Vera has multiple sclerosis and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Her health routines and her role as a mother of a 15-year-old leave little room for social contacts or hobbies. But for the past six months, her daily life has been dominated by a passion: making oils, creams, and tinctures from medical cannabis to alleviate her symptoms. Or, in her own words: "It's starting to annoy me, but my only topic of conversation right now is weed."
This might seem surprising, considering she was once a staunch opponent of cannabis. Many of her family and friends smoked marijuana – many of them with mental or physical health problems, Vera explains: "Back then, I blamed it all on their cannabis use." When, after her MS diagnosis, some acquaintances suggested she try it, she firmly refused.
No one took it seriously
The ordeal of the now 42-year-old began in childhood. She had orthopedic problems such as flat feet and scoliosis. Joint pain was a daily occurrence. At the age of nine, she also developed severe headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. She regularly visited her pediatrician. Because the symptoms appeared in the spring and fall, it was initially thought that she was weather-sensitive – the fact that children could have MS was unknown at the time.
The symptoms worsened. At 15, she suffered from constant fatigue and often fainted; it was attributed to high blood pressure. When she felt like water was running down her legs, it was thought that a pinched nerve was caused by puberty growth spurts. "As a woman with a migration background, I wasn't taken seriously," she recalls. "People assumed I had psychological problems and was lazy."
It was only when she suffered from word-finding difficulties and even temporarily went blind during her studies to become a translator that she persisted enough to obtain a confirmed diagnosis: "When the login told me that all my symptoms were due to MS, I felt shock and relief at the same time."
Doctor recommended cannabis
She had to give up her studies. Her thoughts revolved around what further restrictions awaited her and whether she would eventually have to give up her beloved dancing: "That pulled the rug out from under me," Vera recalls. In despair, she stood on the balcony of an 11th-floor apartment one evening and called 143 (the Swiss emergency number). Although the counselor from the helpline was able to dissuade her from her suicidal intentions, the depression persisted. From then on, antidepressants kept her afloat, but she found no joy in life: "I was living a life on a shoestring. There were no lows, but also no highs anymore; I felt dead inside.".»
The turning point came shortly after the muscle pain and cramps began. Vera initially tried various conventional medical treatments, but none of them helped. Finally, her doctor advised her to try cannabis. For the first time, she overcame her hesitation and was surprised: the pain vanished. Since she wasn't currently taking an antidepressant due to a medication change, she also experienced the psychological benefits. She was finally able to feel joy again. Since then, she has been able to do without antidepressants.
Being a good mother
When Vera gave birth to her daughter at the age of 27, her symptoms worsened rapidly. Three years later, she was confined to a wheelchair, and two years after that, she had to give up her beloved job as a receptionist at a football association and became a pensioner. "To this day, I can't watch football because I miss the job there so much," she says.
Despite all the obstacles, her relationship with her daughter is close: "I can't go out with her, but I'm her anchor; she confides everything in me." Vera also attributes the good relationship to cannabis therapy. She says that when she's in pain, she's sensitive and stressed, and the relaxing effect helps her be a more laid-back mother.
Since February, Vera has been receiving cannabis flowers from the pharmacy. She got the prescription from a doctor she found through Medcan. Vaporizing them allows her to better manage her symptoms – depending on the strain, she feels more focused, sociable, creative, or relaxed in the evenings. This has noticeably changed her daily life: "I need less support from the office home care service and have significantly improved my quality of life."
In addition, she used a medical cannabis oil, which she often only took in the evenings before going to sleep. One day, during a particularly severe "MS hug"—a painful, cramping pressure sensation in her chest—she applied the oil directly to her skin in desperation. "It was a revelation," she says. "The pain and spasticity subsided immediately."
"Everyone needs to know this"
Vera then began mixing the drops into her body lotion and applying it liberally to her skin. She quickly realized that the oil not only helped with her nerve pain but also with her chronic joint inflammation in her wrists and knees, which is related to her hyperflexibility. Previously, she had to wear wrist splints almost constantly to stabilize her wrists and keep her fingers straight, otherwise they would cramp into her palms. Today, she doesn't need any of that anymore. The inflammation has subsided, small wounds heal faster, and the pain is much more bearable. "Since then, I've wanted to shout to the world how incredibly effective this medicine is. Everyone needs to know about it," she says.
One problem remained, however: "The oil from the pharmacy is too expensive for widespread use, and the standardized THC/CBD formula can't be adjusted to my specific needs," Vera explains. Without health insurance approval, full-spectrum oils are hardly affordable. Convinced of their effectiveness, she decided to buy a cannabis cooker and make the oils herself. "This way, I get better quality for less money and can dose exactly as I need."
Research and Experimentation
She spends her free time researching, exploring, and experimenting. She knows exactly which type of oil she needs in the morning for energy, in the afternoon for social activity, and in the evening for relaxation. Depending on her needs, she inhales, takes oils, or applies them to her skin. She uses the residue from vaporizing as an addition to tea or to season dishes.
She wants to use her newfound energy to share her insights with others. "We patients need more opportunities to inform each other," she says. "After all, not everyone is active on online forums like I am."
