Hello

[MedicalMarijuanaGuy]

I'm 27, 6'4", 240 lbs, and live in Michigan. I was diagnosed with epilepsy and simple-partial extra-temporal lobe tonic clonic seizures when I was 16.

When I was 10 I started having seizures. When I was 11 I saw my first neurologist. She said I had "spells" and first put me on tegretol. I got a rash on my thighs and have never taken it again. I then took dilantin until it stopped working as I was going through puberty. When I was 14 and in 9th grade I had become one of the top 5 hockey players in the USA born in 1984 and was about to move in for 10th grade to play for Team USA under-18 national team and go to school. But then my epilepsy got out of control and I had all kinds of seizures at school and kids made fun of me and I quit going to school and quit playing hockey.
Next I saw a neurologist at university of michigan and he said I had psychogenic seizures because I wanted attention.
Then I finally saw a pediatric epileptologist at the cleveland clinic when I was 16. She had previously been at uofm at the same time I was there, but she left there because male neurologists weren't recommending people with epilepsy to her, like me, because she was a woman so they must know more. Ever since then I've been on lamictal.

My seizures now are primarily nocturnal, in my sleep or half-awake state when going to the bathroom or just waking up. I can have seizures from high core body temperatures and fluorescent lights but medical marijuana prevents those entirely. I used to take 400mg/day of lamictal but when medical marijuana became legal I found I could take less lamictal and still control my seizures with the help of marijuana. When on higher doses of lamictal I experienced what seemed to be a weak immune system and would have bad respiratory infections all winter long every year. But now only taking 200mg/day and using marijuana I am not sick all winter. But most importantly for me as a 27 year old male, my libido is back. From the time I was 16 to about 24 I never felt like having sex, ever. I'm happy I'm horny.

What scares me most about being epileptic is having my epilepsy get worse and medicine not being able to control it. Mine is genetic. I know I'm possibly applicable for a lobectomy but I will never let it happen. Thinking about having it done makes me cry. I'm really intelligent; I got 100% on my GED and 34 on my ACT and I didn't go to high school. I have a 4.0 in every college course I didn't incomplete because I was sick and having problems. It is the scariest thing in life by far, brain surgery.

I found this place cause I just googled for epilepsy forum. I've never met anyone with epilepsy my entire life and I just got sick of feeling alone and never having anyone to talk to or relate to. Talking to friends or family, I feel like they are listening but they don't hear what I'm saying because they just don't understand, they can't relate. I'm glad I found here. I'm going to try my best to help people try using medical marijuana to help their epilepsy because I know doctors aren't trying to help anyone.

 

[CathyAnn31]

Welcome.

You're very lucky to live somewhere that mmj is legal. Texas will be last, lol.

I partake too and I'm on 150mg of Lamictal. I have days where I'll feel a little "off", but no grand malls, knock wood..

 

[rich956]

:rock:Welcome
To a GREAT Place A world of wonderful people.
Hope your stay is as rewarding as mine....

 

[Cint]

I'm going to try my best to help people try using medical marijuana to help their epilepsy because I know doctors aren't trying to help anyone.

Well, just like some of the seizure medications, marijuana is a drug and does have some side effects to the brain.

from wikipedia.org:

Effects of cannabis

Neurological effects:

The areas of the brain where cannabinoid receptors are most prevalently located are consistent with the behavioral effects produced by cannabinoids. Brain regions in which cannabinoid receptors are very abundant are the basal ganglia, associated with movement control; the cerebellum, associated with body movement coordination; the hippocampus, associated with learning, memory, and stress control; the cerebral cortex, associated with higher cognitive functions; and the nucleus accumbens, regarded as the reward center of the brain.

Most notably, the two areas of motor control and memory are where the effects of cannabis are directly and irrefutably evident. Cannabinoids, depending on the dose, inhibit the transmission of neural signals through the basal ganglia and cerebellum. At lower doses, cannabinoids seem to stimulate locomotion while greater doses inhibit it, most commonly manifested by lack of steadiness (body sway and hand steadiness) in motor tasks that require a lot of attention. Other brain regions, like the cortex, the cerebellum, and the neural pathway from cortex to striatum, are also involved in the control of movement and contain abundant cannabinoid receptors, indicating their possible involvement as well.

Experiments on animal and human tissue have demonstrated a disruption of short-term memory formation, which is consistent with the abundance of CB1 receptors on the hippocampus, the region of the brain most closely associated with memory. Cannabinoids inhibit the release of several neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, like acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and glutamate, resulting in a major decrease in neuronal activity in that region. This decrease in activity resembles a "temporary hippocampal lesion."[10]

This hippocampal damage is the same thing that can cause seizures.

 

[Birdbomb]

Thank you Clint. Weed had it's good and bad points. The biggest issue is that for the most part growing is illegal unless you have a prescription. You then are only allowed to grow enough for YOURSELF and no one else. It is highly illegal to buy, sell or even "donate" no matter where you live. Offers to help other in obtaining marijuana is illegal and not allowed here at CWE. Sorry MMG but please no more.

 

[jyearta]

I'm so glad you found this forum.

I have found it very helpful reading others post, what they have learned through their experiences. I have been so blessed in that I have found answers to questions that my Dr. NEVER had the answers for. It has changed my life.

 

[jonsey]

Hi Im glad you stumbled onto the forum. Im still pretty new myself.
But what a wealth of information, advice and support. To be able to come to a forum and feel warmth and a feeling of hope . Someone always replies, morning, noon and night. You never have to be alone .

 

[MedicalMarijuanaGuy]

Probably won't be here long, people don't want me here haha. I love how you guys are totally cool with your doctor giving you a lobectomy and then your seizures coming back and you having more problems.

But marijuana? That sh*t is evil man!

 

[Kaitybugsmom]

I love how you guys are totally cool with your doctor giving you a lobectomy and then your seizures coming back and you having more problems.

But marijuana? That sh*t is evil man!

This offends me. I am not 100% certain but I'm pretty sure that those who have had surgery in an effort to control their seizures did not go into it whooping it up like they were going on a fab vacation. I pretty sure that it was a tough hard decision and one that was a last resort.

I havent seen anybody post anything in reference to marijuana being 'evil' I think its a personal choice and one that like all other medications whether perscription, over the counter or home remedy may or may not work for another the way it works for you.

If I am out of line here I apologize to the other members here on CWE

 

[Bernard]

MMG apparently could not abide the forum rules and basic courtesy. He will need to find some place else to push his agenda.

 

[Crash]

This offends me. I am not 100% certain but I'm pretty sure that those who have had surgery in an effort to control their seizures did not go into it whooping it up like they were going on a fab vacation. I pretty sure that it was a tough hard decision and one that was a last resort.

I havent seen anybody post anything in reference to marijuana being 'evil' I think its a personal choice and one that like all other medications whether perscription, over the counter or home remedy may or may not work for another the way it works for you.

If I am out of line here I apologize to the other members here on CWE

No,i certainly dont think you were out off line,everyone has their own choices and opinions especialy when it comes to marijuana,which always brings debate,so well done you for sticking up for the people who have opted for surgery.Im not against mj but everyone should be respected as you say.

 

[Cint]

This offends me. I am not 100% certain but I'm pretty sure that those who have had surgery in an effort to control their seizures did not go into it whooping it up like they were going on a fab vacation. I pretty sure that it was a tough hard decision and one that was a last resort.


If I am out of line here I apologize to the other members here on CWE

:agree: Kaitysbugsmom! It offends me also. You are not out of line here and you have a right to your opinion also. And, having surgery wasn't like going on some wonderful vacation. It WAS A LAST RESORT! It didn't help out with my seizures, either, and no way in H***L will I try marijuana to control them now. I already had a damaged hippocampus before surgery, so I don't need pot to further damage it.

 

[acpollard2010]

yea he has right to do what he wants to express his opinion as well dont agree with the surgery part but not my place to judge or any of us including the police of CWE love ya guys.''only god can judge me''.but guess rules are rules though and cwe is good to chat with others about E!

 

[Birdbomb]

Well, speaking as one of the CWE "police" it has nothing to do with judging a person or their opinion. It has to do with adhering to the guidelines the site owner has established. The open buying or selling of ANYTHING is prohibited especially so with illegal substances.

My opinion of marijuana is what you do is your business. As for medical marijuana, I am 100% pro. I know it works quite well for a lot of different ills.

But when someone is attempting to SELL or attempting to set up a system of trade for an illegal substance on my site or CWE, that's where lines are crossed and hard-assed decisions must be made. If you guys only knew the HALF of it there would be no questions at all. Site moderation and decisions are a group effort with much discussions and communications. Not everyone will like the outcome, not everyone will agree, but no matter the final decision, all focus is on the good of the group and the health of CWE. THIS is what makes Coping with Epilepsy one of, if not, THE best site on the internet.

We are everyone's Mother.

Now, pull up your pants and go clean your room.

 

[CathyAnn31]

I'm kinda sad to see the guy go. I don't know how serious he was in his offer . I do enjoy hearing from mj advocates. I wish I could be vocal on the subj but it's highly illegal in my state.. Lol. Maybe someday we will have mmj here but I'm sure I'll be 6 ft under, lmao.

 

[Bernard]

yea he has right to do what he wants to express his opinion as well ...

He does not have a right to come in to my house, break the rules and be disrespectful (private correspondence).