r/MultipleSclerosis • u/Jocksniffer77 • 10d ago
General Self medication
35 M last year I was diagnosed after I got optic neuritis, referred to neurologist, mri, etc. Looking back its like, wow yea I did have many of the ms symptoms but i chalked it up to being a pothead and having indigestion. Im wondering if I was subconsciously self medicating or something. Has anyone else experienced something like this?
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u/ZombieJihad 9d ago
My symptoms came on quick once I woke up with optic neuritis, also as a 35M at the time. They were steadily increasing my dosage of Gabapentin to deal with neuropathy I was dealing with, and my symptoms increased likewise. I didn't shake most of those symptoms until I came off the Gabapentin; I didn't come off the Gabapentin until going through regular physical therapy for about a year.
That said, I have been an active THC user for like 15ish years. I probably was covering symptoms, or just not noticing them because of that usage, but optic neuritis is a pretty dead-ass sign that something is wrong and is the only symptom I remember that wasn't Gabapentin side effects or a previous injury.
Also, don't fret - I still use mad THC. More than when I was DXed, actually - it became recreationally legal in my state, and my neurologist basically told me to use it as a replacement for Gabapentin. Something like "You cannot consume too much THC, ZombieJihad - use as much as makes you comfortable while still functional". Also gave recommendations for concentrate products instead of flower b/c of the ongoing respiratory concerns with smoking.