Not exactly a good bye

[matriarch]

Is medical marijuana legal in the UK?

Unless you know an illegal grower or dealer, cannabis may be harder to get here in the US than a prescription drug, and could end up sending you to jail. California has cannabis clubs where you can buy medical marijuana, but they've been cracking down on them lately - and you still need a doctor's prescription to get it.

The medicinal properties are well known. Research has been going on a long time to try and extract the medicine from the whole drug.

My sister gets hers through her daughter, who also has MS. She asks no questions, and believe me, should a court prosecute her, she'd not care one bit. It gives her the relief that other drugs do not. The only side effect she gets is 'the munches', which is apparently quite common. I wouldn't know, never taken it.

 

[cloudy]

The medicinal properties are well known. Research has been going on a long time to try and extract the medicine from the whole drug.

My sister gets hers through her daughter, who also has MS. She asks no questions, and believe me, should a court prosecute her, she'd not care one bit. It gives her the relief that other drugs do not. The only side effect she gets is 'the munches', which is apparently quite common. I wouldn't know, never taken it.

Yep, very common.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Thanks for all the kind words. I'm not planning on just disappearing, but I just don't know what is coming, but I know it will be bad.

My old Gp reccomended someone, but she just wasn't prepared to give me drugs. She tried to get me to go see a specialist. I racked up 75K of debt being tested. I've been subjected to every test known to man and some I think they just made up. The result is always the same, no organic brain damage, have an advil.

In NY there just is no way. Dr.s are more concerned with being sued than they are of patients suffering.

I've seen neurologists, pain management, brain specialists. they don't know why I hurt.

 

[hugo_sam]

Thanks for all the kind words. I'm not planning on just disappearing, but I just don't know what is coming, but I know it will be bad.

My old Gp reccomended someone, but she just wasn't prepared to give me drugs. She tried to get me to go see a specialist. I racked up 75K of debt being tested. I've been subjected to every test known to man and some I think they just made up. The result is always the same, no organic brain damage, have an advil.

In NY there just is no way. Dr.s are more concerned with being sued than they are of patients suffering.

I've seen neurologists, pain management, brain specialists. they don't know why I hurt.

Colly
Told you this morning how I feel.
My heartfelt best wishes and sympathy go out to you.
Hopefully something will happen to allow you some relief.
*Loving gentle hugs*
Hugo

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

WTF: I NY? Not!
I believe it though - NY, a statist's paradise and regulatory hellhole. How about a neighboring state?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

WTF? I NY- Not!
I believe it though - NY, a statist's paradise and regulatory hellhole. How about a neighboring state?

NJ is as bad. Connecticut is supposedly better, but I had no luck

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Hey CT Lit fans - anyone know an enlightened MD?

 

[cheerful_deviant]

I'm away for weeks and I come back to this?

Colly, if there is anything I can do you know you only have to ask.

I'll be keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you.

 

[McKenna]

I don't know what to say, Colly, other than I'll be thinking of you and sending as many positive vibes your way as I can. For someone who exudes such good karma, surely a little will find its way back to you.

 

[Belegon]

Colly,

You are so much a part of this community that even your vacations are periods of unease for the rest of us, including me. Something just seems to be missing. You are so much a part of things here to me that you are the only Literotican to have ever appeared in one of my stories, albeit an off-camera and out-of-character (or at least orientation) cameo.

What can I do? What have you been taking that has been helpful? Is it something I could buy a few freeway exits south of here and ship to you?

BTW, I have also had friends who have found value in Cannabis...

 

[scheherazade_79]

Unless you know an illegal grower or dealer, cannabis may be harder to get here in the US than a prescription drug, and could end up sending you to jail. California has cannabis clubs where you can buy medical marijuana, but they've been cracking down on them lately - and you still need a doctor's prescription to get it.

I know of a parking lot in the Bronx where it's pretty easy to get hold of some. It's around Edson Avenue. Just look for the parked cars and follow your nose. I didn't have any problems and I was just a tourist in the area

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I don't know how long or too what degree I will be functional. I've had a wonderful time here and met so many great people. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone and if I just up and disappear, the likely reason is I've finally given up.

*hugs*

I haven't often agreed with you when we've discussed things, but I like you all the same. Hope you'll make it back once in a while.

 

[Aurora Black]

Colly, I'm so sorry that you're in so much pain. Having to deal with so many aloof, incompetent and greedy doctors doesn't help, either. I wish that there was something that I could do for you.

I hope that something good will happen so you won't have to leave us, that you'll find some way to find the meds you need. I'll pray for you.

 

[davidwatts]

Thanks for all the kind words. I'm not planning on just disappearing, but I just don't know what is coming, but I know it will be bad.

My old Gp reccomended someone, but she just wasn't prepared to give me drugs. She tried to get me to go see a specialist. I racked up 75K of debt being tested. I've been subjected to every test known to man and some I think they just made up. The result is always the same, no organic brain damage, have an advil.

In NY there just is no way. Dr.s are more concerned with being sued than they are of patients suffering.

I've seen neurologists, pain management, brain specialists. they don't know why I hurt.

Weird. Here in upstate NY they shovel drugs on my wife (not for migranes, mood elevators) like candy and it seems that for kids Ritalin is almost mandatory. Not surprised about the new dr wanting to do the same tests over again though. That's where the money is, and sometimes you want to tell them to just cut to the chase and pretend the tests were given and bill me rather than go through the maze again. I'm through buying the litigation line from them and am convinced repeated testing in most cases is just another way to grab the dough.

You're an adult, with a medical record of a treatment that has worked for you and a history of what has failed. For a new doctor to not continue what has worked for you in the past is negligent at best.

Good luck to you, for what it's worth.

 

[Penelope Street]

I'm so sorry to learn of your situation.

 

[Liar]

Weird. Here in upstate NY they shovel drugs on my wife (not for migranes, mood elevators) like candy and it seems that for kids Ritalin is almost mandatory.

That's for mood and behaviour drugs. Effective painkillers is a much more testy subject. Possibly because they are more addictive, but I'm not sure about that.

 

[Guest]

very sorry colly love.
i suffer migrains as well but totally not on the same level as you. im really cringing when the last script i have runs out. ive been through the same drill...neuro, mri's, scans, medicine trials...everything and the only thing that works for me is fiorcet or valium. try to get that from just any doc and you fight an uphill battle.
much love
much empathy and tons of hope that you'll find a doc who understands what youve been through.

v~

 

[davidwatts]

That's for mood and behaviour drugs. Effective painkillers is a much more testy subject. Possibly because they are more addictive, but I'm not sure about that.

Probably true, but it seems unfair to not allow a patient to make their own choices about such things though. You're an adult, you sign a waiver saying that you know the risks of the medication and absolve everybody from any litigation or blame. What could be worse than constant and unbearable pain?

This seems to be an over-medicated society we live in, and I've raised an eyebrow or two around my house when I see the pill parade, but it seems like relief of pain should be on the top of the list when dispensing medication. I can deal with a moody wife, but would not want to have to watch her suffer like Colleen seems to.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Probably true, but it seems unfair to not allow a patient to make their own choices about such things though. You're an adult, you sign a waiver saying that you know the risks of the medication and absolve everybody from any litigation or blame. What could be worse than constant and unbearable pain?

This seems to be an over-medicated society we live in, and I've raised an eyebrow or two around my house when I see the pill parade, but it seems like relief of pain should be on the top of the list when dispensing medication. I can deal with a moody wife, but would not want to have to watch her suffer like Colleen seems to.

I like my old GP's stance. If the options are, addicted, but functional or clean and not, I think addiction isn't neccessarily a bad thing.

Unfortuneatly, he was very old school. They don't teach them nowadays that alleviating suffering is the important part.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Colly, you have all my sympathy.

I don't know what you were taking, but have you tried any off-shore Internet pharmacies? Stay away from the big name places and go for the sleazy Indian onesI got phentermine from them easily, which is impossible to get here without a precription, which is also impossible to get. A friend got ritalin

I know they sell Vicodin, codeine, and Oxycodone/oxycontin through the mail. Totally illegal, but they can't catch you. I think I used these guys once:

http://www.drugsforcost.com/categorylist.asp?catID=31

I know, trying to get prescriptions out of doctors is almost impossible now. DEA monitors their total pain killer prescription-writing history and calls them in for audits. It's a real shame.

My heart goes out to you, love, and I wish you the best.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

A point of information - The reason the painkillers are harder to get is not necessarily because of prudish attitudes by MDs, but becase there is a "secondary market," ie. drug addicts. So legislators have written laws that place a higher bar on prescribing these. Part of the solution may to find an MD with whom you can establish some kind of personal connection, so he/she is confident that you are not a drug dealer. That can be challenging in itself, due to the current structure of the health care delivery system in the U.S. (tax policy creating skewed incentives). Challenging, but not impossible. Not surprisingly, it sounds like New York state has gone further than most to make life difficult in this regard, but Connecticut has not. Once again, any Lit folks in CT have relationship with an MD they could pass on? I am going to ask a journalist I know in NYC if he has any ideas.

 

[eric shawn listo]

My best to you Colly...I've had migraines in the past and know you are in no fun place...Let's hope the suggestions of these good people here bear fruit...

 

[rikaaim]

Colly, I don't know what to say really. You and I haven't interacted much really. Yet, whenever I had a question, or a concern, you were always right there to help me out. I think that speaks volumes of your character. I'm sure if it came down to it there would be multiple dozens of pages filled with the loving people here testifying to how you changed their lives. I'll admit I haven't interacted with many here. I'm rather anti-social and definately a terrible conversationalist. I thank you for being ever patient and understanding. Your passion and wit show in everything you do. I hope that your beautiful mind is releaved from the pain to be free once more to help others.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

"Work the problem" illustrated

Literoticans: In a previous post I recommended that we try to help. Let me be more specific, and give an example. I mean use our own personal contact networks to find an MD that can help our friend. I just sent the note below to a journalist in NYC with whom I have a professional relationship. I post this simply to illustrate the kind of thing that might produce unexpected results. Or not - but you never know.

Dear XXXX:

Pardon this weird inquiry, but I am "working a problem" totally unrelated to my professional life, and you happen to be a knowledgeable and sophisticated guy in the location of the problem. A beloved and respected member of an on-line community to which I belong posted this yesterday:

"Not exactly a good bye - More of a heads up. Many of you know I suffer from terrible migraines. A few also know of the hoops I have been going through to get pain killers just to function. My old GP has retired. This means I won't be getting any more pain killers, which means I am, more than likely going to be returned to the world of unremitting pain, day in and day out, that I was in before I returned to my old GP and got medicine. I don't know how long or to what degree I will be functional. I expected this, but now that it's come, I really don't know how I will go on. My old GP recommended someone, but she just wasn't prepared to give me drugs. I've seen neurologists, pain management, brain specialists. they don't know why I hurt. (Regarding fewer regulatory obstacle in neighboring states) NJ is as bad. Connecticut is supposedly better, but I had no luck."

I recommended to other members of this community, especially in the NYC area, that we "work the problem," that is, ask around our own networks of friends and colleagues, looking for an MD who can be of help here. In movement terms, take advantage of some of that Hayekian "disbursed knowledge."

I have no reason to think you have any such knowledge in this regard, but that's the thing about disbursed knowledge - you never know unless you ask. So I'm asking, on the off chance that you might say, "Oh yeah, my sister's doc is terrific and totally understands - have her call Dr. Smith at 212-XXX-XXXX."

Thanks for your time.

Roxanne Appleby

 

[kinkitup42]

I talked to a friend of mine that is a Pharmacist.

Her suggest was talk to you rpharmacist where you are getting your currant perscription. They know you and MIGHt be able to recomend a dr who tends to be willing to write similar perscriptions.

Its worth a shot at least.

Pharmacists often know way more about doctors than we'd think at first.

Good luck!


~Alex