Patient StoriesLisa's story: The fight against fibromyalgia with medical cannabis

Patient Stories

Lisa's story: The fight against fibromyalgia with medical cannabis

Condition(s):
Fibromyalgia

Joined Releaf:
July 2024

Prescription Type:
Flower

Battling a serious, long-term health issue (especially one that comes with intense, unpredictable pain) is hard enough on its own. But when it takes years to get an accurate diagnosis, and medical professionals lack a full understanding of how to test for or treat your condition, it can feel like a never-ending uphill battle.

That is exactly what Lisa and millions of others have experienced with fibromyalgia. This chronic condition affects an 5.6% of the UK population (that's just shy of 4 million people). This often misdiagnosed and misunderstood condition is characterised by widespread and chronic pain along with fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive issues. But despite its surprising prevalence, fibro is only recently starting to get the attention and research it deserves.

All of this can leave patients with fibromyalgia feeling stuck in a cycle of medication trial and error, in a search to find an effective option that doesn't compromise their ability to function day to day. After years of frustration and disappointment, Lisa turned to Releaf medical cannabis, and in her own words, it transformed her life. 

Read Lisa’s story below:

Lisa Taylor Releaf Medical Cannabis Patient

Would you mind just telling me a bit more about yourself?

I’m a project manager, I've been with the same firm for 23 years, having worked my way up from the bottom. I'm lucky to say that I love my job, and I love the people I work with. It's a high-pressure job, and as I have worked my way up the ladder, the work pressure has only increased (but I wouldn't have it any other way).

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about six years ago, but I'd suffered for probably five years before that. The fibro was draining me, and making it really hard to perform how I wanted to, and needed to, at work. Everything I tried that was pharmaceutical-wise was either addictive or it had severe side effects.

My pain levels were extreme. I’d wake up in the morning feeling like an elephant had literally walked up and down my body. Getting out of bed was such a challenge. I’d have to jump straight into the shower to get heat on my body. Once my muscles warmed up, I could almost start the day. But all the treatments I tried made me mentally fuzzy, which I hated.

What were the main challenges you have faced with fibromyalgia?

It was mostly the pain. What I couldn’t understand was why I was in pain in so many places.

It was everywhere - my neck, shoulder blades, down my back, hips, and knees. I’d wake up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck because my muscles would seize up overnight. They don't fully understand Fibro yet, which is extremely frustrating. Until they do, how can they treat it correctly?

Instead, they just throw prescription drugs at it, heavy stuff like tramadol. Sure, they help with the pain, at least somewhat, but I can't function on them. I can't work, drive, or do much of anything, and you can't just come off them - you need to wean yourself off. So, it's like you're trapped in a cycle of pain and medication. 

Eventually, I decided, “That’s it - I’m coming off everything.” I stopped all the heavy meds and went down to basic paracetamol. But even that only takes the edge off.

The health issues that the fibromyalgia brought me and how long it took for me to find a true diagnosis caused massive anxiety as well. I kept thinking something serious was wrong. It was constant panic. My brain would jump to conclusions - cancer, heart attack, you name it. 

All of this led to me having a series of panic attacks. I ended up doing CBT therapy, which helped me understand and control the anxiety. But therapy only helps with the mental side, it doesn't treat the pain or completely remove my anxiety.

As soon as I was diagnosed with fibro, it was like a light bulb moment. I thought, "Great, it’s something I can research, something I can understand". I keep a tracker of my pain so that every six months, I can go to the doctor with a list. 

It helps them see patterns and connections, and it reassures me. Fibro pain is so widespread, though, that you kind of get used to your “standard” pain. The aching in my chest, back, and shoulders is nothing new for me now, but if I get a new pain, I have to figure out if it's something serious or just another fibro symptom. That constant worry never goes away.

What led you to explore Releaf and medical cannabis?

It all began when I started in a new role at work. I had so much new information to absorb and had to work at a quick pace. I wasn’t functioning well, and the health anxiety got worse, so I decided to research what other people with fibro were using.

I was pretty surprised to see just how much positive feedback there was online for medical cannabis, both the flower and oil options.

I’d tried CBD products before (the over-the-counter stuff), but they didn't work for me. I'm sure they are good for minor health, but not pain or anxiety at the level I was experiencing. After more research, I realised cannabis was being prescribed legally, but not through the NHS.

That's when I found Releaf.

I read through all of the patient stories and looked at the reviews online. I was really impressed. Then I saw that Releaf offers a no-risk money-back guarantee for the initial consultation if I couldn't be prescribed. I thought, "Well, I’m not losing anything. If I go through the process and can’t be prescribed for any reason, I get my money back. It is totally risk-free, so why not give it a go?"

How was the process of becoming a Releaf patient?

It was so easy. 

You can get hold of your own medical records. One thing I did have an initial problem with was accessing my medical records online. I logged in, but I found I only had access to records from the last 12 months. There’s an automatic restriction in the settings on both GP and NHS systems for just one year, but I sent an email to my GP’s reception asking them to unlock my full history, and they did.

Once I had everything, I downloaded the relevant pages with all the evidence and uploaded them to my Releaf Patient Portal, which was really straightforward. Within two days, I had an appointment. I went through the consultation, got my prescription, purchased my starter kit, and my prescribed cannabis arrived two days later.

It was all so quick, so easy, and stress-free.

How have you found your experience with Releaf so far?

So great. 

The best part for me, is that on my plan the dosage is completely within my own control, which I love. I found that micro-dosing works best for me.

I use the flower sticks with my Omura vape and take about 0.1 grams every couple of hours during the day. I spread it out throughout the day, and it keeps me focused and pain-free, letting me work all day without noticing my pain. I never have to think about it, as long as I microdose throughout the day.

At night, I switch to a slightly stronger cultivar from my daytime flower option. I have problems getting to sleep and switching my brain off, and health anxiety can still creep in. The flower I vape during the evenings levels me out and helps wind my brain down. It allows me to tell myself, “The day’s over, let’s wind down and get refreshed.” I also take the oil at night just before bed, which helps me sleep.

One of the massive benefits, and one that I wasn’t necessarily expecting, is that I wake up pain-free. I don't have to jump straight into the shower any more just to function. I can start my day like a normal human being. That's been life-changing.

Do you notice a difference between your prescribed cannabis and cannabis you may have tried in the past?

It’s nothing like the cannabis I remember from my teenage years. This is pure, medical-grade cannabis, and when vaped, there’s no nicotine or anything else mixed in. 

It’s just really high-quality cannabis - like nothing else I have seen before.

You mentioned that you got the Releaf starter kit. How has that worked for you?

I did, and except for one small hiccup, it's been fantastic.

About two months in, my first vape stopped working. It just wouldn’t charge. I sent a ten-second video to the Patient Support Team explaining the issue, and within 48 hours, I was sent an upgraded model as a replacement, no questions asked. The team were really helpful.

I love that I can refill and reuse the Omura Flowersticks. They make dosing easy, and the vape itself is brilliant. I’ve set up a kit to keep everything organised. I’ve got my already used and new flower sticks separated, and I empty them into a little pot to refill as needed. It’s just part of my routine now.

What would you say are the biggest changes for you day-to-day since joining Releaf?

Pain-free days, definitely, and I can switch off at night, which has been a huge benefit. 

I’ve always been a good sleeper, getting eight hours, but before starting with my Releaf medical cannabis treatment, I wasn’t getting into a deep sleep. My sleep tracker used to show around 40 minutes of deep sleep, and now I’m getting about three hours of deep sleep each night.

I’m still getting the same amount of sleep, but it’s much better quality, and that’s helped with my energy levels. I’m finally able to focus on myself instead of constantly thinking about my pain. When I was suffering from heavy pain all the time, it was really hard to fully focus on anything else.

In terms of work, I am three years into my most recent project now, and it’s about to wrap up. I honestly don’t think I could have done it without medical cannabis.

I’m looking forward to what's next!

Have you had conversations with colleagues, friends, or family about medical cannabis? What’s their reaction been?

My family and friends have been supportive no matter what. Cannabis, for them, doesn't carry any stigma. 

And now that they have seen the benefits that cannabis-based treatment options can and do offer, they're even more on-board. I have family members with their own health conditions and a few friends who also suffer from fibro, and they're now considering medical cannabis treatment with Releaf.

I was a little worried about how to approach the subject with work. We do drug testing, and I wasn’t sure if I legally had to disclose it, but I thought it was best to be open. So I told my boss and a few other co-workers, and they have been totally fine with it.

The only reaction that surprised me was my dentist. When I told him that I had been prescribed medical cannabis, he just said, “Lucky you!”. That actually led him to start doing his own research. Next time I visit, he’s promised to have some advice for me on how to best manage my teeth and gums while vaping medical cannabis flower.

Does your work routine affect your dosing?

I’m really lucky to have a hybrid role where I mostly work from home. On office days, I’ll still dose in the morning like I normally would. I always give it at least an hour before driving, just to be safe, but I’m perfectly capable of driving on my daytime flower. It doesn’t impair me at all. In fact, it helps me focus and make better decisions generally.

I don’t medicate during the day when I’m in the office, as I often manage to stay pain-free for most of the day, which is a huge change from when I was on pharmaceutical painkillers. 

To be able to take a bit of my medical cannabis in the morning and be pain-free all day with no other medication is incredible. It’s usually only when I am on my way home from work that I start to feel the pain again. When I get home, I take a small vape of my evening cultivar and level out. It’s amazing to have that kind of control over my pain.

Do you have any advice for others considering medical cannabis?

Don’t worry about the stigma. You’re doing this for you, not for anyone else. It’s perfectly legal, it’s prescribed, and the benefits have been far greater than even I was expecting.

My daytime flower doesn’t impair me, it actually helps me focus. I can think more clearly, I make better decisions  and I can be much more present when I'm not in constant pain. Pain can be just as impairing as medications. With my medical cannabis prescription, I’m not impaired - I’m in control.

Joining Releaf and starting medical cannabis treatment has been life-changing for me - literally life-changing. So if you're considering it, I would definitely say go for it. You won't know how much it can help until you try.

For more information about medical cannabis treatments for this condition, please see medical cannabis for Fibromyalgia.

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