Typical isn't it. I used to use cannabis years ago and was a member of this forum way back when. Then I stopped, not due to any side effects but my life situation changed and I ended up looking after a 3yr old on my own. So I just felt I had not got the time for cannabis and cannabis culture as such.

Fast forward five or so years. And I find myself in a situation where for the last few years I have been in almost constant chronic pain. They cut me open and tried to repair what was wrong with me a few years ago, waking up after keyhole surgery and finding almost 30 staples running across your gut, and finding out the 20min op actually took 4 hours, you kinda know things didn't go to plan.

That was 2 years ago, and I have stayed off the cannabis because I have been getting opiate meds on demand. I can go up the hospital any time I like for a jab of morphine. I hate the side effects of it.

But as it stands now, I am sick of daily rituals of coedine, tramadol, paracetamol and various anti spasmodic drugs. When you have spent a night or two in hospital and heard a nurse tell some guy opposite that his daily ritual of paracetamol has fucked up his liver you kinda get to wondering why the hell something like that is legal. I am not kidding by the way, this actually happened. Some poor sod opposite me was told that his daily paracetamol use had completely fucked him up. Just some poor sod trying to relieve pain, trying to stay with in the law. I could not believe what I was hearing while she told him the bad news, she told him without shock or surprise in her voice. You just knew by the way she delivered it that this was not the first time she had given this news and it would not be the last.

So I got myself some cannabis to try, and it works. When I say works I mean sort of works. I lay in bed the other night after taking it and it felt like someone was stabbing me violently in the gut over and over again (this is not caused by cannabis, this is how I feel when I am off painkillers) , but the pain was not strong. It was like the pain was their but I was shielded from the effects of it. I could feel it, but at the same time I could not feel it. I actually fell asleep while it was going on.

It almost seems to work in the exact opposite way to tramadol (a synthetic opiate). Tramadol kills all knowledge of the pain, but makes me sleep extremely light to the point of insomnia. Tramadol means I only get 2 or 3 hours sleep. I would say I can function better on tramadol than I can on cannabis if I have a busy day. But I have cold turkey effects whenever it is coming out of my system. Itching all over like I have been rolling about in long grass or a hedge or something, its horrible. Constipation when taking it daily means I have to take lactulose and even then I get to see blood every now and again. It is not nice put it that way. In truth, I need them both. I can not take tramadol day in day out. It is addictive and the side effects of daily use are terrible. I need days off tramadol.

Cannabis works great in my opinion. It has virtually no side effects except it makes me really tired and I am not so sure getting the munchies is actually good for someone with virtually no physical activity !

Obviously, if I had to choose one or the other I would choose the one that was not addictive and allows me to sleep.

Of course, I am worried, growing is still illegal even though it is for medical use. I have no idea what sort of penalties a med user receives these day or how a tiny small grow of a few auto flowering plants is treated.

im in a similar situation(painwise) as are many folk on here, i find cannabis most usefull for the "cold turkey" times when i decide to de-tox from opiates, i have been on oxycontin for a few months now so im not looking foreward to the withdrawls, weed makes it that little bit more bearable though, i try to avoid paracetamol but if i feel the need i drink gallons of water with it

If you've no previous, no evidence of supply and you were growing in a tent under one light then most you'd be looking at would be some community service (unlikely as you're ill) and/or a fine

Ask your GP for Sativex, if he says no then you can argue in court that you tried to obtain cannabis medication legally and were 'forced' to grow your own

I wouldn't bother with auto-flowers though, do proper strains indoors

welcome back to the site; thats good you have found something natural to help you, bet it was a surprise waking up knowing youd fell asleep in pain, not an easy thing to do.

sorry to hear of your situation. tramadol is horrible stuff when taken day in day out. personally eating some weed or hash and maybe having a bong helps no end with my headaches. it doesnt cause insomnia like tramadol either. hopefully you find a way to get some good ganja and find some relief this way.

like danzig says try the doctor for sativex, but grow some if that doesnt work out. like he said you could then argue you tried t do things the right way. besides if you did get busted it wouldnt be the end of the world for someone without previous.

peace

Kondor , welcome back, and sorry to hear your in Pain,

I would ask for Sativex, its a Consultant only Script.

the morphine/cannabis combination is well documented on here.

welcome back ,i hope you ask for the sativex ,as if you ar geting morphine and other opiates on perscription then as said goto a consultant and ask for the sativex.its better for you than synthetic opiates and the real thing in a jab from hospital.i hope you feel better and that you get it on script ,let us all no how things go

Hi Kondor

sorry to hear of your issues with pain mate. It sounds like a real wind up, you having to go to the hospital to get a morphine jab. I certainly wouldn't tolerate that situation. I've been on amitriptyline, tramadol & oramorph for the last 6yrs. I only started using cannabis just over a year ago. It 's absolute bliss with the oramorph. As it's nearly a 2hr drive to get some weed, I thought i'd grow my own. I've got 4 on the go in an amazon. The first grow was a disaster, but the 2nd lot is coming on well since I found this website. It's a bit of a joke that I can get 300ml bottles of oramorph on repeat script whenever I like, but if I get caught with cannabis i'll get a criminal conviction. The laws are clearly wrong.

Thanks for the support guys.

Re: autos vs proper. At the moment autos are very convenient and should work ok(ish) with my setup. you have to remember all I have at the moment (mum bought me a setup!) is a 125s red cfl and a grow tent with some pots and compost (and some terrible weed off a friend). Not even any extraction yet though that should be sorted in a few weeks. Its asking a bit much to attempt a proper 12/12 grow with proper veg cycle while I still only have the bare minimum. Though I totally 100% agree, growing proper strain with a proper light and extraction makes far more sense. For one thing I would be growing less plants and another big factor is I could probably pack it all up and store it between grows if I produce enough per grow. But at the moment, I have "little red ryder hood" and it be better than this leafy immature crap my mate gave me. I have a low tolerance (or used to have, maybe the opium has altered that?) but the stuff he got me really is poor. £10 for a gram, ! Jeez these red ryder autos look like a pretty good idea compared to that

I have asked about sativex before, my GP isn't the sort to refer anyone to a pain clinic (I guess it eats into his budget) and my consultant/surgeon has been playing a game of "wait and it should get better". All perfectly understandable and I have no bad feelings towards them, they are just working in a system that pushes them in those directions. My surgeon though has recently taken more of an interest, but seems to be intent on cutting me open again before referring me to the pain clinic.

Quite ironic really that they feed me morphine, coedine and tramadol, yet you actually have to convince them before you can get to a pain clinic.

Now for some good news, the cannabis is working great. Am on tramadol tonight (hence why I am still awake at this stupid hour) but the last two nights have been total bliss without pain. Proper long sleeps and no pain. A couple of days like that per week is all I ask and need. Like I said tramadol works, but the sides for me are insomnia, nausea and constipation (though not as bad as coedine).

Lets just hope that the UK realises what other countries are doing and follows suit. I never thought I would see the day when the USA federal government would announce support for medical cannabis. If they can do it, then I am damn sure we can. I never thought I would see a situation where you would actually feel like everyone was on your side smoking cannabis in USA. I remember a few years ago thanking my lucky stars that I didn't live in that country as it even treated seeds and bongs as true offences. Now they have really overtaken us.

Eventually, our government is going to realise that its own attitude towards its sick is falling behind that of the rest of the western world. When the sick population of your country does not have the same liberties as the sick of other countries you know something is very very wrong. (mmm, think that will do nicely as my sig).

Hi Kondor, welcome to UK420 and the Med section. Lots of us in the same boat friend, you'll not want for company whilst here. I dont think the opiates will have any impact on your tolerance. But beware: Morphine really does potentiate Cannabis, and each hit you take will have the punch of three IME. I waver between 140mg and 240mg Morphine a day at the moment, and find two neat spliffs generally hard to finish. I use about a henry a week, but in the past I've been up to a Q a day. I just could not smoke that much now, not alongside the Morphine. Actually I would urge you be a little cautious, its quite easy to overdo things and end up on the queezy side of comfortable

Grim stuff, is Paracetamol I can't believe the way its handed out by medics sometimes. I often wonder how long my insides will hold out, I take about twenty or so pills (of this and that, not paracetamol) a day all in. Somedays my insides feel like a chemical lab, foul and acrid catch 22, innit.

I agree about dope and pain. It does fuck all for the pain itself but takes your mind off it, stops it being so intrusive and also stops it depressing you, that's what I find anyhoo. That said, it does make the Morphine more effective. I note that I need much less M when I'm stashed up, but in that last three weeks before each harvest, I find I could and sometimes do use more.

Constipated? Not good, that. I used to be, but not any more. My bowels move nicely almost every morning as soon as I get up. If you google a company called "Healthspan", go to their site and look for a product called "Regulease" Job's a good'un. I take three whacking great teaspoons or more a day, just mixed into a good yoghurt, one of the varieties with gut friendly bacteria in (but make sure you avoid ones with artificial sweeteners and taste enhancers etc). Do that, avoid all foods and drinks containing artificial sweeteners like Aspartame, and drink plenty fresh water - your gut will start to move again. It will always be sluggish whilst using daily Opioids, but it can be regualr. And blood is just wrong. You can forget that, once you get your gut moving again (unless there is summat else wrong, but it does seem related to the painkillers?).

Hope your grow plans ome together OK. There's loads of folks here ready to help you. Most of us that are growing have diaries on the go here, and links to them are often found in folks' sigs. Reading other folks diaries is, I find, about the best way there is for learning stuff.

I am glad you have found some sort of relief from your illness...I also use cannabis medically as i have epilepsy and cannabis or to be exact i find Sativa dominant strains keep my seizures at bay. The reason i use cannabis is quite similar to yours the medicine i was given ( Mysoline) is a highly addictive Barbiturate and made me so sleepy etc etc. My advice to you is grow on a small scale and to do a bit of research, call the seed banks and ask for professional advice oin their Medi strains, i can reccomend Greenhouse Seeds, Sensi Seeds and although i have never used Paradise seeds i have contacted them and got some excellent advice, these companies are all involved in the Medical marijuana project in Holland. As for the potential sentence if caught, if you were to keep your grow on a small scale you would likely because of your situation with your health be looking at a fine..this is ONLY if you get caught...put some money into your grow- buy a tent and be discreet tell NOBODY and you can grow for years without being caught.Good luck and stay well

Shit You had a life man.....
yes, paracetamol is bad. Maybe even worse then nimesulide. If you have been getting paracetamol for a long time (aka more then four day, twice a day) try for a week or two Acetylcysteine. It is an antioxydant with fludificant effects that is used in paracetamol intossication.

Given that, there are people here far more expert the me. What I have seen is that cannabis has very very little side effects compared to all other stuff one can use BUT you have to find Your strain. But that you know....
also it helps in inreasing the effects of other pain killers/medicines....a bit like alchool. So less meds, similar effect, longer and better effect....

the antidepressant effect, which isn't really antidepressant but makes you feel more satisfied of your day..., is also a nice woelcome.

I have never had serious pain as you guys but, maybe, wouldn't be worth trying to survive the pain whitout anything for a period nad see if your body manages to deal with it and may maybe only some cannabis? It's just an idea ...do not think about it as a statement.

Last but not least, good luck. Or, as we say in italy, on the ass of the wjale (and you should reply:"let's hope that she shits!!!")

Thanks for pointing that out Danzig, hadn't thought of pleading that way.............. IF...............it ever happens

Asked mine and he said he couldn't/wouldn't as the GMC had warned him off - Danzig you are excellent, thanks for the pointers - nice one dood I toke one in your honour.

Oh yeah, he does however give me the usual crap - tramadol etc., - bom Shiva

Hi condo, My name is Eric mann.google my name and cannabis you can see the consequences of my cultivation and cannabis exploits.I would not be too concerned as the British establishment will follow the obama new doctrine of not prosecuting genuine medicinal users and if you do get captured use the Human rights act as defense. The court of appeal have stopped the defense of medical users see http://www. guardain.co.uk/commentisfree/libertcentral/2009/oct/2...

The act that has not been tried by cannabis medicinal users is article 14 discrimination, as medicinal herbal cannabis is available from their doctors providing certain criteria are met. you as a European can access this service but are unable to use it , If you brought it home you would be committing an offense of possession.
http;??www.telegraph.co.uk/health/2232054/NHS-
This is news of a european directive giving the right for NHS to receive treatment in Europe
If you are not allowed the same treatment as a dutch European there may be a case for discrimination .cultivating and use for medical purpose because the discrimination against you allows you no alternative but to grow your own medication.
Bying it from dealers is not an ethical way for medicinal users to obtain it.Do not know if it will help, but do not worry over it,Stress only makes ill people worse. good luck and best wishes Eric

Many thanks Mr Mann

I think I found the The courts reject medical defences, James Welch tells Discogsfred, even when the defendant suffers chronic pain article you were linking too and the other one which was NHS patients will be given the right to free medical treatment anywhere in Europe.

Yea I hope we will follow the rest of the world with regards to medical cannabis thinking too. There certainly seems to be a fair bit of daylight between what our justice system seems to be doing and what the justice systems of our European and American cousins are doing.

Hey it works, that is really all I care about right now.

Wellcome back Kondor.
I´m one of the poor sods that ended up with his liver all fucked up because of a decade of Tramadol, Clonix, Paxilfar, Vicodin and other legal shit prescribed by my GPs.
Been diagnosed with a severe case of scoliosis more than 20years ago, pain has been a long time companion.
At the same time i was using all kinds of drugs. Legal or not, medicinal or recreational it didnt matter that much at the time, they all seemed better then living restrained by pain.
With a busy personal, social and professional life that drained me, the drugs didnt help to keep me healthy and in less than 5years i was stuck in a hospital bed with the same old back pain and a new friend , a chronic Hepatitis C, that almost ate my liver from the inside out.
At that point i quited everything. Smoking, drinking, dancing,writing,traveling and even fucking was too much of an effort to my sick body.
I retired myself to the country and for the next two years i lived an almost ascetic life in a rural small town.
I recovered my health and apart from the ocasional back pain crisis all was sweet. Then a woman arrived to the picture and with her a dear old friend, some good morocon hash. While sharing some experiences and smoking a joint i noticed that my pain was much milder than before smoking. It had to be the joint because i didnt take any other medicines at the time.
Intrigued with that i repeated the experience. After a hard day working in the field my back was killing me so i decided to make a phone call invinting my GF to come around and bring some smoke. She did it asap but this time she brought more quantity and even better stuff, or so it seemed at the time. After the 2nd joint i couldnt feel any pain...i guess i didnt even feel my back
We spent a memorable night smoking, eating and fu***** like rabbits and i felt better than never.
On the other day i was prepared for a major hangover but to me surprise i was fresh as a peach.
To cut a long story short nowadays i dont take any prescribed medicines. I use plenty of herbal and homeopatic stuff and i allways self-medicate myself. My hepatitis went assymptomatic, that means that i got the liver of a healthy man, and my back pain is under control when i smoke my weed.
I´m starting now to grow my own medicine and i intend to stay as far as i can from GPs and other guys that made a career out of selling lousy drugs to sick people.
My advice is Fight for your rights!

Peace!

Really feel like a bit of a rant, just wanna get stuff off me chest and so on.

Tramadol (instant, not the time released stuff) is screwing up my mind . Serious lack of sleep now. I am probably managing about 12 hours of sleep a week. Been doing ok on it as far as none of the real opium sides, just the insomnia trademark. Just been taking 100mg as and when I need it, not less than 6 hrs between doses. Been doing that for the last 2 months or so no problems. If it wasn't for the insomnia it would be almost perfect. Would have been perfect. Not now...

All I did was fuck up the timing once. took 100mg before I got in the bath, about an hour later I forgot and took another 100mg. Not a huge deal as such. Over the next few hours I went ever so slightly mongy, just slightly, I mean a sort of gentle version, but shity chem taste in my mouth, then itching like hell started. Managed 3 hours sleep, today slight headache, belly ache feels a bit like a hangover, all day I have felt down, short fuse type of thing not the normal me, a bit hyper if anything, felt sick all day. Eventually my self calmed down a little, started to feel a bit more human, but pain around my liver (area that causes me problems and why I am on the tramadol) Managed to leave an 18 hour gap before my next 100mg, that was a five hours ago, now I am itching like hell again GRRRRR!!!! and feel sick again. Feel knackered now though so who knows I might sleep in a bit.

Signed my soul away again during the week, disclaimer for another up coming op. They don't sound very enthusiastic, basically cutting me open to look for any abrasions from last time. Said apart from repairing any abrasions there is nothing else they can do so they are giving up on me after that. Which would be fine apart from the fact I had an MRI which showed a stone trapped inside the remains of my gallbladder which my liver decided to encase stopping them getting at it. They have told me in the past that it is what is causing my problem and they can not operate on it again (last op was 5 hours) without it actually causing me more pain than it would relieve and there is too high a risk of cutting into something important due to my alien like liver seemingly consuming everything that comes close to it (it is more like encase than consume, it performed fibrosis on my gall bladder to such an extent they couldn't find it, spent time looking for it before realising my liver had gobbled the fucker up, complete with the various arteries and bile ducts that kill if cut). humph!

I guess after this op it is most likely the pain clinic for me then, could be worse I suppose, tramadol is not going to work forever, it is still working good but not as good as it was two months ago. From experience, now that I get the itches and crap from it then it won't be long before the pain starts getting trough. Eventually I will just get the bad crap and no removal of pain just like with codeine, obviously I will end up shoving the does up before I give up.

Makes note to self, get the xmas shopping done while you can.

sorry about the rant, just needed to get a bit off my chest. ops and itches and all that crap.

yea man welcome back, i was on here last here for ahile. I understand man. I've been on methadone for 5 years and i hate it. I'm addicted. Good luck man, and get off the narcotics if u can. I've gone from 150mg. a day to 40mg. I'll be off one day i hope. peace man.