I have been writing/sharing on my blog for 13-14 yrs. I have seen many people who would come into the community the with attitude that they can “get ‘er done”. They stay/hang around for a few months, maybe even a few years, and then they realize that the task is something that they can’t tackle, and they are GONE!
I have seen a lot of in-fighting within the multitude of “support groups’, even seen some support groups disband and then some of the fragments of those groups create another group or two and the cycle keep repeating.
I complained to Barb once many months ago, about all the infighting, I married a very wise woman… she told me that I would never understand… because I never a girl/female in Jr/Sr High School.
Reading what those two attorney posted on the web over the last few weeks, it is posted below. I don’t think that the community will ever fine enough money to hire an attorney/law firm that has enough balls to address the problems with practitioners being able to treat chronic pain and other subjective diseases, with the appropriate controlled medications.
Barb just had an appt with our PCP, who we have been seeing since last 1969 – early 1970. He is like a “Dr Marcus Welby” – if you don’t know the reference – do a web search. He is pulling back on his office hrs. He lost a adult kid to COVID-19 during the epidemic and he recently had some health issues where he was out of the office for a few weeks.
Years ago, he told the that -God willing- he was going to be practice till he was 75 y/o. But now he is about 70 y/o. I have an appt with him the first week of Feb, 2025. I will find out what his plans are.
We may be looking for a new PCP soon, but I know a number of the local prescribers and being a decent advocate, I think that we can hopefully transition over to a new practitioner without missing a beat. Only time will tell.
IMO, the community has fragmented itself into many pieces or “tribes”, each with at least one Face Book page. Last week, I was not feeling very well one day and I just turned my phone off and shut my computer down. The next morning, I found over 100 emails and I can’t count the number of FB posts – many of them repeats of people re-posting them in hopes that someone would read them. Then there was all the texts.
I have made nearly 11,000 posts on my blog over the years and it is approaching THREE MILLION PAGE VIEWS. I am approaching the end of my EIGHTH DECADE ON THIS PLANT.
Barb and I tend on aging in place, but I have not been able to find a “handyman” to do much of the maintenance around the house. I have the experience and the tools to do most all of the work, but my energy and endurance isn’t what it use to be.
Within the next few weeks, I will be pulling back from reading any of the Face Book pages and responding on those pages. I am still going to be around, and I can be reached via the links listed below. Chronic pain pts are still going to continue to get their pain meds taken away and they are still going to have to take a stand to get some of them back.
The path that the community may be on, may take longer than the number of years that I have left to try to change directions. It looks like I may have other personal battles that I may have to deal with, and family comes first.
https://www.facebook.com/pharmaciststeve/
“Red Flag” Prosecutions against physicians continue. In United States v. Campbell, the Government used its unenumerated list of “red flags” to support a smoke-fire prosecution absent actual evidence. Tune into my 6th Circuit Oral Argument this Wednesday.
Could this be why no one can get a law firm to sue medical care deniers
Filed under: General Problems
I hope you know there are those of us with mad respect and appreciation for you. I get it. I have been at this since the way back and it is such a heavy load. I have gotten more done by myself than with groups since the start. Instead of being hard core tied to a group I have my fav groups that I step in and help here and there. I probably spend about as much time researching alternative meds that can be easily obtained ( at least for now) as I do advocating for a couple of reasons. The likely hood of this being undone is suboptimal and we need ways to make it without meds. Lately my instinct has been screaming at me to hard core go after alternatives now. In 3 days the world is going to change again in drastic ways that may or may not be good. Yet when you get right down to the nut cuttin, I can’t stop trying. Because I was nearly killed it is fight or die for me. I blame no one who decides they are done. I appreciate the astronomical amount of content you have created. Fare thee well. I am sure we will chat some here or there.
Extremely well put!
You, & Barb are always in my prayers, Steve!! While we often find it uncomfortable to talk about “the end”, it is a necessary evil, especially as we get older. If you ever want/need to talk, you can always call/message me. As you said, “family comes first”! We appreciate any, & all help/advice, you can, & have provided. You’re absolutely right, meds will still be taken/cut back, & we’ll still have to fight for what’s needed. God Bless both you, & Barb!!
-Dave