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Has anyone here quit smoking?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/6/2008 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone here quit smoking using Chantix? I made my "quit smoking" appointment today and I'm really nervous about quitting. Any input on making it easier? Thanks!
Posted 8/6/2008 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I quit smoking over 8 years ago. I smoked for over 29 years. But I did not use Chantix or anything else. I just quit cold turkey. I personally didn't want to replace the nicotine I was getting rid of with the cigs, with nicotine from a patch.

I set a date to quit first, then I started cutting down the amount I smoked each day, I did that for about 3-4 weeks. After that I changed to a brand I did not like and slowly weaned off. I won't lie it was one of the hardest things I ever did. I was a pack to pack and half a day smoker too. I also made sure I took my vitamins and I also treated myself to something I really really liked everyday. My treat was chocolate eclairs with whipped cream in the middle. Yummmmmm! I know I couldn't eat them today, but I was able to back then.

Good luck, I know it is hard, but you will feel so much better when you do.

P.S. Look on the internet about tips to quit smoking, that helped me alot too.
Posted 8/6/2008 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Im a cold turkey quitter too. Best way I know. Good luck...
Posted 8/6/2008 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
I also forgot to ask if it seemed to help your Crohn's symptoms once you had finally quit too. Wow, I really admire going cold turkey. I don't think I have the willpower for that!

Posted 8/6/2008 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
I quit 8 years ago and I did use a pill but I don't remember what it was called, it worked great in a month and a half I could not stand to even stand to smell a cig. I've not even thought about having one.





Dawn
Posted 8/6/2008 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
I quit using Zyban, it worked great, quit for 3 yrs but my CD just kept getting worse (mine CD is located in the colon, could be why things got worse as smoking for UC actually aids with relieving inflammation in the colon due to the carbon monoxide) so I started again and things improved with my CD, I only smoke 6 cigs/day.

:)
Posted 8/6/2008 11:36 PM (GMT 0)

I think it has helped my Crohns in the long run.  It took awhile for me to see it.  I was in remission at the time I quit in 2000.  But I ended up having a emergency resection 2 years later.  And I had to deal with the changes the surgery caused.  But I can breathe much better and find I don't get colds, flu, and stuff like that all the time like I used to.  When I smoked I could count on getting a bad  case of bronchitis or pneumonia once or twice every single year. 

I know its hard, but you will feel so much better.  Where is your Crohns located?  The reason I ask is like PB4 who has more Crohns in the large intestine is helped by the nicotine, but for us other folk it can cause more frequent flares and more problems trying to get into remission.  Good luck!

Posted 8/7/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
For sure...as a general rule smoking is even a known trigger for crohn's disease (including second-hand smoke) and is known to make CD worse for smokers, of course nothing is written in stone and we're all individual with what and how are disease is affected, but enough is known about smoking and crohn's that shows it's just an aggrivater for the disease for the most part, with the odd exceptions of course and I've always known I was odd LOL!

:)
Posted 8/7/2008 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
YES! used it for 30 days...and quit that easy. sure I wanted them mentally but physically they tasted like crap and gave me no satisfaction

my GI said I had to quit, because I might have to have surgery soon

I had smoked for over 12 yrs just FYI
Posted 8/7/2008 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
ps: my GI also strongly strongly SAID, that they are finding new research everyday to prove that smoking makes Crohns worse....I almost think it made me have to use the bathroom if I was already flaring
Posted 8/7/2008 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I quit 3 years ago when I found out I was pregnant with my son. I had tried to quit and wanted to quit prior to that but just couldn't. I didn't have the will power. But once that doctor told me I was pregnant, that was it. I finished the pack I had within a few days and I just couldn't see putting that nasty stuff in me and it getting to my baby. I've had maybe 10 since he was born. But every time I have one, once I'm done I walk away. I don't buy them. I hope to never start up again. I smoked a pack every few days but the weekends I could easily smoke a pack in one day. My husband is a non smoker so it does help and make it easier not to start up again.
Posted 8/7/2008 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
I quit smoking a week after I found out I had Crohn's. I quit cold turkey. My GI was glad I quit he said he has a hard time treating people that smoke and have Crohn's. I'm glad I did quit, I feel better. My aunt used Chantix she liked it and it worked for her it has been about a yr, now since she quit.
Posted 8/7/2008 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! I can't put them down for over a week. My daughter tells me I am not nice. Tried cold turkey: lasted two weeks. Tried the patch: got nicotine poisoning when I went and smoked without taking it off. :( That was ugly.

The GI doctor I was seeing told me he would rather me drink alcohol than smoke. Plan on visiting with the Chinese herbalist about this habit too. It was suggested I try accupunture... not sure about that one.
Posted 8/7/2008 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I quit cold turkey too. Think about all the good things that come from not smoking and ALL the MONEY you can save. lol.
Posted 8/7/2008 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
oh, how I have dreamed of quitting! I have Crohn's in my lower intestine only, and I am pretty sure the smoking doesn't help. Unless I have also been drinking, and therefore have my senses dulled, as soon as I have a cigarette, I immediately feel the urge to go #2, funny part is, I have an ileostomy, so not much to come out!

My friend is on Chantix now and he has been able to cut back, but not quit completely yet. What I don't get is why health insurance companies don't want to cover the pill, wouldn't that be the ultimate in preventive medicine.
Posted 8/7/2008 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I quit cold turkey 15 years ago, after having smoked for 35 years. It was easy to do after the doctor told me I could either quit or die an agonzing death: my choice. My husband also quit at the same time, but it was too late for him. He died of oral cancer...caused by smoking.
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