Translucent

I can't be the only one with Alopecia Universalis that is also constantly pestered with pain. I didn't have the pain at first. Or maybe I did (I read that auto immune disorders also come with a good amount of pain tolerance) and just didn't notice as much before. Either way the intensity and consistency of the pain around my joints as well as the frequency and pain level of muscle spasms.

My symptoms fit that of a fibromyalgia and seem to improve with proper diet, regular exercise, and restful nights. Should I go to the doctor? Why the devil would I do a thing like that at this point in the game? I did not go to a doctor to give birth, twice, nor a hospital. I've rejected treatment/medication recommendations over and over based on the long list of side effects not worth the risk. 

It gets exhausting, some days more than others, keeping up a happy appearance while my brain is pestering my with pain signals. Put those on the low priority list! Agreed. Smiling usually does the trick. Gratitude. And of course, Cannabis. Cannabis as I use it currently works to alleviate the nagging joint aches and muscle spasms throughout the day. Of course I have to stop to smoke it several times a day. Or I can commit to an edible which will last me most of the day. And then there is that pesky little bugger, tolerance. Up, up, up goes my tolerance and up, up, up goes my medicine bill. Go off for a week, work out hard, drink lots of water, you're tolerance will drop. Are you crazy!? Guess I'm going to have to build up the courage. 

I really appreciate Cannabis for what it does do for me, still I find myself asking if it can do more. Can it 'fix' this problem of mine? Can it reverse, switch off, counter out autoimmunity? Could I wake up not stiff, sore, irritated, and desperate for a dose of Cannabinoids? You realize you'd have to make your own RSO? Trust no one says Rick Simpson himself. He also said, "Turn to mother nature if you want to see healing power - that's where you're going to see it." We're not talking about cancer its risky, expensive, and unpredictable. Research, I've got to do a better job of digging through what little research is already out there. 

Best to focus on the fight for terminal patients right to treat themselves with Cannabis for now. 
Power to the people.
One Love ~

SMK

What Ails You Sweet Mary Kane? Part One

Recently I was asked what kind of medical problems I have on my Facebook page. This truly isn't a easy answer type of question. It's not yes or no, and it's certainly not a straightforward answer. I suppose I could give you the quick "my recommendation is written for" answer. Migraines, as they fall under chronic and debilitating medical condition. I was thirteen years old the first time I had a migraine. It was not a fun experience in the slightest. It came on in a snap, and while my entire dome felt as though my brain would swell to the point it would fracture my skull I had to run from my desk down the hall and into a stall to vomit. Fortunately for me there were two girls at the wash sink when I burst in. They got help while I convulsed helplessly vomiting and began to sob in pain. I was pretty much useless, and people around me got me to a doctor somehow. There was a lot of testing done before I was given the diagnosis of migraine headaches.

I began experiencing migraines frequently, sometimes multiple times a week. Each time I was incapacitated with light and motion sensitivity, as well as blinding pain encapsulating my head. Having a knack for experiencing any possible negative side effects of medication I had developed the notion that it was better for me to seek natural remedies than consume pharmaceuticals. As I aged and researched via the great wide web, I complied a list of triggers to my migraines. Avoiding these triggers significantly lessens the regularity of migraine headaches for me with the only side effect being a shift in life style.

This is an incomplete list of triggers for me: alcohol; prolonged hunger; lack of sleep; strong fragrances/chemicals; withholding caffeine; untreated anxiety attacks; and dehydration.

Regardless of knowing some (and hopefully most in reality) of my triggers I continued to experience migraine headaches. In college, I experimented with a couple new prescription samples given to me by the student health center. One was ineffective and the other actually made it worse! In fact, I was forewarned the migraine would worsen  for about fifteen minutes and then it would go away. Unfortunately, for me, it just got worse. The only solution, to this day, once I have a full blown migraine is to sleep it off. Bummer is getting to sleep isn't as easy as you would hope. The good news is the proper strain of Cannabis will help with that.

If I feel a regular headache has potential to go full blown, I take one or two Excedrin Migraine pills in an attempt to head it off. This seems effective so either it's a fantastic fit for me, or that regular headache was just that.

I first began using Cannabis with a Doctor's recommendation in March of 2011. Since then I have been admitted to the emergency room one time for a migraine that was out of control. With that said that particular migraine came on while I was trying to get some much needed sleep during my oldest sons emergency surgery for a badly ruptured appendix. It was a tremendously stressful time, and I was ignoring multiple risk factors in my anxious grief and worry. I also was not properly medicated due to spending almost all my hours in the hospital with him.

For the most part, I eat Cannabis. However, I also have a balm that I rub onto my skin and will smoke for nausea or instant relief.

Now that was the short answer. Whew! Since I am me, however, I'm not going to stop there. Side note: Blood testing for a set level and slapping someone with a DUI is utterly heinous. Check out the chemistry. Someone who never "got high" but used a Cannabis balm all over their legs each night to treat MS symptoms would fail this blood test. We shouldn't let patients be labeled criminals because the science is overlooked by the lawmakers.

Now that I have that off my chest let us get to the long answer. Depending on the area of the country you're in recommendations are allowed for a set list of conditions. My migraines have diminished significantly and having access to all the various methods of medicating and researching relentlessly I've discovered so many more exciting things that Cannabis helps me with. Unfortunately, the long answer would be way too long if I went into such depth on everything. Thus, here is a list of other ailments I treat with Cannabis, to be discussed in part two.

PMS, depression, arthritic pain thought to be caused my auto immune disorder Alopecia Universalis, Adult onset ADD, nausea, muscle spasms/aches, a whip lash injury, and spiritual connectivity. I'm likely forgetting something, but don't worry. I'll be back, wink.