Being around those who smoke pot?

[gothiclovemonkey]

Hello,
Question!?
If i get a transplant and go to a friends house, who smokes pot, would that effect me? I know I cant smoke it, and probably shouldnt be around it while its being smoked, but what about just being in a house it has been recently smoked in?
It is medical marijauna... and ive heard that its screened for mold, and has none... if thats the case, would it hurt me to be around it? *not smoke it, just be around it!*
really need to know, thank u!

[jbeany]

Ummm, honestly, I wouldn't trust even med marij to be "screened."  But I'd simply make it clear to them that even the second hand smoke and the left over smoke absorbed into the furnishings is a hazard and could we sit outside, or meet elsewhere if at all possible.  Surely they can understand that it's not worth the risk to a transplanted kidney.

Would it keep me away from a friend on hospice, no.  Would it make me extra cautious about being in the house, yes.

[Chris]

I don't know, I stopped going to my friends house and not just because they live quite a distance away. When I go, the brothers, 3 of them are always together and smoke and smoke cigarettes. I'm not a smoker and hate coming home with the smell. They aren't going to adjust and my transplant is more important than going there. Only thing I'm missing is  some bbq food in the neighborhood and playing with their dogs.

[Ang]

do whatever is best chance to keeping the tx for the forseeable future.

Don't leave it to chance

hope it gets here soon and stays around long long time

[gothiclovemonkey]

Thank you.

My entire family smokes cigs, so im always around that, i wonder if thats a problem too?
And, I really would like to go spend time with this person when i am more free to travel, but they smoke med. pot for chronic pain from a bad accident, so its not like he can just get up and go somewhere else to smoke it.
i didnt know if that stuff stays in the air afterward or not... and like second hand, if im there while hes actually smoking it?

[jbeany]

Well, some of the latest studies are showing that not only is the second hand smoke that you inhale while they are actively smoking it dangerous to you, but the toxins leaching back out of walls, carpets, and furniture are equally dangerous, even when there isn't any smoke in the air.  The studies were done on regular cigs, but I doubt there's much better results from mj.

[cariad]

I don't know, regular cigarettes are finely-tuned killing machines, no deaths have been attributed to marijuana use. Certainly not the several hundred thousand that die each year from cigarettes.

I don't see how this could affect your transplant in the slightest. However, this is one of those instances where the transplant centre gets their way despite a dearth of evidence. I would not worry about post-transplant, I would worry that exposure could turn up in your labs and your hospital might kick you off the list for drug use. However, if they have told you to quit smoking to stay on the list, and I have to believe they would, too much second-hand smoke exposure could also register as non-compliance. It's like living in some third-world country at times - the truth does not matter, all that matters is what the few medical professionals who have been appointed as your judges believe about you.

I would get as far away as possible from the cigarettes for the rest of my life, and maybe stay well clear of the marijuana around blood draw time.

[gothiclovemonkey]

I would have to agree,

The only problem is, every single person in my life smokes cigs.. except my son haha
i live with chimneys!

[lawphi]

I would think that the fungus would have to be inhaled and can't be transmitted through the smoke. 

I read a study that marijuana increased the prograf levels in patients. 

Also, if your friends vaporized, you would not be exposed to any second hand smoke. 

[cariad]

I read a study that marijuana increased the prograf levels in patients. 

OK, then there's your answer. You certainly do not want to send your Prograf levels out of whack. High levels are nephrotoxic. I guess it depends on what they mean by an increase - a tenth of a point, a full point? Also, it would be helpful to know if you would be breathing in any of the compounds that elevate Prograf levels.

GLM, I think this is something you could talk to your transplant team about, but maybe wait until after the transplant. Before transplant, they will interpret this in the worst way posisble (i.e. she's hanging out with junkies!) Don't stop visiting your friend! It sounds like he could use companionship.

[gothiclovemonkey]

I wont stop visting him no matter what... i think im falling in love with him.... just need to know what i can do to protect myself just in case i DO fall in love with him completely...
hes so amazing, and he only smokes it to help with all the pain he is in... its either that or TONS of pills... and he doesnt like the pills. (neither do i!)

[Poppylicious]

I'm just curious GLM; if you were to fall completely head over heels in love with him, and he were to fall completely head over heels in love with you and thus there came a time when you wanted to move in together, would he stop smoking the weed and pop the pills(!) instead?  I ask on two counts, the first being that your son would be exposed too (even if he's not in the same room at the time) and the second being that you've said it's EITHER the drugs OR the meds and given the impression he just doesn't want to take the medication. 

Would he do that for you?

 

I'm happy that you're happy!  I hope the happiness and the fluffy feelings of romance continue long into the future! But NOT at the expense of you getting that kidney!

*huggles*

[gothiclovemonkey]

That would not be something id want for him to do, be in so much pain for me... if it came to that we would just have to have a specific room for him to do that. He didnt smoke or take pills the whole time i was visiting, but i could tell he was hurting bad...

I feel so bad for him, but he has an amazing outlook on life considering what has happened to him. amazing man... wow. i dont blame him for hating the pills. Id much rather do mj than pills too! pills are evil! And they make him sick to his tummy, so hes dwindling down in weight as well... i cant believe the things he has endured.

there has to be a way that i can "have my cake and eat it to" in this situation.... i guess we will just play it by ear...

Maybe my stance on the earlier post Love or Health has changed... I think id chose him over the kidney!