# Finding Relief: How Marijuana Enhanced Sleep and Well-Being
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Chapter 1: A Journey Towards Healing
The initial steps toward relief were grounded in sincerity. Seeking to alleviate enduring pain and sleepless nights, we aimed to reduce reliance on Gabapentin, a medication known to transform even the gentlest souls into irritable shadows of their former selves.
My father suffers from an unidentifiable degenerative bone condition that has drastically impacted his life, leaving him 70 pounds lighter and facing significant disability. It’s a scenario no father hopes to encounter during the supposed golden years of their existence. With three spinal surgeries behind him, each one more invasive than the last, the light at the end of the tunnel seemed to recede with each passing day.
Living with relentless pain and no apparent relief is an immense struggle. Finding the motivation to rise each morning, engage in once-loved activities, or even muster a smile feels nearly impossible. To put it plainly: it was devastating.
I witnessed a once-robust man, skilled in various trades—chainsaw handling, tree cutting, car maintenance, roofing, and effortlessly carrying his children—transition into a frail individual unable to play with his grandchildren. His vibrant 40s and 50s stripped away his vitality, leaving little hope for his 60s.
To cope with his pain, he relied on 6 to 8 Gabapentin pills nightly. The toll it took on him was severe, compromising his physical well-being and fracturing his mental state. This medication was a harsh remedy—addictive and controlling. Unfortunately, it was all that his medical team could provide.
Pain management became the sole focus.
Section 1.1: Rediscovering Cannabis
A man of his era, he had once "dabbled" in the clandestine world of cannabis. My grandmother, a first-generation immigrant from Italy, nurtured those “adorable little plants” and often chided my father for not caring for them better. She found joy in his youthful enthusiasm for something so poetic and gentle.
As we gathered around the dining table, sipping coffee and discussing life’s complexities and challenges, the topic of that “adorable little plant” arose frequently.
Encouraged by substantial research, along with changing societal views and legalization, we decided to explore alternative pain management strategies. Despite the lingering stigma, we kept our exploration discreet.
We ventured into the world of home cultivation, experimenting with grow tents, feminized seeds, decarboxylation processes, light cycles, soil chemistry, and various other elements. A few cooking pots met their demise along the way, and occasionally, we found ourselves in a surreal state after too many fumes and too much sampling.
We affectionately referred to our creations as ‘Gummies,’ regardless of their shape or form. The orange varieties quickly became our favorites.
Subsection 1.1.1: Creating a Family Tradition
As the first year unfolded, we honed our family recipe and amassed a collection of gummies stored in mason jars, each labeled with dates and other pertinent details. Now, just two gummies an hour before bed have replaced his previous regimen.
He has successfully weaned off pain medications, regained his sense of humor, and is relishing many of the simple joys he once enjoyed—though with physical limitations, of course.
With the help of those gummies, he can sleep soundly at night. If pain rears its head during the day, he can take another gummy to manage it. His humor has returned, and he’s more enjoyable to be around.
We don’t partake for the high, nor do we smoke or share. Our focus remains on pain management; my father uses it regularly, while my wife, who battles Rheumatoid Arthritis since her late 20s, has also found relief, tapering off Methotrexate with the aid of her new “bud”-dy.
Section 1.2: The Unexpected Challenges
You might wonder about the downsides of consuming gummies. For us, it’s merely keeping our pantry stocked with crunchy snacks. Anything crunchy suffices.
Moreover, we find ourselves dispelling misconceptions about our use of cannabis, clarifying that we have no intentions of spiraling into harder substances once we tire of the green plant.
Chapter 2: Embracing Gratitude for the Unconventional
I genuinely wish to express the profound gratitude I feel for something so often misunderstood and maligned. For years, my father was lost to illness, conventional medicine, and the pervasive fear surrounding cannabis.
Now, he is mostly free of pain and full of joy. All it took was a little unconventional wisdom—akin to alchemy, turning wood into gold. While I’m not a fervent advocate for cannabis culture, it has undeniably opened doors for our family.
An opportunity for restful sleep has finally arrived.
Cheers to new beginnings!
The first video, "How Marijuana Completely Changes Your Sleep," delves into the effects of cannabis on sleep patterns, exploring its potential benefits and drawbacks.
The second video, "Is weed ACTUALLY bad for sleep? A sleep doctor investigates!" features a professional examining whether cannabis use truly impacts sleep quality negatively or positively.