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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/5/2008 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Has any one else seen improvement with smoking? I know that there are other fundamental reasons for not smoking, but in terms of providing UC relief, I am curious to know if there are others out there who have had similar occurrences? My sig. other was a former smoker and quit a couple of years before developing UC. He recently picked up cigarettes again and surprisingly noticed a lessening of symptoms. He does not want to begin the bad habit again, but curious to know if anyone else has noticed improvement with smoking?
Posted 10/5/2008 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
i tried it for a few months while flaring and it did not help
Posted 10/5/2008 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
My husband and I quit smoking March 11, 2008 - I had my first flare mid-May and am still flaring.  My doctor put me back on the nicotine patch to see if it would help - it did.  I have since stopped the patch due to the economy and being in this rediculous recession that we shouldn't be in.  Anyway, sorry for that, while on the patch my flare settled down.  In fact I had some good days!  Now, I am back to D, mucus (no blood), cramping, and feeling nauseated.  So for me the nicotine did help.

 

Gigi1227

Posted 10/5/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
     I used to smoke a little, about three cigarettes a day.  A few years after stopping completely is when my UC struck.  I heard this from several people.
Posted 10/5/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
I never smoked before developing UC, I was 14 when I was diagnosed. I was smoking regularly at age 16 and I did have some time of remission without medication throughout high school, not sure if smoking had anything to do with it. Then when I was 18 I quit smoking and shortly thereafter I went into a year long severe flare which nothing helped. Then one day, because of stress or whatever, I started smoking again. Within two months I was feeling much better.

I was afraid to quit again after that but about another year later I did quit and eventually started flaring. A few months ago I started smoking 1 or 2 cigarettes a day, and now I'm back up to several a day and haven't noticed any change in my UC. Oh well. But when I'm feeling really bad, having lots of stomach pains, I do notice that smoking a cigarette sometimes helps. Maybe it's a mental thing, but I don't know.
Posted 10/6/2008 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with UC in 1998 when pregnant with 2nd child.  I quit smoking when I became pregnant and that's when my UC started.  I was VERY ill with the flare.  I had my child and started to smoke again.  My flare got much better.  In 2002, I got pregnant again and stayed on all of my meds but stopped smoking again.  Doc put me on high doses of pred.  Flared the whole pregnancy and for a year after because I never went back to smoking until... I was hospitalized for 27 days and decided to go to Pittsburgh doctor that changed my life.  He told me, of course not straight out, that because of my flare smoking had more pros then cons for me at my age.  I started smoking again and have been in remission since 2003.  I don't know if it's meds or smoking or all of the above....

Posted 10/6/2008 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Smoking always stops a flare for me and puts me back to almost normal. Sadly, social stigma and bans have made it almost impossible to smoke in peace to improve your health.
Posted 10/6/2008 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
I have smoked for the past 5 years (first year I didn't smoke very much and i quit for a while). I got UC in 2007. I still smoke, but it hasn't helped my UC and it didn't stop me from getting it. I'm hoping I can get up the will power to quit soon.
Posted 10/6/2008 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
My UC showed up after I quit smoking a pack a day for about 10 years. I just started using the patch (a few months ago) and it helps. I am currently using the 14mg.
Jen
Posted 10/6/2008 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I quit smoking about 4/5 months ago during a flare.

I didn't have any worsening of my symptoms and I'm now very close to being symptom free.
1 bm a day blood almost gone, just occasionally there.
Posted 10/6/2008 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Actually I've been meaning to ask. Does anyone smoke sheesha/hookah? I know alot of former smokers occasionally have one it could be a good option during a flare if you don't want to take up cigarettes again. There are lots of bars in most cities providing hookah/sheesha.
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