Ep 60: Finding Freedom: Mary's Battle with Addiction, Chronic Pain, and Cancer

Mary battled chronic pain, opioid addiction, and cancer, finding relief with Kratom. This episode shares her inspiring recovery journey, highlighting Kratom's potential for pain management and addiction support while facing a life-threatening illness. Hear her powerful story.
On this week's Kratom Stories, Madalyn shares a compelling interview with Mary M., a woman whose life took an extraordinary turn thanks to Kratom. Mary's journey began with a decades-long struggle with opioid addiction, leading to near-fatal overdoses and a cascade of health problems. She candidly discusses her high-functioning addiction, the life-altering consequences, and the desperation that drove her to try Kratom. This powerful story details her difficult path from severe opioid dependence, through life-threatening illness, including cancer and multiple surgeries, and the critical role Kratom played in her pain management and recovery.
Mary’s experience offers a unique perspective on Kratom's potential for both opioid addiction recovery and chronic pain management. She highlights the importance of responsible sourcing and dosage, emphasizing the need for individual experimentation and open communication with healthcare professionals. Her journey is a testament to the healing power of plants, and it underscores the need for a more informed and nuanced discussion surrounding Kratom's therapeutic potential. Mary not only inspires hope but also helps demystify this often misunderstood plant’s role in the complex world of addiction recovery and chronic pain.
🍃 RELATED LINKS
Misty Brown - TikTok
Etha Botanicals pressed tablets
Hear the story how Etha developed their whole leaf pressed tablets
Share your Kratom story on this podcast! I’d love to hear more about you and your journey.
Full show notes for this episode at KratomStoriesPodcast.com/60
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT. If you love our content and community, you can show your support through Buy Me A Coffee, or in this case... Buy Me A Kratom tea! This helps us with the cost of running the podcast, livestreams, and forum.
🍃 MADALYN'S RECOMMENDED VENDORS 🍃
Etha Natural Botanicals - 25% off with code: KratomStories
New Hope Botanicals - 10% off with code: KratomStories
Christopher's Organic Botanicals - 10% off with code: KratomStories
🍃 FOLLOW US
STAY CONNECTED with us by subscribing to our newsletter! Sign up at KratomStoriesPodcast.com
WATCH THE KRATOM GALS LIVESTREAM! Check out our YouTube series called The Kratom Gals, where we review videos about Kratom and then react and share our personal experiences.
JOIN KRATOM REAL TALK, our online community for positive, uplifting discussions about the power of whole-leaf Kratom.
Please note: The views and experiences shared in this episode are personal and unique to the guest. Kratom, while featured prominently in these stories, is a botanical substance that is unregulated in the U.S. and various countries around the world. The Kratom Stories Podcast and its host, Madalyn Sklar, do not endorse, promote, or encourage the use of Kratom. We simply aim to shed light on personal experiences and narratives related to this plant. If you're considering using Kratom, we strongly urge you to seek professional medical advice, conduct thorough research, and comply with all local laws and guidelines.
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,480
Before we dive into today's
episode, I want to let you know
2
00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,720
about Kratom Real Talk.
It's a new community for
3
00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,960
positive, uplifting discussions
about the power of whole leaf
4
00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,000
kratom.
If you'd like to be part of the
5
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,720
conversation and learn more
about this plate or contribute
6
00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,880
your knowledge, go to
kratomrealtalk.com.
7
00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,080
So I'm here with Mary, somebody
I met through our Kratom Real
8
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,280
Talk community, and I am so
excited, Mary, to have you here
9
00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,680
with us today to share your
kratom story.
10
00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,480
So tell everybody a little bit
about yourself and life before
11
00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,640
kratom.
Well, my love affair with
12
00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:29,200
opiates began in 2006.
I had My mother had arthritic
13
00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,160
knees and she always had
Vicodin.
14
00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,960
This is when back in the day,
they would prescribe 100 Vicodin
15
00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,160
for you, the 10 milligram, you
know, every couple of weeks.
16
00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,240
Doctors were just throwing the
opiates out.
17
00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:45,360
So I learned from the very first
pill that, oh, this is how I'm
18
00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,080
supposed to feel.
Finally had sort of relief from
19
00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,000
the social anxiety that the
stresses that, you know,
20
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,400
everything.
And so I developed a using
21
00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:03,040
Vicodin or Norco as a crutch.
Yeah, in 2006, anything from a
22
00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,240
menstrual cramp to a bad day at
work, one of those little
23
00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,400
suckers would just make me feel
like everything was going to be
24
00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,800
OK again.
Well, Fast forward, I don't know
25
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:19,160
how much of my history you want
to know, but I was in the same
26
00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,320
profession for 30 years.
It was a very, very high
27
00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,840
functioning alcoholic only would
drink at night then because I
28
00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,680
knew the next morning I could
take a Vicodin or two and I
29
00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,040
could get through the day.
I would be fine and then I'd
30
00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,000
drink again at night.
So I was one of these people
31
00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,280
that were look appeared to be
very successful by day.
32
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,920
By night I was a train wreck.
I was taking Xanax for every
33
00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:44,880
emotion.
I was drinking at night.
34
00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,320
I was smoking cigarettes, I was
taking opiates.
35
00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:55,560
I had undiagnosed severe sleep
apnea so in 2014 I technically
36
00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:00,400
died one night and the the man I
was sleeping next to revived me.
37
00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:05,440
I had stopped breathing because
I had taken my usual cocktails.
38
00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,920
Ambien, methadone because I
didn't have any vicodins.
39
00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:14,040
My friend gave me methadone,
which accumulates in your system
40
00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,320
and can get very dangerous very
fast, especially when you're
41
00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:22,200
combining it with alcohol or any
other respiratory suppressors
42
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,320
like benzos, Xanax.
So I took all of those, He
43
00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,240
revived me, and then I made a
huge life decision the very next
44
00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,680
day that I needed to change or I
was going to die.
45
00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,080
I quit my job.
I got my life together for about
46
00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,360
a year.
I'd used all my 4O1K to
47
00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:45,320
facilitate this new career that
I started back in 2016.
48
00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,560
I took a year off to completely
get fit, get my life together.
49
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,160
I stopped the benzos, stopped
the stopped the opiates, stopped
50
00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,440
that.
I was still maintaining booze a
51
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,240
little bit, but it wasn't as
much.
52
00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,680
I was drinking like a normal
person at this point, socially
53
00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,880
drinking because my job was
very, very active with this job,
54
00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,840
it ended up wearing down the
cartilage in both of my knees.
55
00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:13,800
So I knew that I had the
arthritis, but the the
56
00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,440
physicality of this job more the
rest of the cartilage down.
57
00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:22,240
Soon I was in agony couldn't do
my job function without some
58
00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,240
kind of a, you know, pain
relief.
59
00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:29,720
Got back to the Vicodin went and
finally my knees just wouldn't
60
00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,680
work at all.
I collapsed on the street,
61
00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,640
couldn't walk.
It was they were done.
62
00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,800
So I had my knee replaced
January of 2023.
63
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:42,800
Well, I was given ox, the
granddaddy of all opiates, the
64
00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,560
Holy Grail, if you will, right.
So I get my knee done, I'm
65
00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,680
recovering from my knee.
As I'm recovering I look down
66
00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:55,400
and I see a golf ball sized lump
that quickly within weeks turns
67
00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,680
into half a softball size.
Find out it's a sarcoma, a soft
68
00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,880
tissue sarcoma.
So after the knee recovery, they
69
00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:08,160
cut out this sarcoma and I'm
recovering from that.
70
00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,560
They're still giving me oxy
because of the operations, the
71
00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,080
sarcoma now I've got to have
radiation.
72
00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:18,680
So I'm doing radiation daily for
I think it was 30 days.
73
00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,280
I didn't.
And my leg is it was pretty
74
00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:23,360
cooked.
The pain was intense and was
75
00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,440
peeling.
It was bleeding, it just it was
76
00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,760
bad.
So can Tim you on with the
77
00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,560
beloved oxy?
We get to the point where the
78
00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,200
doctor says, OK, you know,
you've had enough.
79
00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,320
It's time.
We need to slow this down.
80
00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,080
We need to cut this off.
So they cut me off of the oxy.
81
00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:46,000
I'm having that gut wrenching
turning just the way if
82
00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,840
anybody's ever withdrawn from
opiates, once you get past the
83
00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:53,440
physical withdrawal where you're
you passed, where you feel like
84
00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,040
your bones are coming through
your skin, then you have that
85
00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:02,400
just it's Misty describes it as
an itch that can't be scratched.
86
00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,480
It's just the way it is when
you're an opiate addict.
87
00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,680
There's just something missing
from your life, something that
88
00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,240
you need.
Nothing is quite satisfying
89
00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,520
until you have your precious
little pill that makes
90
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,520
everything right again.
So I scrolling TikTok, I had
91
00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:23,360
heard about kratom and so I went
down to the local smoke shop and
92
00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,240
got, I think they were called
train wreck.
93
00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,560
It was little capsules and I
took four or five of them as
94
00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:36,840
recommended and half an hour
later, often I nothing hurt, no
95
00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:42,680
eggs, that pit of gnawing need
in my stomach gone.
96
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:47,480
All of a sudden I didn't the
opiates were not foremost on my
97
00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,600
mind.
The pain was gone.
98
00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,840
I wasn't obsessed.
I was felt like a normal person
99
00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:55,680
again.
I couldn't believe it.
100
00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,960
And I thought, you know, and
still being in that addict
101
00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,520
Phase, I thought, well, gosh, if
four or five are this wonderful,
102
00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:06,560
what would happen if I took 10?
You learn very quickly that you
103
00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,440
can't because your eyes will
wobble and then you spew your
104
00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,680
guts out.
So you learn.
105
00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,320
In fact, I'd watch it started
watching you on TikTok and
106
00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,840
Kratom cows.
And you'd said with this plant,
107
00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:22,120
less is more.
So then what I did was I backed
108
00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,040
way I'd gotten powdered at this
juncture.
109
00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,120
I thought, well, you know,
powder is probably better than
110
00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:30,000
the capsules because I was
running through capsules and I
111
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,080
started, I'd made tea and I used
to make it in hot chocolate, but
112
00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,640
it just, you couldn't disguise
that bitterness.
113
00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,720
And somebody on to, I don't know
if it was you or somebody taught
114
00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:45,440
me to take the gulp of water,
throw the the powdered Kratom
115
00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,960
back and then another gulp of
water and then you don't even
116
00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,000
taste it.
So I just, I got very good at
117
00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,520
that.
But now instead of capsules
118
00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:58,000
several times a day, now it's
just the kratom once in the
119
00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,120
morning and it's about a
teaspoon.
120
00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:04,160
And then once about 2:00 PM when
it started pouring off.
121
00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,880
So 6:00 AM and 2:00 PMI would
take my second dose at 2:00 PM
122
00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,040
and then that would get me
through the rest of the day.
123
00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,560
I'd stopped Ambien, I'd stopped
Xanax, stopped all that.
124
00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:18,240
If I needed to sleep, I go for
gummies, not the the CBD, but
125
00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,800
the whole, the full spectrum,
the CBD.
126
00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:26,320
I think it's CBN and THC.
So it's a 3 combo for sleep.
127
00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:28,680
So I was doing that.
I wasn't doing the Ambien
128
00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:32,360
anymore just and so I go, I'm
doing that for a while.
129
00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,960
I'm happy with the Kratom and
it's given me all the pain
130
00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,800
relief from the radiation on my
leg from my still healing
131
00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,400
surgeries.
My left knee was just, it's a
132
00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,720
tight mess of scar tissue and
all of that.
133
00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,880
So now I think, well, my right
knee is still bad.
134
00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,440
That's why I'm still using the
bait kratom, which is now for
135
00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:53,800
pain.
It's time to get my right knee
136
00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,040
replaced.
So I told my doctor about, you
137
00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,080
know, I'm not taking oxy, I'm
not taking any opiates, I'm
138
00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,520
taking kratom.
And of course he want kratom,
139
00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,840
Kratom.
He wants to know all about this
140
00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,480
magical thing, has no idea about
it.
141
00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,320
Even the anesthesiologist came
in and wanted to know all about
142
00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:13,880
it.
So I'm giving these doctors a
143
00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,160
lesson.
I love it.
144
00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,800
You know, on this on my kratom
journey.
145
00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,400
And so they researched it and
they, they found what they
146
00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,120
needed to know.
And at this time I was taking
147
00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,080
less than 5 grams per day.
And they said really it
148
00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:34,320
shouldn't hurt taking 5g or less
per day should not interfere in
149
00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,600
any way with the anesthesia for
your surgery.
150
00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,000
So he said, but I would like you
to just stop the day before your
151
00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,000
knee replacement so that it just
in case it interferes.
152
00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:49,480
And then I want you to take oxy
again while you're in recovery
153
00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:53,400
from the knee.
So, you know, OK, if you insist,
154
00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,400
I'll take it again.
Old ways die very hard.
155
00:10:56,680 --> 00:11:00,280
And so had my knee done.
Got the oxy again.
156
00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,200
Fast forward two weeks after my
knee replacement, I looked down
157
00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,280
at my left knee.
The sarcoma has come back.
158
00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,320
I know.
I tell my doctor, they do the
159
00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:14,600
full scan.
It's now in my knee and my lung.
160
00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,920
So they decide, OK, we'll remove
the one from your knee, but
161
00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:22,320
we're going to need you to do
chemo to get the address the
162
00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:26,800
sarcoma in your lung.
So then and the doctor says that
163
00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,320
well, I'm sorry, I need to
backtrack again.
164
00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:34,560
After a reasonable time with the
oxy, I started back on kratom
165
00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:38,320
for my knee replacement and now
the surgery for my left knee to
166
00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,840
get out the sarcoma.
So I'm off the oxy.
167
00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,440
It was on oxy very short time.
I don't even think I got a
168
00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,000
refill.
I went straight back to kratom
169
00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:50,920
because of the fact that the oxy
messes with your intestines so
170
00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,480
badly.
And it not only does it, you
171
00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:59,840
know, not only does it slow down
your digestion, but if you end
172
00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,400
up going a few days and have to
go to the bathroom after being
173
00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,920
constipated, it is a nightmare.
And.
174
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,440
Been through a.
Nightmare.
175
00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,880
Yeah, and that, not to be
graphic, but that caused issues
176
00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:15,600
that lasted a year.
And I was very glad to be having
177
00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,680
kratom because kratom seems to
help my digestion.
178
00:12:19,680 --> 00:12:24,000
I also suffer from Crohn's
disease time to time time, and
179
00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,760
it's helpful because it moves
things through.
180
00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:31,200
I do drink a lot of water, but I
feel like my digestion health
181
00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,520
has gotten much, much better
than it ever has in my life.
182
00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:37,720
And I have to credit kratom for
that.
183
00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,960
And I know a lot of people have
said with Crohn's disease and
184
00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,000
things, it is very helpful,
helpful for the intestines.
185
00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,760
And so then I, you know, I find
out.
186
00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,880
So I'm back on the kratom and
then I find out from my doctor,
187
00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,240
OK, we need to do chemotherapy
to we want to address the tumors
188
00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:59,720
with the tumors in your lungs
with the chemo to see what the
189
00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,120
chemo does, what effect it has
on the tumors.
190
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,560
So essentially I'm a Guinea pig
for this chemo.
191
00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:10,240
Turns out that it's AIM chemo,
which is the most brutal chemo
192
00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,640
that you can have.
It's very, very hard on your
193
00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:14,920
heart.
It's very hard on your bladder.
194
00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,520
It's not a nice chemo to have.
And so the doctor said, look, we
195
00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,960
don't know what the interactions
with kratom and chemo are going
196
00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,120
to be because of this gnarly
chemo.
197
00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,200
I want you to stop the kratom
usage while you're doing
198
00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,800
chemotherapy.
And I said, OK, that's fair.
199
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,280
So then I've now I've gotten the
golden ticket.
200
00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,560
I, he's prescribing me 100 oxys
a week.
201
00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,720
That's a lot of oxy, a lot of
oxy, right?
202
00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:47,400
And I'm on a regular schedule.
I have to say that at this time
203
00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:52,080
also, I had started when I was
in the throes of chemo and very,
204
00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,600
very, very uncomfortable from
the chemotherapy.
205
00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:59,640
Oxy can just take the edge off.
It doesn't do anything for your
206
00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,960
psychological well-being, your
emotional and just your overall
207
00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,400
anxiety and and trauma of the
chemo.
208
00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:10,960
Losing your hair is extremely
traumatic.
209
00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,640
It's terrible.
I, you know, my hair is down
210
00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:18,760
past my bra strap, you know, a
blonde and it just, it itched
211
00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,920
off my head one day.
That's how brutal the chemo was.
212
00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:27,800
So I had started taking 100
milligram THC capsules and I got
213
00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:33,440
it definitely THC and chemo are
meant to go hand in hand.
214
00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,080
I had so much relief from the
THC capsules.
215
00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:41,920
Not only would it sort of still
my mind, my body, I could rest,
216
00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,600
I could eat, whereas before I
couldn't think of eating.
217
00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,440
I couldn't drink water.
I just, you know, I could drink
218
00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,240
sort of fizzy water and that was
about it.
219
00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,880
It allowed me to eat, it allowed
me to rest.
220
00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,440
It'll, it was just life
changing.
221
00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:59,840
I don't know how people go
through chemo without marijuana.
222
00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:03,760
It just, it's, it's off.
It's incredible.
223
00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,320
So anyway, I go to, I have the
chemo for three months.
224
00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,800
This was last summer and then
it's September.
225
00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,160
They do my scan after I've gone
through three rounds of chemo.
226
00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,960
I cannot do the last three
rounds until they do the scan
227
00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:21,840
and check to see if it's had any
effect.
228
00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,120
They do the scan.
It's had no effect on the tumors
229
00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,800
in my lungs at all.
They've removed the one from my
230
00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,360
knee.
They cleared all the margins, so
231
00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,400
now the cancer is only in my
lung.
232
00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:38,800
So in September they do a
surgery to resect a wedge of
233
00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,680
lung and they got all the
tumors.
234
00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,160
And I knew waking up from
surgery that I was cancer free
235
00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,920
because I can feel it.
I felt it.
236
00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,040
I wasn't, I would not be able to
carry in a bag of groceries
237
00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:55,840
without sitting down to feeling
normal again, feeling like
238
00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,480
myself.
It was like I it was.
239
00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,520
I knew the cancer was gone from
my body even before I had
240
00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,000
recovered from that.
So I emailed my doctor in
241
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,440
October and I said, OK, you know
what's going on?
242
00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,960
Do I still have cancer?
I feel pretty great.
243
00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:13,320
And he confirmed that I was 100%
cancer free.
244
00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:19,560
So that day I stopped the oxy
and I went back to went back to
245
00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,120
the kratom.
The you know, I still have the
246
00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,240
open incision wounds and
everything in my leg is still
247
00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,520
exist, still healing.
And I had forgotten to mention I
248
00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:33,320
got Cellulitis infection in my
leg, a skin infection from the
249
00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,360
radiation.
And so I still had this, this
250
00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,440
horribly painful infection going
on.
251
00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,800
And as soon as you told me I was
cancer free and was not going to
252
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,280
have to do chemotherapy, I
stopped the oxy.
253
00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,640
I went right back to the cratum
at six O clock in the morning
254
00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:51,680
and then two in the afternoon.
And it was just the immense
255
00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:56,040
relief that I got both
emotionally and not having to
256
00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,680
take the oxy.
My body immediately felt better.
257
00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:03,680
My digestion issues improved
dramatically and I just, I felt
258
00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:07,079
like I was more in control.
I just, you know, I got better
259
00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,359
pain relief, which is absolutely
amazing.
260
00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:16,400
And so now I have gotten it down
to it's about a half a small
261
00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,720
teaspoon at 6:00 in the morning
and I'm not even taking my
262
00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,599
afternoon dose anymore.
Because I'm.
263
00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:25,839
Not in pain.
So it just, it's amazing.
264
00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,440
Your story is incredible.
It's.
265
00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,240
Incredible the.
Old me would.
266
00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,680
Have milked that oxy
prescription for and you know,
267
00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:39,320
once you get cancer, you've
you're now you've gotten the
268
00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,000
golden ticket for as many
opiates as you want the rest of
269
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,240
your life.
And I didn't go back to it and
270
00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,960
it just it says so much for this
wonderful plant During my whole
271
00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,880
journey, I've completely changed
my life around.
272
00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,240
I don't smoke cigarettes.
I don't I'm 15 months alcohol
273
00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,840
free and TikTok helped a lot
with that.
274
00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:03,000
I follow a lot of sober tik
tokers and that have helped me.
275
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:08,280
I don't attend AAI don't
necessarily believe in rehashing
276
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,120
12 steps and all of that.
I, I believe you, go forward in
277
00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:16,680
life and so now it is just, I
use the crate and half a
278
00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:21,000
teaspoon in the morning and
occasionally marijuana because I
279
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,200
like it, but I don't have to use
anything anymore.
280
00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,760
And that just to me, it's a
miracle.
281
00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,600
It really is.
That's got to be an amazing
282
00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,680
feeling to like you don't feel
like you have to take any of
283
00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,240
these things anymore.
Yes, yes, you know.
284
00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,960
Doxy the the benzos, all the
other things and that you're
285
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,920
just doing everything naturally.
Kratom, you're talking about the
286
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,840
CBN.
I've been I've been and your
287
00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,520
THC.
I've been using CBN in the
288
00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,840
evening and I really like it a
lot.
289
00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,120
Right, right.
Gummies, which I never even
290
00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:55,320
heard of right until recently.
So right, plant medicine is
291
00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,000
amazing.
Yes.
292
00:18:57,360 --> 00:19:01,200
But The thing is, big Pharma,
they're not, the doctors are not
293
00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,080
going to make a cent off of
this, right?
294
00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,640
You know, and it's, I found it
extremely creepy that they made
295
00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,880
me do the chemo before they did
the operation where they could
296
00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:15,840
have just taken the lung section
out and avoided all the chemo.
297
00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,760
But where's the money in that?
The infusion shots that I was
298
00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:23,800
giving myself once a day to sort
of build back my bone marrow,
299
00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,760
those were the, my Kaiser
insurance covered it.
300
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,160
But that's $2000 a week for just
the shots.
301
00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:31,800
Wow.
So what do you think?
302
00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,160
Are they trying to make money on
the chemo and everything that
303
00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,840
goes along with it?
Of course, of course.
304
00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:39,920
It's big business.
Yeah, I don't think.
305
00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,960
People realize, I mean, when I
was in pain management, looking
306
00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,720
back while I was in it, I didn't
realize what was happening, but
307
00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:46,560
I had so.
Many.
308
00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:47,840
And they treat you like a creep,
huh?
309
00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,240
Right.
I had so many epidural steroid
310
00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,160
injections.
I had radiofrequency ablations.
311
00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,480
They make a ton of money on
those procedures.
312
00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,480
Insurance covered most of it.
I remember I still had like a
313
00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:00,040
cope.
I had to pay like a percent each
314
00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,440
time.
I end up doing a total of 12
315
00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,120
between epidural steroid
injections and radiofrequency
316
00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:07,520
ablations on my neck and back
over the years.
317
00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,480
And it's like, and of course you
go to the surgical center to
318
00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,320
have it and they disclose that
the doctor is.
319
00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:16,320
Owner of the surgical center,
you know, I just didn't put two
320
00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,520
and two together for a really
long time and it's like they
321
00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,560
keep you in this cycle because
that's how they make money.
322
00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:24,680
But.
Your story's incredible.
323
00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:26,680
I have so many questions.
I don't even know where to
324
00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:28,680
begin.
Let me, I want to start with,
325
00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,320
you were this last time with the
cancer treatment and you know
326
00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:37,280
you're going through chemo and
all the things and then you were
327
00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:40,880
back on the oxy this last time
when you went back to kratom,
328
00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,400
how long were you taking the oxy
this last time around?
329
00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,160
And to just switch like
immediately go right back to the
330
00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,280
kratom?
Was it just months or a year or
331
00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,000
how?
No, I started, I started
332
00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:57,360
chemotherapy July 11th, lost all
my hair July 22nd.
333
00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:02,200
And these the chemo sessions
were four days, 9 hours in the
334
00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,960
hospital with infusion and then
I wore a pump at home and it
335
00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,800
would continue overnight and
into that.
336
00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:12,760
So it was a total of four days.
I did that from January 11th
337
00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:16,240
until mid-september, I want to
say.
338
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,640
And then I had the lung
recession surgery.
339
00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,920
I had COVID in the middle in
September, you know, so that
340
00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,280
delayed it a little bit.
Wow.
341
00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:30,800
I had the lung recession surgery
on on September 29th and then I
342
00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:36,160
healed from that and then
October, it was October 30th is
343
00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,960
when my doctor said no more, I
don't need chemo.
344
00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,080
I'm cancer free.
I stopped oxy that day and I
345
00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,400
went right back to chemo.
So I was on oxy.
346
00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:50,080
I mean right back to creative.
I was so from July until
347
00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:54,760
October, I was doing the oxy and
the very I stopped it the day
348
00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:58,400
and then the very next day when
I woke up with all the feels and
349
00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,800
the you know, that horrible.
To.
350
00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:02,880
You know.
Oh, yeah.
351
00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:05,960
Oh, yeah.
I took my little teaspoon and it
352
00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,200
was all better.
So all better.
353
00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,720
You have such an interesting
perspective that I think our
354
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:12,840
listeners are going to learn so
much from.
355
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:18,440
So when you the first time went
from kratom back to oxy, you
356
00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,480
know, a while back, what was it
like?
357
00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,480
You've been through withdrawals
of opiates.
358
00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:25,880
You know you've had that
experience.
359
00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,600
You know what it's like.
What was it like when you stop
360
00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,240
the kratom per the doctor's
suggestion and just go to the
361
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:33,840
oxy?
Did you feel like you had any
362
00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,640
kind of withdrawals when you
stop kratom?
363
00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:40,680
None, none, none.
The only thing that I miss like
364
00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,880
since I take the oxy, I sort of
have a routine.
365
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,160
I'd set up my coffee to start
brewing.
366
00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,720
I take the kratom and then
everything's fight.
367
00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,640
Well, sometimes I get busy in
the morning and don't take that
368
00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,040
kratom and then like 9:00, I'm
like, I don't have as much
369
00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,200
energy as I should.
I don't have that sort of
370
00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,040
euphoric feeling.
My knee's a little, oh, I forgot
371
00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:04,440
to take the kratom.
So it's nothing like forgetting
372
00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:06,120
to.
I mean, you forget to take your
373
00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:07,720
oxy.
You're in the bathroom with
374
00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:08,800
diarrhea.
You're yeah.
375
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,800
And you don't feel good.
Yeah, like you don't forget to
376
00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,200
take your oxy.
So many people.
377
00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,440
Practically people, always.
Putting out you know how many
378
00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,280
pills you have left.
I have never once in my life
379
00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:23,960
gone to cupboard and shake in
the bag to see how much left.
380
00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,760
Right, right.
I know because we don't sit here
381
00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,440
and dwell on it.
It's just not the same
382
00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,120
experience with opiates versus
kratom.
383
00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,520
It's so easy to forget to dose
kratom.
384
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,880
Exactly.
And like Miss T said, it really
385
00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,240
allows you to press pause on
your addictions because it takes
386
00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:46,960
that obsession away and it lets
you get down to the whys of
387
00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:48,400
things.
Why?
388
00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:50,440
Why do you feel you need it?
Why?
389
00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:51,920
You know what's happening in
your life?
390
00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,080
And it really, I really can't
say enough about it.
391
00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,320
It's like a miracle.
Yeah, it's it's it's an amazing
392
00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:00,880
plant.
And also when you're talking
393
00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:03,120
about going through chemo
multiple times.
394
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,720
So when you went through that,
you did not ever take kratom at
395
00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,600
the same time.
It was always the oxy that.
396
00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:12,840
And I that makes sense because
most people in the medical
397
00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:14,600
profession don't even know what
kratom is.
398
00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,960
I think it's amazing that you
are educating your doctor, your
399
00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:20,000
anesthesiologist.
Same with me.
400
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,640
I've yet to meet anybody in the
medical profession locally when
401
00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,840
I've gone for anything where
they knew about it.
402
00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:31,240
But like you, I've had a couple
surgeries where I tell the
403
00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,560
doctors they don't really know
what it is, but they okayed it
404
00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:37,960
with what with a foot surgery I
had, the anesthesiologist said
405
00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:39,440
just don't take it after
midnight.
406
00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,000
You know, the usual in the
morning, you know, So I followed
407
00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,960
all their instructions and both
times it was a appendicitis.
408
00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,560
And then I've had a foot surgery
and both times was able to go
409
00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:56,320
from kratom to the the IV meds,
you know, opiates, but a long, a
410
00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:59,240
long enough time and pass in
between, like, you know, a
411
00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:02,840
significant amount of time.
And I went right back to kratom
412
00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,840
when I got discharged from both
of those.
413
00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,840
And just like you, like I didn't
feel like I needed it.
414
00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:10,640
I always, I always get better
pain relief with kratom than I
415
00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,840
do with opiates.
So it's just, I know not
416
00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:17,760
everybody does, but I think it's
amazing that so many of us do so
417
00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:22,560
well with this plant that we can
say no to when doctors want to
418
00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,720
prescribe opiates, even though
we know they don't prescribe
419
00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,720
them like they used to during a
different time now, but still be
420
00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,520
it's so powerful to say no, I
don't need it.
421
00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,480
Well I have a along that same
line.
422
00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,680
Before I got my second knee done
and I was on the Kratom, I
423
00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,680
visited my friend in Oregon and
I hurt my knee, my right knee.
424
00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,880
I we hiked and I did something
and I couldn't walk.
425
00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:47,600
It was, you know, swelled up.
It was just awful.
426
00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:52,720
And she had Vicodin, a whole
bottle of her, her mother's
427
00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,600
Vicodin.
Her mother passed and she had
428
00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:58,960
this and she hands me this, this
bottle of like 50 Vicodin.
429
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,880
And I said I didn't need it
because I grade them.
430
00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:08,000
I just thought to my I had to
pause and giggle to myself.
431
00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,120
She didn't know my history, but
I had to pause and kind of
432
00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:14,600
giggle to myself that, Oh my
God, who am I right now that I
433
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,400
could turn down somebody
offering me 50?
434
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,040
Mike, that is.
Powerful.
435
00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:23,000
Yeah, very.
For anyone that suffered through
436
00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,720
addiction moment.
Oh, I'm sure it was.
437
00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:29,120
I never suffered through
addiction at All in all in my 9
438
00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:31,240
years with pain management.
I feel very lucky.
439
00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,320
I feel very fortunate hearing so
many stories like yourself,
440
00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:38,200
stuff with people in the
struggles of of addiction.
441
00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:42,200
It's heart wrenching.
And I think it's just amazing
442
00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:46,680
that this plant allows you to
say no to that when the
443
00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,000
opportunity arises.
And so many people I've talked
444
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,360
to have said the exact same
thing and even go so far to say,
445
00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,400
you know, I still got beer in
the fridge from a long time ago
446
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:57,880
and I just have no desire for
it.
447
00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,880
And I just like, wow.
Like it really does put a pause
448
00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,280
on all of that.
Yes, it really, it really does.
449
00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:09,400
I had wanted to quit.
Well, my job, the job that I
450
00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,160
have is I'm on call all the
time.
451
00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,480
So there's no drinking because
you can't show up and work with
452
00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:16,880
law enforcement with alcohol.
Right.
453
00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:19,120
Without looking like a total
loser.
454
00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:24,200
I don't know if the kratom
helped me with the alcohol, but
455
00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,200
the alcohol was never my first
love.
456
00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,640
Opiates were my first love.
You know, I remember the minute
457
00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:33,320
that that when that switched,
switched, when I took my first
458
00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:36,800
one and felt this is how it
feels to be normal.
459
00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,120
This is how other people feel.
Right.
460
00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,320
And you said you're 15 months of
no alcohol.
461
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,360
Do you feel like kratom has
played a role in that?
462
00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:51,560
I don't know.
I think that I credit more well,
463
00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,960
my my lifestyle.
I mean, I right now, I mean, I
464
00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,720
don't even put sugar into my
body anymore after having
465
00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,920
cancer.
It just makes you Uber aware of
466
00:27:59,920 --> 00:28:05,000
every little thing in your body.
So alcohol is just completely
467
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,560
off the table.
I don't know if that helped, but
468
00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:09,800
that you know, like I said,
opiates were my love.
469
00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,400
What I want to know is back to
when you first bought kratom in
470
00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:15,920
the smoke shop, how did you like
first hear about it?
471
00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,160
Do you hear about it somewhere
on the Internet or word of
472
00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,000
mouth?
Like how did you first know it
473
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,400
even existed?
You know, I think my friend that
474
00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:28,080
likes to hike and she's a total
nap nature girl, she had one of
475
00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:32,800
those little feel free Kava
kratom shots and I don't know if
476
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:37,120
that's an extract or not, but
she was saying how wonderful it
477
00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:41,640
was and she said yeah, it
supposedly helps with opiate
478
00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,360
withdrawal.
So my ears perk up really.
479
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:49,480
So I did have the desire to not
want to take opiates and take
480
00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,200
opiates.
So I think with the kratom and
481
00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:56,320
just the fact that I knew about
it, I knew I had to do something
482
00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:59,040
to mitigate these horrible
withdrawal feelings.
483
00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:03,760
And I was kind of at the last my
last sort of hope and I thought,
484
00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:05,400
well, I'll try anything at this
point.
485
00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:10,760
And that I mean really that at
that unclenching of that aching
486
00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:15,360
me just dissipated so.
So it started with the.
487
00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:19,960
Feel free you tried that first.
Yeah, tried that. 1st so and
488
00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:23,600
that's an that is an extract
that is feel free is an extract
489
00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,960
of cava Alfredo.
It's a little small bottle.
490
00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,880
It looks like a little like the
little 5 hour energy drink shots
491
00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:32,080
that they call it.
It's a yeah store and these are
492
00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,360
readily available in gas
stations.
493
00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:37,920
Convenience very, very yes,
they're very expensive.
494
00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,960
Now I'm not sure what the for
that one, what the serving size
495
00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,080
is, but usually those little
bottles or multiple servings.
496
00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:49,600
But it's not obvious because
who's paying attention to the
497
00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,760
fine print that says, oh, this
little tiny bottle is 3 servings
498
00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,120
and now you got to figure out
how to make 3 servings out of
499
00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:59,440
it, which nobody does.
So while I'm not a big fan of
500
00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,080
the extracts, if you are
suffering with pain and
501
00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:06,400
addiction and you're just, you
know, finding something for
502
00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,240
relief and it helps you, that's
great.
503
00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,320
But then do your research,
people need to spend time
504
00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,760
researching and learn about the
because there's different types
505
00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,000
of kratom.
And then to let you know, I
506
00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:20,960
think when people realize the
whole leaf powder does so much
507
00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,920
because it's the whole plant,
you know, it's just magic.
508
00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,280
I think more than the extracts
and the extract can be, you
509
00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:30,040
know, some people get addicted
to them because they could,
510
00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:32,320
because again, they're not
paying attention to the serving
511
00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:36,240
sizes on extracts.
And I think for somebody that's
512
00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:39,840
been through addiction, I think
it's easy for them to fall into
513
00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:42,480
that trap.
I'm glad that didn't happen to
514
00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:47,000
you because so many times people
I talked to, they just find it
515
00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,440
in a smoke shop.
They just buy whatever the clerk
516
00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:53,640
tells them to buy, not realizing
it could be an extract when
517
00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:56,400
they're just trying to really
watch what they're consuming.
518
00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,240
But they're not educated yet
because they're just brand new
519
00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:03,560
to it.
Exactly, exactly, which is why I
520
00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,400
had gotten the train wreck
capsules and just a few of them.
521
00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:10,760
I mean, it just it took that,
that it scratched that itch.
522
00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,840
It's amazing that you got that
the very first time you took it
523
00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,600
because yeah, I've talked to so
many people over the years and
524
00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,000
what I pretty much have
determined based on all the
525
00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:22,880
people I've talked to is about
South like 5050.
526
00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:25,080
About half the people I talked
to say the very first time I
527
00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:28,000
took kratom where there was a
powder, an extract, whatever.
528
00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,440
It was magic.
This is amazing.
529
00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:32,520
I love it.
And then there's like the other
530
00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:35,000
half that I'm in where it took
trial and error.
531
00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:37,440
It took some trial and error.
I'm like, OK, let's see what the
532
00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:39,800
fuss is all about.
I'm like, okay, that didn't
533
00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,600
really do anything.
We try a little more, still
534
00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,480
didn't do anything.
Let me try.
535
00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:46,640
There's other colors.
Let me try one of the other
536
00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:49,560
colors.
Like I went from trying the red,
537
00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:53,240
which just didn't help my pain,
to the white, which was like, my
538
00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:56,160
gosh, why did I ingest that?
Because that just made my eyes
539
00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,800
just a little too much.
Kind of got the wobbles.
540
00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,280
I didn't throw up, but just my
eyes just were like kind of
541
00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:02,720
like, oh, I got too much
caffeine.
542
00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,800
And then I tried the green.
I'm like, OK, I'm getting
543
00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,640
something with this green one.
And it's just trial and error to
544
00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:12,160
figure out the dose and and you
know the color of the dose.
545
00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,880
There's just so much to it.
But I love hearing stories like
546
00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,480
yours where that very first time
it was magic.
547
00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:21,080
It just and and you have to
remember too, I was in
548
00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:24,440
withdrawals.
I was day I was probably on my
549
00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:30,760
25th hour without the opiates.
And so I was definitely feeling
550
00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:34,320
pretty bad and that didn't I
didn't get a high.
551
00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,440
I just got relief is the best
way to describe it.
552
00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:42,680
But the little the little feel
free shots that definitely is
553
00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:44,320
too wiry.
I don't like it.
554
00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,840
It was just not it's not a good
fit.
555
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:51,480
But yeah, you, I, I credit you
with a lot of, you know, helping
556
00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:55,160
me with the with the sort of
dosage and less is more.
557
00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:59,160
And in fact, I just ordered from
Etha and I'm getting.
558
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,440
Oh, Etha, Etha botanicals.
Yeah, the pressed.
559
00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:06,560
Pills today.
Oh, you know, I wish I had known
560
00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:09,760
about those pressed tablets when
I started creating because, you
561
00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:12,840
know, like earlier you were
talking about the toss and wash
562
00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:14,560
method Where?
And you probably learned it from
563
00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:16,240
Misty because Misty does that.
I don't.
564
00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,800
Yeah, that's probably Misty
because, yeah, you put a little
565
00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:22,560
bit of, like, water or some kind
of drink in your mouth, then you
566
00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:26,440
tap your little, you know,
teaspoon or whatever of powder,
567
00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,520
then you'd get some more water
and then just wash it down.
568
00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:32,400
It's called toss and wash.
And I knew the first time I saw
569
00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:34,760
a video of what that was, I'm
like, oh, that's not for me.
570
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,960
I was worried I would choke.
So I've always done the swamp
571
00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,840
water, and it was really hard to
get down because it tastes so
572
00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:44,640
bad, even with juice.
But it gave me amazing pain
573
00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:46,240
relief once I started getting
the relief.
574
00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:49,040
So for me, it was worth it.
But had I known about those
575
00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:51,720
tablets, I would have started
with that.
576
00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:54,800
But The thing is they do cost
more because it takes more labor
577
00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:56,560
to make them.
They they're pressed.
578
00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:59,240
And it is what I love about
ether's tablet.
579
00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:01,240
And these are not the seven Ohi
know people are hearing about
580
00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:03,800
these 70 tablets.
This is just whole leaf kratom
581
00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:07,360
powder press into a tablet.
What I love about ether, it is
582
00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:09,120
just the powder.
There's no fillers.
583
00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:12,520
They have come up with a method
to press it into a tablet.
584
00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,120
I love them.
So what I do, I normally do my
585
00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:19,320
powder when I'm at home, but if
I'm out and about I'm going to
586
00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:22,520
have, if I leave my home, there
are tablets on me because you
587
00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,840
never know.
And one time I end up in the ER
588
00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:27,120
a few years ago I also had a leg
infection.
589
00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:30,320
I know what that was like.
I've had that and I was in the
590
00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:34,480
ER for about 6 hours and I was
like, thank God I brought my
591
00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:37,800
kratom tablets from Ethan with
me because of course you're in
592
00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:40,960
the waiting room forever.
And if I tell them I have
593
00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:42,600
chronic pain, are they going to
give me something?
594
00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,120
No.
And so I'm just popping my
595
00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:47,239
kratom tablets like, oh, thank
God I brought them.
596
00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:50,679
So I like it for that and I like
it for my early morning dose so
597
00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:52,520
I don't have to worry about
getting out of bed and making
598
00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,639
some swamp water.
So I love them, but they do cost
599
00:34:55,639 --> 00:34:58,400
more.
So I know for plenty of people,
600
00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:01,920
they'll say it's just a little
bit pricey, which is, you know,
601
00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,360
understand.
I can't wait to hear what you
602
00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:07,440
think of them because it is an
impressive product.
603
00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:10,560
And not very many vendors make
press tablets.
604
00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:13,600
And when I had them, I've had
them on the podcast, the two
605
00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:18,760
founders, Victor and Alexander.
So Alexander's the one that
606
00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,400
developed it.
But Victor tells the story in my
607
00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:24,600
podcast when I interviewed him
of how they didn't like the
608
00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:25,920
powder.
They were both using it for
609
00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:27,680
chronic pain.
They didn't like the powder.
610
00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:31,600
And he does asking Alexander,
like, can you please come up
611
00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:33,480
with a way?
Like, we don't like the capsules
612
00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:35,080
because it's messy and we're
making them.
613
00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:39,720
And it's a pain like to come up
with some kind of pressed tablet
614
00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,040
with no fillers, nothing else
did because you could take one
615
00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:44,920
of those tablets and just crush
it up in your hand.
616
00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:47,440
And it is just the power, just
the pattern.
617
00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:49,800
It's genius.
It is because you don't really
618
00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:50,960
tell.
I mean, of course, if you like,
619
00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:52,720
let it sit on your tongue,
you're going to.
620
00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:54,720
Yeah.
But if you have tablets, you're
621
00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:56,720
just popping up like pills,
right?
622
00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:59,360
Right.
I, I just not much of A taste.
623
00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:03,320
And they work really good.
And because they're pressed, I
624
00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:05,400
think we're better than capsules
because capsules, those shells
625
00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:07,240
have to open up.
Like I would solve.
626
00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:08,960
I would.
Open the capsules.
627
00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:12,960
Yeah, all those capsule shells
would make me nauseous, but as
628
00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:16,520
tablets, they work so well, I
think in the stomach.
629
00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:20,760
And also I feel like it lasts a
little bit longer because of the
630
00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:22,600
way they're dissolving and
stuff.
631
00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:25,040
So I'm so glad you're trying
them.
632
00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:26,640
You have to let me know what you
think.
633
00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:28,280
Yeah, I'm.
Anxious.
634
00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:32,360
So let's talk about like, how is
this playing in kratom affecting
635
00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:35,680
your overall day-to-day life?
Are you kidding?
636
00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:38,640
I would.
I'm not counting out pills to
637
00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:41,920
see how many I have left until
my next refill.
638
00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:44,280
We've all played that game.
Yes, we have.
639
00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:51,600
So it's given it back honestly
it just you know, there's no, I
640
00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:54,720
can't see any negative side
effects to it.
641
00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:59,040
I don't see other than the taste
is the only sort of but I avoid
642
00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:02,720
that and now with the press
powder it's going to be all
643
00:37:02,720 --> 00:37:05,160
avoided even more.
Right, right.
644
00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,520
Yeah.
It's, it's amazing how many
645
00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,520
people have gotten their lives
back because of kratom, whether
646
00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,480
it was suffering with addiction,
chronic pain, both.
647
00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,560
So many people I talked to, it
helps them with their anxiety,
648
00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,840
depression.
A lot of people say they take
649
00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:24,040
Kratom for pain relief or they
take Kratom for addiction and
650
00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:27,080
use it for the recovery.
And it just happens to also help
651
00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:31,280
them with other issues like
anxiety, you know, because so
652
00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:34,440
many people said, yeah, like,
this has been amazing for my
653
00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:38,600
sobriety and my recovery.
And also I don't need my Xanax
654
00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:40,400
anymore.
I don't need, I don't need my
655
00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:43,600
ADD medicine anymore.
Like it's like a secondary thing
656
00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:45,480
that they weren't even
expecting.
657
00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:50,840
And it's amazing that a plant is
doing this for so many people.
658
00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:53,720
Right.
Because I well like in my case I
659
00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:57,600
did it specifically to mitigate
the drug withdrawals, the
660
00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:01,600
addiction, and then it ended up
working for the pain too, which
661
00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:03,560
was an added bonus.
Right.
662
00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,120
Yeah, so great.
And do you get nice little
663
00:38:06,120 --> 00:38:09,640
energy boost with Cranos?
But so it's popping your stuff.
664
00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:12,080
Too.
It would be like to me, it would
665
00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:14,240
be like having a cup of coffee
in the afternoon, which I
666
00:38:14,240 --> 00:38:16,000
wouldn't think of because it's
not.
667
00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,360
I don't want anything to
interfere with my precious
668
00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:19,720
sleep.
Right.
669
00:38:19,720 --> 00:38:22,560
And you know, it's interesting
to learn that kratom is in the
670
00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:27,080
same plant family as coffee.
So it's not surprising that you
671
00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:31,080
do get like some energy, but a
lot of people get a little
672
00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:34,640
energy boost from it, but in a
much better way than caffeine, I
673
00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:35,880
think.
I feel like this is no.
674
00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:37,800
Jittery.
Because yeah, it's not jittery.
675
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:39,840
It's like a clean.
It's like a clean caffeine.
676
00:38:40,240 --> 00:38:44,160
Well, and also and with the
because the opiates give a
677
00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:47,480
energy boost too, but it also
makes you feel like you smoked a
678
00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:49,920
pack of cigarettes.
It makes you that nauseous,
679
00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:53,720
wiry, horrible feel.
With the kratom, you don't get
680
00:38:53,720 --> 00:38:58,560
that nauseous horrible, really.
It's more like you say, it's a
681
00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,680
natural caffeine boost.
Yeah.
682
00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:06,560
And so I'm also so amazed that
you take such a small amount of
683
00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:09,400
Kratom, like it doesn't and
everybody's different, you know,
684
00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:13,000
like for me, I'm taking 2
teaspoons every six hours.
685
00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:15,480
So that's about 5 grams.
That's 20 grams a day.
686
00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:17,960
That's kind of like a moderate
to a little high.
687
00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:22,080
But also it is individualized.
Some people need a couple of
688
00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:26,040
tablespoons for their pain
relief or to help it with their
689
00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:28,320
recovery.
Then you get somebody like
690
00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:31,280
yourself that like you said, you
take, what was it, half a
691
00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:33,000
teaspoon, you said.
A teaspoon.
692
00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:38,200
Such a small because a teaspoon
is roughly 2.4g, so you're
693
00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:41,240
taking like half of that, so
you're going to take a little.
694
00:39:41,240 --> 00:39:45,600
Over gram, under 5g per day at
the very very most it's always
695
00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:47,800
under 5.
That's.
696
00:39:47,840 --> 00:39:50,800
Just amazing you get the relief
from that because also because
697
00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:52,960
like you were saying earlier,
you always hear us saying less
698
00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:55,680
is more, less is more.
Because I think so many times
699
00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:58,040
when somebody's brand new to
kratom and there's so much to
700
00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:02,120
learn about if you're coming
from the chronic pain community
701
00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:05,120
like me, where you are taking
high doses of Oxycontin,
702
00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:08,160
Percocet, gabapentin, all these
things.
703
00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:10,440
You're just automatically
assuming I'm going to need a
704
00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,120
high dose of this Kratom exactly
because people will say, why
705
00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:16,080
have high tolerance?
You know, so I, I take a lot, a
706
00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:18,000
lot of opiates.
I'm like, doesn't mean you
707
00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:19,240
necessarily need a lot of
kratom.
708
00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:23,040
Or you get somebody that has
been, you know, dealing with
709
00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:24,680
addiction.
They're trying to find this
710
00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:27,320
plant for their recovery and
also making this assumption,
711
00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:29,720
well, I took a lot of drugs.
I'm going to need a lot.
712
00:40:29,720 --> 00:40:33,120
Of drugs, right?
Yeah, I started with a
713
00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:39,600
tablespoon and have worked my
way down because the tablespoon.
714
00:40:40,680 --> 00:40:43,640
Too much.
I had no, I was out in my yard
715
00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,000
and my eyes got wobbly.
I just feel it in the bushes.
716
00:40:48,520 --> 00:40:52,840
So but yeah, I started with more
and with that mentality.
717
00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:56,480
And when it was the cap, the
just the capsules, I would start
718
00:40:56,480 --> 00:41:00,280
out with, you know, a few and
take it multiple times a day.
719
00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,120
And then I thought, well, the
capsules are bugging my stomach
720
00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:04,880
too.
So then I would empty the
721
00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:07,000
capsules and just start taking
the powder.
722
00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,400
So then I went on to the powder
and yeah, you know, and then the
723
00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:14,800
reputable kratom distributors
that and they test their stuff,
724
00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:17,560
the ones that you recommend and
all of that.
725
00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:19,320
So you have that sort of
confidence that you're not
726
00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:22,160
getting it from a smoke shop,
but it's not laced with other
727
00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:25,560
things, right, and all of that.
So.
728
00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:28,360
It's so important to the, you
know, make sure you're getting
729
00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:29,920
it from a reputable online
vendor.
730
00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:33,120
That's why I always mentioned to
people the, you know, which ones
731
00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:35,160
I buy from because I did a lot
of research.
732
00:41:35,160 --> 00:41:38,280
I have links to it on the on the
Crime Stories podcast website.
733
00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:41,400
It'll be LinkedIn, the show
notes here for this episode
734
00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:44,040
because when I was first
starting, it was hard to figure
735
00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:47,240
out where do I buy this?
And and people weren't always
736
00:41:47,240 --> 00:41:49,480
forthcoming with like where to
go get it.
737
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:53,880
And I did so much research and I
learned a lot on my own.
738
00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:56,200
That's awesome.
That's and I.
739
00:41:56,520 --> 00:41:59,720
Met a lot of great people.
Oh absolutely.
740
00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:01,880
Yeah.
So many amazing people.
741
00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:05,400
And that's why I love running
the Kratom Real Talk community
742
00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:08,160
that you're a part of because
it's so nice to have a place we
743
00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:11,960
can all gather and ask questions
and help each other so we all
744
00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:15,000
feel so alone in our journey.
Well, there's nothing out there
745
00:42:15,240 --> 00:42:19,560
and, you know, and there's still
is the stigmatism that, well,
746
00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:23,600
you're not sober, you're still
using, you know, well, it's
747
00:42:23,640 --> 00:42:26,120
plants.
And I'm sorry, but consider
748
00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:31,080
plants to be drugs.
Exactly, exactly, and you've.
749
00:42:31,160 --> 00:42:34,200
Run into people that have this
stigma that you are still taking
750
00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:37,120
drugs.
You know, I, I hear that more
751
00:42:37,120 --> 00:42:40,880
with people who suffer from
addiction that went to kratom
752
00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:43,040
and that a lot of them are
viewed that way.
753
00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:46,280
As a matter of fact, we just did
A2 part episode with Misty Brown
754
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:49,760
and Cassie talking about kratom
and recovery.
755
00:42:49,960 --> 00:42:52,800
And we've talked about, you
know, that stigmatization, like
756
00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:55,440
what you're discussing that
there's a lot of that in the
757
00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:58,000
recovery world where it's like
you're just training in one
758
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:01,880
addiction for another, right?
That they just don't see kratom
759
00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,280
as plant medicine, right?
And that's, you know, we're
760
00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:07,080
trying to change that.
We're trying to change that
761
00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:12,120
narrative because it, you know,
I just think it can help so many
762
00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:13,520
people.
So many.
763
00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:17,320
So many that don't accidentally
take a pelvis laced with
764
00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:22,040
fentanyl because it happened so
easily and so quickly and it
765
00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:22,960
just.
Right.
766
00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,120
Yeah.
Or in recovery, they're putting
767
00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:27,960
everybody on Suboxone and that
rots your teeth.
768
00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:29,480
There's all kinds of lawsuits
now.
769
00:43:29,720 --> 00:43:32,400
I've talked to so many people in
the Crane community that were on
770
00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:36,080
Suboxone for years and they've
lost all their teeth.
771
00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:39,400
How to get them replaced, other
health, other health issues.
772
00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:41,680
Oh yeah, it's terrible.
It's like they don't.
773
00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:44,280
The doctors I know it's
disclosed this, they don't ever.
774
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:48,360
Talk very very, very expensive.
Isn't it like $70.00 a dosage or
775
00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:50,800
something ridiculous?
I I'm not sure.
776
00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:54,760
I just know that that like in
recovery, they're typically
777
00:43:54,760 --> 00:43:57,960
prescribing Suboxone.
That's that's their way of
778
00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:00,600
dealing with it.
Whereas plant, you know, if they
779
00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:06,120
use kratom, be healthier,
probably work better, just so
780
00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:09,240
many pluses.
But it's just there's a stigma
781
00:44:09,240 --> 00:44:11,680
still.
And that's why, you know,
782
00:44:11,680 --> 00:44:14,360
there's so many of us loud and
proud advocates for kratom
783
00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:17,160
because we're just trying to
change that this perception
784
00:44:17,160 --> 00:44:20,640
people have now.
For me with chronic pain, I
785
00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:23,400
don't really feel too much
stigma.
786
00:44:23,400 --> 00:44:27,760
Like I went from 1:00 to like, I
just say I use a plant, right.
787
00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:31,720
As a matter of fact, I just did
a post on my Facebook the other
788
00:44:31,720 --> 00:44:35,800
day because there's actually
going to be a news story, an NBC
789
00:44:35,800 --> 00:44:39,360
News story with me about Kratom.
And so I posted some pictures.
790
00:44:39,360 --> 00:44:42,360
It was it was last week when
they came over to my home and
791
00:44:42,520 --> 00:44:46,200
talked to me about Kratom for my
crown pain and they had filming
792
00:44:46,200 --> 00:44:49,680
making my Kratom tea and stuff,
which was so I posted some
793
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:52,640
pictures on Facebook and I'm
like, oh, no big deal, NBC can
794
00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:53,960
my home and blah, blah, blah,
blah.
795
00:44:54,240 --> 00:44:58,040
And I have a I've been in social
media and digital marketing for
796
00:44:58,040 --> 00:45:00,680
a long time.
And so I have a pretty large
797
00:45:00,680 --> 00:45:02,640
following because I've built so
many, I've been building online
798
00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:06,080
communities since the 90s.
So on my Facebook, I have a very
799
00:45:06,080 --> 00:45:08,960
diverse group of Facebook
friends from all my different
800
00:45:08,960 --> 00:45:10,640
communities, including the
Krannom one.
801
00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:13,440
But I don't always talk about
I'm going to start kind of
802
00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:15,200
putting more Krannom information
out there.
803
00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:19,960
But when I put this info and the
photos I mentioned about how,
804
00:45:20,440 --> 00:45:22,360
because I was thinking of the
people who are going to read
805
00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:23,720
this, I don't know what Kratom
is.
806
00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:26,800
And you know, we're getting
older, we're getting more pain
807
00:45:26,800 --> 00:45:28,560
issues.
I'm like, this is probably going
808
00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:30,760
to help some people that I've
known a long time or maybe some
809
00:45:30,760 --> 00:45:32,320
old high school friends are
going to see this.
810
00:45:32,320 --> 00:45:35,120
And I made a point to mention
that, you know, they came to
811
00:45:35,120 --> 00:45:38,360
talk to me about Kratom, a plant
that I use instead of
812
00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:39,960
pharmaceuticals for my chronic
pain.
813
00:45:39,960 --> 00:45:43,440
I've already had several people
that I've known a long time
814
00:45:43,720 --> 00:45:47,000
message me and go tell me more
about this kratom and how it's
815
00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:50,120
helping your chronic pain.
So I think it's just so
816
00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:54,000
important for our voices, you
know, just let people know that
817
00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:56,840
this that's why I'm so glad
you're doing this podcast.
818
00:45:56,840 --> 00:46:00,160
Thank you so much because your
story is going to help so many
819
00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:01,320
people.
You.
820
00:46:01,360 --> 00:46:05,560
Know, because I feel like these
first hand stories is the most
821
00:46:05,560 --> 00:46:08,280
helpful thing when you're
starting your cram journey.
822
00:46:08,640 --> 00:46:10,880
Gosh, it's, it's scary in the
beginning because you you don't
823
00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:13,240
know what to expect.
You don't know much about it.
824
00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:16,240
You know, no, it's not
prescribed by the doctor.
825
00:46:16,240 --> 00:46:19,880
It's not FDA approved, which
these days doesn't really mean
826
00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:21,440
much.
You know, it's like, no,
827
00:46:21,680 --> 00:46:25,720
considering what they're, yeah,
I think people are it's like it
828
00:46:25,720 --> 00:46:29,800
could be FDA approved, but they
choose not to do it not to that
829
00:46:29,800 --> 00:46:31,280
it's on the FDA.
Money in it.
830
00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:33,360
Right.
So they're not regulating it.
831
00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:35,360
So the industry is self
regulated.
832
00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:37,720
That's why it's important to buy
from third part.
833
00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:41,720
You know, vendors that lab test
from third parties that make
834
00:46:41,720 --> 00:46:44,840
sure it's all correct.
It is what the package says it
835
00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:47,680
is.
And I can see in the 5 1/2 years
836
00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:49,960
I've been Ukraine consumer is
getting better.
837
00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:53,280
The packaging is so much better.
When I first started kratom
838
00:46:53,760 --> 00:46:56,520
packaging was not very good.
Like you didn't always know what
839
00:46:56,520 --> 00:46:58,720
you were getting and you're just
trying the vendor.
840
00:46:58,720 --> 00:47:01,760
Whereas these days they have so
much information on the package
841
00:47:02,280 --> 00:47:05,840
and, and it's just nice to know
like, OK, the FDA should be
842
00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:10,120
mandating this, but they're not.
So we just got to take the bull
843
00:47:10,120 --> 00:47:12,840
by the horns and and understand
what we're doing and what we're
844
00:47:12,840 --> 00:47:14,840
consuming, which we should be
doing anyway.
845
00:47:14,840 --> 00:47:17,160
I think it's easy to not pay
attention.
846
00:47:17,600 --> 00:47:20,200
To people are just trusting and
I think people are starting to
847
00:47:20,200 --> 00:47:23,240
realize you must educate
yourself.
848
00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:27,000
You must be your own doctor, you
must be your own nutritionist
849
00:47:27,360 --> 00:47:30,120
and find out what you are
taking.
850
00:47:30,600 --> 00:47:35,520
I had an interesting point to
make last year when I had first
851
00:47:35,720 --> 00:47:38,560
after my first knee replacement
and started the kratom.
852
00:47:38,920 --> 00:47:43,560
I had also started a therapy,
talking to a therapist and had
853
00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:47,000
told her, you know, all about my
past history and my drug
854
00:47:47,000 --> 00:47:52,400
addiction and all of that and
she was just vehemently against
855
00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:54,800
kratom.
She said I hate kratom.
856
00:47:55,040 --> 00:47:58,720
I have so many patients that are
trying to get off of kratom and
857
00:47:58,720 --> 00:48:02,600
are going into drug rehabs and
just she said she absolutely
858
00:48:02,600 --> 00:48:05,480
hate it.
And I that keeps sort of
859
00:48:05,480 --> 00:48:10,200
wringing my head about why she
hates it so much and why why it
860
00:48:10,200 --> 00:48:14,040
was such an evil thing to her.
I mean, she was just viably
861
00:48:14,040 --> 00:48:18,000
against it, but I think the
people that abuse it are going
862
00:48:18,000 --> 00:48:22,200
to abuse. 100%, yeah.
And they're not taking
863
00:48:22,200 --> 00:48:23,520
responsibility.
They're blaming.
864
00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:26,920
It's like, wait a minute, did
you blame the alcohol you used
865
00:48:26,920 --> 00:48:27,400
to drink?
Yeah.
866
00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:30,960
Would you blame your benzos?
Like, I don't understand why
867
00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:34,480
people don't blame all the other
things that they abuse, but they
868
00:48:34,480 --> 00:48:37,280
blame freedom, a plant.
It makes no sense, right?
869
00:48:37,800 --> 00:48:40,640
Well, it was, it's like when I
used to have panic attacks and
870
00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:42,960
anxiety.
That was all alcohol related.
871
00:48:43,160 --> 00:48:46,960
Alcohol causes anxiety, period.
So they don't look at the
872
00:48:46,960 --> 00:48:51,000
contributing factors, right?
Kratom basically is for when
873
00:48:51,000 --> 00:48:53,320
you're ready to get a hold of
your life and you're ready to
874
00:48:53,320 --> 00:48:57,920
get a hold of yourself.
It's a nice gentle substance
875
00:48:57,920 --> 00:49:01,280
that can assist with that.
But it is truly up to you to get
876
00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:04,760
your own life in order and to be
the captain of your soul,
877
00:49:04,760 --> 00:49:07,440
really.
So I love that.
878
00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:09,320
That is awesome.
This has been such a great
879
00:49:09,320 --> 00:49:12,040
conversation.
I'm so glad you're doing this
880
00:49:12,040 --> 00:49:13,920
with me.
My last question for you is
881
00:49:13,920 --> 00:49:16,200
knowing everything you know now
about kratom, and I know you
882
00:49:16,200 --> 00:49:19,080
haven't been in it for years,
but you know a lot.
883
00:49:19,080 --> 00:49:20,600
You've been in this for quite a
while.
884
00:49:20,600 --> 00:49:23,880
What advice would you give to
someone else that would help
885
00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:25,440
them in their journey getting
started?
886
00:49:26,120 --> 00:49:29,600
Wait until you're in the thick
of withdrawals and then you will
887
00:49:29,600 --> 00:49:33,800
appreciate the magic of this
plant because it just eases
888
00:49:33,800 --> 00:49:36,360
that.
And start very small.
889
00:49:36,560 --> 00:49:39,400
Work up to where your eyes
wobble and you know you've taken
890
00:49:39,400 --> 00:49:41,720
too much.
It's a sort of a hit and miss.
891
00:49:42,040 --> 00:49:46,360
Always go to a trusted vendor.
Read as much as you can, listen
892
00:49:46,360 --> 00:49:50,120
to as many podcasts as you can.
Make your own decisions.
893
00:49:50,320 --> 00:49:54,200
Make up your own mind about it.
Try it when you're in the in the
894
00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:58,080
throes of withdrawal and you
find something natural that
895
00:49:58,080 --> 00:50:00,800
takes that away.
You've got to run with that and
896
00:50:00,800 --> 00:50:03,600
change your life.
I mean, it's, it's giving you
897
00:50:03,600 --> 00:50:07,320
tools to regain control of your
life.
898
00:50:07,720 --> 00:50:09,480
I think that's the best way to
describe it.
899
00:50:09,920 --> 00:50:13,160
Well said, I love that.
Thank you so much Mary for
900
00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:16,600
taking fine, hanging out with me
and talking about your journey
901
00:50:16,600 --> 00:50:22,480
is you've had an incredible 1.
Yes, yes, so, well, thank you.
902
00:50:22,480 --> 00:50:26,320
I appreciate your interest and I
appreciate all that you do for
903
00:50:26,320 --> 00:50:28,640
this wonderful plant in this
community.
904
00:50:28,640 --> 00:50:31,000
And you know, I know you're
helping people.
905
00:50:31,000 --> 00:50:35,160
And if, if it saves one life,
it's all worth it for sure. 100
906
00:50:35,160 --> 00:50:41,080
percent, 100%.
Thank you for listening.
907
00:50:41,160 --> 00:50:44,920
You can get more information at
kratomstoriespodcast.com,
908
00:50:44,920 --> 00:50:47,320
including show notes from this
episode.

CFO
My love affair with opiates began in 2006. My Mom had arthritis in both of her knees, which I would develop later in my life. Mom believed a Vicodin would cure all ills 🥰. I’d ask for one from anything from a menstrual cramp to a bad day at work. Later in my career, I would take one of these magic pills with me to work, in case I needed an escape hatch. This went on for years until my high functioning alcoholism began. Instead of one pill at 2 in the afternoon, I’d have to take one to manage the crippling hangover. This allowed me to drink at night, knowing it would all be better in the morning, because of my magic little besties. I was now drinking and smoking heavily at night, taking Vicodin in the mornings, zanex for every emotion and ambien to pass out, every night. If I didn’t have the Vicodin, my friend would hook me up with methadone. One night in 2014, my combination of alcohol, methadone, zanex, and ambien combined with severe undiagnosed sleep apnea, almost killed me. The man I was dating at the time revived me when he saw that I wasn’t breathing. That day I made the decision that I could no longer go on like this. I quit my 30 year career, took a year off to start my own company. During this time, I quit the zanex, Vicodin, heavy drinking and resolved my sleep apnea with a cpap machine and got very fit. Fast forward to my now career, it was extremely physical and quickly wore the cartilage down in both of my knees. I was having to take Vicodin again to control the pain until I could have my knees replaced. 1/13/23, I had my first knee replaced and had been p…Read More














