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John Ellis lives with Progressive Mylopathy of uncertain cause. Here, he tells his story.

A decade of declining health

In early 2002 whilst working as a broadband technician, I began to notice loss of memory and a change in smell and taste. After a few months of this problem worsening I was put-on long-term health support with the company, as my work required quick and accurate recall a lot of technical information.

After undergoing private cognitive therapy without much success in outcomes, I spent the next few years with my wife supporting our local community, creating a community group working with the police and other official bodies. In later years we set up a community garden with the help of other locals. It was during the latter years that my illness worsened and by 2010 cognitive loss, general pain and inability to mobilise myself properly had started to set in.

By 2011/2012 my condition had become progressively worse, to the point where I needed assistance to walk. I had already visited my doctor several times with different doctors viewing my deterioration in several ways. One even put all my issues down to my use of cannabis for pain management, even though I explained why I thought it worked better than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eventually, I engaged with a doctor that saw me as a patient first. He immediately arranged for an appointment with Walton Hospital and a neurologist.

Reaching a diagnosis

After undergoing a raft of physical tests including an MRI, my first initial diagnosis was for Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. This was ruled out and changed to Progressive Myelopathy of uncertain cause.

The MRI showed lesions in the upper right pons – part of the brainstem – and many white matter lesions, whilst somatosensory test showed I had lost the somatosensory pathways back to my central cortex. This means the electrical signals travel out from my brain but do not travel back to the central cortex. The blood test results showed very low copper/Ceruloplasmin levels and lactic acid levels well above normal.

The symptoms of the copper deficiency are wide ranging, affecting everything from cellular respiration to enzyme production involved in neurological messenger breakdown, normally only seen in people who have had bariatric surgery presenting with a loss of gait and lower body functions and muscle spasms. Normally, replacing copper fixes the problem, but for me, the copper levels stayed low and fell even further over the years.

Chronic, long-term pain

I’m in almost constant pain. It is not what I would describe as normal pain – more of a sensory overload/emptiness, with smooth objects I hold feeling like they are made from a million tiny needles to hot wires being pulled through muscle and skin and numbness to the touch in my legs.

Exhaustion and fatigue are common problems with my illness, aggravated greatly with any form of exercise or rise/fall in external temperatures. Some days my body temperature can stay at 35.6 degrees and can stay that way for days. At my worst, a flare up can take a month or two to recover from.

I have trailed several prescription drugs over the years to help with pain management.

My pain specialist said that there is no mechanical intervention that can help – such as gabapentin and amitriptyline, both of which amplified the discomfort. Lamotrigine caused horrendous locked-in dreams and night terrors. I was taken off Lamotrigine after three weeks due to possible psychosis through lack of sleep, as I became terrified to sleep.

Since then I have partly stabilised on sodium valproate, baclofen, solifenacin succinate, copper supplement and currently 0.3 grams of cannabis at bedtime which I limit due to costs.

My medical cannabis journey

I have always been aware of cannabis, using it both recreationally when I was younger and now for medical use. I’m a very long way of gaining a prescription however, as the current costs are prohibitive to me. So, I rely on black market cannabis.

My Consultant and Pain Management Specialist have both been supportive on my medical notes have listed ‘up to a gram and a half per day’ under ‘current medication’, even though this is not via a prescription as it is unaffordable at those quantities and is not yet available on the NHS.

When I was first diagnosed, I was offered a month trial of Sativex. I turned this down as I had already enquired with my CCG about prescription costs – which they had already refused on costs alone. I was however lucky enough to try Sativex several years later during a visit to Parliament regarding the prescription of cannabis products.

Sativex turned out to be very effective for most of my symptoms, reducing my tiredness and fatigue as well as the pain and spasticity in my legs. I have done the majority of my own research over the years on how it effects my illness, even surprising some of my medical providers with knowledge on how cannabinoids interact with parts of my illnesses.

The future of medical cannabis prescriptions

I believe it is vital for everyone that cannabis prescriptions and cannabis-based products are brought onto the NHS, in part because of the unreliability of black market cannabis and more importantly the general health of patients.

Like many ordinary people, I don’t have the income to be treated via private clinics with a basic prescription and costs equating to nearly a third of our income per month.

All we are asking for is a replication of the Dutch Bedrocan range of plants and oils which will suit most patient’s needs.

 

John Ellis is a member of the Society’s Patient Committee.

Sue Evans from York uses medical cannabis treatment to alleviate chronic pain caused by cancer.  Here, she tells her story.

Sue Evans

In December 2015 I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my right breast. I underwent a lumpectomy and a 4 week intensive course of radiotherapy.  I refused chemotherapy because I considered it to be too invasive a treatment for me. In 2016 I did however, begin an endocrine treatment (Tamoxifen) to help prevent a resurgence of the cancer.

Sadly for me, one week into this endocrine treatment I suffered liver failure: I was told I had three years to live unless my liver repaired itself.  I stopped the endocrine treatment, cut out alcohol and started an alkaline diet. Thankfully my liver recovered within three months and still functions well, however I was left with a threat of an associated condition called Varices, a weakening of the veins which can cause internal bleeding. To date, my follow up breast scans continue to be clear, which is positive.

Turning to CBD for chronic, long-term pain 

In 2018, I developed pain in my right pelvic area which was later aggravated by a fall I had on an icy path. A bone density scan I had previously had in 2017 had revealed mild Osteopenia, so I attributed the pain in my pelvis to that condition and I did not consult a Doctor.

I did not want to rely on long term conventional painkillers for my hip because I was concerned they could aggravate the Varices threat which later down the line proved to be correct and also my liver, so I researched CBD oil as an alternative pain relief.  This was no easy feat, and an expensive one, as I discovered that many brands and strengths below 1000mg did not have any effect at all on my pain. However, after two months of trailing different types I did find a CBD full spectrum (no THC) 1200mg product that instantly relieved the pain, but I had to take frequent dosages to completely control it. But it did so effectively.

In November 2019 I fell ill with an unidentified infection which caused much pain in my lower left abdomen. Despite various tests, doctors were unable to diagnose the nature of the infection, which resulted in three different courses of antibiotics being prescribed, over a period of two months. I ceased CBD oil at this time as I didn’t know if it would interfere with the medication and therefore resorted to conventional pain killers to alleviate both the abdominal pain and the chronic pain in my right hip.  Sadly, the infection did not go away and after two months of this excessive pain I was rushed into hospital in January 2020, with severe internal bleeding in the stomach and upper digestive tract.

Secondary cancer diagnosis & prescription medical cannabis treatment 

The internal bleeding was treated successfully and the intravenous antibiotic I was given in hospital seemed to clear up the mystery infection. However, during my week of hospitalisation a scan of my abdomen revealed bony metastases (secondary breast cancer) in my right pelvis and lower spine. Unbeknown to me this had been the cause of the chronic pain in my right hip. So despite my breast scans remaining clear it appears the cancer had resurfaced in my spine and pelvic area.

Following a consultation with an Oncologist I agreed to take a different Endocrine treatment (Letrezole), to manage the cancer going forward. I also resumed the CBD oil for the pain relief. I am unable to take conventional pain killers due to the Varices, so I realised that if the cancer got worse I would potentially need a stronger CBD medication to control any increased pain, which is what prompted me to look for a private, qualified medical cannabis consultant.

A breast cancer nurse assisted me with this task and I was introduced to Dr Liz Iveson, a member of the Society’s expert committee. Since March 2020 I have been taking prescription Bedrolite CBD oil to manage the chronic pain in my pelvis. The medical CBD is stronger than the self-medicating CBD oil I had taken previously, so I require a much lesser dose to achieve the same level of pain control.

I now take the Letrozole endocrine treatment, which luckily I have not had an adverse reaction to, and the medical cannabis for the pain relief. My three monthly checks and blood tests show that the cancer is being effectively managed.

Successfully managing pain with prescription CBD

I personally have not experienced any side effects from either non medical or medical cannabis. Though I sleep much better at night as a result of CBD, it does not cause drowsiness during the day, so it does not affect my ability to drive safely. Also my ongoing blood tests and scans show that it is not interfering with the endocrine medication I take.

To sum up my experience with CBD oil, it allows me to enjoy a pain-free, full life rather than a painful existence. I very much enjoy walking as a means to relax; with CBD oil I can walk 6 or 7 miles easily with no problem at all. Without CBD oil I struggle to walk a mile and I limp quite profusely, even getting into a standing position is difficult.

CBD treatment makes a huge difference to the quality of my life, keeping a positive attitude does too. I refuse to dwell on how many years I will live with cancer. I do not want to waste my life thinking about the day I will die. I enjoy my life and intend to continue doing so.

As a last point I would like to counter argue the placebo effect that some label CBD with. In my early days of research I had to try various brands and strengths of CBD until I found one that worked. This was extremely time consuming and very costly. If, I had been of a placebo mindset, trust me I would have settled on the first brand I tried and saved myself a whole lot of time and money!

I can only sing the praises of medical cannabis from my personal experience, and would urge anyone suffering chronic pain to at least try it. You may be surprised at what a beneficial difference it can make to one’s quality of life and mental well being.

Thank you for reading my story.

Sue Evans is a member of the Society’s Patient Committee.

 

Hilary Latham from York uses medical cannabis treatment as part of her cancer treatment. Here, she tells her story.

In September 2009 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. One mastectomy later I was told the operation had been a success. I was one of the lucky ones… or so I thought.

Ten years later, in February, I moved to York to be near my two daughters, my new grandson, plus another grandchild on the way. Things were looking good. Aged 65, single (apart from the love of my life, my dog!), I was still fit enough to chase my grandchildren around the garden and continue my successful painting and decorating business.

As this year progressed I noticed that my mild asthma was getting progressively worse and by July I was feeling quite ill. A trip to the doctors was quickly followed up by admission to hospital where I was told the cancer was back and had spread to my liver. As a secondary cancer, I realised I wasn’t going to be so lucky this time. My oncologist confirmed I had stage 4 cancer and my life expectancy, without chemotherapy, was just a matter of months, and with successful chemotherapy I had perhaps one to two years.

Considering chemotherapy treatment

I had always thought that if the cancer returned, I wouldn’t have chemotherapy, I didn’t want to spend whatever time I had remaining in this life to be spent on an endless merry go round of potentially debilitating treatment. I also hadn’t planned on the additional complication of hypercalcemia. The cancer was affecting the amount of calcium in my blood, which can be life-threatening. I was very poorly.

As an active outdoorsy type of person, quality of life is so important to me. I realized that the prognosis of just a few months to live wouldn’t give me the time I needed to make some precious memories. I knew I would have to take the chemotherapy route to try to reduce the cancer, which in turn would hopefully reduce the calcium in my blood. In my life I’ve been blessed with a positive mind et, never been one to say, ‘what if?’ negatively. This was time to get the gloves on, time to fight!

Making that decision was so empowering. I couldn’t sit there waiting to fade away or fall prey to the debilitating chemotherapy. I understand many people have an easier journey than others on chemotherapy, but with my limited life expectancy, I needed to know my chemotherapy journey would enable me to have a quality of life to be active and enjoy my grandchildren.

 

Exploring medical cannabis treatments

In addition to being a decorator, I’m a complementary healthcare practitioner and I’ve had 20 years’ experience researching many potentially healing therapies. I believe that there are many avenues we can take to help in all areas of our health, and I was about to discover a great ally on my journey – medicinal cannabis. Do I hear an intake of breath, an occasional tut-tut, mutterings of illegal drugs at the mention of a natural plant that has been around for thousands of years?

To be absolutely correct, I didn’t ‘discover’ cannabis this year. I was already aware of its existence and had been for a couple of years. I was living in Portugal where the laws regarding cannabis are far more lenient than in the UK. Many people grow it for their own use and my neighbour at the time, a terminally ill lady with secondary cancer, purchased medicinal cannabis from Holland, another country that doesn’t look upon cannabis as an evil weed. I witnessed her final months and was amazed how well she managed – enjoying her life, socialising and being in her garden right up till the last two weeks of her life.

I have been in hospital a fair amount this year with the hypercalcemia and met some amazing people fighting for their lives with cancer. One lady mentioned to me she had bought some cannabis oil on the internet. At this time, I admit I didn’t have much faith in something I could ask Google for, so it was time for research.

 

Research, education and changing attitudes

I am blessed with a very special friend who has left no stone unturned on her quest to help me, spending hours and hours on research. That research led her first to America and then the UK – in particular to Prof Mike Barnes and The Medical Cannabis Clinics. I was told I would need to be referred by my GP to see a specialist. I can imagine the horror on some faces at the thought of approaching their GP to get cannabis!

Luckily for me,  my GP is something else. He goes that extra mile to help his patients and after his initial ‘rabbit in headlights’ reaction, he set about doing his own research and put me in touch with Dr Iveson in York.

 

The journey to treatment

Dr Iveson is a Consultant Physician specialising in complex care and symptom management particularly in the elderly and patients with stroke and long term conditions. She is working with the Medical Cannabis Clinician’s Society and charity Drug Science to further develop research into medical cannabis treatment and help educate and share her experience with fellow doctors.

During my initial consultation with Dr Iveson I was most impressed by her care and professionalism. My target was to take medicinal cannabis to help alleviate the potential side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea and sickness, plus help with insomnia and anxiety. I left with confidence in knowing I had made a major step forward towards a better quality of life during the daunting journey of chemotherapy.

After my initial delight in the positive attitude of my GP, I didn’t anticipate the reaction of others when I told them I was taking medicinal cannabis. Because of my research and openness to cannabis, I hadn’t realised the stigma behind something so natural. There is something about the word cannabis that really gets a reaction, either a snigger behind the hand or from friends warning me not to mention drugs in front of their partners. My favourite though is the ‘rabbit in headlights’ reaction which I received when I took my prescription to the chemist, which was followed by much huffing and puffing from the pharmacist on duty. But, the pharmacist did some research and realised he was part of something quite ground-breaking. It’s amazing what a bit of education can do!

 

The impact of medical cannabis treatments

I could hardly wait to begin taking my prescription. I am taking a balanced CBD:THC oil at night and a high CBD oil during the day to manage my symptoms and I am slowly titrating the dose upwards with support and close monitoring from Dr Iveson. It took a short while to appreciate all the benefits but it has been quite amazing.

My mouth ulcers have completely disappeared, I’m sleeping very well, and I’m managing my nausea and sickness so much better. One bonus I didn’t realize is that medical cannabis is an anti-inflammatory and opens the airways. It has helped my asthma and my breathing is so much better. I’m in a very positive state of mind and that in itself is a very powerful tool. My oncologist is aware I am taking medicinal cannabis and in the future perhaps we may see a great relationship forming between all health professionals working towards a better quality of life for all.

 

Medical cannabis for all

Medicinal cannabis is not cheap. I had some savings for a rainy day – but I didn’t think that rainy day would come so soon. My savings won’t last forever and I can only hope that in the not so distant future, the price will come down as the demand goes up. And one day, I hope it will be available to all on the NHS.

 

Hilary passed away in 2020. We are honoured that she chose to share her story with us.

Hannah Deacon, Executive Director, whose son, Alfie Dingley was the first patient in the UK to receive a permanent cannabis licence, tells her story.

When Alfie was born, he spent the first four months of his life in hospital, lived on and off life support and experienced his first seizure at just eight months old.

Alfie lives with a very rare form of epilepsy and, prior to medical cannabis treatment, experienced more than 500 seizures a month. Now, Alfie, aged eight, lives a relatively normal life thanks to using cannabis oil treatment.

After trying various treatments, anti-epilepsy drugs, a ketogenic diet and immuglobulins, the only treatment that reduced his seizures was a steroid called IV Methyl Prednisone that can cause severe side effects, including mood swings, restlessness and headaches.

At age five, Alfie’s condition got worse. He was visiting the hospital every week and receiving up to 25 doses of steroids a month.

Discovering medical cannabis

In 2019, Alfie’s mum Hannah, took action. After being warned by doctors around the dangers of his seizures and treatment, Hannah began to research other options for her son.

Hannah said: “When doctors advised us on the dangers of Alfie’s treatment, I needed to look into other options. I started to research epilepsy treatments and medical cannabis kept coming up – and felt confident that it was a positive option.

“I wanted to know that whatever happened, I had done everything I could to keep Alfie alive.”

After a series of setbacks from her GP, Hannah was eventually given permission to take Alfie to Holland for medical cannabis where he was assessed and immediately prescribed with the treatment he so desperately needed – Bedrolite CBD oil.

 

The beginning of Alfie’s miracle

After five weeks of medical cannabis treatment Alfie experienced 17 days without a seizure – the longest amount of he had ever gone without experiencing one.

Hannah said: “It was the beginning of our miracle.

“As time went by, we put up the dose of CBD and Alfie started to get better. We then added in a small amount of THC and he did even better. Treatment with cannabis oil has given Alfie a much greater quality of life and significantly reduced the number of seizures he suffers.”

 

Fighting for medical cannabis to be available on the NHS

Returning home, Hannah was ready to fight the biggest battle she had ever had – fighting for medical cannabis to be available on prescription for patients.

Hannah started work with the campaign group,’ End Our Pain’.  Appearing on national TV channels, she made BBC Breakfast where she told Alfie’s story.

After meeting with the Home Office but getting nowhere, Hannah submitted the group’s petition to former Prime Minister, Theresa May, and subsequently met with her.

 

Meeting Professor Mike Barnes

Alfie’s doctor was unfortunately unable to help due to the trust they worked for however, it was then when Hannah met Neurologist and Professor Mike Barnes. When Hannah told Mike about Alfie’s story, he agreed to help.

Hannah said: “Mike stood forward when no one else would. He gave his time and expertise for free because he felt it was the right thing to do. He has now become a lifelong friend and we now work together to improve access to medical cannabis for patients across the UK.”

 

Law changes for medical cannabis

In November 2018, after a long fight – the law changed which now allows medical cannabis to be prescribed as a ‘special’ by a consultant. Although around 500,000 people in the UK have epilepsy, not one more person has been prescribed the treatment on the NHS since this case.

The NHS is yet to offer medical cannabis on prescription due to very restrictive guidelines for clinicians. There is still a long way to go to ensure more people like Alfie can access medical cannabis to drastically improve the quality of their lives.