How did you bring it up?

I have been seeing a Rheumatologist for over a year now and it's been a long road but he's finally diagnosed me with a form of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I definitely notice a BIG difference after I smoke. I'm not 100% pain free but at least I can finally sleep or go about my day.

He has prescribed lots of different pain killers to me but none that have the same effect as MJ.

So how do you all bring it up? I'm kind of afraid to for fear that he's wicked anti-weed and will refuse to treat me or something.

Any ideas?

fuck dat..if he is a dedicated therapist he should accept you for who u are..be proud to smoke de erb as long as u show em u control the shit..

but tell him u do..maybe he might too!!! :D

Take some of the print-outs of some of the good medical literature to your doctor. If you'll do a search on one of our members, MrDevious, he has several good links in his signature.

Being armed with good information is a great start. A lot of doctors still need to be educated, and the good ones have an open mind. There are tons of people with RA who get great benefits from cannabis, and it would surprise me if a rheumatologist didn't at least have some inkling that it's beneficial. In California and other states where medical MJ is allowed, RA is one of the conditions it's prescribed for most frequently.

just come out and say it...

i never could understand why people are so afraid to tell anyone they smoke, especially a doctor or something...

i mean c'mon... it's not like he can take away your allowance, ground you or put you over his knee....

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Originally Posted by slipknotpsycho

i never could understand why people are so afraid to tell anyone they smoke, especially a doctor or something...

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I agree, it's just weed, they can't call the cops on you if you tell him you smoke, and even if they could like a cop is really going to give a rats ass about 1 guy smoking pot.

Do as birdgirl said and arm yourself with information. Assume he knows nothing about medical marijuana or any of the health connections with RA. Assume he lives under a rock when it comes to anything related to marijuana, medical or not. If he is against medical marijuana for whatever reason, he will most likely use the excuse that he doesn't know of any scientific studies showing marijuana helps, so arm yourself with unbiased scientific information if possible. Also arm yourself with the law, wouldn't be a bad idea to print out a copy of Prop 215 for him to read over and know exactly what is and what is not legal, and don't forget a copy of SB-420 which protects doctors from legal prosecutions for recommending marijuana to treat their patients.

In my opinion, if you can't be open and honest to your doctor about your lifestyle, especially something like using marijuana to treat the condition you are seeing him for, then you have the wrong doctor. Hopefully he is open minded, but if not I would change doctors, that's my opinion. A doctor I can't trust is worthless to me.

**Edit**
Sorry, I assumed you lived in California, so if not prop 215 and SB-420 won't do you any good, but look into the laws of your state. And even if your state doesn't have a medical marijuana program, you still should tell your doctor about how marijuana has helped you. A good doctor will report that information to other doctors, and thus helps more doctors come to the realization that medical marijuana is something that needs more attention.

I told my rheumatologist I smoke and he asked why, so I said because it helps the pain, and all he said was "ok". When I tell other doctors they usually don't say anything further than "mmm hmmm", and when I told my family doctor he only said "yeah, that'll help". Besides, it's not like they can bust you for it.

Yeah it's not legal in Massachusetts so faggetaboutit.

No he can't put me over his knee or ground me but he could definitely call DSS and say something to them. Not saying any doctor would for this but you just never know. I don't trust most people when it comes to that stuff.

Thanks anyway...I'll just keep doing it the way I'm doing it. Just would love to be able to grow my own so I'd know what the heck is in it half the time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by deadhead65

I have been seeing a Rheumatologist for over a year now and it's been a long road but he's finally diagnosed me with a form of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I definitely notice a BIG difference after I smoke. I'm not 100% pain free but at least I can finally sleep or go about my day.

He has prescribed lots of different pain killers to me but none that have the same effect as MJ.

So how do you all bring it up? I'm kind of afraid to for fear that he's wicked anti-weed and will refuse to treat me or something.

Any ideas?

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whoa, I read your post just now... Ok, doctors do proscribe MMJ, but you have to find them on the internet. They have real locations in real life, but you have to research it. Norml.org is very helpful. When you find one, just schedule an appointment and be sure to bring documentation of your arthiritis. I apologize for my stupid jerk off post before, I was just tryin' to be funny. It really honestly makes my day a lot brighter to hear about people receiving huge benefits from weed that ISN'T about getting stoooooooned.

That is the key to legalization, its medical properties. I am a medical patient as well, but for post traumatic stress syndrome and multiple personality, both of which are kind of iffy mental diagnoses. they exist, but they aren't as solid as a reason as arthritis. People like you with physical disabilities who work with cannabis, you guys are the ones going down in history for legalization. You are the true power. I am really happy that despite your pain, despite the fear, you fight to get the medicine that you need. It is so easy when you are wounded by something to just give up, because you are already in so much pain. You rock! medical cannabis patients rock! :rastasmoke: