Nicotine gum relief

Thought I would share my early experience with anyone looking at nicotine therapy. I was diagnosed with UC in April of this year. Pentasa didn't seem to help and Asacol passed right through me..plus made me feel a little worse.

Having 2 weeks to go before my next GI checkup and given up on meds, I thought I would give nicotine gum a try just to test my reaction before a nicotine patch.

The dosage I've tried are 2mg strong...I started 2 days ago with 3 pieces a day...

A normal day would typically be 6 to 10 urgent bms.

The reason for this post and me joining healingwell was so far I've been twice only....and the second time I went just to make sure I still could lol. This would have been unthinkable a few days ago. I can post how things progress over the next few weeks and its still quite early but for anyone with similar symptoms, nicotine gum is an inexpensive way to see if nicotine helps.

I'm a smoker. I was a smoker before my dx, during treatment, remission for 6 years, and now during this moderate flare. I couldn't imagine trying to quit right now. I had thought that quiting would put me into a flare but I guess my colon decided to prove me wrong.

I know that everyone is different but the choice for me to continue smoking and not run the risk of a major flare is something I'm comfortable with, right now.

Have never been a smoker. The first day after trying the gum I was a little light headed but really have had no side effects.

There is an almost peppery taste once you are chewing it which I assume is the nicotine being released.

I've tried a few things which would normally send me straight to the washroom...not one but two glasses of red wine yesterday...and a glass of pure apple juice this morning and so far no ill effects.

After having used probiotics, fish oil, curcumin, immodium, etc etc this has been the only thing that has worked so quickly and effectively.

Still early days yet but nicotine is obviously doing something...if I'm feeling adventurous tomorrow....I may try a dairy product :)

Cheers

My GI suggested i start smoking about 5 years ago after some horrific experiences with drug side effects. He said the side effects of smoking were less dangerous (for me) than the drugs that were causing all the problems. I was in remission in a matter of days and have been in complete remission for over five years now--not even a hint of a flare. I smoke a pipe and use organic, pesticide and chemical free tobacco.