Author name: HAVEN Access

stories

Living with CRPS and Fibromyalgia: Why 7-OH Matters

My name is Electra. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia since I was 19 years old. I have had spinal issues since I was 16 from abuse and my medical diagnoses are Lumbar radiculopathy, Inflammation of sacroiliac joint, Myositis, Lumbosacral spondylosis without myelopathy, Spinal stenosis of lumbar region, Intervertebral disc disorder all L4-S1. As well as mild broad disc intrusions at L4-L5 and L5-S1 descending into the right S1 Nerve Root at L5-S1 Level. I also suffer from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, generalized anxiety, Borderline Personality Disorder and a misplaced jaw. I also currently have tricompartmental osteoarthritis on both my left and right knee. About 4 years ago I also unfortunately acquired Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which is actually the most painful disorder in medical knowledge at a level 46/50 on the McGill Pain Scale. This is just simply everything I’ve had currently tested and most chronic pain doctors don’t take me because of how complex my situation is. I suppose I can understand to an extent but this shows you that care within the chronic pain field is near and far between and the FDA actually prohibits their doctors to provide adequate pain management because they can get into legal repercussions. My original doctor of 12 years told me with a severely frightened expression. The only form of opiates I get for all of this is 30mg Tramadol. Despite my doctor knowing this does nothing to help me because I verbally tell her every month I see her. And because of opiates, chronic pain patients cannot reach to alternative methods like cannabis or they will be dropped as a patient. 7oh has made me be able to go out on dates with my children and my husband. To enjoy vacations and shopping. Heck, to even be able to take a shower standing up — which a lot of people don’t know is actually a wonderful privilege. If 7oh were to be banned, my health and my ability to live a normal life would no longer exist.

stories

7-OH Gave Me My Life Back

Testimony: 7-OH Gave Me My Life Back. Please Don’t Take It Away I never imagined I’d be sharing something like this, but I feel like it’s important for people to hear, especially those who are struggling like I was. I live with extreme chronic pain caused by three herniated discs, two bulging discs, disc desiccation throughout my thoracic spine, and bone spurs that are pinching nerves. This causes constant bone-on-bone pain. I also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, severe anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and I’m currently battling a terminal condition. Before I found 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), I was basically bedridden. I couldn’t work. I couldn’t take care of my three kids, who I raise and support on my own. I couldn’t even get through basic daily tasks. Doctors told me there was nothing they could really do, that I’d have to accept being disabled and living off government assistance, which isn’t even enough to support one person, let alone a family. Then I found 7-OH. It didn’t just take the edge off. It gave me my life back. I could move again. I could think clearly. I could get out of bed and cook for my kids. I could finally show up for them the way they needed me to. I could be the parent they deserve. My pain became manageable. But just as important, so did my mental health. My anxiety got better. My panic attacks slowed down. I could feel again in a real and stable way. I didn’t feel like a burden anymore. I felt like myself. That’s why I’m strongly against the idea of banning 7-OH or classifying it as a Schedule I substance. People like me need this to function. Not to get high. Not to abuse it. To survive and live a somewhat normal life. Instead of banning it, we need more research, sensible regulation, and proper oversight. Make it safer. Make it consistent. But don’t take it away from the people who genuinely need it. 7-OH gave me a second chance. I know I’m not the only oneThere are so many others out there still suffering, still looking for something that works. For us, this is what works. Please don’t take it away. -TR

stories

We will overcome

Hello all. Here’s my story—make the change you wish to see by sharing yours! We are all in this fight together, so never lose hope and stay strong! ❤️ I’ve worked grueling warehouse jobs for a good portion of my life. I was stupid about it and ended up with recurring back and knee issues. My early 20s turned into my late 20s, then into my 30s, and one thing that stuck with me and got worse was the pain. Up until recently, I couldn’t sleep through the night. No matter what I tried, I could never find a comfortable position. I’d get out of bed, massage myself in specific areas of my back just to release the tension, and hope the kinks would be gone long enough to fall asleep. It was exhausting and stole away so much precious time meant for resting and being able to function during the day. Sometimes I’d nearly cry, knowing the alarm would go off in a few hours and I’d be dragging through another miserable day. Then came 7-OH: the miracle worker. Just 10mg—a modest amount—gave me immediate relief. It was the best feeling I’d had in years. For once, my mind wasn’t subconsciously locked onto pain. My interactions with others became more pleasant. I even found myself going out of my way to help people again, like I used to. I felt young. Best of all, I worked this little buddy into my nightly routine and could finally sleep more than 3 hours at a time. It’s amazing what quality rest can do. You don’t wake up on the wrong side of the bed wanting to burn the world down. For some, it takes something like 7-OH to change their lives. My story may not be like others—I applaud those who’ve walked away from life-threatening addictions—but this was my personal revelation. I’m thankful for what I’ve been able to achieve and enjoy again. I’m with this community all the way. To keep folks away from street drugs, out of jail, present with their families, and smiling when our packages arrive. Thanks to all who read this. I support and love you all, and together, we will overcome.

stories

I have almost died three times.

I am a 43-year-old female. I have almost died 3 times. Not due to drugs or overdose, or any accidents, but when I was 13 years old, I had 23 hours to live due to (at the time, a rare illness for my age), and my health had declined so much that no one could figure out what it was. Then years later, after trying EVERYTHING to get me stable, including an emergency PICC line (just in case), a feeding tube that I had for 6 years, and multiple other attempts, they had to remove multiple organs and build a pouch to help me live. Sadly, along the way, I picked up MANY more issues that caused me to deteriorate further. Every time one was attempted to be repaired or put in remission, another severe health issue arose with no working treatment in sight. It seemed my body was finding something new to attack when one was “fixed” or treated, but I now have nothing else to remove. Because I almost died again due to being so fragile, weak, and malnourished, and severely underweight (72lbs) because everything was moving through me too quickly, despite copious amounts of diarrhea medications that were also not good for my body at the amount I was taking. I recently had to have that pouch removed because my body had attacked that as well. After the surgery, I almost died again and was in the ICU for a long time, being given blood transfusions, having my heart and vitals constantly monitored, and put on TPN with my 4th PICC line because the surgery was too much for me. After this 13th surgery and procedure, I was in extreme fear because there was nothing left to remove and no treatments working, and I was scared of what was going to happen next. Having dealt with multiple health issues, surgeries, organ removal, severe chronic pain, illness, depression, fatigue, and so much more, I was waiting for the next thing to arise, and it did — another deadly health issue. I had been on and off pain medication through this battle, but heard about an alkaloid called 7-oh hydroxymitragynine from a doctor, which I can chew (which is good since I barely have a digestive system), that helps with pain and other issues. I decided to give it a try and it worked!! I never thought anything would help one of my issues let alone almost ALL of my issues! I decided to give it a try and it worked!! I never thought anything would help one of my issues let alone almost ALL of my issues! I have, for the FIRST time in my life, been able to function at all. It not only had helped with my pain but has also helped me have more energy without feeling fatigued, has enhanced my mood (which is essential for someone with multiple crohnic illnesses) to handle my life better, has replaced over the counter medication that I was needing too much of, and so much more, but mostly, HAS PUT ME IN THE CLOSEST THING TO REMISSION that anything ever has!!!!!! I’ve put on the weight I NEVER could before (even the feeding tube didn’t) and am finally over 98lbs and am keeping it on. It’s slowing down my digestive rate therefore keeping essential nutrients in my body longer, and more. I know that this is what has been helping me because nothing else has changed in my life or treatments. I have seen a lot of the stigma behind this wonder, and it being called a “drug,” but isn’t anything put in our bodies to alter it, just that? Good or bad? Aren’t medications, caffeine, candy, etc drugs? And therefore some say it is addictive or dependent, but isn’t anything you put in your body long enough (good and bad) just that? I have become dependent on medications that never even helped. Even with medications that do help, I have had effects when I stop in some way or another. I have also seen others say that because it is an opiate (which isn’t Lomotil and anti-diarrheal medications that are sold over the counter?), that it will hurt you and could kill you, but unlike street drugs like Heroin and Fentanyl, you can not overdose from this. It also has a ceiling effect to stop that from happening. There’s no respiratory suppression and no proven deaths.

research and studies

Read SSDP’s full statement on 7-OH scheduling

Quotes from SSDP’s official statement: “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classify 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Department of Health & Human Services sent a press release this past Tuesday, July 25, that the FDA is taking steps to restrict 7-OH products.”“SSDP strongly opposes the proposed federal scheduling of 7-Hydroxy-Mitragynine, or 7-OH — a naturally occurring compound found in kratom.““This proposed scheduling reflects outdated thinking that has failed our generation before. It undermines harm reduction, ignores real-world data, and sends a dangerous message: that consumer voices and lived experiences don’t matter.“ Source: SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)🔗 Read the full article here

advocacy

Petitions

Main petition to stop the FDA recommended 7-OH scheduling: https://chng.it/5FNVKYff6v Petition to reverse the Florida emergency scheduling ban: https://chng.it/GZxpvC5q2Q AKA and Mac Haddow transparency and resignation petition: https://chng.it/YbF9Pvw6T4

research and studies

Evaluation of the rewarding effects of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in an intracranial self-stimulation procedure in male and female rats

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7542979 Abstract Background Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) has been used in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years to increase energy, for relaxation, and to diminish opioid withdrawal. Kratom use has recently spread to Western countries. Kratom could potentially be used for the treatment of opioid withdrawal and pain, but more insight is needed into its abuse potential. Therefore, we investigated the rewarding properties of the primary kratom alkaloid mitragynine and its active metabolite 7-hydroxymitragynine, and morphine as a reference drug in male and female rats. These compounds have agonist activity at mu-opioid receptors. read the full study herehttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7542979

research and studies

7-Hydroxymitragynine Is an Active Metabolite of Mitragynine and a Key Mediator of Its Analgesic Effect

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6598159 Mitragyna speciosa, more commonly known as kratom, is a plant native to Southeast Asia, the leaves of which have been used traditionally as a stimulant, analgesic, and treatment for opioid addiction. Recently, growing use of the plant in the United States and concerns that kratom represents an uncontrolled drug with potential abuse liability, have highlighted the need for more careful study of its pharmacological activity. The major active alkaloid found in kratom, mitragynine, has been reported to have opioid agonist and analgesic activity in vitro and in animal models, consistent with the purported effects of kratom leaf in humans. However, preliminary research has provided some evidence that mitragynine and related compounds may act as atypical opioid agonists, inducing therapeutic effects such as analgesia, while limiting the negative side effects typical of classical opioids. Here we report evidence that an active metabolite plays an important role in mediating the analgesic effects of mitragynine. We find that mitragynine is converted in vitro in both mouse and human liver preparations to the much more potent mu-opioid receptor agonist 7-hydroxymitragynine and that this conversion is mediated by cytochrome P450 3A isoforms. Further, we show that 7-hydroxymitragynine is formed from mitragynine in mice and that brain concentrations of this metabolite are sufficient to explain most or all of the opioid-receptor-mediated analgesic activity of mitragynine. At the same time, mitragynine is found in the brains of mice at very high concentrations relative to its opioid receptor binding affinity, suggesting that it does not directly activate opioid receptors. The results presented here provide a metabolism-dependent mechanism for the analgesic effects of mitragynine and clarify the importance of route of administration for determining the activity of this compound. Further, they raise important questions about the interpretation of existing data on mitragynine and highlight critical areas for further research in animals and humans. read full study herehttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6598159

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