Medical Marijuana

AutumnSoleil

My sister has stage two breast cancer and is scheduled for a double mastectomy on the fifth of December.  She has told her doctors and surgeons all about her health, but she has left out one factor that I think is important to mention.  She is a daily medical marijuana smoker and has been for 20+ years.  She has opted not to tell her medical team of this information because she works for the hospital that is preforming her surgery and she's afraid she'll lose her job if they find out.  She's state legal for the use of medical marijuana, however, most employers still are not accepting of this form of treatment. 

I was wondering how important it is for her medical team to have this information?  

Thank you.

barbe1958

I would think that only her anesthetist needs to know, just as much as if she was a regular smoker. She won't be allowed to smoke in the hospital obviously, so she may miss the relief the pot gives her. I, personally, don't use pot for pain relief as it seems to exacerbate it, but do enjoy the giggles it gives me.

AutumnSoleil

Thank you Barbe,  I thought the same thing, but can't get her to budge on revealing this information.

WendyInCalif

I believe that this is months too late but since I am also a healthcare worker and a BC patient who has smoked MJ basically all of my life, I wanted to say that I think that your sister should not reveal her MJ habit.  It will go into her medical records and the insurance company will see it.  She may have to consider repercussions from having her employer aware of her MM use.  I say keep it to yourself.

MiceRNice

I told my anaestheologist I smoked MJ regularly and he didn't seem concerned.  I made sure not to have any the night before surgery.  I've gone under three times now and have been fine every time.  I have not been able to use painkillers after (Percocet or Tylenol 3) as they make me throw up, so I go right back to MJ after surgery for relief.  It is gross that something so benign causes us all to become panicked and untruthful about our health.  I wish people would wake up to the benefits of this herb (for some people, anyways).  My quality of life is much lower without it.

apple

i  wouldn't reveal it..