Cannabis: a patient pleads

Those who choose to keep Cannabis as an Illegal Substance, obviously do not know the Extraordinarily Distressed Suffering of The Pain of Multiple Sclerosis-Millions of Nerves, stripped of protective myelin. They don’t know what it’s like to sit on the neurologist’s table when your Doctor says, your Pain is part of Multiple Sclerosis. I could prescribe Opioids or write for Cannabis. 
Opioids are fraught with complications. 
What she didn’t know was what a hassle the state made for access. Rules, restrictions. Dispensary with limited supply, mysteriously dispensed, for absurdly high costs. 
Blue Cross? No, they would cover Opioids but not Cannabis. 
Medicare? Same Diff.
Where’s my denial with appeal letter? 
When my money goes dry, 
I’ll fade away on Opioids, 
covered since I’m past the donut hole.

What if there was a plant that could save your life...

Well, what if?

https://www.medicaljane.com/2015/11/25/study-topical-cbd-treatment-may-reduce-central-nervous-system-inflammation/

I was expanding my thinking about the effects of #cannabis #MedicalCannabis

When the discovery was made recently about

Lymphatic system in the brain. 

My awkwardly worded discussion with my neurologist,

What if the CBD-THC having greater Osmolality,

Draws Lymphatic Fluids away from inflamed nerve tissue,
Brain or elsewhere..?
He nodded,
Makes sense,
What if the lymphatic fluids are sent by and intended by the body to protect the raw nerves?
An unintended consequence is lymphatic fluid increasing pressure in a fixed space, accumulation of metabolites, cellular waste, irritating nerves further.
Had to write this down while fresh in my head.
More later.meg

Connection to Healing Knowledge #MS #MultipleSclerosis #Seizures #Pain

Our Bodies are Self-Healing 

Within Limits,

Breaking down 

Just when you thought you had it licked.

For Help understanding how your body handles pain,

Turn to this reference,

Link to Project CBD article: -raphael-mechoulam

More later...

Meg

Philosophy of Pain

Pain,
In an illustration
A Zentangle.
By Mary. E. Gerdt

Alternative Therapies...

The Pain,

Contemplated,

Begs for an alternative,

To #Pharma

Hey, Pharma isn't all bad,

It has got me out of a lot of jams and presently keeps

me moving forward.

Pharma Plus Dedicated Doctors

Create winning medications, combinations,

Always trying to minimize side effects, I hope.

If you think it's easy or profitable for Doctors to write prescriptions, then you don't know 90% of Doctors.

It's just more paperwork.

Patients often seek out a solution to their ailment (or they wouldn't pay the copay to visit).

Don't figure all pharma is responsible for all the bad in healthcare.

At the same time, do accept there may be alternative therapies, ointments, poultices, tinctures, elixirs, topicals, ingested, teas, and on and on.

As the Vermont legislative year began, the politicians were hot and cold on the alternative ancient healing herb, Cannabis.

Sounds like the cold ones have never been on

 "The Rack" of MS Pain.

Sounds like they aren't going to ask me what I think.

So, here goes a little statement into the blogosphere (it was also sent to the ms society-no response...I asked my bc case manager and she said medical director doesn't believe in it...there are at least 50 different sets of laws and standards, diagnoses eligible, licenses, blah, blah) :

I don't understand your position on Cannabis. There is plenty of research.

 Please help medical users gain legalization in all states. Decision between Doctor and patient. Often as a last resort. The pain is excruciating, spasms debilitating, depression heavy. Please help. Natural products, effective, as old as civilization itself.

Knight Salve #4

Knight Salve #4

I cannot tell you how long this path has been, this path of pain.

When the pain is there, it's sharp, stabbing, distracting, impossible.

Petrolatum was the medical recommendation, to heal my tattered skin.

It only lasted so long and I was looking for my own formula.

My husband found this website where he ordered me kefir grains:

culturesforhealth.com

There is a wealth of information on their website.

I am sharing my latest projects and encourage you to try some of these.

Knight Salve originated with me writing a screenplay about a knight who is wounded and nursed to health by his future wife. The knight played by Glenn Hughes, his real life wife plays the healer woman to be his wife.

No I haven't written it yet, just ideas for the movie score...(meanwhile enjoy the you tube links :<)

Sorry, this one I posted this morning doesn't work in the US.

It is beautiful....

Now for Salve and Soap talk.

My first project Fred got me Kefir grains from CulturesForHealth.com I have been cultivating Kefir, mixing with yogurt for broad spectrum probiotics. Then I got into making salve and soap. 

4th version "Knight Salve" No I didn't measure. Shea butter, Cocoa butter, Coconut oil, Olive oil, Emulsifying wax (helps bind-blend water and oil soluble ingredients) Tincture of frankincense Tincture of myrrh Makula honey (medi-honey) Gently heat stirring constantly over double boiler until all melted. Pour into jars. 

Soap: Cultures For Health has melt and pour soaps and molds. I made hemp oil soap with lavender essential oils And goat's milk soap with relaxation essential oils. They also have a shampoo base that I put lavender essential oils into. The cartoon describes the pain and recovery through use of frankincense and myrrh. I believe the gold of biblical times is honey. 

Pain Relief

as a nurse, one of the hardest human sufferings to witness is that of pain. i cringe when i see it, it gets me in the stomach, that is someone else's pain. my own pain can take my breath away. we all have pain in varying degrees. we all have various levels of tolerance to pain. Dr. Spicer reached out and offered this information about a new product for pain called Power strips. If you are interested please click on her catalog and check it out. There are colors to pain, themes, qualities of pain. In the end it is all pain and an alteration of our desired homeostasis. Do not suffer, check this out...meg

 

 

Pain Relief

no promises.

Testimonials

http://www.checkoutthestrips.com/





now you are more interested.

 

click link to go Dr Mary Spicer's catalog

 

 

Contact Dr. Mary Spicer,

email: Mary@drmaryspicer.com

 

 

 

Philosophy of Pain

Pain as a whole, is on or off,

in varying degrees.

The Philosophy part of pain

teaches what lesson?

seeming senseless at times.

One's mind, fighting over matter

says to stop

and yet the pain ignores

the pleadings and the pain goes on.

Even in deep sleep a pain can tunnel

under several layers to disrupt

rest which is essential.

pain helps lead us to that

which caused the pain,

a teacher,

change what you can,

try to let the other go...

Through his eyes

Rudy's Eyes.
I remember the pain I saw
reflected in Rudy's eyes.
He told me long ago
When we were close,
He lost his wife Kit,
My Mother in Law
I never knew.
She took 20 aspirins a day
and had a stroke
and did not make it to 50.
He described her
gnarly joints,
wheelchair,
pain and debility,
hope and perseverance,
raising 3 children
on the farm.
I treasure those rare second hand memories of my mother in law
via Rudy when we sat
by the woods
taking a break in between
loads of firewood.
He loved her so
and felt so powerless
as she slipped away,
this big strong man
he shared that with me,
and always with the story,
a tear formed
in Rudy's eyes.


I wrote this when Lisa Emrich challenged me in poetry month.
This poem about the sadness and challenges of rheumatoid arthritis.
I have cared for many people with stages mild to severe RA.
Then this memory came to me. Pain all around.
The good news is
Treatment is possible today not available mere decades ago.

The Color of Pain

Today before I even read the Psalm of the day on
Psalm Challenge
http://tagein-tagaus-athen.blogspot.com/
I wanted to post some Sunday thoughts about pain,
then see if they coincide at all.

Pain has many colors.
Black, red, blue,
ripped, torn, diseased,
hurt, yellow,
vicious, sharp, biting,
tearing,
then
the
dull,
deep, constant, persistent.

Some make you wish you were dead.

Pain ripped me out of bed in the wee hours again,
and standing on my leg re calibrated something,
my MS dance.

My mother's pain, invisible or hazy to some,
I perceive on full wavelengths,
as if I had the channel tuned in better.

I thought this morning,
how pain,
in all it's colors,
can be invisible to others.
We are all so different in how we perceive pain.

As a new nurse, over 30 solar years ago,
I decided to lay my hand on people in pain
and try to
ground it.

And if I was successful, it would make their life
better.

I was worried there would be damage done to me,
all that pain flowing to ground into the Earth, our Mother
(like on the old sin eater's version of twilight zone or one of those shows).
And I decided,
it could not hurt me,
it was channeling someone else's pain.

Do you feel how comforting a hand is on the shoulder?
Or the catharsis of letting a story go,
or just knowing someone
hears
how much you hurt?

Some cannot see the colors of pain I do,
and I guess that really is something I had
to learn and have to live with.

I do pray someone sees the colors of their pain and
puts a gentle hand on their shoulder
and lets it go.

Peace Be With You: Below the Surface

A link to friend
Judy, who writes
wonderful
Haiku
to explain..
well...
everything.
Here, Judy
breaks down the
essentials of
describing pain.
Peace Be With You: Below the Surface

Christmas Re runs

Christmas stories are re-run year after year
because some stories need to be repeated,
some lessons
are timeless.
***and with the departure of C.H. who did not believe,
oh what a passing that must of been, did he cross over into nothingness?
or was he greeted by a benevolent spirit?

I liked this post and thought about it on this chilly VT morning.
made 200 crock pot chocolates yesterday...interesting!

Yes Virginia
By Mary E. Gerdt 2008
On the unfortunate opposition to red and white stripes on Charlotte Central School pillars
Allegedly a symbol of something someone found offensive.
Yes Virginia
There are atheists
And ACLU lawyers
And people who will try to destroy
Your dreams
Yes Virginia
There are those who say they hate you
Or what you believe in
And how is that so different
After all.
Yes Virginia
You can pray for people who don’t believe in what you do
Because
They probably need it
At the end of the day when no one else would pray for them
Yes Virginia
People will say what you do represents religious or other beliefs
And it might make you sad or cry
Do they mean to hurt you?
I don’t know
Yes Virginia
When you do the nice thing
And someone says, “who cares” or “Why” or “You can’t”
Just tell them you are who you are
And they are who they are
And this is a free country so that really works both ways
In fact always.
Yes Virginia
Your youthful optimism and blind love only a fourth grader could muster
Is fragile and might be squished like a bug
Or you may hold on to it if you try very hard and believe twice as hard
That people might change or start to believe
Or at least feel comfortable enough to accept that you have a right believe enough to try to brighten someone’s day
Unsuspecting that behind the pillars stood one man who said Bah Humbug
Who tried to negate your good deed
That brought so many joy and a smile.
Yes Virginia
That is the miracle of the season no matter what you call it, no matter what your beliefs, there is no question that the days get shorter and shorter
until the light returns to shine on us all
Believers and non believers alike.
Yes Virginia
Don’t let that sinking feeling persist in the pit of your stomach
when you thought
You created trouble or
got in trouble for trying to brighten someone’s day.
You are the shining light we all seek
Believe it or not.

Themes of Pain

themes of pain

there is the pain

corporeal,

our aches,

our pains

significant.

some block the pain,

ignore

the theme,

the pattern

of pains,

what does it mean?

when i cannot,

block the pain out,

and I read how others

feel,

i am reminded

that my theme

includes

empathy & sympathy,

listening

to

explain,

that it means when

i have a pain there,

or there,

another does too,

or much worse,

and yet,

i can never quite explain,

through prose, photos or

broken poetry,

that

someone else

could

say it does not hurt,

and yet another

has no pain.

Do Crows have ESP?

Do Crows have ESP?


The sense that something will

Or might

Happen?



Do cats have ESP?

Do they know what I will do,

Before I do it,

Or sense something I cannot sense

on the human plane? Or can I, but I forgot or don't know how?



Does ego negate the senses we were given?

Is that the snake in the garden?

Do even tiny black flies sense my intention and

Land on my head the minute both my hands are busy?



Is ESP truly a special skill or one we just forgot because

We don't need to guess about the weather,

The weatherman says,

We don't need to know which herb to take that won't kill us,

The doctor says,

We don't need to worry our pretty heads about the healthcare morass,

The politicians say.



What is my sense about this?

My ESP is not all that reliable

By history,

a fact I cannot deny, in spite of my sometimes wish

We could predict the future,
When I really stop to think hard about things that I might have known in advance,
I have to conclude
Without too long a pondering
What a disappointment that might have been to know the future
Before it happens.
 
But...
Do Crows have ESP?
 

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving Week in the US where we see symbols of turkey, harvest, abundance and the food shelf.
Feeding the hungry new children of the depression that has blanketed our fair country.
The difference between this depression and the 1930 depression is that back then people knew how to cope with it.
Our grandparents were resourceful and had gardens, took in boarders, bartered and scrimped, hoarded, shared with family. There were poor farms and overseers of the poor before welfare, Medicaid and community action agencies.
These new generations are dependent on the electronic "necessities" even taking a priority over food and basics.
Maslow's hierarchy turned upside down.
Everyone wanting the transformative qualities of higher intellectual functioning and reasoning all while
ignoring the basics: food,water, air, and fire.
I sincerely hope that whatever you celebrate at harvest time is a joyful experience. Herrad shared her stuffing recipe and I am thankful as it came just before we go to town to buy the trimmings.
And even if all you can afford is a silent prayer for those less fortunate, give it a try.
Do you sometimes look at the crowds and see faces from black and white photos like those of the "great depression?"
Do you wake up in the middle of the night disoriented from the cruelty, jealosy and cold hearted behavior of humans?
Give thanks, my friend, you are not alone.
I think about my grandfather Carl, "Kelly", whom I only know through the light in my Mother's eyes when she said "Dad", whom she lost in 1930.
I often wondered what were his nightmares as he saw first the days leading up the the depression, The roaring 20's and in the aftermath the pit of a fallen market, hungry children, jobless despair.
The night he clutched his chest and looked one last time into Fanny's eyes, was he praying for her and her two children and all he was unable to help?
He will always be a tall strapping man. He has never aged beyond that day when he left the material world.
He was my grandfather, and I look to his memories for understanding of the depression that hit his granddaughter with a modern day version of Grapes of Wrath.
Oh to have a few minutes with him,
Someday.
Mary

Fabrications of the Idle Mind

Sometimes people make up details they label or believe are facts to serve their narrow minds.
This indeed is an important mechanism for the manipulative, the narcissistic.
Their belief of their stationary viewpoint is just that. Stays in one place, stagnant, rotting.
The idle mind loses the momentum we need to create new things, new experiences.
It is funny to compare what one person sees against what another sees.
Our filter is the experiences we have had before, what we learned and retained, and our personality "mix". Think of each of our brains being wired according to our DNA blueprint. Add trauma, disease and external forces. We are being bombarded each day by rays, zooming space particles, bacteria and other pests, sunlight, magnetism, and on and on.
Even stationary life then is still always alive and in motion, evolving, changing.
Even as the stagnant human endeavors to keep from changing, he has changed.
Even as we see the fabrications of the Idle Mind, we realize it is in the past and best forgotten, like other gossipy trash people often spew when feeling insecure about themselves.
Feel how our minds should remain active and stimulated and not stagnate.
Exercise your mind when you can.
Do something new today.
Fabricate your mind in gear and drive it.

Wrong turns and the last song on a CD

Wrong Turns and the last song on a CD
Today I did a home visit and thought ahead to google the map.
Print the map and out the door.
Part way there I found it had only printed the segments of the map where I already knew the way. I tried to retrieve the rest of the map in my head.
I thought I knew it.
When passing my turn I saw the sign as some impatient moron was on my tail.
About that time the last song ended, specifically #13 on The Story by Brandi Carlisle.
I went another mile until I could pull off in a parking lot to check my old faithful printed map of the county. I carefully unfold the worn out but welcome creased tattered map and plan my route.
I got back on the road heading north and forgot to advance the song back to #1 which is what I usually do.
Suddenly a surprise I was amazed. Another song.
Wow.
It was good.
Where was it?
After song 13 there was 2 minutes or so of dead silence. Then the real last song. I listened a few more times to the whole cut on my driving around the county and to the office.
I was amazed that a random wrong turn and combination of simple acts can lead to the discovery of a surprise you had all along.

Brandi Carlisle's CD itself is good.
One of my favorite lines of her and band's original work:
Broken sticks and broken stones,
they turn to dust just like our bones,
it's words that hurt the most, isn't it?

My advice for a change?
Get lost.

Traveling journal

Today I got a traveling journal in the mail from Mrs. Robert's 3rd grade student David Roach from Farmersville, Ohio. It came from my nephew Danny in Texas.
So it is noteworthy on my travelogue that I refer to traveling journals as well.
It had been all over the country and had entries by Danny, my sister Nancy and friend Margo.
It turns out I am the last destination before being sent back to David Roach for the next step which is some sort of homework assignment.
I included a 2008 Fish and Game calender, a picture of a Morgan horse and an old National Geographic map of New England with some history of the settlement.
I left out the sky high taxes and urban sprawl and refuse to comment on global w*rming which is a bad word to those of us just coming out of a treacherous winter.
Oh yes, and the clash between the flatlanders, the natives and the in betweens. I preferred to focus on wildlife and historical progress.
We did not have a postcard of Vermont-I have plenty of anywhere but Vermont.
I did reference my blog that I hope Mrs. Roberts doesn't mind. I think it is generally clean in nature and I post local pictures here.
It was fun to see the different comments and what people focused on representing their part of the country.
I mentioned the 400th anniversary this year of Samuel deChamplain's discovery of Lake Champlain. Also maple sap is running.
I hope the journal becomes a treasured record of life all over the US in 2009.
bon voyage
Mary

Candy Canes or Just red and White Stripes

Candy Canes?
Search the news for Charlotte Central School Vermont and candy cane like stripes done by a 4th grader and her dad. I did the following piece in time to need an inspiration for our darkest season.
Merry Christmas or holiday of your traditions.

Yes Virginia
By Mary E. Gerdt 2008
On the unfortunate opposition to red and white stripes on Charlotte Central School pillars
Allegedly a symbol of something someone found offensive.
Yes Virginia
There are atheists
And ACLU lawyers
And people who will try to destroy
Your dreams
Yes Virginia
There are those who say they hate you
Or what you believe in
And how is that so different
After all.
Yes Virginia
You can pray for people who don’t believe in what you do
Because
They probably need it
At the end of the day when no one else would pray for them
Yes Virginia
People will say what you do represents religious or other beliefs
And it might make you sad or cry
Do they mean to hurt you?
I don’t know
Yes Virginia
When you do the nice thing
And someone says, “who cares” or “Why” or “You can’t”
Just tell them you are who you are
And they are who they are
And this is a free country so that really works both ways
In fact always.
Yes Virginia
Your youthful optimism and blind love only a fourth grader could muster
Is fragile and might be squished like a bug
Or you may hold on to it if you try very hard and believe twice as hard
That people might change or start to believe
Or at least feel comfortable enough to accept that you have a right believe enough to try to brighten someone’s day
Unsuspecting that behind the pillars stood one man who said Bah Humbug
Who tried to negate your good deed
That brought so many joy and a smile.
Yes Virginia
That is the miracle of the season no matter what you call it, no matter what your beliefs, there is no question that the days get shorter and shorter
until the light returns to shine on us all
Believers and non believers alike.
Yes Virginia
Don’t let that sinking feeling persist in the pit of your stomach
when you thought
You created trouble or
got in trouble for trying to brighten someone’s day.
You are the shining light we all seek
Believe it or not.

Shortest Days

The crazy quilts are coming along and Hunter's quilt is evolving into something interesting. Hope to have pics in a few weeks.
The days are shorter and shorter, the sun rays longer and they start to skim the surface.
We have to get through the next few weeks until miraculously on schedule the sun will "return" (or we will wobble) seemingly in increments of inches.
What is a billion to you?
When the CEO's want food stamps from the common folk like myself. It's just icky the way all the money is flowing like a river to the ocean. Irretrievable, untraceable, inconceivable, and without rain, the river beds dry and turn to dust and blow away.
Enjoy the dark days or light days on the other side of the planet or if you are the CEO of a large failing firm, your secret untold bonus, plane ride and secret untold victory party if you are successful at whining and dining the legislative moguls with the money the less able will pay for.