The thunderstorm has lowered our temperature about 20 degrees, to 75 degrees F. The wind’s blowing something fierce, and trees are losing some of their leaves. I hope that’s not too painful for the trees. 🙂 I tried to catch a shot of the lightning, but that’s an ability I haven’t mastered yet — I’m always a split second too late.
Day: 06/27/2015
The Internet’s Best Reactions To The Supreme Court Marriage Equality Ruling
https://www.distractify.com/marriage-is-so-gay-1218933483.html?ts_pid=2
Farah Brook
New York, New York · 181 followers · Yesterday at 8:38am ·
can’t wait for the open weed bar at my kid’s gay wedding
Zach Broussard @ZachBroussard
Remember when I said I wouldn’t get married until gay people everywhere had the right to? Well I could really use some extra time.
The Little Things For P. King
https://crossovertheroad.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/left-hanging/
(Photo taken 6/10/2015.)
Journal of the American Medical Association: Marijuana is Medicine
Marijuana is one hundred percent a form of medicine, researchers conclude in a bombshell series of reports released today by the Journal of the American Medical Association…
https://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2338266
Findings: Use of marijuana for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity due to multiple sclerosis is supported by high-quality evidence…
10 illnesses helped by cannabis
https://420amindianvetactivist.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/10-illnesses-helped-by-cannabis/
DEPRESSION
Pharm Choice: Antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac increase levels of the vital neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain
Side Effects: Decreased libido, birth defects, increased suicide in those under 25. Can trigger potentially fatal “Serotonin Syndrome.”
Why Pot’s Better: Provides safe, controlled euphoria. Those switching from Zoloft to pot report improved outlook.
Pot’s Drawbacks: Improved outlook makes repeats of Friends actually seem funny…
Disinterest
https://lookingforthemissingme.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/maybe-i-shouldnt-be-here-anymore/
Kat said: “I said he should be interested in what i talk to him about, because that’s what people who like each other do.”
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, especially as it applies to my own family, none of whom are interested in learning about chronic pain or what I deal with every day. I’ve been thinking about how I would react if one of my family members also suffered from a chronic medical condition… and I don’t think I would ever choose disinterest. In fact, I would do my own research in case I could find something that would help them.
In the past, I’ve made excuses for my family’s disinterest. Lots and lots of excuses. But I think I’m done with that now. I get more support from the blogging community than I do from my own family, and I think that says a lot.
So, to all of you bloggers who have shown interest in me — just want to say gracias, amigas. 🙂
(Photo taken 5/23/2015.)
Piss Off, Pain Management Clinics
http://weartearandcare.com/2015/06/24/piss-off-pain-management-clinics/
“You have exhausted all of your options.”
That is what I was told yesterday when I was denied as a new patient at Massachusetts General Hospital. Western medicine has officially given me the heave-ho.
Because I have a “long-standing relationship with another pain management clinic,” unless I am being referred for a specific procedure that my current doctors do not have, I am not allowed to become a patient elsewhere.
It’s so strange to reach the end of the road. It’s one thing to be told that the doctors are running out of ideas; it’s another thing entirely to have someone tell you that there is literally no other procedure in existence. All the treatments they are willing to try have been attempted. Science and research have not caught up yet. This is as good as it’s going to get.
What they’re willing to try. That’s the operative phrase here. Despite my decade of experience in the medical system, despite never exhibiting pill-seeking behavior, my pain management doctors refused to prescribe any kind of opioid safety net. If the pain gets really bad? “Go to the ER.”
Really? That’s the best you can offer? “Go to the ER”?
“I don’t think you understand,” I told my doctor. “I’ll have to quit my job. I can’t function like this.”
Shrug…
So if you keep coming back and complaining, then the problem must be in your head. Even though I told my pain doctor that I am already seeing a pain psychologist, she insisted that I meet with one in-house in order to come to terms with the “new” me…
“Give her antidepressants. Give her nerve meds. Just don’t give her opioids.” That’s the reasoning my pain doctor kept parroting: “It’s been clinically proven that opioid medication doesn’t help chronic pain.” …
Actually, that’s not true. It hasn’t been clinically “proven” because the research hasn’t been done.
All Things Chronic 