On Saturday, November 10th at 11:00 Hawaiian time, 4:00 pm EST, Joan and her husband Bob will be buried in Hawaii in a special ceremony they requested years and years ago. I think we should all have a moment of silence on the board at that time. 

A Word from Leflaw:
I have been troubled these last few days trying to come with what to say, what to do, how to express the shock and sadness at losing Socrates. When I started this board my intention was to give hope (and a place to talk) to those who had suffered from the use of Fen-Phen. I am saddened at having her death inflict additional pain on the many of you who have suffered so much. But yet being able to read your posts makes me realize that while many had never met Socrates you all feel a kinship and closeness with her and with each other. Granted it took a terrible drug like Fen-Phen to bring everyone together but together we are. We have fought AHP, we have fought the drug, and now you fight what it is doing to your own bodies. I was amazed at how Socrates fought back. Just when I thought she would never make it out of the hospital and was getting ready to die she lived! I thought for sure she would continue to make it back. 

I am saddened that she will never get to meet everyone. My words cannot express what she meant to each of us. I think Joan herself put it best in one of her posts from June: 

"This is "the" group where you can let your hair down. No matter what condition you are in, you will probably have the happiest time of your life. Peculiarly, our illnesses seem to bring out the best in all of us. You will find friendship, compassion and, generally speaking, the happiest, (possibly wackiest)group that you can hope to find in your lifetime. We are family by choice." 

And family we remain.

www.leflaw.net

Joan Anderson was 73 years young. She was born in New York and moved to Florida in 1974. She was married to Bob for 44 years before his death in the 1980s. 
Joan was a retired Lithographer. Joan has a Daughter Robin who is married to Roy and they have a Son Justin. Robin and Roy live in California and Justin lives in Nevada.
Joan had traveled all over the world and it was a passion with her, she was an active member of her church for many years till she became ill with PPH. This board was her life line, she would have been lost without it and was so very grateful for having it. 

(Halloween 1999, Joan and her Priest Father Christopher.) 

Joan was also active in organizing the PHA group in Port Charlotte Florida and helped get that off the ground. 
She was an extremely generous, loving and kind woman who touched the lives of many. 
- Mabooch

(Troxel, Mabooch, and Socrates)
 

HER FINAL JOURNEY: 
Dear friends, 
I won't be posting for a while. I am going to Ireland for a vacation. I will get there by myself and meet my daughter from Ca. over there. I cannot do the things I used to do, of course, but I am happy to be able to do anything, travelwise. I will be staying in a town with a population of about 900 people. (Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland) I have an app't with the Town Historian. (Perhaps unearth a few family skeletons.) I have also hired a driver. No way will I drive on the "other side of the road". And my o2 concentrator will be delivered on the day of my arrival. In Limerick, about 20 minutes away by car, there is a huge center for researching genealogy records. I understand there are some marvelous stores for antique china there also. I told my daughter to check ot the records, I will check out the china, and we can meet for High Tea. It is low key but doesn't this sound like fun? 
My love to each and every one of you.
Cordially, Socrates 

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

TRIBUTE TO SOCRATES

Cordially, Socrates
THE WISDOM & THE WIT OF SOCRATES: 
Hello everyone. this is my first post. I've been reading this BB for several days. I find lots of good info. on it. Regarding decongestants.--- I believe they work by shrinking tissue. This will reduce the diameter of the Pulmonaary Artery too. I personally wouldn't use them. There is a very old fashioned remedy, you might consider. It is sniffing warm, salt water up your nose. It is difficult to get yourself to do, but it was effective. 
. . . . . . 
Dear Friends, "Mean" pressure is determind by mulltiplying the bottom number by 2, then adding that figure to the top figure,(the larger one) and then dividing the total by 3. This is the method used to arrive at mean pressure whether it be systemic or arterial. 
. . . . . . 
Dear Gambler, If you could manage without the sleep study until after you have settled, it would probably be best. If a determination is made that You have obstructive Sleep Apnea, AHP will be trying to tie your PPH to Sleep Apnea being the cause. Please check with your MD if is safe for you to postpone. He should have the last say. Explain to your MD the reason you are asking about delaying the Sleep Study. 
. . . . . . 
Ma-- A suggestion--I have heard on TV, that the sodium count in our water has become very high because of draught. It mentioned, it would not hurt most people, but it "might" affect people with sodium restrictions. I use bottled water. 
. . . . . . 
Bashful, As always you cut right to the chase. Your advice to see a lawyer before any settlement, is very sound. It is excellent advice for all who expect to receive money, no matter what the social situation is. 
. . . . . . 
Dear Matt, There are many causes for PH. There are also many meds available. What works for one, may not work for another. The most urgent thing to have done is to get to a PH Spec. as soon as possible. No one, other than a PH Spec., can do your friend any real good, no matter how intelligent, skilled or well intentioned. Many MDs do not see one case of PH in their entire professinal life. In most Med books, the info on PH is obsolete before being printed. Please take this suggestion very seriously. 
. . . . . . 
Dear Joe, How sad that all these people are picking on an intelligent, gentleman like yourself. By the way, dear, "Thats the rub". is a quote from a Shakespearian play. It was Socrates who had to drink Hemlock. Try not to mix them up. Someone might think you are ignorant and uneducated. Please explain why a wonderfully built, intelligent person like youself, ever had to take FenPhen??? Were you doing research for the good of mankind???Socrates "Please note. this post was done tongue in cheek." 
. . . . . . 
As soon as you feel your attorney is waffling and is not making an offer that you feel is appropriate, start checking with another, agressive, attorney. Even if you should decide to stay with the orig. Attorney, at least you will know what your options are. Get your ducks lined up ahead of time. We have to be ready to outsmart them. It works. They don't expect this. 
. . . . . . 
Dear friends, I really don't know if this will work, but you might try putting a satin pillow case over the buckwheat pillow. I use a satin pillow case on my regular pillow and it does wonders to keep the hair from getting very mussed up when sleeping. 

. . . AND MORE