The Iraqi regime possesses biological and chemical weapons, is rebuilding the facilities to make more and, according to the British government, could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes after the order is given. . . . This regime is seeking a nuclear bomb, and with fissile material could build one within a year.”
3. On May 29, 2003, in an interview with Polish TV, President Bush declared: “We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories.” But as journalist Bob Woodward reported in State of Denial, days earlier a team of civilian experts dispatched to examine the two mobile labs found in Iraq had concluded in a field report that the labs were not for biological weapons. The team’s final report, completed the following month, concluded that the labs had probably been used to manufacture hydrogen for weather balloons.
4. On January 28, 2003, in his annual State of the Union address, Bush asserted: “The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production.”
5. The “ground truth” of the Iraq war itself eventually forced the president to backpedal, albeit grudgingly. In a 2004 appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, for example, Bush acknowledged that no weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq.
So, my friends, that’s the real story behind the Iraq war and why John McCain’s support of it is so absurd. Staying in Iraq is as much a mistake as going in, in the first place. What could we do with the estimated Trillion Dollars this war is expected to cost? What would have happened to the thousands of dead and wounded? Don’t get me started.
Please read and comment on my Organ Donation and Transplantation blogs on
http://bobsnewheart.wordpress.com
Also…visit my Facebook site, Organ Transplant Patients, Friends and You at http://tinyurl.com/225cfh OR — my Facebook home page http://www.facebook.com/home.php
Bob Aronson