5 Reasons to Keep Talking to Your Doctor After You Get a Medical Card

The initial health examination for a patient's medical card might be scary. Everyone is unfamiliar with the notion of authorised medicinal marijuana. However, the societal stigma associated with cannabis persists. Patients may be concerned before their first medical card health exam. 

You know what to anticipate when you've gone through it once. Nothing inquisitive. Only a few questions regarding your medical history, present symptoms, and diagnosis of one of the qualifying health problems are required. The purpose of the health examination is to assist guarantee the safety of individuals who have physical or mental health issues. 

After passing the initial medical card assessment with a doctor, you discover you'll have to return once a year. The obligation to renew your medical cannabis card on a yearly basis. While simultaneously seeking competent medical guidance on how to manage your symptoms with cannabis. 

Is it necessary for your primary care physician to suggest you for a medical card? And, if you have two doctors on your medical card, should you enable them to share notes? Learn why some individuals choose to see the same doctor year after year.

Should You Tell Your Primary Care Provider You Got Your Medical Card? 

If you've known your doctor for a long time, you might be hesitant to ask them about medicinal marijuana. There may be privacy problems, such as whether your doctor will inform your mother that you have a medical card. Or your children? 

Patients are frequently apprehensive about being judged for using medical cannabis. Especially if they know their doctor opposes the usage of medical marijuana. Then comes the difficult conversation in which your doctor may attempt to persuade you out of smoking cannabis. 

If you reside in a state where cannabis is legal, you have the right to try medicinal cannabis as a therapeutic choice. All doctors should be able to refer you to your state's medicinal marijuana programme. Many physicians would rather not for a number of reasons. 

You are not alone if you decided to take your medical cannabis certification exam with a different doctor. Many people want to keep the two separate, working with an alternative medicine practitioner such as MMJ. And the two will never meet? 

Not so quickly. The relationship you have with your recommending practitioner or doctor for your medical card should not be limited to an annual meeting for renewal. In fact, if you are dealing with chronic illness problems, there are five great reasons to stay in touch. 

1. Your Qualifying Medical Condition Could Change

We understand what you're thinking. Is it important if my qualifying health condition changes after I receive my medical card? Yes, it is important to assist safeguard your health. If an old ailment or disease resolves, you may no longer be eligible for a medical card. 

It's easy to see why people are hesitant to admit that they no longer have a qualifying health condition. Isn't that the end of your medical card? This is a mandatory requirement in various states. For example, if it is determined that the symptom has been completely resolved, the patient may be in trouble. 

Other states do not require patients to modify their status beyond changing contact information such as phone numbers, email addresses, and addresses. Or to notify the medical cannabis authorities when a cardholder dies. 

The disappearance of symptoms might be a positive or negative indicator. It is, however, information that assists the patient in staying one step ahead of chronic illness. Inform your doctor about any symptoms or changes so that your treatment plan may be adjusted as required. 

2. Your chronic disease symptoms may worsen after you receive your medical card.

If your pain was mild to moderate, your doctor may have advised a lower-THC medical marijuana strain. In certain places, the physician is in charge of deciding the amount and potency of the cannabis prescribed to their patient. 

It is up to the professional. Your physician. In other states, however, patients can make their own decisions at a dispensary. And, for information on strains and consumption methods, seek the advice of a budtender or dispensary assistant. 

But what if your persistent discomfort worsens? Chronic pain frequently worsens. As pain levels rise from moderate to severe, patients' ability to function may suffer. But not because of the medical marijuana they utilise. 

Many doctors advocate using cannabis ahead of the pain curve for treating chronic pain. Or to prevent the patient from experiencing the full extent of discomfort. This might imply combining a tiny food dosage with topical treatments for localised comfort. Then there are many cannabis strains (Indicas) for sedative evening usage. 

3. You may have switched prescription medications that are incompatible with cannabis.

How fast can you alter your prescriptions? Assume your doctor has been keeping an eye on you for hypertension (high blood pressure). Then it was agreed that it was time to start you on Statin medication. And you might not be considering if statins interact with medical cannabis. 

Marijuana is not like other narcotics. The overdose rate is minimal, and there have been no fatalities in the United States as a result of cannabis consumption alone. Cannabis works well with a 'large' number of pharmaceutical drugs. There are also a few drugs that should not be taken with marijuana. 

In most circumstances, the interaction (contradiction) between cannabis and prescription drugs has an effect on potency. If you combine prescription medication with cannabis, the medication may not work as effectively. Some drugs' potency can be reduced by cannabis. This indicates that you are not receiving the recommended dosage. 

A lesser dose, for example, can be lethal in cases of cardiovascular disease. Individuals with Type I diabetes who have a contraindication between insulin and cannabis may experience uncontrolled blood glucose levels. This can create an emergency situation for other medicines used to treat disorders such as depression and anxiety, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and others. 

Always notify all physicians (primary care and referral practitioners) about any drug changes. It's also a good idea to double-check the supplements you're taking at the same time for any potential interactions.

4. Doctors Can Offer Potency Advice for Symptom Management

To suggest patients for a medical card in some states, physicians must first complete a particular certification course. In addition, the patient's health will be evaluated. In other states, any board-certified physician or practitioner can help patients with their application. 

The physician or practitioner who assists you in applying for your medical card might also help you design a treatment plan. That entails scheduling follow-up sessions and monitoring symptom management to see whether alternative strains or potencies are functioning as part of the treatment plan. 

You may be unable to establish the potency and frequency with which you should use medicinal cannabis. However, your doctor can assist you in determining this. Track the progress of your symptom management objectives as well. 

5. Renewals are quick and simple.

A system is in place for some physicians and practitioners who give medical card health exams. They contact you by email, text message, or phone call before your medical card has to be renewed. This gives you plenty of time to schedule your yearly health exam in order to renew your medical cannabis licence. 

Other doctors do not. That implies you'll need to know when your medical card will expire. And how early you should renew your medical card to avoid problems. Patients who do not have a valid card cannot buy from a dispensary or pick up a prescription. 

It offers certain advantages to stick with one doctor as your medical cannabis specialist. One of them is your relationship with your marijuana doctor. Your practitioner can assist make modifications to potentially deliver better outcomes with a treatment plan and follow-up consultations. 

It is good to have a doctor who knows you. As well as increased patient safety. Renewals are faster and easier when you use the same practitioner year after year. Some practitioners even provide discounts to returning patients and annual renewals.