“You’re Too Young For This”

Hi everyone.

A common experience for people with disabilities in my age group (and younger) is to hear people say, “you’re too young for this”. Sometimes it’s in response to a casual conversation. Sometimes it’s just because they see you walking with a cane. Sometimes it’s a family member or loved one who can’t believe the symptoms you describe. Sometimes it’s a doctor that you are begging to take your health concerns seriously, but they’ve already given up.

“You’re too young for this.”

Am I, though?…

World Suicide Prevention Day

Hi everybody.

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Please try and understand how greatly this affects everyone. This is a difficult topic, but I think it really needs to be discussed. Please know that this could be a trigger for you if you are experiencing thoughts of suicide. I have put some resources before the “read more” tag in case you find yourself in this situation. There are even more resources at the bottom of this post. ❤

International Association for Suicide Prevention World Crisis Centres List

Canadian Suicide Prevention Resources List

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (USA) 1-800-273-8255

World MS Day

Hey everyone,

Today is World MS Day. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheath of the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms can vary wildly from patient to patient but can include dizziness, fatigue, vision loss, pain, coordination impairment, cognitive impairment, spasms, and a lot more.

Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world! Remember to be kind, because you never know what someone is dealing with. For 1 in 340 Canadians, that’s MS. This is another condition with no cure, and a clear need for consistent, effective treatments.

❤

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

World MS Day

 

Canadian Veterans’ Medication Slash

Canada’s Veterans Affairs Minister The Honourable Kent Hehr has proposed restricting veterans access to medical marijuana by cutting funding and the amount available in a prescription. In the proposed changes, veterans will be restricted to 3 grams a day compared to 10 grams as well as a cost per gram restriction, maxing out at $8.50/ gram. Medical marijuana purchased under the relatively new Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) must be obtained from a Licensed Producer (LP). These LPs charge a maximum of $15/ gram. I personally find these strains to be more efficient, and more therapeutic as they often include the high CBD and high THC strains. [If you aren’t sure about what these components of cannabis mean, check out this pretty decent description of THC vs. CBD.]

So not only is our Minister restricting the amount but also essentially restricting the quality of meds veterans have access to, especially with our current structure of LPs. Please check out my whole post, I have many sources and comments on many different levels of this (currently) Canadian issue…

Recovering Happily

As I made a big fuss about earlier this week, I had a meeting with my MLA to discuss my case, and chronic pain in Alberta. The meeting was on Wednesday, August 17th with Calgary-Glenmore MLA Anam Kazim. I was allotted an hour, and ended up staying and discussing my case for an additional 20 or so minutes. My legendary mom Tobe transported me and joined in. Tobe also really helped me edit everything before! ❤

I am still really recovering from this meeting, as it took a lot out of me. I may add more to this, and re-share the edits at a later date. Read more to hear about my meeting summary and impressions…

Great Canadian Waiting Game

Many people in other countries are jealous of our health care system. Justifiably so, as we can get proper care in times of emergency. However, CRPS has opened my eyes to the drawbacks of a system where we focus our resources to meet the needs of the majority of the population. For people with chronic conditions like us, our lack of an integrated system nation-wide (shit, even province-wide would be nice) create issues that can sometimes cause a medical professional to question things you never thought would be in question. I personally saw about a dozen doctors before I was diagnosed. Before I was put on some medications, it wasn’t as much of a problem. When I needed painkillers though, my historical plethora of doctors was called into question consistently. I was lucky to not be called crazy to my face, as many in the undiagnosed stages of this condition are, but I was never sure if anyone believed me fully.

To illustrate how a chronic pain patient such as myself gets put through the ringer of a system to get treatment, please try and follow along…

Family Days Ahead

Next week I am headed up to North Battleford, Saskatchewan, to put my grandparent’s ashes in the ground. They passed away about eight years ago, but we haven’t been up there for perhaps 24 years? My whole family is going, and we are meeting some other relatives there as well. Jack Pickel will be buried with his wife, Audrey nee Boor, as well as his sister, Tyne, in the family plot in the North Battleford graveyard.

The Pickels have a rich history in North Battleford, where my great grandfather Allan Pickel was an MP and general businessman…