Smoking cannabis

Would Cannabis really help?

by Gemita - 2023-02-11 03:55:27

JonesL928

I often see posts here on whether it is safe to take Cannabis with a pacemaker?  I would rather rephrase the question:  “Is it safe to take Cannabis with a heart condition which requires pacemaker support”?  

I see that your doctor (?cardiologist) has said that you can use Cannabis, so I suggest you might want to go back to him for further guidance on how much to take, how often and when you can start using Cannabis again for your anxiety and depression?  Your cardiologist would need to make sure that there would be no adverse interaction with any regular heart meds you may be taking too?  I would also consult your general doctor to see whether there are other therapies you could try, or ask to be referred to a therapist so that you can work through your difficulties.  Talking therapy like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be helpful and there are no withdrawal symptoms after treatment.

Cannabis cannot physically harm your metal device but it may adversely affect your heart condition which required pacing in the first place.  It may also affect how a pacemaker performs its many functions, especially if Cannabis affects your heart rate and heart rhythm.  You would certainly risk getting more in the way of palpitations by taking Cannabis, and palpitations, as we all know, are a strong trigger for anxiety.  So I ask, would Cannabis really help you in the long term?  I am not so sure?

According to UK guidelines, there is clear scientific and medical evidence that cannabis is a harmful drug which can damage users' mental and physical health.  It is illegal to smoke Cannabis in the UK although some patients can be prescribed medicinal cannabis by specialist doctors (since November 2018) if they feel their patients could benefit.  I attach a helpful link which you may wish to copy and paste into your general browser to open.  

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medical-cannabis/

Please speak to your general doctor and cardiologist for advice since I see you live in Portland, Oregon:

https://www.travelportland.com/culture/cannabis/

I hope you get the help you need for your anxiety and depression and that you will soon be feeling better.

Your question

by Lavender - 2023-02-11 11:25:55

Your question was not about approval given that your dr already okayed it. Your question was how long to wait to use cannabis after pacemaker insertion. 
 

Answer-I don't know -BUT I can say this:

After my 33 second pause which led to my near death experience on my livingroom floor and being revived-then getting a pacemaker-I had PTSD. Every night, at the same time as I had that event, I would get anxiety and heart pounding. 
 

My pcp prescribed medical marijuana. He advised against anything smoked to protect the lungs-but recommended a medical marijuana drop that was placed under the tongue. 
 

I thought about using it and called the dispensary. They told me that I would have to report it to the driver's license center and would have restricted driving during the hours I took it. 
 

I'm against restrictions or government interference in my medical care-yeah-I know-it still happens-but I wasn't allowing this. So I never got the prescription filled. 

I use meditation, prayer and music, nature to help with anxiety. I have reactions to most meds hence I am not eager to try anything else. 
 

Cannabis

by AgentX86 - 2023-02-11 12:06:52

...but I didn't inhale.

I'm not one for cannabis because of the long-term effects on the brain but drugs are always a tradeoff.  I certainly wouldn't take unless it were prescribed (not just OK'd) by a doctor, allowing for all of the other drugs.

It should be noted that while it's legal in some states, it is still not legal in the US.  The federal government is currently looking the other way but it is still on the DEA schedule-1 drug list (along with heroin, cocaine, LSD, meth, and more). "Show me the person and I'll show you the crime".

I understand the driving restrictions, as well.  Alcohol has the same restrictions for the same reasons.  That's pretty universally accepted. It is a bit more restrictive in that you have to preemtively report use (I wouldn't like that).

Gemita

by Penguin - 2023-02-11 14:25:58

Gemita - I have removed my post. 

AgentX - Thank you for pointing out that laws differ in the US from state to state. 

If cannabis is illegal in the poster's state I really don't understand the doctor's 'blessing' in this regard. It seems to me that if the doctor has condoned her cannabis use the poster should direct her question to her doctor.  

I'm certainly not going to comment on the use of an illegal drug unless this is explained.

Penguin

by Gemita - 2023-02-11 15:02:00

Thank you.  I have removed my own reference to your post too.  Cannabis doesn't seem to be illegal in the poster's state (please see my second link in my post above).  Personally I find it hard to believe that a doctor would give a pacemaker patient his blessing to smoke Cannabis for anxiety and depression.  Something doesn't feel quite right here.  Would you care to comment JonesL?

Your Jones

by Persephone - 2023-02-11 18:20:21

Hi Jones - I hope you're feeling well with your PM. I'm not sure why you've posted your question on this site - seeking affirmation and approval? Well, that's not needed if your doc said go for it, right?

Conversely, you may want to consider that the 2-wk separation from your jones that you've already achieved is a good start toward moving away from it altogether - just saying this because I get the impression that you are concerned about continuing to use it.

And apologies if your name is actually Jones.

Best to you.

Pot, caffeine, alcohol, etc

by Daedalus - 2023-02-11 21:56:11

I stopped all three of those in early Jan. of last year.  They would tend to counteract the heart calming/regulating benefits of the meds I take, so bye bye to those.  No biggie. 
And decaf works fine.  

Cannabis

by AgentX86 - 2023-02-11 23:11:09

The legality varies by state  (bue states tend to be legalizing it and red states leaving posessoin illegal).  It's still a federal crime to posses it.  So far, the feds are looking the other way but without changing the law, it could change with the wind.

Personally, I'm wirh Daedalus.  I droppe everything (no pot) when I was diagnosed with Afib.  Yes, decaf coffee is just fine.  I was slipped some "real" coffee a couple of years ago.  I was a hurtin' pup.  I was as skittish as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.