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Syncope after toking

Discussion in 'Marijuana Consumption Q&A' started by hedgehog, Aug 9, 2018.

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  1. #1 hedgehog, Aug 9, 2018
    I am a 68 year old male who is getting back to occasional marijuana use after working my ass off all my life. I smoked in college, got a job and put it away for 40 years. But, being retired and my own person, I started to use on occasion. My wife and I went to Colorado and I smoked seven times there with no problems. Got back to home state, smoked and woke up on the floor. Tried it again and did ok. Then, I did it and fainted a second time. I have used it from time to time and did ok but, about 20% of the time I faint. I used at a concert last month and did ok and, despite the anxiety of a possible episode of syncope, enjoyed it. I did take a120 mg gingko biloba that morning as well as a super b complex vitamin. I had no problems. I have had all kinds of tests due to the syncope and I am in excellent health. My question, after a long story is, are there any legal supplements that may prevent an attack of vasovagal syncope? My neurologist simply said to lie down while smoking, but that kinda takes the fun out of it all. Thanks! I hope there is a response out there somewhere.
     
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  2. #2 NMCOGuy, Aug 9, 2018
    I have the same problem as you but it’s not triggered when I smoke.

    Maybe try some cbd products?
     
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  3. #3 hedgehog, Aug 9, 2018
    I appreciate your response, but am not really sure what these are. I thought they didn't get you high. Do you have syncope every time you smoke or just some of the time?
     
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  4. #4 LabRat, Aug 9, 2018
    High hedgehog

    For about 8 years, I'm 64 in Oct, I've been having what I call 'nap attacks' for want of a better description or diagnosis. I don't pass out but go into a low energy state like being put on standby for about 45 min to an hour. Then when I come out of it I'm irritable and mildly disoriented for about 2 hours. Then I'm all energetic and alert for hours afterwards. Tends to happen after a meal tho not always. Big meal or small snack doesn't seem to matter. Nor do certain foods seem to make a difference.

    One doctor sent me to the diabetic nurse that fixed me up with a blood sugar meter with a couple packs of strips and a diary. After a couple months of that went back and was told if anything I'm hypoglycemic. When I could test my blood on the onset of an attack my sugars were well within normal range tho if on the lower end I get shaky and feel nauseous when most people wouldn't. Normal fasting range being between 4 - 7 but around 4.5 I get the shakes until I eat.

    I've always had low blood pressure so explored that as a reason. Can't find a correlation there either tho sometimes my bp is lower than 90/60 and then I really feel like taking a nap but it's not the same feeling as a nap attack.

    I live way up in northern Alberta so we get new doctors from South Africa mainly and they don't seem to want to do anything but hand out pills which I won't take. For over 5 years I was complaining about problems with my guts and not once did one send me for a scan until it went into a crisis last Nov and we had to call an ambulance as our driveway was snowed in and we couldn't get out. One of those docs at the hospital said I was constipated and gave me a cup of something to drink and said once I crapped I could go home. Never once been constipated in my whole life and knew I wasn't then. Put me on IV antibiotics about 2 hours later and that gave me the shits something awful. Anyway I got sent for a CAT scan after another day there then off to the city for an emergency appendectomy. Surgeon told me that it likely tried to blow 5 or 6 years ago and blew a leak near the base that has been leaking into my belly since. It also caused a large abscess to form on the colon next to it that if it blew when they drained it would have needed a partial colonoscopy. The surgery went well but getting the drainage tube removed was hell! :)

    Gut problems gone but still the nap attacks. Got a new doc and he's looking into it but I'm going in soon to light a fire under his ass to get me to see a specialist in chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia as I have a lot of joint and muscle pain that doesn't respond to arthritis meds which I can't take as they hurt my gut like being punched in the solar plexus. I make cocobudder from hi-CBD pot to help with the joint pain and that works great. One dose in the evening works for almost 24 hours.

    Pot can cause a drop in blood pressure and blood sugar so I'd be looking there for solutions. Making sure you're well hydrated and not hungry before smoking may help.

    peace.gif
     
  5. #5 NMCOGuy, Aug 9, 2018
    Vasovegal syncope is cause by a sudden drop in blood pressure. I’m not a doctor so consider this advice worth what it cost you.

    If you don’t already have high blood pressure, try adding just a little more salt to your diet. You can also try wearing socks for diabetics. They help with blood flow in your feet which can help.

    The other issue is smoking. I am a heavy tobaco user. Smoking causes changes in your BP too. You are breathing in smoke instead of oxegen so your blood can become a little anemic or some such.

    CBD has a slew of medical uses and does not intoxicate you. Adding some CBD to your high will definately help with paranoi, anxiety, I believe it also helps with many other ailments such as epilepsy, stomach problems, etc... you can buy CBD in water, edibles, vape cartridges, and even in concentrate that you can sprinkle over your flower.
     
  6. #6 hedgehog, Aug 10, 2018
    Hey, Labrat,

    I am not diabetic and don't have low blood sugar. I have had all those tests. One thing I found that may have caused the syncope was that I was using 5% minoxidil( originally a blood pressure medicine) while all this was going on, and, I found there is a link between syncope and minoxidil. I was also using more than directed, too. And if you think about it you put the minoxidil right on your damn head. So that coupled with the weed, which is also a vasodilator, may have caused the faint. When I faint I feel awful until the next morning at least. When I smoked at the concert last month I drank water all day and then half a bottle of Pedialyte prior to the hits and I did ok. I'm l glad you figured out what was wrong with you nd hope you are feeling better.
     
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  7. #7 hedgehog, Aug 10, 2018
    NMCOguy, I am not a smoker and am treated for border line high blood pressure, but a couple of times had not been taking the BP meds when I had the faints. I need to try to find some CBD oil and see what happens. Thanks!
     
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  8. #8 LoneGardener, Aug 10, 2018
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  9. #9 hedgehog, Aug 10, 2018
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  10. #10 LoneGardener, Aug 10, 2018
    YW!

    I currently take my homemade canna caps that i make using a 1:1 flower. works wonders for me and my ailments.

    Myself, as I've gotten older I have come to appreciate the mellow buzz of smoking the 1:1 flower as well. The THC is always lower, kinda nice when you still want to function, and the CBD takes the edge off of the stone/high. Its a nice ride for an oldish guy!

    https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/10-best-cbd-cannabis-strains-according-to-leafly-users
     
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