Hey @creativesoul. I don't know you very well, but I've read your post, and I too have Fibro issues. The right cannabinoids can make the difference between reasonable functioning, and serious disability. Access is certainly an issue. My wife @MediKatie and I are both patients and activists for cannabis medicinal use. We'd hoped legalization would bring prices down, but legalization was just code for control and tax. The free market price of cannabis is similar to broccoli. Prohibition is what makes it expensive, and legalization didn't end that! If only I could grow as much as I wanted, and could use my own genetics, and didn't need permission.... my gardening skills would be put to overgrowing the big pharmaceutical companies once and for all. :)
My 100% upvote at full power is yours. Granted, it's only worth 3.5c right now. I'll follow you and keep my eyes open for some other way to help.
Thank you very much! Fibro is horrible...and it would be nice to have some reasonable function again. Legalization has made cannabis a lot harder to access. I have considered growing a few of my own plants but have no idea where to begin and the initial cost of equipment. I think we are allowed four? Perhaps my fundraiser could focus on this going forward. I can squirrel away bits of steem all summer. Sorta been this funny time to be asking for help on here though. Between saving up for the tinctures and putting the intention for doing product reviews out there...one more avenue couldn't hurt. Even just some gardening information and tips would be a huge help!
Sounds good!
Please keep in mind though, you're sick, and a plant produces flowers that safely give you relief. Please don't focus too much on legality! If you're going to grow some plants, just do it, and keep it on the down-low. (Don't do it like me, broadcasting my illegal genetics and illegal garden on the blockchain!) :D Legally speaking, they're going to let us grow 4 each, but we have to buy the clones or seeds from them, we have to keep the paperwork so we can be inspected at any time, we must own the place we're growing in, there can't be any children nearby, nobody can see or smell your plants in any way, and so forth. It's essentially impossible to do it legally.
My advice is not to count on it as a source of medicine, but to still absolutely begin as soon as you can. It's a rewarding experience regardless of outcome, I find. Most people who can keep a plant alive are able to make some medicine on their first try, and with practice, it's possible to produce cannabis far better than you can get anywhere else, at any price. Startup costs are close to zero, especially if you've got some plastic pots and maybe a bright lamp already. I wrote a little about it in an ongoing series, which started here, called Soil to Oil, if you're interested. It's not everything you need to know, but it's an overview that you can follow along.
I see my GP tomorrow, hoping for a lead in my quest for a proper diagnosis. She hates seeing me, always tries to get me back out the door without hearing a single symptom. It's like she specifically doesn't want to know what's going on with me and does everything she can to avoid finding out. My plan is to remind her that I've had 3 full years of nonstop symptoms, with no formal diagnosis other than PTSD, and the psychiatrist she referred me to couldn't explain most of the symptoms. Which are, roughly:
Pain (almost everywhere, but usually not all at once), fasciculations 24/7, blurry double vision, fatigue, insomnia, tremors, jerks cramps, restless legs, mental fog, urinary symptoms, and unexplained sensations like bugs crawling in skin, tingling, pain from light pressure, etc).
She may try to go the "it's not real" route. I know it's real and so does she, but she knows it's very hard to prove any of it, so this tactic sort of works, unfortunately.
She may just say "I've already sent you to specialists and they didn't find anything" route.
I guess that's where I'm going to politely suggest a rheumatologist referral.
It's strange to have to defend my desire for a diagnosis. Illness needs to be diagnosed, so that it can be properly treated, of course. But time and time again, I go without any diagnosis (or even much investigation) for my symptoms, which began suddenly 3 years ago and haven't let up for a single day. And time and time again, I'm made to feel inappropriate for wanting to know what's wrong with me, so it can be properly treated if there's any treatment available.
Thanks for listening and have a great night!
I appreciate your comment...and will definitely check out your soil to oil articles. Being the sort of person that likes to do research and taking the legalities of anything a little too seriously...I am bound to psych myself out before even getting started. Keeping it on the down low is really good advice...lol. I prefer keeping my amateur growing efforts off the radar anyway. The hardest part right now seems to be acquiring the seeds seeing as the government has not put anything in place to actually get them...and does not appear to be interested in making it easier anytime soon. I suppose getting them legally would require documents and registration of some sort and that's freaky. Most articles seem to make a major point about ventilation. I love looking up recipes and reading about the different strains but also have a lot of silly questions that go unanswered...lol. Making my own tinctures one day sounds completely wonderful...and more self reliant and sustainable. It is definitely the direction that I want to find myself going towards. I hope your appointment goes well! Diagnosis is incredibly hard to get and can open up a positive new chapter...but in my experience the same sloppy doctors who did not want to find the cause the first place often grasp at straws and misdiagnose...just to have some semblance of doing their jobs. This can sometimes do more harm than good. These days we need to be willing to educate and treat ourselves best we can...seeing as quality professional help is rare and not to be relied upon. Reading your journey brought back many of the same struggles that I too have faced...these things seem to be a common theme among those who suffer from invisible illnesses. One day you will have some answers...but until then you have my prayers!
You're very kind, thank you! And I apologize for not being more thoughtful and tactful (my intentions are good).
It sounds like you'll eventually give it a shot, and that's great. Don't let the lack of seeds be a barrier, though. If you need, I can mail you a few if you can't find any other options. I have a few varieties in my seed bank, and I'm potentially working on producing more via my current crop of Super Skunks.
Tinctures are fairly easy to make from the dried flowers (bud). Not as complicated as simple chemistry, but slightly more complicated than boiling a pot of food. Most people are able to do it. :)
Your info/advice about health care is appreciated. And yes, the visit went alright, except that she isn't necessarily referring me to a rheumatologist, but probably a 'pain clinic'. She ordered some bloodwork, although some of it is just repeats of tests done when I was much sicker 3 years ago. Sent that sample off today and will follow up early next week. So... maybe partial progress? Not exactly what I was hoping for after suffering so long and waiting for care. You're right that we need to take charge of our health. They're not going to! And yet, when you do so, they act offended and consider you a difficult patient. Bah.
Again, thanks for listening :)
That sounds fun and exciting and terrifying all at the same time...lol. I have wanted to be more active over on the canna server since it first started...but it's hard to contribute relevant content when I cannot afford to be a marijuana user. The next few weeks are pretty packed for me...and I figured that any opportunities could take about that long to pan out anyway. Should the timing line up...and I get a few things off my plate first...it would be awesome to go on GHRO.
Well remember this, we are way more then just about cannabis over in canna-curate. We come from all walks of life, and to be only cannabis all the time can be quite boring imo. All is welcome 🤠 and let’s keep in touch and me and my partner @fracasgrimm will hopefully get some cooked up on our end.
Always found the fact that you guys support all types of content awesome. I browse the cannabis related content once in awhile...but to be honest it sorta makes me sad too. Missing out on the opportunity to partake because of the financial barriers and not wanting reminders. That probably seems silly. For some reason even going over to socialize and share content unrelated to cannabis felt strange not being a daily user and the knowledgeable advocate as hoped to be. The idea of actually using cannabis...and sharing art or anything else powered with that energy just seems to click with me more. Makes it easier to communicate...relate and feel empowered. Should have come out of the shadows sooner...but this product reviews proposal is a step in that direction.
Hey @creativesoul. I don't know you very well, but I've read your post, and I too have Fibro issues. The right cannabinoids can make the difference between reasonable functioning, and serious disability. Access is certainly an issue. My wife @MediKatie and I are both patients and activists for cannabis medicinal use. We'd hoped legalization would bring prices down, but legalization was just code for control and tax. The free market price of cannabis is similar to broccoli. Prohibition is what makes it expensive, and legalization didn't end that! If only I could grow as much as I wanted, and could use my own genetics, and didn't need permission.... my gardening skills would be put to overgrowing the big pharmaceutical companies once and for all. :)
My 100% upvote at full power is yours. Granted, it's only worth 3.5c right now. I'll follow you and keep my eyes open for some other way to help.
Thank you very much! Fibro is horrible...and it would be nice to have some reasonable function again. Legalization has made cannabis a lot harder to access. I have considered growing a few of my own plants but have no idea where to begin and the initial cost of equipment. I think we are allowed four? Perhaps my fundraiser could focus on this going forward. I can squirrel away bits of steem all summer. Sorta been this funny time to be asking for help on here though. Between saving up for the tinctures and putting the intention for doing product reviews out there...one more avenue couldn't hurt. Even just some gardening information and tips would be a huge help!
Posted using Partiko Android
Sounds good!
Please keep in mind though, you're sick, and a plant produces flowers that safely give you relief. Please don't focus too much on legality! If you're going to grow some plants, just do it, and keep it on the down-low. (Don't do it like me, broadcasting my illegal genetics and illegal garden on the blockchain!) :D Legally speaking, they're going to let us grow 4 each, but we have to buy the clones or seeds from them, we have to keep the paperwork so we can be inspected at any time, we must own the place we're growing in, there can't be any children nearby, nobody can see or smell your plants in any way, and so forth. It's essentially impossible to do it legally.
My advice is not to count on it as a source of medicine, but to still absolutely begin as soon as you can. It's a rewarding experience regardless of outcome, I find. Most people who can keep a plant alive are able to make some medicine on their first try, and with practice, it's possible to produce cannabis far better than you can get anywhere else, at any price. Startup costs are close to zero, especially if you've got some plastic pots and maybe a bright lamp already. I wrote a little about it in an ongoing series, which started here, called Soil to Oil, if you're interested. It's not everything you need to know, but it's an overview that you can follow along.
I see my GP tomorrow, hoping for a lead in my quest for a proper diagnosis. She hates seeing me, always tries to get me back out the door without hearing a single symptom. It's like she specifically doesn't want to know what's going on with me and does everything she can to avoid finding out. My plan is to remind her that I've had 3 full years of nonstop symptoms, with no formal diagnosis other than PTSD, and the psychiatrist she referred me to couldn't explain most of the symptoms. Which are, roughly:
Pain (almost everywhere, but usually not all at once), fasciculations 24/7, blurry double vision, fatigue, insomnia, tremors, jerks cramps, restless legs, mental fog, urinary symptoms, and unexplained sensations like bugs crawling in skin, tingling, pain from light pressure, etc).
She may try to go the "it's not real" route. I know it's real and so does she, but she knows it's very hard to prove any of it, so this tactic sort of works, unfortunately.
She may just say "I've already sent you to specialists and they didn't find anything" route.
I guess that's where I'm going to politely suggest a rheumatologist referral.
It's strange to have to defend my desire for a diagnosis. Illness needs to be diagnosed, so that it can be properly treated, of course. But time and time again, I go without any diagnosis (or even much investigation) for my symptoms, which began suddenly 3 years ago and haven't let up for a single day. And time and time again, I'm made to feel inappropriate for wanting to know what's wrong with me, so it can be properly treated if there's any treatment available.
Thanks for listening and have a great night!
I appreciate your comment...and will definitely check out your soil to oil articles. Being the sort of person that likes to do research and taking the legalities of anything a little too seriously...I am bound to psych myself out before even getting started. Keeping it on the down low is really good advice...lol. I prefer keeping my amateur growing efforts off the radar anyway. The hardest part right now seems to be acquiring the seeds seeing as the government has not put anything in place to actually get them...and does not appear to be interested in making it easier anytime soon. I suppose getting them legally would require documents and registration of some sort and that's freaky. Most articles seem to make a major point about ventilation. I love looking up recipes and reading about the different strains but also have a lot of silly questions that go unanswered...lol. Making my own tinctures one day sounds completely wonderful...and more self reliant and sustainable. It is definitely the direction that I want to find myself going towards. I hope your appointment goes well! Diagnosis is incredibly hard to get and can open up a positive new chapter...but in my experience the same sloppy doctors who did not want to find the cause the first place often grasp at straws and misdiagnose...just to have some semblance of doing their jobs. This can sometimes do more harm than good. These days we need to be willing to educate and treat ourselves best we can...seeing as quality professional help is rare and not to be relied upon. Reading your journey brought back many of the same struggles that I too have faced...these things seem to be a common theme among those who suffer from invisible illnesses. One day you will have some answers...but until then you have my prayers!
You're very kind, thank you! And I apologize for not being more thoughtful and tactful (my intentions are good).
It sounds like you'll eventually give it a shot, and that's great. Don't let the lack of seeds be a barrier, though. If you need, I can mail you a few if you can't find any other options. I have a few varieties in my seed bank, and I'm potentially working on producing more via my current crop of Super Skunks.
Tinctures are fairly easy to make from the dried flowers (bud). Not as complicated as simple chemistry, but slightly more complicated than boiling a pot of food. Most people are able to do it. :)
Your info/advice about health care is appreciated. And yes, the visit went alright, except that she isn't necessarily referring me to a rheumatologist, but probably a 'pain clinic'. She ordered some bloodwork, although some of it is just repeats of tests done when I was much sicker 3 years ago. Sent that sample off today and will follow up early next week. So... maybe partial progress? Not exactly what I was hoping for after suffering so long and waiting for care. You're right that we need to take charge of our health. They're not going to! And yet, when you do so, they act offended and consider you a difficult patient. Bah.
Again, thanks for listening :)
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How would you fill about coming on one of our shows on GHRO over in the Canna-Curate server?
That sounds fun and exciting and terrifying all at the same time...lol. I have wanted to be more active over on the canna server since it first started...but it's hard to contribute relevant content when I cannot afford to be a marijuana user. The next few weeks are pretty packed for me...and I figured that any opportunities could take about that long to pan out anyway. Should the timing line up...and I get a few things off my plate first...it would be awesome to go on GHRO.
Posted using Partiko Android
Well remember this, we are way more then just about cannabis over in canna-curate. We come from all walks of life, and to be only cannabis all the time can be quite boring imo. All is welcome 🤠 and let’s keep in touch and me and my partner @fracasgrimm will hopefully get some cooked up on our end.
Always found the fact that you guys support all types of content awesome. I browse the cannabis related content once in awhile...but to be honest it sorta makes me sad too. Missing out on the opportunity to partake because of the financial barriers and not wanting reminders. That probably seems silly. For some reason even going over to socialize and share content unrelated to cannabis felt strange not being a daily user and the knowledgeable advocate as hoped to be. The idea of actually using cannabis...and sharing art or anything else powered with that energy just seems to click with me more. Makes it easier to communicate...relate and feel empowered. Should have come out of the shadows sooner...but this product reviews proposal is a step in that direction.
Posted using Partiko Android