So I just wanted to share whatโs happening with me and why it is so, so important to be hyper vigilant of any pain or discomfort, no matter how mild, while on MJ.
I started MJ mid October, and last Wednesday was due to take my 5th jab (first 5mg after taking 4 weeks of 2.5mg). However, Monday I started getting a strange throbbing discomfort in my upper right abdomen. I say discomfort because it was a niggle more than painful. I didnโt feel unwell at all. I had been having a lot of wind and digestive side effects from the MJ, so put it down to wind pain as it was coming and going. Iโd also slipped in the kitchen and thought maybe Iโd pulled something. But by the Tuesday it hadnโt resolved and the weird pain was coming more frequently. If I hadnโt been taking MJ Iโm not sure Iโd have even thought on it, but I know upper abdominal pain or discomfort isnโt one to ignore. When it hadnโt subsided by the Wednesday I decided to not take my jab as usual and instead contacted my prescriber for advice. They said any upper abdominal pain, even mild, to see my GP due to the risk of complications with gallbladder disease and pancreatitis.
I had a telephone GP appointment on the Thursday morning and my GP basically said youโd be in agony if it was pancreatitis or gallstones but she couldnโt advise any further as it should be the prescribing doctor I should be speaking to about whether itโs safe to continue this medication.
So, I contacted my prescriber and a doctor messaged me back a day later asking did the GP do bloods or examine me (no) and if not they should if the side effects persist, and I should stop taking the medication for a couple of weeks and certainly not increase to 5mg if I decide to continue. She also said I should absolutely not try and get a 2.5mg dose out of my 5mg pen, the dosing wonโt be accurate and is unsafe. I should order another 2.5mg pen instead when/if the time comes.
I started to notice the pain coming and going alongside my wind, so thought maybe it is just bad wind pain. It was the weekend so I left it and carried on as normal, still felt fine in myself, trying to ignore the niggling anxiety I was having at the thought of it being something serious (donโt Google!). By Saturday night it had evolved into a dull ache starting under my right ribs and going round to my back, occasionally throbbing. I definitely wasnโt in agony, more uncomfortable, but for the first time I considered pain killers or a warm compress to help me sleep.
So today I saw my GP in person (a different one to last week and one Iโve had before). She was lovely and very interested in my MJ experience, how much weight Iโd lost, what it was like etc. She wasnโt worried about wind or digestive issues - she said thatโs common in MJ patients and spoke like sheโd dealt with them before. However, she told me my pain sounds like classic liver pain to her and sheโs concerned. She explained that all medications are metabolised in the liver, and sometimes the liver can react badly to them and start to cause pain, inflammation and problems. MJ is a strong medication so this is a possibility, and any liver complications are serious.
Of course now Iโm panicking. Iโm in my early 30s and have a 2 year old. I started to fear that in trying take control of my health for my son and head off any obesity-related health problems, Iโve actually damaged it even worse. She reassured me and said Iโd done everything right - Iโd gone through a registered pharmacy/online doctor to get MJ, had taken it correctly, been very aware of any side effects and hadnโt waited for them to get more severe or painful before stopping the medication immediately and seeking advice. She has referred me to get bloods done, she wanted them done this week - if it is my liver catching it early is key - but earliest appointment is next Tuesday. Then if they show anything with my liver itโll be a scan, and if they donโt itโll still be a scan anyway to check other organs in that area, like kidneys etc. I got quite upset and she reassured me that if it is liver issues caused by MJ, then stopping the medication and getting it out my system should sort it and Iโll just need monitoring, especially as Iโve been so quick at realising something wasnโt right. But now Iโm thinking, well I havenโt lived the healthiest lifestyle with my nutrition over the last 2-3 years since I gained the weight (Iโm not obese and on MJ for nothing) and maybe itโs caught up to me. So now itโs a waiting game. I didnโt think mild discomfort could be anything serious. I still donโt feel ill - Iโm eating and exercising and going to work as usual. Tbh, at most I thought Iโd be told I had trapped wind, a pulled muscle or a kidney infection, given antibiotics and sent on my way.
So this is my advice to please, please, be super aware of any side effects, pain and discomfort, however mild. MJ is an amazing medication but itโs a very strong one, and Iโm gutted my body hasnโt agreed with it. If in doubt better to be safe than sorry and see a doctor! I think this is the end of my MJ journey. Even if the tests come back clear or itโs something completely unrelated to MJ, I donโt think I can cope with the worry and anxiety over every little niggle now I know what it could mean.