Autopsy report on Tom Petty

[GetX'd]

Well I was that guy back in the day that refused to do drugs of any kind and still never have to this day. Outside what’s been prescribed for me. Even the CBD I mention was advised by my doctor. But back in high school and on I ran with a pretty rough crowd and everyone did everything - except me. Acid, coke, everything you can think of. Some - I knew but weren’t necessarily true friends even did the hard stuff and the hard way. Everyone always offered me anything and everything for free just to try and get me high and in the fold. Pass me a joint in the car - I’d throw it out the window. Set me up a line or two of coke and I’d take it and blow it off the mirror. After a while everyone got the point - I wasn’t going to do it period. And they knew hell would reign down on anyone that tried to trick or force the issue. I’ve lived my whole life that way not necessarily because I was or am any holier than thou - especially back then I was far, far from it. I just had an instinct that that stuff was the direction to hell and I wasn’t going there. I’ve seen it all with many, many friends, the destruction, the rot, the death and all of it. I don’t why I knew - I just did very early.

Having said all that - I had mentioned in other posts some of my journeys into hell with nerve damage issues and much much more. During one such 10 year adventure into hell of extreme pain and misery In my 30’s I again refused all pain meds - had never had before and didn’t want to go that route. Lasted about 2-3 years in when finally I just couldn’t take it anymore and needed help. Prescribed Vicodin and then read an article about a guy that had come back from a torrid addiction - taking upwards of 80 pills a day was what I read. That scared the hell out of me- but still needed the help. Took as prescribed for several years. When the time came I asked myself do I still need this for the pain or do I just like taking them. The answer came back clear - I could handle my pain now and it was time. So by myself just slowly wheened myself down over a fairly short period of time and that was that. Even my doc asked why I didn’t renew my script - said it was time and I’m done now. No question the stuff is very dangerous - but maybe better than a complete hell of an existence and misery. The key
is to very, very carefully manage your intake and don’t lie to yourself about it. The stuff helped me a lot and honestly I’m not sure I’d be here today had I not succumbed for that period. I’m afraid of the stuff and therefore didn’t and wouldn’t go off the deep end - as I’ve seen soooo many others do. That early article I read had such a tremendous effect on me - I never forgot it.

 

[1STMP]

Well I was that guy back in the day that refused to do drugs of any kind and still never have to this day. Outside what’s been prescribed for me. Even the CBD I mention was advised by my doctor. But back in high school and on I ran with a pretty rough crowd and everyone did everything - except me. Acid, coke, everything you can think of. Some - I knew but weren’t necessarily true friends even did the hard stuff and the hard way. Everyone always offered me anything and everything for free just to try and get me high and in the fold. Pass me a joint in the car - I’d throw it out the window. Set me up a line or two of coke and I’d take it and blow it off the mirror. After a while everyone got the point - I wasn’t going to do it period. And they knew hell would reign down on anyone that tried to trick or force the issue. I’ve lived my whole life that way not necessarily because I was or am any holier than thou - especially back then I was far, far from it. I just had an instinct that that stuff was the direction to hell and I wasn’t going there. I’ve seen it all with many, many friends, the destruction, the rot, the death and all of it. I don’t why I knew - I just did very early.

Having said all that - I had mentioned in other posts some of my journeys into hell with nerve damage issues and much much more. During one such 10 year adventure into hell of extreme pain and misery In my 30’s I again refused all pain meds - had never had before and didn’t want to go that route. Lasted about 2-3 years in when finally I just couldn’t take it anymore and needed help. Prescribed Vicodin and then read an article about a guy that had come back from a torrid addiction - taking upwards of 80 pills a day was what I read. That scared the hell out of me- but still needed the help. Took as prescribed for several years. When the time came I asked myself do I still need this for the pain or do I just like taking them. The answer came back clear - I could handle my pain now and it was time. So by myself just slowly wheened myself down over a fairly short period of time and that was that. Even my doc asked why I didn’t renew my script - said it was time and I’m done now. No question the stuff is very dangerous - but maybe better than a complete hell of an existence and misery. The key
is to very, very carefully manage your intake and don’t lie to yourself about it. The stuff helped me a lot and honestly I’m not sure I’d be here today had I not succumbed for that period. I’m afraid of the stuff and therefore didn’t and wouldn’t go off the deep end - as I’ve seen soooo many others do. That early article I read had such a tremendous effect on me - I never forgot it.

I sincerely relate.
I was always concerned that drugs would
wipe out any semblance of a normal (if that's
even definable) life going forward for a 17
year old. I laid in traction for 6 weeks, and
put up with the inconvenience of a complete
body cast for 6 months, pain the whole way
thru. Learning to walk again drew from me
a strength I never knew existed. Every step
a stabbing in my right hip.
I was so doped up in the hospital, I more or
less made a promise to myself to make
every effort to heal without their assistance.

 

[padam]

In my experience, CBD is a popular....fad. Zero benefit for me.

I think CBD is a very mild pain reliever. I have found it's uses to be more along the lines of natural healing. Two examples:
- I have a patch of dry skin on my forehead that comes and goes for years, itches and burns. I have tried all manner of creams with no help. Rubbed CBD on it a few times a couple years ago and it's gone.
-I don't like to talk about this one, but since we are an older group I doubt I'm alone. Hemorrhoids. Been trouble for 30 years. Last spring they got so bad I was laid up for a day trying to stop bleeding.
I have tried many things over the years also. My son mixed some CBD powder with lanolin (I think). Used that for a week or two, and although not completely fixed, it's better than it's been in 30 years.

I also take about 5 drops before bed, it makes me sleep like a log.

I think in topical application, it's important to take it orally as well.

I have had to eliminate several things from my diet to improve my health and sleep.
Sugar, flour, alcohol are the biggies.
They have let me lose weight so I can breathe when I sleep.
I also think sugar causes a lot of inflammation in the body, joints, sinuses, prostate. Eliminate that and you eliminate a lot of pain.

 

[padam]

I should ad that my son gets pure CBD isolate and mixes it up for me so I know it is a certain strength.
I don't know what what brands of commercially available stuff are good.

 

[Ron H]

Lot of good stories here guys. Glad to say I avoided the illegal drugs with the exception of two occasions in my life getting handed something at a party and I can be an ‘addictive’ sort, tobacco is the worst (both of my folks smoked like chimneys) and I like 2 or 3 beers on an average day. Drink the lightest stuff after getting used to it. Friend of mine said something witty – your body craves what you give it. Obviously, many have died or got into trouble with the opioid addiction often taking the stuff recovering from injuries: Read Brett Favre’s book about his addiction and the ills this caused him including his relationship with his wife. He’s a success story getting off the stuff.

When I get something to eat that I like, I joke with my wife that it must not be healthy for you tasting so good, lol.

 

[Ceedawg]

Constant unrelenting pain will make you find ways to stop it. Pain is the body’s way of saying ‘don’t do that again’ stay smart and deal with each problem as it arrises

 

[SlinktRR]

Big, bordering on huge, TPTHB fan here. Prefacing my comments with that fact...
The years of heroin were, as you might imagine, really hard on him and it was noticeable.
Health issues to come only piled onto that, even with legit prescription painkillers.
His hip was full-on broken and required replacement ASAP; he chose instead to finish what
he perceived to be the obligation he felt to his fans and to the band and crew.

By his last tour (40th anniversary), he was hammering oxy's before shows just to get through
them and you could tell on stage, both in his speech and in his mannerisms - yet he was
hellbent on seeing it through.
Bandmates reported him needing help to get to the stage some days - he was barely able to
bear weight on his hip towards the end, so what he did on stage was miraculous really.
By then, it was Fentanyl and Oxy's...

Personal observation on my own exposure to prescription painkillers:
They don't actually "kill pain" - instead, they make you simply not care about having pain.
Almost instantly addictive. I've seen them ruin many an otherwise perfectly good human.
I learned early on to live without them, regardless of whatever was to come (and as y'all
know, a metric ****-ton of pain was and is a part of my life).
I'm simply scared to death of them - and they don't freaking kill pain.

If you listen to the last couple interviews, he was both proud of the fact the band had completed
the tour and at the same time, there was a steadfast refusal to acknowledge the physical condition
he was in - but he also sounded like he had gotten done what needed to be done and was at peace,
like he was completed in his obligations.
As a lot of you fellas have learned over the years, when there's no mission anymore, no obligation,
no reason to get back to work in someone's life, oftentimes bad things happen.
Purpose is a huge reason we get up and go; hell, it's probably the prime directive.

I've been there, when the perceived purpose had been completed - and I can relate.
It may have just been time for Tom; he may have been called home, job well done.

Thanks Ed, great post you hit it on the head. I was just talking to my wife this morning about our friend with chronic pain from an autoimmune disorder, she takes prescription oxy and cbd but relies on CBD mostly because of the addictive potential of opiates. She recently discovered that her boyfriend (now ex) was stealing her oxy without her knowing, apparently had become addicted himself. She uses it sparingly when she really needs it. The problem with CBD is that it is not regulated by FDA or any regulatory agency in most states and you really don't know what you're getting (could be foo foo dust or completely laced with pesticides). With the right strength it can be effective but is so broad spectrum (affects many receptors in the brain) that it is not as in-your-face strong as something like fentanyl. But much safer! Micrograms of fentanyl can kill a full grown man.

 

[moparedtn]

Constant unrelenting pain will make you find ways to stop it. Pain is the body’s way of saying ‘don’t do that again’ stay smart and deal with each problem as it arrises

True, but I'm living proof that sometimes a human can suffer pain that is irreversible, too - and each has their level
of tolerance of same. I'm a hyper-sensitive, medically speaking - so it's a matter of will to carry a huge pain bucket.
There simply is no choice - so I choose to try to control it, not vice-versa.
Makes Ed one cranky mothertrucker occasionally, admittedly.

 

[moparedtn]

Thanks Ed, great post you hit it on the head. I was just talking to my wife this morning about our friend with chronic pain from an autoimmune disorder, she takes prescription oxy and cbd but relies on CBD mostly because of the addictive potential of opiates. She recently discovered that her boyfriend (now ex) was stealing her oxy without her knowing, apparently had become addicted himself. She uses it sparingly when she really needs it. The problem with CBD is that it is not regulated by FDA or any regulatory agency in most states and you really don't know what you're getting (could be foo foo dust or completely laced with pesticides). With the right strength it can be effective but is so broad spectrum (affects many receptors in the brain) that it is not as in-your-face strong as something like fentanyl. But much safer! Micrograms of fentanyl can kill a full grown man.

Thank you.
Yes, oxy and fentanyl abuse are practically an epidemic in this part of the country, among others.
Docs up here sell scripts and the pill mills in Florida supply the "mules" that run the interstates
bringing tons of it up here.
It's truly sad...

Likewise, seems as you say that CBD is one unregulated critter. Strip retails pop up overnight with little
CBD stores; gas stations sell some form of it. Heck, even folks advertise on places like Facebook and
sell something CBD out of their houses.

My best friend in the world (a year older than me and quite beat up physically from work for decades)
was a huge proponent of the stuff and had become a bit of a self-taught expert on the crap.
Swore by it, he did. Tried to get me to use it, too.....but then, he passed suddenly last fall.
The same kung flu that had jumped me at the very start of the fuss jumped him out of the blue
and before you knew it, he was gone - a result of his living will was the "no respirator" clause, apparently.
Devastating to his wife and family, including several grandkids - and his best bud, me.

 

[themechanic]

Poor Tom, so quickly forgotten. At least we're talking about the dangers of addiction.

 

[Dennis H]

Smoked maybe one joint back then. Did nothing else. Had beer, girls, Camel Filters, rock and roll, and cars! 2 out of 3 of my pals who smoked a lot AND did other stuff are gone. When they check out in their 50’s or 60’s gotta blame something to rationalize.

 

[Kern Dog]

I've never been one that bends easily to the will of others. The whole concept of "do this or we won't think you're cool" fell flat with me.
I am not a loner but I'm not afraid of being alone if it means that I'm doing things that feel right to me.
Sure, I like the approval of others but I don't do what I don't believe in just to get approval of others.
Drugs just didn't appeal to me. Like others here, I saw how it made others look and didn't want that for myself.
Regarding the original topic, I thought that all of this was reported not long after his passing. Was there something new reported recently?

 

[moparedtn]

Regarding the original topic, I thought that all of this was reported not long after his passing. Was there something new reported recently?

The video linked in the OP was released Jan. 27 of this year; that's about it.