10-20-62 - 7-1-08
Thank everyone SO much for your comments, thoughts and prayers. Your kind words mean more to me than you could imagine. I wanted to give you an update on what happened.
As most of you know, my mother died late Sunday night. She committed suicide by a single gun shot to the head. Harsh words, I know but I don't feel it can be said "nicer". I apologize if this offends you-but I am not in the mood to care right now.
My mother was an alcoholic and she suffered from anxiety and depression, as most of us have suffered from at one time or another in our lives. She, like most people, went to the doctor for treatment. We trust our doctors to provide the best care. After all, they went to school for 12 years to have this knowledge, as did the pharmacist. I am sad to say that this is another "Anna Nicole and Heath Ledger" incident. If you're unfamiliar with this, let me explain.
The combinations of drugs given to my mother made her "bonkers". Even the coroner when he came out, told my step dad that she shouldn't have taken these medicines together, much less in the dosage amount that they were prescribed in. He wanted to know where she got them, he (step father) showed him the prescription bottles-all from the same doctor and the same pharmacy. Along with the wrong combination of medicines, the doctor knew my mother was an alcoholic and she did in fact, mix alcohol with these already lethal doses of prescription med's and it made her lapse in judgement, even for a split second.
To give you a "heads up" on just what the doctor had my mother on:
in the morning:
Seroquel anti anxiety
Ativan anti anxiety
Paxil anti anxiety
along with blood pressure medicine and the medicine that makes you not want to drink alcohol
In the evening:
Seroquel
Ativan
AND he prescribed her to take Oxycontin as needed, which she did take on the night of her death because her shoulder where she had surgery was hurting.
(Even while taking these other medicines)
This could have easily been prevented by BOTH the doctor AND the pharmacist. Like I said ONE doctor prescribed all these and ONE pharmacist filled them all. ALL knowing that she was an alcoholic, after all, she was on the anti drinking medicine!
I am contacting a lawyer today to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor and the clinic (which is at the hospital) so I'm sure this will include the hospital too. I apologize, I cannot say which hospital, but if you knew my mother & where she lived, you can guess which one I'm talking about. I am NOT after money. Money is NOTHING-It will not bring my mom back to me. I can never call her, I am devastated. I just want my mother back!!!!
I've heard more and more stories about doctors prescribing medicine to everyone that doesn't go together. LITERALLY I went to the doctor about my weight and they tried to put me on Prozac! I will NOT take anything! I want to save families from the heartache of this and it's worse that I know it could have been prevented!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't trust your doctor or pharmacist, but do your own research! The web is a powerful tool. They even have those drug interaction books! PLEASE educate yourself on anti-anxiety medicine. I understand that TRUE anxiety is from a chemical imbalance of the brain. But #1 doctors are too quick to pass these drugs out and #2, anxiety and depression are a natural part of life. Yin & Yang. You can't have happiness without sadness, excitement without anxiety. People shouldn't be medicated they should be taught how to deal with it! (if it's not a chemical imbalance) Doctors don't even TEST for a chemical imbalance, not sure ANY do!
Today my mother will be cremated. My step father wanted to see her to "talk to her". I could not. I want the last memory of my mother to be in the kitchen cooking. There will be no service and it's not possible for there to be a viewing. My mother "didn't want people standing and crying over her dead body". She told me that herself.
Thank you SO much for all of your kind words and prayers. Please please continue to pray, as it is so hard on me and the boys.
I heard a great quote that truly fits my life right now:
As most of you know, my mother died late Sunday night. She committed suicide by a single gun shot to the head. Harsh words, I know but I don't feel it can be said "nicer". I apologize if this offends you-but I am not in the mood to care right now.
My mother was an alcoholic and she suffered from anxiety and depression, as most of us have suffered from at one time or another in our lives. She, like most people, went to the doctor for treatment. We trust our doctors to provide the best care. After all, they went to school for 12 years to have this knowledge, as did the pharmacist. I am sad to say that this is another "Anna Nicole and Heath Ledger" incident. If you're unfamiliar with this, let me explain.
The combinations of drugs given to my mother made her "bonkers". Even the coroner when he came out, told my step dad that she shouldn't have taken these medicines together, much less in the dosage amount that they were prescribed in. He wanted to know where she got them, he (step father) showed him the prescription bottles-all from the same doctor and the same pharmacy. Along with the wrong combination of medicines, the doctor knew my mother was an alcoholic and she did in fact, mix alcohol with these already lethal doses of prescription med's and it made her lapse in judgement, even for a split second.
To give you a "heads up" on just what the doctor had my mother on:
in the morning:
Seroquel anti anxiety
Ativan anti anxiety
Paxil anti anxiety
along with blood pressure medicine and the medicine that makes you not want to drink alcohol
In the evening:
Seroquel
Ativan
AND he prescribed her to take Oxycontin as needed, which she did take on the night of her death because her shoulder where she had surgery was hurting.
(Even while taking these other medicines)
This could have easily been prevented by BOTH the doctor AND the pharmacist. Like I said ONE doctor prescribed all these and ONE pharmacist filled them all. ALL knowing that she was an alcoholic, after all, she was on the anti drinking medicine!
I am contacting a lawyer today to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor and the clinic (which is at the hospital) so I'm sure this will include the hospital too. I apologize, I cannot say which hospital, but if you knew my mother & where she lived, you can guess which one I'm talking about. I am NOT after money. Money is NOTHING-It will not bring my mom back to me. I can never call her, I am devastated. I just want my mother back!!!!
I've heard more and more stories about doctors prescribing medicine to everyone that doesn't go together. LITERALLY I went to the doctor about my weight and they tried to put me on Prozac! I will NOT take anything! I want to save families from the heartache of this and it's worse that I know it could have been prevented!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't trust your doctor or pharmacist, but do your own research! The web is a powerful tool. They even have those drug interaction books! PLEASE educate yourself on anti-anxiety medicine. I understand that TRUE anxiety is from a chemical imbalance of the brain. But #1 doctors are too quick to pass these drugs out and #2, anxiety and depression are a natural part of life. Yin & Yang. You can't have happiness without sadness, excitement without anxiety. People shouldn't be medicated they should be taught how to deal with it! (if it's not a chemical imbalance) Doctors don't even TEST for a chemical imbalance, not sure ANY do!
Today my mother will be cremated. My step father wanted to see her to "talk to her". I could not. I want the last memory of my mother to be in the kitchen cooking. There will be no service and it's not possible for there to be a viewing. My mother "didn't want people standing and crying over her dead body". She told me that herself.
Thank you SO much for all of your kind words and prayers. Please please continue to pray, as it is so hard on me and the boys.
I heard a great quote that truly fits my life right now:
I know that God will put more on you than you can't handle.
I just wish He didn't trust me so much!
He definitely thinks I'm stronger than I feel!
15 comments:
Alcoholism. Cunning, baffling, powerful. I will continue to pray for your family.
I thought you were writing about my father for a moment... Alcohol, depression, "prescribed" medicine, death at a young age of 56...
If you need to chat with a complete stranger, drop me an email.
Missy, YOU and your family are in my prayers.
In Him,
Christina
I am so very sorry to hear about your devastating loss. There are no words for what you and your family must be feeling.
I agree that everyone should be careful about how much faith they put in their doctors and do their own research on EVERYTHING that the doctor says. Doctors may have more schooling than average people, but their motives are often fueled by money from drug companies and they don't have patients best interests at heart anyway.
Good luck in your law suit.
~Paula
2girlsand2boys for HSB
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I stumbled across your blog a few weeks ago and just today had time to check on new posts. You and your family on in my prayers.
Trish
I am so sorry.
I'm sorry for your loss. And your kids' loss. And I'm sorry that your mom's pain overwhelmed her.
It is a shame that so many in the medical community have forgotten how trusting patients are... After all, they are the ones who are educated in the areas that we seek help from them for. You've put a face on it.
What a loss to you and your kids.
I am so sorry . I will be praying for you and your family. My Mother was "overdosed" by her Dr.several years ago . We nearly lost her. I just don't understand why Drs can't look at the paperwork in their hands. I have been asked questions so many times that I have answered before and the answers are right in front of their face on my chart but they don't bother to read it.Cases like this are happening far too often .God Bless your family with comfort and peace during all this ~ Nikki
I am so, so, so sorry for your loss. I can only begin to imagine your grief and anger. I pray that God will give you the strength to turn this tragedy into something good for others by making it known that it's not something that just happens to celebrities. For every person who reads this blog, you are touching the lives of many . By sharing your pain and the situation, you may save someone else or many someones.
Alcoholism is one of the least understood diseases out there, in my opinion. People are so bound and determined to believe that a person makes the choice to be an alcoholic. But it is an addiction. Perhaps, if they had never had that first drink, but how many of us go through our lives without ever taking a drink. How many of us have been lucky and not had the genetic predisposition that leads them down a road of depression and one where a substance is in control. We should count our blessings and reach out our love and support to those who haven't been so lucky, not condemn them or push it aside as a lack of willpower.
I am so sorry. And I am praying for you and your family.
love,
dianne
Oh my goodness~ I am so sorry to read of the death of your mother. How tragic and awful~ especially, like you said, knowing that it could so easily have been prevented.
I know we just met last week (via my HOTM interview) but know that I am thinking of you and praying for you and your family through this very difficult time.
Thanks for sharing candidly~ your story will touch others, I am sure.
Heidi
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Reviewsbyheidi
Hi... I'm here from Melissa Markham's blog. I am so sorry for your loss. What a horrible thing... on so many levels...
Rebecca
Im a regular reader of Melissa's
Im sori for your loss
my mil mixes drugs with drink :(
HUGS
I am so sorry for your loss and the way it all came to an end.
I am a complete stranger but one who has also lost her mother.
One of the hardest life tragedies that some of us will walk thru.
Stay strong and listen to the holy spirit.
Just take one day at a time. No more.
Praying for you.
Oh Nikowa! I am so sorry to hear this tragic story. I cannot imagine what you must be going through.
I am familiar with all of those medications and I cannot imagine a doctor or pharmacist prescribing them all at once. Oxycontin alone, can be lethal, but to prescribe in combination with other meds is just nuts.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Even though I cannot comprehend your loss, my first husband drank himself to death. My daughter watched this slow torture and it changed who she was... it changed all of us.
I pray that God's and comfort will be with you and eventually your tears of sadness will again be tears of joy.
Big hugs to you,
Hallie
I don't have much to add that has not already been said. My heart goes out to you and your family. It makes me really mad that nothing can be done to stop these professionals. I pray the Comforter will keep you wrapped in His arms.
Jenn
I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. Praying for you and your family.
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