PAIN

Sixty-eight old “Catherine” suffers from lung cancer. She gets short of breath very easily although is able to manage well if she walks slowly. Catherine lives alone with plans on moving to a retirement community in two months where there are higher levels of care available as needed.

Catherine is divorced and has lived alone for years. She has two adult children who are very close to her. Her daughter, “Lisa”, moved in a few months ago to help out. Lisa works during the day, but is available weekends and nights. Catherine’s son, “Jay”, works nearby and can take off work whenever he needs to help his mother.

Catherine has a very independent personality and is very determined to live her life to the fullest. She pushes herself to keep going in order to live her life her way. She loves to eat out and lives near many restaurants within walking distance. Many days one will find her slowly walking up the street with her walker toward her restaurant of choice for that day.

Catherine has been on hospice for over six months. Whenever the nurse or I visit, we spend most of the time talking about food and the local restaurants. Catherine is a delight and so full of life.

Her one issue, though, is severe back pain. The hospice nurse offered morphine which Catherine quickly declined. She had the understanding that taking morphine would either mean you would become addicted or that you were dying. Roxanol is the same drug and, quite often, when presented that way, patients are more willing to accept the option.

Catherine’s son Jay was worried about his mom’s pain issues and offered to get her some marijuana. Catherine quickly said no as she felt she didn’t want to smoke it. When Jay offered getting it in a brownie, she again quickly declined as she didn‘t want to digest any marijuana. Jay discovered a lotion at a local marijuana dispensary that Catherine was willing to try. She is now happily using it as it is very effective in relieving her back pain.

Catherine said she is from the old school where values were such that one didn’t take certain drugs. She now is a big fan of her marijuana cream and will quickly praise its graces.



PAIN


She is from the old school
where beliefs were firmly set.
Certain values were acceptable
while many others were not.

She didn’t want to take morphine
even though her pain was often severe.
It would mean she’d become addicted.
It must mean the end of her life.

Roxanol is the official name for morphine
and she was willing to it a try.
She didn’t know it was the same as morphine.
She just liked how it helped with her pain.

Marijuana is sold legally in her state.
One just needs a special card.
Her son offered to get her some.
He hoped it would help her pain

She didn‘t want to smoke it.
She did not want to consume it.
She was willing though, to try the lotion
with the creative name of “Cannabliss”.

The lotion was instantly effective.
Her pain a steady decline.
She quickly amended her lifelong beliefs.
She only had to give it a try.