Cannabis + Rhinoplasty

[voodoo child]

SWIM's going under the knife for a rhinoplasty tomorrow and has been smoking up until last night, very, very heavily.

SWIM's looking online, and they advise against marijuana because it can interefere with the blood clotting process. However, it was not on the list of substances to not use given to SWIM by his doctor, probably because it's an illegal substance.

Should SWIM call off the surgery, or is the risk of something serious happening small?

[voodoo child]

Anyone? This is pretty important to me... thx.

[trptamene]

SWIy should just ask the surgeon/doctor for clarification. You are not seeking drugs from them and are paying for a service. The doctors are bound by confidentiality so it is not like you are going to get in trouble. If one is really worried, keep it hypothetical; say a friend or even better SWIY!

Also, were other illicit substances on the list given? If they were but marijuana wasn't one would think it would probably safe, as cannabis is the most used illicit "drug"

[voodoo child]

Originally Posted by trptamene

SWIy should just ask the surgeon/doctor for clarification. You are not seeking drugs from them and are paying for a service. The doctors are bound by confidentiality so it is not like you are going to get in trouble. If one is really worried, keep it hypothetical; say a friend or even better SWIY!

Also, were other illicit substances on the list given? If they were but marijuana wasn't one would think it would probably safe, as cannabis is the most used illicit "drug"

Thanks for the response --- that's probably the direction I'll take, just straight up asking him before hand.

And no, there weren't any illicit substances on the list, which is why I'm very uneasy, SWIM went through about 3/4ths of an ounce of weed yesterday and just found out today that it could cause his blood to not clot in the surgery.

[f12button]

If SWIY is worried about bleeding, they may be able to request a vasoconstrictor or something.

Or, theoretically, SWIY can use "fun" vasoconstrictors -- amphetamines, methylphenidate, ephedrine, cocaine

Although, i'd highly advise against SWIY doing any of those right before a surgery.

[Jatelka]

Ask SWIY's doctor straight out. As stated previously they are bound by confidentiality.

And lay off smoking for a while after the procedure: The drying/irritant effect of the smoke will reduce healing

[Nature Boy]

I've never heard that marijuana can interfere with the blood clotting process. Where did you read that? I highly doubt there's any shred of truth in it because realistically, if there was some truth behind it, the prohibitionists would turn it into headlines such as "MARIJUANA CAUSES HEMOPHILIA" and the like.

[Jatelka]

Marijuana does NOT stop the blood clotting.

SWIJ has found a single article that suggests it might, in fact make blood slightly stickier: By inducing platelet activation. This was an in vitro (in a jar study), using THC only. She has not been able to find any studies done on humans.

She'll upload the study to the archive when she has time (probably tomorrow).

Reputation Comments on this post:

Nice work.

[voodoo child]

I was just scared by this website -

If You are Considering Rhinoplasty
DO NOT take any HERBAL REMEDIES/ MEDICATIONS (St. John's Wort, ginko biloba, ginseng, echinacea, Herbalife, etc.), or any DIET MEDICATIONS (phen-fen, redux, ephedrine, etc.).
Also, DO NOT use any of the following products for TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO SURGERY:

• <LI class=eleven>ASPIRIN or any products containing aspirin. This includes Motrin, Advil, Alleve, Ibuprofen, Midol, and many other medications. Please check with your pharmacist. <LI class=eleven>MULTIVITAMINS, VITAMIN E <LI class=eleven>ALCOHOL
• RECREATIONAL DRUGS (cocaine, marijuana etc.)

These all tend to interfere with the blood clotting process. Please do not take any medication other than TYLENOL without checking with your physician.

http://www.drrollindaniel.com/html/faq.html#7

SWIM was going under the knife, so I was just being overly cautious.

The surgery went great, no problems. The bandages come off tomorrow, and as far as I can tell, SWIM's bleeding rate has been very normal.

[voodoo child]

Oh yeah, sorry for the double post, but now the question is - when will SWIM be able to start smoking weed again?

SWIM never came out and told his doctor that he had been smoking weed, because his friends convinced him he was just worrying too much.

So SWIM's doctor has no idea that SWIM is a pothead, and SWIM doesn't want to approach him about when he'll be able to start smoking again.

If any of you could give any guidance, it'd be greatly appreciated.

[trptamene]

this may be useless now, have been unable to access comp for a week or so. SWIy should have no problem smoking pot. Unless one is allergic, this is a very safe drug physically.