SweetSue's Cannabis Oil Study Hall

[CajunCelt]

I've got an off handed question.

Has anyone gathered information on how extreme PTSD affects a caregiver?
Man, that subject needs compassionate people.

 

[SweetSue]

I've got an off handed question.

Has anyone gathered information on how extreme PTSD affects a caregiver?
Man, that subject needs compassionate people.

I can certainly do that and drop it in the PTSD thread, or start another one for a separate conversation. That might not be a bad idea. There are quite a few members that deal with it.

 

[SweetSue]

I'm headed out to the river trail and remembering why I limit myself to one capsule at a time. Two capsules is a delightful ride, but no one could function in any productive manner this high every day. The system would be overwhelmed. Receptors would begin to go offline and who wants to go through that reset? Not me.

Part of the reason I do this, aside from the fun is to remind myself what those who do high medicinal doses through the gut deal with. I personally love this experience of being slightly out of control and a little careening, if you will. Not everyone can embrace extreme euphoria with such gusto. Lol!

Wish me luck guys. I'm out the door.

 

[CajunCelt]

I can certainly do that and drop it in the PTSD thread, or start another one for a separate conversation. That might not be a bad idea. There are quite a few members that deal with it.

I'm going to incorporate the mmj treatments with this "caregiver's grief" as a consistent side car.

I'm so turn by seeing ppl go through all this, all alone. I think combining them is the trick too.

 

[Dave Groomer]

I'm going to incorporate the mmj treatments with this "caregiver's grief" as a consistent side car.

I'm so turn by seeing ppl go through all this, all alone. I think combining them is the trick too.

Maybe a strain like Sue is using for her daughter. I don't think it is too euphoric, more a sense of well being. Critical Cure I think. I think it was one you recommended.

 

[KingstonRabbi]

Thoughts on blending strains. Let me ramble for a few.

You'd first need to know what you're treating
- the disease or physical challenge
- the body's inflammatory response
- symptomology

You'd need an understanding of the cannabinoids and the ratios that have shown some success in treating what you're treating

You'd need at least a rudimentary understanding of the effects of terpenes

Ok.... then it becomes a matter of determining volume ratios, and this is where I get hung up. What process comes into play here? So much of strain A, B, C, D........

I feel a shift coming on. This process has intrigued me, but I've been busy in other directions. It's been calling at me recently, and it's sprung up in some distant conversations. These are indicators that understanding is around the corner. There must be some guidelines that can be followed.

Any thoughts guys?

At first I thought "Woohoo! another SweetSue story problem!" But then I tried plugging numbers in and realized that it's too complex for purely mathematical solution. There's just too many variables when you consider differences between individuals, their current state of health, and the complexity of the entourage effect, not to mention the variability of profiles between different harvests of the same clone. And the bi-phasic effect of different doses, can't ignore that. We can know the effects of an isolated terpene on an individual, but adding just that one terpene changes the effects of all the other terpenes present and vice versa. For example, Kush strains put me to sleep even in small doses, but blended 50/50 with White Widow (which also helps me sleep but doesn't put me to sleep) I don't end up half as sleepy. It's more like WW than Kush. And that's just for me. You could have a completely different reaction.

I think you've done well to identify specific strain profiles for your family and friends. We've said it before, it's the complete profile that matters. Now that cajun's back I can bring out the gumbo metaphor again. Cayenne makes things hotter, but adding more to the gumbo also brings out other flavors, and I can add a lot more cayenne to my gumbo than I can to chicken soup, or to the catfish I'm making for dinner tonight. I still need to work out the cayenne:garlic ratio on that one. More of both you say? good idea, but I'll have to make a separate batch for the kids.

And now for the story problem: If SweetSue starts the day with a hit of some DDA she found stashed under her pillow after a hit of indica wax that failed to get her back to sleep, uses the early morning hours to make a batch of carnival brownies for Tead, catches the next flight from Pittsburgh to N.O., and mid-flight at cruising altitude of 38,000 feet she can't resist and eats one of Tead's brownies (I'm sure he'd share anyway), how high is she? Math has serious limitations here. You'll have to solve this one by feel.

 

[Cowbelle]

I'd venture to say a good part of your pain is caused by tension caused by the pain. It creates a viscous cycle of inflammation and more pain. Cannabis will begin to relieve the tension almost immediately. This is the great value of euphoria. THC doesn't heal the pain, it stops or dulls the signaled response. CBD goes to work eliminating the causes of pain to reduce inflammatory response in the first place.

The ECS monitors all systems, including the endocrine system. I have faith in the ability of cannabis to begin a healing tone throughout all of your systems. It simply takes consistency in dosing with the proper ratios and terpenes involved in the song. I find cannabinoid therapies easier to work with. No nasty side effects, only continuous healing.

All those years we thought cannabis was only for smoking and getting high. This to me is the big hit we took with prohibition, we starved our endocannabinoid systems and teased them every now and again with a joint or two that offered so little therapeutic use to the body that it's sad. We were treating symptoms, looking for relief from stress when we could have been feeding the body enough to heal.

Well, we can catch up. You'll get relief. It's basic biology in my mind. Input the building blocks of cannabinoids, create the mindset that joyfully anticipates positive outcomes, and augment the system with a consistent supply of additional cannabinoids and some of their favorite playmates. Stand out of the way and let natural healing progress. Cannabis, faith and expectation. It's a triple whammy against disease I'll take any day.

I certainly am ready for relief!! And after reading the success stories here for the last months, I do want to believe that it can happen. I've never been against cannabis, but was happy with my wine for years. Now don't have that to save carbs for more nutritious things. Also, don't smoke, never have, (mother died of emphysema) so until these other methods of dosing have became more available, I just never considered weed - no bias, just no temptation either. Now I'm more than tempted, I want it and the better quality of life it seems to offer. I so hope you're right about wanting to re-read that post in a year! I agree that the whole body tension is a part of the pain - I have to consciously relax myself to go to sleep or rest. Even my Dr. (wonderful down to-earth-woman) says I have chronic inflammation, but all the turmeric I can take isn't doing thing for it. Bring on the pot!

 

[dynamo1]

[QUOTEThat wax did nothing to get me back to sleep. This is why I never nap and I stay up 'till 3 AM. Apparently my body needs 5 hours max.[/QUOTE]

Not enough sleep Sue, When we don't get enough sleep in sync with seasonal light exposure, we fundamentally alter the balance of nature that has been programmed into our physiology since Day One. This delicate biological rhythm rules the hormones and neurotransmitters that determine appetite, fertility, and mental and physical health. When we rely on artificial light to extend our day untill 11 PM. midnight and beyond, we fool our bodies into living in a perpetual state of summer. Anticipating the scarce food supply and forced inactivity of winter, our bodies begin storing fat and slowing metabolism to sustain us through the months of winter It only take an LED clock or power on indicator light to stop melatonin production. I also suffer from to little sleep, I'm trying to reset my clock, eliminating light leeks in my room, trying to increase my melatonin production.

 

[Oldbear]

Hi cowbelle I've read all of your posts. I can't type for too long (chronic abuse of all the body parts involved in sitting in front of a computer), so my apologies if this seems too direct.

We have a lot in common. You have come to us here seeking hope, encouragement, and advice to help you with your health goals - lower blood sugar, drop some weight, reduce inflammation, better sleep, less fatigue, being able to do more physical things that you enjoy.

I have all these goals too.

I've been in a structured cannabis healing program since September. I have a healing with cannabis journal (see link below). I encourage you to start one - it will be a thread where the primary topic is you. It can be whatever you need it to be and I can promise you this - people here will visit you there and assist you with your journey to wellness.

You and I and most of people in North America share something - we are addicted to sugar and caffeine. All of your symptoms relate to overconsumption of those two things. They are highly addictive, and cause all sorts of problems.

So why do we do it? In part we have been coached from infancy that things with sugar are good so have lots of it. All sorts of processed foods have high sugar content. And the big factor is dopamine, the feel good brain chemical, which is released when we consume sugar.

The human body needs protein, complex carbs and fat. And water of course. That's all.

I have learned that cannabis alone can not help anyone with these health and wellness goals.

I have learned that I must break the cycle of sugar and caffeine addiction.

I am delighted to report that I'm at day 3 of sugar sobriety. Zero zip nada consumption of anything that has any refined sugar in it. I am surprised at how different and better I feel after only 3 days. It will be a long journey - my weight loss target is 60 pounds. That will make my old knees feel a lot better.

Caffeine is being phased out slowly - just like prednisone - to reduce the symptoms. One more week and caffeine will also be zero.

I take very low doses of balanced thc:cbd cannabis. I make it in small batches of 2 grams at a time mixed with olive oil and liquid sunflower lecithin. That will last a week or more.

My new go to snack food is a mixture of cashews, hemp hearts, flax seed and chia seed.

The cost of my cannabis supplements is about $20 week. Because of all the things I no longer ingest, I'm making money.

I'm 66 and very puzzled why I have abused my body for so many years. To meet the health goals we share, I am convinced (finally) that I must do the sugar and caffeine abstinence test. Nothing else has worked you see.

Health and happiness wishes

OB

 

[SweetSue]

Maybe a strain like Sue is using for her daughter. I don't think it is too euphoric, more a sense of well being. Critical Cure I think. I think it was one you recommended.

One of the reasons Cajun recommended CBD Critical Cure for my daughter was for her PTSD symptoms. I have to say, the strain has surpassed even my expectations. She recently stopped a panic attack with logical thinking. Shocked both of us that her brain didn't follow the standard path to panic, but fell into a pattern of looking at the situation realistically and identifying that there was nothing to fear.

That had never happened before.

I'll probably have a thread up by the end of the weekend.

 

[SweetSue]

Hi cowbell I've read all of your posts. I can't type for too long (chronic abuse of all the body parts involved in sitting in front of a computer), so my apologies if this seems too direct.

We have a lot in common. You have come to us here seeking hope, encouragement, and advice to help you with your health goals - lower blood sugar, drop some weight, reduce inflammation, better sleep, less fatigue, being able to do more physical things that you enjoy.

I have all these goals too.

I've been in a structured cannabis healing program since September. I have a healing with cannabis journal (see link below). I encourage you to start one - it will be a thread where the primary topic is you. It can be whatever you need it to be and I can promise you this - people here will visit you there and assist you with your journey to wellness.

You and I and most of people in North America share something - we are addicted to sugar and caffeine. All of your symptoms relate to overconsumption of those two things. They are highly addictive, and cause all sorts of problems.

So why do we do it? In part we have been coached from infancy that things with sugar are good so have lots of it. All sorts of processed foods have high sugar content. And the big factor is dopamine, the feel good brain chemical, which is released when we consume sugar.

The human body needs protein, complex carbs and fat. And water of course. That's all.

I have learned that cannabis alone can not help anyone with these health and wellness goals.

I have learned that I must break the cycle of sugar and caffeine addiction.

I am delighted to report that I'm at day 3 of sugar sobriety. Zero zip nada consumption of anything that has any refined sugar in it. I am surprised at how different and better I feel after only 3 days. It will be a long journey - my weight loss target is 60 pounds. That will make my old knees feel a lot better.

Caffeine is being phased out slowly - just like prednisone - to reduce the symptoms. One more week and caffeine will also be zero.

I take very low doses of balanced thc:cbd cannabis. I make it in small batches of 2 grams at a time mixed with olive oil and liquid sunflower lecithin. That will last a week or more.

My new go to snack food is a mixture of cashews, hemp hearts, flax seed and chia seed.

The cost of my cannabis supplements is about $20 week. Because of all the things I no longer ingest, I'm making money.

I'm 66 and very puzzled why I have abused my body for so many years. To meet the health goals we share, I am convinced (finally) that I must do the sugar and caffeine abstinence test. Nothing else has worked you see.

Health and happiness wishes

OB

I'm having a tough time with the sugar addiction. Living behind a bakery certainly makes it more challenging, when the air itself feels laden with sugar molecules. I put myself through probably the worst sugar rush of my adult life a few months back. I've been working my way back from that excess ever since. You'd think psoriasis would be enough to make the break, wouldn't you? I'm hoping the suppositories make the difference. I abstain as long as I can, but it's hard. Everywhere you turn are delicious enticements. Addiction is addiction, pure and simple. Toss in a touch of compulsive behavior and some days all bets are off.

Thankfully, psoriasis is my only health concern. I'd like to keep it that way and then eliminate the psoriasis. Giving up sugar is my best option for that successful journey. I'll get there.

You keep pushing me towards wellness Oldbear. Thank you for the relentless message. I'm close to being right beside you.

Gave up coffee, took up green tea. The irony, eh? Lol!

 

[Chew]

I'm having a tough time with the sugar addiction. Living behind a bakery certainly makes it more challenging, when the air itself feels laden with sugar molecules. I put myself through probably the worst sugar rush of my adult life a few months back. I've been working my way back from that excess ever since. You'd think psoriasis would be enough to make the break, wouldn't you? I'm hoping the suppositories make the difference. I abstain as long as I can, but it's hard. Everywhere you turn are delicious enticements. Addiction is addiction, pure and simple. Toss in a touch of compulsive behavior and some days all bets are off.

Thankfully, psoriasis is my only health concern. I'd like to keep it that way and then eliminate the psoriasis. Giving up sugar is my best option for that successful journey. I'll get there.

You keep pushing me towards wellness Oldbear. Thank you for the relentless message. I'm close to being right beside you.

Gave up coffee, took up green tea. The irony, eh? Lol!

Oh, recreational eating again are we Sue lol
All the crap in our food certainly is addictive

 

[Cowbelle]

Hi cowbell I've read all of your posts. I can't type for too long (chronic abuse of all the body parts involved in sitting in front of a computer), so my apologies if this seems too direct.

We have a lot in common. You have come to us here seeking hope, encouragement, and advice to help you with your health goals - lower blood sugar, drop some weight, reduce inflammation, better sleep, less fatigue, being able to do more physical things that you enjoy.

I have all these goals too.

I've been in a structured cannabis healing program since September. I have a healing with cannabis journal (see link below). I encourage you to start one - it will be a thread where the primary topic is you. It can be whatever you need it to be and I can promise you this - people here will visit you there and assist you with your journey to wellness.

You and I and most of people in North America share something - we are addicted to sugar and caffeine. All of your symptoms relate to overconsumption of those two things. They are highly addictive, and cause all sorts of problems.

So why do we do it? In part we have been coached from infancy that things with sugar are good so have lots of it. All sorts of processed foods have high sugar content. And the big factor is dopamine, the feel good brain chemical, which is released when we consume sugar.

The human body needs protein, complex carbs and fat. And water of course. That's all.

I have learned that cannabis alone can not help anyone with these health and wellness goals.

I have learned that I must break the cycle of sugar and caffeine addiction.

I am delighted to report that I'm at day 3 of sugar sobriety. Zero zip nada consumption of anything that has any refined sugar in it. I am surprised at how different and better I feel after only 3 days. It will be a long journey - my weight loss target is 60 pounds. That will make my old knees feel a lot better.

Caffeine is being phased out slowly - just like prednisone - to reduce the symptoms. One more week and caffeine will also be zero.

I take very low doses of balanced thc:cbd cannabis. I make it in small batches of 2 grams at a time mixed with olive oil and liquid sunflower lecithin. That will last a week or more.

My new go to snack food is a mixture of cashews, hemp hearts, flax seed and chia seed.

The cost of my cannabis supplements is about $20 week. Because of all the things I no longer ingest, I'm making money.

I'm 66 and very puzzled why I have abused my body for so many years. To meet the health goals we share, I am convinced (finally) that I must do the sugar and caffeine abstinence test. Nothing else has worked you see.

Health and happiness wishes

OB

Thanks for you info and vote of support, OldBear! I'm working hard on doing away with sugar - not too bad on the processed variety, though I crave it. I hate to give up the summer fruits that have so much natural sugar - the melons, peaches etc. Since I'm only pre-diabetic, I may be able to eat them, when I get off the prednisone, and on the cannabis. I've already noticed that my ankle/foot swelling is going down, so I think I'm on the right track.

The caffeine - I only have one cup of coffee in the morning - with stevia in it. Hopefully that won't be a problem. I just talked to a friend who uses cannabis for pain, and she is going to bring me some of her supply. The young man who is growing for me lives with her and her husband, so it's a small close society! I can't wait to get started on a program - I really appreciate the members here that support each other so well!

 

[Oldbear]

Thinking you are on the right track is a great start - all part of that positive outlook Sue mentioned.

When the time comes, if you need a hand processing your cannabis into concentrated edible oil, give me a Hey You

I didn't mention DIY Physio. All those sore spots are in part your ECS telling you something is wrong. It wants you to move things to increase blood flow to the sore spot(s).

So bend twist rotate every part that is sore as often as you can every day. I make a game of how many parts can I get moving at the same time. I have turned all routine chores into a DIY physio session. It's actually fun, and helpful.

Sorry Doctor Ho - I don't need your fancy machine to twitch my muscles for me. I've been able to do that myself since I was about 10 seconds old.

I used to a lot and catch myself doing this still - I would sit and not move because something, well usually many things, would hurt if I moved. Totally backwards and adding to the problems.

There will be a day for you soon I hope where you will be able to detect the thc:cbd in those sore inflamed places - for me it's a warm gentle tickle. When I mildly work the sore spots, I'm rewarded with ah that feels good response.

 

[SweetSue]

I've posted a new thread.

Post Traumatic Stress Injury: Living and Loving With The Hidden Wound

I think I need to take a break from all this thread-making. Four in two weeks is a new record for me. I'm hungry now, and it's 1 AM. Not the best time to be snacking.

Think I'll go to bed instead.

Goodnight

 

[CajunCelt]

Thanks Sue. Goodnight.
Pretty obvious what someone thinks/feels when they're told to get their affairs in order by the doc. I'm not saying your know exactly, but your can imagine.

Now imagine this is man's (that has just passed) wife.
No one thinks about the spouses much, but they go thru a hell I hope none of you have ever felt, nor ever will.

 

[Arctic Bowl]

Agreed Cajun, soul changing pain that very few can relate to. No right way to deal with this.......

 

[308jerry]

Try to imagine why doctors across the country see no use for cannabis as a first line of treatment or even as a treatment at the end stage. They consciously turn a blind eye to patients needing help.

 

[Danolo]

I have learned that I must break the cycle of sugar and caffeine addiction.

Caffeine is being phased out slowly - just like prednisone - to reduce the symptoms. One more week and caffeine will also be zero.

I take very low doses of balanced thc:cbd cannabis. I make it in small batches of 2 grams at a time mixed with olive oil and liquid sunflower lecithin. That will last a week or more.

My new go to snack food is a mixture of cashews, hemp hearts, flax seed and chia seed.

The cost of my cannabis supplements is about $20 week. Because of all the things I no longer ingest, I'm making money.
OB

OMG, stop caffeine????????

I have 4 to 8 cups of dark roast per day. Starbuck's Verona.

I KNOW you are right, O'bear, but but but...

I quit most sugar a few years ago, with an occasional slip into chocolate. But stopping caffeine???? I dunno...

I will try..

Are you cutting down slowly, or cold turkey on the coffee?

 

[SweetSue]

OMG, stop caffeine????????

I have 4 to 8 cups of dark roast per day. Starbuck's Verona.

I KNOW you are right, O'bear, but but but...

I quit most sugar a few years ago, with an occasional slip into chocolate. But stopping caffeine???? I dunno...

I will try..

Are you cutting down slowly, or cold turkey on the coffee?

I'll own up to treating myself to Starbucks once a week. We'll ignore the occasional stop at the one in Target on my way home from grocery shopping.