Paula Abdul Covers Ladies Home Journal

Paula Abdul (remember her?) covers the June 2009 issue of Ladies Home Journal. I have to say, she is looking pretty good! Inside the magazine, The American Idol judge talks about pain killers, rehab and much more. Full story!

About kicking pain killers:
I could have killed myselfWithdrawal its the worst thing. I was freezing cold, then sweating hot, then chattering and in so much pain, it was excruciating. But at my very core, I did not like existing the way I had been.

About living in pain:
I’d been working nonstop. Im an old school professional. Never let them see you sweat.

About how it got so bad:
I couldnt cancel my tour. I didnt want anyone to count me out. I tried to keep everything hush-hush. Helping her through her relentless schedule of rehearsals, recording sessions, video tapings and performances were regular shots of lidocaine. By 2005 she was diagnosed with a chronic pain condition called reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. The illness, which can be caused by a previous injury, resulted in disabling pain, teeth-chattering and shingles-like lesions. Paula wore a patch that delivered a pain medication about 80 times more potent than morphine and took a nerve medication to relieve her symptoms. Sometime she took a muscle relaxer. But the pain was so bad it often left her sleepless and she would, as she says, get weird. It was a combination of these factors that may have led to the impression that she was high at times when she was on the air.

About fourth judge Kara DioGuardi:
“It’s a boy’s club no more.  Now, it’s a sisterhood with Kara, and we’re having a blast.”

About searching for love:
“I’m working on finding that guy.  I’m just like every other girl who wants to find a soul mate and live happily ever after.”

Read the full interview.