Alistair’s story: Discovering the Life-Changing Impact of Medical Cannabis for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain

Could you tell us a bit about your diagnoses and treatments?

When I was 17, I had a motorcycle accident, and I was run over by a 30-ton truck, which put me in the ICU on life support. Following that, I had a lot of pain and developed fibromyalgia. I tried not to let that affect me too much, but I was on 30 milligrams of codeine up to eight times a day. 

I have mental health problems as well. I have emotionally unstable borderline personality disorder and PTSD. I also have polycythaemia vera, which also gives me quite a lot of pain. I’ve put up with those through life using traditional methods. 

About six or seven years ago, I started falling over and blacking out. It took nearly two years to get a diagnosis. Eventually, a consultant neurologist called me and told me I was having seizures. At one point, I was having up to 56 seizures a day and, because of the fibromyalgia, I would be in a lot of pain afterwards.

The doctors gave me pain injections every six months, but it took weeks to kick in. By the end, the pain was so intense that I wasn’t leaving the house at all. 

What made you turn to medical cannabis, and how did you learn about it?

I was already aware of cannabis as a medication, but was unsure whether I would be eligible because of my mental health problems. I looked into different providers, but I wasn’t happy with their process, speed, or the conversations I was having with them.

When I spoke to you guys, it was almost instantaneous. The appointment came through straight away - it was in a week or two. I had my consultation and then another consultation with someone who understood both my mental health problems and pain. I found the process very easy, and it made me feel safe. With not just the pain, but the mental health problems as well, I wanted to be sure that it was safe for me.

What was it like getting your first medical cannabis prescription? 

Well, it’s a really odd thing because I’m well aware of the stigma attached to that. Because of my health conditions, I have a lot of ambulance crews and police that end up coming into the house, and I have wondered what they think about me having cannabis in the house.

But actually, one of the great things about Releaf is that you provide that medical cannabis card. I’ve now used it probably four times, and everybody that I’ve given it to has just looked at it and gone, “Oh, we know about that. Yeah, it’s fine,” and passed it back to me. So they have no problem. 

It was quite a surreal thing to have these little tubs turn up. But I have a lock box because I have kids, so I put it in with my other medications. It’s out of the way, and it’s become very normal for me to have it on me and to take it.

How have you found your dosing regime?

The new vape that you brought out is just a game-changer for me. I have the cartridges. I’ve also got the flower stick for the leaf, but taking that out, you could see some people if I was using it going, “Is he smoking weed?” And you feel like you’re constantly having to say it’s for medicinal purposes. 

Whereas with the vape cartridge, nobody even looks at it twice. They don’t even think about it, and I can use it whenever I need to. So it’s a great one for me.

I have flower, oil, and vape cartridges. So I would use the oil and then, depending on how I’m feeling, if it’s been a bad night and I’ve had seizures through the night, I’ll go for the vape. If it’s not, I’ll go for the flower. 

How has your treatment affected your daily life and quality of life?

My son has watched me over the last four years go downhill quite considerably. I used to be a free climber and mountain biker, and I’ve not been able to do any of that. I don’t even drive. 

Up until maybe six months ago, a few months into taking cannabis, I was using my walking stick constantly. I didn’t go anywhere without it because I couldn’t manage the pain, and I needed that to walk. But I’ve hardly picked it up for about four or five months. 

Not only that, but I’ve cut back on drinking. I probably have more of an appetite because I wasn’t eating. I’m sleeping better. It really has been life-changing for me.

Have you been able to reduce the amount of pain medications you are taking?

Pain-wise, I’ve now reduced my codeine to 8 milligrams six times a day, and I’ll be coming off that in the next month or so. I was also due to have the spinal, shoulder, and head injections, and I told them about my medical cannabis treatment. The consultant said, “I would love to see what impact that has if we don’t give you injections.” That was five months ago. I’ve got an open appointment, and I’ve not been back.

Have you faced any stigma when telling people about your medical cannabis prescription?

My family has seen me in pain for that long, and they now see me not in pain. So the feedback has been amazing from them.

I have two sons, an 18-year-old and a 14-year-old. We’re quite open about my medical conditions, and we’re quite open about the fact that I’m taking medical cannabis to help with that, and they can see the change. My son was over at the weekend, and he said, “It’s like having my dad back for the first time in four or five years.”

I’ve even taken my medication into the hospital, and they’ve been absolutely fine with it. 

What advice would you give to someone who's considering joining Releaf?

I would advise anybody to seek it out as an alternative. I’m well aware of the associated costs. I’m on disability and PIP, but I find it, and I will never stop finding it, because it does that much good for me. I just want people to know about it and understand it, and I think not enough people do.

The medical conditions that I have and the level of pain that I’ve been in for over 30 years has never gone away, and it’s never going to go away, but at least I can now live with it and manage it properly. It’s been a life-changing thing for me starting on this. 

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