dr nick- dr feelgood ?

[lvs2day]

was looking through the latest interview with dr nick that was done between him and ELVIS infonet and it just seems to me that dr nick still is in denial, about his incompitence and being starstruck. Saying that he lost his licensce because of the media's story's over the years is totaly outrageous and that he perscribed pills not just for E.P. but for band members , memphis mafia, crew etc, all in ELVIS name[and he didnot have a problem with this] , what kind of ethics did this so called doctor have?

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I have in the past heaped all the blame on Dr. Nick, over the last few years however I have come to understand that there is a whole bigger issue around Elvis' prescribed meds. There were other Doctors across the US who were willing to give Elvis what ever he wanted. I don't disagree with the fact that Dr. Nick was star struck and probably felt honoured to be a part of the gang in the 70's. Dr. Nick probably thought he could control Elvis' addictions, but if others were prescribing meds it's hard to keep a handle on the situation.

We all have this vision of Doctors as being above reproach but they are human too with all the weakness' that go along with it. Dr. Nick is not totally responsible for Elvis' death, he is just part of the problem, how big will depend on who is deciding.

[kathy parkinson]

I agree, i too thought he was to blame, but, over the years have come to accept that there were other people out there who were only to keen to keep Elvis supplied with pills, and sadly, Elvis knew what he was doing, he's as much to blame as anyone else.

[debtdbruno]

I agree with you JJ and Kathy.

My advice, is read the book.

[May]

I agree, i too thought he was to blame, but, over the years have come to accept that there were other people out there who were only to keen to keep Elvis supplied with pills, and sadly, Elvis knew what he was doing, he's as much to blame as anyone else.

Exactly right. If if hadn't been Dr Nick, it would have been someone else.

However I wonder if all the "proper" doctors had refused him and he ended up getting the MM to procure the drugs illegally. I wonder if that would have woken him up to the fact that what he was doing to himself was harmful. I doubt it, because anyone in denial is always going to find justification somewhere, but you never know, it may have given him the little shove he needed to realise what he was doing to himself.

[sasha]

It would probably help to read the book & see what's said.

IF Elvis was as ill as stated; then he would need the medicine he was given.
IF anyone has ever had a problem trying to get some sleep; most would do anything to get some rest.
IF Elvis had problems after the doctor in Vegas treated Elvis as most have said; he should have been brought into this too.

I find it helps to try & look at the whole picture & everyone involved.
The lifestyle that everyone had to live didn't help either.

[May]

However much we all look at it, we still can't really comprehend his situation. It was a different time too. We are all going to judge it by todays issues. Sleeping pills werent such a big deal back then. No one knew how they affected people, like they do now. Look at Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland.

I suffer from insomnia, only in the last few years. It's not just as simple as "if you are tired, you will sleep". Its kind of a vicious circle. You lie awake wanting to get back to sleep, then you get frustrated because you can't. Then once you are frustrated, your blood is up and no matter what you do you can't relax, let alone sleep. I imagine Elvis's blood was up just from the natural high you get when on stage. Then maybe (as has been said) he was so dopey in the morning he needed pills to jump start him. Then with the pills being taken on a regular basis, you obviously need more and more to have the same effect. then taking all these drugs must affect your body and you have mood swings...

All very sad.

[KPM]

I think Dr. Nick felt he was trying to curb the amount of drugs to Elvis (and also Jerry Lee Lewis) but I think he supplied quite a few-and he says he felt many were justified during his years of practice.
In 1995 Nichopoulos had his license permanently suspended by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, after it was revealed that he had been overprescribing to numerous patients for years. Nichopoulos claimed it was for patients that suffered from inoperable chronic pain, but he was unsuccessful in his defense. During his many appeals, Dr Nick admitted to the board that he had overprescribed. 'I cared too much,' he told them. During his court cases many friends supported him, raising money and holding benefits to pay for court costs

[sasha]

From what I understand; there was no protocol back then for treating "addiction" of anything.
At least I wasn't aware of any back then either.
Another thing that held some back was; they felt they were "weak" if they asked for help.
So, doctors did what they thought was best.

Today, there's "treatment centers" for all kinds of addictions.
Ask some of our "celebrities."

In the end; there's no way we can ever know what it was to live another persons life.
It's just too sad & doesn't help pointing fingers, blaming others or getting angry.
It's over & done; enjoy what's been given to us.

[monk37]

today, you aren't an A-list celeb unless you're addicted to something and confess it in public

Funny that it doesn't occur to Dr Nick that is isn't legal to give prescriptions for a group of people you aren't treating

If I need drugs, the doctor has to prescribe them to me, not my spouse or my next door neighbour

[sasha]

today, you aren't an A-list celeb unless you're addicted to something and confess it in public

Funny that it doesn't occur to Dr Nick that is isn't legal to give prescriptions for a group of people you aren't treating
If I need drugs, the doctor has to prescribe them to me, not my spouse or my next door neighbour

I agree with you on this. At least as far as I've ever known.
Though throughout the history of medicine; scripts have been made out in others names and/or stolen.
There's a well known radio talk show host that was found to have done just this..

[dstrattenfan]

In the end it really was Elvis's fault...yeah the doctors gave him the meds but they sure as hell didn't force him to take them. Dr. Nick and all the other doctors who gave him that stuff make me sick. As much as I hate to admit it Dr Nick did save Elvis several times from overdoes...After that Nick should have said thats it no more if u want to kill ur self than be my guest but I'll be ****ed if I'll be the one giving that junk out...I want to smack the first doctor that gave him the heavy stuff, he wasn't a cancer patient or anything like that so why would u give that stuff to a healthy person

[sasha]

In the end it really was Elvis's fault...yeah the doctors gave him the meds but they sure as hell didn't force him to take them. Dr. Nick and all the other doctors who gave him that stuff make me sick. As much as I hate to admit it Dr Nick did save Elvis several times from overdoes...After that Nick should have said thats it no more if u want to kill ur self than be my guest but I'll be ****ed if I'll be the one giving that junk out...I want to smack the first doctor that gave him the heavy stuff, he wasn't a cancer patient or anything like that so why would u give that stuff to a healthy person

And you know Elvis was healthy , how?

[elvia7]

I have in the past heaped all the blame on Dr. Nick, over the last few years however I have come to understand that there is a whole bigger issue around Elvis' prescribed meds. There were other Doctors across the US who were willing to give Elvis what ever he wanted. I don't disagree with the fact that Dr. Nick was star struck and probably felt honoured to be a part of the gang in the 70's. Dr. Nick probably thought he could control Elvis' addictions, but if others were prescribing meds it's hard to keep a handle on the situation.

We all have this vision of Doctors as being above reproach but they are human too with all the weakness' that go along with it. Dr. Nick is not totally responsible for Elvis' death, he is just part of the problem, how big will depend on who is deciding.

O agree with you Matt. Not only Dr. Nick to give Elvis what ever he wanted

[debtdbruno]

It would probably help to read the book & see what's said.

IF Elvis was as ill as stated; then he would need the medicine he was given.
IF anyone has ever had a problem trying to get some sleep; most would do anything to get some rest.
IF Elvis had problems after the doctor in Vegas treated Elvis as most have said; he should have been brought into this too.

I find it helps to try & look at the whole picture & everyone involved.
The lifestyle that everyone had to live didn't help either.

well said Sasha

I can't put down here all that's in the book, surfice to say it is enlightening.
Elvis had even more ailments than I realised, there is a lot more explaination of them and how Dr Nick tried to find ways round 'the situation'.
Ultimately he was fighting a losing battle, as Elvis was getting meds from other sources........

[KPM]

Pain problems are very subjective-in other words one mans severe pain, could seem minor to someone with a higher pain threshhold. I try to remember that.
Its hard for me to know how pain affects someone else, except for comparing it to my own health problems and conditions.
Dr. Nick has said Elvis had arthritis for some years in the neck and spine, we all know of his congenital colon problem and in one book I've read Dr. Nick mentions Elvis had problems with pleurisy a couple times in his association with Elvis-we all know of his lifelong sleep problem.
Now how do I rank the problems compared to my own-I have arthritis in my knees, and one elbow, it started about 20 years ago and has got progressively worse. In the last 10 years or so my knees bother me so much at night-that I can not lay anyway which helps-so I sleep little on those nights, the arthritis medication I take helps some. It goes and it comes the longest stretch I have gone with it hurting-2 weeks last winter. It can be just an ache here and there..........to out and out constant pain throbbing which does not stop.
I have mentioned before I have had divertriculitis-which is a colon condition and it caused a severe amount of pain in the lower abdomen-cramps, sharp stabbing-it can make you bedridden and it is nothing to fool with.
I have had recurring bouts with pleurisy since 1975-pleurisy is about as bad a pain as I can imagine-if you cough, sneeze, laugh to hard, move too quick, even deep breathes or yawns cause a knife like pain that sends a shock thru your whole body-and it lingers. (In 1992 I had pleurisy 4 times in one year and I thought I was going to die)
I am also a worrier-and have had on and off sleeping problems related to worry and stress-not being able to sleep for long periods of time is torture.
So if all Nick says about Elvis is true-(and the congenital colon problem is confirmed outside of Dr. Nick) I would say that Elvis must have dealt with pain for sustained periods of time in his life-once again I go by my own experiences.
If you have never had similar problems it may be hard to imagine what they are like.
When I was a kid my grandma spoke of her arthritis and I could not imagine it could be so bad-until I started to develope it myself.........feeling is belief and understanding.
Now how severe the pain was for Elvis-I have no clue because my pain threshold may be higher or lower than his.

[sasha]

Talking about this reminds me of anther young man that died too soon.
Not saying this is what happened with Elvis.
I just recall everyone saying Maurice's death was drug related at the time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Gibb

"Maurice Gibb died at a Miami Beach, Florida, hospital on 12 January 2003
of complications resulting from a twisted intestine (volvulus)."

Truth is; none of will ever know unless the family decides to release the autopsy.
That's Tennessee law.

[dstrattenfan]

And you know Elvis was healthy , how?

Give me a freakin break...

And how the hell do you know that he wasen't healthy....He was taking drugs for TERMALLY ILL CANCER patients for gods sake, and the last time i checked Elvis didn't have cancer.

Hey do me a favor and look up Dilaudid....Nevermind I'll do it for you:

Hydromorphone’s effects are markedly similar to morphine, except the euphoria is closer to codeine. Nausea and vomiting is quite rare, and sedation is practically non-existent.

Hydromorphone's abuse potential comes from the fact that its euphoric intravenous rush is very similar to heroin's. Hydromorphone is one of the most prescribed opioids in the relief of pain for the terminally ill due to its minimal side effects and high potency.

Generally, when given intravenously, Dialudid’s analgesic action is apparent within 15 minutes and remains in effect for more than 5 hours. The onset of action of oral hydromorphone is somewhat slower, with measurable analgesia occurring within 30 minutes.

He was certanly not ill enough to be takeing that strong of a medication.

[piretos]

I have in the past heaped all the blame on Dr. Nick, over the last few years however I have come to understand that there is a whole bigger issue around Elvis' prescribed meds. There were other Doctors across the US who were willing to give Elvis what ever he wanted. I don't disagree with the fact that Dr. Nick was star struck and probably felt honoured to be a part of the gang in the 70's. Dr. Nick probably thought he could control Elvis' addictions, but if others were prescribing meds it's hard to keep a handle on the situation.

We all have this vision of Doctors as being above reproach but they are human too with all the weakness' that go along with it. Dr. Nick is not totally responsible for Elvis' death, he is just part of the problem, how big will depend on who is deciding.

I agree with you J.J
By the way i love your new avatar It's very cool

[Diane]

Give me a freakin break...

And how the hell do you know that he wasen't healthy....He was taking drugs for TERMALLY ILL CANCER patients for gods sake, and the last time i checked Elvis didn't have cancer.

Hey do me a favor and look up Dilaudid....Nevermind I'll do it for you:

Who gave him the Dialude in

Hydromorphone’s effects are markedly similar to morphine, except the euphoria is closer to codeine. Nausea and vomiting is quite rare, and sedation is practically non-existent.

Hydromorphone's abuse potential comes from the fact that its euphoric intravenous rush is very similar to heroin's. Hydromorphone is one of the most prescribed opioids in the relief of pain for the terminally ill due to its minimal side effects and high potency.

Generally, when given intravenously, Dialudid’s analgesic action is apparent within 15 minutes and remains in effect for more than 5 hours. The onset of action of oral hydromorphone is somewhat slower, with measurable analgesia occurring within 30 minutes.

He was certanly not ill enough to be takeing that strong of a medication.

Had Elvis not been given Dilaudid he wouldn't have gotten addicted to it so you have to ask yourself...who gave it to him in the first place and why???

Diane