Colon problems from vapor?

[duh]

Since I have been a MMJ patient, I have started vaping, lost weight (a lot) and developed a case of diverticulitis/osis (diagnosis so-far) which I can't seem to shake. Anyone else have similar symptoms of harsh bacteria wars going on in your guts?

I bought some pro-biotics drink that does seem to help. I am also getting more diags done and will report back to the thread. Since this is 'dark science' I am hoping for others to share. When the Dr asks, do I smoke or drink, I answer No. However, we all know vaping does stuff to your guts and I can't help but wonder what WTF is going on and everything is suspect.

Been leaning heavily on the PD and V and am planning on an SSV w/the new larger chamber. The PD keeps me from "climbing the walls". I hope I am not causing my own problems... from what I have 'read' these issues are remedied by MMJ not caused by it but I haven't read any studies on this.

Help! My guts hurt! It would suck to know I am shooting a shotgun into my colon via vapor!

 

[lwien]

Not unless you're sticking the whip up your ass, duh.

 

[Skunkypete]

However, we all know vaping does stuff to your guts

Where have you heard this? The only effect vaping as on my gut is making me eat crap when I shouldn't. I have been sick more then a couple of times by virtue of feeding on unhealthy foods while having the munchies but that was clearly brought on by my own gluttony.

 

[nicelytoasted]

Duh

I would suggest that any sudden weight loss (and diet) may have more to do with the onset of diverticulitis, which is pockets developing in the intestinal walls that traps food, which then putrifies.

I helped to treat my mother (with success) when she had a bad case of it by slowly introducing probiotics (dietary and supplementation). Try to get as many of the lactobacillus strains as possible.

I also changed her diet into healthier choices with more balance, and this seemed to slowly offset her symptoms.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

Duh -

as a long time vaporist (9 years) out of a 42 year mj co-existence, i have seen no correlation of mj vaping with anything in the body lower than my throat (dryness). and i'm a bit anal by nature, so if there was any effect anythere i would definitely notice it.

stress is the killer. ALL illness is caused by stress. so just relax.

 

[max]

I don't see any connection between vapor and gut problems either. I do know that in this particular health problem area, western medicine is absolutely clueless. They have no answers other than suppressing stomach acid, which is the worst thing you can do. The answer is eating the right foods and cutting out the ones that give you problems. I would highly recommend taking a look at this site- http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp This info has helped my wife and me with some minor problems and a couple of other friends with major issues.

 

[duh]

No whip up my ass, lwein. If you read my post, I'm not using a whip style vape lately. Do you have some undiagnosed Indy-fetish? Maybe Mapplethorpe? j/lk!

Thanks for everyone who posted.

I already eat pretty healthy, meditate and those probiotics have really helped so I'm glad it isn't a placebo. My biggest fear is that vapor would kill the good bacteria and encourage the bad ones. Now I will continue to eat 'hubby's edibles" and rely on my vapes to get me through the attacks. At the minimum, I am in a much better mood after vaping! Thanks to FCers, I'll vape paranoia free.

Vape On!

- duh!

 

[kosh]

hey duh,

not for nothing but i heard about a condition called cannabinoid hypermesis or something like that which has something to do with the GI tract. might be worth a google before spending your cash on a SSV.

 

[Beezleb]

I have diverticulitis and all I do do is eat lots of fiber and do not eat seeds or corn with the hard covering. If your into popcorn look for "hulless popcorn." Some seeds you can eat, some not as it depends on how easily they break down. Beware of seeds in tomatoes and seeds in spices such as celery seed which is common in Mrs. Dash, steak seasonings and Old Bay.

I passed on the surgery and controlling my diet seems to be the best answer. I have a relative who had the surgery and thinks im nuts for not doing it. I have a friend who takes medication and he eats whatever he wants. To me, no pill is worth risking the many hours curled up in a ball of pain, I am strict to my no seed diet.

If I get a seed which is rare now but when I do I take charcoal pills and pain pills. Weed actually intensifies the pain for me.

Its very hard to eat at restaurants and its not uncommon for me not to be able to eat much other than a simple salad, beware cucumbers too but the seedless cucumbers are fine, even though they have seeds they break down but regular cucumbers are not your friends. Forget bananas and berries too, almost like eating a hand grenade of pain.

 

[OldGuy]

Duh,

Have you considered that you may have Celiac disease? My partner developed symptoms in her early 40's, but she was not diagnosed for several years. It is a disease that few people (including doctors, apparently) have even heard of, although it is estimated that 1 in 133 people have it. Only about 3% have been diagnosed.

From http://www.csaceliacs.org/

"Celiac disease (CD), also known as celiac sprue or
gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a genetically linked
autoimmune disorder that can affect both children and
adults. When people with celiac disease eat certain
grain-based products that contain gluten, it sets off an
immune response that causes damage to the small
intestine. This, in turn, interferes with the small intestines
ability to absorb nutrients found in food, leading to
malnutrition and a variety of other complications.
Gluten is the collective term for the amino acid
sequences found in wheat, barley, rye and, to a lesser
extent, oats, that trigger the immune response.

Celiac disease is the most common genetic autoimmune
disease in the world. This makes celiac disease more common
than lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis,
epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, Crohns disease or cystic
fibrosis. Celiac disease is estimated to affect at least 1%
of the worldwide population. Over 3,000,000 people in
the US may have celiac disease, but only 150,000 have
been diagnosed."

 

[duh]

Beezleb, yes this and a colostomy bag are what I am afraid of! I'm not as young as you, but am well under the age of 65 where this is more common. kosh, reading about that, I have 3 thoughts: (good read: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2658859)

1. Quit. "Cessation of cannabis is curative." http://clinmed.netprints.org/cgi/content/full/2001110001v1

2. "immunomodulatory...microglia" not good. Stomach cells get stoned too and slow down working. (Work around: don't eat or eat low-residue food when before/during med use)

3. The study was peer reviewed by someone on Wilshire; there are some really good dispensaries near there!

Thanks for adding more stuff to this thread; the more info the better! I'm getting a full diag in a few days and well report back. I'm "cramming" in the meantime, tomorrow I 'get' to mix the batch of laxative drano and drink the world's nastiest 'mega mega big gulp' over the course of 4 hours. Mine is pineapple.

 

[duh]

Have you considered that you may have Celiac disease?

I did check this out but don't know how do to get diagnosed? About 3 months ago, I became a vegan which sort of started a chain reaction of less caloric intake, more exercise (not overly rigorous). When I 1st started the whole autolysis thing, of eating "me" for meals, I probably didn't drink enough water and certainly not enough of the right juices. I also stopped eating yogurt altogether and didn't even try a soy yogurt until a few weeks, well after the horses left the barn.

I love seitan. But if gluten is the enemy, I can easily skip it as 1/2 my food is already gluten free, I just never consciously avoid it. OG, I'll look into it, thanks for the suggestion!

 

[OldGuy]

Have you considered that you may have Celiac disease?

I did check this out but don't know how do to get diagnosed?

***

I love seitan. But if gluten is the enemy, I can easily skip it as 1/2 my food is already gluten free, I just never consciously avoid it. OG, I'll look into it, thanks for the suggestion!

Spend a few minutes looking at http://www.csaceliacs.org/. There's a lot of helpful info there.

We found avoiding gluten was harder than we imagined because of the "hidden" gluten in many prepared foods and common kitchen ingredients. Just because something is "organic", does not mean the item is gluten free. Even most brands of vinegar and soy sauce contain gluten. My partner had it so bad that she actually developed skin lesions and an intolerance to lactose as well. Both disappeared (along with the painful digestive symptoms of celiac disease) when her diet became 100% gluten free.

Good luck!

 

[Durden]

If it ends up being Celiacs, there are lots of good locations in LA where you can buy many gluten free foods and even buy fresh bread, rolls, and deserts etc that are gluten free!

 

[chucku]

Duh,

If you are anywhere close to 50 and have not had a colonoscopy yet, have one. Problems such as polyps are easily found and treated on the spot. My doctor also suggested a soft, bland, high fiber diet for when I was recovering from my 2004 hemorrhoid surgery. Since then oatmeal has proven to be the most effective dietary treatment I have found. To keep it from being painfully boring I have experimented with some unconventional flavor combinations such as chocolate (cocoa powder and sugar in the raw or mexican style chocolate syrup), sun dried tomatos and parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon with dehydrated onion and pepper (chipolte or habanero based) sauce to taste. The beautiful thing about oatmeal is the soluble and insoluble fiber it has. Also make sure you have enough fluids. Often a shortage of water in ones diet is enough to cause discomfort.

 

[duh]

chucku, you called it. cept' I'm nearing my late 30s so I didn't expect this for awhile...

I eat tons of oatmeal and cream of wheat. My fav is cream of wheat yellow box + chocolate meds = all morning happiness. Lately, I haven't felt like eating much of anything though and am loosing .5 lb a week.

That .au study bums me out - I'd hate to be stoning my colon to the point where is doesn't work. The example, though, is a 23 year old who smokes all day. I vape a few times a day on average.

 

[duh]

One other big clue: I stopped water filtration altogether when I began vaping. I have bought a bong but more out of what does it do w/a vape. Now, I'll return to only water filtering when vaping.

Whatya think? Red Herring? Beezleb, what do you use?

 

[Beezleb]

I just use a regular whip with my DBV.

I wouldnt think using a water bong would matter as far as your health issue but I doubt I know much more than any other regular long term user. I would definitely use your bong and see if it helps, stranger things have happened im sure.

As much as I want to say its not the vapor it is disturbing that the issue occurred at the same time, if I am correct for thinking this.

You did say you went on a vegan diet and depending on how much of a difference in diet that was for you, say a regular meat eating diet going to a vegan would definitely have an affect I am sure. These affects are not all short term either and can come into effect later as your body reacts and adjust to the diet over time, such as potentially going Iron anemic or even developing allergies, while not likely so much on the allergies it does happen.

I would also recommend getting a regular blood test to make sure your bodies working correctly and look into a vegan forum/site or something where you might have a better chance finding people who are more experienced with those aspects of that early part of the diet lifestyle.

Best of luck to you, hope this helped at all but probably not much than you are already doing and this next vape is in the spirit of your health!

 

[duh]

Well to clarify, mmj was new and vapor was dr recommended but i knew mary well before. I'm trying to narrow down all possible big changes. I intended to loose weight, just not go into a little free-fall w/diverticultus flare-ups before 40, etc.

So summing up so far: stopped pro-biotics for too long when I started vaping/veganing (was octo-lavo bong smoker b4 for yrs).

3 days of priobiotics - feel a lot better

1 eve of water vaping - a lot better

Tomorrow - I'm stuck on liquids only before the jug of laxative. Doh! Guess I'll be exploring vapor bonging some more.

VHW in my future?...

 

[chucku]

chucku, you called it. cept' I'm nearing my late 30s so I didn't expect this for awhile...

I eat tons of oatmeal and cream of wheat. My fav is cream of wheat yellow box + chocolate meds = all morning happiness. Lately, I haven't felt like eating much of anything though and am loosing .5 lb a week.

That .au study bums me out - I'd hate to be stoning my colon to the point where is doesn't work. The example, though, is a 23 year old who smokes all day. I vape a few times a day on average.

If you like Cream of Wheat you will love Coco Wheats. Still one of my favorites.

 

[Univapor]

lol.

Not unless you're sticking the whip up your ass, duh.

 

[Hanibal Lectin]

I've had lots of experience with IBS and IBD and spent the last 2 years researching dietary factors and cured myself and wife(they were talking about cutting out parts of intestine).
Any questions just ask.
Wheat is a great food source if your only alternative is death by starvation or your a glutton for punishment.