Check-in Tuesdays! A Weekly Space to Share and Support

[joint_account]

Hello Everyone,

I figure I would create a dedicated thread for this rather than keep it in the general chat thread.

What is this thread?
Check-in Tuesdays is a weekly open space to talk about how you’re doing, mentally and emotionally. It doesn't have to be a negative thing, Positivity is always appreciated around here.

Some weeks it might be something small, maybe the kids are driving you crazy in the school holidays. Other weeks it might be something bigger. Nothing is too big or too small. This is a place to share what’s going on, listen to others, and remember that you’re not the only human juggling life.

Spoiler: Why this thread is important

Mental health challenges touch so many people in the UK. Around 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health problem each year, and 1 in 5 live with a common mental health disorder. Among young people, 1 in 5 aged 8 to 25 has a probable mental disorder, and self-harm rates in young women have tripled since the 1990s.

In the UK medical cannabis community, many patients use their prescription to help with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and insomnia. Around 40 percent of private medical cannabis prescriptions are for these reasons.

I feel it's important for the community to check in with each other about about the emotional and mental side of life, even if it's not that deep.


I hope this thread is able to contribute towards filling that gap. It is a touchpoint for us to connect, share, and support one another as people, not just as patients.

 

[joint_account]

Hi Everyone,

I may as well follow the advice I’m preaching and check-in myself!

I’ll be honest, I’m never quite sure how much to share in spaces like this. Life’s been throwing a mixture of nonsense at me lately. Last week - on Monday was my late dad’s birthday, and on the same day my therapist told me she’s retiring soon. She’s now away for a three-week summer break, so I’m in that awkward limbo where I’ve got a lot on my mind and no sessions for a while, whilst also watching the clock tick down until she calls it a day.

On top of that, I’ve been working up to having a difficult conversation with my family about some very difficult experiences from my childhood that my family has never fully accepted. Not the easiest thing to have hanging over you, but I’m slowly getting there.

On the positive side, I’ve finally been able to get back into training after injuring my hand a few months ago. I’ve been having short daily sessions on the heavy bag, and it’s really helping with my mood and sleep. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s a solid win all things considered. I'm also off for a spot of camping with the mrs on Friday-Monday, so hopefully the weather holds up. I absolutely love nature and hiking so I'm hoping it will be a really fun weekend ahead.

AND I've been making some real progress on a passion project I've been working on that I'm hoping can be a useful tool to MC patients in the future. So that's a nice thought for me to cling to.

 

[cornucopia]

I had two virtually pain free weeks at the end of July, i was over the moon as its hard to explain to someone that hasn't experienced constant pain (especially nerve pain) what its like.
unfortunately it didn't last....but if its happened once then it can happen again

 

[joint_account]

I had two virtually pain free weeks at the end of July, i was over the moon as its hard to explain to someone that hasn't experienced constant pain (especially nerve pain) what its like.
unfortunately it didn't last....but if its happened once then it can happen again

How bitter sweet is that!

It's amazing that you had a pain free period but how frustrating that it doesn't last to long. Do you have any idea on what it was that made it a pain free couple of weeks?

 

[cornucopia]

How bitter sweet is that!

It's amazing that you had a pain free period but how frustrating that it doesn't last to long. Do you have any idea on what it was that made it a pain free couple of weeks?

no idea, i think the disc bulge happened in 2022 but i didn't have an MRI that confirmed it till march 2023.
I have been exercising 6 days a week ever since (i started a few weeks before the MRI), i had a few months pain free at the end of the summer in 2023 and i thought it had gone... but unfortunately it started again that winter.
I feel stronger all the time but nerve pain can be a strange pain to deal with, mine can change by the hour.

I just have to keep going and keep hoping it will improve, I was offered spinal surgery but the consultant told me that it only works 50% of the time and that it can cause life long back ache as they have to cut a hole in a bone to get to the disc so i decided not to do it.

 

[joint_account]

no idea, i think the disc bulge happened in 2022 but i didn't have an MRI that confirmed it till march 2023.
I have been exercising 6 days a week ever since (i started a few weeks before the MRI), i had a few months pain free at the end of the summer in 2023 and i thought it had gone... but unfortunately it started again that winter.
I feel stronger all the time but nerve pain can be a strange pain to deal with, mine can change by the hour.

I just have to keep going and keep hoping it will improve, I was offered spinal surgery but the consultant told me that it only works 50% of the time and that it can cause life long back ache as they have to cut a hole in a bone to get to the disc so i decided not to do it.

Does the exercise make it better? Like I can see the obvious gains of strengthening the muscle groups but even still it sounds uncomfortable to say the least.

What caused the bulge? Do you have an idea?

That spinal surgery sounds pants, completely get why you didn't go with that. Is that the only surgery they can offer to help? - I'm not clued up on stuff like this as you can probably tell!

 

[cornucopia]

yes exercise definitely helps, initially it can be all about mobility but then there is the strength aspect too, so its finding the right combination of the two that helps you.

no idea what caused the initial bulge, it was just a regular Saturday, i had walked the dog then i was cleaning the house and i suddenly had an electric type shock/spasm in my back and couldn't get off the bed for 24 hours.
The consultant said around 70 out of 100 people will have a bulge at any given time but only around 1 in a 100 will have pain problems when the bulge touches the nerve.

The other option they offer is a steroid injection into the area around the disc, these have limited success, he said it could last a year or it could last a day. i didn't like the idea of an injection into my spine so decided against it.

 

[joint_account]

yes exercise definitely helps, initially it can be all about mobility but then there is the strength aspect too, so its finding the right combination of the two that helps you.

no idea what caused the initial bulge, it was just a regular Saturday, i had walked the dog then i was cleaning the house and i suddenly had an electric type shock/spasm in my back and couldn't get off the bed for 24 hours.
The consultant said around 70 out of 100 people will have a bulge at any given time but only around 1 in a 100 will have pain problems when the bulge touches the nerve.

The other option they offer is a steroid injection into the area around the disc, these have limited success, he said it could last a year or it could last a day. i didn't like the idea of an injection into my spine so decided against it.

I see, it sounds brutal mate, I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

I have a few nerve issues in my neck and left hand through years of abusing my body in Sports but it's largely an annoyance with occasional painful days/weeks. I regret playing American Football because of how my neck feels these days for example and none of that sounds anywhere near as painful as what you're dealing with.

Must have been proper scary for you when it all happened but what can you do other than the things you're doing right? How does the Cannabis help? is it effective?

I've heard of those injections, I'm not sure how good they are and it sounds a tad uncomfortable for a maybe. but it would be awesome if you were pain free for a year wouldn't it. Maybe worth considering one day just to see how it goes... probably easier for me to say though isn't it.

 

[cornucopia]

Thanks, I find that MC doesn’t have any effect on the sharp sciatica pain that can sometimes occur but it does help with the aching day to day pain, it can melt it away completely or it can help move it more into the background if that makes sense.

I read a pain report recently & am I interested in finding flower with certain terpenes: geraniol, Humulene & beta caryophylleyne but that is probably best kept in a separate thread.

 

[joint_account]

Thanks, I find that MC doesn’t have any effect on the sharp sciatica pain that can sometimes occur but it does help with the aching day to day pain, it can melt it away completely or it can help move it more into the background if that makes sense.

I read a pain report recently & am I interested in finding flower with certain terpenes: geraniol, Humulene & beta caryophylleyne but that is probably best kept in a separate thread.

I'm glad it's providing some relief for you so that's good, it just sucks it's not the complete package and you're still having to fight through.

I can't say I'm familiar with the first terp you've listed at all. Definitely post in the what's on your script thread, everyone loves to throw their input on things like this and that thread gets good visibility for it.

I hope you're having a pain free evening mate.

 

[GrownHealth]

Thanks, I find that MC doesn’t have any effect on the sharp sciatica pain that can sometimes occur but it does help with the aching day to day pain, it can melt it away completely or it can help move it more into the background if that makes sense.

I read a pain report recently & am I interested in finding flower with certain terpenes: geraniol, Humulene & beta caryophylleyne but that is probably best kept in a separate thread.

I just had a quick look and this strain stood out Royal Moby and had a massive percentage of Geraniol a terpene I've only recently become familiar with and it also contains a decent amount of Humulene but I'm not sure whether its alpha or beta

 

[joint_account]

I just had a quick look and this strain stood out Royal Moby and had a massive percentage of Geraniol a terpene I've only recently become familiar with and it also contains a decent amount of Humulene but I'm not sure whether its alpha or beta

The boss man coming through with the knowledge! .

I've not had Royal Moby, but assuming it's just Moby Dick then I can personally recommend the 4C Labs version, I was warned off the Curaleaf one.

 

[GrownHealth]

The boss man coming through with the knowledge! .

I've not had Royal Moby, but assuming it's just Moby Dick then I can personally recommend the 4C Labs version, I was warned off the Curaleaf one.

You mean old git
Unfortunately it's Noidecs with that terp profile but sometimes medicine is medicine and I really don't want to derail this important thread and just put that their as something to ponder over and reading your post my friend you have a lot going on at once so maybe focus on the positives like training however lightly to help keep you positive through this testing time mate and it's been my undoing at points in my family life where I try to do everything all at once whilst not sharing problems (was a problem of mine )but sometimes we have to focus on what we can get done/do just to put us in a better/stronger frame of mind to navigate these trying times and tougher issue's

 

[joint_account]

You mean old git
Unfortunately it's Noidecs with that terp profile but sometimes medicine is medicine and I really don't want to derail this important thread and just put that their as something to ponder over and reading your post my friend you have a lot going on at once so maybe focus on the positives like training however lightly to help keep you positive through this testing time mate and it's been my undoing at points in my family life where I try to do everything all at once whilst not sharing problems (was a problem of mine )but sometimes we have to focus on what we can get done/do just to put us in a better/stronger frame of mind to navigate these trying times and tougher issue's

Hahaha, nothing old about you mate! Nothing at all .

Haven't thought about Noidecs products in ages, didn't even know they did a moby.

Appreciate you reading through all of that and even moreso the advice. I was raised to get on with stuff, typical British stiff upper lip attitude, sharing doesn't come naturally to me at all but I'm learning!

Train right, sleep right, think right, act right. (I sound like a train announcer ).

Here's to a better day tomorrow!

 

[Ant.G.]

yes exercise definitely helps, initially it can be all about mobility but then there is the strength aspect too, so its finding the right combination of the two that helps you.

no idea what caused the initial bulge, it was just a regular Saturday, i had walked the dog then i was cleaning the house and i suddenly had an electric type shock/spasm in my back and couldn't get off the bed for 24 hours.
The consultant said around 70 out of 100 people will have a bulge at any given time but only around 1 in a 100 will have pain problems when the bulge touches the nerve.

The other option they offer is a steroid injection into the area around the disc, these have limited success, he said it could last a year or it could last a day. i didn't like the idea of an injection into my spine so decided against it.

im very much the same with bulging disc. almost 30 years i've suffered with back pain. had that injection done 18 month back. helped a lot for me and im back working after 15 year off through ill health

 

[joint_account]

im very much the same with bulging disc. almost 30 years i've suffered with back pain. had that injection done 18 month back. helped a lot for me and im back working after 15 year off through ill health

That's fantastic news! (Not the disk, the injection helping you).

Sounds like it's really changed your life for the better there! I love that for you and thank you for sharing that.

Im a big girl when it comes to injections and things, is it as scary as it sounds?

 

[Ant.G.]

That's fantastic news! (Not the disk, the injection helping you).

Sounds like it's really changed your life for the better there! I love that for you and thank you for sharing that.

Im a big girl when it comes to injections and things, is it as scary as it sounds?

didnt feel anything to be honest. wish i was offered it years ago as that and MC has done wonders for me. ive also got ms and im two years in remission from cancer................ i dont put the lottery on lol

 

[joint_account]

didnt feel anything to be honest. wish i was offered it years ago as that and MC has done wonders for me. ive also got ms and im two years in remission from cancer................ i dont put the lottery on lol

That's good to know. Hopefully your experiences will help other people weigh up if it's the right thing for them or not.

Congratulations on being in remission, that's a big thing!

I hope you don't mind me saying so but I think it's fantastic that you're back into work after what sounds like a tough few years. Less so the work and moreso the position to be able to do so if you get what I mean?

Very inspirational stuff.

 

[cornucopia]

I want to say thanks to @joint_account for listening to me yesterday.
I work alone in a shed in my garden (I make things for an online shop) and don’t speak to anyone most days.
Yesterday was not a good day but i felt so much better just because of this.

I hope your day goes ok @joint_account & your family chat etc and I’m glad you are able to train again

 

[joint_account]

I want to say thanks to @joint_account for listening to me yesterday.
I work alone in a shed in my garden (I make things for an online shop) and don’t speak to anyone most days.
Yesterday was not a good day but i felt so much better just because of this.

I hope your day goes ok @joint_account & your family chat etc and I’m glad you are able to train again

Always a pleasure mate!

I WFH full-time so I can often go days without talking as well! Especially when my Mrs is away on work trips.

What sorts of things do you make? That sounds really interesting.

I'm glad we could help a little, this place isn't just for a Tuesday despite the name, so please don't feel like you have to sit their in silence. Come holla at me anytime!

I hope today is better, pain-free day for you mate!