Marijuana post op for anxiety..

[heart_surgery]

Dear forum,

I had a ascending aorta replacement last August... I have had a lot of anxiety aound the operation and still get chest pain and difficulty climbing the stairs. I have to take regular rests when I go up stairs... I use marijuana to calm my anxiety and ease the pain.

However I know that marijuana dilates the blood vessels and increases the heart rate and I am anxious that using marijuana might be a risk factor in post surgery heart patients. Is there anyone here who uses marijuana post surgery?

Best Regards Tim

[devonian186]

I don't know if you mean marijuana from the street or the medically prescribed version. If the former and the side effects are well known, then surely the solution is to get some regular prescribed medication that doesn't have those side effects?

[Zbignieva]

I think there is a link between people smoking and then having a cardiovascular event. Edibles might be different.

[Alison_L]

I agree with Devonian, cannibis is illegal unless prescribed by a specialist doctor, and may be reacting badly with your heart medication. Talk to your GP or cardiologist and get some proper help.

[dwredfern]

I recommend just ask them. At age 50 I had sudden discovery of sick synus syndrome, leading to pacemaker and now epilepsy. With all the consultants and nursing staff I disclosed that I use cannabis and they didn’t bat an eyelid. Was advised not to take stimulants e.g. cocaine or smoke tobacco as priorities. (Not that I did, so easy for me). Your condition may require not using cannabis, but just ask. In my experience they will be very happy to advise.

[Jack2019]

Personally speaking , for anxiety or pain, I would choose medical marijuana instead of the pharmaceutical option.

[wischo]

Know a man that has had 4 stents fitted and then developed bone cancer. He was in pain and was prescribed lots of pain medications mostly opiates all of which made him constipated and feeling ill with sleep difficulties etc. He eventually tried some cannabis his son got him and found it eased his pain without the side effects of the opiates. Eventually he started to grow some of his own under an ultra violet lamp I think and smokes it before bed using one of those electric vape things. Not saying people should do this without medical advice just relaying the story. Opiates are not really great for the human body by any stretch of the imagination.

[heart_surgery]

Thanks everybody for your comments. Best Regards Tim