Made a huge mistake!

I have been reading that smoking will help you into remission.  I can relate, I am having a flare up, starting to get depressed about the whole situation... I think its finally hit me that I am stuck with UC for life.  Just broke up with my girl as well. 

I dont smoke, well maybe a few casual cigarettes when drinking, however I just bought a pack and plan on smoking 4 cigs a day to see if it helps me into remission (along with prednisone and Imuran). 

Keep your head up man!  Things will get better for us!  When I feel down, I just continue to say to myself "It could always be worse."

Thanks for the positive thoughts guys...

SBwith UC, are you the one that takes Propecia for the hair loss? 

Does it help?

Shadam,
Sorry to hear about your break-up but there are a lot of woman out there. If you get involved with responsible things in the community then the ladies will find you.

When you are able you should take up martial arts. I never did but it seems like a great way to stay healthy, strong and meet women.

Quit the smokes because they stink. Smokers don't realize just how bad they smell.

Don't worry about your hair. Just cut it crew or shave it bald. I know a lot of men using that style and it looks good for them. Your personality and character will overcome any hair loss.

Weird, from evrything I've read/heard, genetic male baldness skips a generation...for example my hubbies grandpa went bald, hubbies dad hasn't (he's 80yrs old) but hubby has a small balding spot in the crown and his hairline is receding, so based on that we figure that our son shouldn't have balding issues but if he were to have a son then his son would.

:)

Shadam...break-ups with partners is very painful, but it is a time to reevaluate one's issues, etc. That with family stuff and chronic illness would have one doing much to find relief, be it drinking, eating or smoking.

I agree with others that it would be wise for you to stop smoking, start tapering down at this point, and find something else less harmful to satisfy your depression/anxiety. If you're able to see a therapist/counsellor, maybe that could be something that would be helpful to you for future dealing, etc.

You have much on your plate for your young years....learning the tools now will be better than continuing to hurt yourself further. You're a most important and priority factor in the equation.

Hang tough...it's going to be a bumpy ride....maybe have a few puffs of a ciggie instead of a whole one, or buy some herbal ones to replace the ones you're smoking at this time.

Keep us posted as to how you're doing.
quincy

Shadam said...
I started smoking cigarettes again! I feel so guilty but they're the only thing that really relax me.
I need to try and quit ASAP because I dont think smoking and Remi go to well together...

Sorry about your being under so much stress. Although smokers may smoke to get quick relief from stress by lighting up, there is no empirical evidence that nicotine alleviates stress. In fact, studies have shown the opposite, that smoking increases stress.

Try to look at change as a positive challenge, not a threat.
Don't worry about things you can't control.
Work to resolve conflicts.
Ask for help from friends, family or professionals.
Set realistic goals at home and at work.
Exercise on a regular basis.
Eat well-balanced meals and get enough sleep.
Meditate.
Get away from your daily stresses with group sports, social events and hobbies.
Prepare to the best of your ability for events you know may be stressful.

Red_34 said...
Pb, I don't play much attention what I read on the internet and I certainly don't accept it as fact. LOL So I don't doubt there is much conflicting information out there about balding as well as IBD. My son's premature balding is definately not from me or my side of the family because I have super thick hair, as do my brothers and my dad, even though he is starting to lose hair now but he is 65. My husband started losing his hair at 22 and my son at 16, but my hubby's father has thick hair and his mother thin. So like I said, I don't take any stock in what I read sometimes :)

It used to be thought that baldness was inherited from the material grandfather. Although there is some bases for this, scientists are now saying that baldness can be inherited from both parents.

Are you worried that the Remi will cause hair loss? Sorry I don't see why you asked about it. I cut my hair shorter, so it felt different and I asked if I might be losing some...and they told me no, not due to Remicade.

Anyway, regarding the smoking, I believe it will definitely limit your appeal for many women! But, you might decide to focus on yourself now anyway. Smoke until the end of the year, then give it up on January 1. Cut a deal with yourself, that works for me when I know I'm doing something I shouldn't! Then pull yourself up by your bootstraps and soldier on through.

And hopefully the Remicade will work for you!

Shadam said...
Thanks for the positive thoughts guys...

 

SBwith UC, are you the one that takes Propecia for the hair loss? 

Does it help?

Yes, but I started taking it 4 years ago when I thought I was noticing a thinning patch on the crown area.  It really wasnt bad, but I wanted to do whatever I could to at least keep what I had.  The Propecia worked great.  I definitely didnt loose anymore hair, and I actually show no signs of male pattern baldness.  My doc says that it takes a year to work, which it did, and he also said that over time you can actually regrow a small amount of hair because your scalp will be rid of DHT.  It is a great drug, it is just that you have to stay on it otherwise you will loose hair rapidly.  Its almost like your scalp will make up for lost time and just drop all the hair you would have lost while you were on Propecia.

 

I am not saying that it will work while on Remicade or 6MP.  From what I hear that is a side effect from the drug and if you stop it you could grow your hair back.  I just threw the Propecia out there because it worked for me, but for an entirely different application.  It may not hold up at all against these powerful drugs. 

 

I will be able to tell you, if you check back with me in the future, first hand whether or not it works while on 6MP.  I just started 6MP.  My guess is that it is a small portion of the population that actually looses hair, so I am banking on having positive results from 6MP... and actaully keeping my hair as well.

 

Good luck man, lets get better!

 

Steve