Hi Everyone'
A colleague suggested that I look into trying marijuana to help with some of the visual symptoms. I have never used before, so I am skeptical. I am also afraid that there may be some bad side effects for me. Have any of you had any experiences with this-good or bad??? Is there a difference when smoked vs. ingested? I hope you all are well. HAPPY HOLIDAYS-MEERY CHRISTMAS-GOOD HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR! peace.

Nancy Lee

Personally I think anything that makes you weaker is not good. If I were to make a choice I would drink alcohol. It is legal for one thing and I think easier to control. Avoid all muscle relaxants such as pain relievers, eccept ibuprofin. If your eyes are tired, try closing them for a full minute or two. It makes a huge difference for me..
Vicky

Nancy Lee.I know nothing about your condition. However, I have used MJ for my parkinsons for years for pain and nausea that the "Meds cause and they provide a gentle euforia and sense of peace for me. Not with standing, MJ is not a cure for parkinsons, but a help!
That said, if it is legal where you live, as I did in California, get a little, get a friend to stay with you in case of any "paranoia" relax and smoke, don't eat it [it's tricky to gauge amounts with food] and relax like millions of people do all the time for relief of pain! I hope I don't get in hot water, but facts are facts, MJ is no more harmful for an adult with congenitive pain than any other pharmicutical drug! Good luck!

By the way I was "Twisted" now I am "Relaxed" !

Nancylee,
Perhaps folks with other conditions may be helped by smoking pot, I really doubt Myasthenia Gravis is one of them. Myasthenia does NOT cause spacticity or pain. Two symptoms marijuana probably helps because it relaxes the muscles, etc.

As for ocular symptoms, I know marijuana is supposed to relieve high ocular pressure from diseases like glaucoma. Myasthenia doesn't cause high ocular pressures.

The difference with Myasthenia Gravis compared to some other neurological conditions is that our muscles are already weakened from antibody blocked receptor sites. Our muscles are fine, our nerves are fine...it's the connection in between that is blocked.

When your muscles are weakened, you do not need to relax them even more.
In fact, if your myasthenia has affected your lung capacity, it may induce respiratory crisis to smoke marijuana or use any type of relaxant.

Medical marijuana does have it's purpose. I have a cousin with a lot of spacticity from Multiple sclerosis and marijuana does help her with it somewhat.


So, if you plan to "partake of the herb"; please make an educated choice and I would suggest not smoking/ingesting by yourself in case weakness does get worst.

Best wishes,
Ro - myasthenic for 26 years

I've been catching up on the posts and naturally this one caught my eye.HMmmmm,I just had to jump in with my "sage " advice .First of all to the poster wondering about pot or medical marijuana.Growing up in the 70's as a teen when all my friends were partying and I knew I couldn't drink alcohol---half a glass of
champagne would knock me on my butt--not to mention weaken me so much I ended up in emergency room once.Anyway I found out that smoking pot didn't have the effect of alcohol---in fact as I
mentioned to my doctor at the time it did seem to aid in the neurotransmissions and motor funtions as well as general relaxation
and ease in breathing.But,alas,the drug is still illegal and for me once I had to take other medications other than Mestinon I was too
afraid of drug interractions.Also,I always suffered from migraine and
I seriously believe this like alcohol could make that worse.
AS far as Myasthenia ,there definitely was a beneficial effect even
my doctor conceded that might be possible.