How do I deal with this?

[Michelle]

Confused...

I am NOT going to go over all this again.  Not gonna do it.  If you want to continue asking the same questions then you will simply have to find the other times I have responded and read it, reread it, do as you wish.

[Michelle]

Confused,

What you are really asking Michelle is if it is ok to lie (regarding countermeasure knowledge and use) and manipulate to obtain correct results (not cheat) one of your presumed ilk that lies to her...and the answer is--of course!  Such a self-defensive posture is quite ethically justified...

Thank you!  

[Skeptic]

I suppose you also think that she should not use heavy machinery while taking Dexedrine, even if by prescription. You are aware the military regularly supplies Dex to pilots flying long distances to maintain alertness.

Exactly how does taking prescription Dex somehow suggest to you she is a drug abuser in the first place? There is a huge difference between legal and proper, controlled use and abuse.

-Marty

To be fair, Marty, I don't think "Confused" is claiming Michelle is a drug user.  He's simply trying to make the case (for better or worse -- draw your own conclusions) that pictures of unfilled prescriptions and full bottles don't necessarily indicate that she's not an abuser.  And he's right: people would pretty much have to stake out her house and follow her around to know for sure...perhaps she has a secret double life.  OTOH, the fact that she has ADHD kinda makes it tough to be a dex abuser in the first place.  Pictures of the prescriptions would tend to prove she has ADHD.

Regardless of the quality of Michelle's evidence, the fact remains that Batman, with no evidence whatsoever, made the assinine claim that Michelle is a drug abuser.  It's a common tactic with him.  I suggest we take his comments for what they're worth: he can't prove his charge, and being unable to do so, should really retract it (that would be the honest thing to do).  We know he won't; if he cared about the truth or basic decency he wouldn't have made the claim in the first place.  We can either ignore him as the obvious doofus he is, or throw flames right back.  I suggest the former -- he's already his own worst enemy.

Skeptic

[Michelle]

I suppose you also think that she should not use heavy machinery while taking Dexedrine, even if by prescription. You are aware the military regularly supplies Dex to pilots flying long distances to maintain alertness.

Exactly how does taking prescription Dex somehow suggest to you she is a drug abuser in the first place? There is a huge difference between legal and proper, controlled use and abuse.

-Marty

Marty,  Interesting you should bring this up.  I am a student pilot (working on private pilot license) and I don't think I would even consider flying without taking Dex first.

As for people thinking anyone taking Dex is an abuser I have to make a couple of comments.  Confused clarified (finally) that he does not think I am a drug abuser but at the same time *everyone* thinks AD/HD'ers are drug abusers.  People cannot imagine how someone could take a Class II amphetamine and not be abusing it and addicted as well.  That is why most AD/HD'ers don't tell people and especially employers.  When people think of amphetamines they think of illegal drugs such as home made Meth.

When I take Dex I slow down, focus, and I do one thing at a time and do it well.  When I don't take Dex I zip around like the energizer bunny doing 12 things at once and getting most of them done pretty well but I make those around me want to pull their hair out.

I guess my point is that people do make the assumption that everyone who takes amphetamines reacts to the drug the same way and it just isn't so.  That is why it seems as though EVERYONE thinks AD/HD'ers are abusing and addicted to their drugs.

[Michelle]

In case you don't go back far enough in these threads, my hobby for forty years has been trying expose corruption both in industry and public service.

Someone needs to check out the folks that are guardians of Veterans.  When someone is elderly or unable to manage their affairs without assistance and they are a vet, there are various agencies that act as guardian or in some cases they just manage the vet's money.

What a freak'en scam!

[Michelle]

OTOH, the fact that she has ADHD kinda makes it tough to be a dex abuser in the first place.  Pictures of the prescriptions would tend to prove she has ADHD.

JFTR, I actually scanned my Rx and attempted to put it in a private post to you.  Not that it would prove anything but it just seemed like it wouldn't hurt to at least have one other person see that I actually have legal Rx's for this stuff.

But, I couldn't figure out how to put a photo (scanned document) in a post so I didn't do it.

[Twoblock]

Michelle

I have a grandson with ADD and that's why I have been getting up-tight over these posts the last couple days. I finally had to vent a little bit ago.

Without drugs he would have never been able to finish highschool. He wants, desperately, to get off them but when he tried, he lost his job. People need to educate themselves that the prescribed drugs keeps you, him and others (with ADD) normal people.

[Michelle]

Michelle

I have a grandson with ADD and that's why I have been getting up-tight over these posts the last couple days. I finally had to vent a little bit ago.

Without drugs he would have never been able to finish highschool. He wants, desperately, to get off them but when he tried, he lost his job. People need to educate themselves that the prescribed drugs keeps you, him and others (with ADD) normal people.

Very true.

I went through high school and college undiagnosed and untreated.  My boyfriend is a psychiatrist and he's been telling me for years that I have ADD.  For years I told him he was an idiot.

Long story short, he was WRONG! I have ADHD not ADD. Heh...  Point being, I *know* school would have been so much easier had I known about this and taken meds.  Reading is hard with no Dex.  To read short bits and pieces is no big deal.  Reading a book is impossible for me without Dex.  Not impossible but a hell of a struggle.

When my b/f first suggested ADD I thought he was nuts because I thought ADD was an over-diagnosed disorder for kids and adults couldn't possibly have it.  I was wrong.  The first tablets of Dexedrine that I took were truly amazing for me.  For the first time I discovered that reading a book did not have to be such a struggle.  Staying focused was not hard at all.  Thinking the way others think is a piece of cake.

After the incident at work when I was falsely accused of something and it wasn't until it was done and over that it was discovered I did nothing wrong, I swore I'd never take the drug again.  It wasn't worth it.  I quit taking it for a couple of years and I finally decided that I am not going to let idiots dictate how I deal with my own issues.  I started taking it again and I seriously doubt I'll ever quit treatment.  Life is so easy and enjoyable without all the struggles.

It is really amazing how much of a disadvantage it is when one cannot keep up with the latest books or mags.  Journals are another issue.  I love reading them.  Well, I love it now.  

I was signed up to go back to college starting last month but due to an unexpected illness that is being put on hold until fall.  I couldn't do that without Dex.  Well, again I suppose I could and I have but it was way too hard and now it is going to be easy.  I'm really excited about it.  I'm going for my masters and the reality of life is that I wouldn't even consider it without Dex.

Good for your grandson for going on with treatment.  Lots of adults won't do it for reasons made clear on this very thread.

[Marty]

Marty,  Interesting you should bring this up.  I am a student pilot (working on private pilot license).

Expensive hobby. I'm also a PP w/IFR.  Very hard to remain current.  Get your IFR if you want to be able to reliably go somewhere.  I tried going from CA to MA and it took me an extra week due to weather. Right after that I upgraded.  Hope I can get back into it when I have the time.

-Marty

[Michelle]

Expensive hobby. I'm also a PP w/IFR.  Very hard to remain current.  Get your IFR if you want to be able to reliably go somewhere.  I tried going from CA to MA and it took me an extra week due to weather. Right after that I upgraded.  Hope I can get back into it when I have the time.

-Marty

I'm not sure I can go beyond PP.  Being color deficient is extremely common in men but extremely rare in women.  Guess who is color deficient.  

I did get a waiver from the FAA.  Basically the FAA lady and I went to the tower where it was pre-arranged that they would shine a light and I had to determine which of three colors it was.  I could see white.  Got that one right.  The 2nd of the three I wasn't sure.  She told me to just guess.  So, I did and I got it right.  Then the 3rd light and she reminded me that there was only one color left.  Then she gave me my waiver and told me to practice my colors.  HA!  Practice colors?  I can't see them to practice them.

Because of that I'm not sure I can go for IFR.  I'll be happy with my PP.  I don't really want to fly, I just want to be able to say I did it.

BTW, I got a 98% on my FAA exam.  I was thrilled.  Out of our ground school class of 12 only three of us passed the exam.  Best part was all the guys flunked and three females passed.  Heh... they had to take us out for beer.  Or, in my case wine.

Ohhh... my Dad has an Aronca (that is spelled wrong) tail dragger.  It was used in the Viet Nam war.  It holds two people, one behind the other and instead of the steering wheel it is a big stick.  I have flown that as well as a non-tail dragger.  It's hard for me as a student to go back and forth.

[Marty]

Skeptic,

confused said:
>> "I did not say you did, just that your proof isn't proof.  Since when does any drug user make sense?"

"confused" either believes *any* drug user has a problem or continues to characterize Michelle as an impaired drug user, retraction of the term "drug abuser" aside.



Michelle:

Mooney 231. Never flew a tail dragger - sounds cool.  TO's and L's are certainly quite different.

BTW, Please do go to college. You are an exceptionally fast learner and the world needs more properly credentialed talent. The quality turned out by most universities these days leaves much to be desired.

OTOH, Gates was a dropout.

-Marty

[Michelle]

Mooney 231. Never flew a tail dragger - sounds cool.  TO's and L's are certainly quite different.

I don't think I know what a Mooney 231 is.  Ever fly anything with a six pack and only a six pack?

[Skeptic]

Skeptic,

confused said:
>> "I did not say you did, just that your proof isn't proof.  Since when does any drug user make sense?"

I read that as well.  However, I think it could have been intended as a rhetorical question regarding drug-abuser behavior rather than an accusation of wrongdoing on Michelle's part, and his later statements explicitly noted that he didn't intend to say she abused drugs.

Skeptic

[Marty]

Ever fly anything with a six pack and only a six pack?

Not familiar with the terminology. The 231 is a SEL, retractable, turbo, known for good mileage and reasonable speed.

Here's a puzzle.  One of my most most thrilling flights involved some night flying at about 100ft below sea level and being treated to two full moons. Where was I?

The other was flying over Texas, also at night, and witnessing a line of thunderheads with lightning flashing so often the skyline was nearly continously illuminated. I'll never forget it.

-Marty

[triple x]

Batman,

Numbnuts here; and yes, I'm reading this indeed... much better I must say. You have greatly improved. Very remarkable, and yet, done as the true super hero you are.

You are really getting "beat-up" pretty badly by the locals here BM, and I noticed with none of your usual cronies. Ah, but fear not great crusader, for they are not far away. They will wait until the innocent poster is down, then they will join in and kick them when they are down.

You will soon be joined in that one shot one kill high, adrenaline rush, native ritual dance, cyber high-5'ing, congratulatory group gathering of the local cronies...

Much better Crusader!

X man, w/out a cape.