Smoking and Humira

Ok, so after 3 months of being out of the hospital and me and my GI trying to figure out why I don't feel like 150% like I did for 2 weeks after I first got out, he did a whole bunch of research on smoking and the effects of nicotine and Humira.  He told me that nicotine actually has adverse reactions with Humira, and basically completely wipes it out. We both knew obviously that smoking isnt good for Crohns or in general anyways, but he said I felt so great because I hadnt smoked for 13 days, and had no nicotine in my system so the Humira was doing its job.  So I'm left with quit cold turkey, or just feel "ok" not great.  I really want to feel the way I did when I first got out, but I cant use a patch or gum or anything, because it would be putting nicotine into my body, and the stress from just stopping is enough to put me over the edge. I made it a whole 8 hours (lol) without having a cig before I started having panic attacks from just knowing I didnt have pack, so I went and bought one.  Blah I feel so hopeless.  Ive tried to do some research on my own about Humira and nicotine to confirm what he told me (not that he would lie, but maybe I might find something saying smoking is good for crohns! haha, wishful thinking) but I cant seem to find anything on it.  Any advice from former smokers, or anyone trying to quit right now?  Maybe it would be better if I did a patch or gum for a little while to see if I can cut back, instead of trying to go cold turkey? Or does anyone have any information about Humira and nicotine? Any kind of help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Melissa

I quit just about 2 years ago & i also did it cold turkey. It is def not easy but totally worth it!
i had tried the patch a few times previously & always went back after a few months
I think after the first few days, it is totally mental & you just have to really want to quit

stay strong, u can do it.
You will be so proud of yourself!

I quit 12 yrs ago, cold turkey. We did keep a pack in the house for the psychological effect though. Cigs are soooo bad for CD! Now, if you had gotten UC, smoking helps that. You chose badly (lol)!! Just a snicker to lighten up your day.

Keep a pencil in your fingers; i.e. do crosswords, or crochet. Chew gum, or keep a candy in your mouth. Keeping the mouth and fingers occupied is essential to success. All the best. You can do this. It's so worth it.

Whyquit.org and just a week on the nicotine patches is what i used to quit. The stories and info on whyquit are enough to keep you motivated. the first week after the patch i was a zombie, time moved sooooooo slowly, but that week w/the patch helped me figure it out other things to do when I would normally have a smoke. good luck

Thanks for all the replies.  I went to an actual Crohns specialist today my GI refered me to him (he has crohns too!! which is kinda cool, since for once in my life I feel like I have a doctor that REALLY TRUELY understands what I say)  I told him about my smoking issue, and he told me to ask my PCP about Wellbutrin, since the high dose of pred Im on is practically leaving me mentally unstable, and its also being used to help smokers quit that it would be killing two birds with one stone if it works for me. But the bad news is I'm def going to be having bowel resection #2 before the end of september, and with me being on 75mg of pred we are going to start tapering down 20mg a week (flare ups here we go!) but after the surgery no more prednisone for me (crosses fingers)!! Cant wait to be able to look in the mirror and not see my lips all puckered up 24/7 because my cheeks are so chubby that it pushes them together, and for my what I like to call "gorilla chin" to be gone!! and I most certainly wont be missing the night sweats, acne, moodiness, sleepless nights so on and so forth that it brings to the table. (hope im not jinxing myself *knocks on wood*)

Viola, you're so right about cutting back making you smoke more, when I try to cut back I wont smoke for like 5-6 hours but then I'll have 3 in a row lol, and I find some way to try to justify it; It just doesnt work for me, hopefully my PCP will be able to prescibe me something to help if it comes down to it.

I've tried the patch, wellbutrin, chantix, nicotrol inhalers, cold turkey. I've quit for a year at a time twice now. Then SOMEthing always happens that stresses me and I go buy a pack. I'm kicking myself, and REALLY need to quit. I'm only 29 an started smoking at 18. So really, it's not near as long as others. But it's still really dang hard!

Wow, Haha, this is over a year old.  Anyways, Ive quit smoking and I feel MUCH better.  Smoking def makes Crohns worse, and the reason doctors say not to smoke when you have Crohns is because of the inflamation it causes in the intestines, and also because it takes your body longer to heal itself when you smoke.  My doctor presrcibed me Wellbutrin, and it seems to be doing the trick, and it def  helps my mood.

Def give it a try. I know not everything works for everyone..but I seriously thought I was hopeless.  I smoked a pack a day, and when I tried to quit on my own I would go for maybe 8 hours then binge smoke like half a pack in an hour.  The Wellbutrin helped me a ton, don't get me wrong, I still have cravings..but not those "I'll do anything to have a cig!!!" kind.  It for sure takes the edge off though, and if I even just find the smallest thing to distract me the craving is gone.

Smoking makes my crohn's worse so I know it isn't good for us crohnies. I quit 4 years ago when I found out
I was pregnant with my son. I did really good until this past March when I was dealing with stress at work.
I have felt like crud since then. I am kicking myself for even starting back up. I know I need to quit again
and I'm really trying here. I just need to do it cold turkey.

I quit smoking almost 4 years ago cold turkey. In the beginning it was pretty hard, seeing nearly all my friends smoke (and still do) but you need to just deal with it. Yeah I get a craving every so often, but it's not too bad. I still have an occasional cigar, though.