Historic Moment for the Medical Cannabis Community
1st Medical/Medicinal Cannabis Patient
Theresa E Edwards-Mize
Puffin N Politics
1st Approved Medical Cannabis Patient
Big Win for
the
Medical Cannabis Community
Being a Medical Cannabis Patient has and,continues to have its challenges. I have used Cannabis Medically for more than 20 years. I am proud to say that in my pathway of Medicinal Alternatives Cannabis has never caused me to want to harm others nor has Cannabis been a gateway for me to find interest in the use of illegal drugs. I was blessed to maintained high level jobs in Corporate America, raise a family without the loss of respect, dignity or morals in a crime free home filled with LOVE, KNOWLEDGE N RESPECT...
I am a Documented Medical N Medicinal Cannabis Patient in San Diego, CA. and have been for the better of 13 years. For 20 plus years I have been challenged with disabilities and other medical challenges... Some of my challenges also came along with:
Peritoneal Adhesion's,
Peritoneal Cysts,
Sever Adhesion Disease,
Fatty Liver,
Diabetes,
CAD (coronary Artery Disease),
Arthritis, (Hips, Knees, Ankles),
Chronic Sciatica,
Gerd,
Obstructive Sleep Apnea with use of (C-PAP),
DJD (degenerative Joint Disease),
IBS (irritable bowl syndrome),
Bowel Obstructions,
Morbid Obesity,
Vitamin D Deficiency,
Nerve Damage,
Neuropathy,
Chronic Pain, just to name a few...
By the age of 46 I had survived 26 surgeries.
Many people I meet, even friends who know me and have known me for many years have no idea of the many complex medical issues that I am challenged with everyday and most definitely were not aware of my medicinal choices. Unfortunatley privacy and pain went hand in hand in my world...What is truly upsetting are the titles being thrown at the medical cannabis community because of our choices... simply choosing to save our lives...
Mean while the rest of the world friends and family included see the use of prescribed narcotics as the safe thing to do... NOWAY
Let me be the first to tell you that prescribed pain medications lead to nothing good very fast... If you are challenged with pain and your pain issues are those that will remain with you for the duration of your life... You must become familiar with your body and learn your pain from the highest point to the lowest possible levels... Becoming dependent on anything other than yourself will end in guaranteed disappointment...
Being a Medicinal Cannabis Patient and being taught the true benefits of its uses has saved my life... Medical Cannabis has given me hope and a pure direction managing my quality of life. Medical Cannabis allows me to stay in control of my life, my pain, my health future.
During my many medical challenges... My doctors and I have worked together for many years to find a place of comfort for me dealing with Chronic Pain... I have been prescribed every narcotic medication you can think of most of which are very dangerous and can be habit forming:
Oxycontin, http://www.rxlist.com/oxycontin-drug.htm
Dilaudid, http://www.rxlist.com/dilaudid-drug.htm
Duragesic/Fentanyl, http://www.rxlist.com/duragesic-drug.htm
Percocet , http://www.rxlist.com/percocet-drug.htm
Percodan, http://www.rxlist.com/percodan-drug.htm
Gabapentin, http://www.rxlist.com/gralise-drug.htm
morphine and others. http://www.rxlist.com/avinza-drug.htm
I have been dealing with my medical issues for over twenty years trust I know pain and how to deal with it. Let me be the first to say that
Prescribed Narcotic Medications
are
NOT the answer.
PLEASE DONT FALL INTO THAT TRAP...
Had I taken the prescribed narcotic medication pathway exclusively for my pain. I would be a drug addict by now considering that I would have relied on prescribed narcotic medications daily for twenty years... There is nothing positive or good about that and I refused to accept prescribed narcotics as my only option for control of my pain and quality of life...
My medical issues and challenges began early on in life as a child. The East Coast as we all know did not promote or educate on Medical Cannabis many of us had no idea of the difference between Cannabis and Medicinal Cannabis... All we knew is that Cannabis was an illegal drug that could land you in jail... and with parents in the Military and Law Enforcement any kind of Cannabis was out of the question for me...
I moved from the East Coast in the late 90's making Home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This was the beginning of my education on this medicinal pathway. I was truly blessed to learn about cannabis and medical cannabis, the differences and how they help my pain... I had developed a passion for truth and understanding of Medical cannabis and learned many aspects of Medical cannabis and the many benefits it offers the planet.... I later moved on to the US Cannabis Capitol California I made San Diego, CA Home in 2002 and 14 years later I am still here Living N Loving Life....
I was introduced to some amazing people in the medicinal cannabis community here in San Diego, CA. I began to further my knowledge in all aspects, I performed strain tests on myself to better understand what cannabis worked best for me and when to medicate for the best results. I learned to grow my own Medical Cannabis, I began a journal and began to educated myself on my use and results of different indica, sativa and hybrid strains which is crucial knowledge to understand how to medicate safely and helps you set the proper doses needed to aide in my discomfort..
For me my methods consisted of what I call the ALL Method...
I use Teas
I use Butter
I use as the Flower (which always offered the fastest and direct result)
I use Tinctures both (oral and external)
I use creams
I use Honey Oils
These are some of the wonderful uses that offered me the greatest results... All doses were measured and documented to offer me a pain scale reference, similar to the question often asked at the doctors office ("What is your current pain level from 1-10") Trust me your journal becomes your bible and truly offers you guidance in maintaining comfortable pain levels...
Medicinal Cannabis is the best medicinal choice that I could have ever made, Medical Cannabis saved my life... And for that I am truly greatful...
I LOVE MEDICAL CANNABIS AND, ALL OF ITS PROPERTIES :)
June 2011: it was recommend that I have a gastric bypass or a surgical procedure in that line to assist with obesity, heart, breathing, chronic pain and many other health issues and concerns. I met with Dr. Santiago Horgan, MD and his team at UCSD here in San Diego, CA http:///drhorgan.ucsd.edu , I had no idea of who Dr. Horgan was nor was I aware of his professional reputation around the world.
When I met with Dr. Horogan we discussed the recommendation for surgery and when Dr. Horgan link http:///drhorgan.ucsd.edu asked about pain control I replied that I have been using Medical Cannabis. Without blinking an eye Dr. Horgan said Theresa I will not be able to help you because of your medicinal use of Cannabis. I was shocked and outraged ...
I thought to myself this Dr. Has no clue as to how medicinal cannabis is used and more importantly how it helps me and millions of others. Dr Horgan and his team left the room all I could think about is how many suffering people have been turned away and the many people that would continue to suffer with obesity because of their medicinal choice and right to use Medical Cannabis... This had to stop when Dr. Horgan and his team returned to the room, I immediately began to explain in detail to Dr. Horgan and his team about my Journal and usage, the types and frequency of usage and how it benefits me, I explained the difference between an indica and sativa and how I use them . I also explained the many ways that medicinal cannabis is used and created for use. Dr. Santiago Horgan MD gave me his undivided attention...
Then said to me that he believed me and my usage. Dr. Horgan stated
that for the first time in his career he would perform Bariatric surgery on a Medical Cannabis Patient... I was to the be the 1st medicinal cannabis patient that he was ever willing
to perform bariatric surgery on. Dr. Horgan said that he believes I truly
uses cannabis as a medication and agreed to do the surgery for the 1st
time ever on a: Medicinal Cannabis Patient.
that for the first time in his career he would perform Bariatric surgery on a Medical Cannabis Patient... I was to the be the 1st medicinal cannabis patient that he was ever willing
to perform bariatric surgery on. Dr. Horgan said that he believes I truly
uses cannabis as a medication and agreed to do the surgery for the 1st
time ever on a: Medicinal Cannabis Patient.
On September 13 2011 Dr. Horgan performed a:
The surgery has been a major success so far. I have lost 100lbs and gone down in sizes from a size 22 to a size 12 :) feels amazing. With the loss of weight I have been able to reverse my Diabetes from pills twice a day to no medication and a balanced diet. I was borderline for insulin my blood sugar levels stayed in the 400-500 range, prior to surgery I currently no longer take diabetic medication and my sugar levels are under control. I have been off of the diabetic medication for 18 months now and my sugar levels are still controlled.
My Glyco Hgb (A1C) was 10.0
I was on the boarder line of being perscribed insulin
however now, my numbers are great. I am still challenged with many
medical/chronic pain issues and The Sever Adhesion Disease will never go away nor will the arthritis, neuropethy or nerve damage.However I am Here and will continue to fight.There is a light at the end of the tunnel for me it was Dr. Santiago Horgan and his team of UCSD Professionals...Thank You...
The World Renound Dr. Santiago Horgan, MD
Dr. Javier Michelotti MD
Dr. Eduardo L. Grunvald MD
Jennifer Jill Fisher RD
Natalie Cook
Location Driving Directions to UCSD:
https://health.ucsd.edu/locations/Pages/chancellor-park.aspx
Location Driving Directions to UCSD:
https://health.ucsd.edu/locations/Pages/chancellor-park.aspx
Special Thank You to all of the Doctors and Staff at UCSD, you have
truly helped change my life and allowed me to better cope with my
medical challenges... This is a truly a second chance... Thank You
medical challenges... This is a truly a second chance... Thank You
***Personal Note from the Heart to ALL***
Don't judge a book by its cover... Don't take a visual health
assessment of others and assume to know their struggles and
or challenges... Often times having to accept assistance is
harder than you can imagine... This goes for Law Enforcement
as well. You cannot look at someone and determine their health
concerns or needs... Just because I Smile does not mean that I
am without Pain
Peace Love N Continued Blessings
Theresa E. Edwards-Mize
Founder/Owner
Puffin N Politics
