Submitted by Debi W. from Arizona

Here it is, 2023. At 65 years old, living in Arizona. I have been living with Asthma, Thalassemia Minor all my life, Osteoarthritis, and Fibromyalgia, for over three decades, CRPS, and COPD, for 28 years, and Mac Lung Disease for seven years. I am happy to report that since I started utilizing cannabinoid therapies in 2016, I have not accumulated any new medical conditions.

My pain has gone from a 10 to a 3

By integrating THC, CBD, CBG, and terpenes of Myrcene, Pinene, Linalool, Limonene, Caryophyllene, and Humulene into my treatment regime, I have experienced remarkable relief from my Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, along with improvement with my Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Mac Lung disease, and Thalassemia Minor, resulting in a substantial improvement of my quality of life. Despite struggling with these conditions for over three decades, no physician has been able to provide me with the same level of improvement, and my pain has decreased from a 10 to a 3.

Now that is what you can call relief. My brain is no longer foggy, I can think clearly, and I no longer live from lung infection to hospital stay, fighting for my life on constant repeat.

I have eliminated 28 pharmaceuticals, all replaced with Cannabis giving me the ability to function and work at something I love.

Transforming from living a life that was undesirable to thriving and adoring the life I currently have was a beautiful gift. I am excited to wake up every morning and embrace whatever each day presents to me.

There was a time the pain of fire never stopped

I lost my mobility, and the never-ending electrical shocks that surged up my leg made it impossible to get any restful sleep. The pain that raged inside me felt like an eternal fire, burning at full intensity 24/7.

Tasks that I once took for granted became complex and challenging. I could no longer wear a shoe, put my leg under the covers, shower, or even walk in the rain. My leg had become so hypersensitive that the slightest touch, like a tiny hair, would cause me immense shooting pain.

Due to my inability to stay focused, I had to hang up the car keys and give up driving. Furthermore, I lost my ability to work and was forced onto disability. The loss of mobility marked the start of my lung conditions, which eventually progressed to a point where I require oxygen to breathe all day and a 24-hour caregiver.

I was denied a lung transplant

I was enjoying nothing in life; I wanted to cut off my leg to stop the pain and fire, but that wouldn't work because it was all controlled by the brain as my doctor explained. Breathing was hard and labored as every breath determined whether I was alive.  

There were days I thought I was too much burden on my family and it would be better if I weren't here. I was angry and sad that I could not live the life I had planned with my husband and family feeling that I had robbed them of life. 

No one ever prepared me to live a life of severe illness and chronic pain. All I was doing was going from one doctor's appointment to the next with a list of symptoms and conditions doctors couldn’t help me change or improve.

I guess you can say I tried everything before finding my way to Medical Cannabis

I handed my health over to my doctors, trying conventional medical treatments and medications for over three decades. I did five years of experimental treatments through a pain clinic, signing my rights away and permitting them to try anything they thought might help reduce my pain. While exploring everything, I heard might be good for pain. 

Instead of finding relief, I developed new symptoms that I still live with today. I was on 240 mg a day of OxyContin and was still at a pain level of 10 most days.

I trusted my doctors as my sole health advocate

Then the opioid crisis hit, and my doctors dropped me as a patient. I was abandoned, with no one to help me. I went from being a model patient to being called a drug addict and pill shopper. I didn't change; the medical community changed and left me with no treatment options and no one I could trust or count on when I needed them the most.

It became clear that there was only one person I could count on, and that was me

It was 2015, and finding reliable, accurate information about Medical Cannabis was difficult. Luckily, I landed on a link in Google for Green Flower Media. They were holding an educational seminar online out of Las Vegas, and you could watch it virtually. They were talking about Medical Cannabis and how it was helping pain and a few other conditions.

After signing up, the information I received left me curious and motivated me to learn even more. I enrolled in Green Flower Media's educational platform website, where they focused on discussing the medicinal properties of Cannabis, the plant itself, and the various products that can be used.

Observing Max Simon, the CEO of Green Flower, assemble the top experts in the Cannabis industry to educate others gave me the inspiration that there might be a chance for my health to improve. I was also told that Twitter was an excellent platform to learn about Cannabis medicine, so I created an account and started following everyone who discussed the topic.

I Found The Sacred Plant

Where I was introduced to John and Corinne, Malanca advocates for Cannabis and patients. They were offering a chronic pain masterclass and I signed up. I just wanted to learn more with every class I took, leading me to take all their masterclasses. These classes included topics of Medical-Cannabis-For-Alzheimers-Dementia-Other-Brain-conditions. Healing Cancer and How To Make It Work For You. 

I had the honor to learn from some of the leading experts in these fields:

• David Bearman is a pain management specialist. He has more than 50 years of experience in substance abuse treatment and prevention. -  Pain Masterclass
• Allan Frankel, Internal Medical doctor and one of the world's leading authorities on dosed cannabis medicine - Cancer Masterclass
• Daniel Stein, a board-certified Neurologist, opened Neurology of Cannabis in 2017- Brain Masterclasses
• Janice Vaughn-Knox, board-certified anesthesiologist, cannabinoid medicine specialist, and clinical endocannabinologist - How to Make it Work for You Masterclass

Learning I have an Endocannabinoid System (ECS) was an aha moment

I realized obtaining a comprehensive understanding of this information was vital for my continued health improvement. It became apparent that I should be well-versed in all that I could learn about cannabis and my ECS. My education on cannabis will continue indefinitely, as I realize the value of investing in learning about how our bodies function and the crucial role we play in taking charge of our health.

I threw away all my stigma around Cannabis when my doctors abandoned me

I needed treatment solutions, and if Cannabis could provide it, I was ready and willing to embrace it. I didn't have time for stigma. My health and life were on the line, as I was barely alive.

My determination was clear even in telling my family as it was not up for debate. I am open about my use of medical Cannabis as I want to break down the stigma surrounding it. A natural plant has had a profound positive impact on my life and I believe that only by being open and free to discuss it can we change people's perception of this powerful plant Cannabis that has saved my life.

I am a flower vape girl

When I first started exploring cannabis, everyone had me scared to death about inhaling anything into my lungs. This left me with tinctures and edibles to manage my pain yet I struggled to find the results I believed were possible. I soon found myself studying the benefits of Cannabis flower vapes. Surprisingly, the data showed they were not harmful to the lungs.

I ordered a Herbalizer table vape which began my health improvement quest. As my lungs started to improve. I use a combination of THC, CBD, and CBG flower to make a mix blend that works best for me.

With a focus on terpenes of Myrcene, Pinene, Linalool, Limonene, Caryophyllene, and Humulene

The terpenes will vary depending on the flower I have available to me. My dose is generally 2 to 3 puffs of vaped flower, and I consume 3 to 4 times a day. I also use a topical of THC, CBD, and CBG that I apply when my shoulder or joints flare up. I do a THC / CBG mix at bedtime to help me sleep.

They gave me five years to live (seven years ago)

Before introducing cannabinoid therapies into my health plan, doctors advised me to accept this is my new life and that they cannot do anything more to help me.

I was so sick at times that I did not know if I could make it to the next hour, much less the next day. I required a 24-hour caregiver to shower me, dress me, fix my meals, etc. I was not living a life; I was just here. 

I could not be left alone as I could develop serious breathing difficulties with the snap of my fingers requiring immediate medical attention. 

Once I established proper cannabinoid therapies, my health began to improve

I started learning to live life again. I enjoyed waking up in the mornings; I was excited to engage in simple things that most take for granted, like taking a shower, getting myself a glass of water, or just standing at the sink to wash the dishes.

No longer needing a 24-hour caregiver was a dream gift I never thought I would get. I am happy to be 65 alive and working.

I spent three decades being so sick and unable to contribute anything

Frequently, I'm asked if I'm considering retirement. The answer is a resounding "No." I'm now able to pursue something I'm passionate about, which is vital in making a positive impact on others' well-being and lives.

My health story is a work in progress as I continue to search for ways to improve some severe health issues. With that said, I'm immensely grateful for the progress I've made thus far but must continue to learn to educate the beauty and benefits of meeting your ECS and Cannabis. 

This is Debi's personal story and not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes.

To work with a medical Cannabis professional, please visit our directory of coaches, educators, and medical professionals. Everyone's Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is different; good results start with the right approach. You don't have to figure it out on your own.

If you need help with any terminology in this article, you may find some answers in our glossary.

Effective Cannabis Newsletter is a platform to educate on the vital role of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in one's health. The information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in or available through this newsletter is for general information purposes only. It is not medical advice; it is health awareness.