This is a shock.

[LIP]

I've just got off the phone to my friend L. She was talking to me like normal, how everything was, how she and the baby were doing, and then out of the blue she starts crying and tells me she's been diagnosed with MS. It really knocked my for 6. She's only just had her first baby with my mate B, and they've only just got a house together. She's still young, only 24. It's such a shame. I dont think it's fully sunk in yet. I didnt know what to say to her, or B.

She doesnt smoke, but i was thinking about offering her as much free weed as she wants - i dont know how to go about broching the subject yet, but im trying to think of ways i can help. I havnt seen her for awhile.

I'm going to do some serious reading, and go round to her place and have a proper chat with her.

I never really paid too much attention to MS. Now someone i know has it, it's made it all that more real.

I dont really know why im posting this, but i had to write it out. I've got no one i can talk to - one of the downsides of living on your own i supose.

[cannabis campbell]

Whats MS stand for mate!? its baffling my head

[TheGreatBenzino]

Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated MS, also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, difficulties with coordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, overheating, and pain. MS will cause impaired mobility and disability in more severe cases.

[LIP]

Multiple Sclerosis

[dragonrider]

I've known several people with MS. This disease is highly variable in how it affects people. Some are completely disabled by it, but many are not. For many people, I think they fear the worst possible outcome. But in at least three of the people I have known who had it, you would never know they had MS unless they told you.

One is my best friend. I've known him since we were kids. He was diagnosed about 15 years ago. He lives a very functional and rewarding life. His first symptoms were waking up one morning paralyzed on one side. That horrible experience and the diagnosis were very devastating to him. But he did recover about 90 percent of his function, and even now, after several more attacks, the worst you could say is that he seems a little bit clumsy. He's got a great job, and has a nice wife and kid. He's got a decent life.

So I tell you this so that you won't think of your friend like she has a death sentence.

In my friend's case, when he started to open up about his MS, a lot of people who you would never know had MS confided to him that they had it too, and that's why I know so many people who have it. Hopefully your friend's experience will be the same, and it will take away some of the fear.

Anyway, my friend does occaisionally smoke. He says it takes away some of the pain and stiffness that he experieinces. He doesn't smoke very often becasue he has a lot of responsibilities and can't be "out of it" too often. He also takes a number of mainstream drugs to diminish the frequency and severity of attacks.

I also had a friend in college who had a severe case of MS that progressed rapidly during the time we were in school. His story was a lot sadder that my other freind's, but i;m not going to get into that. Anyway, he smoked a lot and found a lot of relief in it.

I would suggest you treat your friend like she is going to be okay. Talk to her about her specific symptoms. Ask her whether she has spoken to anyone else who has MS. Encourage her to seek the best medical treatment and to get in contact with other people who have MS. You might bring up the issue of whether smoking would help her particular symptoms --- I think it mostly alleviates stiffness and pain, not so helpful for other kinds of symptoms. But if she is a non-smoker, then she might be a bit put off about it. She has a lot to deal with already, without having to deal with the issue of illegal alternative treatment right away. Weed does not cure MS, only helps with some symptoms, so there is no need to rush into that issue for fear of lost time. If her symptoms seem to warrant considering it, and she is looking for alternatives, I'd bring it up then. If that is not the case, then just leave it alone --- she opened up to you, so you are one of her trusted freinds --- don't scare her away by bringing up weed if you don't think she is open to it. You'll do the most good just by being there and being hopeful.

[LIP]

I've known several people with MS. This disease is highly variable in how it affects people. Some are completely disabled by it, but many are not. For many people, I think they fear the worst possible outcome. But in at least three of the people I have known who had it, you would never know they had MS unless they told you.

One is my best friend. I've known him since we were kids. He was diagnosed about 15 years ago. He lives a very functional and rewarding life. His first symptoms were waking up one morning paralyzed on one side. That horrible experience and the diagnosis were very devastating to him. But he did recover about 90 percent of his function, and even now, after several more attacks, the worst you could say is that he seems a little bit clumsy. He's got a great job, and has a nice wife and kid. He's got a decent life.

So I tell you this so that you won't think of your friend like she has a death sentence.

In my friend's case, when he started to open up about his MS, a lot of people who you would never know had MS confided to him that they had it too, and that's why I know so many people who have it. Hopefully your friend's experience will be the same, and it will take away some of the fear.

Anyway, my friend does occaisionally smoke. He says it takes away some of the pain and stiffness that he experieinces. He doesn't smoke very often becasue he has a lot of responsibilities and can't be "out of it" too often. He also takes a number of mainstream drugs to diminish the frequency and severity of attacks.

I also had a friend in college who had a severe case of MS that progressed rapidly during the time we were in school. His story was a lot sadder that my other freind's, but i;m not going to get into that. Anyway, he smoked a lot and found a lot of relief in it.

I would suggest you treat your friend like she is going to be okay. Talk to her about her specific symptoms. Ask her whether she has spoken to anyone else who has MS. Encourage her to seek the best medical treatment and to get in contact with other people who have MS. You might bring up the issue of whether smoking would help her particular symptoms --- I think it mostly alleviates stiffness and pain, not so helpful for other kinds of symptoms. But if she is a non-smoker, then she might be a bit put off about it. She has a lot to deal with already, without having to deal with the issue of illegal alternative treatment right away. Weed does not cure MS, only helps with some symptoms, so there is no need to rush into that issue for fear of lost time. If her symptoms seem to warrant considering it, and she is looking for alternatives, I'd bring it up then. If that is not the case, then just leave it alone --- she opened up to you, so you are one of her trusted freinds --- don't scare her away by bringing up weed if you don't think she is open to it. You'll do the most good just by being there and being hopeful.


Thankyou man. She's smoked it before, and enjoyed it.

Illegality isnt an issue, it's as good as decriminalised over here - the filth dont tend to enforce it, especially with adults who only have small amounts.

I still dont think it's sunk in fully yet. I cant sleep, it's 2:12am and im meant to be leaving for work at 5:30am, so tonight is another sleepless night.

It's just such a shock.

I'm going to go to her manor tomorrow night and have a proper frank and pat with her.

It's such a shame. :(

Makes you realise just how lucky you are.

I just dont know what to do - i dont know what i can do. I probably cant do anything - im in bits.

I dont even know if i'll bother with work tomorrow, they can do their jobs without me.

[birdgirl73]

Real sorry to hear about your friend, LIP. I have nothing but admiration for people who deal with MS. Remember Kiwi, one of our mods here? Kiwi has MS and has dealt with it so gracefully and courageously. She knows a lot about the disease and has gotten great benefit from treating the symptoms with cannabis. Cannabis can do really great things for the muscle spasms and other symptoms that go with that disease. I hope your friend can find a good support network. Attitude makes a big difference in how people feel with that disease. A friend of mine from my hometown has it and has for many years, but she has a fairly slowly progressing, mild case of it.

Take care, Lip, and give your friend my best regards!

[Storm Crow]

Lip, hit the link in my sig and print out the MS section- it's big and there is a lot more out there on the net, too! I have an online friend who has MS- she says cannabis REALLY helps! Be sure to give "L" a hug from me!- Granny

[weedmaster]

sorry to hear that m8, i know how you must be feeling, my friend has just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and i feel totally useless. fingers crossed your friend doesn't get it too bad, at least she has a good friend like you. in these situations it's hard for everyone, my heart goes out to your friend and her partner.

[Man Beast]

Wish I had a friend like you, LiP. You really know how to help someone close to you out and give support.

[LIP]

Thankyou everyone. I evtually got to sleep at 5am, but decided not to bother with work today.

I'm going to go round her gaff at about 6ish, see how she is and have a proper chat with her.

I just wish i knew what i could do to help, then i could focus my energy on that.


Thankyou Birdgirl and storm crow, i'll print those pages off, and give her your best.

[Reefer Rogue]

That's horrible man, my condoloences

[beachguy in thongs]

Pain is a common problem of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be due to central/neuropathic or peripheral/somatic pathology. Rarely MS may present with pain, or pain may herald an MS exacerbation, such as in painful tonic spasms or Lhermitte's sign. In other patients, pain may become chronic as a long-term sequela of damage to nerve root entry zones (trigeminal neuralgia) or structures in central sensory pathways. Migraine headache may develop as a consequence of MS, and headache can also be a side effect of interferon treatment. The pathophysiology of pain in MS may be linked to certain plaque locations which disrupt the spinothalamic and quintothalamic pathways, abnormal impulses through motor axons, development of an acquired channelopathy in affected nerves, or involve glial cell inflammatory immune mechanisms. At this time, the treatment of pain in MS employs the use of antiepileptic drugs, muscle relaxers/antispasmodic agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, and nonpharmacological measures. Research concerning cannabis-based treatments shows promising results, and substances which block microglial or astrocytic involvement in pain processing are also under investigation.

Int Rev Neurobiol. 2007;79:303-21.
Kenner M, Menon U, Elliott DG.
Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103, USA.

[bluntblaze]

damn.. sorry to hear about your friend:(

[ipodguy]

I sort of know how you feel. I have a friend from high school with MS. He isn't supposed to live past 25 but you would never know he had the disease by looking at him. He's at Harvard now happy as I've ever seen him.
Really sorry to hear about your friend though; it's always tough to hear news like that.