New rule change at HW: Medical Marijuana can be discussed

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Post Edited (Buddy Blank) : 10/11/2013 9:12:44 PM (GMT-6)

Buddy, you say why is it an issue for me?

For starters, I only started this thread, because I was one of the first here at HW PC to be made aware of the new rule change. Since no one started a thread, I did, as I was notified by my dealings in HW CP.

I have already stated, for the bulk of PC guys, there probably isn't any legitimate medical use. For me, there could be. I am past the 3 year mark of dealing with severe chronic pain issues. It's as the results of all the radiation damage I suffered when I underwent SRT, plus the cumulative effect of all the other horrible parts of my PC journey. I realize what happened to me is not "normal", but it still happened just the same.

I am on very high amounts of Fentanyl and Lortabs, and on the normal "pain days", it barely keeps the bulk of the pain in check. On my bad "pain days", I don't think any amount of meds could cut the pain unless I was in the hospital getting IV based pain drugs. I am also in a situation where there is no hope of improvement or cure, and if anything, it will continue to get worse as my cancer continues to progress.

Most men dealing with cancer pain, deal with it typically in the months before they die, not years ahead of time. My oncologist has told me many times, that I have way more pain issues than would be typical, but he makes it his goal to keep me as comfortable as possible, while still allowing me to be as mobile as possible. It's a delicate balancing job at times.

So for me, MM is a possibility, one day. Already stated that I am not comfortable with the idea, legal or otherwise, but as my pain continues to spread in my body, I will be open to all and any ideas. I have already incorporated massages now in my arsenal, I am considering acupuncture (which I don't even believe in), and thinking through other non-medicinal options, because there is only so much that pain meds can do for the type of pain that I suffer.

I do not believe this thread was ever intended to be a sounding board for generalized anti-M rants, it is suppose to deal with M in relationship to legitimate medical needs. Some how, I think you are missing that point.

Some of your conclusions about pot-use are way out of reality. Doesn't matter how many cops you are friends with. I know cops right here where I live that smoke pot every day. And I know cops that are physically and emotionally abusive to their wives, I know cops that are drunkards, etc. Cops are just people too, you seem to have them on some kind of unrealistic pedestal.

Why don't you focus your remarks (or anger) directly on the true subject: Are there legitmate medical uses for M, again, assuming they are available to patients in states where they are legal. That is the real issue.

Do you feel the same way about tobacco? Nicotine is the most addictive agent in the world, far more so than heroin, do you feel it should be banned too? I am always amused by people that are on bandwagons about eating healthy, dieting, exercise, yet continue to smoke like chimneys. People will justify what they do themselves, while condemning other life style choices that they don't like.

I am into the "live and let live" kind of thinking.

David

Ziggy,

Thanks for the advice and tip. Two problems however. For starters, I simply would not consider using it illegally, not going to happen with me (not being judgmental here to others, just my own personal ethics at work). If it ever becomes legal in SC, I would certain entertain trying it with the blessings of my oncologist. He is so open minded, and so involved in my pain control, I would imagine he wouldn't have any problems with me trying it. However, in this state, as recently as this year, they simply refused to even discuss it at the state level, let alone bring up a bill. And I am only talking about MM use, not recreational use. When I moved here in 1989, you wouldn't believe some of the silly "blue laws" that were still in effect, and to this day, some are still here. For example, you could buy nails on a Sunday, but you couldn't buy a hammer, because the hammer meant you were going to work on a Sunday. Geez, I promise you, I am not making this up. And there were no stores open on Sundays. It's not like that any more, most stores can open on Sunday, but in some counties, not until after "church time" is over.

My second reason, I had some very bad M experiences in my youth, it wasn't the M itself, it was because of other drugs that had been mixed into the M unknownst to me. I still have terrifying memories of some of that more than 40 years later. In one instance, PCP had been mixed into it. Still too horrible to think about even now. So I would be very, very gun shy, even if MM were legal. But I am not saying absolutely no to the subject, but it would have to be legal here for me to consider.

David

ziggy, sure there are plenty of other "success" stories out there, for those with chronic pain issues.

I just don't understand some of the rigid and stern opinions going on in this thread, seems way out of wack with the actual reality of the subject.

david

as a nurse, my wife has told me silly stories of family members refusing to allow a dying family member to even have morphine on their death beds. why? because they are afraid they might get addicted. like that makes a lot of sense, the person is going to die anyway, why not let them die with as little pain as possible. I still say that a lot of people are clueless what its like to deal with long term serious pain, if they ever felt it themselves, it would make a believer out of the them.

Buddy Blank, please get off your soapbox.....if you read the warning labels on most prescription drugs you wouldn't take them. MM has a place in pain control, nausea management and appetite enhancement. I just finished 6 months of a very difficult chemo regime (folfox) for my rectal cancer...it worked where drugs like Zofran did not. BTW my colorectal oncologist recommended it, and my prostate oncologist concurred !!  Oh, one works @ UCSF the other at Stanford...places I'm sure you may have heard of !!

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Post Edited (Buddy Blank) : 10/11/2013 9:12:15 PM (GMT-6)

What? No one noticed Tud's post?
This thread does not seem to be discussing the medical value of MM for prostate guys.

Buddy:

Again, let me quote you (posting to David):

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Honestly I was curious why this is such an issue for you. It has no use for PCa I am aware of. It is a divisive issue. Why trumpet it here? Why in God's name would anyone want it?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Apparently you choose to pretend that you haven't read any of the responses here? MM apparently can relieve pain/nausea. Seems to me that is a use in late stage PCA. What am I missing?

Mel

What we have here, is failure to communicate.

Some people, you just can't reach.

I have watched 4 relatives pass with cancer. Late 60's, mid 70's, early and late 80's. Separate Dr.s, hospitals and towns. All recommended M for relief of Chemo and cancer. Back then there was no MM. And all Dr.s said that if we told anyone, that they would deny it. This thread is proof of why they were afraid to do the right thing.

I am not going to elaborate, as this is a very personal thing that I had to endure.

Buddy:

You keep referring to illegal narcotics.

It is legal in a multitude of States.

It looks like the Fed is making the very conscious decision not to fight this.

Mel

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/index.html

The above is an interesting piece by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, and he was also under consideration for Surgeon General a number of years ago.

Even though the feds  treat it as Class 1 drug, as many have stated here, it is legal in a number of states, and that list is increasing.....many folks are realizing that the federal govt is behind the times.

MM has a place in nausea management, appetite enhancement and pain control for many cancer patients...it does work.....as the stigma attached to MM fades more doctors will be willing to recommend this.

No clinical trials for prostate cancer.

Highly dangerous to advise mixing with other drugs.

Not approved by the FDA.