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Can anyone tell me if medical marijuana is permitted pre-transplant?
Transplants | Last Active: Feb 4 5:01am | Replies (35)Comment receiving replies
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?
Replies to "Told I had to cease use of thc oil and rso extract prior to acceptance for..."
@jmp1234 two years post liver transplant for an autoimmune condition I use medical cannabis regularly for back pain and for sleep. I use a tincture nightly that relaxes me from my back aches that tend to loom large by days end and it helps me sleep. It was recommended post surgery by my liver team for my back problems which began after a fall early in my diagnosed illness when I had an episode of hepatic encephalopathy.
Prior to my transplant I used no cannabis and actually no alcohol though I had to prove that to my team pre listing as I had a small car accident pre diagnosis and the police who showed up accused me of being drunk. That myth dogged me for a bit and if I had learned of marijuana benefits I wouldn’t have dared asked for fear they’d misunderstand and I’d be kicked off the list.
I live in MA where legal cannabis abounds but there is still stigma, especially for a liver team which has to consider substance abuse a lot. I get it. Depending of your own background related to substances I think it’s fair to ask and negotiate if possible but if you can’t, perhaps incorporate “sleep hygiene” techniques into your life- I still do even though I use cannabis. Pre transplant I listened to, at bedtime, tapes of Yoga Nidra a friend sent to me. I am not a yoga person at all- however for several months I used that alternatively with trazodone 50 mg and I found it very effective and I still play it occasionally at times. Get creative and in the process you’ll learn a lot about yourself. Take good care.
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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?