None of our family ever used marijuana, ever. We never felt the need. Our mind set was that if other people wanted to use it, fine, as long as it didn't affect us directly. When the rare disease my husband and son share advanced, the need to alleviate symptoms pushed us to try the previously illegal drug.
Our care giver, Manny, took my husband and son to a clinic for a medical marijuana evaluation. Although they carried documents to confirm their diagnosis, the doctor simply asked if they needed cannabis and signed off, giving them the required certificates. Based on this experience, in my opinion, doctor evaluations for pot are a farce, providing a rubber stamp and charging money. They weren't even given a receipt.
The next day, Manny took my guys to get their medicinal pot supplies from a reputable and licensed shop. When they went to enter the establishment, Manny was told he couldn't enter without a certificate of his own. He explained that while both guys were in wheelchairs, my husband couldn't control his chair very well. If they wanted the inside of their shop to remain intact, they may want to reconsider. They did.
Because their condition causes breathing problems, due to diaphragm weakness, smoking wasn't an option. Their neurologist concurred, saying he couldn't prescribe the drug products, but wouldn't object. My guys chose some edibles. My husband got THC infused chocolate bon bons. My son got CBD Gold capsules. A salve to rub on sore spots and a spray (two squirts per day in the mouth) rounded out their purchases. The shop gave each of them a small bag of gummies, a pipe, a lighter, and a sample Gold capsule of THC.
The first time my husband tried the THC laced edibles, he quickly reported his legs felt hot. The sensation lasted about half an hour. The next day he tried the same edible with the same result, although the sensation didn't last quite as long. On the third day, he no longer had the hot sensation. His body or mind seemed to have adjusted to the foreign compound.
My husband has Machado Joseph's, a rare neurological disorder, and a second, not yet determined, neurological disorder. The first affects his balance, coordination, vision, and peripheral sensitivity. The second makes him crazy as a bed bug, with dementia, especially at night.
The marijuana had some effect on his already delusional and hallucinogenic mind. The THC seemed to make the imaginary thoughts come easier, but make them "kinder." Previously, he would often "see" people, who he often viewed as threatening in one manner or another. Or, he would "see" both small or large equipment and vehicles that needed some sort of work to be done to them or by them. With the THC, he sees things in a more Disney type view, like blue birds having taken up residence in his coat. He re-enacted the entire pre-flight check procedure for flying a fighter jet, including climbing up the ladder, putting on his helmet, and adjusting his oxygen mask.
A few months later, the top doctor in rapidly progressive dementia, along with Terry's neurologist, diagnosed Lewy Body as the source of Terry's behavioral and cognitive problems. Lewy Body is a bit like Alzheimer's on steroids. Key symptoms are delusions and hallucinations, especially seeing little animals and insects, acting out dreams, and mood changes in a heart beat. His cannabis was changed from THC to CBD to avoid contributing to the hallucinations and delusions.
Update 3/8/2017 A good side-effect of medical marijuana is the minimizing or elimination of the constant feeling of cold feet, even when the feet are toasty warm.
No comments:
Post a Comment