Re: To Tell or Not to Tell?

cllmd wrote:
Howdy, y'all! Got a question.

A friend (no really, it IS a friend) is having back surgery soon....his first. He and i yack mostly over the phone. I rarely see him in person anymore, since his back has gotten so bad.

Anywho, along with his pain meds, he smokes grass. It is only slightly for pain. He mostly does it just for his own enjoyment and has been doing so since he was 10 (the mother is waaaaaaaay messed up herself in many, many areas....yeah, BatMum, its' Trix.) He is also a cigarette smoker, but has cut down to about three a day. From what i've learned, cig smokers only tell you about half of what they actually puff.

His surgeon does not know about the weed. I don't think he need know....

HOWEVER, the patient is not planning to tell his anesthesiologist about the grass...only the legal smokes.

I think this is a huge, possibly lethal mistake. But i don't have any experience in this area. I'd appreciate some opinions.

His lover and his mom have told him he needs to tell the anesthetist....but he tends to listen to me. I've helped him both with his sobriety (used to drink...has over a year sober now) and we are able to talk pain stuff. We are very frank and...well, you guys know the relief that is having a friend who lives with chronic pain.

Just looking for your thoughts or experiences....

Thanks bunches!

deep peace,
Lavon




IMO, our PERSONAL feelings on the matter dont apply here. So try these medical answers instead:


http://www.co-anaesthesiology.com/pt/re/coanes/abstract.00001503-200304000-00007.htm;jsessionid=GfbDly1GBL4yTrh4yV93Ts1SfFjN28Dnbc0pjMFVcMRHBbsksMdk!-712222271!-949856144!8091!-1
Patients on party drugs undergoing anesthesia.

Resuscitation and trauma anaesthesia
Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology. 16(2):147-152, April 2003.
Steadman, Joy L.; Birnbach, David J.

Abstract:
Purpose of review: Drug abuse, especially with designer drugs, continues to grow, involving a wide demographic range. Consequently, anesthesiologists may be involved in the care of patients under the acute and chronic influence of a myriad of substances. In addition to the usual physiological damage to vital organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, and immune system) new evidence of permanent damage in regions of the brain responsible for memory and pain mediation is emerging. As drug use continues to increase, anesthesiologists must learn to detect drug abusing patients and avoid known interactions. This article will attempt to review the recent literature on this subject.

Recent findings: Cocaine, marijuana, ethanol, and heroin top the list of abused drugs, alone and in combination. The combined effects of these drugs can be synergistic in creating cardiovascular instability and toxicity. Because combinations create synergy in dopamine and serotonin transmission, addiction is possibly faster, more entrenched, and more difficult to treat. Anesthesiologists are now becoming involved in many of the rapid detoxification procedures to combat/treat addiction. Only limited research has addressed the newer designer drugs, but case reports regarding hyperthermia, cerebral edema, cerebral vasospasm, and lethal interactions with commonly used medications such as beta-blockers implicate the need for awareness in anesthesia personnel.

Summary: Drug abuse continues to be a major problem facing our society. Anesthesiologists encounter emergency cases in which 'party drugs' have clearly been used, and may also be anesthetizing patients in whom abuse is present but unrecognized. Understanding how illicit drugs interact with anesthetic agents is of paramount importance.

(C) 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
################################################

What are the side effects of marijuana & gen. anesthesia:

Because general anesthetics affect the central nervous system, patients may feel drowsy, weak, or tired for as long as a few days after having general anesthesia. Fuzzy thinking, blurred vision, and coordination problems are also possible. For these reasons, anyone who has had general anesthesia should not drive, operate machinery, or perform other activities that could endanger themselves or others for at least 24 hours, or longer if necessary.

Most side effects go away as the anesthetic wears off. Check with a nurse or doctor if these or other side effects continue or cause problems:

* Headache
* Vision problems, including blurred or double vision
* Shivering or trembling
* Muscle pain
* Dizziness, lightheadedness, or faintness
* Drowsiness
* Mood or mental changes
* Nausea or vomiting
* Sore throat
* Nightmares or unusual dreams.

A doctor should be notified as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur within two weeks of having general anesthesia:

* Severe headache
* Pain in the stomach or abdomen
* Back or leg pain
* Severe nausea
* Black or bloody vomit
* Unusual tiredness or weakness
* Weakness in the wrist and fingers
* Weight loss or loss of appetite
* Increase or decrease in amount of urine
* Pale skin
* Yellow eyes or skin.

Interactions

General anesthetics may interact with other medicines. When this happens, the effects of one or both of the drugs may be altered or the risk of side effects may be greater. Anyone who is going to receive a general anesthetic should make sure the doctor knows about all other medicines that he or she is taking. This includes prescription drugs, nonprescription medicines, and street drugs. Serious and possibly life-threatening reactions may occur when general anesthetics are given to people who use street drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, phencyclidine (PCP or angel dust), amphetamines (uppers), barbiturates (downers), heroin, or other narcotics. Anyone who uses these drugs should make sure their doctor or dentist knows what they have taken.

http://www.chclibrary.org/micromed/00037320.html


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: To Tell or Not to Tell?
    ... Anywho, along with his pain meds, he smokes grass. ... Patients on party drugs undergoing anesthesia. ... General anesthetics may interact with other medicines. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: To Tell or Not to Tell?
    ... Anywho, along with his pain meds, he smokes grass. ... Drug abuse, especially with designer drugs, continues to grow, involving a wide demographic range. ... Only limited research has addressed the newer designer drugs, but case reports regarding hyperthermia, cerebral edema, cerebral vasospasm, and lethal interactions with commonly used medications such as beta-blockers implicate the need for awareness in anesthesia personnel. ... Because general anesthetics affect the central nervous system, patients may feel drowsy, weak, or tired for as long as a few days after having general anesthesia. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: To Tell or Not to Tell?
    ... Anywho, along with his pain meds, he smokes grass. ... Patients on party drugs undergoing anesthesia. ... General anesthetics may interact with other medicines. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: Diary of a Tumor
    ... biopsy under general anesthesia on Friday, ... I felt touched by her prayer; I had had a feeling that ... pain before leaving. ...
    (sci.med.diseases.cancer)
  • Nitrous: What can I expect?
    ... again, because of the ineffectiveness of anesthesia, and the accompanying ... pain from the drill, I wind up as a basket case to the point of literally ... needed one shot to get through it, and I was kind of proud of myself. ... pain in my lower jaw as well right underneath No. 15 on the other tooth he ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)