Do you tell your doctor you smoke pot?

[Cloudy]

Glad to hear you have an open minded Doc! I've had very mixed reactions, regarding cannabis, or... many other natural 'remedies' for various obstacles. Generally, pretending I haven't read your most recent post (ha!) I say make sure you know his/her stance on weed (for medicine) before you say 'yes I smoke weed' - so you don't get a nasty or judgmental reaction, or before something lame happens because of your 'yes' reply.

But like I said, serious 'yay' for the pro cannabis stance!

The same surgeon I asked about using marijuana, LSD, and MDMA, I also asked if piracetam and couple other supplements (I believe like melatonin, 5-htp) would have an interaction. He ended up getting a bit more condescending at that point, essentially asking why I would I bother taking them in the first place, and ignored answering the question. What is ludicrous considering they do have a pharmacological effect on the body, in particular piracetam which actually has anti-coagulant effects at high doses, and has been thought to be potentially useful in combo warfarin for therapy. Now that I think about it all he said about the three major substance was that there was 'obvious' reasons why not to take them, but the potentially to hurt yourself on these substances is higher (which is true). He basically didn't even think about, which was pretty lame. Doctors, especially ones dealing with prescribing substances on a daily basis that have known side effects and interactions with drugs, should be aware of potentially dangerous combinations with illegal drugs. Seems a lot docs just listen to the same old BS that is taught to general public about illegal substances, which is terrible considering they are supposed to be objective and concerned about the health safety of all individuals who come to them with a medical problem.

Age and sex also seem to tragically play a roll in the potential back lash. Being a young adult white male, there seems to be a higher "abuse potential", so being honest could cause problems for a young adult from getting the proper prescriptions they need (not that America isn't over prescribed).

 

[smokeymcpot42088]

my aunt told her doctor that she smookes pot and was refused treatment for her very real chronic pain, in fact she walks like a cripple almost. The doc said this "Well I hear pot is a medicine, if you using that your already treating yourself so I dont see why you need me"

 

[chemist2010]

Doctor - no

Psychiatrist - yes

I know this may seem like odd advice but psychiatrists make money pushing drugs, if you don't get what you want you aren't going to head back to them and spending the $250 an hour.

Also the psychiatrist needs to know habitual drug use so he/she does not prescribe a chemical that exacerbates the problem or worse, kills you.

Many years ago when I saw a psychiatrist I told her all the drugs I used and with accurate frequency and she still prescribed me lorazepam (ativan) and clonazepam (klonopin) both high on the abuse list.


This is getting off topic but anyones psychiatrist ask them how much they masturbate/have sex while using drugs etc? And several follow up questions?

Or was mine just a pervert (and no she wasn't hot...she was a 55 yr old woman)

 

[phenethylo J]

my aunt told her doctor that she smookes pot and was refused treatment for her very real chronic pain, in fact she walks like a cripple almost. The doc said this "Well I hear pot is a medicine, if you using that your already treating yourself so I dont see why you need me"

Like wtf lots people are one more than one medication

What about people that self medicate with asprin a tylonol I wonder if that bitch doc would refuse them treatment too.



It is so horrible have to deal with being treated like a drug addict by the person that sapossed to be helping you with the multiple conditions your sufforing from.

When I got the call from my doc about failing the drug test while in severe pain and going though a bunch of other bs in my life and had to listen to her threats of droping me as a patient and other bs I litterly had a nervouse breakdown.

 

[Cloudy]

my aunt told her doctor that she smookes pot and was refused treatment for her very real chronic pain, in fact she walks like a cripple almost. The doc said this "Well I hear pot is a medicine, if you using that your already treating yourself so I dont see why you need me"

Wow... I can't believe someone who is smart enough to make it through university and med school can be so fucking dense. That type of talk from a physician is complete bullshit, and a makes of mockery of his professional career. You'd assume someone smart enough to become a doctor would have enough intelligence to understand first of all the potential benefits of a combination of drugs/different types of treatments, and not to mention the fact that some drugs are more effective on some people than others. Medical marijuana can be a godsend for treating certain symptoms of medical issues, as well as provide supplementary support with other medications. Look at how ketamine + opioids combos helps reduce the need for higher dose opioids by slowing tolerance build up of opiates, as well as increase the analgesic effects of opioids. Clearly if these docs get their heads out their ass they can help promote more research on cannabis as a medication, but also see the potential benefits that can cannabis provide.

 

[izzy66]

never been asked, haven't volunteered any info.

there's a company called medical information bureau that collects medical information for insurance companies similar to credit bureaus that collect financial info for banks, credit card companies, etc.
just like your credit report, you can request a copy of your file from mib.
if you've had a blood test, x-ray, or surgery, mib has that info in your file along with "lifestyle" information like tobacco and alcohol use. insurance companies use mib files to decide whether to approve life or medical insurance applications.

www.mib.com

i found out about this company the hard way when i tried to get private medical insurance and was repeatedly denied because of abnormal blood tests related to rheumatoid arthritis.
-izzy

 

[hydroazuanacaine]

no. i don't even tell them that i ever have more than 4 drinks. I say zero history of drug or alcohol abuse.

I told my psych i used to smoke pot a little back in high school but not anymore. he doesnt give a shit. he's pissed i just want a script that i chose, and not for him to "treat" me. my appointments are 1 1/2 minutes long, and i get 5 refills--the most you can get with a controlled substance. i actually have not seen him in over a year. maybe two. once you are scripted a benzo, it is yours forever. you take that empty bottle to any GP, have a reasonable story about why you can't see your psych, and you walk out with plenty of refills.

in general, telling a doctor you have any history of alcohol or drug abuse (what you consider responsible use is technically "abuse") is very foolish.

 

[childofthenight]

yeah I usually don't tell them unless they ask specifically about smoking something other than tobacco..

 

[microtel]

Doctor - no

Psychiatrist - yes

This is getting off topic but anyones psychiatrist ask them how much they masturbate/have sex while using drugs etc? And several follow up questions?

Or was mine just a pervert (and no she wasn't hot...she was a 55 yr old woman)

have had two separate psychiatrist (both men) in different areas of the country ask about my drug usage and sexual questions, frequency of sex, same sex proclivities, use of escorts. maybe thinking it's standard procedure when dealing with depression issues, don't think they were pervs, they seek answers and diagnoses for treatment.

 

[verso]

no. i don't even tell them that i ever have more than 4 drinks. I say zero history of drug or alcohol abuse.

I told my psych i used to smoke pot a little back in high school but not anymore. he doesnt give a shit. he's pissed i just want a script that i chose, and not for him to "treat" me. my appointments are 1 1/2 minutes long, and i get 5 refills--the most you can get with a controlled substance. i actually have not seen him in over a year. maybe two. once you are scripted a benzo, it is yours forever. you take that empty bottle to any GP, have a reasonable story about why you can't see your psych, and you walk out with plenty of refills.

in general, telling a doctor you have any history of alcohol or drug abuse (what you consider responsible use is technically "abuse") is very foolish.

Ha! I love you, man! We share many of the same thoughts and opinions.

 

[Roger&Me]

Absolutely not.

Your doctors will not give you the same quality care if they think you are a drug user. It's as simple as that. You need to be extremely careful what information you divulge to doctors, seriously.

 

[MJane420]

Hey Everyone. I got my med card last night so now Im legal! Yay!

It was funny, I was the only female at the clinic (In a room full of mostly sketch looking people).

Also, it was super easy to get it. The doctor doesnt give a shit and will prescribe pot to anyone with $.

 

[panic in paradise]

oh man, mine told me yesterday, to dry the fan leafs crumble them up and use that to help with cigs...

i always wished for mmj, now a lot of the docs i see recommend it...
wish i would of been more careful about what i wished for.


but in the past even, with psychs mostly they didnt really flinch or have anything negative to say about marijuana... in moderation, a couple j's a day. pot doesnt agree with some people, and their psychiatric condition, ive seen this first hand many times and its no good.
alcohol and the hard stuff yeah, but even E(90's) was something id be told to try and use only so many times a year...

there are a lot of factors to consider though, as to how your doctor may respond, even if they smoke...
the facts are coming out of the bag now though, its slowly becoming undeniable.
compared to so many simple drugs even, anything, the risks and benefits are profound.

 

[Nexus298]

I'd say most doctors are smart enough these days to see through the marijuana propaganda, at least the younger ones. Safest to play it by ear.

 

[Cloudy]

With the unbelievable safety profile, as well as the lack potential risks for anything other than a slight risk for psychological dependence, and the potential danger on your lungs which can helped be prevented by other routes of administration, I find it ridiculous that weed is still demonized.

 

[Ninjetic]

I keep that shit on the dl, I dont want my doc saying "well, since you said you smkoke weed, we can't give you painkillers" what if I really need those painkillers for my horrible back pain? I'd rather keep quiet about that shit cuz most doctors are bias and will basically say "junkie!!! NO pills for U!!

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

Doctor - no

Psychiatrist - yes

I know this may seem like odd advice but psychiatrists make money pushing drugs, if you don't get what you want you aren't going to head back to them and spending the $250 an hour.

Also the psychiatrist needs to know habitual drug use so he/she does not prescribe a chemical that exacerbates the problem or worse, kills you.

Many years ago when I saw a psychiatrist I told her all the drugs I used and with accurate frequency and she still prescribed me lorazepam (ativan) and clonazepam (klonopin) both high on the abuse list.


This is getting off topic but anyones psychiatrist ask them how much they masturbate/have sex while using drugs etc? And several follow up questions?

Or was mine just a pervert (and no she wasn't hot...she was a 55 yr old woman)

I also have told therapists and a psychiatrist about my drug use.

I never had a therapist or shrink ask if I masturbated or if I had sex while on drugs but I had one therapist tell me how I masturbate too much and how porn is bad.

A friend of mine was seeing a psychiatrist when he broke up with his BF/partner and she asked him, "Do you miss his cock?" and he stopped going to her after that.

My ex told me how he saw a therapist that was gay and flaming and the guy basically asked him which specific dating/sex hook up sites for bisexual men he had profiles on, and my ex just said how they were your usual male2male dating/hook up sites where you had to register and write a profile and post a pic, and the therapist kept trying to find out which ones they were.

I know someone who actually did have sex with his therapist but he had transference where he fell in love and had sexual attraction to his male therapist since he was a young adult, gay, and coming out and he hadn't had any actual relationships with men just sex, but that therapist later got arrested for doing that to other clients and he should have told my friend how they couldn't do that and how it was unethical.

 

[mollycoddled]

I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to communicate confidential information like that even if your under the age 18 (I can't be certain, but I know that for psychologist/psychiatrists the information is confidential even under the age of 18).

thats totally wrong if the patient is under 18 the parents can ask any questions they want and the doctor/psychologist/psychiatrist legally has to answer them... When I was 16 I got nailed on a bunch of alcohol and drug charges and had to go see someone to make sure I wasnt an addict and I found out that my parents could ask any questions they wanted and the lady had to answer. I just left out the hard drug usage and minimilized everything else and it ended up being fine

 

[AwTin]

Ok, so every time I go to the clinic to see my doctor the first thing the nurse asks me is "do you smoke" which I think is a tricky question. I never smoke tobacco, but I smoke/vape pot every day (mostly vape). I am an honest person and I know that there is doctor patient confidentiality, and I care about my health. But the last few times I went to the doctor it was really obvious that they didnt know shit about pot and they told me that it is unhealthy and I should quit because she didn't want to see me get into "trouble". I tried to explain that I generally use a vaporizer and the doctor had never heard of one, and when I tried to explain that how it works and that there is no actual smoke, she told me that she is pretty sure that cannabis in any form is harmful to your body and can affect hormones. Basically she kept trying to tell me to quit, but she said it in a way where I could tell that she knew that I was not going to be convinced, but she had to tell me the "facts" anyway because it is her job. My question is, should I continue to be honest with my doctors about my happy habit knowing that they are ignorant and square, or should I just keep it to myself?

PS. I only go to doctors that are women. Male doctors scare the shit out of me.

Are you sure you're seeing doctors and not physician's assistants or similar non-doctors? Drugs are a very important part of medicine, and I'm sure doctors are taught heavily about the health effects of recreational drugs.

 

[AwTin]

I wonder why the medical profession is so institutionally anti-cannabis?

I don't think it is. I'm sure most anti-cannabis doctors live in traditionally conservative/religious, where anti-drug crap pervades even the highly-educated. Also, most doctors who oppose cannabis use are probably older. The last sixty years of political propaganda about drugs (Reagan, Nixon, Anslinger, etc.) influenced the entire world, so there very well could have been bias in their education.

Still, most doctors are liberal, especially younger ones. I'm confident medicals schools today are teaching the correct facts about cannabis. But, even then, doctors are not allowed to advocate illegal activity, which might explain why they tell people to quit. They are more concerned their jobs than anything, even if they know cannabis is practically harmless.