{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/success-stories/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2180-markdown","title":"Marijuana & Fibromyalgia: Mary's Success Story","slug":"marijuana-and-fibromyalgia-marys-success-story","content":"### Cannabis Success Stories\n\nAfter serving thousands of patients at HelloMD we have seen a pattern emerge: cannabis helps real people with real conditions. People from all walks of life are turning to cannabis in lieu of opioids, other medications or alternative therapies because they are feeling the results and relief, with little to no side effects. \n\nWe thought it would be useful to talk to patients one on one about their medical conditions and ask them to tell their story so we can share it with you. What began as a simple survey has evolved into a revolving door of patients ecstatically conveying the message that cannabis is working for them; and they want to share their success story with others.\n\nWe hope that you enjoy what will be an ongoing series of patient case studies that include a variety of cannabis experiences. We also know there is no one size solution with cannabis, everyone reacts differently and each experience and success may be unique to that person. Our case studies will always follow the same format: A history of the patient's condition, the previous treatment, the experience with cannabis, and specifically how they use cannabis for their condition in order to find relief. \n\n### Mary's Experience with Cannabis\n\n[![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5824fff8173ef2000b58348a/embedded_images/5824fffb173ef2000b58348b/MaryFibromyalgachronicpain.png)](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/patient-success/Mary_Patient+Case+Study__ChronicPain_final.pdf) \nDownload the PDF\n\n### Chronic Pain History\n\nIn 2001 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Prior to that I had been very healthy. I think it was a period of extreme stress that maybe brought it on. When it started I went from being very mobile to suddenly very debilitated. It started on one side of my body and then migrated to the other side until I could barely move at all. The pain was unbearable.\n\n### Previous Treatments\n\nPrior to trying cannabis It took a long time for doctors to accurately diagnose me. For 8 years I was treated with pharmaceuticals, and many were to deal with the side effects of the initial drugs. At one point I counted that I had been prescribed over 43 drugs. At a certain point, I became a drug zombie. I was unable to drive my kids to school or to enjoy life. A turning point came for me when I blacked out and woke up in the ER. \n\n### Cannabis Experience\n\nAfter my blackout I started to think of how I might improve my well being. First I cut out diet soda, then I started to eat organic. Then it occurred to me that cannabis might be a more natural solution and worth a try. The pharmaceuticals were not helping and in fact were making my life worse. I worked with my pain management doctor for 3.5 months to wean myself off of all prescriptions and use marijuana instead. I always say to people to work with a doctor when doing this! After starting cannabis it helped me manage my pain, I was much more mellow and my family wanted to spend time with me.\n\n### The Cannabis Tool Kit\n\n### Flower\n\nAt night I smoke Blueberry Kush, to help me sleep. During the day I will smoke Amnesia Mystery which helps with movement, especially on a bad day.\n\n### Vape Pen\n\nI use G Vape, which is Snoop Dog’s vape pen that has a dry chamber. I use kief within this as it is very cost effective.\n\n### Edibles\n\nMy favorite edible is by Kiva and it is the low dose 5mg Blueberry Terra Bites. When I am in pain I will take 10mg every 3-4 hours.\n\n### Topicals\n\nI make my own topicals with alcohol. Once I infuse the alcohol with cannabis I pour it onto wet wipes. Rubbing the wet wipe on an area with localized pain provides immediate relief for me.\n\n### Mary Says...\n\n\"When I went off of opioids and started using cannabis I was able to enjoy human touch again. I did not even realize I had lost that ability. With cannabis I am able to enjoy my life and be happy again.\"\n______________________________________________________________________\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/14b42/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/f836f/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.jpg 200w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/2244e/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.jpg 400w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/14b42/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.jpg 800w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/47498/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.jpg 1200w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/54ac5/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/58556/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/61e93/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.webp 200w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/1f5c5/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.webp 400w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/58556/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.webp 800w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/99238/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.webp 1200w,\n/static/4d4af035ccb1e6e839caeed5c77bc20a/5e0b8/f9c402c0052f88dde06984f9c4af3c68.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1895-markdown","title":"A Former DEA Agent’s Journey: Kicking Hypertension Using Medical Marijuana","slug":"a-former-dea-agents-journey-kicking-hypertension-using-medical-marijuana","content":"Steve Schenck comes from a world where marijuana has always been on his radar. Steve grew up in Berkley during the 60s and 70s, where marijuana was just a part of daily life. His parents smoked when he was growing up and he saw many people around him use marijuana recreationally. Steve was able to get a perspective on how marijuana effected different people from a young age.  His personal experiences with cannabis led to further self education as he entered the Drug Enforcement Administration as an agent.  Steve feels that being a DEA agent gave him even more perspective on marijuana, but he prides himself on never making a marijuana arrest.  He saw that marijuana did not have the same negative effects as hard drugs, like meth or heroin.  \r\n\r\nWhen his doctor began prescribing him a plethora of drugs for his high blood pressure and diabetes without any positive effects, Steve turned towards medical marijuana as an alternative medication. Steve is open with his doctor about his medical marijuana usage, which has allowed him to notice other changes he’s experienced throughout the process. Not only has it improved his symptoms, but he has seen a drop in blood pressure and has had an easier time falling asleep.  He eats part of an edible before bed and he is able to sleep soundly throughout the night, without any negative effects that come from traditional sleep medication.  \r\n\r\nSteve knew he wanted to try to use medical marijuana to help with his high blood pressure and diabetes, but he made sure he was educated before starting the process.  Steve said an important step in his process was finding the right dispensary.  His tips for finding the right place for yourself?\r\n\r\n>“Make sure you find the right people who can offer you a high quality product.  If you ever feel uncomfortable when you walk in to a dispensary, leave. Finding the right people is crucial.”\r\n\r\nAside from a trusted dispensary, Steve recommends people start slow when trying medical marijuana.  There are times when he has taken too much of an edible because it is not always easy to judge how much you are getting in a particular product or how it will effect you.  He advises that starting slow can help decrease the risks of any unintended side effects. \r\n\r\nThough Steve is very open with his friends, family, and medical advisors about his medical marijuana usage, he tends to stick to discreet methods of administration for his medication due to his 3 year old daughter.  Steve prefers smoking, but often uses edibles because they are more subtle than smoking. \r\nSteve wants to see more research from the industry in the future, \r\n\r\n>“Congress has blocked all research and the industry is currently all over the place.  In some states its legal or medically allowed and in some states it is just illegal! The US was responsible for lobbying the UN to make cannabis illegal world-wide.  This is not a US issue, legalization has to become a world-wide goal.” \r\n\r\nSteve thinks research will help discredit the critics of medical marijuana, as well. He thinks people who perpetuate stigmas do not have knowledge of the products and of the industry.  He believes that if people really look at the results of medical marijuana users, they will see the efficacy of it as a medication. \r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dlee13/8592121628/in/photolist-e6fSq5-9y7xju-5WBMTa-FqF9-foQYT8-r39qxA-eG35Rj-6usKaL-9y7xLf-9y7xBY-9RPDxM-9y4zui-e2Bhd6-aTZSPn-egZVP3-9y7xod-c5ahE3-22rMwT-pvxGwd-iH98pX-fANrs-9igHn7-4XJsbd-5tFwKC-9sfB6H-nvWogX-8aSLdN-fJBFfk-9y4zh6-4CffYr-ncrvi5-4FZGHv-46uZse-4GXcBN-5bCBek-4D8JPo-r1m7sH-jvyUsP-2SmfSo-S4FHV-wJqthk-9y7xQ5-dACY6c-4xrNah-9y4zjZ-9y4zwv-c5ahA1-9y7xE7-9nUs9q-nahPmF)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/14b42/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/f836f/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.jpg 200w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/2244e/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.jpg 400w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/14b42/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.jpg 800w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/47498/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.jpg 1200w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/a6974/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/58556/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/61e93/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.webp 200w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/1f5c5/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.webp 400w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/58556/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.webp 800w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/99238/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.webp 1200w,\n/static/c8b28bcba5d18aaeee7e1810d1f4e230/d5052/c11806ab38109b6ab93cf3f15b1b42f3.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5792,"name":"Success Stories","slug":"success-stories","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}