The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cannabis oil has changed mum’ s life
An Angus mum who suffered decades of pain says her life has been transformed since she began taking medical cannabis.
Lisa Robertson from Arbroath was diagnosed with chronic illness fibromyalgia 24 years ago.
The symptoms and pain were so bad at one point she was taking 18 tablets a day just to get out of bed.
But Lisa, 47, says medical cannabis has “changed everything”.
Medical cannabis has been legal since 2018, and latest figures show 17,000 people in the UK are now receiving it.
But it is not widely available on the NHS so most people access it through private prescriptions.
Childminder Lisa says, having seen its positive effect on her health, that she can’t believe a doctor never recommended medical cannabis to her.
She explained: “I’m not the type of person who usually would speak out in public like this, but I am so passionate about it because it has changed everything for me.
“Fibromyalgia steals people’s lives. Sometimes you wish you were dead – you can’t think how you’re going to live with the pain your whole life.
“It has been hard to keep my job over the last 10 years but I’ve always been upfront with parents about my fibromyalgia.”
Lisa had her daughter Abbie when she was 21. Her health changed around that time.
She said: “I had shingles and then a very bad flu – I wonder if those things triggered something – but it was another three years before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.”
Lisa was put on painkillers such as tramadol and dihydrocodeine, as well as antidepressants.
“I was taking all these strong medicines together, and then more medicine to deal with side effects,” she said.
“I tried many different therapies and these things did help.”
However, Lisa’s chronic pain returned during lockdown, and when doctors suggested she take morphine she realised she’d reached a tipping point.
Her research led her to The Medical Cannabis Clinics: “After you make initial contact, your medical history is sent over, with a note from your own doctor. You do questionnaires and a Zoom call with a doctor.
“They tailor your medical cannabis options to your lifestyle and your personal prescription is sent to you.”
Prescriptions start at £60 per month, but will vary depending on each patient’s condition and individual circumstances.
Lisa said: “Althea is the one I take, it is worth the cost for me. Within four days of taking it I had bounds of energy.
“I had taken a week off work to get used to the medication, but I spent all week doing DIY.
“I woke up without pain, I could sleep and I’ve been pain-free since I went on the meds.
“Now I’ve got my life back.”