Addiction is a fatal disease; unfortunately some never find the recovery program needed for them to achieve remission. My condolences.
MsRobyn, I’m truly sorry that you and your family have had to deal with this misery… Other than that, I’m not sure what I have to offer.
Hang in there, MsRobyn.
Thanks, y’all.
I talked to my mother last night, after I posted. It’s not looking all that good for my aunt. She’s been seizing constantly, so there’s the suspicion of brain damage. Even if she survives, she’ll probably need constant care. My grandmother will probably terminate life support and let her go.
Also, how the speed got into her system is a mystery. She wasn’t known to use amphetamines, and the ER docs who pumped her stomach found no traces of pills. Her “fiance”, who was planning to dump her, insisted to the police that she had to have had a heart attack or stroke, and will probably have some explaining to do later.
Robin
Oy. I hope this isn’t another Kristian Rossum-type case.
Hang in there, Robyn…
And keep us posted.
Okay, more facts are in. This came from the neurologist.
Apparently, she didn’t have amphetamine in her bloodstream. She had a raging case of septicemia (blood poisoning) from pneumonia she’d had a few weeks ago. She also had a massive heart attack, probably from some Darvocet she took. So, apparently, it’s not an overdose, it’s a heart attack that she tried to treat herself.
The neuro gave her a week or so, and she probably won’t come out of her coma.
Robin
I got the phone call from my mother last night. My aunt died last night, after my mother and grandmother had the life support turned off. She died peacefully, and without struggle.
Her doctor’s final determination was that this was not self-inflicted at all; it was a heart attack and liver damage. The liver damage was a combination of pickled liver and Tylenol overdose. (the Darvocet she took has quite a bit of acetaminophen, and the existing damage to her liver rendered her unable to properly metabolize it. That she couldn’t metabolize it made the damage worse.) I’m not sure where the amphetamine came from, unless someone mistook “acetaminophen” for “amphetamine”.
At any rate, her problems are over. She did leave quite a bit of pain and resentent in her wake, but that’s over now as well, and we can begin to get on with our lives.
Robin
Hi Robin. My uncle died in a similar fashion. In my case, I’m fortunate to have some good memories of him. He had a good heart but was sick. I thank God every day that my mother got sober.
Oh Robin I’m so sorry for the pain your family has experienced. Tears of sympathy and big hugs from me to you.
I’m sorry, MsRobyn, that this was the way that both your aunt and your family wound up having the situation resolved. 