CDB/Marijuana Alternatives Post-Transplant help you sleep & relax?

@ckresko, first congratulations on the new liver. I can see that you want to take care of your new liver and avoid drug interactions or anything that would jeopardize the success of the transplant.

Here is a related discussion that might interest you:
- Is it safe to smoke cannabis post transplant? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/smoking-cannabis-post-transplant/

You ask about alternative methods that are safe to help promote good sleep and relaxing the body and mind. Good question and I look forward to hearing answers and experiences of other members.

I'm going to sound like a mom (sorry). There are several natural remedies that some people use to sleep better, like melatonin, magnesium, and valerian root. As you know, even natual doesn't mean safe for transplant recipients. If you use any supplement, oil or aid to help sleep or relax, you should check with your transplant team for possible interactions. Even natural sleep aids should not replace good sleeping habits.

You probably already know the do's and don'ts like having a regular bedtime routine, keeping your room dark and cool, no doom-scrolling or bringing your phone to bed, etc. But you're 22! Life is on the phone. Who wants a regular bedtime, right? What things help you relax and get a good night's sleep that work with your age and lifestyle?

Hi

I’ve been taking 200-400 mg thc edibles for the last 3 months.

My transplant was July 2024.

My team knows of my use and it hasn’t affected my tacrolimus.

However EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.

The edibles greatly help my anxiety but everyone is different.

I hope this helps.

Your donor gave you the Gift of Life. A medical team determined that you have a pretty good chance at living a long life with the chance of a transplant. It is important to honor your donor and medical team who all believed in you. Your job going forward is to be a good steward to that Gift. None of us know better than your medical team because that is what they are specialized in and experienced by seeing the success stories(like myself who had a liver transplant 27 years ago - that is longer than your time on earth) and also seeing the ones that don't end up well. Those are divided in 2 categories: the patients who had other health issues that could not be overcome and the patients who choose to operate independently from the parameters and guidelines given by their medical team. Many of those don't make it. If the medical team is unsure of the interaction between tacrolimus and cbd, do you want to be a guinea pig? Is it worth it? Your liver is a precious part of you now, one you cannot live without, it needs to be treated with respect, no experimenting. I wish you well, it would sadden me if you squander this once in a lifetime opportunity while thousands of people die every year because there was not a liver available for them. Please, please - take good care of the Gift and respect all the people who believed in you. Best to you!

Good morning
I agree with @cromme50
I had my liver transplant from a deceased donor in October 2020. I am celebrating my fifth transversary this year. Next month to be exact. I would not take any chances with my liver. If your team has discouraged you from taking marijuana CBD, whatever the heck you call it, follow their advice. They are the professionals here. As for sleep, you will get into a routine. You're new to this. Everything is new to your body. It takes about a year I found a year and a half to really get into a routine with your new liver. Your body is going through a whole bunch of changes at the moment. It's trying to recover from major surgery, it's fighting and a foreign object in your body and your body is trying to save it at the same time as it's trying to kill it. For sleep I know somebody mentioned melatonin I was told that no transplant recipients cannot take melatonin. Talk to your family physician about a low dose antidepressant sleeping pill that might help. The other thing is at this stage I now just take two Tylenol extra strength at bedtime lunch till in awhile. It helps with pain and it helps me sleep. You have been given a great gift that not everybody makes it to receive. Don't do anything to dishonor it and you had a living transplant. Don't dishonor the person that gave you a part of their body. I know I sound like a Mum or a grandma and you know what I am I'm 64 years old. I've lived long enough to have the right to tell a 22-year-old respect the gift!!!

@cromme50 Well said. I'm still pre-trx but someone gave me this “You’ll receive your gift of life because your journey and purpose here are not finished. Your donor’s journey is done and they are passing the relay baton to you to continue your journey.” Treat it with respect.