Fibromyalgia Symptoms HOME

Getting access to medical marijuana can be problematic if you do not live in one of the states that have legalized the medical use of cannabis. Americans for Safe Access provides a forum where patients within each legalized state share information on cannabis issues. If you do not live in one of the states that have legalized the medical use of cannabis, you may find help by contacting groups who are working to get the laws changed. In any case try posting your question here. http://www.safeaccessnow.org/punbb/

reply

In my previous post, I listed a link to Americans for Safe Access and their discussion forum. A link to their Home page may be more helpful for patients looking for information that they can download at no cost and use for discussion with their physician. http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Select the Medical Information tab then Educational Booklets on Medical Marijuana and specific medial conditions. Here you will find information regarding booklets, each addressing a specific medical condition: HIV/AIDs, Aging, Arthritis, Gastro-Intestinal, Movement Disorders, Cancer and Chronic Pain. I suspect the chronic pain and movement disorder information would be most helpful to fibro patients.
Good luck on your search for info, and please return to this message board to share what you have learned.

I live in Colorado where we have over 2000 patients registered in our medical marijuana program.

reply

I have just started using Marijuana for fibromyalgia however I seem to be using it differently than most. I simply smoke a small amount before bed, It takes the edge off and I sleep deeper through the entire night I wake up feeling better rested and with alot less pain. I do not ever intend to use it to get through the day. To function with my head in a fog would be as much a loss of my life as the pain overwhelming my brain and body. on a scale of 1-10 my quality of life was about a 2 it is now about an 8. Its not a complete cure but it is enough, more than I ever got from addictive narcatics that left me with a medication hangover and never really did allow me to sleep sound and totally relaxed. Unfortunatly many people overuse and make excuses. thats what makes it hard for those that need it to get it. Please to leave your home "high" is irresponsible I dont beleive physicians mean for us to use it around the clock there is a certain amount of pain you must deal with and only helps to build a case against Medical marijuana.

reply

I'm 16 years old and for the longest time i have struggled with fibromyalgia. I am a rare case of this medical disorder. I have it so severe that i can not move and i have missed over 2 months of school. I was prescribed lyrica, it did nothing for me. A couple months ago i began smoking marijuana. I would smoke about an eighth over a 3 weeks period of time which isn't alot and it did do wonders on my body. The only down side of the fact that i would have a "weed-hangover". I would feel out of it the next day, but my pain was gone. I also have depression and bipolar, the marijuana has helped me through that too. Marijuana isn't bad as people say it is. If you do it everyday and rely on it, then yes its bad and you need help. If you have a reason and it makes your life easier to go on each day, then why not? It is illegal but owning under 100 grams in most states is ok because you will only be charged with $100 and will have no mark on your record for it. If you are smart about where you do it, (like not driving or operating any machinery) then you'll be fine. I highly reccomend it. Do not by creepers or chronic, that will make you too high and too anxious in my opinion. Also those are very expensive. Good luck everyone!

reply

I wish I knew if it was and could use it. But I don't think myjob would allow it. I bet it would work for the pain.

reply

I'm a 50-something woman just diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I used marijuana occasionally during my college years and into my mid-twenties and hadn't smoked in probably 25 years until recently. A friend had some-I remembered feeling very relaxed and mellow on pot-and I was so miserable, I figured "what the hell". Well, it really took the edge off of my pain. I didn't feel "high" or any more "brain dead" than I already am. I also slept very well. It didn't take much-I've always been a "cheap date"-a couple of tokes. Would love to have legal access. Wouldn't use when I'm working-but then I don't use narcotic pain mediction on those day either or the nights before I work. But it would be nice to be able to have a toke or two when I'm not on shift. My state is not one that recognises marijuana for medical use.

reply

Some marijuana makes me much. MUCH worse. Some makes me great. There are totally different strains. The different strains can make you a number of feelings...Up, down, sideways,better, and worse.. Being on other med's make a difference as well. Just to chime in I can tell you its hard to get the exact same strain every time. Also there are many ways to use it, each has a different an effect. Smoking is the most common and quickest result. There are other ways that work even better.

reply

I remember having thc tablets when on chimo, it didn't work for me, I ended up being twice as sick and overdosing on two pills.

I don't smoke, but I'd be willing to try the brownies.

I doubt my doctor will sign the doctor's letter of diagnosis and endorsement so that I can get it through the Compassion Centre, there quite a few in Canada.

reply

If you can't stand smoking it, chop it up as fine as U can get it (Coffee Grinder works really well)and put it in capsules. Take One see how U feel with that.

reply

Be careful smoking pot as it may interact with other meds you might be on. A few months ago, I tried it cause I had a stressful day at work, came home with severe fibro pain and a migraine. Anyway, I wound up in the E.R. cause my heart was racing and I felt like I was passing out. Turns out it interacted with the 100 mg. of Zoloft I take everyday. I wish I could smoke it, my fibro pain is unbearable most days. But after that experience, never again. My partner also smoked and had no problems, so it wasn't laced with anything else.

reply

I was treated with it, in Texas, not legal, but doctors did treat you with it.

It's not about getting stoned, it's about smoking enough to take care of your aches and pains.

Personally I don't do it any more, but if my fibro gets the better of me, I'll be in the doctors office and getting a prescription.

reply

I am also a mmj patient in Colorado. I've never been much of a pot smoker, but I do like it for my fibro. I actually sleep better and wake up relatively refreshed in the morning -- something I haven't experienced much in the last 22 years. Plus, I've seen other symptoms improve, like elimination of hot flashes, decreased dosage of antidepressant, lower blood pressure. I've been using it for about 1.5 months, so I'm still a novice. I'm also cautious about what strains I try. Fortunately, there's lots of information out there and the folks at my dispensary are always willing to answer questions. I'd recommend trying medical cannabis, anyway. Can't be worse than all the junk the docs prescribe.

reply

I am under 18, with fibro, with a family history of it. The people in my family with it smoke with me, and also agree it helps the pain. They, also, have decreased their medication doses. Smoking before bed helps the pain at night, and usually gives a full night sleep. No waking up with pains, or the normal with fibro.

Any questions on pot and health, search on Google Video The Union: The Business Behind Getting High. 2hr documentary, well worth the watch

reply

I have been a FMS patient since my 8th grade year and I am now 30 yrs. old. Through out all these years and countless medications I would have to say that marijuana has been the most effective in relieving my FMS. Marijuana isn't for everyone, everyones body and symptoms are different. But I would recommend for anyone out there with FMS to at least try marijuana. If the "legal" problems associated with using pot are the only reasons for not trying this venture please get a reliable, safe "hook-up" and at least try it. FMS has dramatically changed and affected my whole life and marijuana has given my life back to me.

reply

Hello ;)
I am new to your community, recently diagnosed with Fibro - other diagnosis: arthritis, hepatitis c (just finished treatment), hypothyroidism and major depression. I am struggling pretty hard right now, I will echo what a previous person said, nothing else works like marijuana! It just doesn't! Personally I WISHED SOMETHING ELSE RELIEVED SYMPTOMS BETTER THAN MARIJUANA , just because of the social stigma of "being stoned" or a marijuana user (it's kinda hard to hide)- but you get to a point that getting out of the pain with the least amount of side effects becomes more important than social stigma or others perceptions. When I smoke pot/ grass whatever you wanna call it - it relieves pain, reduces anxiety, helps my appetite, and depending on the strain it can help me get out of bed on a bad day....and a nice Indica will help me go to sleep most days. I have had a bad day today, I got up to take a shower, made half of a sandwich and ate it, went back to bed and have barely been able to move all day - it is the craziest thing and it is hard to explain. I try not to smoke marijuana just because I don't wanna be "stoned" all the time - I mean, I am a grandma and kids these days aren't stupid! But I finally gave in this evening and used my medically prescribed marijuana and I feel so much better! I feel like a fool for suffering through the whole day when I didn't have to!

Is it normal for persons with Fibro to have several bad days and then a few good days? and does it come and go? Is it normal to feel like a total lame for not being able to do what you used to do? I seriously and with most honesty know I could not go back to work full time right now and even a single shift would be a stretch! Any thoughts or replies are welcomed. Peace to all of you :)

reply

Dear MsIvy,

Talk to your doctor about Nabilone, in Canada you can get a prescription called Cesamet (I'm pretty sure it's recognized by the FDA in the USA as well). It is a synthetic version of THC, 1mg being equal to 1 joint. That way you can still benefit from the pain relief and not have to worry about the social stigma of smoking pot! You can just tell everyone you're taking vitamins (if you want). ; )

I think it's very interesting that so many people have no problem with us popping pills for everything. I could be prescribed morphine for pain and no one would think twice about me drooling on myself in the corner. But God forbid I smoke a joint of something natural that does a better job with less severe side effects and no addictives qualities. What a world we live in.

reply

Morphine is opium and its "natural" and found in the wild, so is alcohol. When someone is saying they want the "natural" treatment, they are usually ignorant.

reply

Noca,

Yes OPIUM is natural, but you can't go anywhere in the wild and pick a pill of morphine off a tree and you're not going to find any lakes or rivers flowing with alcohol. If someone says that they want a natural treatment, that doesn't make them ignorant, it means they want something that hasn't been concocted in a lab! They want something that is less likely to cause adverse reactions. This is especially true for people with FMS because we are so sensitive to pharmaceuticals.

In any case, my point was that a man-made product (morphine and alcohol included) is more socially acceptable than something that can be used right out of the ground - like mariguana.

In addition to marijuana being a natural pain reliever, it has far less negative effects on society than alcohol does. And FYI, the American studies on pot are inconclusive as they admit that the indivuals used to study it's affects also used coke/meth/heroine in addition to being cigarette smokers. The American government has classified marijuana in the same way that cocaine is even though it is not considered addictive (while the act of smoking may cause an oral fixation, you will not go through withdrawl if you stop using marijuana).

I find it intersting that as I type this, there is a banner on the side of the screen that reads: "get the straight facts. Marijuana 'say no to drugs, say yes to life'." The statement itself is contradictory. Those of us on this site who use marijuana do so because we want our life back!

reply

It does help, It relaxes the body and mind. If you ever don't have a appetite it helps with that also. I have really bad stomach pain all the time it really does help with that alot.

reply

CJ, My wife suffers from some of the same things you have- chronic back and muscular pain, sleeplessness and etc. Do you know what variety of cannabis was used to help you?

reply

"Indicas are great for relaxation, stress relief, and for an overall sense of calm and serenity. Marijuana indicas are also very effective for overall body pain relief, and often used in the treatment of insomnia

The sativa high is often characterized as uplifting and energetic. The effects of a sativa marijuana are mostly cerebral. They give a feeling of optimism and well - being, as well as providing a good measure of pain relief for certain symptoms. A few pure sativas are also very high in THC content. They are known to have a quite spacey, or hallucinogenic, effect. Sativas are a good choice for daytime smoking.

Strains are available in the entire spectrum from pure sativas to pure indicas, and in every combination in - between. There are 30% sativa - 70% indica strains, there are 80% sativa - 20% indica strains, and many, many 50% - 50% combinations, as well as others."

marijuana-seeds.net/Choos
ing-Your-Marijuana-Sativa-or-Indica-.
html

reply

Weed has never done anything positive for me, instead it burned my esophagus smoking it. As for synthetic weed, I was on 0.5mgs of Cesamet and it just made me feel miserable 24/7 with headaches and dizziness.

reply

Unfortunately, like any medication, there are people who don't tolerate marijuana well. It is worth a try, especially considering all the reported benefits. Marijuana has been documented as a medication as far back as 4,000BC.

It can cause problems in people who suffer from certain "mood disorders". It can causes paranoia and anxiety. A lot of people who smoke marijuana often smoke too much; instead of rolling a joint try using a pipe or use a coffee grinder and put it into capsules and swallow it. I have say the "high" when you ingest weed is different from that of when you smoke it; it's more of a "body buzz".

I don't think there is any one drug or vitamin or treatment that all people can use with perfect results. "You can please all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time."

reply

I am a 17 year old girl that has been smoking for probably around 3 years now. I was just recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia and believe that marijuana has helped me. I first started smoking just because but i have realized that it truly does work to releave pain and anxiety. I am frustrated because it is illegal in my state and my parents are very strict and would not understand if i told them it helps. i dont know what to do. My life has been completely turned around and now i am struggling with some depression because i can not do the things i use to do (basketball,cheerleading, gymnastics, etc.)I have to sneak around my parents and dont want to. I would like to be able to use marijuana before bed to help with sleeping because i rarely can get a good night's sleep anymore and i wake up exhausted. I dont know if i should ask the doctor for thc pills or what medicine i should decrease taking. I dont know who to ask considering my support would be so against the issue. Please help.

reply

lps92,

Parents have to be strict, it's our job. : ) But we do it because we love our children. That being said, I want to tell you a little story.

When I was about your age, some people who were not as good of friends as I thought, wanted to get me in trouble. They called my house when they knew I wasn't home and my mom answered. She asked if there was a message, they told her they just wanted to know how much weed I wanted for the weekend. While I did smoke, they were lying.

My mom came into my room and told me what happened. I was mortified! I just looked at my mom and said, "They weren't telling the truth." She told me that she didn't mind if I smoked, but I was lucky that she answered the phone and not my dad. She warned me to make sure he didn't find out.

My point is that there is a possibility that one, if not both, or your parents could be accepting of this. You have to do your research though and you have to come prepared with information supporting your belief. It may be better to wait another year until you are 18 before approaching them though, I know how much of a stigma there is surrounding weed in the states. At least you will be considered an adult and if your doctor approves, there isn't much they can say about it.

For the time being, see if you can buy some empty gel caps. Then get yourself a little coffee grinder. You can fill the caps and take one before bed, you can tell anyone who asks that they are vitamins.

While I do believe that weed has a lot of benefits, you should smoke it as little as possible considering your age. You don't want to do too much damage to your lungs.

You can also talk to your doctor about trying Nabilone or Cesamet. It's a synthetic prescription medication that was approved by the FDA in 1985 and has been used mainly to help with nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. It has been used for a while now as a pain reliever for people who are intolerant to mainstream pain meds, like those of us with FMS.

Good luck

reply

makes me puke - but did try it once for the pain - never again , if it helps others great

reply

My doctor is going to help me get a medicinal marijuana license (I'm in Ontario, Canada), she also recommended a place where I can get empty gel caps so that I don't have to smoke it; I can just ingest it.

She said she has been working to get other doctors to see the benefits of it, which I find remarkable. I know it doesn't work for some people, but for people like me it's all I have next to some mild anti-inflammatory meds. Today she told me she suspects that I am allergic to narcotics - while this would be very rare, it would explain a lot!

reply

It's not "prescribed" but given Dr's approval (I hate the legalities!) and yes it works wonders for me! After years of being a medical guinea pig, being put on medications with bad side effects that could cause more damage (remember Vioxx? My Dr swore by it!)I got fed up. A great Dr wanted to put me on Oxy's back in 2000, and I told him I'd rather try marijuana. He was surprised, but went along with me on it. It HAS MADE A HUGE difference in my life. I even went from not being able to really get up and do anything, to being able to do dishes, on to being able to get back to work and off of SSI!
I have been able to work for 5 years now, after 6 years of being on SSI. This fall has been hard though so I have gone back to using medical marijuana when I'm not at work, in order to get my body to readjust enough to be ok the next day.
The worst part of all of this is though legal as medication, if found out I could loose my job and not be able to get unemployment. I find this aspect of it all ridiculous, so now I find my life expanded by being involved with groups to try to create a change in these laws. I believe it's a small price for something that has changed my life in so many positive ways.

reply

gypsyb,

I'm not sure where you live. However, in Canada, you cannot be fired if you have an "addiction" as it is considered a disability - I would imagine the States have similar laws.

That being said, if you are in Canada (or in some States for that matter), and you can get a license from Health Canada for medicinal marijuana use, you employer can't really say much so long as you aren't smoking it in the building or coming in reeking of it, and if you are still doing your job. If it is used medicinally, it would be considered the same way that morphine (or other pain killers) would be. I find it frustrating that I can pop a high dose pain killer and drool on myself all day long an no one will care but if I smoke a joint to get me through the day, I'm a terrible person.

My FM has gotten more pronounced over the years and six months after a car accident that set it into high gear, I started smoking pot. I think the only thing that has gotten me through the last five years has been marijuana. No one knew what was wrong with me until June of this year, so no one would prescribe me anything for me "phantom" pain, my doctor at the time thought it was all in my head and wouldn't even sign off on insurance papers that would have allowed me to continue with my massage therapy which was helping me so much.

If you still want to use it, you can always try putting it in empty gel caps and swallowing it.

reply

of course, it will still show up in drug screening, if that's what you're worried about.

reply

Is putting weed into gel capsules any different from Cesamet?

reply