Medical Marijuana

I was diagnosed with severe pancolitis approx 3 years ago after suffering for a year first with improper diagnosis. Once diagnosed I was put on prednisone and asacol and when I couldn't taper off pred without flaring I was given imuran to take daily along with my asacol and I was still having occasional flare ups. Back when I was in college I smoked marijuana fairly regularly and now when I think about it, around the time I quit was around the same time I started experiencing symptoms of my colitis.

At the time I didn't relate the two as I didn't really know what was happening to me. Either way a few months who's my fiancé was doing some research because he hated to see me suffer and he brought me home a bag of weed and told me to try it. So I did. At first I only tried it once or twice here and there but I didn't notice much affect, but then one day I picked it up again when I was having a bad day (stomach pain, diarrea, mucous) and instantly after smoking it my cramps disappeared. And after a couple days my stools were formed and no more mucous.

I've been on a once every other day pattern for about a month and I notice that the day after I smoke I am good, then by the evening of the second day I'll get the familiar cramping and I'll smoke again. I recently just got back from Jamaica where I was able to smoke every day (vacation :) ) and I was GREAT for the whole trip!! No stomach pain, solid bowel movements once a day every day while I was there :) :) :)

So, that's my personal experience with it, I like to share when something works because I know how much it sucks to a
Suffer!

Bananagirl- I'm wondering if the fact that you ate it as opposed to smoked it may have been the reason it didn't work for you? Just a thought.

The only thing negative that I will say is that it definitely does give me the munchies and as someone who likes to be fit that is a downside for me but I just keep trying harder to resist and also reminding myself that I'd rather have a couple extra pounds on than feel sick all the time.

My goal is to get an actual prescription for it so I know what I'm getting is pure, I don't like buying it on the street because you never know where it's coming from.

I was diagnosed with UC at age 16 (I'm 63 now). I had a complete colectomy at age 36. The procedure I opted for was a Kock Pouch (the predecessor to the J-Pouch). Still doing well. The main medication used back then was Prednisone--horrible stuff.

Interestingly, the only period of remission I had with the disease was a seven year period in my 20s when I smoked marijuana. I was not a heavy user--usually used a little in the evenings 3-4 days a week. I was completely symptom free and slept incredibly well. When I returned to college to get my Ph.D., I stopped using marijuana. All my symptoms immediately returned. I was pretty miserable the next four years. Thankfully, the surgery worked well. Occasionally, I do get an inflammation in the pouch. Often a little marijuana will reduce the time on antibiotics. I do encourage people to try marijuana...it sure worked for me. When I retire in a few months, I definitely plan to use it regularly.

Smoking cigs doesn't give me near the relief that smoking mj does, mj is my pain reliever and cuts the urges for bm's for hours after I smoke mj, cigs don't do near the job that mj does for me.

I'm new around this forum and this subject is one I'm becoming quite interested in. In Googling around, I came across this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xPmR8j4plw

I find it very interesting. There are many other videos on juicing mj. Thought I'd share.

"Let's not forget that simple smoking gives these same results so it doesn't have to be MJ."


i'll take green teeth over yellow ones any day - and be happy while I'm at it

I've heard that MJ doesn't do anything for the inflammation in IBD but can help with the symptoms, where as smoking cigs can actually aid with the inflammation specifically in the colon due to the carbon monoxide...I have a link to the article about carbon monoxide via smoking aiding inflammation in the colon, which I've shared here quite a few times...if anyone wants to see the link just let me know and I'll re-post it (or you can google "carbon monoxide via smoking aiding inflammation in the colon" and I'm sure it'll come up in the search.

Everyone has the potential to get cancer, smoking and many other things "can" increase the risk but there's no guarantee that every smoker will get cancer as a result of smoking, many have lived decades as heavy smokers and not died from cancer via smoking cigs. Mj isn't without risks either, it can cause depression/make depression worse, among other health issues as well I'm sure. Just about everything has it's pros and cons.

Very true aguywithuc, that's where the term "buzz-kill" came from...it's happened to me a few times while stoned, I was all happyily high then all the sudden someone pissed me off and it brought me right out of my high, that doesn't happen with booze.

I'll add my two cents to this long discussion on MMJ. It took me a few years of ongoing pain and bad symptoms before I tried MMJ. I was reluctant to go down this road because I threw away my bong 30-some years ago when I decided to be a white collar kind of guy.

As members here report, there is bona-fide research on MMJ and UC. Many trials are small, but results are promising. Like anything else, there is also a lot of anecdotal information on the benefits of MMJ for UC. Some patients find it to be marvellous, others not so great.

When I opted to get a MMJ certificate from my state the process was simple but left me a bit uneasy. The clinic I went to for certification was patronized mainly by individuals in their 20s. A few fossils like myself were there, but it was a younger, seemingly healthy crowd that were seeking MMJ certification. I brought with me recent clinical notes from my specialist to identify me as someone suffering from UC. This documentation was electronically transmitted to the certifying M.D. who was at a remote location. My meeting with the certifying M.D. was via Skype for a period of no more than two minutes. That was it; I paid my money to the clinic staff, got my paper certificate and was off to a MMJ Co-op to buy some medicine.

Depending on where MMJ is purchased, you can find vendors who are very well informed, test their product for mold, CBD and THC content, and take matters seriously. Ultimately I found that edibles were the way to go because I don't like the idea of inhaling smoke and vapor.

Personally I found MMJ to be great for pain but little else. I no longer use it but know it is an option if I have chronic pain. That's it. Everyone has to decide on their own what to do. I can only suggest they do a lot of research before accepting or rejecting it as an option.

I always have to laugh at all the twenty year olds that have chronic back pain. Poor things.

I don't deny that people of all ages have health issues but come on, let's at least be honest, the system is VERY MUCH abused. As Mr. Natural said (which is what I was kind of responding to) "The clinic I went to for certification was patronized mainly by individuals in their 20s". Where were all the old farts like him and I where age and health issues are catching up to us more and more? I have seen evidence in a wide variety of places where there is a huge disproportionate number of people who are young applying for MM certificates.

In my state (which doesn't have MM), and I'm sure almost every other state, there are pain clinics popping up all over which are really nothing more than fronts where high tier pain medications are prescribed for just about anyone who says they have chronic back pain (or whatever) and these places provide their own on sight diagnosis. Everyone, including the police, know that it is just a "legal" medical place who "legally" prescribe these high tier pain meds for drug addicts of all ages. It's a very huge problem.

I have absolutely no qualms at all about people with serious health issues being prescribed MM to take advantage of it's benefits but, as I said before, let's be honest, there is a whole lot of abuse where just about absolutley anyone can get a certificate who wants one. All they have to do is say they have a toothache or stubbed their toe or have chronic back pain and poof - they get a certificate.

lol.

MJ is so difficult to get here that cops will beat the crap out of you even if they suspect it. in dc, they only approve it for life threatening conditions and IBD isn't included by a long shot.

you have to be on your deathbed to get it and it will probably be too late by the time that dying person gets the documentation approved. this is why people usually resort to getting it illegally. don't blame em one bit.

that you can buy soda pop, alcohol and cigarettes but not something that has proven medical benefits is pretty much the reason why this country sucks and is going down the gutter.

profit always triumphs human need. it's pure evil no matter how you look at it. no gray areas.

Gary, I think we all know that a lot of those young people are faking illness just to get high. But one thing to consider is that the older generations sometimes don't think of MM as an option, even if it is legal. My grandmother has been suffering with an inflammatory disease for over 15 years and although I have suggested it numerous times, she doesn't believe in anything that doesn't come from her personal doctor's prescription pad. You know what he did prescribe, though? A straight course of prednisone for 14 years.

I am a little bitter about this issue, because if MJ was classified in such a way that it could be prescribed by physicians, not only might she be in much better health, but I might be able to actually work with my GI about MM use. Instead, I have to go to some shady clinic and my GI (although he approves the idea) has no knowledge on the matter.

I think the bottom line is that these people abusing the system are going to get it one way or another. Although I may not agree with their addictions, I would still rather them have the opportunity to get it at a clinic rather than on the streets where it is much less safe.

I have a question for the people who have tried it successfully: Once you got off it, did you notice that your symptoms always came back? Were they worse after prolonged MJ use? I definitely want to try it, but I am also not looking for yet another drug to become dependent on that causes a lot of symptom withdrawal.