marijuana and svr

[hipps]

I´ve read article (Daily Smoking of Cannabis Is a Risk Factor for Fibrosis Progression in Persons with Chronic Hepatitis C) at http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2004icr/39easl/documents/0426/042604_hcv_6.html  carefuly and now I am wondering about my situation. I am 6 months svr. I was treated with pegasys and riba for 48 weeks. Also I had fibrosys stage 1 (at begining of my tx). So, can I apply this article to my situation? I understand association between daily marijuana use and fibrosis progression, but I am wondering about consequences I could get to my svr status. Also I would like to know if I had fibrosys stage 1, (assuming I had no further progress) can ocassionaly using of marijuana damage my fibrosys stage or do some other damage? I don´t smoke any cigarettes nor I drink. What I really need to know is occasionly smoking bad to my svr and could I get some bad consequeces? Thanks.

[NYgirl]

I know drinking isn't good for my liver and when I achieve SVR I have no itentions of taking a chance with my liver or the SVR even on a wine cooler you know?  While I don't think I'd lose SVR if I had a wine cooler...I just don't think I want to hurt my liver in any way  - even though I'd love a drink!  ;-)

I am sure there is no proof positive answer either way unfortunately.  Nobody can know anything for sure in this lifetime.  If you did happen to lose the SVR would you blame it on the pot?  How would you know what it really was I guess.

Of course I smoke and I know that ain't good...so who am I to sound like a hypocrite!

Good luck with your decision and your SVR.  THAT is truly the most important thing to your life!

D

[johnisme]

Smoking and liver cancer.  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/aga-sir051105.php

[iceboy]

For forty years between 1932 and 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) conducted an experiment on 399 black men in the late stages of syphilis. These men, for the most part illiterate sharecroppers from one of the poorest counties in Alabama, were never told what disease they were suffering from or of its seriousness. Informed that they were being treated for “bad blood,”1 their doctors had no intention of curing them of syphilis at all. The data for the experiment was to be collected from autopsies of the men, and they were thus deliberately left to degenerate under the ravages of tertiary syphilis—which can include tumors, heart disease, paralysis, blindness, insanity, and death. “As I see it,” one of the doctors involved explained, “we have no further interest in these patients until they die.”

[Magnum]

For whatever it's worth, I'm to start my fourth treatment and the doctor has no problem whatsoever in prescribing a letter for medicinal marijuana. I don't know about the back and forth discussions, embelishments of the truth, predictions, opinions and the such regarding whether it's good or bad, I have to put my trust in my Gastro, and if he says it's okay for a daily small amount to accelerate my appetite and sleep, then so be it.

If you're wondering I literally take just two puffs in a small water pipe and I can get up the next day (after a good night's sleep and plenty of appetite), and function as a normal human being. If this is dangerous behavior, I'm guilty.

Insofar as the predication one way or another of use or non-use of medicinal marijuana, that's constantly left up for debate, and judging by the historical facts of proponents and opponents to the medicinal marijuana issue, it will never be totally resolved.

Medically, it was said for years that coffee was bad for you. Now a cup per day is good for you (contains the highest yield of anti-oxidants of any drink). Wine, which contains alcohol, was bad for you because of the alcohol. Now, they give it to you in hospitals for lunch and dinner on your tray. (I know, I had a surgery in Pasadena, CA., where they serve wine).

So, in conclusion, let me say that I had two liver biopsies and will have my third one on Tuesday. In-between those biopsies, I started smoking pot to get back my appetite and sleep better. My liver functions actually improved between the 1st biopsy and the second. I went from stage 3 Fibrosis to stage 2. Keeping in mind, that I smoked daily (two puffs) before the second biopsy. You do the math...

Magnum

[Snookmiester]

LMAO!!! Take two and pass man!!!

[MerrieJane]

I am a medical MJ user.  I feel it does help.  Until I know otherwise, I will continue my moderate, daily use.  Hipps....good luck with your personal decision.

Merrie

[Magnum]

Sorry to deviate from this thread, but there was no other way to post a new subject. As I mentioned, I will be starting Infergen next month. I found a very interesting article in which I hope will bring some hope and inspiration to those non-responders like myself, thinking of trying yet another treatment, this time with Infergen...

Go here: http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2004/020604_b.html

Magnum

[beamishboy]

Chev: are them little Mexican Cheewawwa"s ever happy--when i was a wee lad,my babysitter had 2 of them sawed-off flea factorys:they took turns gnawing on me& kept me seated quietly for hours(hmmmm maybe ther was method to their momgrel madness)--Hope your move allows ample room to Grow any&all kinds of Herb--tee hee,go gurl!
Magnum: good luck w/ the interferen(?) trx--may your responses be strong&your sides weak......

[friole]

I admire your stamina.   I hope the fourth one is the charm, magnum.  I don't see where smoking marijuana is going to hurt that one bit
frijole

[scubadiver30]

Hi there.
Over here in Spain you can grow your own for medical purposes and you can order seeds from Holland, I think. In fact, I'd rather smoke pot to sleep & increase appetite instead of more chemicals.. We don't have ambien here and the sleeping pills here are too potent... I need to prepare the crop before I start tx, so is it 2 puffs a day right?

saludos
the diver

[Magnum]

I'm a diver also, since 1979. NAUI. As for the marijuana initiative. Here in Nevada, there is always a close vote. I think it's because there are many Mormons in Nevada (not only in Utah), and it's become a sore subject with many fighting against each other in the same religious, political and moral battleground.

Why can't the government just leave us sick people alone and go on with their golf, martinis, tax paid treks to Hawaii, AND smoking pot in their cushy mansions when no one is looking?

The hypocracy in this matter leads one to believe it's all a big joke and eventually, if the government and state keeps fighting the legalization of pot, there will be so many arrests for pot smoking, that they will have to build more prisons than there are golf courses. Of course, they won't allow that. I say plow up the golf courses and plan marijuana and give it to the sick who need it....

Magnum

[scubadiver30]

I'm PADI advanced open water since 1990. Have you ever dove in the caves in Cancun? Cenote Dos Ojos. cool as hell.

As for the POT issue over here in europe there's a lot of that too. In Holland you can smoke in coffeshops, but if you go and buy one ounce there and you try to get out of the country with it they throw you in jail in a heartbeat..In Spain you can smoke it but there's a lot of prejudice..Too much hash going around & and alcohol problems with youngsters
Anyway, I don't care about labs or government. If pot can help me thru tx like it does with cancer patients..heck, I'll be the first one to use it & grow it
saludos

[beamishboy]

Viva la Revolution!!!!  Free weed to all.well free to grow yur own.Them guvmint folks sure do like telling us all how to live..their greatest fear is that everyone will get stoned & notice what a buncha assholes,liars,thieves & hypocrits they are!!! Pot seems to enhance bullshit detectors hence very bad for politicos.......besides no one would fite their stupid wars if everybody just got stoned & munched out..

[2irish]

hi, chev, how are you?  checked out that link you listed the other day..nothing there!  probably was a 55, i assume?

[MerrieJane]

So many like minded forum members out there! I love it.  So international too!  

For those worried about smoking, baking/cooking with pot is an alternantive.  Injested weed is especially effective before bed as a sleeping aid.  I always get a major appetite before fallmng asleep though ;~)

Merrie

[beamishboy]

are we still rockin inthe free world?? YOU BET!!!You r rite Chev,i am very subversive--i want to change the world,Make it Better is all...and any herb which makes me HAPPY,HORNY,HUNGRY-is deliteful and i eagerly look for converts...i useta roll an occasional joint for my mom...me & buddys puffed w/ daddyo-what's not to like??
Actually during radiation-which also made me feel like ****,i would smoke 1/2 joint before other 1/2 after:worked absolutely & soo much bettr than the pills they scripted me........i know it's nothing new,but ,it just always tickles me-the legal stuff-kills,while the weed is now getting attention for it's medicinal propertys!!!!!!!!!!! I Knew we were right-NO, I Know WQe Are RIGHT!---oh oh i think i'm stoned????!!!!!!!!!!**********

(((((YOU GUYS r sooooo Great))))))))))))--hava 'nother hit tommy................hey i took 3 riba about an hour ago & its gone rite to my head!!!! tomorrow the doc& then:THE SHOT-ughawaga.yes,but shot#5  closer&closer,scuse me i gotta get sum water:cotton mouth

[beamishboy]

just wanted to say-yaya,--eating pot stays in my system sooo long,i got a buddy who makes incredible brownies-green butter!!!!!! they will kick your butt.......i can gaze quite happily at a scene or still life (a real one) analyzing,interpreting,enjoying!!! very trippy and entertaining but sustained.....my friend is a musician and i think he is always a "little buzzed"--i prefer infrequent absorption & 1 or 2( literally) 'puffs is all i take--& i know it's totally Organic(fer Chevy) cuz i keep an eye&green thumb onit

[cquest]

Glad to see so many like souls out there...I was a chronic pot smoker for at least 25 years...married a non smoker so I stopped for about 10...then said hey wait a minute, this is my life...started smoking again but only if it was offered...hhhmmm...I have no liver damage and mild inflamation (inflammation)....and I have had this virus for 25 years....hhmmmm....maybe I'll go out and git me a bit ol bag o buds!

My son just moved to California, says he can get a script for medical mj and they have 'providers' out there that grow it for medical purposes....maybe that is the wave of the future...we can go to the doc and get a script and smoke away! Sounds like a plan to me!

My husband still never smokes except once...at a reggae concert...he said he would smoke if it was 'appropriate', I said well, I can't think of a more appropriate place than a reggae concert so I went and got my x-husband and said fire up one of those bad boys and he did...my husband got so wasted that we were driving home and he turned the radio off...said 'sshhhh!' and tilted his head like he was listening real hard...I was like 'what?' and he said 'I don't hear the engine...is it on?' dummy! We were DRIVING! of course the engine was on! That was hilarious!  
Cin

[scubadiver30]

Hi Merrie
Like I said I'm still waitin 4 tx cause I'm double geno 1a2b so don't know if I'll SVR at all, but after reading the new posts about people clearing the 2bs in 22 weeks, I'm more prone into telling my doctor to go for tx and not wait for the PIs (on top of the combo).. Since you said cooking a brownie + mj could be an alternative to smoking(for appetite & sleeping aid) what would be the right proportion in a brownie? Don't wanna be space cadet forever u know :-)?
or do you think it would hurt your digestive tract? how long do the effects last?
hope this is not against forum policy

salu2
diver

[MissMiss]

Can any of you tell me how I would go about getting Med MJ?  Used to smoke a lot when younger but went about 25 years without.  I see the need now.  Some good sleep and appetite would be oh so nice right now.  Live in Wa but my doc is in Idaho.  Have a son in CA who could be a provider.  Where do I start?  

And I must say the funny comments in this thread are a needed gut buster.  Bet med mj would help the Riba rage?  Thanks.

MissMiss

[Shanaenae]

Well, just a quick note on this....
I am 29 years old and have been smoking since i was 17.
I have no liver damage with my hep C and my life is stress free.
I asked my doctor about continueing smoking when starting treatment in April and he was so for it.... he actually recommended it. i reassured his opinion by asking him if he thought there could be anything negative about it or if it could make my immune system worse and he reassured me that there was no harm whatsoever.

In my opinion, the side effects are going to as bad as your reaction to them is. If you are mellow and take things as they come and don't stress on what could possibly happen, then life will be easier on you. And a joint or two a day seems perfect to me :)Just my opinion though.....

[Shanaenae]

One thing about cooking, you will need to cook the shake or leaves of the plant with either butter or oil (butter is easier). I usually double boil it so the butter does not burn. the longer you heat it, the more potent it will be. Then once you have your butter, just used the amount asked for in the recipe (2 TBL), just like you were making brownies normally. Usually you can't go wrong with having to much, if you stick to the recipe.
It is actually better for you than smoking it.......
But you get a completely different high, so be warned..

[andyarundel]

Dave?....Dave's not here!

[MerrieJane]

Yes, Scuba, Shanaenae is right about cooking it to make butter.  I usually simmer on LOW for about 24 hours.  After, I put a plate on top of the mixture to keep the leaves down, and the soon to harden butter on the plate.

Use the butter as you would butter.  It is a different and longer lasting "body stone". The dose varies, so try one small brownie to gage the strength on your batch.  It takes maybe 30 min. to feel the effect.  I find that too much can make me paranoid.  Don't worry....you will come down.  Then, take less the next time :)

MissMiss....medical MJ is legal is some (maybe 8 or so, not sure) states.  Mine is from Washington State.  The legality comes from Initiatives passed by the people in those states.  Your regular Dr. is where you usually would get your authorization. In my case, it was a form I downloaded and brought with me to my Dr. appt. with the appropriate supporting paperwork (ie.  a printed out copy of the initiative). The auth. gives me the "right" (or at least a legal defense if busted) to grow and consume a small amount of pot. I alsop am a member of a "compassion club" where pot can be procurred in a pharmacy setting.  The quality and cost of the pharmacy meds is similar to what you might get privately.

Let me know if you want any additional info.  I am happy to share (and so glad I had the nerve to ask my Doctor, and that she was open minded enough to say yes)!

Merrie

P.S.  Kalio1  Did I ever get a chance to congratulate you on your 12 week results?

[MissMiss]

I would be very interested in where you downloaded the form and anything else you could share.  I am Washington State, as you are.  Is it safe to leave an email address here?  lol  Here goes:
***@****

Thank you!

MissMiss

[Magnum]

I can't stress enough my thoughts on this. PLOW UP THE GOLF COURSES AND PLANT MARIJUANA FOR MEDICINAL USE BY PEOPLE LIKE US WHO NEED IT!

Can you hear me now Washington?

Magnum

[MerrieJane]

We at least hear you in Washington State!

Merrie

[Magnum]

Here is the language of the Initiative-100

Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative

WHEREAS, according to the National Institutes of Health, an average of 317 Americans die annually as the result of alcohol overdoses; and

WHEREAS, there has never been even a single fatal marijuana overdose recorded in the medical literature, as noted by the British Medical Journal in September 2003; and

WHEREAS, according to U.S. Department of Justice, “About 3 million crimes occur each year in which victims perceive the offender to have been drinking at the time of the offense. Among those victims who provided information about the offender’s use of alcohol, about 35% of the victimizations involved an offender who had been drinking”; and

WHEREAS, extensive research, documented in official reports by the British government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, among others, shows that -- unlike alcohol -- marijuana use is not generally a cause of violence or aggressive behavior and in fact tends to reduce violence and aggression;

WHEREAS, it is the intent of this ordinance to have the private adult use and possession of marijuana treated in the same manner as the private adult use and possession of alcohol;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER

So, there it is.....

Magnum

[beamishboy]

ohhh i love this thread.i come hear when i need to unwind or maybe exhale-lol....by the way Chevygal-i'm glad you didn't find the 'other pics'--oops i may have said too much already(if only i knew how to delete???) how do you turn this thing off?why can't i stop?

[debdeb47]

I'm a long term pot user, and dang if the med mj people aren't right on!  2-3 puffs, the nausea abates, and 2 hrs later I've got serious munchies, and I actually eat!  I only eat to get the pills down until p.m. when I can smoke, daytime no no no.  BTW, 2b, 0/1, infected w/ single IV experience in  LA in 1981,

BTW, 48 yo f, 16/24, no pcr til end of tx.  I've been smoking recreationally  since very young and I'm pretty functional.

[cuteus]

BRRRRR! I lived in Norton, Vt back in mid 70's and although it was gorgeous country, I spent my days hugging the wood stove, I burned a hole in the robe doing that! It is a tough trade off, beauty for freezing.

NExt yr, if they have the HCV March again in NYC, you got to come down from the mountain and join in! Make noise too!
There are quite a few of us newyorkers; giddyup, Betty, Majneni, donalfonso, amerabrit, nygirl, cquest, rearfang, bronxrican, you, me and I KNOW i am forgetting someone... You should be celebrating your SVR by next Summer?

[beamishboy]

i concur!!!! it is makin all the diff for me--my best weapon against sides..i am week5 type 1b 49yr male--i wanna win this battle sooo bad & i need sum comic relief-laughter the best med........Goods Luck DebDeb--burn 1 for me

[cuteus]

hum, I am getting hungry,horny and happy! not necessarily in that order...

magnum-that was some interesting study. I wonder why they only treated for 24 wks? can you imagine the results if they treated longer?
it scares me to see the 6 month relapsers, where was the darn bug all that time?
good luck

[beamishboy]

i think the appropriate order is:happy,horny,happy,hungry,happy,happy!!!But that's just 1 guys experience.....I am still glowing from your GOODS NEWS,cuteus:that makes me Happy............speakin of munchies,i gained 3 lbs ffrom week4 to 5--the wonders of weed!!!!!!!got down to 16 below last nite,enjoying the harvest from last summer,lookin out at all that snow,kinda good feeling-the whole cycle of nature......i miss the garden,but i'm sure adding to the compost--Hope Springs Eternal!!!!!!!!!!!!