Bad Behaviour?

I have been hesitant to say this about myself, afraid I will get kicked off forum.  Time to fess up.

I smoke the occasional doobie, helps with sx.  Rather smoke a doob than take a pain pill or a trank., helps with sleep too.

Am I doing the wrong thing?  Haven't told the Docs. or anyone else.  Please don't judge me, just trying in my own way to get through this thing.

Thanks - Lynne

[desrt]

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2006/09/marijuana_benef.html

Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tri-Valley Herald Newspaper
By Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER

Medical marijuana users are more likely to finish hepatitis C treatment and so are more likely to be cured, according to a newly published study conducted in San Francisco and Oakland.

Other studies have shown marijuana relieves symptoms, but medical marijuana advocates said this could be the first to show improved cure rates for a life-threatening illness.

The study is by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, and the Oakland-based Organization to Achieve Solutions in Substance Abuse (OASIS). It was published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. It found marijuana users being treated for HCV three times more likely to have a "sustained virological response," meaning the virus can't be detected six months after treatment ends.

HCV treatment with ribavirin and interferon causes severe side effects, so many patients quit the long regimen too early.

Of 71 HCV patients studied, 21 finished with a sustained
virological response: 12 of the 22 cannabis users and nine of the 49 nonusers.

"(M)odest cannabis use may offer symptomatic and virological benefit to some patients... by helping them maintain adherence to the challenging medication regimen," the study concluded.

Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., issued a news release touting this as "a landmark study, showing that medical marijuana can literally save lives. Every day that our government continues punishing the sick for using this medicine is literally a crime against humanity."

[newleaf09]

I don't think talking about dope will get you kicked off.  That's usuallyreserved for flaming other members on the forum.  I've read a LOT about TX and don't think I've ever come across anything negative about pot.

[Lynno711]

Thank you soooo much!!!

It really helps with stomach problems and appetite too.  I'm actually gaining weight!

[desrt]

Note this is for "modest" use. Heavy use has been linked to an increased rate of liver fibrosis.
And that's pretty much the pro and the con of it. In the past we've had threads that have gone on for days and become fairly heated on both sides of the arguement. Nothing wrong with the topic itself.

[Lynno711]

Medical MJ very difficult to get here in Canada.  I was accepted for a trial once but was rejected because I had congestive heart failure in 2001.  I told them that I would only ingest it - Cookies etc.  They still said no!

Moderate use is my only option, approx. 2 js/day.  Buy it from the guy down the street like a criminal.

I wish our government would be more open to the benefits of it and properly regulate the quality and the price.  Think of the tax money it would bring in.  I just hate being forced underground.

But I guess you do what you have to do.

Thanks for listening - Lynne (an old hippie)

[Lynno711]

So sorry:  Didn't mean moderate use, meant modest use.  

[Magnum]

If I can add something here. If you smoke, you should always use a vaporizer, not a pipe or definitely not paper!

The carcinogens are greatly reduced with a vaporizer. Do a Google search for marijuana vaporizer and read the benefits.

I still have a Med. Marijuana card yearly. I take one good puff from the vaporizer before sleep because of my Insomnia. I also had the use of a vaporizer and approval from my doctor DURING treatment.

Moderation is the key....

Magnum

[Magnum]

Here some useful info regarding the vaporizer benefits...

http://marijuanavaporizer.com/benefits.html

Magnum

[merryBe]

the thing I learned quickly about this disease is that it is not the virus that kills you.

It is the fibrosis, the scarring, the turning of healthy tissue into fibrosis rock hard scarred tissue, that finally does one in. The disease causes the slow and not so slow progression of this process.

some perscription drugs hasten that damage, as does alcohol, as does marijuana.
daily alcohol use and daily pot use have been shown in medical studies to hasten that fibrosis, a ten fold increase with alcohol, and a 7 fold increase with pot in the rates at which fibrosis advances. This was reason enough for me to not even indulge in occasional use of alcohol, and I would apply that to pot as well.
Another good reason to consider carefully is that both alcohol and cannibinol effect the metabolism of other medications, and can render them much much more toxic.

here's a good layman's synopsis of the effects of pot.
not passing any judgment here on you, just saying, the more you learn, the less appealing it may seem. There are some meds that can help you with sides that do not aide this fibrosis process along so my advice is to find out which those are, and discuss all this with your hepatologist.

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256F40005204E7?OpenDocument&id=48DDE4A73E09A969852568880078C249&c=Hepa%2FBiliary%20Other&count=10

mb

[winner727]

hi my freind .long time !    I mention the benefits of bud to anyone that asks , It helped me w my nasty mouth {snappy}  appetite , sleep  , relaxing   .Ive been smoking forever .Im not going to quit ,although I do smoke with a vaporizer now .I also have med card .my doctor says "go for it !"  . it   kills me to see people post "Im chopping peoples heads off '   "  I cant eat" . I know Its hard to get It . some people are also dead against It .  oh well "  you can pry this ounce of blueberry cronic (chronic) ,from my cold dead hands "   hope alls well  lynno  ,I saw your note , last week {.family health issues]  kept me busy .   " fight on "

[Lynno711]

Hello again!  Hope the flu has departed.

I was reading on this forum about the benefits of a vaporizer, I'll pick one up tomorrow.

No Medical MJ for me, rejected for trial because of a heart problem.

Keeps me mellow and cuts down on raging.  I'm looking forward to vaporizer, hope it helps with the coughing.  I've been smoking forever too, really seems to help with symptoms of tx.

The other thing is, my neighbours have been commenting on the smell, don't need any heat, thank you very much.

I'm told vaporizer cuts down on that distinctive odor.

I'll let you know how it works out.  Whats Blueberry Chronic?

Hope you are all on the mend, keep in touch - Lynne
I'll keep you posted.

Hope all is well with you, take care - Lynne

[R Glass]

I don’t indulge simply because I don’t care for it. If taking an occasional toke here and there gets you thru tx, go for it. Personally, I think being trapped with me in an elevator after Taco Bell would do more damage than taking a hit here and there.

[winner727]

blueberry cronic (chronic) is the seed strain .I have a  lovely " walk in" closet without even one shirt in it !!   lol   RI is strict also , my wife has to be the" caretaker " "grower" .I learned the hobbie ,from high times magazine  thank you high times !!   I could be wrong , but .pot is notorius  for leaving fatty dipossites on your liver  ,yes . fribrosis? isnt that with long term use ?  these  people only seem to want releif thru cannibis ,short term . I see benifits there. Im sorry .            

[nygirl7]

At least with pot it's not the same as alcohol which can kill the effects of the meds if you were to drink on treatment. I don't smoke just because I don't like it (I'm already stupid enough and the stuff makes me stupid) but if it helps with the sides I don't think an occasional hit is going to hurt you that much.  While I have read it causes fibrosis as long as you aren't smoking all day every day - I say go for it if it really helps you.  I found a couple percocets very helpful a few times and know if I overdid them it wouldn't be beneficial to the old liver but once in a while was necessary to make it through.

[jdwithhcv]

I found it very helpful, but a little goes a long way.

jd