an interesting report zach. i'm actively looking at marijuana again. i've killed the habit which was that i psychologically needed it to get to sleep. however, it now proves it was helping my RLS.
so now i have to discuss with myself the pro and cons of taking an illegal drug which i know well against what may eventually be some prescription drug (after all avenues beaten) which is made in a lab and has side effects i'm unaware of.
on top of this, the pharma drug may only work for a while before i have to move to another. this is really not my idea of an option when i could resort back to marijuana on an 'adult' and informed basis.
i must say though, marijuana is not 100% effective, i have had minor bouts, but when it doesn't work it's nothing like i am experiencing right now, which is off the scale and has thrown me completely.
marijuana
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SquirmingSusan
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Apparently my local pain clinic makes patients to a urine test for illegal substances on a regular basis, and won't treat people who test positive. The idea of going to a clinic like that makes me nauseated; where they just assume I'm some kind of criminal.
I'm thinking I'll try "being a criminal" before I do that.
And which is more appealing to me? Having to go to a clinic every month for the rest of my life, or sneaking around taking a toke every night... For me the latter is more appealing, LOL.
The way things are going it won't work for me, though.
Susan
I'm thinking I'll try "being a criminal" before I do that.
And which is more appealing to me? Having to go to a clinic every month for the rest of my life, or sneaking around taking a toke every night... For me the latter is more appealing, LOL.
The way things are going it won't work for me, though.
Susan
SquirmingSusan wrote:Apparently my local pain clinic makes patients to a urine test for illegal substances on a regular basis, and won't treat people who test positive. The idea of going to a clinic like that makes me nauseated; where they just assume I'm some kind of criminal.
I'm thinking I'll try "being a criminal" before I do that.
Susan
Hey Susan love your comment. On the serious side, it sad how sometimes you have to go to extremes to get any type of help.
Charlene
Taking one day at a time
Taking one day at a time
i'll just mention that after quitting the weed at new year and the sudden onset of rls, which was more prevalent than i ever imagined, i started an experiment last friday.
i had a joint. yes, i broke my 'giving up' phase to just see now exactly what would happen to my rls.
well let me tell you that it worked. i sat in bed and my legs felt like lead, but good lead. they didn't move at all, tbh, i coudn't more them.
but on the flipside, i wasn't really happy being 'stoned' anymore. even the smallest joint was enough to get me stoned as i hadn't smoked in two months. i felt it on my lungs straight away.
but there are vapourizers like has been said. for me i may limit myself to once a week, i'm trying to spread possible things that at least help across the week.
i must warn people though, this is a drug and positive effects to some (recreationally) are deemed side effects to others.
just because it is deemed hippy doesn't mean you will get on with it's 'other' properties.
my own personal thing i didn't get on with was that i felt extremely groggy the next day. but i don't drink alcohol much so i pretend this is my 'bender' for the week
but it does work,. that is for sure.
i had a joint. yes, i broke my 'giving up' phase to just see now exactly what would happen to my rls.
well let me tell you that it worked. i sat in bed and my legs felt like lead, but good lead. they didn't move at all, tbh, i coudn't more them.
but on the flipside, i wasn't really happy being 'stoned' anymore. even the smallest joint was enough to get me stoned as i hadn't smoked in two months. i felt it on my lungs straight away.
but there are vapourizers like has been said. for me i may limit myself to once a week, i'm trying to spread possible things that at least help across the week.
i must warn people though, this is a drug and positive effects to some (recreationally) are deemed side effects to others.
just because it is deemed hippy doesn't mean you will get on with it's 'other' properties.
my own personal thing i didn't get on with was that i felt extremely groggy the next day. but i don't drink alcohol much so i pretend this is my 'bender' for the week
but it does work,. that is for sure.
like i have read on here something works different for everyone..my experience...weed is not a good solution..in fact more harm than good...i began to wonder if my problems were caused by WEED....moderate occational user..but find symptoms worsen with use....have been sitting on couch before awaken to find my legs and arms dancing around...been really bad week for me...worse than in long time....only thing different is that tried to use a small amount last weekend...affects my nervous system in bad way...to sleep clonazapan perscript is only help...also use myoflex or deep cold creams on calves.....(that is my worse area) seems to help best but i have severe case and expereince significant daytime symptoms...praying for cure....but for me weed isn;t it...good luck
...what a great article. I really can't stand the whole marijuana is illegal b/c it's SO bad and has no definitively proven medical benefits. How is it any different from alcohol? What would the gov't do if it one day becomes an accepted principle that MJ isn't harmful? Then what will they fall back on?!
Ok, off of soapbox.
But, as another poster also indicated, I was using on a nightly basis before I went to bed before I ever heard of RLS. I was never really a social smoker..don't like the paranoid feeling you can get sometimes. I go out to interact, not observe! Well, lo and behold, I was self medicating my RLS with no cognizant connection!
Now, certainly I don't advocate walking up and down the streets to procure such a thing, and I never have done that either. I always had a friend of a friend of a friend type of thing. While, yes, it is illegal, I believe small amts are misdemeanors whereas more serious drugs carry felonies. So even the gov't in some small way is acknowledging that there is a clear difference in 'badness'. And pffffft to the gateway drug concept too. I've never done anything else or wanted to.
Ok, off of soapbox.
But, as another poster also indicated, I was using on a nightly basis before I went to bed before I ever heard of RLS. I was never really a social smoker..don't like the paranoid feeling you can get sometimes. I go out to interact, not observe! Well, lo and behold, I was self medicating my RLS with no cognizant connection!
Now, certainly I don't advocate walking up and down the streets to procure such a thing, and I never have done that either. I always had a friend of a friend of a friend type of thing. While, yes, it is illegal, I believe small amts are misdemeanors whereas more serious drugs carry felonies. So even the gov't in some small way is acknowledging that there is a clear difference in 'badness'. And pffffft to the gateway drug concept too. I've never done anything else or wanted to.
I've been reconsidering smoking pot again. I haven't been smoking because I don't want my kids exposed to it. (House has forced air heat, smells travel) I might be able to smoke outside after the spring comes. The shrubbery is a little overgrown and would provide a screen of privacy.
Mirapex works for me to control my legs, but I still wake up a lot. Clonozepam makes me groggy in the morning, and I can only take Ambien for about a week before it starts to lose its effect.
Mirapex works for me to control my legs, but I still wake up a lot. Clonozepam makes me groggy in the morning, and I can only take Ambien for about a week before it starts to lose its effect.
--Haggi
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SquirmingSusan
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- Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:08 am
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Well I got my little "trial pack." Someone from the cancer support group we attend who has recently sent herself to rehab brought over some pot and some stuff with which to smoke it. Right in front of the teenagers, no less. My son piped up with, "Geez mom, I can get you some pot at school. I see about 10 drug deals a day." (Why am I sending my kid to public school?!) Now he claims to have the munchies whenever he gets near my room. What a nut. (Yes, I have talked with my kids about drugs. And they're both very responsible that way.)
Anyway, I gave it the old college try (literally - I used the stuff in college). Maybe I didn't choke enough of it in, but all it seemed to do for me was make housework a bit more fun, and give me a killer headache. Nothing for the creepy crawlies.
There's a medical marijuana bill making it's way though the Minnesota legislature. So far it's passed overwhelmingly. I do hope it makes it through, just for all the people suffering with various conditions that it can help.
As it is, it's a misdemeanor in MN, with a fine of up to $200 for possession of up to 1-1/2 ounces. And I really doubt that the police are all that interested in arresting people. I have a friend in law school and she says that the laws against marijuana are kind of a joke.
But then again, I really freaked out the nurse yesterday at the doctor's office when I told her I tried smoking pot for my RLS. "BUT THAT'S ILLEGAL!!! If you care about that kind of stuff." I assured her I didn't care.
I think God created some of these medicinal plants for a reason!
Susan
Anyway, I gave it the old college try (literally - I used the stuff in college). Maybe I didn't choke enough of it in, but all it seemed to do for me was make housework a bit more fun, and give me a killer headache. Nothing for the creepy crawlies.
There's a medical marijuana bill making it's way though the Minnesota legislature. So far it's passed overwhelmingly. I do hope it makes it through, just for all the people suffering with various conditions that it can help.
As it is, it's a misdemeanor in MN, with a fine of up to $200 for possession of up to 1-1/2 ounces. And I really doubt that the police are all that interested in arresting people. I have a friend in law school and she says that the laws against marijuana are kind of a joke.
But then again, I really freaked out the nurse yesterday at the doctor's office when I told her I tried smoking pot for my RLS. "BUT THAT'S ILLEGAL!!! If you care about that kind of stuff." I assured her I didn't care.
I think God created some of these medicinal plants for a reason!
Susan
i'm pretty sure MJ is just another one of those 'works for some' type of thing.
it's funny because i have some friends who may smoke it and become very active and may talk alot. but these people do this anyway. those that are more quiet tend to end up being even moreso.
i've just purchased a cheap vaporizer (don't want tobacco or smoke) with a view to a purchase of a more expensive one.
i will experiment with this as i know what feeling i'm looking for compared to my crazy days. if it doesn't provide what i need then i'll have to re-evaluate the situation.
last night i got into bed without any MJ. it's always fine for the first ten minutes. then it slowly creeps in and you get this 'damn, here we go again' feeling of defeat. so a few puffs and it's gone.
i really don't want to do this for the rest of my life but at this exact moment in time i can't be dealing with the alternative. i do feel guilty as i only gave up at new year and now i'm back smoking for an entirely different reason (having been self-medicating unbeknown to me). there is absolutely no enjoyment to it now because my mind had already given it up.
bizarre...
it's funny because i have some friends who may smoke it and become very active and may talk alot. but these people do this anyway. those that are more quiet tend to end up being even moreso.
i've just purchased a cheap vaporizer (don't want tobacco or smoke) with a view to a purchase of a more expensive one.
i will experiment with this as i know what feeling i'm looking for compared to my crazy days. if it doesn't provide what i need then i'll have to re-evaluate the situation.
last night i got into bed without any MJ. it's always fine for the first ten minutes. then it slowly creeps in and you get this 'damn, here we go again' feeling of defeat. so a few puffs and it's gone.
i really don't want to do this for the rest of my life but at this exact moment in time i can't be dealing with the alternative. i do feel guilty as i only gave up at new year and now i'm back smoking for an entirely different reason (having been self-medicating unbeknown to me). there is absolutely no enjoyment to it now because my mind had already given it up.
bizarre...
I've been dealing with RLS for about 18 years. I only realized that I had it 4 years ago when I heard about RLS from a friends mother. I visited a sleep specialist and tried Miraex. It worked and my life was so much better. That lasted for about 6 months and I had no side effects. The doctor informed me that I would need to increase doseage and eventually it would not work anymore. Bummer, he was right. I also tried ambien or stilnox. Really, really scarry. Side effects were really bad stomach problems, amnesia, depression etc. If you are going to try ambien (for insomnia) please read up on it and let people know that you are taking it. I did a lot of wacky stuff on it (stupid stuff). Aditionally I have tried oxycodone and valium. They worked for me but again were not a good idea for prolonged use. Also, with any rx med I always took the minimum doseage except for mirapex (as I had to increase doseage) and Ambien because I would realize that in the morning that I somehow took 3 to 4 times what I wanted to take. Passed out, threw up, scarry stuff. Anyways on to Marijuana. Well, unfortunately it works for me. I only use it right before bed and yes, I am groggy in the morning and it does have a noticeable half life. I do sometimes feel a bit numbed out but I'll take it over 3 days of no sleep. 3 days is the breaking point and I simply cannot function and breakdown a bit. MJ does effect sex life but so does stressing over weather I will be able to sleep. Over the last 4 years I have realized that rx meds are not for me. Honestly, they scare me. So currently I use marijuana. Guess that I am dumbed down a bit but I am happier and I do get some sleep. It sucks when sleep is the main focus of your day. And using MJ sure as heck beats trying to drink yourself to sleep. So far the use of Marijuana has worked the best for prolonged use but is still not "the solution".
heart rate and alterate methods
smoking anything increases your heart which is never good for trying to relax your body.
i have found that my 'spells' tend to last only a certain period of time. some times five minutes other times three hours. i learned, tho, how to have them pass thru me more efficiently and quickly - to get them over with, more or less. what i do is give myself five minutes of unabashed jerks and twitching to appease the sensation. after that i concentrate on my breathing, with the goal being able to sync deep breathing with every wave of pins and needles - breathing through them and channeling the tingling from my feet up to my chest and out with my exhale. after some time it's as if the breath takes charge of the episodes. then in one deep breath, i hold and endure the discomfort, as bad as it may be, until it passes. finally i exhale every last bit of air and, kid you not, the spells are gone for the night.
i'm not saying this is a pleasant experience, but for me it's a coping mechanism that my spouse and i can live with.
i have found that my 'spells' tend to last only a certain period of time. some times five minutes other times three hours. i learned, tho, how to have them pass thru me more efficiently and quickly - to get them over with, more or less. what i do is give myself five minutes of unabashed jerks and twitching to appease the sensation. after that i concentrate on my breathing, with the goal being able to sync deep breathing with every wave of pins and needles - breathing through them and channeling the tingling from my feet up to my chest and out with my exhale. after some time it's as if the breath takes charge of the episodes. then in one deep breath, i hold and endure the discomfort, as bad as it may be, until it passes. finally i exhale every last bit of air and, kid you not, the spells are gone for the night.
i'm not saying this is a pleasant experience, but for me it's a coping mechanism that my spouse and i can live with.
hi stripmall, i think your method is a good one. if you don't share a bed you can do the 5/10 minutue thing and eventually nod off. sharing a bed however makes this difficult but i do understand your method totally.
and as Nimbus mentioned, MJ use is working for the her e& now but is really not the 'solution'.
it's strange that since i decided to give up and have come back to it's use, i actrually am at loggerheads with myself. i don't want MJ anymore, but unfortunately the alternative is worse for the time being.
and as Nimbus mentioned, MJ use is working for the her e& now but is really not the 'solution'.
it's strange that since i decided to give up and have come back to it's use, i actrually am at loggerheads with myself. i don't want MJ anymore, but unfortunately the alternative is worse for the time being.
using
I hadn't smoked since college days, but when I heard about this (through the California group, of course), I decided to try. Most of the time it works wonders. I do combine it with my normal RLS drugs and it takes away any residual creepies. I'm quite open with my docs and nurses (and got the same thing: But that's illegal!) from some of them; the rest just kind of smiled. The only problem is that I enjoy being high -- I don't drink and never could, but I do like this. So I don't want to go to bed, but want to stay up and play on the computer, etc. which sort of negates what I'm taking it for. I don't feel groggy the next day and yes, I only take about three puffs. A couple of times I've gotten some that's so strong it didn't work for sleeping. I don't use it all the time. But there's that momentary thought when I get into bed that I'm wasting this good high by sleeping.
My experience with this...
I had severe back problems in 2006 and used marijuana to help reduce the pain for that...it worked incredibly! I have tried it a few times in the last year to see if it would help my RLS and each time has resulted in the same horrible feeling....it DEFINITELY does not work for me. I felt like I could absolutely NOT focus on anything but my legs..like I was trapped. (of course I was high, so that isn't too surprising) Those were among some of the worst days I've had since getting RLS. I am all for trying things out, and if you are up for it, I'd say there is a chance MJ could work for you...but be aware that it might be a horrible experience. I wish you the best of luck! Lord knows when RLS gets bad I'd try just about anything to make it stop!
more
I totally agree. I have also had a couple of bad experiences with it. But when it works, for me, there's the added bonus that it stops my arthritis pain. It definitely seems to be a pain killer. Someday I hope we'll work this out, the legal part and also get it studied so that when we do take it, we'll know what we're doing instead of this sort of ad hoc experimentation.