- Joined
- Jan 31, 2018
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I'm looking for others with a similar experience, or anyone who uses CAMs (complimentary&alternative medicines) to manage Crohn's Disease symptoms, namely Cannabis.
I am a 22 year old that has been successfully using marijuana to keep my Crohn's Disease in check. I smoke, on average, multiple times every day, both for medical reasons and recreational (I have mental issues as well, marijuana has been a godsend). I used to have a severe case, having to be hospitalized at the height of a flare up every week for painful full-on blockages from the ages of 16 to 20. Around the time I moved out of my parents' home, I started smoking regularly. Around that same time, I stopped needing to be hospitalized... stopped needing to take pain medications, visiting the ER, was able to work, and stopped suffering in general. Ate what I wanted, to boot.
However, recently, I have been unable to smoke as often. I have two anecdotes of this pattern, and the results of my abstinence from the substance.
Instance #1
I attempted to quit smoking for 2+ months, in relation to the legality of the substance and me not wanting it to show up in my system for a test. I made it to almost two weeks, and began showing signs of a blockage. Pain, gas build up, nausea, vomiting, couldn't eat a thing. Ended up wasting my family's time at the ER, went home, and smoked. My symptoms evaporated, and I was fine again. I continued to smoke regularly, despite my legal worries, feeling in my gut (lol) that this was for the best.
Now onto my recent (and current) Instance #2
I have been unable to smoke for just over a week now (due to availability), and the symptoms are back. A partial blockage, so I feel it does not warrant a hospitalization (however I feel it is only a matter of time before it becomes a full-blown blockage). Gas, pain, diarrhea and constipation simultaneously, and eating is becoming less and less appealing, bringing nausea and pain with whatever I take in.
My question is... Before I've ever smoked, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I cut myself off all medications (at the time Methotrexate and Humira) and took up marijuana- a risky endeavor, but I'm pleased with the effects of my choice. However, I am concerned with how my symptoms show after such a short time away from marijuana. Could this be its own form of withdrawls, acting on my more-vulnerable (due to CD) body? Not sure. What am I asking? I... don't know. I'm doing as much research on cannabinoids as I can (learning a lot about cytokines and the ECS) in hopes of learning why my body behaves so terribly when going through periods of no smoking. I'm very lost, upset, and worried.
Quick related history- The last time I spoke to my GI, was during my ileostomy takedown. Said I had the insides of someone who was never diseased in the first place (made me blush, haha). I have not seen much of my GI since then. I had been smoking almost daily during that time, and credited my state largely in part to cannabis. I have also struggled with eating disorders, largely brought on by the symptoms of my disease, which I feel is worth mentioning because I have been restricting myself from eating to combat this pain, and I feel a very real fear of this snowballing back into that hellish place.
My only idea to fix this is to wait until I have marijuana available again. Nothing else has made me feel fine like this and for so long, with zero negative symptoms. I don't want to ever see another hospital room again.
I am a 22 year old that has been successfully using marijuana to keep my Crohn's Disease in check. I smoke, on average, multiple times every day, both for medical reasons and recreational (I have mental issues as well, marijuana has been a godsend). I used to have a severe case, having to be hospitalized at the height of a flare up every week for painful full-on blockages from the ages of 16 to 20. Around the time I moved out of my parents' home, I started smoking regularly. Around that same time, I stopped needing to be hospitalized... stopped needing to take pain medications, visiting the ER, was able to work, and stopped suffering in general. Ate what I wanted, to boot.
However, recently, I have been unable to smoke as often. I have two anecdotes of this pattern, and the results of my abstinence from the substance.
Instance #1
I attempted to quit smoking for 2+ months, in relation to the legality of the substance and me not wanting it to show up in my system for a test. I made it to almost two weeks, and began showing signs of a blockage. Pain, gas build up, nausea, vomiting, couldn't eat a thing. Ended up wasting my family's time at the ER, went home, and smoked. My symptoms evaporated, and I was fine again. I continued to smoke regularly, despite my legal worries, feeling in my gut (lol) that this was for the best.
Now onto my recent (and current) Instance #2
I have been unable to smoke for just over a week now (due to availability), and the symptoms are back. A partial blockage, so I feel it does not warrant a hospitalization (however I feel it is only a matter of time before it becomes a full-blown blockage). Gas, pain, diarrhea and constipation simultaneously, and eating is becoming less and less appealing, bringing nausea and pain with whatever I take in.
My question is... Before I've ever smoked, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I cut myself off all medications (at the time Methotrexate and Humira) and took up marijuana- a risky endeavor, but I'm pleased with the effects of my choice. However, I am concerned with how my symptoms show after such a short time away from marijuana. Could this be its own form of withdrawls, acting on my more-vulnerable (due to CD) body? Not sure. What am I asking? I... don't know. I'm doing as much research on cannabinoids as I can (learning a lot about cytokines and the ECS) in hopes of learning why my body behaves so terribly when going through periods of no smoking. I'm very lost, upset, and worried.
Quick related history- The last time I spoke to my GI, was during my ileostomy takedown. Said I had the insides of someone who was never diseased in the first place (made me blush, haha). I have not seen much of my GI since then. I had been smoking almost daily during that time, and credited my state largely in part to cannabis. I have also struggled with eating disorders, largely brought on by the symptoms of my disease, which I feel is worth mentioning because I have been restricting myself from eating to combat this pain, and I feel a very real fear of this snowballing back into that hellish place.
My only idea to fix this is to wait until I have marijuana available again. Nothing else has made me feel fine like this and for so long, with zero negative symptoms. I don't want to ever see another hospital room again.
