HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

E-Cig Update!

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/5/2014 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
So, about two and a half weeks ago, I posted that I would stop taking my Lialda, and would instead smoke e-cigs as a form of self-medication. I figured I'd post an update to tell anyone who cared how the whole nicotine thing is going. Just to recap, I'm currently nineteen, was diagnosed when I was seventeen. Took about 3.6mg (some weeks, 4.8mg) of Lialda a day. It sucked. Decided one day to stop and start smoking e-cigs.

We all caught up?
Good. Here are my results:

Just... I'm trying to find words to describe how amazing I currently feel. I was diagnosed at seventeen, but had symptoms such as pain since I was about fifteen. Oh my god. It's been two and a half weeks, and I'm not in pain. This is the first time in about four years I haven't been in pain. This is the part I truly cannot believe.

I also have no blood in my stool, no mucus. Pretty much no gas. I would say I go about 1-2 times a day, fairly regularly. I'm also no longer experiencing side effects from the Lialda--my hair has stopped falling out (woo!) and I'm less tired throughout the day.

E-cigs... I love you.

I hope this and my previous post help anyone in some way. I heard of nicotine treating UC, but didn't realize it would be this effective. I think I'm actually in remission which is just... darn.
Posted 9/5/2014 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
That is awesome news!! I hope it continues forever and really appreciate the update!
B
Posted 9/6/2014 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Were you a previous smoker who got UC after quitting?
Posted 9/6/2014 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I am interested in what Gary asks too. It seems like that is the case where it has been proven that cigarettes can help. In people who never smoked - they say it's not as likely to help but I've seen otherwise here so I have to wonder what's the truth?
Posted 9/6/2014 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
I was not a smoker when symptoms began (around age 15).

UC runs in my family, though (my father was diagnosed, as well as my brothers). My brothers are smokers, and their symptoms were never as bad as mine--we thought it was because of the nicotine, which is why I finally gave up and (after doing what I'll admit was only the minimal amount of research on the topic) picked up e-cigs.
Posted 9/6/2014 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Were you a passive smoker from your brothers?
Posted 9/6/2014 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
This is fantastic news for you long may it continue.

how many mg do you smoke a day? Like you I have done a little research on nicotine therapy and low level smoking from what I have read people say the magic numbers are about 18 mg on e- cig or between 5 to 7 real cigs a day.

are you going to smoke to get yourself in remission and then stop or are you going to continue?

I gave up smoking about 10 years ago and was diagnosed with UC 3 years ago.

I would not want to start smoking again but e-cig definitely seems a safer and healthy option.
Posted 9/6/2014 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Love this Amanda, how many do you smoke a day and do you know the strength? E.g. 18mg
Posted 9/6/2014 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Wow...That is great news....I am envious actually! (the smoking part)

Lets hope it continues for you!
Posted 9/7/2014 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Max--Not really. My brothers didn't smoke much around me. I'm sure I got some second hand smoke, but for the most part, they kept their habit to themselves.

Kevin--I smoke Blu's "high" level, which is about 16mg. Unfortunately, I don't know how many "cigarettes" I smoke in a day--I sort of just do it throughout. My goal was the equivalent of two cigarettes, but I may be smoking more.
Posted 9/7/2014 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
This is interesting. My first symptoms appeared 3 months after quitting smoking. Within a year I was diagnosed with UC. I have been vaping since I quit at 18 mg dose, with 2 major flares. In another flare since June, and am trying european snus, as many people who quit tobacco aren't saved from UC by nicotine alone. Many folks believe the protection found in tobacco comes from one of its alkoloids. My GI confirmed that she has many ex smokers who weren't helped by the patch. I'll post how this goes, I'm on day 2 of snus, currently lots of blood and mucous, cramping, diarrhea. Ugh.
Posted 9/15/2014 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
??s where did you get the e cig? How often do you smoke it? I've been chewing the nicotine gum for a few days. Not seeing much results and it makes my teeth feel funky. I smoked in my early 20s before I was diagnosed.
Posted 9/15/2014 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, that's great news. Don't know why I haven't tried nicotine yet. At this point, I really have nothing to lose.
Posted 9/16/2014 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Good for you! E-cig hasn't been any help to me. I am of the school that says "carbon monoxide is the anti inflammatory agent that is a by product of smoking tobacco," and the carbon monoxide is the key as far as smoking goes...I only arrive at this stance because of personal experience. I'm an ex smoker, started again after having UC for 8 years, found that smoking helped me quite a bit. I quit smoking 6 months ago, had a bad flare that was/wasn't related to quitting. But even in the early years of my UC I chewed tobacco, and now I VAPE e-cigs. So when I was chewing tobacco, or now that I VAPE e-cigs, the nicotine has no positive effect on my UC at all.
Posted 9/16/2014 3:10 PM (GMT 0)

pink1 said...
??s where did you get the e cig? How often do you smoke it? I've been chewing the nicotine gum for a few days. Not seeing much results and it makes my teeth feel funky. I smoked in my early 20s before I was diagnosed.

I used to order them from this company..

https://blu184.mail.live.com/?tid=cmtNXqd6c85BGRAGw75af6zg2&fid=fltrash
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply