Marijuana Man

Marijuana.  As soon as you mention it, images of a bunch of stoner uni students sitting around in a share house with the play station fired up smoking bongs is conjured.  But I am not talking about the recreational use of the drug.  I am talking about the medicinal purpose of the drug. I am talking about Marinol.

Now if you had asked me my to give my opinion on medical marijuana (MMJ) three months ago I would simply told you that I believe if it did have a genuine medical benefit there is no reason why it shouldn't be used but I would also counter it by saying that I have never researched it so my opinion would not be extremely valid and it has never been a viable treatment option for me.  Or has it?

Personally I think my opinion on the subject of MMJ has become a lot more valid in the last four weeks.  Why?  Because I was treated with marinol during my stem cell transplant and it worked great.  I was given a plethora of anti-nausea meds during my hospitalisation and although they did work, the only thing that would allow me to tolerate any food what so ever was marinol.  And during the procedure it is important to eat to maintain your energy levels.

So my question is if it worked so well why has it never been offered to me as a viable option in Australia?  I understand it would need strict regulation but we prescribe far more addictive drugs for far less all the time.  In hospitals narcotic based analgesia is the go to medication for anyone with pain and addictive anti-depressants are being shelled out like M and M's.  However, I have been in hospital in Australia and suffering severe nausea and although this drug would most likely have helped I was not offered it.  I don't even know if it is available over here

But MMJ has such a negative spin.  People always think of pot smoking hippies when you think of marijuana but just because you take the drug medicinally does not mean you'll turn into a pot smoking hippy, just like morphine for pain will not turn you into a heroine junkie.

Now I had the marinol for one reason.  Post chemotherapy nausea.  There are many reported medicinal benefits of MMJ.  We could prescribe it, monitor it, control it and make sure that the product is used safely and for its maximum benefit.  Or we could simply let patients suffer or force them to illegally purchase an uncontrolled substance that is not regulated for quality.

At the end of the day it comes down to patient welfare.  If it can help don't we have a responsibility to prescribe it responsibly as we do with any prescription drug.  Society needs to let go of the stigma associated with marijuana and start thinking about medical benefits.  Then we can start using it for improvement of the lives and easing the suffering of the people that need it.  Until next time, stay well:)

Day +5

On day four I made the conscious decision that I should, where possible, cut down on the drugs they are giving me.  In nearly every recovery there is a time where you no longer need them and I personally would rather not take than take them.

So I decided that the anti nausea should cease.  And I stopped taking them for most of the morning of day +4.  However, when I woke up this morning the nausea ha returned with a vengeance.  Not that it was a big problem, one dose of Zofran and back on the marinol I was fine.  I don't want to stay on the drugs much longer, but if they are still necessary.

Well they tell me that your counts stay down until between days +8 and +12, so I feel like I am about half way there.  If I could get out on day 8 that would be awesome, but realistically I think it will be around day 10.

On another note a dermatologist came round to view my rash and biopsy a part of it.  They say that they will want me to put cream on it all the time, and I feel as though with it  still not itching or painful and looking as though it is clearing up I was more for just leaving it.  But with the biopsy already done I guess I will get an answer.

Until next time stay well:)

Ps.  I would like to extend my warmest wishes to Bob, who is having his PICC line placed tomorrow and Wendy who is having a small procedure with the cardiologist.  Here's hoping it will not be a bigger procedure and will delay her from the program.

Day +2

Every day I'm feeling a little better and a little stronger.  I'm still relying on the marinol for a little anti nausea and to give me a small feeling of appetite, but hopefully tomorrow that cease to be the case and I'll be able to eat unrestrained.

Interestingly enough, I don't think that in Australia they approve MMJ for medical purposes.  Having only taken it in a hospital setting here in Chicago I really don't know why.  I mean what I've gone through in the past week ain't fun, but the marinol has certainly made it easier.  Provided it is administered properly, I don't have a problem with it at all.  It is all to do with patient comfort.

As for my counts, well, they have started writing TLTC which stands for 'too low to count'.  Normally counts rise by their own on day +8 to day +12 and that is the point they will let me out.  Right now, we are just waiting and watching, but it is nice to feel  through the worst of it.  Until tomorrow, stay well:)

Day -2

You know I woke up feeling OK.  With all the drugs that they have pumped into my system I really deserve to feel a whole lot worse.  Unfortunately the OK feeling only lasted about fifteen minutes as I started to feel nauseous and I had that horrid feeling of spit continually welling up in my mouth.

In order to combat this the nurses brought me a tasty shot of Zofran and a delightful yellow bucket to use as a spittoon.   At around 6 am they also came in to give me my morning dose of Lasix.   Lasix is a drug I have come to detest as it makes you go to the toilet an awful lot and in general is not very pleasant as it makes my kidneys hurt.

Around 8.30am the doctor came in to check my lab work and EKG.   He made a recommendation for my nausea a drug called  Marinol.   Also known as medical marijuana.    As a first for me, the main side effect  that was most pleasing was that food actually became appetising again and I managed to eat after which I had a very nice sleep.

On another plus I am now done with all the chemo so now I just have to wait for my cell counts to bottom out and my stem cell infusion on Tuesday and from then it is onward and upward to recovery.

Until next time, stay well:)