After my radical hysterectomy in November of 2013, my abdominal pain never really stopped. Some of the stabbing and burning, cat-scratch like pain inside that I knew to be endo-related was gone, but my lower left abdomen was still riddled with the nerve damage and scar tissue pain that I had experienced since my previous laparoscopic endo-related procedures. This kind of pain interfered with life and work a little bit, but luckily, I was only working part-time and my hours were flexible so I was able to work around my illness.
In the year or two prior to my hysterectomy, Maine had initiated a medical marijuana program and since I knew I hadn't had many pain issues during my recreational-use years in college, I decided to pursue my certification. Honestly, I figured I had nothing to lose. I couldn't go back to the zombifying pain management protocol I had been on prior to my pregnancy, but over-the-counter medications were not doing the trick for the pain I was experiencing. I traveled downstate for an evaluation and when the doctor whipped out the file folder of my history that had been sent from multiple providers, it was bulging beyond two inches thick. As he put the folder down on the table between us, he said, "First, I feel like I should hug you because what you have been through is terrible." After a hug, he continued, "Now, I can't make any guarantees, but based on your history, I am hopeful that you will be able to find some relief from this medicine." He provided me with my certificate and explained to me the process of accessing medication. On my trip back north, I stopped to get established with a registered "caregiver" who provided me with different strains of medication to try.
I have to admit, I was a bit nervous trying the medicine for the first time. It had been over a decade since my recreational use college days and I was worried that I was either going to revert back to a frat-party mentality or gain hundreds of pounds from the munchies. What ended up happening surprised everyone, but most of all me... Within a few minutes of taking the medicine, my pain was gone. I was not couch-locked. I did not feel "high" because the high effects of the CBD & THC were counter-balanced by my pain. I felt good. I had energy.
In the year or two prior to my hysterectomy, Maine had initiated a medical marijuana program and since I knew I hadn't had many pain issues during my recreational-use years in college, I decided to pursue my certification. Honestly, I figured I had nothing to lose. I couldn't go back to the zombifying pain management protocol I had been on prior to my pregnancy, but over-the-counter medications were not doing the trick for the pain I was experiencing. I traveled downstate for an evaluation and when the doctor whipped out the file folder of my history that had been sent from multiple providers, it was bulging beyond two inches thick. As he put the folder down on the table between us, he said, "First, I feel like I should hug you because what you have been through is terrible." After a hug, he continued, "Now, I can't make any guarantees, but based on your history, I am hopeful that you will be able to find some relief from this medicine." He provided me with my certificate and explained to me the process of accessing medication. On my trip back north, I stopped to get established with a registered "caregiver" who provided me with different strains of medication to try.
I have to admit, I was a bit nervous trying the medicine for the first time. It had been over a decade since my recreational use college days and I was worried that I was either going to revert back to a frat-party mentality or gain hundreds of pounds from the munchies. What ended up happening surprised everyone, but most of all me... Within a few minutes of taking the medicine, my pain was gone. I was not couch-locked. I did not feel "high" because the high effects of the CBD & THC were counter-balanced by my pain. I felt good. I had energy.
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| Day 1 of getting my life back... January 2014 |
Within 15 minutes of taking the medication, I was digging a snow cave with my children in our front yard. Emily was almost 4 and she had never in her life seen me get down on the ground to play with them in this way. While the girls continued to play cautiously around me out of habit, we laughed and wrestled and even took a short nap in the cave we had built. It was the best day EVER after my wedding and birth/adoption days.
I continued to manage my pain with my new medication and actively sought other natural means of pain management like nutritional changes, essential oils and detoxification protocols. I had a good deal of energy, so I started making some positive lifestyle changes - eating more clean, organic, whole foods and drinking more water. I lost 120 pounds over the next 12-months (take THAT munchies!) and even started a small side business selling jewelry online and at local events with my daughters while continuing to work part-time. We made such wonderful memories together with our jewelry business and it was flexible around my bad pain days.
I missed out on a few things socially, but overall I felt okay and the pain was manageable. I bought into the fact that my endo was dying off from lack of estrogen and that all of the pain I felt was related to pelvic floor dysfunction, scar tissue and nerve damage to my abdomen from all of my surgeries and procedures. This was my new normal and for the most part, it worked.
I continued to manage my pain with my new medication and actively sought other natural means of pain management like nutritional changes, essential oils and detoxification protocols. I had a good deal of energy, so I started making some positive lifestyle changes - eating more clean, organic, whole foods and drinking more water. I lost 120 pounds over the next 12-months (take THAT munchies!) and even started a small side business selling jewelry online and at local events with my daughters while continuing to work part-time. We made such wonderful memories together with our jewelry business and it was flexible around my bad pain days.
I missed out on a few things socially, but overall I felt okay and the pain was manageable. I bought into the fact that my endo was dying off from lack of estrogen and that all of the pain I felt was related to pelvic floor dysfunction, scar tissue and nerve damage to my abdomen from all of my surgeries and procedures. This was my new normal and for the most part, it worked.
