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smoking and uc

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/29/2012 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
undoubtedly, u all have heard of the connection between smokers who give up and UC-it's common. I've never smoked, never liked it, not even socially. I'm in a flare which isn't too bad, but it's persisting, and as u all know, causing nuisance in life. I am now two days in, smoking 2-3 decent drags before brushing my teeth before bed, lol.

I don't see much harm in this, even long term, as long as it is maintained at 2-3drags (i am going to go up to 1 cigarette if not helping, only 1). What are ur thoughts????
Also, i've never had much success with enemas and suppositories. Even though, i still have faith in them and will put them in. They just never turned the inflammation off. At my worst, which was hell, I stopped eating, so i could retain them. I'd retain the enema lying down all day for 8-9 hours, it made no impact, surprised even my doctor. This illness seems to have a mind of its own. I'm also on 6mp highest dose, mezavant maintenance dose, suppos/enemas and even prozac and another ssri. Having this mini flare for so long, never a healthy bowel, worries me about my future years.
thankyou.
Posted 11/29/2012 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
From what I have read 2-3 drags a day are not going to help you for two reasons. It seems smoking once you have UC does not really help people who were always non-smokers. It is mainly the ex-smokers who benefit. And, most ex-smokers need a few cigarttes a day to see an improvement, not a few drags.

After quitting for 3 years, I went back to smoking in late August. I started with 3 a day for a week or so and saw no improvement. It wasn't until I went to 6 a day that I started to see improvement. After 3 months now, I have been symtom free for well over 2 months. I have cut down on my meds (even thinking of stopping them), can eat what I want, have no urgency, no blood, no muscus, no loose stools, no cramping and much better formed BM's. It's like I never had UC, and I am hoping it stays that way on 6 cigarttes a day. You can read a thread I started; the URL to it is down in my signature.

Posted 11/29/2012 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
couldn't you guys just use a nicotine patch?
Posted 11/29/2012 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
I don't really have insight into this, but for me, I don't think I would start smoking to get UC under control. I mean ya UC can suck, but then smoking can cause a ton of other issues, not to mention I like to workout, and smoking would make it harder to breath, plus the smell, not worth it in my book. I did smoke for 7 years, but quit cold turkey almost 9 years ago, and I have no desire to go back to it.
Posted 11/29/2012 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
becky - While some say they get some relief from nicotine, there is evidence that it is not the nicotine that helps, but the carbon monoxide.

Wolfehound - I had no desire to go back to smoking either. In fact, it was my partner who kept pushing at me to try it. As far as quality of life goes, I would take the 6 cigarettes, the social stigma of smoking, and possible long term effects over UC any day of the week. I still am not wild about smoking, but for me it's a no brainer. I have a life again.

Post Edited (hineycase) : 11/29/2012 8:53:22 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/29/2012 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Well its def. worth a try but I think it may take more like 3-5 cigs /day.  This is according to Dr. Stephan Hanauer a well known g.i.  He also mentions that it is mostly working in ex smokers.However we have had success stories w/ non smokers (hekela, alyssa1978).  They use e-cigs so if you see the cig is working for you, it is worth it to try the ecig so you can get less chemicals.  Anyway, let us know how it is working for you!

B

Posted 11/29/2012 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Whats weird is before this weird flare that will not go away began I was weirdly quitting smoking. I smoked a few cigs once every 2-3 days. After the flare began and I was hospitalized I quit completely. I am now wondering whether I should go back and try his smoking thing again. Although I am scared that if it does not work that I will flare worse (it will be like quitting again). My gf is very against me starting again. I am also thinking about the e-cigs but what I do want to try is cigars. Anyone had any luck with cigars?
Posted 11/29/2012 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
I smoked for many years,I quit and went to ecigs. Within 90 days, I was in a full flare- I continued on e cigs for a year and continued to flare. I started smoking again, a few drags at a time. and that didnt
seem to help. I increased my smoking gradually until I found my magic number- 3 - I smoke when I take my meds and use cigarettes like medicine.

*My take on this subject is that the medicine the Docs prescribe, prednisone, 6MP, Remicade, all have horrific side effects for some, and for me personally, smoking is the lesser of the evils.

Pednisone gave me osteopenia, and 6mp made my liver toxic, and remicade is not an option for me-

Everyone is different.

Carlie
Posted 11/29/2012 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a nonsmoker, always have been. It sucks that you have to start smoking again due to UC but I totally agree with you that it is definetly the lesser of the evils, especially if you can get by only smoking 3 per day.
Posted 11/29/2012 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
An eCig is nothing but water vapor & nicotine. No wonder it does not help...when it appears, for most, it is not a nicotine issue. That would bring me back to what I said earlier...that it is a carbon monoxide issue. Now, if they could produce a carbon monoxide inhaler without the other 200+ chemicals found in cigarettes, but I'll bet Big Tobacco would be against that. If there is evidence that Carbom Monoxide helps people with UC, then why haven't they produced a carbon monoxide inhaler? in small doses, it is not harmful.

I think I'll go have my even cigarette and think about how life is so much better without UC symptoms.

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