Anti-Aging & Medical Cannabis Blog

Are you searching for whether Delaware medical marijuana may be able to help with decompensated cirrhosis? As you know suffering from cirrhosis can lead to a life full of pain, fatigue, and depression. It is understandable that you would look to alternative treatment options like Delaware medical marijuana.

The good news is that as a Delaware resident a person can access medical marijuana for decompensated cirrhosis. If the patient has cirrhosis and has questions about the possibility of obtaining a Delaware medical marijuana card, the team at Green Relief Health is here to help! Our Patient Care Coordinators can be reached Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 302-564-9994 or by scheduling an appointment here.

What Is Cirrhosis?

The number of Americans suffering from cirrhosis is staggering. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 31,000 people die annually from cirrhosis. The causes of decompensated cirrhosis can vary, but many are a result of Hepatitis C or liver disease due to alcoholism.

Unfortunately, cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic and for the most part not a curable condition. However, some patients receive a liver transplant, which would cure the cirrhosis. As you can imagine many suffering from cirrhosis experience a substantial amount of pain. It is also common for many forms of conventional medicine to not help.

The benefits of medical marijuana keep growing for many people suffering from chronic diseases. The good news is medical marijuana and decompensated cirrhosis can help reduce many of these unwanted side effects and symptoms.

What Is Decompensated Cirrhosis?

OK so now that we know a little bit more about cirrhosis generally, lets examine specifically what decompensated cirrhosis is. There are two stages of liver cirrhosis which are compensated and decompensated cirrhosis.

  1. Compensated cirrhosis means the liver can retain enough of its function to perform vital processes. In this early stage, there are not too many symptoms.
  2. Decompensated cirrhosis means the liver can’t perform normal functions, and you are usually symptomatic. Decompensated cirrhosis happens when 75 percent of the liver is destroyed. This is the later stages of the disease and is life-threatening.

When detected early cirrhosis can be treated and further liver damage can even be prevented. However, once a person reaches the point of decompensated cirrhosis, the damage is permanent and can even be fatal.

Symptoms of Decompensated Cirrhosis

The following symptoms can occur when the disease progresses from compensated to decompensated.

  • Fatigue
  • Quick bruising and bleeding
  • Itchy skin
  • Jaundice of the skin and eyes
  • Ascites, or buildup of fluid in the abdomen
  • Edema, or fluid buildup in the legs and ankles
  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Fever
  • Brownish or orange urine
  • A decrease in appetite accompanied by loss of weight
  • Hepatic encephalopathy

Due to the liver breaking down and severe damage occurring, there can be many more symptoms involved.

Delaware Medical Marijuana For Decompensated Cirrhosis

Now that we know more about what decompensated cirrhosis is lets look at how Delaware medical marijuana may help. There is research that has shown some improvement in treating cirrhosis with cannabis. The benefit of medical marijuana on cirrhosis is complex, but generally the cannabinoids found in a cannabis plant like medical marijuana have been shown to have a positive effect on our body’s endocannabinoid system. This system directly effects cirrhosis, fibrosis, and other liver diseases.

There have been some beneficial effects of CB2 receptor activation on an alcoholic fatty liver, fibrosis, injury to the liver, hepatic inflammation, and regeneration. Studies have shown using the CB2 receptor found in cannabis may provide therapeutic relief for patients suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and other liver diseases.

What Side Effects and Symptoms of Decompensated Cirrhosis Can Delaware Medical Marijuana Treat?

Ok so we now know that Delaware medical marijuana can be helpful with some level of treatment for decompensated cirrhosis, but we still need to explore the side effects of the disease that it can help with.

Pain

Medical cannabis is particularly effective at treating pain. As you are aware, decompensated cirrhosis can result in a great degree of pain. In addition to helping with pain it can also place less stress on the liver than some other forms of pain relief. In addition, medical marijuana can help with pain without the risk of addiction that can occur from taking opioids to treat pain.

Nausea

Another symptom that many use medical cannabis for is nausea. Delaware medical marijuana for decompensated cirrhosis has been shown to be very effective to treat nausea symptoms. Many receiving chemotherapy will use medical marijuana to help with extreme nausea symptoms. This same benefit is there for patients suffering from cirrhosis.

Depression

Many that suffer from cirrhosis also deal with depression. Recent surveys conducted at the University of Southern California show interesting results regarding marijuana and depression with those who use marijuana and those who do not. Out of the 4,400 surveyed, those who used marijuana had fewer signs of depression than those who do not use marijuana.

Can I Get A Medical Card For Decompensated Cirrhosis in Delaware?

The good news is that you can get a medical card for decompensated cirrhosis in Delaware. The state of Delaware has 14 conditions specifically listed in the law and decompensated cirrhosis is one listed in the law. To qualify for Delaware medical marijuana for decompensated cirrhosis you will need to be able to document the decompensated cirrhosis diagnosis.

A patient can document their decompensated cirrhosis through their medical history. They will need to be able to show that in their medical history that they have been seen by a provider for this condition. Inside of the patient’s medical history there will be notes a provider has made to document the existence of decompensated cirrhosis.

Getting Your Delaware Medical Card For Decompensated Cirrhosis

Once it is determined that the patient has a proper qualifying condition for a medical card for decompensated cirrhosis, they will need to see a certified medical cannabis doctor in Delaware. The provider will meet with the patient to go over their medical history and qualifying condition. If the provider finds that they meet the criteria to qualify for a medical card in the state of Delaware, they will then be able to submit their application to the Delaware Office of Medical Marijuana.

After the doctor’s visit there is still one step to go to qualify for a Delaware medical marijuana card. The patient will then need to submit an application to the state of Delaware to verify their residency in the state. In addition, they will sign a form to release their medical information to the state of Delaware which is a part of the approval process. This process can either be done online or through the mail. There is a $50 application fee to submit this application to the state of Delaware, which is important to keep in mind.

How Can Green Relief Health Help?

If you’re curious about whether a loved one may qualify for a Delaware medical marijuana card for decompensated cirrhosis, reach out to us today! If you’d like to speak with a Green Relief Health team member, you may contact our office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On our website you can also find a large selection of educational blogs, an FAQ page with answers to frequently asked questions, and our own line of hemp-derived CBD that’s recommended by physicians!

Author

Ryan Nawrocki