New and looking for medical advice

[MustI84]

Hi All,

I wonder if someone could give me some advice / reassurance.

I have smoked for over a decade, only joints and only in the evenings and at weekends.

My partner and I probably get through a quarter a week.

Something strange happened to me last night, we were having the last smoke of the night in bed, I went to get up and go and get a drink, when I first sat up I had cramp in my toes, I put my dressing gown on, felt light headed and sat back on the bed.

Now from this point for the next few minutes I have no memory, my partner tells me a mentioned I felt like I had chest pulpitations, I took my glasses off and promptly passed out!

I twitched and moaned and was in and out of consciousness for approximately a minute and then started to come round. At first it sounded like my partners voice was distant, my vision opaque and I was really clammy. I sat up, with help, felt dizzy, my stomach felt like it was burning so I laid back down.

I then had bad cramps in my calf's, after another few minutes I felt better, but went cold and my mouth was very dry.

I have been fine since and apart from being tired today relatively normal.

I am on medication and take co-codamol, dicloflex and amitriptyline.

The last piece of relevant information is that the joint we had just smoked was loaded with crystals from the bottom of the grinder.

Now finally to my question, based on the above did I green out or do I need to seek medical attention?

Any advice would be appreciated as I'm quite worried.

Thanks in advance.

C.

 

[Chef420]

Seek medical attention. Sounds like you lost consciousness which could be from any number of things.

 

[farmasensist]

You should talk to a doctor. Thats not normal, could be something serious like a small stroke or a seizure and if it happens again it could be worse.

My friends dad had a phase where he would take a hit and pass out. I saw it once, he hit the blunt then fell to the ground but he got back up quick, no cramps, twitches or blurred vision. He went to the doc and they didn't know what the problem was and then it just stopped happening to him.

 

[vostok]

I get the toes bit.. but only when toking Sativa s too long

and strange too. I pass out in the bed, often waking to find my partner astride me

screaming unmentionable things, often beating, tearing at my flesh, even scratches and pain

if that don't do it, its the screaming and shouting she gives me, that brings me back

for this I now avoid toking in bed, and yeah see a doctor

good luck

 

[MustI84]

Hi all,

Apologies for not responding to your advice. I had some similar symptoms again today and went to see my doctor. Suspected seizure/fit that is now being investigated. I haven't been advised to stop smoking but will certainly keep an eye on this if this was to be connected in some way.

Again thanks, much appreciated.

Thanks

C.

 

[schnooby]

i hope you have better doctors than i do. Most docs only find something if it reaches out from underneath the bed and says "boo!".



i looked at your meds.

first dicloflex is an nsaid....and as you may be aware new warnings have just been issued about the safety profile and risks associated with nsaid use, namely increased risk of stroke and heart attack


http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm451800.htm


amitryp same increased risks as nsaids......increased risk for stroke and heart attack

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1334551/Amitriptyline-Lofepramine-anti-depressants-raise-risk-heart-disease.html


co codomal same potential risks.....


http://factmed.com/report-CO-CODAMOL (CODEINE PHOSPHATE, PARACETAMOL)-causing-ISCHAEMIC STROKE.php



i would say you might want to think long and hard about taking all 3 of these everyday when they are all known for increasing the same kinds of risks for cardiovascular problems.


the doctors are likely to be far more cavalier about the drugs youre taking......but then again yoire a patient.....not a wife or child of theirs......think about that when they give you advice about your meds

 

[MustI84]

I hear what your saying but all these are prescribed by a consultant for pain control as I have been suffering with costochondritis for over a year and without some form of meds my pain will increase and cause more than it's worth, not only for me but for my partner and I can't put him through that.

 

[qwizoking]

sounds like a classic case of orthostatic hypotension

relatively normal, yes caused by thc.. probably compounded by diet and other activities, i skipped the meds not really relevant.. i assume youve been on them?
and the fact that it was full of Crystals, and you have a pretty low tolerance ... this feeling is normal.
ive experienced it and seen it personally in conducted studies

could your meds contribut to thcs efftect? possibly. but thats a deeper road than i felt like posting

 

[MustI84]

The doctor checked my heart rate four times, three by machine and one by one by pressing his fingers on to my wrist. and averaged at 105. I'm due to have an ECG reading tomorrow.

 

[Moldy]

The doctor checked my heart rate four times, three by machine and one by one by pressing his fingers on to my wrist. and averaged at 105. I'm due to have an ECG reading tomorrow.

Good luck! I've "heard" of this condition but only bits and pieces of it. It's been written that THC does increase heart rate initially so if you already have a high heart rate it makes sense that you may experience what you did especially when you don't smoke daily but I don't know, not a doctor or even close. Good thing you saw the doc, good luck.

 

[qwizoking]

forgive this and the last post, but hey what do you expect for free
lol anyway
my resting heart rate is between 100 and 115 at any any given point
i do a full blood eval twice a week. including protein sugar iron etc with my patients
have also conducted ecg on myself at 180 and 220. you didnt express symptoms like tingling in your last 2 fingers or feet ?
i wouldnt think anything of that personally but please share your results.

you have a pain mgmt dr?
i was skimming this morning on my way to work...
give us more details on condition. as well as all meds, including dosage and time on them.
the official diagnoses is hypotension (orthostatic), some of the drugs listed can cause this among other things.
it's important to also recognize that thc has a bi and triphasic affect depending dose. your low tolerance is the biggest factor

understand that thc affects body temp and regulation as well as altering heart rate and blood pressure among other things. we romanticize the plant but its not benign. i would personally advise you take it easy until you consult YOUR dr. meaning not trying to get blasted, no hash or kief dusted joints from now on , take it easy.
the tired feeling dry mouth the vision etc are all expected though, dont freak yourself out..
now
your literally hitting some 20+ receptors in your brain with this combination .. partly why i said i didnt feel like going down that road. and without knowing your history and evaluating in person i can really just give general thoughts

your prescribing dr should be consulted. if a pain management dr he should be fairly well versed in interactions and you personally, but this is a complex topic and well chances are he's not completely aware. but that's their main focus. you should also have a pharmacist whose focus is the drugs themselves, consult with your pharmD as well.



i can advise, but i dont know anything about you. so again talk with your prescribing dr, he should be working WITH a pharmacist, no they dont just count pills...actually never do, thats the pharm techs job.

if he doesnt seem fully competent. find a new dr and obviously he can look through your medical history.

with relation to the thread...
qwizoking- pharmD among other things. worked in hospital settings and small pharmacies, currently in drug design- oversee upcoming cannabis and synthetic preparations. one of the most knowledgeable people in the country regarding cannabinoids


there are people here that can help but thats all we can do. and need more info


ill close in saying, dont worry yourself. i know im being repetitive, but in studies ive personally conducted with thc this is very common. there are certainly ways to help this, including diet and lifestyle. .


good luck

 

[MustI84]

I can certainly let you know my dosage on what I'm taking.

Co-codamol 15/500mg 15 is codiene and 500 being paracetemol, take 2 4 times a day.

Dicloflex 50mg 3 times a day.

Amitriptyline 20mg per night.

I also have 1 vitamin D tablet once a week, which is. 20,000 units. This has also been prescribed as my level was low at 21. Been advised a healthy person should be at their lowest 50.

I take these due to the cartilidge in my ribs plus sternum ty hat cause pain almost acute at times. Costochondritis ison is suppose to last up to 12 weeks at most on a bad case but I have been advised with me, it can be up to 3 years from my consultant. I'm 16 months in so far.

I'm not worrying myself so to speak, little worried about it. My doctor knows I smoke and knows this is only in the evening and at weekends and didn't say a word to me about it.

I've not been doing much around the home and have been looked after by my partner.

I had some tingling in my fingers but it was all not just 1 or 2.

 

[skinny510]

I'm not a medical expert but I can offer some reassurance.

I have had bad experiences when I smoke joints, so I use a vaporizer. My doc puts those problems down to smoking which can restrict the blood vessels.

HOWEVER, I did recently have an episode where I only took a few drags off the vaporizer and suddenly I couldn't read, couldn't finish my dinner, brush my teeth or anything. I was very light headed and just went to the bedroom told my wife how I felt and passed out. I awoke at 3.30am, took a few hits and passed back out. Woke up feeling fine.

I have fibromyalgia and so I'm often pretty run down. ALL my bad episodes occur when I'm tired. We are pretty adept at covering up, ignoring or masking when our body is tired. I feel like the THC kicks in and tells my body it is time to shut down and rest.

How did you feel the day that this happened to you? And if you have felt OK since then that is a pretty good sign! My doc is always asking if I feel OK during exercise (if you feel bad or have difficulty doing your usual exercise this can be a red flag).

 

[caveman117]

I have a friend that has a very similar problem with concentrates. When he used to live in my area he smoked concentrates regularly. Now every time he comes up and smokes a concentrate (whether it be full melt bubble, bho, qwet, etc.) He always goes through an episode like what you described.
I'd always chalked it up to low tolerance and high blood pressure. But I.don't really know much about why it would cause this issue so I'm completely guessing.
Also when it happens to him he passes out about 5-10 minutes after he would take a hit which I.found odd (because whenever I had extreme head rush feelings it was always instant).
I'm sure someone around here can help you find the answer to why its happening to you.

 

[Moldy]

I'm not a medical expert but I can offer some reassurance.

I have had bad experiences when I smoke joints, so I use a vaporizer. My doc puts those problems down to smoking which can restrict the blood vessels.

HOWEVER, I did recently have an episode where I only took a few drags off the vaporizer and suddenly I couldn't read, couldn't finish my dinner, brush my teeth or anything. I was very light headed and just went to the bedroom told my wife how I felt and passed out. I awoke at 3.30am, took a few hits and passed back out. Woke up feeling fine.

I have fibromyalgia and so I'm often pretty run down. ALL my bad episodes occur when I'm tired. We are pretty adept at covering up, ignoring or masking when our body is tired. I feel like the THC kicks in and tells my body it is time to shut down and rest.

How did you feel the day that this happened to you? And if you have felt OK since then that is a pretty good sign! My doc is always asking if I feel OK during exercise (if you feel bad or have difficulty doing your usual exercise this can be a red flag).

I thought the blood vessels relaxed when high and increased in diameter? My heart rate increases right after smoking but then goes down lower than my normal heartbeat to around 50. Normally I run around 60-65 bpm. I do take bp meds though so that could have an affect. BP drops about 10 - 15 points across the board to 110 over 60. I'm almost 67.

 

[skinny510]

I thought the blood vessels relaxed when high and increased in diameter? My heart rate increases right after smoking but then goes down lower than my normal heartbeat to around 50. Normally I run around 60-65 bpm. I do take bp meds though so that could have an affect. BP drops about 10 - 15 points across the board to 110 over 60. I'm almost 67.

I think you are right. My doc probably confused smoking tobacco products and combustion in general. Thanks doc.

 

[MustI84]

Had my ECG yesterday and my heartbeat has come down to 86. I have also recently discovered after speaking with my mum that my half brother, uncle and nephew have epilepsy. Without jumping to any conclusions until I have seen the neurologist (which I have been referred to), it may be that I did have a seizure.

 

[Moldy]

I think you are right. My doc probably confused smoking tobacco products and combustion in general. Thanks doc.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. My doctor told me about 10 years ago that he would not sign my rec due to the fact that weed caused diabetes. I got a new doc. Now I've heard that pot helps regulate blood sugar. Most of the older docs are not weed friendly.

 

[Moldy]

Had my ECG yesterday and my heartbeat has come down to 86. I have also recently discovered after speaking with my mum that my half brother, uncle and nephew have epilepsy. Without jumping to any conclusions until I have seen the neurologist (which I have been referred to), it may be that I did have a seizure.

That makes sense. I hope you find the cause.

 

[jimmerjammer]

Weird I have the complete opposite in this matter I was diagnosed with epilepsy 3 yrs ago when I was standing on our staircase and had a grandma seizure that knocked me over the banister and on to my head following 2 more episodes on the way to the hospital that were so bad I was put under with a respirator for 2 days. Went through the eeg unit and neurology doctors and only answer I got was it's something that happens in males over 30 (which sounds like a cop out answer) never noticed them until that, only thought is was sever night terrors from my ptsd and schitzo effective disorder because of how i flet in the mornings in a haze like i was stuck in a dream. Seizures just got worse through time, High quality bud and extracts are the only thing that helps keep it in check better than the meds that I have been on which is why I started growing, I've never seized out on any thc if anything its when I'm not on it like early mornings when I'm asleep are my most prone times...

Also I was on the amitrip stuffs no good imo...