This is another serious question - who was operating on a patient that obviously didn’t have the conditions that would require the operations? It sounds like a serious breach of ethics on the part of the surgeons. The whole thing is heart-wrenching. The daughter should have been taken away from this monster by social…

Very true. No one can make a hard and fast rule about narcotics that will fit every patient’s situation.

I felt like he was blaming me for being in pain, for not wanting to be in pain.

Sometimes I think so few people (lawmakers, even doctors) understand what “quality of life” really means. When I was 25 and first dealing with being diagnosed with endometriosis and having my first unsuccessful surgery, my doctor said “you’re too young to be on these kinds of medications (vicodin), it’s going to…

Seconded. My grandmother lived with constant pain for the last 5 years of her life because of osteoporosis and other problems, and the number of times I heard her just wish to up and die is more than I care to remember.

Oh god. The waitstaff (mostly Black) in the cafeteria of my in-laws’ retirement home have got to have the patience of saints. And they must be talking so much smack about the old folks when they’re away. My MIL calls them “Gal,” when she’s trying to get their attention:

Somehow, I think it’s worse that they asked us what we should do. They can pat themselves on the back for having the conversation when they never had any intention of shouldering any of the actual burden.

Thank you.

That part got me too. My mom has lupus and fibromyalgia. I’ve been there when the insurance company fucked up and she didn’t get her meds. I’ve been there when her mental fog was so bad she forgot to order more meds and had to do without. The only medicine that helps her routinely gets denied by our insurance; and…

I ate a bag of herr’s a day every day from 2nd through 7th grade, in February, the darkest month, when my school discntinued them and sold I dunno a carrot instead because health or some garbage.

i tried it once, but never really cared....social networks are just about the people who are on it with you...so like...that really decided it for me.

this story is a treasure.

I would rather have chips than Snapchat anyway. She’s on to something.

“when I wake up in the morning, I just scream when I’ll put my feet on the floor. So I’d have to figure out how to live with that.”

i love this.

We’re so very red right now. We actually had a democrat for a governor less than a decade ago, but we’re pretty much the reddist state in the union, when you look at national elections. I’m actually off Facebook at the moment because I can’t even pretend to like someone who supports Trump right now.

Your mom sounds strong and awesome. Give her a hug from us Jez commenters.

Thank you for writing this, Aimee. I can relate so deeply to your story.