Melva - ROFL - how long would you suggest in the PC? ccaggiano - sometimes muscle pain can be delayed. I tend to get muscle pain about 2-3 days after shoveling, raking or heavy lifting. It's most likely because the doc knew you weren't making up a complaint just to get drugs and it would save time in case one didn't work and then you wouldn't have to come back just for a different script. That being said, if you ever have a concern, you should contact the ER dept head or the hospital adminstrator and talk to them. The only Class II drug there is the oxycontin, which is oxycodone hcl. Vicodin is Hydrocodone Bitartrate & Acetaminophen. Percocet is Oxycodone and Acetaminophen. Vicodin would be the mildest, then Percocet (depending on the dosage) and then the oxycontin. Dafy - Planning on helping a neighbor with Peach Jam for Cold Mornings sometime soon.

((((Kat)))) i 2was wondering how your dad was doing. as you know my DH has MM also, but he seems to be doing pretty good right now (knock on wood). He also was on the Thalidamid, I can't remember how long he was on it though, quite awhile though we think. yes that and the pain meds do cause constipation. Right now DH isn't taking any thing for the MM, after he got off the Thalidamid, he was on Velcade...has your dad had that yet?? he was on it for a while, then dr took him off it, his feet and legs were causing him so much trouble (neuropathy), but his counts have remained stable quite awhile, thank God, we really believe that God has touched him! DH takes Miralax for his bowels, seems to work good for him. the first time he tried it, he didn't think it worked, so stopped it. then months later we tried again, and he's been taking it ever since, he only takes about a Tablespoon every night. I put it in a glass and add a little water to dissolve it, then fill the cup with diet twist-up from Walmart, but you can use other stuff, pop, or juice, etc. doesn't have much taste to it. as a matter of fact, our 10 yr old DD has to take it and she takes a LOT more than DH does! sometimes it takes a couple of days for it to start working though, but you can increase or decrease the Miralax, you might want to ask his dr about it, even his reg. dr could prescribe it! oh another thing when DH was losing so much weight and didn't want to eat, I would make him milkshakes and put in Carnation instant breakfast, for more protein, or if your dad likes Ensure or Boost, you could mix it with the milkshake. DH never liked either one of those, and could tell it was in the milkshakes! but didn't mind the Carnation instant breakfast in it though. as for the other problem, don't really have an answer for you! i know it would be hard to do, i know when my mom was sick with pancreatic cancer, I had to help wash her, an was uncomfortable too!, i let her wash her private parts! I help DH take his shower, but thats different than it being your dad! Maybe someone else has some ideas for you!! good luck to all of you!!! DianePA

You all are so right, thank you for the advice, especially the cash offer. Yes I was thinking of waving thousands in front of his face (by selling my car and buying another one) just to get him to go, because money and drugs is all that matters to this man. He cares nothing for his parents, him self, and above all, his daughter. She has been a burden on him since day 1. However, after reading these posts, I see what you mean, he may take it as a payoff, which could backfire on me. Maui: I do NOT have full legal custody. In our decree it states I have "sole physical custody", meaning, DD will always LIVE with me in MY home. Then it states "joint legal custody", which goes onto state that the father will have a 50/50 say in her health care (even tho it states he will never, ever have to pay for ANY medical treatments or insurance coverage), her schooling (even tho it states he will never have to help with school fees) and "general upbringing". I do not want to keep DD from her paternal grandparents. I have VERY fond memories of MY paternal grandparents... my father was "there" but completely, totally uninterested in me (he still is and doesn't like us coming around). My dad's parents were my best friends... much like DD's paternal g-parents. I would never dream of denying her a love like that. Tami ... I cannot qualify for public assistance, no way in lleh!!! I make over $40k a year (NO college degree... just tenacity, ambition, and I LOVE TO WORK!), I own my own home, etc. To give all that up just to do this, would be ludicrous. Trust me I have thought about what it would be like to STOOP to his level; to not wanna work, to live either with my parents or in some crappy subsidized housing somewhere, and the thought makes me ill. DD and I have a great life and a very nice home, and when I accepted WIC for the first year of her life (I had to... her father moved out and I was left with a SLEW of his bills, and to keep my credit A+, I had to pay them so it left me kinda broke) I felt awful when I cashed in those vouchers. This is terrible but when I'd use those WIC vouchers, I would get trashy looks from the gals at the grocery. I was not some welfare-mom who was toting 9 kids and didn't know what birth control was, yet I got the looks. When my salary rose up and WIC was cancelled, I was relieved. Talley Sue (thanks for your long response btw): You aren't the first to call me "dense and worried" over this. I swear when he tried to take her last year it was the worst weekend of my life. I spent two days vomiting I was so upset over what "almost" happened. I KNOW I just need to do what I can do, meaning, keep up on the Child Support summons, and make sure his parents are "watching him", even tho they said they won't interfere with his "problems" any more... but I cannot help but to be worried. He doesn't have the stability to follow through on the idea of removing my custody or "legally" removing DD from me... but his parents are SO behind him and think I'm the anti-christ for keeping tabs on him. They used to really respect me and his mother was very friendly, but since his release from prison in October (during this free time he managed to knock up his second wife, who is a 20 year old girl with two kids by two different fathers...), they have been at odds with me. I pray every night that he does himself in. I know that is bad, to wish that upon someone, but I'd rather it be him then my DD or his parents or someone else. He is the one who deserves to worry and suffer... not DD or anyone else. Yer right Talley Sue, he will always be around, I fear. I know he wants to leave KY and he wants his 'freedom' away from everyone here who has 'harmed' him, but he cannot make it in this world without his mother's support. At least DD and I are very close. I make sure of that. Among all the disciplining and rules I set in my house, we have a very strong love and she listens to me like you'd not believe. I hope in time she will see just what her father is... do you think she WILL? As a teenager, or as an adult? Or even when she gets into grade school??? - darkeyedgirl

Mtn, thank you so much for doing this topic. I've been wanting to get this off my chest to you all for years. Again, I thank Carrie Fisher who was an addict for a long time until she was diagnosed with BPD, and still adored world wide. I can't wait to watch "Bright Lights" tonight! HBO. This post may be long since I'm quoting. "These are all normal, upper-middle class, college educated folks whose lives are deeply affected by someone's addiction" Tell me about it! This is a recent story in my little town of Peyton Place, and while I hurt for the family, it's kind of a relief, KWIM? A very very VERY prominent family here have many children, all succesfull professionals, married to perfect spouses, with perfect kids, living in perfect homes and well, you get the gist. After DS went to prison, I was angry as hell, and jealous and envious of everybody. Particularly this family who live close to us. They are all nice people. I would get mad at God and ask Him why are they so blessed? Well, one of their adult kids, who is married and has children, and is a professional with a higher degree (I also called them perfect) was arrested for meth, at 30 years old. Both spouses were addicted to meth, and their children taken away. When I heard that, my jaw fell to the ground. They've been in and out of rehab, and may be on the road to recovery, everyone is hoping they make it. Perfect example of how drugs (Starting meth, at that age??) affect families of all classes. Learn from me, don't be fooled if you think the Joneses next door lead that perfect life. Addiction can begin at any age. Damn meth, it's everywhere in our state. Can we cuss? lol "I think that is why people like to blame families for substance issues. " I get so angry when I get on FB and those who walk on water post meme's about good parenting and if your kid screws up, it's YOUR fault. I call BS on that, and I have to sit on my fingers. Is it bad for me to wish karma on them, because sometimes I do. "I literally still have nightmares about my son being locked up. Nothing worse than your child being out of your hands-where you absolutely cannot protect them....I've suffered severe depression for years. I'm functional but barely some days. " Neetsie, the first couple of years after my son "left," (that's what I call it), I had the most beautiful recurring dream. The prison would let him come home every weekend, and he, DS1, and DH would all go fishing at the pond near our house, and in the dream I could see them from the kitchen window. I never had depression except for the normal bouts we all get, until he left. When DH was at work I cried off and on all day. I would go outside and scream at the top of my lungs. One benefit of living in the country. A couple of times I woke up during the night with tears on my cheeks. After a year my cheeks became chapped from crying. I finally told my doctor (my son got high for the first time with my doctor's son, who is now a doctor himself) and he gave me an anti-depressant. The tears stopped the next day, and I don't cry anymore unless it's at a commercial on TV, or I think about my late Gracie Girl who was with me during my darkest hours. A couple of years ago I tried explaining to someone here on GW that there IS such a thing as "situational depression" but I was blown off. Some people need anti-depressants!! Never ever tell someone they don't need them until you walk that mile in their shoes. Ever. Sorry, that's a pet peeve of mine. Do you take any AD's, Neetsie? They're not for everybody because sometimes they don't work. I'm not going off mine because I don't want to deal with the side effects of withdrawal. I tried once, dropping the dose by only a quarter, and one time I was alone cleaning the floors and I threw something, so I went back to the full dose. LOL "Instead we were handed an out of control 15 year old who also self medicated, and he got into steroid use-he is huge, an MMA fighter-and scary when he goes into his rages. He's been in and out of prison." I'm sure your stepson is an adult by now, but even so, in most states you can have them committed for a week or so and they can get help, with no charges against them. Have you talked to him about getting treatment for the mental illness? If so, it's like talking to a brick wall, huh? Enlightening topic, I don't feel alone anymore.