Terminal Illness And Acceptance

[joeylittle]

@She Cat - this article is pretty thorough about how cannabis works, through it's various compounds. PTSD Treatment using Marijuana, aka. Weed, Cannabis

I'm sorry the CBD oil is so expensive. That blows. It might get cheaper once the lab-generated option hits the market (which will be a patent medication, so it will be expensive, which could drive down other prices so they can compete).

Hate the high cost of life.

 

[mamachick]

I would love to have the opportunity to try medical marajuana. I have only smoked weed for recreation on occasions through my life, and I know that it would not be the same, but can't see how it would help as I can't imagine taking the "stoned" part out of doing so.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@brat17 if I could smoke weed without getting paranoid and have the "high" I'd do it in a minute. But the paranoia is just way too much for me to handle.... But then there is the way it affects the lungs too. Dilemma!!!!!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

if I could smoke weed without getting paranoid and have the "high" I'd do it in a minute. But the paranoia is just way too much for me to handle.

When I smoked weed I never got paranoid. I was way less paranoid then I am sober. Sober I stay paranoid. It never eases up. Weed makes me not care and very laid back.

 

[Lionheart]

I too am less paranoid when I smoke, it slows my mind down and allows me more control over what I choose to think, feel, say, do etc. Still I can get a bit anxious at times, and think it depends on the strain I am smoking at the time.

I just found out about 20 minutes ago, that I am only about 400 miles from a medical marijuana state and that I have two of the qualifying conditions, fibromyalgia and PTSD....as bad as my sister and I need cannabis oil to vape I am seriously considering a future move.

I am excited:woot: about the possibilities.

 

[mamachick]

I just don't like feeling high. Well, not completely true or would not have done...lol. To use it for ptsd-I would not want to feel high on a daily basis. It makes my mind think things are funny and I laugh a lot. I would not be able to get any work done. Im thinking when you get it medically, it would be different.
Like Lionheart said in his joke-"how high are you?"
I just want to be calm and productive again.

 

[Lionheart]

I agree being high on a daily basis is not such a good thing and a high CBD strain or oil would probably serve you best.

As you said taking it medically is different, that is why they recommend CBD oil for children with seizure disorders such as epilepsy, so they do not get high but benefit from the CBD.

I saw a video of a child having severe seizures....They rubbed CBD oil on the bottoms of his feet and within a minute or so his seizures stopped. Pretty amazing to me!!

without much THC and a high CBD content, you won't experience the paranoia or anxiety.

And while I do like to get high, I don't always want to be high; sometimes I need to think straight, be grounded and focused.. there is a monster called "too high" and it is really uncomfortable to experience.

anyways,I just want to be calm again too @brat17 .and to be able to breathe freely.
I like being calm and serene and able to function....that is why *I support the use of medical marijuana for the chronically and terminally ill.

*(To be honest I also support the use of recreational cannabis for responsible adults age 21 and over and I support the utilization of industrial hemp. But that is for another thread at another time).

The whole idea is to get well / healthy and better able to function....but if I am happy and laughing while I do it, who is to care if I don't? :O_o: Still you don't have to get high to get well with medical cannabis.

 

[Lionheart]

Having had my light box for several days now, I can tell that it has a positive affect on me and I am much happier and am coping with things better than before. I am sleeping well and getting rest which is majorly important to ones health and well-being. The real test will be later this week there are going to be a lot of dark, dismal, dreary days in a row. We'll see how it goes.

I expect to see my doctor in a few days and inquire as to my last respiratory test results when they diagnosed me with COPD. I am interested to learn how much dysfunction there is and what I can do about it besides quitting smoking and vaping e-juice.

I am beginning to get used to the vapor although it isn't the same as a cigarette so I am struggling to get my feet underneath me for a firm foundation with this new lifestyle change. I am hacking up a bunch of phlegm when I vape and hope that it's a good sign, not something else to worry about.

wish me luck,

peace,
Lionheart777

 

[mamachick]

You are really making some positive changes Lionheart. This is a big accomplishment. I know how hard it is to make this lifestyle change. I am wishing you luck all the way. I think it is so much more than luck though, and I think you can do it.

I am still waiting for my NJOY's to come so I have cut down to a few cigs a day and am using a e-cig I got locally.
I saw my Dr and he said that he thought the ER Dr. really stretched it when he said I had end stage COPD. My Dr said he thought it was moderate but said that it can progress very quickly with each infection or exacerbation, such as bronchitis. I too am motivated to make this lifestyle change.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@brat17 I've been diagnosed with COPD for 11 years, and I've never had an exerbation UNTIL this year. I've had bronchitis and colds that have kicked my butt, but the exerbation was awful, and the treatment damn near did me in. I woke up feeling a bit off, but within 4 hours, I was in urgent care. Antibiotics and a breathing treatment, sent home to rest. Within 36 hours I was right back there for another breathing treatment. Next day, emergency room. Heart and lung ultrasound, breathing treatment, different antibiotics and steroids.

2 days later at Dr office, where they finally wrote a prescription for a nebulizer for home use. But it was the steroids that damn near did me in. Apparently I've built up an intolerance to steroids. The dr at the ER prescribed 60mgs to start for 2 days, then 50mgs for 2 days, and so on until they were gone. I made it about 3 days, and the urge to either kill someone, myself or just completely go mad was so bad that the dr had me stop them.

I've recently had to stop all of my inhaled steroids also because of the heightened anxiety. Not sure what to do now?!?

I know this is scary for you, and it's such a blow getting a diagnosis like this. If it's at all possible for you, can you make an appointment with a Pulmonary specialist to see exactly how far along you are, what percentage lung function you are at and what the best treatment plan is for you???

I believe that this is just another gift from PTSD. Smoking was such a lousy coping skill for me.

 

[Lionheart]

When I was in college and busy studying, I could go 5 hours without a cigarette before I'd break down and smoke. Without being busy, I smoke one every 10-15 minutes. So I think that shows how much is pure habit and how much is addiction to nicotine.

At any rate, since I am having difficult stopping, (I've tried many times past few years), I was encouraged by my insurance company via med info packet, to discuss this with my doctor and to have any anxiety and depression treated.

When I don't have my cigs with me I feel unsafe, vulnerable, and anxious and when I do smoke, I feel disappointed in myself and a bit frustrated and depressed. Such a catch-22; damned if I do, damned if I don't.

When I am nervous I light up, when I am bored, I light up, after I eat I light up, when I have coffee, I light up etc. etc., ad infinitum to the point it seems more natural to smoke than it does to simply breath air.

Anyways, I am motivated and have a lot of willpower, but I think it is going to take more than that for me to get quit and stay quit. So what if I need a short-term dose of anti-anxiety medication? I don't think that would be such a horrible thing, I am aware that it would be a temporary thing to get me over the hump and that from there I would need to reply on positive coping skills.

This time I am asking for help and accepting that I need it, but I think that makes me strong, not weak. I don't know what all it will take for me to stop, but I know that I will....it is just a matter of what am I going to need to do to get to that point?

 

[mamachick]

She Cat-I had a similar experience in March 2015 and had to have breathing treatment in office and got shot of steroid and anti biotic in office. Home with orals including steroid. Took very long for any recovery and don't think I ever fully recovered. I think this is what my dr is talking about-that this decline is permanent each time. I know the past few yrs, any illness seems to be a permanent set back for me.

Lionheart-I feel that same catch 22. I too have also found myself smoking for more reasons than imagined, not thinking about if I even really wanted it, just an automatic response to everything. I know I need something to replace it. I think that is why the e-cig is helping a lot. Right now, I am using more to cut back (until my e-cigs come that ordered on line). I am noticing that I only take a puff here and there. I knew that I let many cigs burn up in the ashtray too.

I have quit many times for a couple yrs at a time. I have to prepare myself because I need to quit for good. I agree this is the time to ask and to accept help, in whatever form that may be. Definitely a sign of strength.