Jill Becker is a physician and can be reached at Apex Medical Wellness.
This past week, I was speaking with a patient; let’s call her Marcy, during her regular appointment. “You’re just not like other doctors,” she said. “How is that?” I asked.
This seems like a good place to discuss the reason Marcy comes to see me. Marcy has a history of opioid use disorder. She has been on medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for many years. For those unaware, opioid use can alter people’s …
I just opened my email inbox to see the following headline: “Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) will finally release a draft of their long-awaited federal cannabis legalization bill on Wednesday.”
I wholeheartedly support the federal legalization of cannabis. For one thing, it is much safer than almost all drugs and medications available with or without a prescription. And, …
You are finger.
No, I have fingers.
You are leg.
No, I have legs.
You are pancreas.
No, I have a pancreas.
You are fat.
Hmm …
Now let’s try this with disease processes:
You are diabetes.
No, I have diabetes.
You are cancer.
No, I have cancer.
You are anorexia.
No, I have anorexia.
You are obese.
Hmm …
It is a fact that most people feel shame about “having” fat. It is uncommon to hear people with other disease processes saying things like, “I am …
I obtained a master of arts degree in clinical psychology 20 years after receiving my medical degree. One of the first things one learns as a psych student is to “hold the client in unconditional positive regard.” This was a new concept for me as this was, unfortunately, not always true in my experience of Western medicine.
“You may be the only person who has ever demonstrated this to the client.”
Those …
“My grandchildren are appalled.”
So said the elderly patient I saw yesterday. This lovely woman came to our practice for the treatment of extreme pain. At 99-years of age, she has survived multiple cancers and their associated treatments. She is now suffering from debilitating, degenerative joint pain. She has tried over-the-counter medications and opioids and is simply desperate for relief. Yet her major concern is what her grandchildren will think. As …
I look forward to clinic days. I thoroughly enjoy meeting with patients, hearing how they’re doing, and helping them to feel better – even if, on occasion, the only thing I can do to help is to listen.
Yesterday was a clinic day.
In the middle of the morning, I met with a medical cannabis patient treated for anxiety. As we reviewed his current symptoms, medications, and how he is benefitting from …
Two weeks ago, my piece, “Cannabinoids are medicine, but patients aren’t getting the care they need,” was published. Since that time, I’ve heard from quite a few physicians who admitted that they did not know card-mills existed or, if they did, how they were different from Cannabis Specialist Physicians. From their collective perspective, pot was pot. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to …
It’s Wednesday at 3:27 p.m.
I was just in the kitchen cutting potatoes for a belated birthday dinner which, ironically, will be happening very early this evening. I noticed a missed text on my phone and decided to call back, as was requested. It was from a member of “a network of licensed physicians” as they are looking for Massachusetts physicians credentialed to certify for medical cannabis. I am one of …
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