Medical Maryjane?

Question

My primary care phys has offered to issue a Med Marijuana card for me. How ironic. I've lost 29 lbs in 61/2 weeks, and just can't seem to eat or maintain weight. I'm ok though at 150lbs for my 5'9" frame, so I'm not worked up about it yet. And I dislike weed. Even in the day, I didn't smoke it because I hated the effects. Too funny. I can't imagine it. Any feedback?

jmjm530 · Answer

a balanced article follows. Personally, if the evidence conclusively pointed toward a diminished SVR rate with medical marijuana, I really doubt that it would've been recommended to me by my liver specialists. lots of stuff on the package insert that one must measure against physicians advise. to see article below suggests, it's one option to consider i if the side effects of treatment threaten compliance. in no way am I suggesting, or does the article suggest, that you should smoke marijuana simply to get high.
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/06/the_pros_and_co.html

ram921 · Answer

Yeah, it's weird. I had the impression that pot was not good for the interferon, too. It doesn't really matter,though. There's enough other solutions - I just was amused by the irony. I, too, used to love chocolate, coffee and now don't like either one. I've been craving raw vegetables and ranch, too. Lots of salads, avocados, cucumbers. I always liked them, but now Its all the time. I'm seven weeks into tx and noticing changes, both tastes and behaviors. And I seem to not have the energy to really care about much- sort of depression and apathy combo. So far just putting one foot in front of the other...trudge, trudge, trudge...

catqueenjune · Answer

I read the flyer that came with the Peg and it said med marijuana weakened the effect of the interferon.  I had significant weight loss as well and got a big bag of whey protein, the sams club brand ensure $18/24 bottles and used rice milk.  That was my lunch, a scoop of protein, about 6-8 oz of rice milk and the bottle of "ensure", sometimes I'd add malt or flax seed.  This turned it around for me.  At the beginning of treatment all I could eat were raw veggies and ranch dressing.  I was also advised to eliminate all caffeine, herbs and chocolate.  Heard alot about instant breakfast too, but my system isn't big on milk, unless it's in ice cream (which is another thing you could add), but it definitely said no to pot.  Whatever works, good luck and hang in there.  (it was weird, they told me I could have chocolate instant brkfst, but by that time I didn't like the taste of chocolate anymore! LOL)  ah life, long strange trip.  love ya all.  June

meakea · Answer

As jmjm530 said, eating is a full time job for a lot of people on TX.  My first 8 weeks on TX was awful in the "eating department."  I had to choke and gag everything down.  I found that I could drink Boost (the cheaper version of Ensure) if I would dilute it with milk or water so that the taste wasn't so strong.  I bought the "plus" version which had more calories (350 per serving, I think).  By adding that to my little and frequent meals, I was able to maintain my weight.  I'm on week 22 of TX and I weight the same now as I did the day I started tx.  It definitely was a chore especially the first 8 weeks or so though.

Good luck to you!!  I hope you are able to sustain your weight without having to do the medical marijuana.

fretboard · Answer

If you're in CA and maybe other places, you can buy the MJ cookies, breads, and other stuff.  I've never been b/c I really haven't enjoyed smoking for quite a few years.  You don't have to smoke it to get the affect, in some cases the THC hits you better eating it  than smoking it.  However they have genuine prescrption marijuana, they're some tablets last time I heard and I've tried those and they don't even come close to smoking marijuana.  Now since you don't like the affect, maybe those prescription tablets can help you, I don't know.  Something you will have to talk to your doctor about.  good luck

jacksonblue · Answer

there is no pysical addiction to weed minimal psyhcological  addiction you could smoke it every day for years quit tommorrow might not sleep that well for day or 2 thats about it it may help with appetite nausea and sleep on the other hand sleep aids highly addictive and must ween yourselve off when done

jmjm530 · Answer

"pot" is not addicting, in the sense that narcotics are, or in fact in the way many rx drugs are such as some pain killers, sedatives and sleep aids that many here take. "week" on the other hand, can be addicting I suppose, that is if you have a really good one :)

lalapple · Answer

oh wow, typo, i meant "weed" not "week"

lalapple · Answer

how interesting. i haven't ever tried pot or week (what's the difference?) but i guess from drug awareness programs in school, i don't want to try them ever. aren't they had to get off of once people become addicted?

jmjm530 · Answer

My younger son is six feet and weighs 145 pounds. He's alive and kicking and is proof that you can weigh so little and survive. 
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is he losing weight at the rate of 5 pounds per week? that was the point, I was making -- the potential for wasting if the rate of weight loss continues -- not that the current weight is so terrible. as to your suggestion about walking the aisles, I would do similar on treatment and every once in a while something we click, i'd eat it, and get those calories down. Eating, previously one of the pleasures of my life, turned into a full-time job on treatment. High caloric density products designed for chemo patients like Ensure and Prosure can also help.

GreatBird · Answer

Carnation Instant Breakfast

portann · Answer

My younger son is six feet and weighs 145 pounds. He's alive and kicking and is proof that you can weigh so little and survive. 

What you need is to find something you can get down that provides you decent nutrition and calories. Walk through the aisles of a fancy grocery store and maybe you'll spot something that looks good enough to eat. 

I've known people with cancer on medi mari but it can have its own side effects that are not always agreeable for everyone. I'd first explore other avenues, if possible.

jmjm530 · Answer

marijuana is often prescribed for chemo induced weight loss, nausea, appetite alteration, etc. in fact, it was my liver specialists first suggestion when I was having problems in those areas. Unfortunately it doesn't agree with me now so I declined. 

You've gotten a significant weight loss and a relatively short period of time. You're going to have to take or change something, or potentially risk being pulled off of treatment for wasting some time down the future. 

I've no idea if the "effects" you hate it, will be the same with the medical version. If you decide against the marijuana, you will have to get more aggressive with diet or some other pharmacological aid.