said 'Meth' is not the same as methadone.
I don't think she is smoking "meth" I believe she is TAKING meth as in methadone which DOES work as a painkiller.
Give me a break. Why don't you stop being belligerant.
If he said she was doing speed I wouldn't assume she was driving fast.
He's talking about METHADONE. A doctor isn't going to prescribe CRANK for anybody. It's illegal and not prescriptionable.
Get REAL.
said 'Meth' is not the same as methadone.
I don't think she is smoking "meth" I believe she is TAKING meth as in methadone which DOES work as a painkiller.
Give me a break. Why don't you stop being belligerant.
If he said she was doing speed I wouldn't assume she was driving fast.
He's talking about METHADONE. A doctor isn't going to prescribe CRANK for anybody. It's illegal and not prescriptionable.
Get REAL.
said 'Meth' is not the same as methadone.
I don't think she is smoking "meth" I believe she is TAKING meth as in methadone which DOES work as a painkiller.
Give me a break. Why don't you stop being belligerant.
If he said she was doing speed I wouldn't assume she was driving fast.
He's talking about METHADONE. A doctor isn't going to prescribe CRANK for anybody. It's illegal and not prescriptionable.
Get REAL.
said 'Meth' is not the same as methadone.
I don't think she is smoking "meth" I believe she is TAKING meth as in methadone which DOES work as a painkiller.
Give me a break. Why don't you stop being belligerant.
If he said she was doing speed I wouldn't assume she was driving fast.
He's talking about METHADONE. A doctor isn't going to prescribe CRANK for anybody. It's illegal and not prescriptionable.
Get REAL.
To answer a few of the questions (and a big thanks to all the responses!):
a) her ammonia levels have been high enough to induce severe hallucinatins, etc... She was hospitalized twice in November with ammonia levels @ 185, which as everyone knows, is very high.
b) she's getting the methadone from a doctor other than her specialist! In fact, the liver specialist won't prescribe painkillers to her at all. Of course my mom has "reasons" for seeing the other doctor - she says her liver specialist told her to see someone else for all her aches and pains, colds, etc... It just seems that he, of all people, would be able to gauge how much pain she could be in & give it to her if he thinks it's medically necessary, right!?
c) she does have lactulose. she's also been prescribe the antibiotic for ammonia build up as well. according to my grandmother, she's taking the methadone as needed but not the antibiotic.
Unfortunately, she lives 7 hours away from me. I'd love to have her up here though! I provide a stress-free environment, I love to cook, + my kids are great for her. The only problem is that she's on the transplant list for Memphis, while I'm in Chicago. Does anyone know if it would be an easy transition or would it not be wise for her to switch over @ this point?
Again, thanks for all the input! ;-)
Hi Joe - I know this is tearing your family up. It would me too. The site is not working right so pardon if I am asking questions you've answered.
Do you know if her ammonia levels have ever been elevated to the point of confusion and disorientation? Do you know what other meds she is on besides meth and ambien? Who presribed the ambien? It can cause some bizarre symptoms in some cases, but I don't think it's the culprit of her total disorientation (but it might be.)
If she has had elevated ammonia on account of ESLD and has been disoriented before, most GI docs will put the patient on the Lactulose (it's usually in a great big bottle - like syrup). She would have most likely had this with her when she visited you.
You have to come to a decision - you have to decide, for one, and I think the most pressing is to decide if you think your mom is in danger from the disorientation (no matter what it might be from.) If you think she is, and you want to help her, tell her. Tell her you think someone needs to be involved with her care (or -- that you are afraid she is in trouble with something.) She may well be in severe pain and need the meth. But if her liver is not functioning good, the meth could be sitting around in her blood stream, and she could overdose on the stuff (pretty damn easy.)
If she is not agreeable, then there probably isn't much you can do unless there comes the time you think she is a danger to herself (and she can get that way with ESLD, on meth and ambien, and living alone.) I hope she'll be OK. Best of luck to you.