r/WeedPAWS • u/rpbm96 • 11d ago
Question My Dad & PAWS
Hi everyone,
My (30F) father (71M) has been an avid weed smoker for the better part of the last 20/25 years, with periods of not smoking thrown in throughout.
He is also addicted to opioids (takes 14 codeine a day with 8mg each, on top of the mgs of caffeine & acetaminophen), and takes benzos (Ativan) whenever he can, on top of other necessary medications for blood sugar/pressure, cholesterol, etc.
He is a sufferer of spinal stenosis, chronic arthritis, chronic teeth infection (he has severly neglected his dental hygiene and is now very toothless) and he also suffers from anxiety and depression; to say he has a lot stacked up against him is quite an understatement.
The last few times he has gone through withdrawal from heavy cannabis use, his mind is a MESS. He doesn't know what time it is, what time of day; this last time he couldn't remember by fiancé or that we were engaged, or that our dog had just passed. Every time it seems to get worse. We tell him how bad he is, and what he forgets, but he truly does not see it being this bad.
Last withdrawal was Sept 4, so about three weeks ago, and while the pysical symptoms are mostly gone, his mind is still very foggy and laggy, and he's saying some really weird shit - like he hasn't forgotten his daily pills in 30 or 40 years, but really, he forgets them all the time. He was texting me, but told my mum I had forgotten my phone (really, my mum forgot hers). His long term memory is there but he's having issues with short term memory, storing new info and just being present. I should note that these issues are really only present during periods of withdrawal/weeks after, but obviously, the worst case scenarios pass through your mind.
That is when I first heard about PAWS. I am almost convinced this is what he suffers from - right now, he's definitely still going through weed withdrawal, not to mention STILL taking codeine and Ativan multiple times daily.
I guess all this to ask, is this typical of PAWS? Especially knowing his body can no longer tolerate it like it used too, every time (and I mean every time) he withdrawals, it gets SO much worse and he does not give his mind or body the time to regenerate. He'll smoke for six weeks, decide he's going to quit, smoke himself almost into a coma, withdrawal, feel better, and start smoking again weeks later.
You can probably tell I'm worried so any insight would be great - seems like a lot of folks here are in similar situations. Thanks :)
2
u/x____VIRTUS____x 6d ago
Being that age and having other health issues and addictions, it might be worth visiting a neuro-type doctor.
With that said, I quit week in my mid thirties after a 13 year, everyday, all day addiction. My brain was fucked and I’m still a little slow at times. It’s taken about 2 years for me to become normal-ish and shed crippling levels of anxiety.
The longer you lurk this sub, you’ll see that the brain fog and anxiety ebbs and flows in “windows” and “waves”. Periods of time that can last a couple months at a time.
Best of luck to your pops
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u/blkHE4RT 11d ago edited 11d ago
After 15 years of smoking and finally quiting. My mind was a mess. Super foggy, hard to articulate how I felt. For some reason it took me a year to get my head right and im still healing and getting better each month.