Medical Marijuana

My friend's husband is a medical marijuana practioner here in Calif where mmj is legal. He is part of a "cooperative" or maybe it's called a "collective".For those of you who's MO won't order it, you might be able to get an "practitioner" to get you a script. My friend's hubby is a psycholgist, but works with a MD. They are reasonably priced compared to mainstream(I'm told). If I were having problems & I wanted to try mmj, I'd probably skip my mainstream doctors. Might not even mention it to them. Of the people I know who use mmj, anxiety & depression are the main reasons. I know someone who uses it for back pain.

Shanagirl-I'm told it doesn't have to be smoked to relieve nausea. They have a form that desolves in your mouth like a breath mint strip.

Shanagirl: I didn't like that fact either as I am into high intensity cardio workouts. I discovered an mj tincture. But for me the jury is still out for using mj. Since I'm depressed from being dxd and recently going thru chemo taking it makes me feel even more depressed.



I initially wanted to try it to alleviate anxiety and help insomnia. Still trying to find something suitable for insomnia, which I hear will get worse when I start tammi. Ugh it doesn't end.

I never thought of it for medicinal purposes and I haven't smoked it since grade 10...that is until I saw the movie " It's Complicated". Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwinn brought tye sexy back to pot smoking. DH and I smoked our first joint in 25 years after seeing that movie....too fun. I highly recommend it...lol
Cheers
Beth

I am just glad to see a post about pain after tx. I can't get the doctors to listen to me. I think Hercpetin was my culprit. I want a script for vicodin to be used as needed because some days are worse than others. I still have bone pain 1 year after finishing tx. I get constant muscle spasms randomly. I never thought about mj. They have deemed me "drug seeking." All I have to say is live one day in my shoes.

LindaKR- thank you so much for sharing. I do feel shunned. I wish my docs could see it thru your docs eyes.

Thanks for the encouragement grannydukes!

love that, need it in PA!!!

I have severe breast and abdominal pain, as well as under my right arm. The pain management doc worked with me for a few months, one med at a time, adding another after 2 wks until I am now on: 1200Mg Neurontin, 800Mg Etodolac (similar to Celebrex), 200Mg Tramadol, 75Mg Nortriptyline, and 20/650Mg Vicodin per day! I have been taking all this for 3 years. Now I am seeing a Nephrologist because my kidneys are retaining too much "creatine" or something like that. Several times I tried mj, smoking and in food. I didn't like the smoke taste in my mouth but two puffs and I was pain free. I also tried some in rice crispy treats and again pain free right away. I am going to see the Dr. at the Medical Marijuana Pharmacy near us, taking in my medical documents and planning to get my card. I have spoken with a woman in our area who has a nonprofit organization that works with patients using mm. There are all types of ways to use mm. Tinctures, ground up, and even some you can put in tea. And there are numerous varieties that deal with different types of pain. I understand that the pot used now is much more potent and very different from what we smoked or ingested in the 60s. The growers have been cultivating and hybriding different varieties to improve their potency.

I've decided that I'm tired of taking all these meds every day, day after day. It's enough that I will live with Lymphedema for the rest of my life; and I want to live and enjoy each day--without having dry mouth or trying to put together a few sentences without pausing to say the word I need but can't remember, and I'd like to keep my organs in relatively good shape as long as I can!

I'll let you know how my experience is with the new medical mj dispensaries in sunny California.

Pomegranate 

Wow, what an interesting thread. My heart truly goes out to you who are living with pain. I hope so desperately that what I am doing will prevent recurrence and metastasis. Before I got bc I never dreamed how the fight can be. I had bad pain for weeks after surgery (8/18/11) but am not suffering now. Fingers crossed as AI is coming up.

My heart goes out to you in particular, DebRox, and others with insomnia. I think insomnia is so cruel, because when you wake up in the quiet hours, you grind and grind over things in your mind. I have often been told that it helps to write down what's on your mind on a pad by the bed, and it has worked for me sometimes. Have you got any psychiatric support for your depression? ((((@))))

Anyway, I am not sure about mmj's effects on pain, but I do know that it distracts the mind and can enable one to focus on objects of beauty in a therapeutic way. Taken in the evening after dinner, when the day's work is done, and followed by an evening walk in a beautiful park, mmj can be very healing. I think it's important to keep the dose very small because today's mj is extremely potent. It's not addictive but it affects balance and mental clarity.

Love, Ellen

You could go somewhere where it is legal like California...lol... If this works for you go for it! It HAS to be better the all the narcotics they perscribe. The only down side iI could see s the hunger aspect of it.

I wish i got the munchies!!!!!!!I need to gain 10 lbs.....It works for sleep,pain,stomach upset and lots of other things....just wish it would be legal where I live!!!!!!!

AND ITS NOT ADDICTING LIKE ALL THOSE FRIGGIN PILLS THE WHITE COATS PUSH ON YOU....WHAT AM I MISSING HERE????????

Hi,

I have at least 2 different types of pain; my thoracic region is more of a burning type of pain and if not treated with the pain meds it puts my abdominal area into increasing "klutches" of the burning and adds pain that can only be described as someone grabbing and squeezing and twisting at the same time. My other pain is like being skewered with a hot icepick in my breast area and under my arm.

My pain comes from breast cancer treatment that was poo-poo'ed by the doctors as not possible in relationship to the surgery, snb & rads. I wasn't given or told about lymphedema and told "you can do anything you feel like doing." I requested a mastectomy the next year and decided to do recon (Tram-flap) at the same time. No one seemed to know what might happen and really didn't even talk about the possible increase in LE on my torso.

I also tried stellate ganglion block injections every 6 months over a 3 year period, that appeared to help but the pain just returned within a month. This is done on outpatient basis with light anesthesia (similar to that used for colonoscopy). I decided I didn't want to do this anymore as I felt it was affecting my memory.

I am grateful I live in California and have a choice I can make.

Another woman I know sees a palliative dr. and she takes time release oxycontin 10 mg 2x a day. I'm also considering this route, so still not sure what I would do. Have never taken this medication and don't know what effect it would have on my body over time. Some of my relatives are horrified I would even consider this. My dh is so supportive and says it is my decision what I do and he will stand by me. My LE massage therapist leans toward the reduction to on medication. Anyone had to make these choices? Sure could use some more feedback.

I see the Nephrologist in November and plan to discuss this with her. By that time I will make a decision, and hopefully it will be the one that will keep my kidneys healthy. So far, she has told me that the Tramadol, Nortriptyline, and Etodolac DO affect kidneys. Grrrrrrrr--I hate cancer and it's dark little secret (LE)! 

I am absofreakinglutely terrified of getting lymphedema. I'm also afraid to live the rest of my life trying to protect this right arm (of course I'm right handed) and make it weaker when maybe that's not the right thing to do. I know it's not the heart of this thread, but if anyone knows anything about the odds of LE and how best to avoid it, send a holler. The best things I've read are in the article here on breastcancer.org. Some of it seems easy (stay out of hot tubs etc, avoid injections and blood pressure cuffs, and so on) but there's a lot that's vague. How common IS this and why don't they educate us better to prevent it?????

Re. munchies, I don't seem to have that problem like I did when I was young.

My humble layperson's opinion is that piles of drugs have unforeseeable interactions, so if I were in your shoes, sweet Pomegranate, I would make it a top priority to work with your doc to change that situation. God forbid it screws up your kidneys and you end up needing dialysis 3x week. You sound strong and determined (miraculously, given what you are going through) and I bet you can find some combinations of mmj, exercise, maybe acupuncture, etc that will help you get out from under at least some of that Rx load. I have heard good things about acupuncture but don't know for bc.

PS Brilliant descriptions of pain. Gotta laugh or cry, I guess. My post-surgical pain -- after it lightened up!! -- was like a rat had taken a big bite under my arm and was hanging there trying to gnaw it off. :-\  NOTHING compared to your icepick. Anyway it seemed like mmj helped.

Treeskier, I sent you a Private Message.

Be well,
Binney