Forgive my lame and misguided attempt to contribute. It won't happen again. Two points. First, I do not recall any prior reference to exercise in this thread. Perhaps it was my oversight? Second, a simple "yes" would have sufficed and would have required considerably less effort on your part. I'm wondering whether your attitude contributes to your issue or is a symptom of it. Probably both. Whatever. Good luck to you.
I did not really read through the thread much except just to post my reply. But to that particular statement all I can say is this. Oxycontin saved my life. Without it I would not be here, I was on the verge of ending my pain when I found a doctor who was willing to help me end it and allow me to keep breathing at the same time. I am lucky. Here is the quote: Oxycontin killed us here. There was never a need for the drug anyway. It was just a grab at painkiller market share by Perdue - and it worked. The total costs associated with it to my state's society as a whole were enormous - for no benefit other than to the cockroach company. Again Oxycontin saved me and there was obviously a need for it. Before I was put on Oxy I was on Social Security disabilty. I was worthless to society and suicidal. In a very real sense I owe my life and the success I have been able to attain to Purdue. The total cost to your states society are probably much less than the DEA and other's have led you to believe. People who are addicts will find something to get high with, be that Oxy, heroin, vicoden, booze, cocaine, crank, lighter fluid, arosol's, poppy seeds (you know the kind you get on your muffin) and any number of other things. In a Cleveland Clinic study of 10,000 individuals givin Oxycontin, Ms Contin or Duragesic for chronic pain 2 TWO of them became "addicts". So the assertation that Oxy or any other narcotic are evil is evil in and of itself. It has likely saved for more lives than it has taken, and again most of the people who become addicts would have been lost to some other form of addiction anyway, that's how they are. Those who need the oxy to live on the other hand would certainly have been lost without it. I do not think that the average person should be able to walk into their local CVS and say hey I need some oxy and get it. But, doctors should be able to write a script to patients who they feel need a medication for any reason and not be terrified of losing their freedom and livelyhoods. Currently that can not be said. I got lucky twice. Once by going to the Mayo Clinic where the doctors are given a pretty free hand to do what they want with patients. I found one who would treat my pain the way it needed to be treated. With in 3 weeks I had him write a letter to the Social Security Admin that I was no longer disabled and should no longer be getting benefits. When I moved to Florida I went to 5 doctors and could not find any to write me the scipts I needed. One of them said that he never uses narcotics except for cancer and surgery and does not think they are indicated for anything else. Each of the other four said they wanted to write me the script but they were afraid of doing it. One of them, a pain specialist, said that Dr Dodic (my doctor at the Mayo Clinic) is one of the top 5 doctors in the world for Chronic Headaches and he could not disagree with anything he has done. However, because he knew that I have a good amount of money he suggested that I simply continue to see Dr Dodic in Rochester 4 times a year. He explained that this would allow him to continue to treat other patients and not add another narcotics patient to his load, something that always brings attention from the state and DA. This is retarted that good doctors are afraid to presribe the appropriate script to patients who have obviously benefited from it. Unfortunatly as long as the DEA, the media etc is able to convince ordinary people such as yourself that there is something evil about oxy and other needed medications people will continue to suffer and DIE Brandon
I think if you try to put yourself in the patients position you will understand the frustration. You are forever being told by well inentioned people that this or that worked for this person or that. You try it and try it again. It doesnt work and you feel like shit. You try it again and feel worse. Other suggestions come in from other people and the process continues on and on and on. It is a very frustrating position to be in need of a medication doctors are terrified to give. Brandon
Very kind offers Rearden! Actually I play poker (mainly omaha8) more than trade these days (I began after reading about your success on the poker thread). Anyway just keep up your astute observations on ET forums and that will be plenty for me.
have you tried rehab and a twelve step program... u need it. ur ego is so huge that you will grasp on to your latest discovery until it too fails. then what??? do u understand that almost all addicts are seeking relief from depression??? nothin new here dude. ur great intellect wouldn't last 5 minutes around seasoned recovering addicts... they would tire quickly of ur ego though. and then they would knock some humility into you. damn, guess i wont be in your will oh great one.
As far as we reasonably understand, our moods depend on the endogenous drugs are brain produces (and they way it manipulates them). Given that, why should it be so outrageous to consider that some people may have deficient production of certain of these drugs? I think people find this hard to swallow because it leaves us rather helpless. We all want to believe that mental problems are "all in the head" and that if "live rightly" we can fix these problems all by ourselves. But maybe reality hasn't been that kind. But Rearden, I highly doubt you're "immune" to religious/mystical beliefs. You cling to Objectivism despite the rather obvious logical holes in its foundation. I tend to think you have some psychological dependancy on it. If only you could bring yourself to question some of these foundational tenets of your worldview, you might just find "happiness" (to the extent that mysticism is able to provide it) is closer than you think. Of course, like anything worthwhile in life, it takes time to dislodge a worldview that has become familiar, ingrained and comfortable, but if there are better alternatives worth exploring, maybe it's in your best interests to begin the journey. If told me a few years ago that I would come to adopt a mysticist perception of reality I would have laughed you right out of the room (actually, abused the fuck out of you), yet here I am...
Thats a valid point i think, most addicts are seeking releif from something. But with regard to depression, as has been mentioned, no one seems to know much about it at all, but a worthwhile exercise in any instance is to attempt to isolate any causal factors. In some instances, they can be dealt with, with some net benifit. If you dont know exactly, then thats problematic. At the very least, opiates (the top notch gear rearden has access to) are a known quantity, its astonishing the potential side effects of some of the legitimate pharmaceauticals, chemical cocktails of indiscriminate, poorly targeted effect. Severe manic phase depression is serious, and i think does require serious drugs-waiting a few weeks for the prescription to "kick in", and rebalance the chemistry is bullshit, it has to be hit right where it hurts, now, not in a week or three's time if at all, on the basis of what some doctor "thinks". I gather Rearden bases his use of said product to maintain an even keel, and if thats all that works then so be it. I realise "eat well and exercise" is redundant for the most part, people dont describe depression as "crippling" for no reason. There is something you obviously havent tried though, and it has to be said your "cure" is far preferable.
metaphor ---> Q: I have severe pulmonary pneumonia. I have tried visiting 15 different doctors, and have tried 35-40 different 'cures'. Nothing helped! I can't fucking breath! What can I do???? Answer from thunderdog: Uhhh... have you tried penicillin? I heard that's good. By the way, Ayn Rand is dog shit. ____ Exercise was addressed on page 7.
Since the easy money has been gone from online poker for over a year now, (I easily and consistently cleared over $1k/day on Party last year. Now? I haven't even opened the software in half a year.) You may one day wish to take advantage of my help... which I will gladly provide whenever you wish. I'll never forget or renege on my offer. This assumes I can continue to successfully acquire my medication from drug dealers.( Or my backup plan, flying out to a free country) If not, I'll be dead.