Getting Older... Doctor Calls Me Out on Medicating w/MJ.

[mpd]

btw, you should inform this bitch that cannabis (please never refer to it as marijuana) is also the only medicine to relieve you of the kind of grief she caused you to feel in having her vilify the meds that actually do give you comfort.

she probably called a local emergency meeting of her local TeaBaggers Party for that very night.......

Easy, we Tea Baggers deplore the drug war. You'll see it when you look inside our movement. The press has painted us as these great social villains who are on a crusade against drugs and nothing could be further from the truth - at least as far as the North Houston Tea Party Patriots and Texas Tea Party are concerned at any rate.

 

[mpd]

same thing happened to me a few weeks ago.

the best part of all though, is that during the check-up with the doctor, the asshole answers the phone and tells the person who is calling that he should up from 10mg to 20mg the ritalin dose for a 12 year old kid.

I could not believe it... he's passing out ritalin like candy and talking shit about Cannabis at the same time.

that goes to show, you find total ignorant people in all areas of life.

Yep. She was a wise fool if ever there was one.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Funny how this turns into an indictment of all doctors and everyone associated with the medical arts. That's called throwing out the baby with the bathwater. I see so much bad advice here, but hey, that's the way of things, isn't it? People don't understand, and so they fear what they don't understand. People don't understand doctors, so they fear them, begin thinking of them and treating them as though they aren't people who shit every day, who bleed the same blood, and have many of the same foibles, feelings, what have you.

There are plenty of very, very good doctors out there, and you can't indict the entire field of the art without looking like the same kind of fool who blankets YOU for being a pot smoker.

Don't get me started on treatments for children that have been too long in coming. If you know nothing about it (like treating ADHD and the oft associated disorders), this mother would appreciate you keeping it to yourself. If you don't know what an IEP is, keep it to yourself. If you don't know what a behavioral specialist is, or what an occupational specialist will do for your child, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. It's offensive. It's just as offensive to someone like me as you might find being labelled for smoking weed to be for you.

I have a common complaint. One of the nerves in my leg is being pinched by something. This results in numbness in the leg, tingling, burning and deep muscle pain. It's been going on for years, but has been getting progressively worse over the past six months. The other night the leg wouldn't let me sleep so I heeded my wife's advice and made an appointment to see an orthopedist.

So I go in and they ask what drugs I take and I go through the list (I suffer from a rather horrible mental disease as well as suffer high blood pressure, high cholesterol and migraine headaches, so I have quite a few meds) and of course I had to list marijuana as one of the medications I regularly take.

The doctor acted like I shot her. She could not believe a guy my age (I just turned 50 two weeks ago and you people forgot the surprise party) was using "illicit drugs". I almost laughed. I told her that sometimes it was all I had between me and screaming agony from the headaches, but that wasn't important. What was important was that I am an older man and I need to be responsible.

She even wrote across my treatment printout "NO ILLICIT DRUGS!" "NO MARIJUANA!"

Gimme' a break lady. Have I not earned the right to just a wee bit of comfort as time winds down in my life?

Frickin' square baffoon.

Is anyone else getting this kind of gas from the health community?

Yes, and I consider her actions to be malpractice (this is coming from a doctor's daughter). I've had this debate often with both my regular DO and my dentist.

Here's the long and the short of it: It's your body, and YOU get to determine how and what's used to treat it. The doctor can throw out all kinds of dogmatic beliefs about cannabis, but the long and the short of that is that Ms. Ortho MUST become better educated, period. If she needs help, I'm your gal, I know how to speak with doctors in a manner they understand, and hell if I'm intimidated by them.

I just turned 48 on Monday, and I, too, decided last year that I've had ENOUGH of hiding what I do. I have earned the right to consume what I wish, how I wish. I have earned the right to use or NOT USE whatever medication I so desire. I also happen to be vastly better educated on cannabis than my doctor(s) are, and am quite happy to tell them what papers to look up, while suggesting they go beyond the abstract.

Is this gal an MD or a DO? MDs aren't so hard-on against cannabis, whereas DOs have come flat out against it, which boggles my mind. How can a more homeopathic remedy with few to no side effects be preferable to invasive procedures, addictive and dangerous drugs? How does that work, exactly, when one is proclaiming that with their designation of Doctor of Osteopathy, which is ostensibly supposed to be a more holistic method of health management?

I LOVE debating my doctors. Seriously. I got my dentist to concede on two points: First, that there absolutely can be medical value to cannabis, just as their is with coca; Second, that even if it's only recreational, we do have a RIGHT to recreate as we so choose as long as no victim is created in the recreation

 

[ronbo51]

Most of the Tea Party people I know, and I consider myself one, are against the drug war and all its associated stupidity. Tea Partiers are mostly fired up about out of control spending and a ruling class that has abandoned us in the 51% who still work and pay taxes. I would never tell my doc about my cannabis use.

 

[pearlemae]

My doc told me he was running a drug screen on me I said fine. I don't know how high I scored for MJ but I kow I studied like a mother. Anyway we discussed MJ use and the VA and how they frown on mj totally. then he said if I had a problem the VA had great rehab program. I said there was no problem as far as I was concerned and he never has said anther word about it and it been 4 or more years since. I still study hard every day just in case I get a pop quiz. I live in a mj state but don't have or want a card. When the fed go nuts my name will be on no lists from the gov, I can get a card as a disabled vet but nope.

 

[spring fed]

I had a similar experience a couple years back. Had a nasty flu that was lingering so I made an appointment. The PA asked if I smoked cigs. I don't. Then she asked if I smoke marijuana. I was hesitent because I'm in a very small town and see her quite often. She said 'not even every once in a while'? I responded, 'well maybe on occassion. Before I even finished my sentence, her demenor changed and she tore into me. She let me know that even light usage was extreamly detremental and that I need to reasses my lifestyle. I was so blown away that I didn't even try to have a discussion with her.

 

[zymos]

Is this gal an MD or a DO? MDs aren't so hard-on against cannabis, whereas DOs have come flat out against it, which boggles my mind.

Amusing that you started off posting about how this thread was stereotyping MDs, then you throw out some BS like that.

There is one DO (in particular) in our town who must be one of the most popular "mainstream" health providers. He's the one that everyone goes to when they don't want to be hassled for not vaccinating their kids, or when they want to see a Dr. that will actually spend time with you and try to help your problems instead of just prescribing meds.
And yes, he's fine about weed too.

Generalizations are just not very usefull....

 

[mrcreosote]

I have to take anti-convulsants to control excruciating nerve pain in my face. The long list of side effects are so frigging scary that you'll hope death is the one you'll get, if any.

My neuro guy says no sweat, smoke away. If it helps fine (which it does) and if not, you won't care as much. Won't hurt in the least. I lol-ed and said that was a different outlook than most DRs would have. "I'm from India. Cannabis is everywhere has been a component of Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. The only adverse reactions I'm aware of are allergic, but most are from overuse. Don't smoke until you throw up."

Advice worth paying for.

 

[bombadil.360]

Don't get me started on treatments for children that have been too long in coming. If you know nothing about it (like treating ADHD and the oft associated disorders), this mother would appreciate you keeping it to yourself. If you don't know what an IEP is, keep it to yourself. If you don't know what a behavioral specialist is, or what an occupational specialist will do for your child, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. It's offensive. It's just as offensive to someone like me as you might find being labelled for smoking weed to be for you.

you forgot to add: "save the children please! do it for the children!"

 

[nattynattygurrl]

Really bums me out to read these bizarre experiences with doctors; some really scary stories!

On a side note, two things I think we all, (the "movement"), need to really get behind to make cannabis more 'palatable' to the "anti's":

1) It's Cannabis: never "marijuana, weed, or pot", all of which have negative connotations.
(A salute to S4L for bringing it up! ) While less important in amongst pro-cannabis folks, it's extremely important to changing the perceptions of those who still deny the medical value of cannabis...I still slip from time to time, but I really try to make a conscious effort to use cannabis rather than the other, less flattering terms. I try to refer to cannabis as flowers and herbs as well; since to me it's more along the lines of camomile or kava. The choices we make in our language are extremely important; "drug" immediately creates a negative perception in the listener's mind.

2) Stress other forms of medicating, over combustion/smoke:
Less objectionable ingestion methods: vaporizing, ingesting canna-butter, canna-milk, or tinctures, heck even topical creams, will preemptively disarm a few of their 'arguments' against medical cannabis.
And although I find smoking more enjoyable at times, and more effective in treating certain symptoms, (nausea), I try to stress the less objectionable, alternative methods when I am talking to someone I suspect is anti-cannabis; as they are usually completely unaware that med users ever do anything but smoke.

I realize it's just terminology, unimportant in the grand scheme of things, however IMHO anything we can do, to make "them" slightly more 'comfortable' with this exceptional medicine, should at least be considered, as long as it does not negatively effect med users.

 

[m314]

I don't mention cannabis use with doctors unless there's a reason. I went in for a sleep study last year to get tested for sleep apnea. I told the doctor that cannabis is the only thing that works for me for sleep, and I've tried just about every pharmaceutical out there.

She was a little worried about dreams and REM sleep being suppressed, but I explained how I still dream every night with cannabis. I think she was ready to give me the "smoking is bad" lecture, but I told her I hardly ever smoke. I mostly just take a capsule at night so it lasts longer. She was actually curious about my capsule recipes.

So some doctors are cool with it even if they don't know much about the topic. I probably wouldn't have brought it up at all if I wasn't in a med state.

 

[187020]

How's your prostate?

How's your prostate?

Tell that bitch make herself useful

 

[texsativa]

Sorry to hear about your experience. You have to remember, most physicians have never tried marijuana, so they have that bias. However, plenty of doctors have sense enough to know the risks vs benefits of marijuana use. You just have to find a good doctor. And remember, you are in charge of your health.

 

[mtbazz]

I have a common complaint. One of the nerves in my leg is being pinched by something. This results in numbness in the leg, tingling, burning and deep muscle pain. It's been going on for years, but has been getting progressively worse over the past six months. The other night the leg wouldn't let me sleep so I heeded my wife's advice and made an appointment to see an orthopedist.

So I go in and they ask what drugs I take and I go through the list (I suffer from a rather horrible mental disease as well as suffer high blood pressure, high cholesterol and migraine headaches, so I have quite a few meds) and of course I had to list marijuana as one of the medications I regularly take.

The doctor acted like I shot her. She could not believe a guy my age (I just turned 50 two weeks ago and you people forgot the surprise party) was using "illicit drugs". I almost laughed. I told her that sometimes it was all I had between me and screaming agony from the headaches, but that wasn't important. What was important was that I am an older man and I need to be responsible.

She even wrote across my treatment printout "NO ILLICIT DRUGS!" "NO MARIJUANA!"

Gimme' a break lady. Have I not earned the right to just a wee bit of comfort as time winds down in my life?

Frickin' square baffoon.

Is anyone else getting this kind of gas from the health community?

I would never confide to my doctor that I smoke MJ. Ive been going to the guy since I was in high school ( I am 44 now), but there is no way I would tell him...

 

[Snook]

I have to hide it from my Veterans Admin docs

And why is this, SH? What state are you in? Not that it should matter.

 

[teddybud]

man i had depression problems from the fucked of regiment of anti depressants and sleep aides etc the docs had me on on... went to the hospital because I was sucidal.. and of course its the herbal thats causing it... doctors are full of shit.. 6 years later I'm doing great off that shit cause they said I was a drug addict and wouldn't give me my medicine anymore cause I was using the herb... I was like bitch I have been using herb since I was 11... don't tell me thats my problem... that has been the only thing that kept me even somewhat balanced as you(the doctors) raped my chemical balance with your drugs trying to turn everyone into fda drug buying zombie... plain and simple fuck doctors and pot.. they want your money they don't want you to use something herbal.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Amusing that you started off posting about how this thread was stereotyping MDs, then you throw out some BS like that.

There is one DO (in particular) in our town who must be one of the most popular "mainstream" health providers. He's the one that everyone goes to when they don't want to be hassled for not vaccinating their kids, or when they want to see a Dr. that will actually spend time with you and try to help your problems instead of just prescribing meds.
And yes, he's fine about weed too.

Generalizations are just not very usefull....

Generally, I agree with you there. However, there are instances where generalizations may be generally true, generally.

I have personal experience with four different DOs who all have come out strongly against cannabis. That's pretty extensive for ONE person to have such experience, doncha think? What's even more interesting, to me at least, is that all four DOs prefer to prescribe meds. And what's even MORE interesting is that my own parents, both of them health professionals, have DOs as their primary care physicians. Would you like to know what their additional two DOs have to say about medical cannabis, or can you guess?

Yet my MD orthopedic surgeon is 100% A-OK with my cannabis use, as was the anesthesiologist most recently used (actually, two, I needed two procedures within a couple of months of each other).

Who is the anomaly? I don't know, but I know what I've experienced, what my family members have experienced.

Perhaps this one doc is an anomaly, or these several DOs are anomalies. But it doesn't make what I said bullshit. In fact, this article actually supports my suggestion: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/september202007/medical_marijuana_92007.php

 

[Snoopster]

My old doctor retired. My new doctor was shocked to learn I use marijuana. He actually told me that it causes cancer.

I told him that doctors are supposed to be scholarly and that he was an embarrassment to the scientific method. I haven't seen him in years as I haven't had a reason.

More than 25% of children are on a prescription drug right now.
What the fuck is that? When did children become so sick?

 

[zymos]

Perhaps this one doc is an anomaly, or these several DOs are anomalies. But it doesn't make what I said bullshit. In fact, this article actually supports my suggestion: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/september202007/medical_marijuana_92007.php

That article would seem to contradict your anecdotal experience:

"I thought I might be the only Osteopathic doctor in Oregon signing applications. I found out that 200, which is 40 percent, of the state’s DOs are signing. By contrast, only 25 percent of MD’s have signed applications."

 

[SeaMaiden]

Uh, did you read the whole article, or did you miss all the DOs quoted who use pretty much the exact same reasoning against medical cannabis use I've encountered directly?

So far, in California I have encountered exactly 0 DOs signing recommendations, whereas all doctors signing, again that *I* have encountered, typically hold a medical doctorate.

I try very hard to qualify my words, and in all instances have done my best to qualify what *my* experience has been, instead of doing what you accuse of me and making sweeping generalizations. If I have failed in this endeavor here, then I must try harder.