Political Rant: Fear Mongering

I have to speak up. The fear mongering in this country is out of control. The Paris Attacks didn't even happen on our soil, and yet we are talking about slamming the door on people in need out of fear of what might happen. We are ignoring the plight of people fleeing brutality and war in an attempt to firewall ourselves off from terrorisism, when we the terrorism in this case was HOMEGROWN. Have we forgotten Waco, Texas that quickily? Or what about Sandyhook, Connecticut? This is the same stupid fearmongering that has us more worried about the ONE addict, when ther are over 100 people suffering in chronic pain PER ADDICT. The unsubstantiated boogyman under our bed frightens us more than the very REAL problem of suffering we see every day. We do nothing sensible about the real problems, and we lose our head over spooky possibilities. And it's destroying this country.

Most people get behind the wheel of a car every day, multiple times a day, never thinking that we are operating a deadly weapon. We require no background checks for these weapons, no psychological exams. We advertize their sale on TV. Nobody thinks twice about it. Yet a car can kill you just as dead as a gun. We tell people who are bullied to speak out, never thinking, "Hey... What happens when there's no grown-up around?" As someone who was bullied as a child, I'll tell you what happens: you get it twice as bad after you've informed a teacher than if you kept your mouth shut. And the bullies at school weren't nearly as bad as the bullies I had to face in my own family every summer break. School was a vacation from violence for me.

Now I'm living in a country I don't recognize. I read about this type of country in school, and the book was 1984. Big Brother is alive and well in Trapwire, in the local traffic and people cameras, and even in the fat-shaming on the TV, even though any look at the numbers will tell us there are more unhealthy skinny people than there are unhealthy fat people (thank you, Science Friday on NPR). We are punishing people for stupid reasons, all to attain some dreamlike society where no one does any wrong, ever. AND IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.

Our politicians and police keep saying, "We need more power to keep you safe!" Can you keep me safe from my own body? Can you keep me safe from the arrogance of a respected surgeon who let me wake up on the operating table and infected me with MRSA? Because those are the things that have nearly killed me. Can you keep my uncle safe from the cholesterol drug that paralyzed him? I still see the ads for it on TV...

LIFE IS DANGEROUS! We all die of something. And we are letting our fears cripple our lives. This must stop. But as a good scholar of history I know that we will make stupid decisions like locking up Japanese-Americans just because we know who they are and ignoring all the German-Americans because they're white and European looking. We wanted to shut out German-Jews because we feared the saboteurs that might try and sneek in amongst their ranks! How many more died in the Holocaust over our fears?

There is a new holocaust going on. The Kurds have already found the mass graves full of women and children. Yet we'd rather believe the monsters are made over there than admit that they live amongst us right now. We'd rather let hundreds of millions of pain patients suffer and live in torture then deal with the minascule few who use drugs to escape from emotional pain, despite the fact that 50% grow out of their addiction with no intervention whatsoever,, according to the DEA.

Politicians talk big, saying they will keep us safe. But when have you actually seen a mass-murderer stopped before a shot was fired or a bomb exploded? NEVER. We were only able to pacify the Germans and Japanese through occupying those countries for FIFTY YEARS. It takes a generation or two to change people's warmongering ways, but we've lost the stomach for that, wanting quick solutions and fast results. We focus on the small problems like terrorism forgetting that two hurricanes (Katrina and Sandy) did more damage and cost more in economics, and human lives lost and disrupted, than their suicide bombings could ever do.

We are insane in this country. It needs to stop. Reasonable voices and facts are being drowned out by fear and hate. We ignore pain and suffering, then pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. It shames me that we speak of freedom and liberty. We are such liars. This is not the United States of America I was taught about in school. I don't know where She is. We need to return to Her, and I don't know how.

Together, we might be able to. But it's going to take courage-- courage that I don't know we have-- to start doing right again. God(s) help us.

Invisible Disabilities 8th Annual Awards Ceremony

if you live in the #Denver area or can travel to the Denver area by October 23^rd, you WILL want to join us. If you don't know the story about InvisibleDisabilities.org, you should: they coined the term "Invisible Disabilities," and testified in front of Congress to include people like me, who are disabled, but who make disability look awesome.

I've recently moved back to St. Louis into a very snobby building, and you wouldn't believe the discrimination I've faced. Well, i take that back, you probably do know. I even had to write the Board of Directors of my building and remind them of the Americans with Disability Act, the Reform Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act of 1988. My father is an attorney, and they went to his place of work to hand deliver a letter of complaint agains me like I'm some child, and I'm over 40!

So if you think discrimination against People with Disabilities is a thing of the past, you are very poorly informed. Just because there are laws doesn't mean people follow them, especially people with power. But they have no idea who they're effog with. My neighbor used to be the head of the local chapter of the ACLU.

They won't know what hit them. But they will know who. <evil grin>

Do join us in Colorado!! We'd love to have you. Tickets on sale NOW!

The Hypocracy of Leonhart

It comes as no shock that the DEA is corrupt from the head down. It is no suprise that our country has been compromised by drug cartels and drug money flowing directly into the agency that is supposed to protect us. Ms. Leonhart may say, "all illegal drugs are bad," but she's lying and she knows it. Cocaine doesn't change whether it's used for your root canal or to party. It's the same drug. You cannot on the one hand sanction its use for one group of people and imprison people for its use on the other and not be a hypocrite. Hypocracy is basically written into DEA mandates, and look where all that "War on Drugs" funding got us. It got us DEA agents buying prostitutes from the Acartels with tax-payer money. We have forgotten our own blood-soaked history with alcohol prohibition. It's time to have a more mature converstation than, "Drugs are bad, m'kay?"

The data is clear: drugs are not a problem unless we make them a problem by outlawing them. There were huge 420 celebrations across Colorado. Know how many public smoking citations they handed out? Hundreds. Want to know how many drug-related crimes, drug-related accodents, and drug related driving while intoxicated citations there were? No reported. That's right, not one. All those people high as kites, and nothing bad happened. No children died. No mob started demanding heavier drugs. It was less disruptive than most events and venues that serve alcohol.

Ms. Leonhart is a corrupt fool, leading an agency of corrupt fools, and she's no Doc Holiday. Her corruption knows some bounds. The boundary that comes with her severence check, hallelujah, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/22/us/michele-leonhart-top-dea-official-is-expected-to-resign.html]

DEA: LEAVE OUR DOCTORS ALONE!!!

Is There A Doctor In The White House?

Sit down, the White House has lost its mind. First, watch the video of Obama speaking here on public health issues arising from "climate change."

http://youtu.be/M16-YepUY1A

Mr. President, your campaign that asthma is caused by climate change is, pardon my French, HOCKUM. Please do everyone who suffers from asthma a favor and tell the truth. That's all. As in what's on your own National Instutites of Health, where it says:

"The exact cause of asthma isn't known. Researchers think some genetic and environmental factors interact to cause asthma, most often early in life. These factors include:

• An inherited tendency to develop allergies, called atopy (AT-o-pe)
• Parents who have asthma
• Certain respiratory infections during childhood
• Contact with some airborne allergens or exposure to some viral infections in infancy or in early childhood when the immune system is developing
• If asthma or atopy runs in your family, exposure to irritants (for example, tobacco smoke) may make your airways more reactive to substances in the air.

Some factors may be more likely to cause asthma in some people than in others. Researchers continue to explore what causes asthma.^*

*National Institutes of Health, Causes of Asthma, sourced April 20, 2015

No, asthma is not a "preventable" disease, as you can't prevent something when you don't know how it starts! Asthma is a disease that HOPEFULLY can be managed, but no one is given that promise. DO NOT BLAME THE VICTIM FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PR. I refuse to crawl up on that cross for you. Quit LYING to the public for your political ends, and shame on you for putting us on your so-called "climate change" propaganda posters.

Sincerely,
Asthmatic folowing a case of Antibiotic-Resistant Pertussis,
Pamela Curtis
Westminster, Colorado

SSDI due to Bankrupt in 2016 - 20% Reduction in Benefits Forecast

If you receive disability benefits, PAY ATTENTION: a new House rule introduced this year will cause millions to see a 20% reduction in their benefit payments. Lest you think this is something people on disability can affort, let me remind you that disibility benefits in the U.S. are not enough to keep recepients above the poverty line, so a sudden 20% reduction is only going to make people already poor an unable to provide for themselves that much worse off. It is unconscionable: Social Security is not a welfare program, it is something that WE have paid for through working! Decreasing SSDI benefits is only stealing from the citizenry, it is NOT a reduction in government spending. It's essentially a tax increase on one of the most vulnerable populations in this nation.

Original Article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/social-security-disability-trust-fund-projected-to-run-out-of-cash-by-2016/2012/05/30/gJQA3AfH1U_story.html


YOU CAN HELP! Contact your Representative — Contact Your U.S. Representative
If you are unsure what to say, below is a sample letter.

Dear Madame or Sir:

Hello, my name is [put your name here], and I am writing today to ask for your assistance and commitment to ensuring nearly 11 million Americans with disabilities maintain access to the full scope of benefits they have earned and rely on to make ends meet. The SSDI program is NOT a welfare program. It was paid for with MY contributions and by my employers' matching contributions. Blocking or reducing these payments is not fair or ethical, and it places one of the greatest at-risk groups in harm's way. Even though many rely on SSDI for their sole source of income, it is not wnough to keep them above the poverty line. A 20% reduction in benefits is going to create an immediate welfare crisis— where once there was none— for one of the most vulnerable groups.

As you are aware, following the inaugural convening of the 114th Congress, the House of Representatives adopted a rules package which barred the transfer of funds from the general Social Security retirement fund to the disability insurance program (SSDI) - a move employed 12 separate instances by Congress during the last seven decades. Unfortunately, this could not have come at a worse time, as the Social Security Administration projects SSDI insolvency by the end of 2016 without Congressional action, resulting in payment reductions by 20 percent to SSDI beneficiaries.

Contrary to popular belief, people with disabilities have more high school graduates, more college graduates, and more overall degree holders per capita than non-disabled people, so disability is NOT being used as a way to avoid minimum wage work. If poverty traps weren't built into the federal disability programs, most these people could command respectible, middle-class salaries. As things stand, beneficiaries who want to work must choose between the benefits they need and the work they want.

There is an immediate and easy fix: Reverse the House Rules. I, along with a nationwide community of like-minded individuals, call on you to address and remedy this manufactured Social Security crisis. While we certainly believe there is an appropriate time and opportunity for further debate on securing the long-term sustainability of our country’s insurance programs, such a conversation and politically charged debate should not come at the expense of peoples with disabilities lives!

Please do what is right. Change the House Rules immediately and show some of our nation’s most at-risk population that their government won't sacrifice their lives in the cross-fire of partisan politics, that the mismanagement of our nation's economy doesn't need to be paid for by those least able to afford it.

I eagerly await your response.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Your Email]
[Street Address - important for voter identification]
[City, Zip]

Migraine and Social Security Disability

For the first time since 1985 (29 years), the SSA is currently revising neurological disorders listed in the Blue Book. This provides the chance to change the rules on how disability is determined for people with migraine disorders. Currently there are no rules. Instead, a person is judged against the disability standards used for seizures. But that's like saying, "we're going to pay your insurance claim based on how badly your neighbor's house burnt down." Migraine is a different disease, treated far differently than seizure disorders. The rules for disability should also be separate.

Now is the perfect opportunity to raise our voices as one and insist they make this highly necessary change.

Please take action by submitting a comment to the SSA at this address: http://1.usa.gov/1gQS89a

You must take action by Monday, April 28, 2014, for your comments to be taken into consideration in decision making about revision of the neurological disorders portion of the Blue Book.

If you don't know what to say, feel free to use this below:

I would like to share my support for listing migraine and especially chronic migraine as its own disorder in the Blue Book. Chronic migraine has symptoms and limitations that make it on its own a fearsome disease. We can help ease the burden of those who suffer from it by giving them their own listing, instead of a lengthy approval process where they must "prove" they're as sick as someone else with a completely different disease. This helps no one, and costs the government money in the appeals process. Please consider changing the listing for migraine & chronic migraines.

Thank you for raising your voice!

Pitting the Healthy Against the Sick

I had a troll recently go off on me. I have to say, it bothered me at first. But, bless the strangers on the internet, they defended my position, and even went so far as to deconstruct his argument showing that he was guilty of the sin he was trying to cast upon me. The only thing he proved was how much of an @$$hole he was. But he raised a very interesting point... He believed he had the right to tell other people how to live because it cost him more money on his health insurance. And that, right there, is the reason why "give my people health insurance" is a bad idea. The healthy people have to pay for the sick people. And the healthy people resent it.

This is especially true in this country, where the media claims that any health problem can be solved through "healthy living" (and buying the product they're selling). The medical profession has done a great job of smoke and mirrors, hiding how much we don't know about health. But this leaves people who haven't been through the system with the belief that the system always works for everyone, and if you didn't get better, it's your fault.

And there are some amazing myths that persist in the healthy world, about the would of the sick. They believe that doctors run excessive amounts of tests to cover their @$$ in case of liability. But how can we judge what's excessive and what's not? Right now, there's a huge debate raging on mammograms, whether or not we're putting women through cancer treatment who don't really need it, just because of something seen on the scan. But do we know that's actually what's happening? What if we're catching cancer really early and saving these women's lives? What if we're treating women for cancer, ruining their lives with chemo and other processes, who would have been fine if they were left alone? Are we doing more harm than good?

See... we don't have all the answers. Sometimes, we don't even know the right question to ask. Health care is messy. There is no neat formula to follow that will guarantee a healthy life. We're learning new things about diseases every day... things we didn't think were possible. Mother Nature is a wily character, with lots of tricks up her sleeve. There are more things in heaven and earth than we could possibly imagine. So we don't always get this health stuff right.

Then there's human error...

All told, as many as 98,000 deaths occur each year due to all kinds of medical mistakes--the equivalent of a fully packed 747 crashing every other day. According to a congressionally mandated study on Medicare recipients, during 2008, 1 in 7 hospital patients experienced at least one unintended harm that prolonged his or her stay, caused permanent injury, required life-sustaining treatment, or resulted in death.
(14 worst hospital mistakes to avoid - NBC News)

And what about when the treatment is worse than the disease? CT scans are useful in the early detection of lung cancer, but the CT scan itself causes cancer.

The risk of developing cancer from the CT scan itself isn't trivial. A recent analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that a single chest CT scan exposed patients to the radiation equivalent of more than 100 chest X-rays, and that at age 60, an estimated 1 in 1000 women or 1 in 2000 men would eventually develop cancer from that single scan. (Participants in the lung cancer screening study actually underwent three consecutive annual CT scans.)
(4 reasons to not be screened for lung cancer - Common Sense Family Doctor)

And ultimately, the problem is that "Much of medicine exists in a grey zone where there is no one right answer about when to treat and how to treat. That is why you need to figure out what applies to you and what doesn't and how you weigh risk and benefit." (How to Talk to Doctors - Freakonomics) But that doesn't work well if someone else is footing the bill. It especially doesn't work well when cost-creating behavior is "rewarded" with health care, and healthy people are "punished" for their good behavior (losing money on health insurance and gaining nothing in return).

This results in a dangerous situation. Healthy people believe they're in the right, and that sick people are in the wrong. They believe that since it's their money, they then have the right to tell me how to live. And why not? My behavior costs them money. Suddenly there is a huge incentive for them to be all up in my business---how I eat, how I sleep, the risks I take (riding a motorcycle), and all the other choices I make in my life that could affect my health. That's now their business, because it's their dollar on the line.

And you'll have to pardon my tin-foil hat, but I also don't like the idea of the government being all up in my health care either. It means the government will track me from cradle to grave. Unlike most people who just need a yearly physical, I require at least one doctor visit per month. Why? Government regulations that are already in place require it. Why? Because of the War on Drugs (and what a huge waste of taxpayer money that is). And do you really think the government cares how much money it's going to cost you? It doesn't hurt the politicians when your health care insurance costs rise. And what's going to happen when people complain? The government will step in and create laws trying to force people to be healthy. They will restrict freedoms all in the name of controlling health costs. It's already happened in NYC. (NYC Super-Sized Soda Ban: Now in Effect - US News)

1% of the people account for 30% of all health costs. "One patient alone racked up $3.5 million in medical bills over a five year period." (Zakaria: 5% of U.S. patients account for 50% of health care costs - CNN) And what's the easiest way to cut those costs? Let 'em die. Kill off 5% of the population and our health costs drop by half? Do you really think with numbers like that, that there's an incentive to treat these people and keep them alive? Don't kid yourself. Health-cost-related deaths are already a reality in the U.K. (Top doctor's chilling claim: The NHS kills off 130,000 elderly patients every year - Daily Mail)

You'd think with my health care problems and costs that I would love free government health care. Sure, it helps me. In a big way. But at what costs? If it's at the cost of my freedom and privacy, and possibly my life, I'd rather not. But that's where we're headed anyway... And it terrifies me.

What Do I Stand For?

I was sitting with my (former) roommate Mike last night, having drinks, and lamenting my current existential crisis. I knew that I had to figure out my direction in life, what it's all for, before I dove back into work again... because once work hits, I won't have time or energy to even ask these questions to myself. It will be work and managing my health to work, and what's this all for again?! I needed to figure out now, during this break in my contract, what I stand for and what I want out of life. I needed some guiding star, otherwise, what's the point? So Mike told me the story of two women stuck by tragedy...

Both had lost their children to violence: one to a gang shooting, and the other to a hate crime. Both women were obviously devastated by their loss. Neither he nor I could imagine the pain that either of these women suffered. And one woman, justifiably so, was left broken and shattered by the experience. She hasn't recovered yet, and no one blames her, because of her experience. But the other woman used her grief to fuel a not profit organization that turned into the NOH8 (No Hate) campaign. She took her pain and turned it into something amazing for others.

It's not difficult for me to answer the question in that song: "What do I stand for?" That's easy. I stand for the rights of the disenfranchised---those struck by chronic invisible illness, who are disabled by their disease, who can't advocate for themselves because they are too busy trying to manage their own illness, and the havoc it brings. I want to shine a light in the darkness to say, "Hang in there... You don't have to walk this alone. I know what you're going through, I've been there myself. Whatever you're going through---no matter how helpless and hopeless you feel---you still have value to me. You're amazing for what you're trying to survive. Give yourself props!"

What I don't know how to do is work towards that goal and work at the same time. I know what I need to do to get my message out there, but that takes a lot of work... work that doesn't pay. So I need to find a way that I can work for what I stand for, and still keep a roof over my head and medication in my system. THAT is what is totally daunting to me. Trying to figure out how to survive in the meantime... oh, that's big.

But I do have something to stand for, and it's about time I got back to it. I'm not like other people, walking around, wondering what their life is about. I know very much what my life is about. I know very much my purpose. Most people aren't that lucky. I found out that my best friend from college died day before yesterday, and it shook me. He was only a few years older than me. We never know how much time we have on this planet. Time for me to stand up.

#NMAM "The Price is Right"

Today's blogging challenge: "What one thing would you do for the Migraine community if money were no issue." Now here's the thing... you say something like "money is no issue" and my fantasies really jump the chain. I'm talking full-scale, rewriting Federal drug policies fantasies. See, I'm all for protecting the children from the ills of mind-altering chemicals, but I think prohibition, especially prohibition at the scientific level, is just silly. We need to know what these compounds do, and put them to use solving the problems of the world, not setting up forbidden fruit that we then have to wage a war over.

For example, right now there aren't that many medications for chronic nausea. And the medications that are out there aren't very safe! Metolopramide drugs like Reglan, for example, could cause a movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia, a difficult-to-treat form of dyskinesia. That's a disorder resulting in involuntary, repetitive body movements. Yikes! Yet we have another nausea medication, that has no known overdose amount---meaning it's impossible to OD on the stuff---and we keep that one illegal because on paper it says their's no medicinal value. It's safe, effective, 100% natural, and at the federal level, completely illegal.

Then there's another drug that works on serotonin transmitters, that could be an absolute breakthrough molecule in the treatment of migraines, depression, and anxiety was taken out of scientists hands in the lab and deemed "no medical value" when, in fact, the problem was that it was too good and fell into the hands of club kids. It was a knee-jerk reaction during the really hard "War on Drugs" phase, and now a molecule we know works is off-hands, while other just-as-dangerous migraine, depression and anxiety meds are allowed to remain on the market.

And don't even get me started on over-the-counter medications (Robitussin anyone?)... That we're allowed to act like adults with some dangerous chemicals, but not others, is just silly. I'd use my endless supply to bring some long-awaited reason back to the table. I'd woo Big Pharma. I'd have the doctors and nurses on board... we'd fix this chaotic mess and get medicine moving on the right track again, free from pressure by the DEA. I would transform that organization into what it should be, a regulatory body that makes sure these folks aren't selling snake oil, and treatment for those who find themselves on the wrong end of addiction. After that, I'd add the resources to the FDA to better ensure safety standards and ensure drug shortages don't happen. All those guys with guns? You now work for other government agencies that need guys with guns.

What would I do with all that money? I'd change the very fabric of this nation.

I don't dream small at all. ;^)

"National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation. The Blogger's Challenge is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com."

Medical Marijuana

Before we begin, I would like you to picture this. A plant is grown in a greenhouse. Its flower is harvested when it reaches maturity. It is then processed in a lab. It is given to the patient who is then able to lead a more normal life as a result. I'm not talking about medical marijuana, or MMJ. I'm talking about Digitalis, or as it's more commonly known---the foxglove---a flower that we grow and use and give to heart patients as a medication. We have also found use of this flower in science: "It is used as a molecular probe to detect DNA or RNA." (Wikipedia) We have been using plants and animals for our own needs since forever. Willow and birch bark are two of the original sources of aspirin. Novocaine, and all the other medications that end with -caine are a plant derivative. Alcohol happens naturally to fruit and grains in the right conditions. Even birds and monkeys get drunk. And yes, sometimes people use these things for recreation. So please, let's look at medical marijuana as exactly that: MEDICAL.

First, let's explore the science behind it. There is, in the body, a system, which they now call the endocannabinoid system, which works using biochemicals that are the same produced by the marijuana plant. Our bodies produce marijuana-type chemicals as part of their normal function. Marijuana is just an external source for these regularly used, natural human biochemicals.

The endocannabinoid system is a relatively recently discovered neuromodulatory lipid signaling system that is comprised of the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, the endogenous arachidonic acid-based endocannabinoids, such as anandamide and 2-AG (2-arachachidonoylglycerol), as well as their biosynthetic and degrading enzymes. These components can be found in various locations throughout the body, such as in the central nervous system (CNS), the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, the pancreas, adipose tissues, immune cells, and skeletal muscles. Although performing a variety of different localized tasks, the system’s general role seems to revolve around maintaining homeostasis through regulating energy storage, nutrient transport, and feeding behavior. Furthermore, as their name implies, endocannabinoids are described as having cannabimimetic effects, in that they roughly mimic the pharmacological effects of cannabis. (P. Siebler, Masters student in Physiology at CU Boulder, "Sleep Physiology", 2011)

Let's put that in English... It's a recently discovered part of the nervous system that is comprised of the cannabinoid (meaning they respond to cannabis-based molecules) receptors, named CB1 and CB2, the the molecules (like vitamins A, E, D, and K) that the body makes itself, such as the molecule anandamide (pronounced AN-an-DE-mide) and 2-AG, as well as the enzymes that the body makes and uses to break these larger molecules apart. These compounds can be found all throughout the human body, such as the central nervous system (the nerves that control how we sense and feel), the gut, the liver, the pancreas, a "loose connective tissue" (the stuff that holds everything together) called adipose, immune cells, and skeletal muscles (how we move). Although the system performs a variety of different tasks at the small, local level, the system's general roll seems to revolve around helping the body maintain a normal state through regulating energy storage, the movement of nutrients through the body, and hunger. Also, as the name implies, endocannadinoids, these naturally occurring hormones that the body makes itself, cause roughly the same effects as experienced when a person takes medical marijuana.

While not a panacea, or all-cure, it's easy to see why medical marijuana is so helpful to so many people. It's one of those very basic biological molecules that the body needs, like a vitamin. This is why scientists now believe that there can be a endocannabanoid deficiency, called CERD, that can be treated with the use of medical marijuana. MMJ works on the central nervous system, so right there it will potentially help with any pain problem or central nervous system dysfunction, like epilepsy. In fact, medical marijuana has been found useful for children with epilepsy: THC effected reduced spasticity, improved dystonia, increased initiative (with low dose), increased interest in the surroundings, and anticonvulsive action. Or, in English, medical marijuana (in concentrated THC oil form) reduced muscle spasms, improved a medical condition known as dystonia (a neurological movement disorder, in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures), increased spontaneous personal activity (with low dose), increased interest in the surroundings, and stopped convulsions (a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body).

In fact, in Israel, they are still recruiting for their clinical trial for the use of MMJ on PTSD. Their clinical trial is in Phase IV: If the drug successfully passes through Phases I, II, and III, it will usually be approved by the national regulatory authority for use in the general population. (Wikipedia) Israel has given governmental support to the use of THC for the treatment of PTSD, and other conditions.

Israel is one of the first countries to have permitted the use of medical marijuana. Tel Aviv’s cannabis clinics have been open for some time on an experimental basis, with government support.

They offer treatment for cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV, colitis and other ailments. Recently too, Israel’s first-ever hospital to offer cannabis as a treatment, Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, started its pilot program. There patients obtain the necessary government permit, according to a strict protocol that the hospital developed, and then are provided with cannabis. (Medical cannabis in Israel: Revolution or evolution?)

But let's hear from an actual patient:

I lived in Colorado where it was legal and had a doctor that believed in its aid for fibromyalgia and migraines. I went through all of the legal channels of the state and used it for a while until we moved to Texas. I can say that it did really help me with the pain of migraines and the tension that comes along with them. MMJ is available in many strains which are directed for different illnesses, such as one that makes you hungry. My son uses this strain often for his Crohn's disease. He is able to keep some weight on this way. Another can give you energy to aid in helping us get off of that couch and clean the house.

As for the methods of using, there are many. I found that the Marinol (dronabinol) pills that are available by prescription did not work for me at all. The dispensaries can make up a capsule using the keef and it works good for someone who needs to relax and sleep. It takes awhile to work since you have to digest it. I used brownies at times, which is a very pleasant way to ingest the drug. I hate the smell and the taste it brings when you smoke it, but it is really the most efficient way for me to use it. I found that a water pipe (bong) was the least insulting for me. When my migraines are at their worst and I can't open my eyes or get out of bed, I could take 2 puffs and I could be up and around within the hour, or sleeping for a few hours if that was my choice.

I believe MMJ is a great choice for some people and should be made available to chronically ill patients, no matter state they live in. I am not oblivious to the problems that can come with marijuana, but I believe this is better for our bodies than some of the prescription medications that we are given. You cannot overdose on this plant. It has proven to be a Godsend for my son and brother-in-law who suffer with Crohn's disease. I wish it was legal in Texas; if so I would use it again. I struggled with using it at first because I am a Christian, but when illness takes over your life, some of our ideals can be questioned and maybe changed. Our eyes are opened to new ways of thinking and our ability for compassion and empathy grows.

Thanks for listening.

Finally, does it have side-effects? Sure. All drugs do. But are these side-effects actually dangerous? One study on driving statistics shows that stoned drivers are safer drivers:

Now, pro-legalization backers have yet another point in their favor: According to a new study from the University of Colorado-Denver, the 16 states that have legalized medical marijuana have seen an average 9 percent drop in traffic deaths since their medical marijuana laws took effect. The study analyzed data from 1990 through 2009.

“We went into our research expecting the opposite effect,” says study co-author Daniel Rees, a professor of economics at the University of Colorado-Denver. “We thought medical marijuana legalization would increase traffic fatalities. We were stunned by the results.”

When it comes to traffic safety, can marijuana really save lives?

By contrast, motorists who’ve puffed pot “drive slower, are less likely to take risks, and are more likely to recognize when they’re impaired and decide not to drive,” he says.

Additionally, both Spiritual Leaders and Law Enforcement are beginning to speak up in favor of legalization of marijuana.





If you have the courage to share, what are your thoughts?

How to fake having a real life

So there you are... a good health day has actually happened on the same day of a nice social event you want to go to. You dress up all spiffy, get your game face on, and head out to the party. You get there, everyone is talking and making chit-chat. Suddenly, someone turns to you and asks you, "So... what is it you do?" PANIC TIME! Do you let this stranger in on your world of health problems? They might look at you like you're contagious and walk away, or possibly worse, start giving your unwanted advice! Healthy people want to talk about your job (which you may not have), hobbies (which you may have had to abandon), and interests (which may be totally health-centered because you're hunting desperately for answers and solutions). What do you do?!? Well, one way to get through is to fake it. In this article, I will discuss three ways to talk about our health that make it seem like we have a real life.

1) Act like you're a volunteer.
In this instance, think of yourself as a volunteer forwarding the Grand March of Scientific Progress: "Well, I'm involved in health research looking at the long term effects of [name one of your medications] on patients with [name a related diagnosis for the medication]." Now doesn't that sound a lot sexier than, "I deal with nausea all day for which I take phenergan." They'll be fascinated, even if they have no clue about the diagnosis or medication you've rattled off. They'll want to know more: "Oh? What does that involve?" Don't lose your cool. "I meet regularly with doctors as part of a long-term follow-up studies." or "I take part in post-clinical trials. We discuss medication side-effects and other patient issues." Both answers say that you're a study participant. Technically, this is absolutely true. If you have problems with a medication, doctors will report their findings. It doesn't matter that you're a patient as part of that process. Let them guess that you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart. But they'll probably be a bit curious: "Do you actually take the medication?" Just smile with confidence and say, "Oh yes, but it's all under the close supervision of a doctor. And if it's for the advance of science, I don't mind the risk." Now you sound noble and brave.

2) Act like you're a professional.
For this one, you're not trying to impersonate an actual health professional. Rather, consider your experience as a health patient in a professional light. Talking to other patients online? That's networking. Blogging about your experiences? That's freelance online journalism. Let's take a look at that dreadful question again: "So what do you do?" That question can be followed-up with something like: "I work with outreach programs for patients suffering from [name your diagnosis] in online communities." Which translates from: I greet folks online when they join the health board I'm on and make them feel welcomed. If the party-goer wants more information, you can say something like, "Part of it includes patient education and patient empowerment... Helping people find online resources so they can then help themselves... That sort of thing." Which means: I share with people about our symptoms and point them to cool websites I've found. If they press you for details, you can say something like, "One common issue among [diagnosis] patients is [symptom]. We deal with this by taking a hands-on, team approach leading patients through self-care processes they can do at home. Sometimes we're able to recommend possible treatment courses they haven't tried that they can bring up with their doctor." Which means: I talk to other patients directly (online) and we talk about self-care we can do at home. We exchange ideas about stuff we have heard of and/or tried. Now all that talking on Facebook and in online communities sounds glamorous and self-sacraficing.

3) Act like you're an activist.
If you do anything involved with signing petitions to get the government's help with health care, you can say: I'm involved in political activism for health reform. When they ask questions, you can tell them about the challenges facing patients with your disease, and about the petition you signed. It always helps to do your homework on what you signed so you can easily talk about the details. Know what the goals of the petition are, who the sponsors are, and how many signatures are currently on it. "I checked quickly just before I came here, just to see how we're doing, and we're up to..." sounds very pro-active and high-minded. Look up other political activity around your disease, even if it's in other states. It sounds very cosmopolitan to be able to say, "Did you know in Florida they're addressing this by..." Or even more worldly still, "In Germany, they're looking into...". It's also great to be able to mention a celebrity who has your condition and the kind of things they're involved in for your disease. You can also look up news stories related to you disease, so you can say things like, "There was an article in the New York Times just the other day on..." Google is a wonderful tool. Now you sound informed and well-read.

So there you are! Three ways to fake having a real life, even if most of your time is taken up dealing with symptoms, doctor's visits, treatments and other god-awful necessities of a chronic illness. I bet you didn't realize your life was just that cool! Seen from the proper perspective and framed in the proper way, you too can make this look awesome!! Healthy people will never know the difference. (Unless they get wise to this article. So, shhhh! ;)

Enjoy the party!

Full Committee Hearing - Pain in America: Exploring Challenges to Relief

A wonderful thing has happened on Capital Hill. Congress is finally seriously looking into pain and pain research. This video is amazing. Some parts were difficult to watch for me because of my beliefs on pain, but I was amazed by Christin Veasley and her ability to defend pain patients. I am going to speak on the Emotional-Physical connection of pain, which I don't think was very well addressed in the video.

Can emotions cause pain?
Absolutely. That doesn't mean, however, that the pain isn't real. There are studies that show that heartbreak actually causes physical damage to the heart. So the idea of "all in your head" or "you're manifesting this pain" is just silly. Yes, emotions play into and can increase or decrease pain. Yes, you can play with your emotions and influence your level of pain. But I love how in the anecdotal stories, both people admit that their pain isn't 100% gone, but it's better enough that they can function. That's all any pain sufferer really wants---function. And when you find that solution, you'll treat it like a miracle, even if it isn't 100%. I'm the same way about my Occipital Nerve Stimulator. That doesn't, however, mean it works for everyone. Migraine patients, particularly, have the inability to ignore pain like other people. So while biofeedback works wonderfully on some, it just can't work on others. We need multiple ways of treating pain, and everything that comes along with it.

Does this mean doctors can ignore pain and send a patient to see a shrink instead?
Absolutely not. There needs to be a holistic (meaning whole system) approach to pain. One thing we know is that serotonin and dopamine---the neurotransmitters that we tinker with to help people with depression, anxiety and a host of other mood disorders---are the same chemicals used by the body for inflammation control and wound healing. Our bodies use up these chemicals when we are injured, sick, or in chronic pain. That means less of those neurotransmitters for the brain. So it's not surprise then that people who are chronically ill also often come up as patients with mental health needs. Not only is the injury/disease/pain itself difficult to deal with, but we're running at a neurotransmitter deficiency from the word go! Both the pain and the chemicals that support the body-while-in-pain need to be addressed.

But aren't their people out there who exaggerate and are really making things worse for themselves?
If there are, you should feel sorry for them. There are people out there with personality disorders where they will say whatever, including faking illness and pain, for all sorts of reasons. But the truth is, these people are so few and far between that for every one of them there are 40 people who are telling the truth. So really, if you want to err on the side of caution, err on the side that they're telling the truth. Even among children, (according to the book "Nurture Shock") tattlers only tell about one in six of the actual times adult rules were broken, and even then they wait until the most egregious act before they tell on others. Most people won't complain about pain until it starts to interfere with what they're doing. Would you complain about the rain if it ruined your plans? Probably. If it ended up being a tornado that ripped apart the fairgrounds? You'd definitely talk then. Pain is no different.

Well... I mean, are there people out there who can manifest physical pain because of an underlying emotional issue?
This one is a tricky one. As Ms. Veasley points out in the video, once, ulcers were thought to be manifestations of stress, and signs of a weak character. Now we know that it's a bacteria. There are people who spent thousands of dollars on psychiatric care who didn't necessarily need it. They were blamed for their own disease. There are plenty of doctors that think fibromyalgia is a hysterical disease, brought on by stress. However, they also thought Sjogren's Syndrome was rare until they made the second antibody test. Now they know it to be the second most common autoimmune disease. I wonder how many people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are possibly suffering from an unknown or undiagnosed autoimmune disease? It took years before I ended up with the right neurologist who said, "It's small fiber neuropathy causing your pain. You have an autoimmune disease. It's going to happen."

Now, on the same token, I do know that I can cause myself a stabbing pain underneath right my shoulder blade (and only my right shoulder blade) when I am really, really angry with someone and trying to ignore my anger. But in that case, I've usually been sitting in my fury for hours, so it's no surprise what triggered what first. Also, I get migraine headaches from stress, but strangely enough, it's the decrease in stress that triggers me. I learned this one after my father went in for emergency heart surgery. I was fine (which was amazing to me) the whole time that I was sitting there worrying and pacing. When I got the call that he was okay and let out that breath of relief and relaxation, it wasn't five seconds later I was on my knees in blinding pain.

But the point that Ms. Veasley makes that I think is all important, is that we just don't know that much about pain! We may think we can sit in judgement and tell other people that they just need to read this book and they'll be able to fix their problems! No!! The truth is, we are idiots about pain, our doctors don't get enough training in it, and we spend less money in research on it, even though chronic pain affects more people that cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. We barely have any idea how the skin works, and we now believe the skin has a HUGE role in pain control.

Even if the emotions are manifesting pain, that doesn't mean we should dismiss the pain, or the person for "causing their own problem." On the contrary, if their nervous system is wired such that emotions do cause physical problems, that's a serious issue that needs addressing. We can do much to shore up the person emotionally, so that they don't fall prey to their condition so often, but life is difficult, and break-through moments are going to happen. My experience with migraines is like that. How exactly does one prepare for the stress of their father going into emergency heart surgery? The answer: you don't. Our only option is to fall apart an pick up the pieces on the other side.

All in all, I am very happy to see this video.

Articles that restore my faith in humanity...

I am often faced with fear of repercussion for speaking my mind, here or anywhere else. It's easy to judge. It's easy to follow the party line. It's safer. It's the nail that stands up that gets hammered down. A quick Google search by any one of my doctors, and I could quickly be seen as a "problem patient" before the word go. I could easily be branded a rabble-rouser... a trouble-maker. Discrimination is rampant and has very real consequences on my access to care, let alone the quality of that care. But when others speak out too, I take heart. I'm not the only one standing up and pointing out the emperor has no clothes. Here are some choice articles from doctors and law enforcement about how prohibition is harming us all.

From, Legalizing marijuana: Police officers speak out:

[Once] again, the inbox contained a much greater number of pro-legalization comments than those supporting continued prohibition. Here’s what I got from MacKenzie Allen, a retired King County (Wash.) sheriff’s deputy who was also formerly with Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office.

“I think the first thing with which we all must come to grips is the fact that drug use can never, will never be done away with. Humans have been intoxicating themselves (as have some lower orders of animals) throughout history. We will never “arrest” our way out of this. The drug problem is a health and education issue, no less so than alcohol and tobacco. We’ve been fighting the “War on Drugs” for more than 40 years. It has cost a trillion dollars and thousands of terminated and/or ruined lives with nothing to show for it but more drugs, cheaper drugs, higher quality drugs, more corruption and infinitely more violence. We need to legalize, regulate and strictly control all drugs. Continuing on our present course is insanity.”

From the first part in a series, Tales From the Trenches in the War on Pain, comes this strong supporter of pain relief:

Although I practice child, adolescent, adult, and forensic neuropsychiatry, the majority of my clinical practice is in the field of pain management, and I am a strong supporter of using opioids for the treatment of chronic noncancer pain. I have come to this position after approximately 11 years of face-to-face patient interaction, along with ongoing intensive review of the medical and scientific literature dealing with opioids, and the other forms of analgesic medication, as well as the neuroscience behind chronic pain disorders.

For several years now, and especially over the past several months, there has been an ongoing barrage of news media attention focusing on the fact that overdose deaths due to prescription opioids have reached “dangerous” or “alarming” levels of epidemic proportions. In response to these statistics has come an almost mob-like crusade to track down and punish incompetent, unethical, “pill mill” physicians and their practices, which is justified and one would think this could be easily attainable. Inexplicably, these objectives do not seem to be that easy to accomplish. Why?

At the same time, there also seems to be a push to punish and/or eliminate the pain physician who by some mysterious standard is considered to be over-prescribing pain medications, and/or prescribing medications in “extraordinary” or inconceivable combinations. Of course, these assertions fly in the face of science, and the experiences of the untold myriad of patients who literally have new, functional lives, less troubled by the specter of chronic debilitating pain. These patients still have pain and they always will suffer from it; however, with the right combination of medications — including and especially opioid medications — they once more can experience lives that contain a modicum of tranquility.

As stated above, I am a neuropsychiatrist. I am certain that I see great medical benefits bestowed upon the vast majority of my patients with chronic pain who are prescribed opioid analgesics. They and their families tell me that this is so, and I believe with an objective eye that I see the benefits as well.

From Chronic Pain in America is a National Disgrace, we learn that:

“Federal and state drug abuse prevention laws, regulations, and enforcement practices have been considered impediments to effective pain management….” Among other barriers, they say “Twenty-nine percent of primary care physicians and 16 percent of pain specialists report they prescribe opioids less often than they think appropriate because of concerns about regulatory repercussions.”

The report observes that, “Ironically, while many people with pain have difficulty obtaining opioid medications, nonmedical users appear to obtain them far too easily.” However, the panel also states in italics for emphasis that “the majority of people with pain use their prescription drugs properly, are not a source of misuse, and should not be stigmatized or denied access because of the misdeeds or carelessness of others.”

(Emphasis mine.)

And one of the most hopeful pieces of information I've seen, from Myth-Representations of Opioids & Their Risks is:

Forest Tennant, MD, has assembled an extensive array of documented cases in patients with chronic pain, ranging in age from 30 to 83 years, who have responded well to and thrived on opioid analgesic therapy for from 10 to 35 years. He observed relatively few complications of the therapy, and those were easily managed.

(Emphasis mine.)

Here we have officials with good standing in the community who are laying that at risk to stand up for what they see is right. That warms my heart to no end. They have so much more to lose than I do. In this video from Freedom Watch, and the first article linked here, we learn that there are professional law enforcement individuals losing their livelihood because they said something in favor of legalization.



There are doctors being pushed out of their practice. There are patients who are suffering. There are non-violent citizens made criminals because of putting something in their body. There are people of good standing being marginalized for speaking out. But there are those still willing to stand, still willing to say, "This is wrong..."

I thank them for it.

Pain is not a criminal activity

I don't like being in pain, for the obvious reasons. But there are emotional reasons I don't like being in pain, as well. Pain makes me vulnerable. It makes me feel helpless and powerless. And, because of my past, it can feel like punishment for some unknown wrong. There are feelings of guilt, too, that I am weakened like this. My father raised me to be incredibly independent. I could change the tire on a car before I could legally drive. Asking for help is difficult for me. I despise being a burden. And when it's an issue about pain, I know I'm getting myself into a situation where I may be labeled a drug-seeker and denied care. It's happened before. The potential is frightening. I know I'm telling the truth, but there's no way for them to know that, unless they can see it on a scan.

I've been to the ER about 3 times for flank pain. I knew by the attitudes of the doctors and nurses, they believed I was a woman who just couldn't handle her PMS. There was no blood in my urine. No sign of a kidney stone. Because of cost-cutting measures, scans aren't used as frequently. This is probably my fourth kidney stone, I have more sitting in both kidneys, and tonight was the first time they verified using a CT scan. Up until this point, I was dismissed as a hysterical woman (politely, though). Heck, I was starting to think I was a hysterical woman and just needed to tough it out more. But I couldn't, and yes, there really was something wrong, thank you very much. I joke that I want on my tombstone: "I told you I was sick." Because even this time I had no blood in my urine.

There needs to be the opportunity for more trust between patients and doctors. I know I'm not an addict, but there's not way to see that on a scan. And we're putting doctors careers on the line if they make a mistake. How is that fair? They're trained in the arts of healing. Why on earth are we making them responsible for the behavior of their patients? That's like blaming my car salesman for my car accident. It's silly. Right now we're asking out doctors to be cops. This isn't fair. That sets up doctors to be suspicious and makes patients defensive. Doctors worry about losing their livelihood. Patients fear having to endure soul-crushing, life-stopping pain. We need to start treating addiction like a disease and not a criminal activity. As long as no one can come forward about their addiction because of fear of punishment, it's going to stay in the shadows, festering.

I'm always terrified that something I say, something I do is going to make them think I'm a junkie out to pull a fast one. I'm already vulnerable, weak and frightened by my pain. I don't need to be terrified about every little thing I say on top of that. I've been trying to get my peripheral neuropathy diagnosed for years, but it wasn't until I lost the feeling of "sharp" and "cold" on my feet that anyone started listening. In the meantime, I suffered.

The so-called "safe guards" don't help either. When a mistake arises, even an honest one, the patient is the first suspect. Here's a common example of how a simple mistake can impact an entire life:

The worst part to me was that it was as though it was no big deal to them to inconvenience me, and I felt that my word that I'm constantly wearing my pain patch means nothing if the test doesn't reflect that. How can I prove to them this is true? It's simply my word against the test, right?

When I went in for my retest I decided to ask a nurse to look at my back and verify that I was in fact wearing the patch. She declined to do so, but was receptive to my concerns and very understanding. She instructed the person who processes the urine tests to look into the paperwork a bit deeper, which I appreciated. Low and behold, they'd submitted my test to be compared to a different medication than the one I actually take, which is why the test didn't find any evidence of the medication in my urine. It was looking for something I don't take.

Identifying the mistake was a big relief, but why did I have to be the one to bring up that possibility? If I hadn't they'd have submitted the test the exact same way and I'd still be under scrutiny and feel like they consider me a criminal and liar. Even worse I'd be worried they might decide not to treat me anymore.
Pain Management Drug Testing: Demoralizing Mistrust - Diana Lee

Is addiction a bad thing? Yes. But is it a criminal thing? Wouldn't it be more productive to treat it like a disease? Isn't that what we try to do with rehab centers? Why have the threat of prison there? Why would anyone want to come forward and say, "I'm an addict, I need help..." when doing so could get you locked up?

Making drug use a criminal activity is counter-productive. It harms patients who have to defend their pain. It hurts doctors who have to defend their medical decisions. It denies addicts a safe path to recovery. It costs and obscene amount of money for terrible results. One nurse, who would like to remain anonymous, said that even in her office, whenever a pain patient called in for their monthly refill, everyone in the office rolled their eyes, "it's the junkie calling for their monthly fix..." they all thought. But the staff never had that attitude towards diabetics calling in for their monthly insulin refill. Being an honest pain patient carries a stigma. We're discriminated against. We're punished for being in pain.

We need to end the War on Drugs and decriminalize drug use. We need to bring back the rehab clinics we lost after 1992. It needs to be a disease covered by health insurance. We need to bring back family programs for the support of the family of the addict, and have these covered by insurance as well. We need to be honest that relapse is just as normal with asthmatics, diabetics, heart patients, and addicts, and not give up when a relapse happens. When an addict can honestly walk forward and say, "I need a fix," and get it, then when I come forward and say, "I'm in pain," they know I'm telling the truth. I know it goes against almost every fiber in my being to allow an addict to just engage in that activity. But the truth is judging these people does no good for anyone. We must embrace this problem rather than run from it. We need to be forgiving. Most addicts outgrow use on their own. For the rest, there is treatment and management of the disease. We are sophisticated enough as a culture to handle this.

I had a successful ER visit this time. I got the right treatment. I didn't have to suffer. But there have been long stretches of time where I did suffer. I don't ever want to go through that again. Neither should anyone else have to. I ask this for everyone suffering. Let it begin with you. Write your representative. Let them know that you would like to see legislation that would decriminalize drug use. Ask them to end the War on Drugs. Ask them to do this for everyone's sake. Site the CATO article or any other source you find worthy. (One group I particularly like is Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.) Raise your voice. Be heard. We can change this. And then pain won't be suspected as a criminal activity.


Thank you