FullM3lt
Activate CB2
Hey all. New to the forum...
First off let me tell you the short version of my story. Diagnosed with Pancolitis at age 10. Tried every medication over the next few years to no avail. Prednisone, asacol, 6mp, lialda, remicade, etc...none of them really did much except exacerbate my symptoms with brief periods of remission. From age 10-13 I was on mostly prednisone, which caused a lot of long term issues for me. 13-18 i was on a few medications, from asacol and 6mp to lialda and 6mp. Also had a short experiment with remicade that seemed to work well for a while but I'd flare up 6 weeks after the infusion. Stopped the remicade because of a bad allergic reaction I had during one infusion around age 15. During this 8 year period I was still having 4-8 bowel movements per day and constant abdominal pain. Nothing ever worked.
Now the controversial part. When I was 18 I decided to stop all medication and try medical marijuana as advised by my Naturopath and my own research/experience. The results were amazing. Within 1 month of using a vaporizer/ tincture product, my flare up disappeared. 3.5 years later and I was still flare up free and feeling better than ever. Cycling 200 miles per week, working frequently (flipping houses) and just feeling good about myself. I was having 1-2 firm bowel movements per day which was amazing compared to my treatment from age 10-18. All while using medical marijuana in small doses once a day (before bedtime)
After a few tragic events within the family within the past 2 months, I made the odd decision to halt my medical marijuana use completely for 1 month just to see if it was really keeping me in remission. I didn't know if I was just in a random remission or if the MMJ actually kept me in remission. Worst mistake of my life.
I felt really great for the first two weeks after halting my use of mmj (since THC and other cannabinoids stay in the system so long) but weeks 3 and 4 I felt a flare up coming on. Now I am in full blown flare up mode for the first time in almost 4 years. Coincidentally, the flare up occurred after all cannabinoids left my system. I should add that there were no significant side effects to quitting the cannabis cold turkey until my flare up started after 2 weeks without medication.
I am now using my MMJ again and things are gradually getting better, but it will take 3-4 weeks to let it build up in my system again. The flare up is not rearing it's head yet since I just got back on my medicine, but the minor flare up symptoms are still there. Bad joint pain, pain in my ribs (possibly costochronditis?) bad gas and non regular bowel movements. One day I will have a firm movement and the next i'll have diarrhea. Frequent belching has also been a problem but it's been much worse in the past 2 weeks (hiatal hernia?) I also have this odd popping sensation under my left rib that causes a dull pain. I think it's related to costochronditis, or maybe fibromyalgia...
During my remission I was able to eat whatever I wanted to and nothing bad would happen. I should have been more careful about my diet. Now I am going to my naturopath next week to get a good diet in line for me to avoid this problem in the future.
I know medical marijuana has a negative stigma within the community, but it has helped me so much more than any other medication, and I've been on most of them. So please don't label me as a buffoon or a "pothead" looking for an excuse to "get high" because that's not me at all. I just like being in remission, and MMJ has consistently done that for me.
My parents have watched me progress over the years and I kept my medical marijuana usage private for a solid 2 years. They realized I wasn't taking any medication for two years and that my symptoms had disappeared. That made them into believers, along with all the scientific and anecdotal evidence I presented them. A clean and clear colonoscopy was also great evidence.
Sorry for rambling on, i've just been stressed out since this flare occurred and needed to talk to others that understand the mental and physical anguish that IBD can cause.
Feel free to flame away if you disagree with the medical marijuana method of treatment, but it has worked WONDERS with me and this flare up didn't occur until I stopped. I'm open minded to anything and I'd like you all to be too. Thanks for listening.
First off let me tell you the short version of my story. Diagnosed with Pancolitis at age 10. Tried every medication over the next few years to no avail. Prednisone, asacol, 6mp, lialda, remicade, etc...none of them really did much except exacerbate my symptoms with brief periods of remission. From age 10-13 I was on mostly prednisone, which caused a lot of long term issues for me. 13-18 i was on a few medications, from asacol and 6mp to lialda and 6mp. Also had a short experiment with remicade that seemed to work well for a while but I'd flare up 6 weeks after the infusion. Stopped the remicade because of a bad allergic reaction I had during one infusion around age 15. During this 8 year period I was still having 4-8 bowel movements per day and constant abdominal pain. Nothing ever worked.
Now the controversial part. When I was 18 I decided to stop all medication and try medical marijuana as advised by my Naturopath and my own research/experience. The results were amazing. Within 1 month of using a vaporizer/ tincture product, my flare up disappeared. 3.5 years later and I was still flare up free and feeling better than ever. Cycling 200 miles per week, working frequently (flipping houses) and just feeling good about myself. I was having 1-2 firm bowel movements per day which was amazing compared to my treatment from age 10-18. All while using medical marijuana in small doses once a day (before bedtime)
After a few tragic events within the family within the past 2 months, I made the odd decision to halt my medical marijuana use completely for 1 month just to see if it was really keeping me in remission. I didn't know if I was just in a random remission or if the MMJ actually kept me in remission. Worst mistake of my life.
I felt really great for the first two weeks after halting my use of mmj (since THC and other cannabinoids stay in the system so long) but weeks 3 and 4 I felt a flare up coming on. Now I am in full blown flare up mode for the first time in almost 4 years. Coincidentally, the flare up occurred after all cannabinoids left my system. I should add that there were no significant side effects to quitting the cannabis cold turkey until my flare up started after 2 weeks without medication.
I am now using my MMJ again and things are gradually getting better, but it will take 3-4 weeks to let it build up in my system again. The flare up is not rearing it's head yet since I just got back on my medicine, but the minor flare up symptoms are still there. Bad joint pain, pain in my ribs (possibly costochronditis?) bad gas and non regular bowel movements. One day I will have a firm movement and the next i'll have diarrhea. Frequent belching has also been a problem but it's been much worse in the past 2 weeks (hiatal hernia?) I also have this odd popping sensation under my left rib that causes a dull pain. I think it's related to costochronditis, or maybe fibromyalgia...
During my remission I was able to eat whatever I wanted to and nothing bad would happen. I should have been more careful about my diet. Now I am going to my naturopath next week to get a good diet in line for me to avoid this problem in the future.
I know medical marijuana has a negative stigma within the community, but it has helped me so much more than any other medication, and I've been on most of them. So please don't label me as a buffoon or a "pothead" looking for an excuse to "get high" because that's not me at all. I just like being in remission, and MMJ has consistently done that for me.
My parents have watched me progress over the years and I kept my medical marijuana usage private for a solid 2 years. They realized I wasn't taking any medication for two years and that my symptoms had disappeared. That made them into believers, along with all the scientific and anecdotal evidence I presented them. A clean and clear colonoscopy was also great evidence.
Sorry for rambling on, i've just been stressed out since this flare occurred and needed to talk to others that understand the mental and physical anguish that IBD can cause.
Feel free to flame away if you disagree with the medical marijuana method of treatment, but it has worked WONDERS with me and this flare up didn't occur until I stopped. I'm open minded to anything and I'd like you all to be too. Thanks for listening.
