Medicann Patient Spotlight: Kris’s Journey with Medicinal Cannabis

Living with Crohn’s disease, chronic pain and ADHD can make everyday life challenging, particularly when symptoms affect energy, concentration, sleep and emotional wellbeing. For Kris, trying traditional medications without finding sufficient relief left him feeling frustrated, exhausted and struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities.

As a father of six young children and a full-time carer for his partner, finding a way to manage his symptoms has been especially important. After discovering prescribed medicinal cannabis through a local community, he eventually found Medicann, where he says he has felt listened to, understood and supported as an individual.

Today, medicinal cannabis has become an important part of managing his day-to-day life, helping him navigate the challenges of his conditions while being there for the people who matter most.

What struggles have you experienced with your condition?

Living with Crohn’s disease, chronic pain and ADHD brings a number of challenges, and managing them together can make everyday life particularly difficult.

My Crohn’s disease and ongoing pain affect my energy levels and general wellbeing, while ADHD can make concentration, organisation and keeping up with routines more challenging. When pain affects my sleep or I'm feeling exhausted, it can become even harder to manage everything else.

These symptoms can have a significant impact on daily life, from completing everyday tasks to maintaining a consistent routine. With six young children and my partner to care for, being able to manage my symptoms and remain as present as possible for my family is incredibly important to me.

Have you tried traditional medication?

Yes, I've tried traditional medications prescribed by my doctor, but unfortunately, they haven't provided the relief I needed.

I continued to experience chronic pain and difficulties associated with Crohn’s disease, despite trying different treatments. Finding something that worked well enough to make a meaningful difference to my everyday life proved difficult.

How did you feel when you didn't get the help you needed?

I felt terrible, frustrated, overwhelmed and exhausted.

Living with ongoing pain and symptoms without finding sufficient relief took its toll on my daily life. Even simple activities could become much harder, and I struggled with my energy, concentration and sleep.

It also affected my independence and overall quality of life. I often had to plan my day around my symptoms and pain, which made it difficult to keep up with normal routines and the responsibilities I have at home.

How did you come to learn about medicinal cannabis?

I first learned about prescribed medicinal cannabis through a local community connected with medical cannabis headshops.

This introduced me to another potential treatment option and encouraged me to explore whether it might be suitable for managing my symptoms.

How did you find your experience with Medicann?

My experience with Medicann has been the best of the three clinics I've been with over the past two years.

From the beginning, I've felt listened to and treated as an individual, rather than being given the same approach that hadn't worked for me previously.

The communication and support have made a significant difference. I feel more comfortable discussing my symptoms, raising concerns and talking about how my treatment affects my day-to-day life.

It's also reassuring to feel that my experiences with chronic pain, Crohn’s disease and ADHD are taken seriously and considered together, rather than being treated as completely separate issues.

After struggling to find treatments that worked well for me, having a clinic where I feel heard and supported has been really important.

Are there any other conditions that medicinal cannabis has helped you with?

I've also found medicinal cannabis helpful in managing my migraines and the social anxiety I experience alongside ADHD.

Both can affect my confidence and how comfortable I feel around other people, sometimes making everyday situations more difficult to navigate.

Since finding a treatment that I feel works better for me, I've noticed a positive difference in how I manage these symptoms and approach situations I previously found challenging.

What difference has medicinal cannabis made to your life?

Medicinal cannabis has become an important part of managing my day-to-day life and overall wellbeing.

As a father to six young children and someone who provides full-time care and support for my partner, I have a lot of responsibilities at home. Being able to function as consistently as possible, despite the challenges of living with several long-term conditions, is incredibly important to me.

My family means everything to me, and being able to care for my children, support my partner and take part in family life matters more than anything.

I feel that medicinal cannabis has made a meaningful, positive difference to my quality of life and my ability to manage these responsibilities. Having access to treatment that I feel helps me, alongside a clinic where I feel listened to and supported, has made a real difference to my journey.

Are you looking for an alternative solution like Kris? Arrange a free first consultation with an experienced Medicann Doctor today to see if medicinal cannabis is right for you. Get started with our eligibility form.