Seems obvious he wanted his "official" cause of death to be on his own terms and reflect something other than his secondary/underlying health condition(s) that he knew were terminal. Someone will buy/sell more details known though, this always happens. Please reel in the addict talk, as you have no clue whether he had other diagnoses nor of the severity.

Tresha68 said:

ComeHereLetMeCutYourHair said:

Yes it is.

I am a physician.

Fentanyl is used to treat patients with cancer who are on their death bed. The real question is why was Prince being prescribed Fentanyl. It's not a medication used to treat persistent pain after hip surgery.

Thank you. Also, if he was taking virecept or norvir as stated by Walgreen pharmaceutical tech? I keep thinking Kaposi Sarcoma. Please chime in.

I think that might be the problem...Fentanyl probably wasn't prescribed to him. They can't find valid prescriptions and that is why there is an investigation I believe.

"The day before his death, Prince was treated by a local doctor for withdrawal symptoms from opioid addiction. The physician, Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg, a family practitioner, treated Prince for fatigue, anemia and concerns about opiate withdrawal. Schulenberg, however, did not prescribe opioids to Prince, a source has said."

Also... "Whether fentanyl had been prescribed to Prince is unclear; the drug is considered highly potent and addictive and is prescribed as a second-line treatment when patients become tolerant of other opioids for pain relief."

I am unsure about the Walgreen pharmaceutical tech and what was said. I have not heard much about this or seen that it came from a reliable source.

Source: http://www.startribune.co...381663221/

Tresha68 said:

Smookie said:

kapo74 said:

So, now it is official. I work at a pathology department as research technician and, even though I am no MD, I know how to read reports like this. It is a short report, but it tells us a lot. First of all. It states "accident". That means it was an accute toxicological effect. If Prince had been an addict it would have said something else, like long term substance abuse, or something. Apparently no long term toxicological damage was found in liver and kidneys, since this was not stated. This means that he may have taken one too many, but by accident rather than suicide. Apparently the levels in the blood were too low to conclude suicide. Scars on one of his hips and on the lower leg. He probably had hip surgery afterall. The lower leg scar could be from an accident, or surgery. But this is mere speculation. The infromation is a bit feeble. From the sherrifs report we know Prince was found around 9:43, non responsive and CPR was performed. He was pronounced dead at 10:06. So I don't believe the story about him being dead for six hours. Then the skin would have cooled to about 25 degrees centigrade and any one could have felt that. I think he was still alive, but indeed unresponsive, when found. But also this needs official confirmation. Remember, this is not the entire report. This is a press release abstract, just to silence all the speculation about opioids and addiction. More will come once the sherrif dept. releases more details of the investigation.

All the ME will release, per Minnessota law, is cause and manner of death. They're never going to release the autopsy report which would indicate whether other things were going on. Fentanyl toxicity means just that...he died from a toxic level of fentanyl. He may or may not have had other damage and/or diseases (e.g., addiction), and unless it leaks from family, the remaining details of the autopsy will not be made public because in MN they don't share anything more. And I think that's a good thing.

Not necessarily, because just look at what's going on now, all that vague report did create more questions because people know they aren't being given the whole and complete truth. They asking even more questions now.

I can't read any of the news reports, I just can't do it. I came here to get the summaries and the low-down from org'ers instead. Just wanted to say thanks to those who did read them and gave us the gist of it.

I was out walking at sunset this evening, listening to one of the City Lights boxsets, and captured this cloud formation with my phone. Let's say I chose to take it as a sign that everything is going to be okay.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/noVmGMS.jpg[/img:$uid]

New but not new here. I think the report is what it is. That's what killed him and I doubt there is more to it than that. Prince couldn't breath, fell asleep and died in that elevator. He might have been trying to get help and that's why he was there.

I don't believe he was a junkie just because he wanted to stay out of pain. Who doesn't? I've never believed the AIDS thing at all! My mother died from AIDS years ago and the days before she died she really couldn't do much. No way he was dying from that!

Prince will be missed for a long time. Time to let the brother rest.

schnupp said:

well if that document is an official one, it breaks my heart, that first of all, we all get to read those personal details which really are none of our business. and then it even breaks my heart more to read that he didn't even have his pyjamas on
he must have laid there for ages then. oh this all is so very, very sad. if only it all would have went differently. I just hope so very much he was not scared. but just fell aslepp very fast.

love to you all, purple family. what a sad day.

[Edited 6/2/16 11:55am]

This is heartbreaking. The description of his clothing was the same as what he was photographed in the night before he died. I hope he fell asleep fast too..

justalongtimefan said:

PeteSilas said:

kathyanner said:

simm0061 said:

FGVibes said:

I can't read any of the news reports, I just can't do it. I came here to get the summaries and the low-down from org'ers instead. Just wanted to say thanks to those who did read them and gave us the gist of it.

I was out walking at sunset this evening, listening to one of the City Lights boxsets, and captured this cloud formation with my phone. Let's say I chose to take it as a sign that everything is going to be okay.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/noVmGMS.jpg[/img:$uid]

Thank you, that is beautiful. One day we will see him again.

sonshine said:

kathyanner said:

This is heartbreaking. The description of his clothing was the same as what he was photographed in the night before he died. I hope he fell asleep fast too..

I know I can't bear the idea of how he passed and try to convince myself it was peaceful. Still he deserved a much better ending. My heart is very heavy imagining his struggle. 💜Prince💜 I hope he knew and felt the love and respect so many of us had for him. I wish he was still here!

I am a nurse, and I administer Fentanyl quite a bit. We give it IV for pain control. So sad that he seemed to be suffering alone. We do not deal with the patches, so I do not know if they are time controlled release or not. However, he is gone and it is just too hard to imagine.

Smookie said:

headtripparade said:

ComeHereLetMeCutYourHair said:

Smookie said:

ComeHereLetMeCutYourHair said:

Yes it is.

I am a physician.

Fentanyl is used to treat patients with cancer who are on their death bed. The real question is why was Prince being prescribed Fentanyl. It's not a medication used to treat persistent pain after hip surgery.

I have a family member who I believe is addicted to fentanyl or some other synthetic opioid. She denies, denies, denies, lies, lies and lies. And there's a wall around her protecting her secret world. It's impenetratable. You can't reach someone who will not allow you to get close. I think that's why I'm so affected by this. I'm so scared my family member is going to be found dead one day.

I know this fear, I lived it too I made a promise to myself that I would do all I could so that if the worst was to happen I would be without regret, and things I wished I had done or said. For yourself, please do this. Tell them, calmly and honestly and with compassion. Know that the reason for the lies, denial and anger is because that's how they're feeling towards themselves but it's easier to direct that at you. Love them anyway. Make it clear that despite all attempts to push you away there is no judgement or shame, and you'll be there when they are ready (if this is what you want) Email or letter is best to start the conversation, avoid conflict, and allow them the opportunity to actually hear you rather than fly into defensive mode.

I won't lie, I did all of these things and it didn't change the outcome. My brother still died. I miss him terribly but I feel no guilt as there was nothing more I could have done. He knew that then and he still does now. I hope things work out differently for you and your family.

CTron said:

I don't give a shit what anybody says, I will NEVER believe in a gazillion years that Prince was addicted to Fentanyl. Never. Ever.

jesme1999 said:

CTron said:

I know this fear, I lived it too I made a promise to myself that I would do all I could so that if the worst was to happen I would be without regret, and things I wished I had done or said. For yourself, please do this. Tell them, calmly and honestly and with compassion. Know that the reason for the lies, denial and anger is because that's how they're feeling towards themselves but it's easier to direct that at you. Love them anyway. Make it clear that despite all attempts to push you away there is no judgement or shame, and you'll be there when they are ready (if this is what you want) Email or letter is best to start the conversation, avoid conflict, and allow them the opportunity to actually hear you rather than fly into defensive mode.

I won't lie, I did all of these things and it didn't change the outcome. My brother still died. I miss him terribly but I feel no guilt as there was nothing more I could have done. He knew that then and he still does now. I hope things work out differently for you and your family.

I'm so sorry ...I've lived it with my ex...he is currently back out there in a bad way. I live in fear that the call will come he has OD'd or got shot doing something stupid to support his habit and my son will have to bury his father . The last time my son was with him he overheard a conversation his dad was having on the phone asking someone if they had any brown ... And he wasn't talking about weed cause he doesn't smoke...unless it's a rock that is ..

How awful for you and your son. Death is just one step away from the bottom so often needed to change. I know the fear of the call, and hope that he lands on the rung before the last of the ladder so that you won't ever have to receive it. I wish I had some words that might help you to feel better but there are none. My heart is with you

Tresha68 said:

Forgive me, I can't remember, It was attached to an article I read online. It was on Facebook. I mean no disrespect on my interaction in this discussion. Perhaps I t refrain from commenting.

Hi Tresha68, please don't feel like you have to refrain from commenting. I don't think anyone means to make you feel that way, it's just that there's so much gossip going on out there that if a questionable piece of information comes up, some may want to know where it came from. That's all.

I honestly just wanted to know because it's safe to say, the globe, the enquirer, some of those brit rags aren't reputable enough to take seriously. so if something came from them, i'd just write it off without further proof.

PeteSilas said:

I honestly just wanted to know because it's safe to say, the globe, the enquirer, some of those brit rags aren't reputable enough to take seriously. so if something came from them, i'd just write it off without further proof.

Yep, exactly. I agree with you absolutely because of those reasons.

Smookie said:

I now believe he was an addict. I hate addiction. It's a horrible disease which damages not just the addict but those around them. I have a family member who I believe is addicted to fentanyl or some other synthetic opioid. She denies, denies, denies, lies, lies and lies. And there's a wall around her protecting her secret world. It's impenetratable. You can't reach someone who will not allow you to get close. I think that's why I'm so affected by this. I'm so scared my family member is going to be found dead one day.

I'm sorry you are having this experience Smookie. Best to you.

ChanGirl said:

I don't give a shit what anybody says, I will NEVER believe in a gazillion years that Prince was addicted to Fentanyl. Never. Ever.

It's not even possible to conclude from the report released that he knowingly ingested it. Fentanyl has been showing up on the streets in various products with tragic results. One is bootleg Percocet. It's everywhere and it's killing people. What's to say this didn't happen as a result of him taking what he thought was a Perc or two?

PliablyPurple said:

ComeHereLetMeCutYourHair said:

babynoz said:

My question is can fentanyl be abused for a period of years? I ask because people keep quoting some drug dealer in the daily mail who claims he was selling Prince excessive amounts of fentanyl for several years.

Sure.

Patients prescribed fentanyl patches build up tolerance to the medication very quickly. It is likely Prince tried quitting cold sober but couldn't and put on a patch (or 2 patches) when he was sober to account for his pain but not account for his tolerance because just as quickly as you build up tolerance to Fentanyl when you are on that medication is as quickly as you lose tolerance when you are off it. Therefore the 'sudden' reexposure to that medicine when you have no tolerance to it becomes too much.

[Edited 6/2/16 14:54pm]

.

THIS!!!!

.

My partner is an MD and said the same thing.

.

Dropped to sleep and stopped breathing.

.

So preventable!!

EloiseEloise said:

Tresha68 said:

Supposedly the Walgreens people said one of the ex he picked up was for AIDS. You can overdose on fentanyl if taking virecept or norvir. I believe he did accidentally overdose, but I also believe he was terminally ill.
[Edited 6/2/16 18:09pm]

Your explanation reminds me of what a supposed Medium was given as the answer for his death: prescribed meds that shouldn't have been mixed.

But hey, looks as if we shall have to content ourselves with not knowing.

And I think this is easier to do when one accepts the fact that Prince seemed to have wanted it that way.

Personally, I had gotten to this point and was happy these last few weeks, before I found out these so called results. Had accepted things and now its stirred up things again. *sigh!*...

kathyanner said: