Julie Gardener
New Member
Polycystic Kidney Disease by Frederick Schatz
This is an update to a story I wrote about half a year ago. I was the 28-year-old who suffered from polycystic kidney disease. I indicated that both of my children have this cursed disease as well. I submitted this story anonymously out of fear. Well, I am no longer in fear and many things have changed.
My name is Frederick Schatz and I use cannabis when I have safe access. I do not drink nor do I use any other illicit substances. I've been married for over five years and as mentioned before, I have two small children. I am a Christian. I believe in God, His Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. I go to Church and am an active member.
I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in early childhood. It is an inherited kidney disease that causes multiple cysts to grow starting in the nephrons. Over time the cysts take over the healthy kidney, tissue leading to kidney failure, or, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). There are many problems associated with this disease, two of which I use cannabis to help cope with. First is the pain. The second is the mental anguish of uncertainty. Not knowing which course the disease will take is maddening. It strips the joy right out of life. Cannabis has a tendency to put some of that joy back along with helping control pain.
Recently I was involved in an accident that was not my fault. It was a traumatic experience in which I sustained several severe injuries, the worst of which was a depressed skull fracture and a traumatic brain injury. By the grace of God I survived, and of course the seat belt helped. Since the accident I have not been able to gain safe access to cannabis and have become addicted to Lortab, again (2/10mg/4 times a day) and now Ativan (4/2mg/4 times a day). Again I find myself trapped in an opiate prison because a lack of cannabis.
The amount of cannabis I used to treat myself would probably be considered minuscule by most users, about 2g a day. I generally administered my medicine by using a pipe or a water pipe, as they are efficient and easy to regulate.
Cannabis gave me a joy and peace that can simply cannot be found in our current legal pharmacopeia. It eased my pain and rested my vexed heart. God designed and created this plant for a purpose, and I believe that purpose is for man use it as a medicine, and not just as a medicine but to make merry the heart of a troubled soul. In essence I suppose even that would be medicinal.
I soon will be moving to a state that is more lenient on cannabis and pray to once again start using this amazing gift from God.
Source: Comments and Observations
