I sure could use some normalcy in my life right about now. For 5-6 years now Iā??ve been an all but silent advocate for a patientā??s right to medical marijuana; careful word of mouth and the blue moon PayPal contributions to NORML were about the some total of my efforts. I was trying to stay under the radar, trying to avoid attracting any undo attention, for I am a military veteran with chronic pain who is ever dependent upon the Veteranā??s Affairs for medical and disability payments, and I smoke for medical relief every day, several times a day and have for years.
I have unmanaged constant symphonies of pain every moment, fentynal patches leave severe bouts of nausea lasting 2-6 hours while letting in an inordinate amount of pain. From 165 pounds and 5% body fat, my weight dropped to 117, no concern exhibited by my medical care givers. Neuropathic pain is a real nemesis, entirely parasitic and devoid of mercy. Then thereā??s spasticity, deeper than nightmares. Somehow through all of this, sometimes I struggle with maintaining a balanced perspective - emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Every medication prescribed has unintended side effects and the very real potential of causing irreversible damage to my body. Every year people die from taking the medications delivered to me by the VA Pharmacy.
Anyone even remotely educated on the topic of medical marijuana would instantly recognize the many-fold potential for better management of my condition and symptoms with the simple addition of daily marijuana maintenance program. In my case, it has been the only effective treatment for nausea, Iā??ve gained and maintained 27 pounds of mostly lean muscle mass and I eat regularly as opposed to 2-4 day binges of eating literally nothing, pain levels in general are unchanged in intensity but there is a distance gained from the pain to where it is no longer as suffocating, neuropathic pain is moderately reduced in both frequency and intensity, spasticity responds amazingly to certain varieties, and lastly my general psyche is more balanced, resilient, stable. And this is with what I understand to be "dirt" weed, I can't imagine the possible benefit from carefully cultivated strains.
Just before the Christmas holidays the VA screened my urine for illicit drugs, I was only informed they were checking my fentynal levels, lo and behold, I had a lonely THC spike. Now things with the VA are uncertain with sometimes conflicting scenarios being bandied about (i.e., denial of services, retesting, treatment, etc.). So, I find myself in need of advice on how to chart my course through this idiocy. I have Medicare but have never used it, I would love to find a Central Arkansas doctor who is tolerant or open to a patientā??s self-administered medical marijuana and who could write the prescriptions for the rest of my medications. Any suggestions or insights in how to manage the VA situation would be most welcome, too. Thanks in advance.
enderstao Reviewed by enderstao on . Disabled Vet Losing Hope in Central AR I sure could use some normalcy in my life right about now. For 5-6 years now Iā??ve been an all but silent advocate for a patientā??s right to medical marijuana; careful word of mouth and the blue moon PayPal contributions to NORML were about the some total of my efforts. I was trying to stay under the radar, trying to avoid attracting any undo attention, for I am a military veteran with chronic pain who is ever dependent upon the Veteranā??s Affairs for medical and disability payments, and I Rating: 5