Can anyone tell me if medical marijuana is permitted pre-transplant?

Posted by feruj @feruj, Dec 15, 2022

Hi, I am new to the forum and glad to have found support since I really haven't shared with any friends or family.
I have liver disease (horrible nausea, headaches & sleepless), and am in the process of meeting with a transplant team. Can anyone tell me if medical marijuana is permitted pre-transplant?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Not permitted by the Cleveland Clinic.

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@katebw

@feruj Serious illness already throws a person out of their comfort zone, so I say stay in yours as a private, practical person. Perhaps your husband needs permission to share with another person to ease his burden? At first I was very private. I was also confused about how I could be so sick so suddenly, so I wanted a lot of privacy. I felt very exposed, similar to how I felt when my husband died suddenly when our daughter was little. I didn’t want to have all eyes on me again. I am also very private. I also come from a family of stiff upper lip WASPs. Just before I met the liver team I began sharing more freely because I had a plan in formation. It was helpful to share more and by now I am totally open about it but I do guard my emotions. For me it helped to create an “inner circle” after a certain point in time. My old mom, my partner of a few years, siblings, my 20 year old daughter, a couple of good friends. In retrospect I think being a little more open helped those caring for me (I cannot emphasize how sick I was at this point, I even had to moved into my mom’s place as it was not safe to be alone for long stretches) as I could see that they needed to share their burden. Everyone is different.

I wrote a lot to relieve the chaos is my brain. Often I just made notes in my iPhone Notes app while I was at the lab, Dr, hospitalized or home. I needed the release. You said writing your comments felt good- there is something magical about writing.

I find this forum to be a safe space and I read comments more than I write.

I also used walking as much as I could— and being outside everyday— to help me process privately. I find that even being outdoors for a short bit reminds me that I am part of the world, yes I’m struggling but I am part of something larger than myself. I remember an older widow urging me to be outside everyday after my husband died out of the clear blue. That experience was much harder than a liver transplant.

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Your comments about getting outside and walking are ones I needed to hear. Thank you.

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@johnnybroom makes sense. Many months after my liver transplant, getting outside and walking are the two most important healing things in addition to drinking lots of water, sleep, and taking my medicine,

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@feruj .
Not pre-transplant. You will be tested for alcohol, thc, barbiturates, etc regularly. You can be kicked off the list. Don’t risk it. For nausea they should be able to give you a prescription for zofran.
Post transplant I was allowed to use a cbd/thc gummie to help with my nausea. I used it for one month, was able to start eating again and quit. My transplant surgeon ok’d it. I only took it at night. I am not a regular user of cbd/thc.
Always check with your transplant team first before adding anything to your “drug” regime, even vitamins. Some vitamins and herbs are not ok to digest. Good luck!!

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Sorry but no they test, will not put you on the list

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No they will not put you on the list Arizona Mayo Clinic

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Told I had to cease use of thc oil and rso extract prior to acceptance for liver transplant list. I did so, but now resting and sleeping are a big issue for me. I also make my own skin lotion with thc thc oil from local dispensary and coconut oil. It's an incredible skin and wound healing solution for me, which I no longer have. I refuse to take narcotics or opioid based meds. Trazidone was rx and helps the sleeping some, though not as well as thc based edibles for cancer patients (RSO) . Any one else come up on this speed bump?

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@jmp1234

Told I had to cease use of thc oil and rso extract prior to acceptance for liver transplant list. I did so, but now resting and sleeping are a big issue for me. I also make my own skin lotion with thc thc oil from local dispensary and coconut oil. It's an incredible skin and wound healing solution for me, which I no longer have. I refuse to take narcotics or opioid based meds. Trazidone was rx and helps the sleeping some, though not as well as thc based edibles for cancer patients (RSO) . Any one else come up on this speed bump?

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Welcome @jmp1234, I moved your post to this existing discussion in the Transplants Support Group:
- Can anyone tell me if medical marijuana is permitted pre-transplant?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/medical-marijuananauseaheadache/
Click the link to read previous posts and to connect with other transplant patients like @parrot53 @ssapp1 @feruj @johnnoregon @waningphilosophic @katebw @johnnybroom.

May I ask what condition has necessitated a liver transplant for you?

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@colleenyoung

Welcome @jmp1234, I moved your post to this existing discussion in the Transplants Support Group:
- Can anyone tell me if medical marijuana is permitted pre-transplant?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/medical-marijuananauseaheadache/
Click the link to read previous posts and to connect with other transplant patients like @parrot53 @ssapp1 @feruj @johnnoregon @waningphilosophic @katebw @johnnybroom.

May I ask what condition has necessitated a liver transplant for you?

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Sure. A lot to go into, but I will try to succinct. Hep c and decompensated cirrhosis with ascites advanced . Years ongoing. Portal vein issues, unable to do ablation, watchman, tips procedures. All cardio solutions failed. Paracentis at high volume
.. 10 liters every 2 weeks. Untenable quality of life. Baylor in Texas found me too healthy some 15 years ago, when workup was done for first Hep c cure with 90 day med regime. Hth and ty for asking.

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Marijuana use is discouraged since weed is contaminated frequently with fungi which can be a danger to immunocompromised patients. It may disqualify you for a transplant if it is detected in a blood test. I know I was tested for drug and alcohol use prior to transplant but I don't know if it included testing for weed.

If you continue to use weed I woud recommend switching to edibles since they are cooked and cooking should kill any pathogens.

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