Telecaster5 said:

Telecaster5 said:

I don´t think what he said to her had anything to do with terminal illness or pills or whatever. He was a spiritualized guy, he felt that his mission on earth was complete and told her so.

That could very well be true. The only thing that gives me pause about that is how she spoke of when she found out. I have many "spiritualized" people in my family. They could talk all they want about having fulfilled their mission in life, but I'd still be thrown by their sudden death if there were no health problems, especially for the spunky ones like Prince. She really sounded like she knew it was going to happen at any time. That's a completely different thing in the moment you hear that your loved one has died than when your loved one has talked about fulfilling their mission. The latter is something that hits you in the weeks and months after their death. The way she described finding out about his death is exactly how you feel when you knew it was going to happen for physical reasons.

I'm not saying he was ill but she is absolutely talking about it in the way that you do when a loved one is struggling and you eventually get that call. Of course, it's Prince and his family, so who knows for sure...

[Edited 10/6/16 13:39pm]

Telecaster5 said:

Telecaster5 said:

I don´t think what he said to her had anything to do with terminal illness or pills or whatever. He was a spiritualized guy, he felt that his mission on earth was complete and told her so.

I gotta say that I agree with you. I think that Tyka's comments are being blown way out of proportion. Just my opinion, but it would be a bit extreme to say that her comments are a clear confirmation that he was ill or dying considering the exact content of what she said as well as the interviewer:

"According to Nelson, Prince hinted to her that his life was winding down.

"He said it a couple of years ago: 'I've done everything that I've come to do,'" she recalled. "I was crushed for about two years."

It sounds like she's relaying her interpretation and how she felt when he said this and not that he literally told her he was dying or ill. In actuality, her statements could fit whatever narrative one believes at this point (whether it be drugs, illness, suicide, etc) if one wants to make it fit.

[Edited 10/6/16 17:22pm]

ForeverPaisley said:

I have been a wreck all day. Yesterda reading 'their' plan, in their mad scramble to dampen the wrath of the purple army after the announcement of no PP tours, then only on the 6, 8 & 14...to put Prince 'artifacts' on display at the GD MOA. That didn't sit right with me at all. Am I the only one? The idea that they're reducing him to objects as if that's what were why/what we are/were going to PP for. And I also wish they would stop and think What Would Prince Do/want - because while I didn't know him PERSONALLY I'd be willing to wager he sure AF wouldn'tw any his things carted around Minneapolis and put on display in a mall. But maybe that's just me

Today, with the clips, images and quotes of the Today show interview... I find myself absolutely gutted all over again. The images of the way they have things set up ... Just sent a dagger of heartache. It really was reality kicking me in the shin with cleats! He's. Gone.

And no, I haven't been in denial this whole time. I actually thought I was making some progress, not crying as often as before. But today I can't seem to keep it together.

Hang in there

TopazGirl said:

Telecaster5 said:

I don´t think what he said to her had anything to do with terminal illness or pills or whatever. He was a spiritualized guy, he felt that his mission on earth was complete and told her so.

I gotta say that I agree with you. I think that Tyka's comments are being blown way out of proportion. Just my opinion, but it would be a bit extreme to say that her comments are a clear confirmation that he was ill or dying considering the exact content of what she said as well as the interviewer:

"According to Nelson, Prince hinted to her that his life was winding down.

"He said it a couple of years ago: 'I've done everything that I've come to do,'" she recalled. "I was crushed for about two years."

It sounds like she's relaying her interpretation and how she felt when he said this and not that he literally told her he was dying or ill. In actuality, her statements could fit whatever narrative one believes at this point (whether it be drugs, illness, suicide, etc) if one wants to make it fit.

[Edited 10/6/16 17:22pm]

I agree that her comments could fit any narrative...because anything is possible without more information. However, I don't think her comments are being blown way out of proportion. She said that her grief is almost 2 years down the road compared to those who have been dealing with this since 4/21. She said she's been crushed for that long. That's grief! My father has been hinting for 20 years that he might not live too much longer, but he is in good health and my life would be turned upside down if he died next week (knock on wood that he doesn't), because I have not even begun to contemplate his passing. And, yet, he has said as much as P told Tyka: He has lived everything he wanted to live (and, in my father's case, he's lived far longer than he expected to based on family history). I have not begun to grieve the loss of my father. Those comments alone would not crush me.

So, you might be right. Goodness knows that P talked esoterically a lot and she might be, too. But she did, in fact, say that she's two years down the road of grief with regard to his death. That's what happens when someone is sick enough that death is a possibility (and that could mean a variety of things). I know because my mother was terminal for 11 years. I began to grieve the moment the doctor told her she had three years to live. I remember the moment. Vividly. The world has never been the same again.

We don't realy know what she means specificallly, but I don't think people are blowing it out of proportion.

The man clearly shared himself with us while he was dying over a very lengthy period of time.

How must it require a statement such as hers to force folks who appreciated him to see it?!

So Disturbing.

For those of you with personal experience watching someone with a terminal illness languish over a period of time, there comes a point where that person (and everyone around them) pray for it to happen sooner rather than later.

The lights would not have gone out in his eyes and demeanor as they did unless it were terminal. Obviously.

Stop with the b.s. pain pill addiction narrative, his body literally shut down piece by piece before your eyes.

StopIt said:

teach49 said:

TopazGirl said:

I gotta say that I agree with you. I think that Tyka's comments are being blown way out of proportion. Just my opinion, but it would be a bit extreme to say that her comments are a clear confirmation that he was ill or dying considering the exact content of what she said as well as the interviewer:

"According to Nelson, Prince hinted to her that his life was winding down.

"He said it a couple of years ago: 'I've done everything that I've come to do,'" she recalled. "I was crushed for about two years."

It sounds like she's relaying her interpretation and how she felt when he said this and not that he literally told her he was dying or ill. In actuality, her statements could fit whatever narrative one believes at this point (whether it be drugs, illness, suicide, etc) if one wants to make it fit.

[Edited 10/6/16 17:22pm]

I agree that her comments could fit any narrative...because anything is possible without more information. However, I don't think her comments are being blown way out of proportion. She said that her grief is almost 2 years down the road compared to those who have been dealing with this since 4/21. She said she's been crushed for that long. That's grief! My father has been hinting for 20 years that he might not live too much longer, but he is in good health and my life would be turned upside down if he died next week (knock on wood that he doesn't), because I have not even begun to contemplate his passing. And, yet, he has said as much as P told Tyka: He has lived everything he wanted to live (and, in my father's case, he's lived far longer than he expected to based on family history). I have not begun to grieve the loss of my father. Those comments alone would not crush me.

So, you might be right. Goodness knows that P talked esoterically a lot and she might be, too. But she did, in fact, say that she's two years down the road of grief with regard to his death. That's what happens when someone is sick enough that death is a possibility (and that could mean a variety of things). I know because my mother was terminal for 11 years. I began to grieve the moment the doctor told her she had three years to live. I remember the moment. Vividly. The world has never been the same again.

We don't realy know what she means specificallly, but I don't think people are blowing it out of proportion.

Hey teach49, thank you for sharing your thoughts, however, by me saying it's being blown out of proportion I mean that some are taking what she said as "confirmation" (which I said in my post above) that he was ill or dying. I think statements like that might be a little premature to say and is taking it beyond what Tyka actually said which is why I said "blown out of proportion". Thank you for your sharing your experiences and I'm sorry to hear about your mother.

oliviacamron said:

StopIt said:

For those of you with personal experience watching someone with a terminal illness languish over a period of time, there comes a point where that person (and everyone around them) pray for it to happen sooner rather than later.

The lights would not have gone out in his eyes and demeanor as they did unless it were terminal. Obviously.

Stop with the b.s. pain pill addiction narrative, his body literally shut down piece by piece before your eyes.

Wasnt he just record shopping and riding his bike before he died?

I think you are right that he was. It doesn't mean he wasn't sick, too, but yes, he did ride his bike. My cousin died of cancer and she was dancing the week before she died so it could be that. Or it could be that he was sick from the pills or just sick in some other way.

[Edited 10/6/16 19:03pm]

TopazGirl said:

teach49 said:

I agree that her comments could fit any narrative...because anything is possible without more information. However, I don't think her comments are being blown way out of proportion. She said that her grief is almost 2 years down the road compared to those who have been dealing with this since 4/21. She said she's been crushed for that long. That's grief! My father has been hinting for 20 years that he might not live too much longer, but he is in good health and my life would be turned upside down if he died next week (knock on wood that he doesn't), because I have not even begun to contemplate his passing. And, yet, he has said as much as P told Tyka: He has lived everything he wanted to live (and, in my father's case, he's lived far longer than he expected to based on family history). I have not begun to grieve the loss of my father. Those comments alone would not crush me.

So, you might be right. Goodness knows that P talked esoterically a lot and she might be, too. But she did, in fact, say that she's two years down the road of grief with regard to his death. That's what happens when someone is sick enough that death is a possibility (and that could mean a variety of things). I know because my mother was terminal for 11 years. I began to grieve the moment the doctor told her she had three years to live. I remember the moment. Vividly. The world has never been the same again.

We don't realy know what she means specificallly, but I don't think people are blowing it out of proportion.

Hey teach49, thank you for sharing your thoughts, however, by me saying it's being blown out of proportion I mean that some are taking what she said as "confirmation" (which I said in my post above) that he was ill or dying. I think statements like that might be a little premature to say and is taking it beyond what Tyka actually said which is why I said "blown out of proportion". Thank you for your sharing your experiences and I'm sorry to hear about your mother.

Thank you. I'm okay. I miss her every day.

I agree with you that her comments are not confirmation. For me, her comments have just now opened up as a real possibility that he might have had something else going on than painkiller dependency. (Addiction can make you look as sick as P has looked in recent months so I never took the terminal illness speculation too seriously). However, her comments do suggest more was going on. I just can't see getting crushed because someone tells you they've fulfilled their purpose or accomplished everything they felt God wanted them to accomplish. I wouldn't think "death" at all based on a comment like that.

But we are still at fentanyl overdose officially, however it came about.

Could it be that someone confronted P about his over-usage of pain pills (and their dangers) and his response was basically "So what-- if I die, than I die. I am content with that" and she didn't know how to help him (Prince's money and isolation probably made it impossible for anyone to really help him--short of going to the press.).

Prince definitely had physical pain. No proof is needed for that. His dancing and his work ethic are enough proof that he would have to have eventually suffered physical pain as a result. My 57 year old uncle surfed for years. He recently got hip replacement, but now he is suffering from additional back problems and the pain meds are giving him seizures. Unfortunately, one's body can only take so much damage. Chronic pain might have been just too much for P and no one had the heart or knowledge on how to force him to endure it (without pain meds). Or maybe it is all money that Tyka cared about, but I try to be less cynical than that.

teach49 said:

TopazGirl said:

Hey teach49, thank you for sharing your thoughts, however, by me saying it's being blown out of proportion I mean that some are taking what she said as "confirmation" (which I said in my post above) that he was ill or dying. I think statements like that might be a little premature to say and is taking it beyond what Tyka actually said which is why I said "blown out of proportion". Thank you for your sharing your experiences and I'm sorry to hear about your mother.

Thank you. I'm okay. I miss her every day.

I agree with you that her comments are not confirmation. For me, her comments have just now opened up as a real possibility that he might have had something else going on than painkiller dependency. (Addiction can make you look as sick as P has looked in recent months so I never took the terminal illness speculation too seriously). However, her comments do suggest more was going on. I just can't see getting crushed because someone tells you they've fulfilled their purpose or accomplished everything they felt God wanted them to accomplish. I wouldn't think "death" at all based on a comment like that.

But we are still at fentanyl overdose officially, however it came about.

paisleypark4 said:

ForeverPaisley said:

I have been a wreck all day. Yesterda reading 'their' plan, in their mad scramble to dampen the wrath of the purple army after the announcement of no PP tours, then only on the 6, 8 & 14...to put Prince 'artifacts' on display at the GD MOA. That didn't sit right with me at all.

His items were on display in his living in Mpls at Hard Rock Cafe for years during his living. I took this one before they closed down. Those are his shoes. Never seen them again since.

I know he had items sent to different hard rock cafes - I have a photo somewhere of the HRC in Cozumel or Cabo San Lucas with a purple rain tour outfit, but the items he has hung onto at home all this time as they clearly mean the most...those ones I don't think he would have wanted them taken from PP when he never did so before.

.

THese shoes are AMAZING btw Thank you for sharing the photo!

Sure, that's possible. I don't know what was going on, but it's clear from Tyka's comments that it's been going on for two years.

purplerabbithole said:

Could it be that someone confronted P about his over-usage of pain pills (and their dangers) and his response was basically "So what-- if I die, than I die. I am content with that" and she didn't know how to help him (Prince's money and isolation probably made it impossible for anyone to really help him--short of going to the press.).

Prince definitely had physical pain. No proof is needed for that. His dancing and his work ethic are enough proof that he would have to have eventually suffered physical pain as a result. My 57 year old uncle surfed for years. He recently got hip replacement, but now he is suffering from additional back problems and the pain meds are giving him seizures. Unfortunately, one's body can only take so much damage. Chronic pain might have been just too much for P and no one had the heart or knowledge on how to force him to endure it (without pain meds). Or maybe it is all money that Tyka cared about, but I try to be less cynical than that.

teach49 said:

Thank you. I'm okay. I miss her every day.

I agree with you that her comments are not confirmation. For me, her comments have just now opened up as a real possibility that he might have had something else going on than painkiller dependency. (Addiction can make you look as sick as P has looked in recent months so I never took the terminal illness speculation too seriously). However, her comments do suggest more was going on. I just can't see getting crushed because someone tells you they've fulfilled their purpose or accomplished everything they felt God wanted them to accomplish. I wouldn't think "death" at all based on a comment like that.

But we are still at fentanyl overdose officially, however it came about.

I didn't get to watch the Today show. We had to evac in FL so am in a hotel room catching up on news. Not much else to do while we wait.

I'm also sad because I never could bring myself to watch the BET awards. I had it on my dvr to watch when I felt like I could watch it. It will be gone. (Our house is/was on the beach).

This has been a lot of news to take in. Paisley Park museum, the Tyka interviews, the major story I saw that "He Knew". It seems like we are getting slammed with news, over & over. Like body blows.

Sending to all.

zoso1978 said:

I didn't get to watch the Today show. We had to evac in FL so am in a hotel room catching up on news. Not much else to do while we wait.

I'm also sad because I never could bring myself to watch the BET awards. I had it on my dvr to watch when I felt like I could watch it. It will be gone. (Our house is/was on the beach).

This has been a lot of news to take in. Paisley Park museum, the Tyka interviews, the major story I saw that "He Knew". It seems like we are getting slammed with news, over & over. Like body blows.

Sending to all.

Stay safe. I hope that you are out of harm's way.

teach49 said:

zoso1978 said:

I didn't get to watch the Today show. We had to evac in FL so am in a hotel room catching up on news. Not much else to do while we wait.

I'm also sad because I never could bring myself to watch the BET awards. I had it on my dvr to watch when I felt like I could watch it. It will be gone. (Our house is/was on the beach).

This has been a lot of news to take in. Paisley Park museum, the Tyka interviews, the major story I saw that "He Knew". It seems like we are getting slammed with news, over & over. Like body blows.

Sending to all.

Stay safe. I hope that you are out of harm's way.

Thank you. They said evac & we did. Just checking in while I finally have a chance. What a crazy week for everybody. I know the concert is coming up and people here have Paisley Park tickets. Hope y'all get to go on the dates they are open.

zoso1978 said:

I didn't get to watch the Today show. We had to evac in FL so am in a hotel room catching up on news. Not much else to do while we wait.

I'm also sad because I never could bring myself to watch the BET awards. I had it on my dvr to watch when I felt like I could watch it. It will be gone. (Our house is/was on the beach).

This has been a lot of news to take in. Paisley Park museum, the Tyka interviews, the major story I saw that "He Knew". It seems like we are getting slammed with news, over & over. Like body blows.

Sending to all.

That's how it feels to me too. The last few days have been brutal. It's like the opposite of closure.

to you too - I hope you and yours continue to be safe.

"Chronic pain might have been just too much for P and no one had the heart or knowledge on how to force him to endure it (without pain meds). Or maybe it is all money that Tyka cared about, but I try to be less cynical than that."

People need to understand that in some cases the pain cannot be endured. If he got off pain meds their was a good chance he was still going to be in pain. I do believe he had other health issues but pain meds can damage your organs. He may not have been terminal but I am sure he was warned about the prolonged use of pain meds and may have felt the end was going to come from taking them with an Rx or without one. These pain pills can shorten your life. Since he was suppose to go to the rehab I don't think he wanted to die so I do believe his comments had more to do with illness and maybe just being tired of it.

purplerabbithole said:

Could it be that someone confronted P about his over-usage of pain pills (and their dangers) and his response was basically "So what-- if I die, than I die. I am content with that" and she didn't know how to help him (Prince's money and isolation probably made it impossible for anyone to really help him--short of going to the press.).

Prince definitely had physical pain. No proof is needed for that. His dancing and his work ethic are enough proof that he would have to have eventually suffered physical pain as a result. My 57 year old uncle surfed for years. He recently got hip replacement, but now he is suffering from additional back problems and the pain meds are giving him seizures. Unfortunately, one's body can only take so much damage. Chronic pain might have been just too much for P and no one had the heart or knowledge on how to force him to endure it (without pain meds). Or maybe it is all money that Tyka cared about, but I try to be less cynical than that.

teach49 said:

Thank you. I'm okay. I miss her every day.

I agree with you that her comments are not confirmation. For me, her comments have just now opened up as a real possibility that he might have had something else going on than painkiller dependency. (Addiction can make you look as sick as P has looked in recent months so I never took the terminal illness speculation too seriously). However, her comments do suggest more was going on. I just can't see getting crushed because someone tells you they've fulfilled their purpose or accomplished everything they felt God wanted them to accomplish. I wouldn't think "death" at all based on a comment like that.

But we are still at fentanyl overdose officially, however it came about.

morningsong said:

So I guess it's once a month we get a tiny bit more of information. I guess by St. Patrick's Day we'll have the full story.

More people who know what was going on will start talking. I know a few are going to write books and it is easier to say what you want to say in a book then it is to do a media interview and have your words twisted and changed as a few associates say has already happened.

And what about Kirky J being deeply involved in the PP museum transition? Been a while since he has been mentioned in a positive manner ... As far as Prince's health: we can only speculate. He looked terrible at the end. He has looked terrible since at least last year. But I think it goes back years ... When he changed his clothing style, his hair style, his "Prince" appearance.

I think Prince might have had mixed feelings about his future. A part of him wanted to keep working. A part of him wanted to slow down (look at the stripped down and personal nature of his last tour and look at the degree to which he was allowing others to collaborate on his last albums). When he had the overdose on the plane, it might have scared him and made him feel ashamed ---but four days later, the pain and addiction took over. But I do think that perhaps the reason why his sister said she was ready for his death was that two years ago he had basically indicated a lack of concern over his long-term health (kicking an addiction) because he was wanting to go out doing what he loved most (performing and recording). Treating a pain problem and drug addiction requires stopping and walking away from the stage for a while. Maybe he felt that he had left his mark but so loved his job that he still didn't want to stop..his Piano and A Microphone tour was rather nostalgic probably for that reason.

This is all theory obviously because we couldn't have read his mind and since we don't know all the circumstances, it is even harder to paste together a clear picture.

laurarichardson said:

"Chronic pain might have been just too much for P and no one had the heart or knowledge on how to force him to endure it (without pain meds). Or maybe it is all money that Tyka cared about, but I try to be less cynical than that."

People need to understand that in some cases the pain cannot be endured. If he got off pain meds their was a good chance he was still going to be in pain. I do believe he had other health issues but pain meds can damage your organs. He may not have been terminal but I am sure he was warned about the prolonged use of pain meds and may have felt the end was going to come from taking them with an Rx or without one. These pain pills can shorten your life. Since he was suppose to go to the rehab I don't think he wanted to die so I do believe his comments had more to do with illness and maybe just being tired of it.

purplerabbithole said:

Could it be that someone confronted P about his over-usage of pain pills (and their dangers) and his response was basically "So what-- if I die, than I die. I am content with that" and she didn't know how to help him (Prince's money and isolation probably made it impossible for anyone to really help him--short of going to the press.).

Prince definitely had physical pain. No proof is needed for that. His dancing and his work ethic are enough proof that he would have to have eventually suffered physical pain as a result. My 57 year old uncle surfed for years. He recently got hip replacement, but now he is suffering from additional back problems and the pain meds are giving him seizures. Unfortunately, one's body can only take so much damage. Chronic pain might have been just too much for P and no one had the heart or knowledge on how to force him to endure it (without pain meds). Or maybe it is all money that Tyka cared about, but I try to be less cynical than that.

"long-term health (kicking an addiction) " He was seeing Dr. S for withdrawal problems on an outpatient basis so he did care. He was not going about it in the right manner but I think he knew he had a limited amount of time to get things in order and being in a rehab would not have allowed him to tie up loose ends.

purplerabbithole said:

I think Prince might have had mixed feelings about his future. A part of him wanted to keep working. A part of him wanted to slow down (look at the stripped down and personal nature of his last tour and look at the degree to which he was allowing others to collaborate on his last albums). When he had the overdose on the plane, it might have scared him and made him feel ashamed ---but four days later, the pain and addiction took over. But I do think that perhaps the reason why his sister said she was ready for his death was that two years ago he had basically indicated a lack of concern over his long-term health (kicking an addiction) because he was wanting to go out doing what he loved most (performing and recording). Treating a pain problem and drug addiction requires stopping and walking away from the stage for a while. Maybe he felt that he had left his mark but so loved his job that he still didn't want to stop..his Piano and A Microphone tour was rather nostalgic probably for that reason.

This is all theory obviously because we couldn't have read his mind and since we don't know all the circumstances, it is even harder to paste together a clear picture.

laurarichardson said:

"Chronic pain might have been just too much for P and no one had the heart or knowledge on how to force him to endure it (without pain meds). Or maybe it is all money that Tyka cared about, but I try to be less cynical than that."

People need to understand that in some cases the pain cannot be endured. If he got off pain meds their was a good chance he was still going to be in pain. I do believe he had other health issues but pain meds can damage your organs. He may not have been terminal but I am sure he was warned about the prolonged use of pain meds and may have felt the end was going to come from taking them with an Rx or without one. These pain pills can shorten your life. Since he was suppose to go to the rehab I don't think he wanted to die so I do believe his comments had more to do with illness and maybe just being tired of it.

I said its possible he had mixed feelings. maybe, two years ago, he didn't care about what the pills would do to him.. (when he wrote Way Back HOme) but perhaps the first overdose scared and shamed him just enough that he was willing to see the pain specialist. It might have taken some convincing by those around him who were finally seeing the light about his hidden addiction. too little too late maybe. His family might have thought he was a lost cause but wanted to try to help him anyway after the initial overdose.

I am actually not convinced that the family would think that keeping an illness secret would respect his privacy. Even from a cynical point of view, wouldn't they want to protect their "brand" by making sure P was not labeled as just some "junkie"? I also don't understand why seeing a specialist for pain and drug issues would be important to P if he knew he was dying. (Another theory--the first overdose scared him so he considered getting help for the first time but he discovered that his liver was shot, so P thought "Forget it. I will just go back to the pain pills". He did and unfortunately took a bad batch.

The hidden disease theory doesn't totally convince me (unless it was his liver due to drug usage). I think P was in physical pain (understandably) due to the strain his body had taken (and not just his hips but probably also his back, knees, arms, ankles, joints, hands, etc) but didn't want to slow down entirely. I vaguely remember him implying that he wasn't going to play guitar anymore. It reminded me of Eric Clapton who is struggling to play guitar now due to arthritis.

Up to about a year before he died, he seemed really agile on stage. This agility (in my opinion) proves that pain pills had to have been involved probably since 2009 (when his hips supposedly started bothering him) . I don't hold any of this against P. I sympathize and would never label him as a a junkie for taking medication to function at his job and alleviate pain. If he was addicted to anything psychologically (not neurologically speaking) it was working and music. This is perhaps the tragedy of his life really--that he never allowed himself "me" time away from music. Music is certainly a double-edged sword. That is how I see it. Maybe Tyka's inconsistent statements are indicative of her mixed feelings about Prince's gift (music being as much a gift as it is a burden).

laurarichardson said:

"long-term health (kicking an addiction) " He was seeing Dr. S for withdrawal problems on an outpatient basis so he did care. He was not going about it in the right manner but I think he knew he had a limited amount of time to get things in order and being in a rehab would not have allowed him to tie up loose ends.

purplerabbithole said:

I think Prince might have had mixed feelings about his future. A part of him wanted to keep working. A part of him wanted to slow down (look at the stripped down and personal nature of his last tour and look at the degree to which he was allowing others to collaborate on his last albums). When he had the overdose on the plane, it might have scared him and made him feel ashamed ---but four days later, the pain and addiction took over. But I do think that perhaps the reason why his sister said she was ready for his death was that two years ago he had basically indicated a lack of concern over his long-term health (kicking an addiction) because he was wanting to go out doing what he loved most (performing and recording). Treating a pain problem and drug addiction requires stopping and walking away from the stage for a while. Maybe he felt that he had left his mark but so loved his job that he still didn't want to stop..his Piano and A Microphone tour was rather nostalgic probably for that reason.

This is all theory obviously because we couldn't have read his mind and since we don't know all the circumstances, it is even harder to paste together a clear picture.

[Edited 10/7/16 9:17am]

it would have been tough for him to face the public if he admitted he had an issue with drugs because his public persona was one in which he had command of everything

[Edited 10/7/16 9:17am]

"but perhaps the first overdose scared and shamed him just enough that he was willing to see the pain specialist." He was already seeing doctor S before the overdose and we still don't know if he actually had an overdose on that plane. Norcon is given to people who are just unresponsive.

purplerabbithole said:

I said its possible he had mixed feelings. maybe, two years ago, he didn't care about what the pills would do to him.. (when he wrote Way Back HOme) but perhaps the first overdose scared and shamed him just enough that he was willing to see the pain specialist. It might have taken some convincing by those around him who were finally seeing the light about his hidden addiction. too little too late maybe. His family might have thought he was a lost cause but wanted to try to help him anyway after the initial overdose.

I am actually not convinced that the family would think that keeping an illness secret would respect his privacy. Even from a cynical point of view, wouldn't they want to protect their "brand" by making sure P was not labeled as just some "junkie"? I also don't understand why seeing a specialist for pain and drug issues would be important to P if he knew he was dying. (Another theory--the first overdose scared him so he considered getting help for the first time but he discovered that his liver was shot, so P thought "Forget it. I will just go back to the pain pills". He did and unfortunately took a bad batch.

The hidden disease theory doesn't totally convince me (unless it was his liver due to drug usage). I think P was in physical pain (understandably) due to the strain his body had taken (and not just his hips but probably also his back, knees, arms, ankles, joints, hands, etc) but didn't want to slow down entirely. I vaguely remember him implying that he wasn't going to play guitar anymore. It reminded me of Eric Clapton who is struggling to play guitar now due to arthritis.

Up to about a year before he died, he seemed really agile on stage. This agility (in my opinion) proves that pain pills had to have been involved probably since 2009 (when his hips supposedly started bothering him) . I don't hold any of this against P. I sympathize and would never label him as a a junkie for taking medication to function at his job and alleviate pain. If he was addicted to anything psychologically (not neurologically speaking) it was working and music. This is perhaps the tragedy of his life really--that he never allowed himself "me" time away from music. Music is certainly a double-edged sword. That is how I see it. Maybe Tyka's inconsistent statements are indicative of her mixed feelings about Prince's gift (music being as much a gift as it is a burden).

laurarichardson said:

"long-term health (kicking an addiction) " He was seeing Dr. S for withdrawal problems on an outpatient basis so he did care. He was not going about it in the right manner but I think he knew he had a limited amount of time to get things in order and being in a rehab would not have allowed him to tie up loose ends.

[Edited 10/7/16 9:17am]

I think many of us here - perhaps, many in society - differentiate between, for example, heroin users and prescription medication users. From what I have read, many drug addiction specialists say that there is basically no difference between the two. Addiction is addiction. Prince could be anti-drug and still be a prescription drug abuser. I am not saying that is what happened - but I understand the thought process.