Sonia’s story: Living a more functional life with medical cannabis for epilepsy

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your condition.

I live in Plymouth in Devon, and I work nights at a factory for Mars. I have epilepsy, but I have a very functioning lifestyle for someone with my type of epilepsy - and that’s because of what I use for medication. I can’t say the same for a lot of my family members who also have epilepsy.

I’m lucky. I get what’s called an aura. My body tells me when I’m about to have an epileptic fit. It’s weird to describe. I suppose to look at, I just look like I’m stretching like I’m tired, but it’s not. I can feel the difference - I feel it in myself. Since being on what I call healthy medication, I’ve not had one aura. Not one.

What pharmaceuticals were you prescribed before medical cannabis?

There were some crazy-name prescriptions that the hospital gave me. They were just not good. After effects. I couldn’t work. I expected work to let me have a few months off until my body got used to it. You shouldn’t have to let your body get addicted to something so that you can function. That’s not a good situation.

What made you turn to medical cannabis?

I was neglecting myself in the hospital and still having fits. I need to function. I need to be able to go to work. My mental health matters too. If I can’t go to work and can’t provide for my kids and have to rely on the government, my mental health would slip. I needed something that would let me still get up and be me: Go to work, earn a crust every week, feed my kids myself - not rely on anyone else. 

The only way I can do that with epilepsy is medical cannabis. 

How did you hear about medical cannabis?

I knew about it being used in epilepsy before my epilepsy developed. When you do something traumatic to your body, epilepsy comes out. My cousin got knocked over by a car. My uncle fell off scaffolding. I chopped my finger off - I thought I’d go a bit further. That brought out my epilepsy. 

I had already looked at things with children because they were using cannabis liquids when kids were having epileptic fits. It stopped the fit. Amazing stuff. Absolutely amazing.

How are you finding Releaf as a clinic?

Brilliant. I say this to other people: medical cannabis is excellent for a lot of ailments. With Releaf, you know how to use it properly for your medical condition. When I first started, I didn’t know what I was ordering. 

In the consultation, it was explained to me. Now I’ve got what’s suitable for work and what’s brilliant to help me get sleep. I needed it explained to me. Without you guys there to explain to me, “this is why you’re not sleeping properly” - I needed that knowledge to still be able function right and to be able to use it as a medication properly.

You can’t just get it from someone down the road and expect it to work the same. You need guidance. If you want to truly use it as a medication, which I do, you need that guidance. You need Releaf behind you to understand what you’re taking and how to take it. Every consultation I gain knowledge that benefits me.

Have your friends and family noticed a difference since you’ve been prescribed medical cannabis?

Apparently, I’m a lot more spritely. A lot more happy. I’ve got no worries in the background. When epilepsy isn’t controlled, there’s a lot of what ifs. Now it’s dealt with. Not a problem.

Everyone else in my family has the same problem. We’re very different in what we’re capable of doing because I’m not touching what they’re touching.

I don’t think they’ve really heard me when I tell them how life-changing my Releaf prescription has been. They’re on prescription medication, and it seems to be having a big impact on how they manage day to day. They’re not quite themselves in the way they were before.

I enjoy telling people. My employer knows I’m on medical cannabis. I don’t take it to work. I don’t feel like I need it at work. But I know I’m allowed to.

What would you say to someone considering medical cannabis?

It has been truly life-changing for me. The conventional treatment options for epilepsy didnt work well for me, and brought some pretty horrible side effects. If someone is in the same boat as me, I would definitely suggest they at least consider trying a medical cannabis treatment plan.

If you would like to learn more about medical cannabis treatment options for the conditions mentioned in this Patient Story, please see medical cannabis for epilepsy.