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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/16/2010 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I noticed in Mitzo's signature that for him/her UC started after quitting smoking.

This is the case for me as well, and after reading a few articles about studies showing that nicotine patches have been shown to reduce the symptoms of UC, I'm thinking it's not a coincidence. I was a pack-a-day smoker for about ten years and quit last year (cold-turkey). UC cropped up within 6 months, having never presented itself before. I'm 29.

Has anyone else run into this?
Anyone tried nicotine as a treatment? (smoke/gum/patches)

Anyone with UC a current smoker? Have you had a need (while actively smoking) for any of the stronger meds (Remicade/Prednisone/etc)?
Posted 6/16/2010 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
If you do a search, you'll find tons of threads about this. If you search Google, you'll find even more information.

Studies have shown that there is a correlation between smoking and reduction of UC symptoms, but only for those who have smoked in the past. It won't work if you've never smoked and then start to try to treat UC. I would assume the effectiveness of nicotine follows the same correlation.
Posted 6/16/2010 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
I smoked for a long time, quit for 5 years ... 1 year later developed UC. Started smoking out of desperation because I was so sick and desperate but it didn't work for me. Quit again when I went for my total colectomy. Now I don't smoke and I don't have UC.
Posted 6/16/2010 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
There is a link for some. For others, like me, I got UC while I was a smoker. Now that I've been quit for just over a year, my UC has never been better. Smoking aggravated my colitis. It's so nice to be a non-smoker now.
Posted 6/16/2010 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
One of the theories is that it's not the nicotine, but the carbon monoxide in the smoke that relieves inflamation.
Posted 6/16/2010 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
yup, I also remember reading that it was the CO that helped and not the nicotine. The CO relaxes the smooth muscles or something like that?
Posted 6/17/2010 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
I'm one of those who developed UC after having quit smoking for a year or two, it's hard to tell because I was on gum and later lozenges for quite a while after quitting. Like you I investigated the links and studies at Mayo and UK. After being on prednisone for a couple with no relief, I decided to experiment with Commit lozenges. I saw improvement after two days. After a week I increased my nicotine intake, and was in remission the next day. That was last September. I have since switched to electronic cigarettes with occasional supplements of lozenges for those times when puffing on an e-cig is not PC, and have not had a recurrence of the flare. For a while I was having some abdominal pain, but no other symptoms, but that has also has gone away. As has been said, it’s not for everyone, and I feel fortunate that it worked for me.
Posted 6/17/2010 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
I have tried nicotine replacement and oral smokeless tobacco and they do not work - only cigarettes put me into virtually full remission. It is amazing, actaully, how well and fast they work. For example, I recall vividly having to go on a two-week stint for work and heading right into a bloody mucousy pain-filled 15 bms-a-day flare 2 days before the takeoff. I bought a pack of smokes and smoked like a chimmney the whole time and it all disappeared within a day and I had a successful trip. But I am a nonsmoker, not because I fear cancer or whatever, but because out society does not allow it anymore. For example, I work on a university campus which is 100% nonsmoking, I'd have to walk 15 minutes to a distant roadside to smoke. **** that.
Posted 6/17/2010 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Symptoms started for me about 4 months after quitting. Weird!!
Posted 6/17/2010 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
I smoked for many, many years. Within a year of quitting, developed UC. I've tried the gum, but it didn't help. Going back to smoking is not an option cuz I got lung cancer out of it. I didn't try the lozenges, but maybe I will Saralee
Posted 6/17/2010 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
i got diagnosed after quitting smoking. during a flare, the nicotine patch did not work for me.
Posted 6/17/2010 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
wodin - wow! very interesting that you have success with e-cigs!! This is definitely something I'll try someday if I need to. Might as well give that a shot before going right to the cancer causing type.

is there a way to know how much you're "smoking" per day?
Posted 6/17/2010 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
hekela said... wodin - wow! very interesting that you have success with e-cigs!! This is definitely something I'll try someday if I need to. Might as well give that a shot before going right to the cancer causing type. is there a way to know how much you're "smoking" per day? I guess you could measure how much "juice" you use over time, and calculate in terms of mg/cig. I haven't done that 'cause it hurts my head. Suffice it to say a lot, as I can use them at my desk; so I'm pretty much continually sucking on them.
Posted 6/30/2010 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Come to think of it, my first and worst flare up started right after I had quit smoking for a while. I hadn't smoked for too long before that, but long enough to make it really hard to quit. However, when the flare up occurred, I had just started back so I don't know if the two were related. I know that the flare up occurred after the worst time in my life full of constant stress and tragedy, one major occurrence after another. My new doctor agrees that while stress may not caused UC to develop, if you have UC underlying and are extremely stressed, it can cause the first flare up to occur.

I really can't say if it has changed my UC in anyway, now that I smoke daily again. I know my doctor thinks I may have IBS on top of UC and that first cigarette with my coffee in the morning makes me go like clockwork :x
Posted 7/1/2010 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Carbon monoxide from smoking cigarettes helps shut down inflammation in the colon...here's the article...

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35173.php

You'll be happy to know as it mentions in the article (I believe) that since researchers have discovered this about carbon monoxide, they are planning to create a med that mimics the very same effect (possibly somehow using CO) without the harmful effects of actually smoking.

Posted 7/1/2010 2:39 AM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
Carbon monoxide from smoking cigarettes helps shut down inflammation in the colon...here's the article...


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35173.php



You'll be happy to know as it mentions in the article (I believe) that since researchers have discovered this about carbon monoxide, they are planning to create a med that mimics the very same effect (possibly somehow using CO) without the harmful effects of actually smoking.

Thanks for the link, interesting. Wonder how long it takes them to create a med that mimics CO? probably years as that artical is from 2005.
Posted 7/1/2010 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Depending on how well things go with clinical trials, ect...it generally takes about 10 yrs for it to hit the shelf, so to speak.
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