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Tag Archives: pain relief

Cannabis for chronic pain: Let’s talk dosage

CBD, Medical Marijuana, pain relief December 10, 2018 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

This article is part of an ongoing series. Click here to read entire series.

So far we have dispelled some myths like the only way to medicate with cannabis is to smoke it.  I have shared a legal way to try cannabis.  Last week we discussed 4 popular ways to medicate with marijuana and today and we are going to talk about one of the most confusing aspects to someone who is knew to medicating with cannabis, how to figure out dosages.

Disclosure: I am NOT a medical professional and I am not issuing medical advice. This post contains some affiliate links. Meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission from sales. The proceeds offset the expense of operating this site and fund the giveaways for my Facebook groups.

Finding an ideal dosage is difficult, even for those who aren’t new to medical marijuana. There are several reasons for this like; there are many different strains, one method may hit your system harder than another, and other personal factors like if you ate before medicating, how sleepy you are, etc. While I have learned to expect a similar experience when using one strain night after night in the same manner, there will be a night where my experience is totally different even though I did everything the same. With that said, the different isn’t bad, just not what I was expecting. Some nights the high takes longer to hit, sometimes the high lasts longer than others, and then there are times when the exact same dosage of another product is nothing like what I have had with others.


I have two examples of products having a different effect. For some time I needed 25-50mgs of the edibles that I had been purchasing to fall asleep and relieve chronic pain from fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. Then I tried 10mgs of another brand and holy moly!! That 10mgs hit me harder and faster than 50mgs of the brands I had been taking. Needless to say that became my new medication as I needed less and was able to save money. Most recently I purchased an 200mg chocolate bar that could be broken down into 12 squares at approximately 16.6666mgs per square. That is too much for me, unless I plan on sleeping in the following morning. So I break mine down into half squares at approximately 8.3333mgs per serving. This is still an extremely strong dose for me. Funny thing is I have had other chocolates that were much stronger in dosages and they never hit me like this brand does. To micro dose with this chocolate bar I would have to break each square into eighths. Fourths would be more like a typical dosage for me.


Finding your dosage will  be harder depending on whether or not you want to feel high. If you don’t want to feel high, you will need to micro dose which is to take very small amounts. This is easier to do with edibles and tinctures versus vaping or smoking. With that said, most people advise others to begin with 2mgs. If you are wanting to micro dose, I would try 1mg and increase as needed. Personally I find it easier and most effective to take a larger dose of 5-10mgs at bedtime. This allows me to reach a restorative level of sleep and rarely do I feel the need to medicate during the day and can wait for my nighttime dose. If I do need daytime relief, I have a little CBD and run PEMF treatments before digging into my cannabis stash.

Combined with cannabis, this inflammation fighting device has taken my pain management plan to a new level of awesomeness! Check it our for yourself and if you should decide to give it a try, remember that my discount code DIVA will save you $55.00

Micro dosing with flower isn’t impossible, it just isn’t as easy or convenient to do so. To do so, use a pipe and only put enough to take a hit or two in it. Then wait and see how that effects you before taking more.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you happen to get higher than you are comfortable with, you will not overdose. I will discuss what to do if you get too high in a future post. With that said make sure that you are not consuming a synthetic weed or street weed. Know where your weed was grown! Do not use pharmaceutical pain medication along with it.

 

 

 

 

Remember, start slow and low, no more than 2mgs! Wait, then add more later if necessary.

Now that you know where you can try it, have options on how to consume it, and have an idea how to begin dosing, next week I will explain what to do if you get too high and want to bring it down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cannabis for chronic pain: Choosing how to take it

CBD, Chronic Life, Health issues, Medical Marijuana December 4, 2018 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cannabis for chronic pain: Choosing how to take it

This article is part of an ongoing series. Click here to read entire series.

Now that you have found a legal way to find out if cannabis will help relieve your chronic pain, it is time to figure out which way to consume it. The perk of visiting a state that has legalized recreational marijuana is that you will have access to some amazing products.  Today I am going to cover several different methods of medicating with cannabis and how you decide which form fits your lifestyle, needs, and budget.

Edibles

 

Disclosure: I am NOT a medical professional and I am not issuing medical advice. This post contains some affiliate links. Meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission from sales. The proceeds offset the expense of operating this site and fund the giveaways for my Facebook groups.

 

Edibles were my first choice when I began combatting chronic pain with cannabis six years ago and there were several reasons for this.  The first being that I didn’t want to smoke around my family.  My daughter was young, I couldn’t risk my husband failing a drug test at work, and my neighbors at the time were not ones who needed to know what I was doing.  Thankfully edibles turned out to be the best thing to start out with.  Unlike the high from vaping or smoking, the high from edibles lasts much longer.  If I smoked a joint before bed, pain would wake up halfway through the night.  The high from an edible can last anywhere from 6-10 hours which provided me the best sleep of my life!  Edibles are also easier to micro-dose with.  It was easy to breakdown an edible and know a close approximation of how much cannabis was in each piece.  Another reason I liked edibles is that they are discreet.  My favorite reason for loving edibles is the cost! When I first began medicating with cannabis, I didn’t have a large budget.  In fact I often only spent $50 a month.  I did this by purchasing edibles that could be broken down easily and that wouldn’t go stale before I finished them.  Cheeba Chews and FlavrX candies are two of my favorite brands. I currently purchased a 200mg candy bar from LaFamilia that is so strong that I only need half of one square at night.  There are 12 squares.  That one bar that I purchased for $15 is going to yield me 24 nights of rest!

My average dose for evening is 5-10mgs. This dosage gifts me with the restorative sleep that I had been without for 13 years.  When I needed to micro-dose during the day I would only take 1-2mgs.  After awhile I rarely needed any to get through the day and was only medicating at night.  The thing to remember with edibles is that while the effect lasts longer than other forms, it also can take longer to take effect.  You may not feel the effect from an edible for up to three hours after consuming it.  This can make it a little tricky to time your nighttime meds.  Even if you take the same amount of the same product every night at the same time, when it hits will never be the same.  Because of this you will want to make sure that you won’t need to drive or do anything of major importance after taking your meds.  They could hit you within 30 minutes or not for several hours.  Generally, if I don’t feel something after an hour, I will have a little more.  If you have never consumed cannabis, I recommend starting at 2-3mgs and work up from there.  While you don’t have to worry about overdosing on cannabis, a lot of first timers are either put off of or become afraid of the high when they consume more than they were ready for.  Take it slow, do it on a regular basis, and overtime you will notice your overall pain level reduced.  The only real con, besides how long it can take to take effect, I can think of with edibles is that outside of sometimes having the choice between a hybrid, sativa, or indica, most edibles don’t share what strain was used.

Flower

One of the perks of smoking is that the high and the relief it brings hits quickly.  If I find myself in need of instant relief, but also want a solid night’s sleep, I take a few hits from my pipe after eating an edible.  Because I stopped needing the all night relief that edibles bring two years ago, I have been trying other forms of consumption.  Some nights I just want to medicate and be done, while other nights I want to savor the smell and flavor of it.  Smoking cannabis is something to be enjoyed and not rushed.  To be honest, I wasn’t able to appreciate the wonder of flower when I first began medicating with it because I was only focused on relieving my pain and falling asleep.

Pros of medicating with flower is that you can pick strains that have qualities that address your needs.  For example you can choose strains that work better for sleep, creativity, nausea, pain, anxiety, etc… Don’t just pick a strain at random and then say that cannabis doesn’t help you.  You may have picked a strain that would NOT help you.  To get the best results you will have to do some research.  My go to sites for strain reviews are Leafly and Weedmaps.  Another pro is that the high hits fast.

Getting and renewing your medical marijuana recommendation in California and New York has never been easier! Californians click here and New Yorkers click here!

There are few cons to medicating with flower.  The smell, everyone will know what you are doing.  The cost, flower, especially quality flower can get quite pricey.  Shop around and find a dispensary that gives the best deals.  Shopping during sales helps to keep my flower budget from growing out of control.  Figuring out your dosage is not as easy with flower, which makes it harder to micro-dose with. Last but not least, you cannot smoke it anywhere you want.  Most places that have legalized it for medicinal and recreational use have made it illegal to smoke in vehicles or in public places.

 

 

 

Vape

Each combo pack includes case, CBD cartridge, batter, and charger.
Click here to order yours today!

 

Vaping has quickly become one of my preferred ways to medicate with cannabis.  As for as anyone watching all they will assume is that I am vaping nicotine.  Vaping does produce vapor when exhaling, most do not have the odor that flower does.  Most cartridges come with a 510 thread that will fit most battery pens.  Pictured to the left is my combo pack from Bio CBD+.  The battery pen also works with the THC cartridges that I purchase from my dispensary.

Just like with smoking flower, the high and relief hits quickly, often within 5-15 minutes.  While there are nights when I take anywhere from 6-8 hits from my pen, there are some where I only need two or three.  Start slow.  Try two hits, then wait a good 20-30 minutes before taking another hit.  I love vaping and will be ordering an herb vaporizer later this month.  With that I will be able to vape flower and then later use the dried herb to make my own cannabutter.  Talk about pulling double duty and saving money!!!  The only cons I have found with vaping is that not all brands share what strain was used.  That is one of the reasons that I love FlavrX.  Knowing which strain I am purchasing helps me find the ones that best address my symptoms.  BTW Tropical Trainwreck is fantastic from muscle relaxation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tinctures

So you want something discreet, like edibles, but you want something that takes effect quickly like flower…. Tinctures may be for you.  With a tincture you just place a few drops of the liquid under your tongue and voila, you should be feeling better within 15 minutes.

Personally, I haven’t really noticed how long the effect of tinctures lasts when compared to flower or edibles, mainly because I don’t use them often.  While discreet, it creates a mess in my bag if the cap comes loose, not to mention expensive over the contents that spills out.  Most tinctures also taste terrible! I prefer using tinctures for toothaches or to quickly medicate in bed if I wake up to pain that won’t let me fall back to sleep.  Tinctures are fairly easy to micro-dose with and unless you are holding a billboard, no one will know that you are medicating.

While there are other ways to medicate with cannabis, these are the top 4 that you should consider for your test run.  Just remember that if you are traveling to try cannabis, don’t go crazy purchasing a bunch of products.  It is federally illegal to possess cannabis and cross any of the United State’s borders, this includes state borders.  You can not visit, purchase, and try cannabis in California and return to Arizona with the remainder of your stash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel like dancing!

Chronic Life, Cynthia, pain relief December 2, 2018 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel like dancing!!!

I never thought I would want to dance. To be honest I am a terrible dancer.  In fact I rarely danced at parties, weddings, etc. because I worried about how foolish I would appear.  When my chronic illnesses first stole my ability to hit the dance floor, I didn’t really think much about what I had lost…. Then last year a burning desire to move my feet ignited……..

Achy feet

Long before being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia, my feet began to hurt.  At first I thought it was from the shoes I was wearing.  Little by little I rid my closet of high heels.  By 1999 I found myself able to wear nothing but wide slip on types of shoes, sneakers (but only for a few hours as my feet would swell and feel strangled by the laces), and flip flops.  Living in flip flops wasn’t a problem when I lived in Arizona, but it was a problem when I lived in colder climates and when I traveled.  By 2005, I could only wear crocs, flip flops, and wide boots without heels.  As time went by the amount of time that I was able to spend on my feet dwindled. By 2012 I couldn’t stand or walk for more than 5 minutes at a time.

Disclosure: I am NOT a medical professional and I am not issuing medical advice. This post contains some affiliate links. Meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission from sales. The proceeds offset the expense of operating this site and fund the giveaways for my Facebook groups.

A toe tapping surprise!

I didn’t notice a difference in the pain that was felt deep in the bones of my feet until my fifth year of treating my chronic pain with natural and alternative treatments.  I will never forget the day that I realized the pain was gone.  I returned home from grocery shopping.  But instead of making a beeline for the recliner while I waited for my husband and daughter to unload the car and put the groceries away, I did it. It wasn’t until my daughter asked why I hadn’t called her out of her room to help that I realized what I had done.  I wasn’t tired, I didn’t need to rest, and to my delight, my feet didn’t hurt!!!!  At first I thought this was just a fluke, that it couldn’t be real, or that it wouldn’t last.  But guess what it did!!!

Happy feet

Wondering what happened? I did too! Because I also treat my illnesses in the same manner I combat chronic pain, it was pretty easy to figure out which item to credit.  Eight months prior to feeling footloose and fancy free, I added PEMF therapy to my pain management plan.  But at that time I was only using it a few times a week.  Then four months later and four months before noticing the pain was gone, I began using my PEMF device all day, every day! Even though I hadn’t been specifically treating my feet, the device was close enough to treat them without my realizing it.  It was also at this time that the non-stop pain that I had been experiencing in my lower back from degenerative disc disease had disappeared.

Continued therapy

PEMF therapy with Oska Pulse is still part of my daily treatments.  I have been using it now for two years and the relief it provides still blows my mind. After a day at Disneyland, my feet are beat.  They ache like the average person’s would, but the even more because of my chronic illnesses.  While in the park I treat my lower back and abdomen with my device, but I move it to my ankles (if I am driving home) or place it directly on both feet (if someone else is driving).  When I reach my home, 45 minutes later, my feet no longer hurt and I am able to go to bed without pain.  Somedays my feet require a few extra treatments, but even when they hurt, I am able to walk without the pain I used to experience in the past. A few months ago I added another thing to my daily treatment plan.  Each night before bed and first thing in the morning I apply a topical CBD oil to my feet.  I rub it into the arch, heel, ball, and around ankles.  I truly never thought I would know what it was like to walk again without feeling like I was dragging my bones across the cement. And to think that I can now walk 4-12 miles a day and without worrying about whether or not I will be able to walk tomorrow.

The drug free pain relief device on my back keeps me moving!

The gift of relief

Last year I danced for the first time since becoming chronically ill.  My husband and I were attending a Christmas party and the host was hoping to get some people out on the dance floor.  Being that I only see these people once a year, I let go of my inhibitions and let loose on the dance floor.  I have no rhythm, I can’t keep a beat, but I made sure to enjoy every move knowing that my feet would be okay!  A few months later I had a blast dancing with friends at my God-daughter’s wedding and I am looking forward to more opportunities to show off my horrendous dance moves.  If you are a glutton for punishment, you can check out my terrible dancing via the link I provided in my post How traveling with a chronic illness went from good to bad to what the heck just happened!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A good pain management plan shouldn’t just mask pain, it should decrease it, relieve it, and make living with your diseases better.  If your plan isn’t doing that you probably should look into making some changes.  You are welcome to take a peek at mine.  Click here to read about my pain management plan. And I also invite you to learn more about PEMF therapy.  Click here to discover all the different ways it has helped to improve my chronic symptoms and pain along with some tips on how to get the best results.  But don’t take my word, click here to read third party reports and click here to visit Oska Wellness.  And as always, if you should decide to give PEMF therapy with Oska Pulse a try, my discount code DIVA will save you $55.00.

 

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Where to legally try cannabis for chronic pain

Medical Marijuana, pain relief, travel November 29, 2018 Leave a comment

Where to legally try cannabis for chronic pain

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have received many inquiries lately from people who want to see if cannabis could help relieve their chronic pain, but they either don’t live where medical marijuana is legal or it is legal for medicinal use where they live, but they don’t want to sink a fortune into entering their state’s program only to discover it doesn’t help them.  Today I am going to share a legal and safe way to find out if adding cannabis to your pain management plan is for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best and most legal option is to plan an extended visit (at least a week) to a state or country that has legalized cannabis for recreational purposes.  I say most legal, because in the United States, it is illegal to be in possession of or to consume marijuana on a Federal level.  Before you say, hey I can’t afford a vacation, think about this…. A. It is not a vacation, it is a mission to find out if cannabis will improve your chronic pain.  B. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Save money by reaching out to friends and relatives that live in those areas and ask to stay with them.  C. Think of it as an investment. You either find out that it doesn’t work and you are out that money or it does help and you recoup that money with a better life once you begin at home.  We’ll talk more later about how to make the trip more cost effective, but for now let’s figure out where to go!

Here is a list of the states and countries that have legalized cannabis for recreational purposes as of the publication of this post:

Alaska

California

Colorado

Maine

Massachusetts

Michigan

Nevada

Oregon

Washington

Northern Mariana Islands

Canada (Click here to learn more about Canada’s cannabis laws)

While recreational use is legal in the District of Columbia and Vermont, neither allows it to be sold so I would not consider either as options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When considering where to go, keep a couple of things in mind.  If you don’t do well in cold climates, don’t visit Alaska or Michigan in the winter.  If extreme summer heat, we’re talking triple digits, increases your pain, don’t book a trip to Vegas during the summer.  Another thing to consider is, who do you know there? Do you have friends or family that are cannabis connoisseurs? Going into a dispensary for the first time can be an intimidating experience when you are new it.  Not only can they accompany you, they can also help you choose products.

Disclosure: I am NOT a medical professional and I am not issuing medical advice. This post contains some affiliate links. Meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission from sales. The proceeds offset the expense of operating this site and fund the giveaways for my Facebook groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have chosen your destination, you need to figure out where you are going to stay. The most affordable would be to stay with friends or family.  Just make sure that they know why you are visiting and what you are planning on doing while there.  Not everyone wants cannabis in their homes. Don’t be a douche, respect your hosts and if they are cannabis connoisseurs be sure to share!  Another perk of staying with someone who partakes regularly, they can help you not freak out when the high hits and help you decrease the high if you try too much.

My second suggestion is to book an Airbnb that allows smoking, if you are choosing to try it in that manner, or book through a cannabis tour service. Note that Airbnb does not have a policy against the possession or consumption of cannabis.

Here are a few cannabis lodging services/tours to help you on your mission.

Bud & Breakfast

My 420 Tours

TravelTHC

Have a cannabis travel business and would like to be listed in this post? Email The Disabled Diva to ask how at admin@thedisableddiva.net

Your last and least favorable option if you are planning on smoking would be a hotel/motel.  Most have no smoking rules and most state recreational cannabis laws prohibit smoking cannabis in public places such as a smoking area.  I know, I am shaking my head too…  Anyways, there are other ways to try cannabis that doesn’t include smoking…. and I will cover that next week along with how to find the products you want to try.

One last thing to think about….. If you are traveling to try cannabis, do not purchase more than you think you will consume while there.  It is federally illegal to transport cannabis over state/country borders.  This includes all modes of transportation, including air.

California medical marijuana patients!! Although any resident can purchase cannabis for recreational use, having your medical recommendation allows for you to have access to stronger meds, to possess more, and o spend less than those who are purchasing for recreational use. Click here to get your California rec online today! New and renewals! New Yorkers, renewals and new certifications, click here to get yours online today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Trudging Thru Bronchitis with Natural and Alternative Remedies

CBD, Cynthia, Health issues, Oska Pulse, pain relief November 28, 2018 Leave a comment

Trudging Thru Bronchitis

with Natural and Alternative Remedies

It’s that wonderful time of year! Festive lights, holiday parties, places to go, and people to see…. oh yes let us not forget about germs galore!  A few weeks ago we had a shift in weather here in southern California. We went from enjoying highs in the 70’s and 80’s to chilling in the 60’s.  It appears that winter has decided to come early and knock my area into the 50’s for daytime highs.  While I am looking forward to wearing my new winter jacket as much as possible this year and sitting by the fire, I don’t like how my body has chosen to react to these shifts.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I came down with bronchitis.  In the past I would treat it with over the counter cough medications or prescription cough syrups if the pain became too intense.  I stopped using both several years ago for a couple of reasons.  The first being that they all are artificially colored and flavored.  With my daughter being allergic to red dye and I being sensitive to dyes, we had to find alternatives.  Another reason I refuse to treat my cough with OTC or prescription syrups is that they mess with my stomach and head. I would rather not have to add diarrhea to my list of problems.  It’s been a few years since I have had bronchitis and the last time I was prescribed a syrup with codeine.  I experienced the worst night terrors and hallucinations that were so terrifying that no amount of bribery could ever get me to take that poison again.  Minus a cough syrup, my doctor says there is nothing else he can do….. But there is plenty that I can and do to treat it naturally and alternatively.

Honey

I use local organic honey as a cough suppressant.  It helps coat my throat and doesn’t upset my stomach.  I am currently using a wildflower honey that tastes and smells amazing! I get mine from Hallelujah Honey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure: I am NOT a medical professional and I am not issuing medical advice. I make no claims that any of the remedies mentioned will cure or heal you of any disease or illness. I am only sharing how these help me and my family. This post contains some affiliate links. Meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission from sales. The proceeds offset the expense of operating this site and fund the giveaways in my Fitness Buddy and Disneyability groups on Facebook.

CBD Oil

To battle the pain I experience from coughing, I rub my favorite CBD topical oil from Bio CBD+ all over my chest and ribcage.  This helps keep my muscles from reacting to the pain I experience in my ribcage. The scent is light and not off-putting like many other brands.

 

PEMF

The most important part of my bronchitis battle plan is the use of PEMF therapy.  If you are not familiar with PEMF therapy, it is the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields.  While there are many different types of devices available, click here to see some of them, my favorite is Oska Pulse.  I like it for several reasons.  The first being that it actually works!!  And by works, I mean it does a better job of loosening the crud in my chest, making it move, and relieving pain in my ribcage than any prescription medication I have ever been prescribed.  The best part is there are NO side effects!! It doesn’t upset my stomach, nor does it cause nightmares or hallucinations. Another perk? it is portable!! There are no cords to plug into the wall to use, just charge the battery and go! I can go about whatever activities I want while treating my aches and pains whenever I want.

With this trio I have yet to spend a day in bed unable to do anything.  I began coming down with this latest bout while at Disneyland on Thanksgiving day. With all the walking I was doing I didn’t want to stop the treatment on my lower back, so I waited to treat my chest until Saturday.  When I woke up that morning, it hurt to breathe.  After two treatments, the crud began to move and I could breathe without pain.  I have been taking it easy since the weekend.  For me taking it easy is allowing for naps when my body demands them, running PEMF treatments on my chest and ribcage all day long, and sitting at my desk working in my home office.  My daughter has also come down with the crud.  As you can see in the picture, she too is using her Oska Pulse to keep the crud in her chest from settling in.  One thing she and I have both noticed since we began using PEMF therapy (two years for me, eight months of daily use for her), is that the length and severity of the colds and crud we catch is far less than anything we have experienced in the past.  While that is fantastic, we just like that our trio of remedies don’t come with a side of harmful chemicals. Full disclosure: My daughter and I are taking one medication, our allergy pills to dry us up.  But that is it and it is the only medication we ever take and we only take as needed, not daily.

What are some of your favorite natural or alternative cough remedies?

Visit Hallelujah Honey

Visit Bio CBD+

Read my review of Bio CBD+ Topical Oil

Visit Oska Wellness to check Oska Pulse and don’t forget that my promo code DIVA will save you $55.00 should you decide you want to give it a try.

Read how Oska Pulse has improved my chronic life

Click here for general reports about PEMF treatments

Click here to learn how PEMF fights inflammation

Click here to learn how PEMF helps with immune function

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Signs That You Need a New Pain Management Plan

Chronic Life, Cynthia, pain relief November 25, 2018 Comments: 2

Ten Signs That You Need a New Pain Management Plan

Is your pain management plan working?

Here are 10 signs that it is NOT!

1. I often or always have to cancel plans

How many dates/appointments/commitments have you had to cancel in the past month?  How about past week? If you are canceling due to pain from your chronic illnesses more than once or twice a month, you need to make some changes.  It could be the products you are using to combat pain with or your own behavior that needs to change.  Are you respecting your body and modifying how you live? Do you pace your activity or are you running yourself into the ground?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. I dread waking up in the morning

Do you wake up with  a pain level that is equal or worse than what you went to bed with? That was my life when I was treating my chronic pain with prescription medications.  Opioids may have masked my pain enough to allow me to fall asleep or they would knock me out, but they didn’t improve my life.  Each morning I would wake up in more pain than I went to bed with and almost always woke to a headache.  An effective pain management plan shouldn’t have you dreading mornings, it should make you look forward to the next day.  I began enjoying mornings the day after I began medicating with cannabis.  As time passed, mornings became the best part of my day.  Since adding PEMF therapy, I look forward to waking up and going on adventures every day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. I am afraid to go to sleep

Do you fear going to bed? I did! Why? 1. Pain rarely allowed me to sleep more than a few hours at a time. 2. Unless I drugged myself to the point of passing out, pain would keep me awake.  3. I knew that my pain level would only increase throughout the night.  My painsomnia became so bad that I was rarely sleeping more than 2-4 hours at a time. I tried doing everything possible to distract my mind and would be up doing crossword puzzles or playing Words with Friends.  Since switching to a natural and alternative approach to pain relief, I no longer fear going to bed.  In fact I look forward to it.  Why? Because my pain management plan doesn’t just mask pain.  It actually addresses my pain sources.  Instead of hiding my pain for a few hours, it promotes healing.  I reach restorative levels of sleep and wake up ready to take on the day!

*Disclosure: I am NOT a medical professional and I am not issuing medical advice. This post contains affiliate links. Meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission from sales. The proceeds offset the expense of operating this site and fund the giveaways in my Fitness Buddy and Disneyability groups on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. I had to give up my favorite hobbies

If the reasons you have for not being able to continue with your favorite hobby are chronic pain and fatigue, you need a new pain management plan.  Combined with self care practices of pacing, acknowledging your body’s boundaries, and asking for assistance, a good pain management plan should allow you to do what you want.  During the first 5 years of treating my conditions naturally and alternatively, I was able to resume my favorite past times, just not in the way that I had done them before. Then approximately a year and a half after adding PEMF therapy to my plan, I was able to start partaking in those activities more like I did before my chronic illnesses hijacked my life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. I spend my days and nights home alone

If chronic pain is preventing you from leaving the house, it is time to make a change.  However, before you make a change, make sure that you are doing everything possible to get out.  For example, are you willing to accept assistance from a friend or family member? Are you okay with using a mobility aid? Are your expectations of a day out with your illness/disability realistic?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Every time I turn around, I am being prescribed something new to combat side effects from my pain management plan.

How many prescriptions are you taking in hopes of relieving pain from your chronic illness?  I was given one prescription when I was first diagnosed, then within months a second, then a year later another, and so on and so on until I reached the point of being prescribed ten prescriptions.  Sadly not one of them addressed my illnesses or pain, instead they occasionally masked my pain. My pain progressed quickly and new symptoms were popping up all the time.  But these symptoms were NOT from my illnesses, even though everyone including my doctors blamed them on my diseases.  The new symptoms were actually side-effects from the medications that were supposed to be helping me.  Funny how I never had urinary tract infections before taking opioids, to getting them several times a year after.  Then NOT having another since quitting opioids six years ago. Don’t blindly accept that every new symptom is part of your illness, question everything!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  I get anxious when I think about leaving the house

Before treating my chronic pain naturally and alternatively, I developed an unhealthy fear of leaving the house.  I feared the pain I would experience just to get ready.  The fear of how much pain I would endure while out paralyzed me. The fear of how long it would take to return to the pain level that I could at least exist at kept me home.  Does this sound familiar?  A good pain management plan, along with healthy self care practices, will allow you to get out without fear.  This fear carried over after I switched my pain management plan, but after seeing and most importantly feeling how much my recovery time decreased, I learned to work with my body and became less fearful.  Now? I am fearless.  I don’t do what I can’t handle, I listen to my body, and most importantly I have a pain management plan that allows my body to heal from any pain accrued throughout my day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. I am always angry

How’s your attitude? During my pharma years, I was angry, bitter, and to be brutally honest I was not someone I would want to be around today.  At the time I blamed my chronic pain, but that wasn’t the only reason.  Pharmaceutical pain medications made me aggressive, short tempered, edgy, and depressed.  Since ditching pharma, I am happy, fun, excited for life, patient, and have a zest for life that I never thought was possible to have with multiple chronic illnesses.  If you are struggling with depression, take a look at your medication and talk to your doctor asap!

9.   I just want to enjoy a day doing what I want and not have to spend weeks or months recovering from it.

If your body is requiring weeks or months to recover from an outing or activity, you may need to alter your pain management plan.  You may also need to make adjustments to how you go about what you are doing.  Your body is different and you need to accept it.  Working with it and making modifications is the best thing you will ever do for your life and body.

 

10. I want to die

If you think that dying would be better than living and are considering suicide, seek help NOW!! Contact the Suicide Prevention Life line at  1-800-273-8255 or suicidepreventionlifeline.org .  A poor pain management and lack of a healthy self care plan will only intensify this feeling.  Don’t give up! Even if you can’t see it now, your life is worth living and there is hope for pain relief.  The process of figuring out the changes that need to take place isn’t easy and often requires getting over our own egos, but it is so worth it!!! Imagine if I had committed suicide like I had planned in 2012?  Look through my Instagram and Facebook feeds and see everything I would have missed.  Who knew I would be able to do what I can today? I sure didn’t?  But I am glad that I decided to hang around.  With a strong determination to improve how I lived and treated chronic pain I have learned to love life, even the bad days.

Online therapy is great for those who don’t have the time or energy to go see a therapist in person. Save 20% when you register through my link.

 

 

 

 

 

If you answered yes to any number of these signs that your pain management plan isn’t working, then it is time to make a change!!!

Click here to learn more about my pain management plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countdown to 50: How getting real with myself made my dreams come true

Chronic Life, Cynthia November 6, 2018 Leave a comment

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Before my dreams of living the life I wanted and not the one that my chronic illnesses and pain were pushing me into came true, I had to get real with myself.  This meant facing realities that I had not been willing to face for 13 years.  It included accepting and letting go of things that I didn’t want to.  It meant that I couldn’t use the same excuses.  Most importantly, while difficult, getting real with myself freed me to live passionately and purposefully.

Part of getting real with myself was accepting that my chronic illnesses were going to be with me for the rest of my life.  With no cure on the horizon, I needed to stop waiting to live and figure out how to live with these diseases.

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Even though I wouldn’t have admitted it back then, my eyes told the truth…. I was miserable.

 

Before I could begin living I had to let go of how I was living.  This meant changing my pain management plan to one that truly addressed the sources of my pain.  It included letting go of a lifestyle that didn’t work with my illnesses.  It meant that I needed to accept that pushing myself in the name of pride was really self-harm and not self-care.

I had to stop blaming my doctors for not giving me the life I wanted.  Focusing on solutions versus making excuses needed to become a daily habit.

I discuss all of these steps in my eBook Make Pain Your Bitch: How to Dominate Your Chronic Life.  I share how I applied each one and how it changed my life for the better.  In it I also challenge you.  Not to necessarily make the same changes that I did, but to examine your life and to figure out what you changes you need to make.  You may not be aware of the ideas or habits that are holding you back.  I am the kick in the pants you need to make those changes, let go of harmful habits and ways of thinking, stop making excuses, and to start living a wonderful life.  Believe it or not, a life with a chronic illness isn’t a death sentence and a cure is not needed to reduce the pain it inflicts.

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I went for my first hike at the age of 49.  This would have never happened had I not gotten real with myself and made the changes necessary to live a great life despite my chronic illnesses.

How do I know?  Because, chronic pain from fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, degenerative disc disease, and endometriosis practically killed me.  The pain was uncontrollable. No amount of pain meds allowed me to function. I spent my days and nights lying in bed, wide awake, crying and begging to die.  It wasn’t until I implemented the changes I share in my book that I began to thrive.  There was no overnight miracle…… It has taken me six years to get where I am at today…. And each moment was worth its weight in gold……

Download my eBook today and begin your journey to living a life that you love.  Don’t you want to wake up excited to face the day?  My book costs less than a venti caramel macchiato from Starbucks.  Aren’t you worth that?

Click here to read entire Countdown to 50 series

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Click here to purchase and download

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