Jodie’s story: Natural solutions for menopause symptoms

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and the health conditions that impact your day-to-day life?

I'm 54, self-employed, and work as a Reiki Master Practitioner. I have always been into more natural ways of healing and believe very strongly that people should take control of their own health, because we know our own bodies best. 

In 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and while I was going through treatment, my doctors discovered that I also have skin lupus—the milder form of lupus—which gets triggered by stress and other things. Also, because of my cancer medications and chemotherapy, I went into early menopause, and my general health started to get quite bad. 

Because of the cancer, I can't have HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or any of the conventional menopause medications from the NHS, so I wasn’t treated in a conventional way. The lupus seemed to double the negative effects of the menopause, and were extreme. I really felt like I was losing control. I began to experience chronic anxiety, couldn't sleep, and my pain seemed to only get worse. I looked awful and I felt awful, and I just couldn't seem to help myself. 

I won’t say anything bad about the NHS—they've done a lot for me over the years—but my doctors always wanted to give me amitriptyline, which I didn’t want to take because of the serious side effects. That wasn't the route I wanted to go down.

How did you first learn that medical cannabis may be a treatment option you could try?

I always thought that medical cannabis was only useful for specific conditions, until one of my nephews told me about some of their co-workers who had received prescriptions. My nephew said, “You know, my co-workers’ conditions aren’t half as serious as yours.” That’s when I started thinking that medical cannabis might be a possibility for me, and that I was probably eligible for a prescription.

I Googled medical cannabis clinics and found the Releaf website right away. The information provided on the site, and the way it was presented, really resonated with me. I don't think I looked into many other clinics after that. I just thought, “Yes, this is the one for me.” 

And how were your first experiences with Releaf?

Everybody that I spoke to from the Releaf team was so nice. I know doctors don't have much time, but when I first talked with my doctor at Releaf I felt like somebody was finally listening and actually taking what I was saying into account. Everyone was so knowledgeable, and whenever I asked a question, it got answered. That was definitely a positive. 

After my first consultation, getting started with the treatment was easy. I ordered the Releaf Starter Kit which arrived really quickly and it was all discreetly packaged. I knew that if that parcel accidentally was passed to my neighbours, nobody was going to know what it was. Having that sense of privacy was really nice. 

So, what does your day-to-day treatment routine look like now?

In the last six months I’ve received three prescriptions from Releaf, so for me, they last about two months on average. I just love the medical cannabis oil. I know when I take the oil at night, I'm going to have the nicest sleep. For a number of years, I managed only two, three, or four hours of sleep if I was lucky, and that impacted my work, my self-confidence, and many different areas in my life. 

With the oil, I take a very small dose. I know I could probably take a higher dose and really have a lie in, but at my age, I don’t want to do that. With a small dose I sleep well and in the morning I don't feel groggy; I wake up in a good mood and in a really good place. It's also about the way I fall asleep—nice and gentle—nothing like sleep medications I’ve tried before. It's just a nice, gentle dozing off. 

I now sleep between six and seven hours most nights, and I feel very refreshed during the day: clearer and calmer. Another, unexpected benefit is that the bags under my eyes seem to have cleared up. I think it’s because I'm sleeping so well. 

I use the oil for sleep and then a flower to treat my pain. I have bursitis on my right hip, and part of my job is giving massages and physical therapies. After I've given a lot of massages, by the end of the day, my hip gets very sore. I’ll use my vape pen, and after 20 minutes that pain dissipates, which has really been a game changer. I also love the fact that it's a measured dose, easy to use, and it doesn't leave a smell around the house. 

And, as well as improvements in your sleep and pain, have you noticed any other differences since starting treatment?

I only use medical cannabis once I've finished work, but I’m still aware of the benefits throughout the day: I'm not as anxious, and the pain is not very bad. 

A lot of my menopausal issues, like extreme dryness, seem to have dissipated. Before my treatment, if you’d asked me, on a scale of one to 10, what my level of discomfort was, I'd have said 12 to 15, but just the other day I was talking to one of my friends and said, “Oh, I haven't had that level of discomfort for ages. I can't even remember how long it’s been!”

I'm in a better place, and so much of the pain and discomfort and anxiety seems to have lifted. Don't get me wrong, there are times where I can feel anxiety coming on, but now I can control it. I can stop the negative thoughts before they spiral out of control.

I feel more like me than I have for a long time.

Have you spoken with family and friends about starting treatment with medical cannabis?

I have no problem telling anyone about my medical cannabis treatment, especially if it’s a person who I think could be helped by it. People are really interested, because they can see the difference in me over the last six months, and they are also blown away by how accessible it is. I don’t think many people are even aware that it is a legal treatment in the UK. 

When I first started my treatment at Releaf, I had some doubts. I was worried about how long medical cannabis would stay in my system. I asked myself, “Will I be able to drive the next day?” But, as I said, I'm just bouncing out of bed ready to face the world. It's a nice change, after the last couple of years of living the complete opposite of that. With my treatment, I only feel the benefits: I don’t feel impaired at all, and I still function completely normally. 

I think that if it's something that's natural and can help people, we should take an interest in it. There's so much rubbish going into our bodies these days, through our food, through our water, through the products we use. If you have access to a natural medicine that works, it’s a no-brainer. 

I work in healthcare, and I always empower my clients to take charge of their own healthcare. I know some people are scared about the word “cannabis”, but it has a very long history within the world of medicine. It’s always been here: it's a plant, and you can't get more natural than that. The fact that it's being recognized as a legitimate treatment and has become more accessible can only be a good thing. 

As a reiki practitioner, I’m big on self-healing, but my diagnosis has also meant that I’ve felt unable to concentrate on my own healing for a while; however, since starting my Releaf treatment, I’ve been given a boost to focus on this again.

I think in 10 years time, people are just going to be so much more aware of how beneficial it can be. I personally think that if the NHS offered more treatments like medical cannabis, it would save them fortune in the end. 

And, now that your insomnia and pain are more manageable, what are your hopes for the future?

During COVID, I was considered very vulnerable, so I had to self-isolate for months while my partner was working away. I lost a lot of clients during that time, and since I started my medical cannabis treatment, I've started reaching out to former clients again. I’ve even been offered more work in the corporate sector. 

As well, for a long time I haven’t been able to exercise, but I'm starting to pick that up again. I’m not doing anything too strenuous yet, just being a bit more active when I can. 

And finally, would you recommend Releaf to others in similar situations?

I would recommend medical cannabis for anyone suffering with conditions similar to mine, especially women with menopause. 

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