Habits
Alcohol - 50.0% - 3 votes
Cigarettes - 16.7% - 1 votes
Both - 33.3% - 2 votes
Usher CD
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2013
Posts : 155
Posted 7/31/2015 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,
It's been a long time, since I posted on this forum. I've been trying to connect the dots and trying to find the missing link.
Here is my question in detail: How often did you drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes before being diagnosed with CD? I would like to know what alcoholic drink - beer, wine, whiskey, rum etc. did you exactly drink, how much quantity and how often? How often did you smoke cigarettes and how many cigarettes?
Thank you in advance!
gumby44
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2007
Posts : 4505
Posted 7/31/2015 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
I never smoked. I barely ever drank alcohol....I might have a glass of wine when out for dinner and that's it...still got Crohn's....children get it. Cigarettes have been researched and proven to make Crohn's worse; I don't know about alcohol.
Usher CD
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2013
Posts : 155
Posted 7/31/2015 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks a lot Gumby. At least one person replied. This question is very important to find the missing link to one of the possible causes of CD.
I had never drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes either. I always wanted to drink beer when I would go out to the party with my friends. Unfortunately, I would either get stomach ache or vomit after drinking beer. But, I'm glad that I can now drink up to 2 bottles of beer without any major problems. Because of the terrible depression from die-off after having changed the diet, I had to start smoking at least two cigarettes a day to get some relief.
CD patients often complain they got CD even though they never smoked or consumed alcohol often.
gumby44
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2007
Posts : 4505
Posted 7/31/2015 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Well Usher, don't blame yourself...who knows why it happens. I do think you should set a goal of quitting smoking as soon as you can since we know it can worsen Crohn's.
scifigal2k
Veteran Member
Joined : May 2012
Posts : 3704
Posted 8/1/2015 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
I am Mormon, so I have never had either.
pmedic
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2009
Posts : 1699
Posted 8/1/2015 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with crohns a few years after quitting smoking. I drank alcohol occasionally. I drank beer mostly when I did drink although I may have only drank once or twice per week.
Posted 8/1/2015 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
Never smoked and only drank occasionally. Bit like Usher, I've never been able to hold my booze. It's even worse now I don't have a colon. It sucks, to be honest, having to keep a close eye on what you drink but if I overdo it, then the resulting sickness really, really isn't worth it.
Oh, and I have always drunk mainly beer. I'm particularly fond of a nice ale #realalenerd
pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 8/1/2015 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Was a smoker before getting sick with crohn's, never much of a drinker....smoking a one known trigger for crohn's disease, and for women, birth control pills as well which I was also on before getting sick with CD. Research suggests it's likely more than one trigger to bring the crohn's to light so for me I wouldn't be surprised if those were my 2 main triggers but my mom had UC which she didn't get until after I got sick with my CD first (I was in my early 20's and my mom was in her mid 60's) she wasn't a smoker or much of a drinker and had been on BC pills a few short times in her younger life but obviously wasn't anytime near when she got sick with her UC...she was highly stressed as a person though (as myself) so I wouldn't be surprised if for both her and I, our lack of dealing with stress/anger very well could also have been our triggers.
Usher CD
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2013
Posts : 155
Posted 8/2/2015 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your feedback. I'm very glad.
gumby: Thanks for the polite advice. I'm working on it. I'm sure that I'll be able to quit smoking very soon.
scifigal: Thanks for your feedback.
pmedic: Nice that you could drink once or twice in a week. I couldn't drink even a glass of beer for some years prior to my CD diagnosis.
NCOT: H. Pylori is one of the causes of stomach and vomiting. It really sucks to be in agony when others are enjoying life. Thanks for specifying the brand too. I wish you good health.
Pb4: I gather, antibiotic, birth pills etc. are one of the worst offenders, as they affect the gut microbiome. Of course, there may be other causes of IBD like stress, anger etc.
So, I conclude that most of the IBD sufferers drank occasionally and some of them smoked.
Jen77
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2006
Posts : 2742
Posted 8/2/2015 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Never smoked, and barely ever drank. I really doubt it has much to do with the cause of the disease. Although I'm sure neither make things better once you have it.
pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 8/3/2015 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Smoking is a known trigger for crohn's disease, apparently this has been long known, how or why it's a trigger, they have no idea, especially confusing when smoking can aid with UC (Carbon monoxide via smoking is known to calm inflammation in the colon....might be why it was better when I smoked compared to when I quit smoking for me since I have crohn's colitis.
JaSanne
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 2086
Posted 8/3/2015 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Never smoked, and only tried alcohol a couple of times in my life and chose against it due to my sister's alcoholism. But one thing to keep in mind when compiling your information is that of second-hand smoke. My father was a smoker so I was exposed to it growing up.
Crohn's is in my family, both paternal and maternal sides, so I'm sure my family is genetically predisposed.
CDASinCO
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2014
Posts : 82
Posted 8/3/2015 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
After college I didn't drink much, so I can't chime in on that, but I was smoking 1-2 packs a day, working 6pm-6am, and ate horribly.
Bane
Veteran Member
Joined : May 2007
Posts : 589
Posted 8/3/2015 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Never to both. I was diagnosed at 16 (27 now) and used that as an excuse anytime people would try to pressure me. Worked great. Didnt have my first drink until I was like 22 or so. Only smoking ive done is cigars, very occasionally. Occasionally as in I could count the number of cigars ive smoked on one hand. Very very little second hand smoke.
i ate horribly, though, until a few years ago.
Jen77
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2006
Posts : 2742
Posted 8/4/2015 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Good point JaSanne! I lived in a cloud of smoke thanks to my Dad and Grandma most of my life. My Dad was a serious chain smoker. He'd light one up from the one he just was finishing. Doctors have said it's why I get bronchitis to easily. Didn't think about the connection to Crohn's. A few years ago I found out that we have some Jewish relatives. I know that can be an issue too.