...and anyone else interested. Here's a fairly recent list of states that have Medical MJ, and to what degree it is legal. My state, Maryland only provides a court defense, BUT the law was signed into effect by a Republican governor. I was pretty sure NC wouldn't be on the list. The blue states are usually more liberal about this sort of thing. Here's the link:
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881
I always took mine first thing in the morning. Liked to have it over with. It took some hours before it hit me anyway. That afternoon and the next day I would usually spend in bed.
I still have a lot of Marinol pills left, and why I keep them I don't know. The first time I took them they worked, after that, they were useless. I will toss them today. There's no comparing Marinol with the real deal. As I mentioned on the forum before, the only way to smoke med marijuana is through a vaporizer, to eliminate many of the carcinogens.
Ss for the chills, fever, shakes. That is very typical with many of us including myself. It should be a first injection phenomenon only. Good luck in clearing...
Magnum
Have a good day and enjoy! (Said while holding my thumb and forefinger near my lips and making a sucking sound :o)). Maybe they'll have a hooka for Hoocbud. Oh, and some bud, too.
Bill
Good to hear that last night will probably not be repeated I felt better good until about 1 am then holy ****. I still have a temp around 100 but I'm not shaking to death. I have a friend that indulges I believe I'll go see them. Maybe it will help with the headache too.
Debi
Your first shot experience sounds like mine. And for me, it never happened again like that, only the first time.
Medical marijuana is not legal in our state. I spoke to my PA about getting Marinol for the awful nausea I had, and she said it's usually prescribed to cancer patients, and would probably be questioned by the insurance company. Instead, she prescribed Zofran, which is also used by cancer patients, and is very very expensive without insurance. Luckily, my insurance covered it except for the co-pay, though they did investigate whether it was necessary by writing to my PA and having her verify it. It did help with my nausea, but I don't think it works better than mj.
Hang in there, you got through the first shot!!
Hi Debi,
The intense reaction you got from the first injection doesn’t typically repeat itself; although other side effects can occur later; they are more of an accumulated effect. As far as how your employer would manage medical MJ; this is probably something you should discuss with the human resources department. There are drugs like Marinol that are THC derivatives that doctors can Rx too, although some docs don’t prescribe it much. I can’t smoke that stuff any more; it makes me too, um… strange :o). Good luck, and hang in there,
Bill
I'm not sure if medical marijuana is legal in this state. I check into it as I have smoked before. We don't drug test at work but if the doctors prescribed it would that be a issue and was thought that any drug prescribed could not be used against you. Last night was some thing else I can't remember ever shaking so hard. I thought I would freeze to death than my head and body started hurting temp went to 102. I hope that does not happen every night.
Debi
Have you ever considered medical marijuana? I used it through my treatments with the doctor prescribing it for me. Yes, yes, I know there's a lot of negative - positive discussions, writings, affidavits, mia culpa, your culpa, as to the argument of progression of Fibrosis and so on, but in moderation, it may help you sleep.
Speaking for myself, it did wonders for me as far as sleeping through the treatment torture, and I'm still here to tell the tale, with very little progression in the past 4 years.
Naturally, you should ask your doctor, and of course there's worry of drug tests if your work requires them. Just a thought...
Magnum
Most of the sleep aids make me feel groggy in the mornings. I'm not a morning person anyway and when I take some of them I really don't come out of the fog until late morning. no matter what time I take it. Thanks for the 2 cents
Debi
I have to fully agree with the wonderfully tuned mind of Bill1954. Just before sleep when you eyelids are very heavy and there's nothing else to do and nowhere else to go. If you have a problem sleeping (which I do), the only thing (and I've tried them all) that works for me is Ambien CR.
There is however, a caveat. Although it knocks me out for 8-9 hours without awakening, it will make you groggy and perhaps even dizzy the next day. Maybe you should try it if you have a problem sleeping. You may not have that feeling the next day.
Speaking for myself through my failed treatments, the injections and Ribas did "wire" me, and that's why I couldn't sleep. As nature mandates, everyone is different. Just my 2 cents worth. Hang in there, and good luck in clearing...
Magnum
I took my first 2 hours ago. So far nothing bad. Hope it stays that way. Maybe they say no caffeine because I have a hard time sleeping now. But I only drink it in the mornings. I cut down to only a couple of cups instead of 4 or 5 Joey I get the same way from Advil PM and Tylenol PM I've been trying a herb Melatonin my legs are the only thing that bothers me then and it's usual only a short time. But I still don't sleep more than hour and half at a time. Guess its better than no sleep at all.
Debi
My last post was all cut up without important clarifyers. I take my shot around noon on Friday as it doesn't start to kick me hard until after I've gotten home from work. That gives me a short lead on the effects subsiding prior to limping into work Monday morning. I keep chapstick on hand as it burns my lips up. I "lay it down" all weekend and sometimes take a vicodin but not often. I've taken Advil PM but it makes my nerves jump so badly that I'll still be awake trying to overcome the twitching and discomfort until 1 or 2 a.m.. Don't know why it does that to me. My last wife said I twitched a lot during sleep.
Joey
I took my very first shot at the clinic 3pm just like Lynne (L. are u going to Mount Sinai).
I had only in the late night slight fever and this was it.
Since then I am taking my shots like majority of us - just prior going to bed - sunday night for me - wk28 now.
No major sides, so hope for the best.
Debby, I didn't know about the relation caffeine and fibrosis. I though it was not good for calcium absorption. I love coffee and I am now only on decaf, but would love to go back to the real thing.
Hi Debi: DECAF whats the point? No one told me anything about caffeine, however, I only drink it in the morning. After that I stick with water, maybe the occasional Ice Cap, or some other kind of treat. Be sure to treat yourself well!
Lynne
Debi
While caffeine can dehydrate you I never gave it up. I couldn't. I wouldn't. I would have felt like I had nothing left to get up for in the world!!!!!!!! I was fine for 72 weeks - just drank extra water (like we're supposed to do anyway).
There is an old thread around from years ago when I was on treatment I think and it had a study that coffee was actually good at helping fight fibrosis (i think that is what it said another old timer might remember). Boy once some of us heard that we were in HEAVEN.
Debby
Hey Lynno711 do you drink decaf they told me I needed to cut all caffine and I love my coffee in the mornings.
Debi
Hi: I took my very first injection at the Clinic at 11 AM on Fri.
Week 41 today.
Still stick to the same plan, sx. seem to vary with me, but I think its important to find a schedule and stick to it.
After my coffee and before People's Court works best for me.
Good Luck - Lynne
I'm with most. Friday evening with 2 extra strength tylenol. Tylenol will help keep any fever down before it starts and hopefully forestall the chills, aches, etc. due to the fever. If you wake up in the early morning with symptoms, take more tylenol and drink water. Bad symptoms are primarily related to the fever and its dehydration.
I find that taking my shot at or shortly before noon is good for me. It doesn't start hitting mE too hard until after I get home from work when I can "lay it down" and it gets a small jump on things in order to expedite feeling a hair better when I limp into work the following morning. I'm fixing to go to the restroom at work and do my 23rd shot right now at 10:00 A.M.
Joey
While I was treating, I found that as soon as I got home from work on Friday, followed by a meal and TylenolPM and a big glass of water. I completed my treatment a year ago last March and last month I had my most recent viral count. still virus free.
The night of my first two injections I had a noticable fever and slept very restlessly. I slept thru this, but my husband commented in the morning... this was before I tried the PM version of the tylenol......
Good luck with your treatment. This forum is a true GodSend of information and support while experiencing the ups and down's of treatment......
I find friday eve. around 6 (after I eat) to be the best, I'm off on the weekends sooo if I need to drop in bed because of sides I can. drink plenty of fluid all day and all night, you may pee alot but it really helps with the sides. good luck
Gert2
We generally take our injections before bed; that way, we might sleep through some of the more immediate side effects. After a while on treatment, this seems to become less relevant, though. Good luck to you; try taking a couple of Tylenol as you do your first injection to help with any possible muscle aches or pains—
Bill