No one expects to wake up on a stretcher after a routine flu shot, especially not a seventh grader. That is how it started, suddenly; the next five years I would suffer constant attacks and exacerbations of a disease no one had diagnosed. As a sophomore football player, I began to notice visual problems, the solution, new glasses. It was the Surgical Eye Center of Palm Beaches that first recognize blind spots in my vision. After the barrage of testing and blood work that accompanies any diagnosis, I was told I had Devic’s Disease, an optic disorder in both eyes. It was the first time M.S. was considered.
No one wants to hear they have a life altering disease. Just one month before my birthday, after 2 ½ years of testing, steroid injections and daily IV’s for Devic’s Disease, the doctor gave me another life sentence, “You definitely have Multiple Sclerosis, what do you want to do?” There were tears in the room when my mother, brother and future sister-in-law heard I had M.S.
People live with M.S. The quality of life depends on the progression of your disease and the area of the brain the M.S. attacks. It also depends on how you tolerate the drug regimes.
Within one a month,, I began my first injection treatment for M.S. Avonex, a once-a-week, intramuscular (into the deep muscle,) injection, that is self-mixed & self-administered using a 3three- inch needle. For two-years, I suffered through the injections and the side effects but the tests were clear, we observed that the blind spots were increasing and my MRI had worsened, showing both new and active plaques. The MS was progressing.
I was then re-administered Prednisone for 5 days, in hopes of stopping the vision loss. It did not work, as my health continued to decline!
M.S. is not a disease for someone shy about needles or looking for options. There are only a few treatments available. One is Novantrone, an intravenous injection, (into the vein,) administered AT at a hospital with a LIFETIME limit of 8 -12 doses, due to possible HEART DAMAGE , with very extreme, potentially life-threatening side-effects. What would you do to save your sight? As I waited in the prep room for the Novantrome I.V., I was taken aside and explained that I CAN NOT start the treatment because it would be to dangerous with MY white-cell count!
During the course of treating my MS, I was prescribed legal drugs over the years including, but not limited to; Soma for muscle tension; Butalbital & and Ultram for migraines; Hydrocodone & and Oxycodone for pain; Paxil & Lexapro for depression; Trazedone for insomnia; Amintidine for fatigue; Compazine for nausea; Ranitidine for indigestion; along with many others, all potentially fatally in the wrong dose.
The physical, mental, and emotional symptoms took a toll on my health and I was desperate to find relief from my ailments and agony, as I feared for my health. In my desperation, I came across Cannabis as a medicine.
Researching Cannabis helped ease my fears.All I found in my research was “the truth” and that most of what I learned from DARE were myths. For example; Cannabis doesn’t cause Cancer, it fights it; it’s not addictive; it’s not a gateway drug; it stimulates hunger; it suppresses nausea; relieves pain, muscle tension and headaches; it alleviates stress; and my favorite, there is NO recorded overdose of cannabis in history.
So in order to combat the many adverse side-effects of my injection, and assist in the battle against my pain and suffering, I decided to add Cannabis to my treatment. After approximately 3 months of combining Cannabis with my Rebif treatment, I took it upon myself to conducted my own clinical study. and I continued my Cannabis medication and discontinued my Rebif therapy.
Six months into my Cannabis only therapy I returned to my Neurologist and Ophthalmologist to re-evaluate the status of my disease. We were all pleasantly surprised to see that my MRI had stabilized and my visual field appeared to have slightly improved, It was then, late in 2003, that I informed all of my doctors about my Medical Marijuana use. It was well received and agreed to be useful, but, due to fear of M.S. progression without an “authorized” medication, my Neurologist requested that I re-initiate my Rebif regimen. I did so, at his request, and within a few months,
When my Neurologists had grave fears for my health, I was ordered to immediately STOP the Rebif treatment because of DANGEROUS blood levels & I was left with no clinically approved medication, only Cannabis since 2005! Through the following years, I remained clinically stable and my visual acuity continued to improve.
On May 5, 2009, on en-route to an Orlando appointment, I was pulled over, in St Lucie County, on the Florida turnpike, reportedly to investigate the TINTING on my car windows (which tested to be legal.) After a lengthy detainment and a denied request to depart, I admitted to the possession of 6.09 grams of Cannabis and was given an NTA in a St. Lucie court. and was eventually charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. During this legal battle, I’ve been denied the right to self-represent, I’ve been denied my 5th Amendment right to NOT self incriminate, I've even been denied the right to a Medical Necessity Defense, (which has been established both federally and within the Commonwealth of Florida.) Through this process, I’ve experienced an immense amount of stress (NOT GOOD for M.S.) with continuous flare ups and exacerbations of my symptoms, including my eye sight & have been coerced off my TRUE medication!
As a patient, I don’t ask for sympathy or pity, I simply ask to live my life productively with what has proven to be an effective and safe medication!
Currently, I am serving my 2nd year on probation, as a technicality, and all of my appeals have been denied without clarification. My attorney, Micahel Minardi & I, are now left with the FL Supreme Court or Federal court, in hopes of regaining my freedom! I'd also like to say "Thank You!" to Michael, Jodi, Ethel, Steve, Crystal & my parents. Your support has been the source of my strength, to survive & continue this Battle!!!
Thank you for sharing your story Angel. We are all beside you and will not stop until we are free to treat the conditions that only Cannabis has been proven to be effective.
Sincerely,
www.ImaPatientNotaCriminal.org
No comments:
Post a Comment