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Posted 4/24/2012 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
BETSY 4694 -i havent talked to since us talking about work. how r u ? how did your week of meetings go?? ps its called Arsenicum -" chronic worry that leads to chronic D' responds well to arsenicum"

i was thinking of funny run to bathroom stories and thought of you ;) and my bomb threat story

Posted 4/25/2012 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Sheila! Meetings start tomorrow at 730 am......dreading! Have been starving myself today in preparation! What exactly is arsenicum and how do I get it? I googled it but lots of conflicting info came up. By the way a kid at my school pulled the fire alarm yesterday and we got stuck outside for 20 minutes....I was totally mentally freaking.....but no "code brown" emergencies...ha!
Posted 4/25/2012 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Uhhh... Wrong thread?
Posted 4/25/2012 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
I would smoke again in a heartbeat, but I tried it last summer, and I got so horribly sick after each cigarette( I was trying 4 a day) I had to go to bed. The dizziness and nausea was terrible. I couldn't even have the lights or TV on when I came in from having the cigarette. I had to stop before I ever finished my first pack.
Posted 4/25/2012 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Well, she replied with no 'code brown' so i'm thinking her post is implied for this forum in some respect, lol.


sheilasuperstar said...
stereo- can i ask you how long you were in a flare before starting to do the SCD diet? and befre starting the SCD diet were you eating any kinda restriscted way? like just whatever to SCD or limited in certain ways than on to SCD. i am asking because i am very close to the diet but not completly and they want me to try it again, i have been in bad flare for 4months and i am thinking it am already trying /tried that and years ago it worked for me pretty good but i was NOT in a flare anywhere near this !!

I was on prednisone, so I wasn't really flaring terribly but following a gluten free and low fiber diet didnt really get me anywhere either. I started prednisone in september after diagnosis and when I started the SCD in late january, I saw results immediately. Followed the diet for two months and by the time I started adding in grains again, I was having formed stools. I made a quick recovery, thanks to supplements, diet and medicine.

Right now I'm in a so-so state, meeting a new naturopath soon, maybe change supplements or something to keep things moving in a healing direction.
Posted 4/25/2012 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
UC_Guy,

I'm always hesitant to post about smoking because of the hostile replies.  Picking up smoking again has put me in remission.  I went from an ugly 1 1/2 year flare to 95% remission in 10 days. I totally understand the risks, which is exactly why I quit in the first place.  To me it's a quality of life issue.  Being confined to home with 20+ BMs a day, not working to support myself or maintaining the medical insurance required to afford this disease is simply not an option.  Remicade scares me, prednisone is definately the devil in disguise  devil .  Even if I do decide to go the remicade route at some point, how will I afford it without insurance and what are it's long term side affects?  I need to work and that just isn't possible when I'm flarring.  Very tough personal decisions!  Bottom line for me, everytime I quit smoking I flare. 

Posted 4/25/2012 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
I stopped smoking in march and got uc in may, however I started bleeding while taking a zpack, so I think mine might have been a combo. about 5 years in, my dr actually suggested a nicotine patch, and if that didn't work smoking. But after he found out that I had smoked for 8 years, he decided it might not be best for me. I quit because I got home one night, lit.a cigarette took a couple puffs and promptly fell off the porch having a seizure, no idea what that was about! I did actually consiider trying it though, because I had heard it worked so well. But in the end I couldn't justify it.
Basically I think if you smoked before and had a hard time quitting or bad side effects it might not be a good idea. But if you never have a few puffs might help.
Good luck
Posted 4/25/2012 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
UC Guy-There is a well respected GI named Steven Hanauer who talks about how smoking does help for people who quit and than got UC. He says he rec. 3-5 cigs/day if ex smokers can't be controlled on the asa meds. You may want to google him. I think his article is called something like--No butts about it, smoking puts out the fire of UC. I don't smoke, but def. do not judge---. Google it and see what you think.
Posted 4/25/2012 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Sara, to be fair he didn't say people who are anti-smoking are idiots. He's anti-smoking himself, in an ideal world. But the world is anything but. He's saying that people who are anti-smoking and refuse to separate their feelings on the matter from medical ones about the benefits of smoking for UC so as to actually contribute to the discussion at hand, are idiots. And I agree. If they have nothing of relevance to say, they shouldn't say anything at all.

I don't smoke myself and am against it, kind of, I mean I don't exactly judge those that do - each to their own, I just see it as pretty pointless given the strong health risks. I think I feel more strongly now that I have a disease I didn't ask for and did nothing to cause - I envy healthy people with properly functioning bodies SO much, that it kind of pains me to see them risk deliberate damage to themselves so freely. I think what I wouldn't give to have what you have, and I'd ****ing take care of it to... plus stale smoke on fingers, clothes, breath, hair and furniture smells vile!

But even I have contemplated giving it a go because this disease makes you desperate beyond belief. If I knew it would definitely work, I'd probably go and buy a pack right now - although my colitis is indeterminate so as well as risking lung cancer, I risk making my bowels even worse if I have Crohns. I might try nicotine, see if that helps.

Good luck UC_Guy. Funnily enough I too have had colitis for 7 years and am on the brink of surgery. We're like twins haha. I sure hope mine is UC but I doubt it somehow - luck hasn't been on my side at any point during this ride :(
Posted 4/25/2012 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
It's the carbon monoxide....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060103084934.htm

Posted 4/25/2012 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
pb4,

I've read that article several times before, as well as others that indicate that CO is a factor; and it well may be. But that doesn’t explain those of us who have realized success with non CO producing nicotine delivery methods, nor does it explain the results of studies like the Mayo and UK ones done in the ‘90s using nicotine patches.

This disease is so variable between individuals that it is nearly impossible to predict which therapy or combination of therapies will be efficacious for any one of us. There is no magic bullet cure for everyone. What works for me may or may not work for you, so the trick is to find out what works for me, and stick with it.
Posted 4/27/2012 6:45 AM (GMT 0)
why was my last post deleted? Anyway...

pb4 said...
It's the carbon monoxide....


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060103084934.htm

Is that sooo? Hmmmm. So why do some people benefit from using ecigs which contains no carbon monoxide
Posted 4/27/2012 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think it was deleted Ernee. You hit Post New Topic instead of Post Reply. Here is the link I think?

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2402487
Posted 4/27/2012 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Emee said (in the "no Subject" thread):

"Thanx coffeman, I've been looking through.


Is it possible to make a nicotine pill? I mean, it is possible to make it into a drink. Why not make them into pills and use them for patients who can benefit instead of giving them Predniz-F-you-UP-one.

http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/27/big-in-japan-japanese-energy-drink-makes-red-bull-look-like-app/

The only bad thing about nicotine is that it can be addictive. And prednisone?... Don't make me start the list"

They do Emee, they’re called "Nicorett Lozenges" and I use them to good effect. I prefer the e-cigs because they're both cheaper and more satisfying, but if the FDA, in their infinite wisdom, succeeded in banning them tomorrow I would be able to do quite well with my “pills”
Posted 5/9/2012 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi i will start off with a bit of a back story. I was diagnosed with uc about 5 years ago and firstly asacol worked for about 5 months then no remission since no matter what i have tried and im at uni studying pharmacology so i read everything i could get my hands on about alternative treatments, current medication, future medication the works. about 2 weeks ago i had had enough i had seen all the talk about smoking and that it could have a therapeutic effect but it was for ex-smokers and i had never smoked before. The mercaptopurine i was on was causing severe side effects so i stopped taking it. I took me 3 times going to the shops to actually buy some cigarettes! lol. I can now say this is probably the best i have felt for 4 years, no tiredness, no running to the bathroom in the middle of lectures, no interrupted sleep. I know the effects of smoking but weighing up the way i was feeling mentally and physically it was the right decision for me. My colitis is still not perfect but it gets better everyday.

One question that i have for the nicotine patch/e-cig users is are you stressful people? I know there have been studies that have said there is little or no link to stress but i also know when i get stressed or nervous my symptoms got worse. Could it be the nicotine relaxing you?
Posted 5/9/2012 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have posted this before.
Anyway.
Quit 1977, UC 1980,azulfadine almost into remission with pred foam, but not quite.
Started again 1982,immmediate remission. Quit again 1986,2 weeks later flare, started again could not control it.
Still in same flare since 1986.
Quit this past november started again 6 weeks later due to extra blood. Quit again Feb, started again,March.
Still in same flare since 1986,still smoke.
I have no problem quitting,can quit just like that.
Would like to quit,again,we will see what happens with no linoleic diet.

My other side effect from quitting is severe mouth ulcers,they are really painfull,I was carrying around

a bottle of 20% benzocane for tooth aches to kill the pain.
Old Mike

Post Edited (Old Mike) : 5/9/2012 5:20:03 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/9/2012 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I can only agree that stopping smoking can cause some horrid symptoms. I cut down from 30 to to about 15 over 2 weeks, then stopped completely 3 days ago. 2 of those days have been marked by stabby frequent and very painful cramps, possibly caused by trapped gas (I've been an uncomfortable baloon.) They are relieved a little as in, the depth of the pain doesn't seem to reach so far in, if I make my regular trips to the loo. Noisy noisy gurgles have returned too. This is only my experience of it, there could be another factor that has triggered these symptoms but the giving up of smoking appears to be the culprit.

I have certainly been wanting to smoke, I really don't need to though and I think in the long run I'm doing myself a favour by getting shot of them now. I'm taking Omeprazole, painkillers and 5ASA, is it safe to up my omeprazole from 2 to 3 capsules a day? The anti spasmodic action seems to be failing pretty hard. My diet is very plain right now to keep things calm as possible.
Posted 5/10/2012 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
I also flared for the first time after I quit smoking. My GI told me about the link and I didn't believe him at first.

I'm flaring at the moment and am very tempted (as I always am) to take up smoking again. So far I haven't, because I don't want to smoke. However I hate this disease and, short of agreeing to have my guts in a bucket and a bag on my belly, am wiling to do what it takes to stop flaring.
Posted 5/10/2012 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
I've had three today from a packet of clove cigarettes from where I used to live. I only have about 5 left and you can't buy them in the UK, plus non clove cigarettes I don't like so they will stop altogether. What I wanted to say was, despite being a nice relief from the urge to smoke, it hasn't helped me in any way. If anything I'm a bit worse off today in terms of bloating and cramping. Just my tuppence.
Posted 10/1/2012 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Well, let me put my 2 cents into this topic.

I smoked for 40 years. I quit on October 15, 2009. Over the next few months, I started developing mucos and blood in my stool. I chalked it up to too many Ibuprofens for my aches and pains. (I have always had a very limited tolerance for NSAIDs.) I cut down on the Ibuprofens, but the blood and mucos continued. In December 2010, I had a routine colonoscopy. I was diagnosed with left side UC. The past couple of years I have been up and down...never quite "normal", but nothing like some of the horror stories I read on this forum. I have missed work for a day or three at times, and have had some close calls and some where I didn't make it to the bathroom, but I always felt fortunate compared to some others in this group. I started this past summer in pretty good shape. Around the beginning of August, the blood, mucos and urgency came back. After doing some reading about cigarettes (carbon monoxide) and UC, I decided to try 3 cigarettes a day. I did that for 2 weeks; no significant improvement. I upped it to 6 a few weeks ago, and all of a sudden, there was no blood, no mucos, and no urgency. I still have about 3-5 BM's a day, but they are blood and mucos free, even though they are small. I really don't like the idea that I am smoking again, but not having blood, mucos and urgency is nice, too. At this point, until someone can prove me wrong, I am going to continue my 6 cigarettes a day.

Posted 10/8/2012 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
If it wasn't such a gamble I would definitely take up smoking.. UC is horrible, but the risk of 500 types of cancer from smoking would be much worse.
Posted 10/8/2012 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
** Somedude - LOL

(This is a resp., to original post)

Yes, I believe smoking will help your condition. Although it won't put it in remission.

I was originally diagnosed after quitting smoking.

I smoke about 16 cigs a day now. Which since I'm in remission, I'm am going to try and taper down to 6 a day. IMO - smoking helps if its under 10 a day (as an anti-inflamer), altho over that it can work as a laxative as well.

I believe that if you smoked 5-6 a day that you would see improvements.

You know how they say different stuff works for different people.

My concoction was cigs, LDN and eating healthy that put me in remisson.
Posted 10/10/2012 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
I have had mixed "success" with smoking. I've had UC for 13 years and the first 5 major flairs I had all coincided with quitting smoking (I tend to quit for a while and then go back). In fact, I don't believe I have ever had a flare while smoking regularly.

However, over the last few years--during which I have remained largely smoke free-- I have tried picking up smoking in the midst of a flair to bring about remission, but it hasn't worked. I have also found that while on Remicade and Humira, smoking actually makes things worse (there is a study floating around the internet--can't remember where--that supports the idea that biologics may be less effective for both smokers and for ex-smokers).

Right now I am struggling to maintain remission as a non-smoker, and the temptation to try smoking as a "preventative measure" is quite strong. However, my family has an extensive history of smoking-related cancers, so I am trying to resist.

If the choice was surgery or smoking, I honestly don't know what I would choose.

I completely understand your dilemma and wish you a lot of luck.
B
Posted 12/11/2012 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
I hope no gay people were offended by UC-Guy's post... devil
Posted 12/11/2012 7:06 AM (GMT 0)
They shouldn't be Mackster, that's what British people call cigs.
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