Medicating Scooter

My oldest dog is blind in one eye with a cataract. Sometimes we call him Kenny after the South Park character because he's always under foot or bumping into things. The other day he pulled my laptop off the table and onto his head near his good eye. He had a big bump on his head and the area around his eye was swollen. He was in obvious pain and distress, even having panic attacks.

After talking with my husband, I decided to give him a tiny piece of a medicated cookie I had on hand. He calmed down and went to sleep within a few minutes. No more panic attacks. I gave him a little more before bed and he slept comfortably through the night. Although he was already doing much better the next day I gave him a little more just to help him rest. By the third day he was feeling all better, even wrestling with the other dogs and leading the way on our daily walks.

He's always been a tough little dog, but I was amazed at how well he recovered thanks to the blessings of ganja. I won't hesitate to medicate any of my dogs if the need arises again.

Noise Sensitivity in Fibromyalgia

If you suffer from hypersensitivity to noise and you have FMS or CFS, you're not alone.

To the common person, a lot of noise can possibly cause a headache and irritability. When you have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, loud, repetitive, grating or otherwise annoying sounds can cause a whole host of symptoms.

Noise Sensitivity in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Wind-blown fibro flare

It's hard to explain to people what fibromyalgia feels like. It's difficult enough to find words for the day-to-day "chronic" pain, but describing the intensity of a severe flare up is a real challenge... but I'll try.

My hope in writing about this is twofold: to give family and friends of people with fibromyalgia an idea of what the experience of this condition can feel like, and to let other fibro patients know that as crazy as fibro can make you feel, it's not all in your head and you are not alone.

Last week, on Thursday and Saturday, December 29th and 31st, Denver was blasted by high winds with gusts over 100 miles per hour. Wind has always been an issue for me. Whenever I heard on the weather report that a windy day was ahead, I knew I'd better get my comfort supplies together and prepare for a flare up. Some wind storms are worse than others, but this one was particularly brutal, and I didn't see it coming.

I woke up Thursday morning in excruciating pain and filled with anxiety. Apparently, the winds had kicked up during the night, pounding my body and making for very restless sleep. I was already emotional and exhausted when the day started. Although I had a cup of coffee in the morning, I managed to get back to sleep for a couple of hours until the wind intensified. That's when the real torture began.

Fibromyalgia isn't like an arthritic knee that acts up once in awhile. Fibromyalgia, especially when it's flared up, is everywhere! Some areas of the body may feel worse than others, but that's all relative. It still hurts all over, and finding a comfortable position seems impossible.

This particular flare was all about sensory overload. With every gust, I felt like my skin was being sandblasted from the inside. The muscles under my skin were so sensitive that even my clothes hurt. I became hypersensitive to everything in my environment. Not only did I hear sounds, I felt them, vibrating me like a tuning fork. My ears started ringing incessantly, like I had just walked out of a loud concert. Ear plugs were no help because they can't quiet the ringing coming from inside my head. My brain lost the ability to filter out unnecessary sounds, so I heard everything very loudly.

Every gust of wind and every sound brought waves of pain from head to toe. My muscles were tight. My hands and feet were constantly cold and clammy. Unable to control my body temperature, I experienced wild swings from intense hot flashes to freezing cold sweats. I curled up in a darkened area because my eyes were so sensitive to even the dimmest light. I felt disoriented and off balance. Because fibro can affect the muscles that control the eyes including movement and focus, reading was out of the question. My stomach was upset and I had no appetite. My hands and feet ached and tingled and my back and neck spasmed.

I was so overwhelmed with painful sensations that my logical mind struggled to function. At one point, all I could do was curl up in fetal position and beg for it to stop. I couldn't even think of what to do for myself that could make me feel better. Nothing seemed to help. Even the cannabis I had on hand didn't seem to make much of a dent in this flare up, although I can't tell you how consistent I was in my self-medication. Most of the day was lost in a blur of torment.

I was emotionally overwhelmed as well. Anxious and crabby. Dark and depressed. Waves of emotion would come flooding in, pouring over me, threatening to drown me. Crying was out of the question; it hurts too much. I was so distraught, I asked God why I was being tortured, then finally decided that He or She doesn't exist, or at least doesn't care about me. Intense pain can take your thoughts and emotions on a rollercoaster ride like you've never experienced before. It can make you crazy.

And then it stopped. The winds quieted and my symptoms began to ease almost immediately, as if by magic.

I took 1000 mg of L-Tryptophan along with a few puffs of a heavy indica and tried to sleep. I was still tormented all night with wild temperature swings from hot sweats to cold chills, but the hypersensitivity and pain had begun to let up so I could relax a little.

I managed to make it through a busy day on Friday, controlling my symptoms just long enough to get done what was needed. Then back home to collapse and try to sleep. I was still hypersensitive, but not at the torturous level I'd reached the day before.

Saturday brought more winds, but they didn't start until after I was awake, and I was much more prepared for them. It was a painful day, but much more manageable.

Today, I'm still recovering. I'm still exhausted. My muscles and attachments still ache, especially my back, hands and feet. But I'm getting through it.

Every flare is different, from person to person and time to time. Although there may be similarities, my experience of fibro is different from someone else's, and has changed over time. These days, thanks to the miracle of marijuana, most of my fibro flares are mild and manageable compared to this recent one. Rarely do I have a day as miserable as that Thursday was.

I just keep reminding myself that yes, this too shall pass.

Home Growers are NOT the Bad Guys

I have issues with one of the "pros" constantly promoted whenever a ban on dispensaries comes up, and it is this:

"The proposed ban will not ban medical marijuana. Rather it will take purchases out of highly regulated, secured and taxed centers and push them into our neighborhoods. There are already problems associated with growing in residences, including home invasions, fires, and rental proper...ty damage. The lack of monitoring also increases the risk of child access as excess product is easily diverted to the black market. Medical Marijuana Centers are necessary to keep our neighborhoods safer." — Sweet Leaf Pioneer

This argument pits patients and caregivers, growing marijuana legally as provided in the Colorado Constitution, against dispensaries, grow houses and infused products manufacturers, not even mentioned in the original Amendment 20, I might add. Essentially, this arguement tells the public that anyone growing marijuana in their home is a threat to the community.

C'mon people. We in the industry know this isn't true. And we also know that the ability for a person to grow their own herb is key to the legalization of cannabis for medical use that we enjoy. In fact, dispensaries wouldn't even exist if they didn't cling so tightly to the caregiver label in the first place.

Stop confusing the public by disparaging those who choose to grow their own at home. Stop condemming the very patients who come to you to supplement their personal harvest. Just because you're regulated doesn't make you better, it just makes you another option. Stop trying to be the only option!

The rights of patients and caregivers must remain primary!

You enrich my life

Nearly every day I hear from someone who is in pain and suffering in a state or country that does not allow the legal use of medical marijuana. I hear about their struggles with the pills they've been prescribed that knock them out and make them unable to function. They tell me about their frustrations with the health care industry and the lack of treatment options for their condition. And they confess their fears about the possible legal repercussions if they are caught treating their illness with this miraculous herb, often the only viable treatment option remaining.

These stories make me so sad. They break my heart with every word. And these stories make me so angry! They renew my commitment to continue spreading the word, reaching out, speaking up and supporting those who choose cannabis.

Thank you to all those who have friended me, trusted me, and enriched my life with your stories.

How to Move Your Money

People tell me it's too much trouble to move their money to another financial institution. They have electronic banking, direct deposit, automatic bill-pay, debit cards and automatic payments set up. And that's exactly what the banks are counting on -- the hassle factor. So here's how to do it without too much disruption.

OPEN IT!
Your first step is to open a new account at a local credit union or community bank. You don't generally have to make a big initial deposit to get started. Be sure to order a debit card and checks when you set up the account. Now you'll have an account number to work with as you make the shift.

Stop using the old checks and debit card as soon as the ones for your new account arrive. Make sure to maintain enough money in your old account until all outstanding checks and debit card transactions clear. Don’t forget to plan for any automatic payments/deposits that may come through before your changes go into effect.

MOVE IT!
Make a list of everything that needs to be changed and check them off one by one as you move them to the new account. Don't forget things like Paypal accounts, quarterly or semi-annual payments, and annual subscriptions that may surface later. A review of your past few bank statements should give you enough information to create your list. Many, if not all, changes can be made online or by fax, depending on the institution.

If you have direct deposit for payroll, talk to your Human Resources department about changing that to the new account. Generally this is as difficult as filling out a form then waiting for the deposits to start going into the new account. You can find many of the authorization forms you need online, often on the financial institution's web site.

To change Social Security deposits, you need to contact your local office. Be aware that it can take 30-60 days for changes to take effect.

CLOSE IT!
Once you're certain that all the checks and payments have cleared the old account, that any direct deposits are now going into the new account, and that any automatic payments are now coming from the new account -- once you're sure the old checking account isn't used or needed anymore -- CLOSE IT! Withdraw whatever money may be remaining and shut it down. Don't hesitate to politely but firmly let them know exactly why you are closing your account, but remember that most of the people who work at/for banks are just doing their jobs and are part of the 99%.

PARTY!
Don't forget to shred any unused checks and debit cards for the old account. You won't be needing them anymore. You might take this opportunity to throw a Shredding Party and invite all your friends to join you in celebrating your money's big move from Wall Street back to Main Street.

It does take some time and patience, but moving your money is well worth the effort. When you bank with a local credit union or community bank, your money is reinvested back into the community. And your deposits are still insured up to $250,000 per institution through the FDIC or NCUA.

Remember that a lot of people doing small things can have a big impact!

For help finding a local credit union to join, start with this Credit Union Locator.

To find a community bank in your area, visit the Move Your Money Project.

Stay Warm. Stay Dry. Occupy!

With an arctic blast headed our way, I hope my friends at Occupy Denver have a strategy to keep them warm and dry and healthy, especially since the city won't allow them to have tents or shelters of any kind and is forcing them to sleep on the concrete sidewalk and has sent police to kick over tables, tear down structures, destroy their books and other belongings and take their food supplies.

If Mayor Hancock really cared about the safety of the protesters and public at Civic Center Park, he'd allow them to have shelter, food, port-a-potties and warmth. Common decency and respect for human welfare should prevail here. Oh, but nooooo... he'd rather waste money on police actions so he can play with the shiny toys he inherited when he took over from Hickenlooper. Can't let all that para-military training and fancy equipment we got after 9/11 and the Democratic National Convention go to waste.

Mayor Hancock and Governor Hickenlooper dare to complain about the added expense of having a police presence at Occupy Denver. I wonder how much it costs each season to have extra police out for Broncos games? Did anyone complain about the additional cops needed at the World Series or the Stanley Cup? How 'bout those Super Bowl Parades the city threw for Elway and the crew? I'll bet those knocked a few nuggets out of the coffers! And no body batted a pretty long eyelash about that.

Why? Follow the money. It comes down to ROI.

If Occupy Denver could somehow bring money into the city, the Mayor might find a way to let them stay. If OD could just get people to do their part and go out and spend even more money they don't have on stuff they can't afford, it might go a long way toward softening the Mayor's heart. Right now he's just not getting a good return on his investment.

Stay warm. Stay dry. Occupy!

Firing up the Blog

Okay. I'll admit it. I've neglected my blog. But there's a lot going on in the world, and I've got a lot to say about it. So it's time to fire up the blog again and get some thoughts out of my head and into cyberspace.

Relief in New Jersey

Michael Oliveri, a muscular dystrophy patient; his mother, Christiane, left; and Diane Rivera-Riportella react in Trenton, N.J., on Jan. 11 after the New Jersey Legislature approved a bill that would make the state the 14th in the nation to legalize the use of marijuana to help patients with chronic illnesses.

(from MSNBC.com)

Pot Pesto

Pot Pesto

3 cups chopped fresh basil
1 cup Ganja Olive Oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons minced garlic

Place the basil in a food processor. Pour in about 1 tablespoon of the oil, and blend basil into a paste. Gradually add pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic and remaining oil. Continue to blend until smooth. Store in refrigerator or freeze.

Do not cook pesto. For best taste, allow the pesto to be warmed by the meal it's prepared with.

You can freeze the pesto in ice cube trays, then put in a bag to store in the freezer. Each cube is about 1/4 cup.

Try pesto...

• On pizza in place of or in addition to the red sauce
• Added to a cream sauce or Alfredo sauce
• Mixed with mayonnaise as a sandwich spread or burger topping
• Stirred into mashed potatoes
• Stirred into risotto
• Dolloped on soup
• Spread on crostini and topped with chopped tomatoes, smoked salmon, roasted red peppers or goat cheese
• Whisked into scrambled eggs or folded into omelets
• In pasta salads, potato salads, or salad dressings
• Mixed with cream cheese and spread on a bagel