Story
Freedom from Fentanyl
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Location: Canada
Occupation: Disability
Patient History
Conditions
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Back & Neck Problems
- Opioid Addiction
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Tobacco Addiction
Overall health, well-being and quality of life before medical cannabis
I have struggled with opiate addiction for over 20 years. Got diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome (a form of Lupus) roughly 10 years ago. My pain and chronic fatigue levels became virtually unbearable prior to cannabis. I used prescription and non-prescription opiates to try to ease chronic pain symptoms, which only served to exasperate other health conditions.
Additional info about this time in patient's life
I was an active marijuana grower for many years but stopped enjoying the effects of smoking cannabis over 20 years ago. Smoking cannabis used to give me a general sense of well being and happiness but had somehow shifted to making me feel on edge and paranoid.
When I started to hear first hand accounts of how edibles & CBD in particular was helping others with Lupus I was intrigued about but also somewhat apprehensive. My only concern was the psychoactive effects of THC and whether or not I would be able to use CBD without feeling the uncomfortable side effects that I experienced with smoking marijuana.
Overall quality of life before being introduced to medical cannabis: 3
Patient Process
Patient Experience
Additional info about medical Cannabis experience
It was a great relief to me once I realized I could use CBD orally without feeling high. I think many people share the same concern - they are interested in trying medical cannabis (or CBD as in my case), but have concerns regarding the psychoactive properties of THC.
My personal experience has been that as long as the CBD is from a trustworthy source and has the CBD-THC ratio properly labelled, i can take continual therapeutic doses of CBD without feeling impaired in the slightest.
This has been a godsend. I have tried countless prescription & OTC drugs to address my chronic pain associated with Lupus in the past and nothing has even come close to giving me the relief that CBD has.
My opiate use had become astronomically expensive and life-threatening prior to cannabis substitution therapy and I am happy to share that my personal prescription and illicit drug use has gone down substantially.
Overall quality of life after being introduced to medical cannabis: 8
