Greetings from the Canadian Maritimes :)

[DoobieBrother]

Hello all, Doobie Brother here, just registered for this forum as after suffering alone for a decade, I need to ... vent :shock:

I worked as a medical lab tech for thirty years, but have been on disability for a while now. My interests and passions include all things nerdy, guitar and bass, hockey (duh!), coin magic, ferrets, and my huskey :razz: Oh, I'm pushing sixty, male, married with three kids and two grandkids.

I've been involved with the movement to legalize cannabis in Canada for ever, particularly focussed on educating the sheeple in it's medical values and debunking the reems of anti-marijuana progaganda by using scientific studies and clinical proof of its efficacy. Also have worked to develop cannabis strains high in CBD but low in THC, but that's another story.

That's it I guess for now... ttyl eh

DB

 

[DoobieBrother]

Out of curiosity, how many other Canadians are here ? While I am here, I may as well also ask how many other men are here ? From what I gather roughly 80-90% of fibro patients are female....is this correct ?

DB

 

[Marika dimi]

hi there iam Canadian and just joined yesterday I have been looking for a place like this for awhile. I was diagnosed about 4 years ago don't remember exactly, just remember the hell I went through trying to figure out what was wrong with me.
Cannabis was the second thing that I tried for pain relief it was a hit and miss thing for me. I used a vapourizer maybe I wasn't using right strain I think you call it . Its kind of confusing because my family doctor put me on something called nabaloine and all it did was make me sleepy. Im confused because I also see a pain specialist and he was explaining to me it is the specific part of the plant that is needed and it has low thc levels. Right now iam on 24mg of hydormorphone a day and 2mg prn. I was wondering if you could explain to me is it just a certain part of the plant that is used for pain? I have heard so many different things. I have been on my meds now for 2 years and my doc wants to see me all of a sudden iam afraid that he may wany to lower the doses for some unknown reason to me. I would rather use the cannabis but need more info on how to go about things legally and where to start. Hope you can help sorry for the venting im mixed up scared.

 

[Marvis]

Hiya - I'm from southwestern ontario. Haven't tried cannabis yet, but would like to. I'm wondering how other Canadians are finding accessing medical help. I pretty much have my gp, who is sympathetic at least, but that's it. I was referred to a rheumy who (after an 8 month wait) just diagnosed me, told me only 50 percent of his patients respond to medication and I seemed to be the 50 percent that didn't (based on my track record with meds) and sent me off. That's it. No follow up. Was referred to a migraine clinic (one year wait), where I was told 'yep - you have daily chronic migraine. You can take this med or do the really expensive botox shots. Call us if you want botox' and sent off. No follow up. Sigh. (And honestly - I'm a really, really pleasant patient. lol I'm not getting shuffled off for being difficult. ). I've been told to ask for a referral to the pain clinic, but that's another 6 month wait. I love our healthcare ... but chronic pain care is a wasteland.

 

[Forgetmenot]

Hi welcome to the site.i keep rats myself.there my fur baby's,and your black shapard Rosa.who is spoiled rotten .
I used to live in Quebec,would love,to go back one day.
We cant have weed in the uk to,isn't it stupid,all drugs comes from plants,hay ho.

 

[DoobieBrother]

hi there iam Canadian and just joined yesterday I have been looking for a place like this for awhile. I was diagnosed about 4 years ago don't remember exactly, just remember the hell I went through trying to figure out what was wrong with me.
Cannabis was the second thing that I tried for pain relief it was a hit and miss thing for me. I used a vapourizer maybe I wasn't using right strain I think you call it . Its kind of confusing because my family doctor put me on something called nabaloine and all it did was make me sleepy. Im confused because I also see a pain specialist and he was explaining to me it is the specific part of the plant that is needed and it has low thc levels. Right now iam on 24mg of hydormorphone a day and 2mg prn. I was wondering if you could explain to me is it just a certain part of the plant that is used for pain? I have heard so many different things. I have been on my meds now for 2 years and my doc wants to see me all of a sudden iam afraid that he may wany to lower the doses for some unknown reason to me. I would rather use the cannabis but need more info on how to go about things legally and where to start. Hope you can help sorry for the venting im mixed up scared.

Hi Marika, sorry for the long delay in responding.
To try to answer a few of your questions: Nabalone is synthetic THC, the bit that causes the high. Personally I've tried that as well, with NO effect 'cept being dizzy as hell. As for which cannabis variety to try, look into something called 'Cannabidiol or CBD. This is also a compound found in cannabis, and it may be the miracle you are after. CBD is known to be an effective treatment for a large number of ailments, including neuropathic pain i.e. the pain you and I suffer from.

Here are a few strain names that will be a good place to start:
Cannatonic
Otto#1
Sour Tsunami

Links Not Allowed!

As far as being legal is concerned, I have been legal since 2010 (medical license under the old Health Canada program), and as you know it will be legal for us all quite soon. You may want to consider growing your own meds, as the cost will otherwise be brutal.

Hope this helps
DB

 

[DoobieBrother]

...... I was referred to a rheumy whoa (after an 8 month wait) just diagnosed me, told me only 50 percent of his patients respond to medication and I seemed to be the 50 percent that didn't (based on my track record with meds) and sent me off. That's it. No follow up. .....

Sigh...I have heard similar stories for years now. Seems I was more thn fortnunate to have stumbled across a decent and understanding pain specialist, as most docs are utterly useless when it comes to basic diagnosis: case in point years ago I suffered from brutal headaches for weeks on end. My G.P. kept tellng me it was stress, and simply prescribed stronger and stronger pain meds, including Percocet! Long story short, I went to emerg, where (aftea 14 hour wait) I was immediately diagnosed as having a sinus infection. I still can't believe how ignorant my ex-GP is!!

Are you able to find another doc ? Down here, we get stuck with whoever has the room, so I hope your situation is better.

 

[DoobieBrother]

Hi welcome to the site.i keep rats myself.there my fur baby's,and your black shapard Rosa.who is spoiled rotten .
I used to live in Quebec,would love,to go back one day.
We cant have weed in the uk to,isn't it stupid,all drugs comes from plants,hay ho.

Rats! Gotta love 'em

In the UK!! You lucky &@##@! I've been over for a visit, but would love to live there, as I'm a history geek as well as a ferret and Huskie lover.

Thanks for the post.
Cheers

 

[Marvis]

Sigh...I have heard similar stories for years now. Seems I was more thn fortnunate to have stumbled across a decent and understanding pain specialist, as most docs are utterly useless when it comes to basic diagnosis: case in point years ago I suffered from brutal headaches for weeks on end. My G.P. kept tellng me it was stress, and simply prescribed stronger and stronger pain meds, including Percocet! Long story short, I went to emerg, where (aftea 14 hour wait) I was immediately diagnosed as having a sinus infection. I still can't believe how ignorant my ex-GP is!!

Are you able to find another doc ? Down here, we get stuck with whoever has the room, so I hope your situation is better.

I'm looking into finding a better rheumy or fibro specialist in the area. Of course, it will be another year long wait for that. Also am getting referred to pain clinic ... 6 months for that. In the meantime, at least my gp is sympathetic and helpful. But I find most of the people that I know with fibro in our area just live with it without any real medical help. I hear patients talk about their 'team of doctors' and I'm like 'huh?!'.

 

[Dooi]

Canadian here. Legalization has been progressing as well as open mindedness and information in the news. The stock market has even been helping lately with that Canopy Growth company changing it's stock ticker to WEED on the TSE. Interesting to watch.

I have tried and don't want to advertise, but it definitely helps and should be given a try. There's so many ways to consume it that "smoking" isn't even necessary any more.

 

[Northernelf]

Canadian here too - but on the other side of the country. ;-)

Similar experience with a rheumy - long wait, short visit, poke & prod - you have fibro, go see you GP meds. I travelled six hours for that.

Is CBD oil legal in Canada ? I have heard great things, even a patch (time release).....???

 

[LivingAlone]

Another Canadian here. Originally from the maritimes but living in the capital. Suffering from the chronic pain of both Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. My brother (who has a medical marijuana prescription) has, on occasion, given me brownies and cookies that he made from the oil. They helped with pain to some degree but I didn't like how dizzy and off balance I felt.

 

[Marika dimi]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some of my questions that was very kind of you. I understand a bit better now, at least better than when my pain specialist explained it! Im not sure when you replyed to my post so I apologise for the delay. My doc did lower my 2mg as needed to 1mg as needed. Still feeling the same though suffering more from migraines at the moment (not fun). Anyways thank you again hope your having a good day. Marika

 

[Marvis]

I got my prescription yesterday, but wow is it expensive!!! I'd assumed that with a prescription, I could buy seeds and grow a few plants for my own use, but apparently not. The paperwork to do that is extensive. I'll have to use it very sparingly until legalization happens next year. I'm wondering about your experience with the system ... I was left feeling a bit meh. My doctor sent me to a medical marijuana clinic. I was given a prescription, but they only deal with one supplier. So that left me feeling like they are linked to this company and I'm stuck with it and can't shop around for better prices or product. Is that the way it always works? I didn't receive a written prescription, just was told I was issued one and could now see the counsellor, who set me up with the supplier. It all felt very weird.