If it only helps one person...

I've been a member here for years but have rarely posted in the last several years.  I know the topic of nicotine has been discussed ad nauseam.  However, this has been so dramatic I just had to share.  I am doing numerous other natural things as well.

The perfect storm was created in my life this year since Janaury to create the ultimate nasty flare. 

-In January there was a tragedy in the family.

-In March I quit smoking

-In May I had some dental work done and had 2 prescriptions of strong antibiotics

-By the end of August there was:  Consistent BM 20+ per day, blood every time, mucous.  Continuing to Sept end.  Only another UC sufferer can understand the depths of my weariness.

I had a colonscopy mid September and was told that the colitis has spread in the colon and is now around the first bend.  In 2008, I had been in remission.  I've had this disease since 2003.  This was a massive setback.

-The day of the scope, Sept 19th, I got a prescription of Probiotics from my GP.  VSL#3DS.  Taking 1/2 packet per day.

-On Sept 25th, the D was still so bad that I took an Imodium to be able to go to work the next day.

-On Sept 26th, in the evening, I got Nicotine Patches and bought a Blucig at Walgreens.

-On Sept 27th, I had slept through the night, had a formed stool in the AM.  No blood on the TP, but some still visible in the stool.

-By Sept 29, I was feeling 90% better.  I added 3 cigs per day to the regimen.

-By Sept 30 and continuing to today, I am at 100%, no blood, no mucous, no D, no pain.  Last night and Friday night, I slept more than 12 hours, uninterupted.  I have not had even three hours of uninterupted sleep in the past 3 months.  It's like I can feel my body healing.

I'm also taking a teaspoon of Vineger and Honey each day in some hot water.

I'm also taking one dose of Metamucil daily.

I know this is a lot of information and perhaps rambling :).  But I've learned so much from so many of you and this forum has been so helpful to so many people.  I thought I'd write about my ongoing saga with UC and maybe give some ideas to someone else.

Post Edited (CavsFan) : 10/2/2011 7:22:36 AM (GMT-6)

Hey CavsFan, I am happy to hear you found something that works for you. I would give nicotine a try if I were having a flare and traditional medicines weren't managing it. I know some people feel that nicotine is worse than UC but if you can get by with the patches or e-cigg, that's even better. Everything in moderation... Are you also on mesalamine for maintenance?

notsosicklygirl, I'm not on any prescription med from a GI doctor. I had such terrible side effects when on meds and was recommended surgery at the Cleveland Clinic back in 2007. I was on a regiman of many many pills, enemas, etc daily and nothing helped. I started smoking and by 2008 was in remission. I then stopped again earlier this year and went into a flare unlike any I've had since then.

imagardener2, I've read many of your posts in the multiple nicotine threads on here through the years. I know you had a bad reaction. From my extensive research, I really feel that this kind of experiment only has a chance of working on a previous smoker, not someone who never smoked. I know it does not work for everyone - if it did, then none of us would have this disease, right? That's why I named the title of the thread: "If it only helps one person".

The balance of nicotine requires self control, no doubt. A person has to find the balance between the pleasure vs the amount used as medicine. There is a fine line. To me, it's no different that not letting yourself eat something that you know will send you to the bathroom, even though it's your favorite food. There's a viscious fight there.

It works for me, I have proven it multiple times when I stopped nicotine entirely and then started again. The first time was the onset of this disease, and the next 2-5 times were when I stopped smoking in the past 8 years. It does work for some. There is documented proof. There have been blind and double blind studies done. It is just so taboo that no one wants to recommend it because of how we've been force fed about the negative aspects of nicotine/smoking. Everything in moderation.

Post Edited (CavsFan) : 10/2/2011 11:29:04 AM (GMT-6)