Does nicotine help or heal Colitis

Years ago I had some bouts with Colitis but I went back to smoking and it went away. I have not smoked for 5 years now and Colitis is a real pain starting 2 years ago. Does a nicotine patch help??? Should I try this? Doctors seem to think the worst thing in the world is smoking. This Colitis is a close second! I am on Remicade and seems to help but I don't think I'm getting it often enough and the colitis starts up again before my 8Th week infusion happens again. Thanks Pat

I tried last year being on the patch for 2 months (not a previous smoker). The biggest difference I noticed was the decrease in urgency, but no help preventing diarrhea or blood. The jitters I had from being on the patch, as well as the annoyance and rashes it left were in the end just not worth the minor improvement.

Yep. Smoking is worse than UC. In fact Chron's is also worse than UC. I agree about some of the medications doctors are prescribing for UC. They are a close second. But we do have the option of getting our colon taken out. It's far easier to take the colon out than the heart or lungs.

Dear Paticus, I too was a long time smoker who developed UC about a year after I quit smoking. That was seven years ago and I was able to go into remission with 8 Asacol ppills a day and stayed that way as long as I took a mainteinance dose of 4 pills a day. Last summer, with my GI doctor's approval, I stopped taking Asacol and four months later, it all came roaring back! That was December and I have worked my way up to 10 400Mg Asacol a day without much improvement. Some, but not too much. I read about the UC/nicotine question and did a bit of on-line research. They seem to be using nicotine patches in their tests. In the past, my skin reacted badly to the patches, so I am trying nicotine gum (2mg) I try to chew about 8 pieces a day.. It's only been about 4 days, but I think I am seeing some improvement. Little more formed, less runny poops. Too early to be sure, but worth trying, I think. I can't smoke again - too damaging to my lungs, but this might be a way of fighting UC. I'll let you know. PS - my doctor was not impressed with the idea, but I'm trying it anyway.

Some studies show that it's the carbon monoxide in cig smoke that relieves the irritated colon not the nicotine.

Yes. Funny thing for the doctor to say. Caffeine makes my symptoms worse. Plus, it's on many do-not-eat lists.