Pancreatitis and Medical Marijuana (Cannabis)
April 6, 20103 CommentsDisease Treatment
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Today in my Irvine clinic I evaluated a 44 year old man who suffered from chronic pancreatitis. He had recently discovered that cannabis helps relieve his abdominal pain, increase his appetite and reduce any associated nausea.
The pancreas in an organ that has two main functions. The first is to assist in the digestion of food by secreting digestive enzymes into the digestive tract after you eat a meal. The second main function is to regulate the sugar (glucose) levels in your blood. It does this by secreting insulin and glucagon.
When they pancreas becomes inflamed it then affects the bodies ability to digest meals and also they can develop diabetes. Most commonly inflammation of the pancreas is caused by excessive alcohol use or diseases that affect the gallbladder (gallstones can become lodged and block the pancreatic ducts). There are many other reasons that patients can develop pancreatitis (cancers, medications, infections) but those two are the most common.
Unfortunately pancreatitis is very painful. Patients experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and difficulty eating. Part of the treatment consists of resting the pancreas (nothing by mouth) and pain management. In addition you want to treat the underlying cause. If it is alcohol then stopping drinking is the obvious therapy.
In situations where patients develop chronic pancreatitis cannabis can be a great supporting therapy. It tends to dampen the epigastric pain and help with appetite and nausea. This particular patient was also using it to help him sleep at night. Specifically he was using an indica strain called OG Kush. Indica’s tend to be more of a body high and can really help with sleep and pain.
If you are someone you know is suffering from acute or chronic pancreatitis and would like to see if cannabis can help alleviate some of your discomfort please feel free to schedule an appointment at one of my 2 clinics.
Our toll free number is 877-721-0047 or you can pre-qualify for free directly online at www.mcsocal.com
Respectfully,
Dr. Sean Breen
Hello,
am 25 year old citizen of Indiana and come from a very respectable area within the state of Indiana but I travel to CA frequently. I grew up next to our current Governor, Mitch Daniels and have maintained a very strong relationship with the family to this day. I have always been a successful person owning several businesses, doing neuropsychiatric research and obtaining a college education. Since 2008 my life came to a hault as I now suffer from many health complications ranging from Chronic pancreatitis, history of myopericarditis, pulmonary embolus and Myoclonus. Each day is so painful and I am barely able to eat. I have recently lost 40 lbs under my normal weight. I find myself sinking further and further into sickness and depression. Because of my discomfort level, I have resorted to taking powerful Rx narcotics to treat the pain but they have only made my nausea from the chronic pancreatitis worse. I was once able to experiment with cannabis about a year ago and it was a miracle drug. No more nausea, pain melted away and I was able to focus on moving forward with my life. It was if I felt normal again! I am currently in a position where I can’t have cannabis in my system because of its illegalities within the state. I have tried almost every pain killer out there along with every anti-emetic for nausea but nothing seems to be as efficacious as Cannabis. I didn’t ask for this illness but I am asking for lawmakers to allow sick patients as myself access to marijuana. In no way shape or form do I condone its use as a recreational drug but several states have already decriminalized its use for medical reasons. Does this mean I have to pack up everything and move to another state just to obtain medicine? Does this State/Country want me to remain miserable? Cannabis is the only therapy I have found in 10 years that will enable me to move forward with my life. I feel that I have the right as a human to find relief. I feel that Indiana would benefit from decriminalizing the plant and adopting a market similar to your. Do you have any suggestions? My pre
Unfortunately you are forced to use cannabis illegally if you want the relief you deserve. As far as asking if “the state wants you to remain miserable?” go to my blog about Mitt Romney and watch the youtube clip… apparently many politicians do.
I too have chronic pancreatitis and live in Indiana. I am so sick of the pain it not only causes in the pancreas but also the intense intestional pain associated with the lack of enzymes and the digestive issues from the pancreatitis. That sort of pain just is not helped much by pain medications.
Certain herbs have helped me but not enough. I have not tried using pot because Im afraid of jail, but Im told by others that it really does help decrease the pain and lower the barfiness. Sometimes the pain and sickness gets so bad that I am desperate enough to try pot even though it it illegal. I’ve not done so but probably would if given the chance.
I do not desire to be a dope head. I dont believe using pot as a madicional would make one be a drugged up dope head like many think. I just want some relief without having to worry about going to jail because of it. Im told that one doesnt need to smoke it to obtain some relief, they can use it via other methods such as in pill form or eating it.
I just want relief and to live life without having to ruin mine and everyone’s day by needing to rush home because Im suddenly having a pancreatitis attack. I want to be relieved of the pain without taking man made medications that take a toll on my liver and kidneys.
I dont wanna be a druggy, I just want relief. Why cant the political folks see that? Are they so out of the loop that they cant see the many suffering people out there? I bet if they had a painful debilitating uncurable illness they too would be desperate for relief. It is a natural wild plant that had been used as a madicional for years and now it is illegal, makes no since.
I am a conservitive Christian which means according to sterotypes I should be against legalizing pot, but Im not against it. I see the need to use it as a medicine. But because of the political folks we must not use that wild plant because it might affend someone. Im sick of being sick! I want relief from that God made plant that can help me.