| Ulcerative colitis, one of the most well known irritable | | | | remission. I can't believe how well I feel. I have my life |
| bowel diseases, can cause severe fatigue, urgent | | | | back! Those of you in states where it is still forbidden |
| diarrhea, pain, loss of appetite and unhealthy weight | | | | need to lobby your representatives for a |
| loss. Many of the traditional medicinal treatments have | | | | compassionate use bill. THEN, the feds need to get on |
| side effects much like ulcerative colitis itself, with | | | | board!" |
| severe side effects from long-term use. | | | | "There's another huge thread discussing MMJ in the |
| Most patients with ulcerative colitis (and their doctors | | | | forums already. I read through it in my research about |
| for that matter), believed they were stuck with | | | | medical MJ. I can tell you that since i got the |
| traditional medication treatments. The side effects | | | | recommendation, i have had much success with it. It |
| were just one more issue on top of a severe medical | | | | immediately stops symptoms and lets you relax. In my |
| problem with no final solution or cure. The same can | | | | personal experiences i find it to be more useful in |
| be said for several diseases: multiple sclerosis, cancer | | | | maintaining remission than causing it, but this is because |
| and other patients believed that, to have a better | | | | i cannot use it as often as some suggest. Once at |
| quality of life, they needed the traditional treatments - | | | | night every other day or so is my usual regiment." |
| even if those treatments were sometimes worse than | | | | The high level of anecdotal evidence, such as the |
| the actual disease. | | | | above, has caused more than ulcerative colitis patients |
| As medicinal marijuana laws change, however, another | | | | to take note. Scientists and medical researchers are |
| treatment is being bandied about - not by the medical | | | | now trying to answer the question of whether |
| profession, but by those patients using cannabis as a | | | | medicinal marijuana may actually help in the disease or |
| way to relieve symptoms and reduce (or omit) the | | | | if it only covers up the symptoms. Several reports |
| need for pharmaceutical medication. Ulcerative colitis | | | | have pointed to the distinct potential application of |
| sufferers are no different. | | | | medicinal marijuana in ulcerative colitis patients, but |
| Called "anecdotal evidence", testimonials from | | | | have yet to give a definitive answer. |
| ulcerative colitis patients, cancer patients and more | | | | For ulcerative colitis patients, however, the answer is |
| have been filling medical articles. As well, were one to | | | | already there. Although many face the possibility of |
| search IBD and medicinal marijuana online, they would | | | | arrest because they either don't live in an area where |
| find much "anecdotal evidence". Those afraid to share | | | | medicinal marijuana is legal or because their doctor |
| their stories due to the illegal nature of cannabis are | | | | won't give them a prescription, the resounding |
| now eager to share the benefits they've found from | | | | sentiment is summed up by this last commentator: |
| the use of medicinal marijuana. Unfortunately, many | | | | "Marijuana has helped me live without flare-ups when |
| are still unwilling to share their real names, but the | | | | nothing else seemed to work. |
| surprise and pleasure they've found in relief from | | | | I am a law abiding Christian and I sometimes second |
| symptoms is unmistakable. | | | | guess myself for using an illegal drug to treat my UC. |
| "In my short experience with medicating with marijuana | | | | That feeling only lasts until I stop using marijuana, then |
| to treat my Crohn's disease I've found that in general it | | | | have a flare! It's pretty simple: smoke a little pot and |
| seems to stabilize my digestive system even when I'm | | | | don't have cramps and/or bloody stool or don't smoke |
| not high. Many times I get severe cramps after eating, | | | | and be miserable. |
| and even when I'm sober if I medicate at least once a | | | | Marijuana has helped me LIVE with this chronic |
| day I don't get those cramps, or if I do it's not nearly as | | | | disease. In fact, a couple of puffs a night have put my |
| bad. Marijuana helps with inflammation in your digestive | | | | disease in remission. I hate breaking the law, and don't |
| system, it doesn't just help when you are high, it helps | | | | consider myself a criminal but I know that this works |
| 24/7." | | | | for me." |
| In an online Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | | | | Most agree that there are ways to used medicinal |
| support group, a member asked if anyone had used | | | | marijuana other than smoking, such as baking or using |
| medicinal marijuana to help relieve symptoms. Although | | | | a vaporizer. Most also agree that the possibility of |
| most answered no, due to the illegal nature, a few | | | | medicinal marijuana helping everyone is unlikely. As |
| gave a resounding yes: | | | | well, even though they are neither medical doctors nor |
| "Yes! After only two weeks, I have gone from 20 to | | | | law enforcement, many point out that it is best to |
| 25 bathroom trips/day to 2 trips per day. I was | | | | know where the cannabis is coming from and what |
| smoking (2 to 3 hits, is all) every night just before | | | | strain it is. However, all agree - in varying states of |
| bedtime. I'm now trying to do it only every other night. | | | | shock, surprise and relief - that they have benefited |
| We'll see how/if my symptoms return." | | | | from the use of medicinal marijuana to help control |
| "It's been right at 2 months since my doc | | | | their ulcerative colitis symptoms, if not put them into |
| recommended medical MJ. I am only smoking it every | | | | remission. |
| three or four days and my symptoms are still in total | | | | |