Who is Mary Webber?
Hellooo! My name is Mary Lorrene Webber, I am 35 years old & a resident of Reno, NV. I am a “3rd generation Nevadan”. I grew up in a very active household; camping, hunting, riding horses (various disciplines) & ATVs.
“I met several friends at a bar, running late I pulled up, jumped out of my truck & hurried towards the door. My left foot lost control, toes dove down, so did I. No one realized why, including me- I was confused & embarrassed. That would be the last time I wore my navy blue platform wedge high heels. ”
At age 24, my left foot began to involuntarily drop. Brakes had gone out in my dad’s ’66 Ford Fairlane GTA. The car rolled backwards into a tree (versus hitting a gas station) when trying to load it onto the tow truck. The driver’s side seat shifted upon impact. I thought I had pinched a nerve. The first involuntary ankle roll (6 months before I was diagnosed):
2 months with my chiropractor and I was only continuing to decline. I saw my GP who immediately referred my to a neurologist. I was diagnosed with remittting-relapsing Multiple Sclerosis February, 2008. The future that was presented to me was not bright. I would continue losing sensation over my body, my muscles would gradually lose control throughout my body.
I knew what I was looking at. I watched my grandmother gradually give in to an undiagnosed autoimmune condition after a lifetime of exploring the Black Rock Desert. She held her realtor’s license far past when she could show houses, merely out of pride. My grandfather, a retired Southern Pacific Railroad engineer (& WWII Nevy vet!), would act in her stead far past when he should hav
My grandmother passed away suffocating, unable to even lift her head. I still remember the sounds on the final day & trying my best to act like everything was roses until she let go.
Now I, too, was losing control of my body but at a MUCH faster rate.
I was immediately put on Avonex, I gave myself weekly intramuscular injections. It was a coin-toss as to how I would feel the day after my injection. Some weeks would be ok, I'd get a bit of a headache but nothing miserable. Other weeks I would experience what I can only imagine crack withdrawals feels like. I would shake, get the cold sweats. Occasionally I would get a migraine; my room had to be dark & quiet, a few times I got sick. This lasted a little over 2 years.
In 2010, 2 years after my diagnosis, my mom & I were rear-ended at a stoplight, 3rd car back. The pain started at the hospital. I expected to be sore, our heads broke out the back window, but while mom was in pain & ached, I was starting to feel like a blow torch was igniting my lower back and radiating out through the rest of my body. The pain was consuming.
I switched neurologists shortly after I started taking Vicodin. I also went to a large group in town to "treat" my back.
By 2013, I was in a transport chair/walker & taking 7 prescriptions, one of which was extra strength Vicodin or Norco- 3-8 per day. I lost the will to push forward. I knew that this was only going to get worse. This was confirmed by my drs who told me that if I did not learn how to handle this better, I wouldn't make it through this well. They suggested I see a psychiatrist when I complained of the searing pain I was experiencing. I started to think it was all in my head. I tried to tough it out but I was exhausted, I couldn't any longer, I made my decision. I was out.
Then a family friend introduced me to a cannabis concentrate that summer. 1 month later I was off my opioids. My doctors were stunned at my sudden reduction. My doctors were opposed to cannabis, so I lied & said it was the yoga I had started. I didn't want to get booted from the practices, especial my back dr, as I received epidurals every 3-5 months.
Dispensaries opened up in 2015, I already had my card & I tried all I could. I was incredibly fortunate and caught the interest of the dispensary managers who quickly took me under their wings.
I quickly found out that I was hyper strain specific but discovered the ability to feel again 11/2015 after smoking Gg4. It was a very strange sensation after 6 years of (-) neuropathy & no hope to improve from drs. I told “my manager” (no longer in Reno :( ) & she taught me how to use the Magical Butter Machine, then said I need to learn all I could about the science behind why it’s working. I took her quite literally. The story below is from RN&R right after I found “my strain”.
Green green MS responds to marijuana therapy by Kelsey Fitzgerald
I tried to talk to my neurologist about cannabis returning my sensation & eliminating my burning pain. He was not interested. I was welcome to stay unless I wanted to talk about cannabis with the doctor &/or staff about "marijuana". I was stunned. I had recently changed back doctors and they supported my choice given my opioid intake had reduced so dramatically.
I went on & continue to learn all that I can about this phenomenal plant. I make my own topicals, tinctures, capsules, & other medicaments. Throughout my initial learning curve (& still to this day), I shared my experiences with other people. At the time, I was working for my dad who is a recently retired dentist. Until his retirement, I worked in reception (& did anything needed) for 22 years, providing me with a wealth of knowledge on how to speak to patients, especially when they are suffering. The following article is from Healthy Beginnings after I’d been making my medicaments for a few months. I was doing really well.
I was off of 6/7 pharmaceuticals after having been using "my" strain for a few months. Rebif, my current subcutaneous injectible (3x/week) as the last one. I was uncomfortable trying to get off of it without a neurologist's guidance, fortunately, a friend recommended her cannabis friendly neurologist. I was off Rebif by the end of the summer & no longer experienced mental "blackouts" or increasing neuropathy.
Now, I grow my own cannabis (I have yet to have a harvest that comprehensively works for me). Due to the amount of people who wanted my help using medicinal cannabis, I needed a schedule. Thus, Mary Medibles Consulting was born. I enjoy providing education to the community, as well as working with my clients to help them hone their treatment regimens. We are incredibly fortunate that we have access to this medicine. After all of the help I have received (& continue to receive) along my journey with cannabis, I see it as a duty to share what knowledge I possess so that others may go on to heal themselves if they choose to versus remain trapped in the “traditional” (only 80 years…) medical practices with no hope of relief. Below is an article from the RN&R from this year that I was included in.
I am currently using a transport chair/walker as I do not have access to my strain. I try to recreate the cannabinoid profile my body needs with minimal success. A massive barrier in my way is the lack of CBD products available to patients. I know of a CBD strain that helps reduce my muscle spasms but the flower hasn't been available for some time. I am in a legal state and it feels like I'm just looking in at the possibilities of what could be. I was incredibly fortunate to try the 1 strain by the 1 cultivator that worked comprehensively for me. I now fully understand other patients' frustrations that I've herd so many times before.
I continue to attempt to recreate the cannabinoid profile I need with varying degrees of success, the large majority of projects being unsuccessful. Though beyond frustrating at times, I could not find better motivation to learn about this phenomenal plant than sheer necessity.
*Today, September 9, 2018, I find myself a step closer to a successful treatment regimen! 2 drops of a homemade CBD tincture in 20 oz of water allowed me to have the first shower in weeks without suffering through intense muscle spasms and neuropathy.
*published on October 2, 2018, still have tear free showers! Body is still stiff, looking forward to my harvest!
10/2/2018: Are you struggling with a chronic condition? Feel free to share you story in the comments below. People do care, I care!