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1 year nicotine anniversary

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/28/2015 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
well, the title says it all. started nicotine on jan 28, 2014 and took my last prednisone pill that day. it's crazy to think it's been a year off of prednisone!!! i only noticed it because one of my best friend's birthdays is today and last jan 28, i was feeling sick and decided to try out the lozenge so i could take her out that night! worked so fast that i was able to go out and celebrate with her.

i am so glad i took the plunge. i'm pretty sure my colon would've been long gone by now. still no noticeable side effects for me.
Posted 1/28/2015 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on the remission!!!! Have you stuck with just the lozenges? Have you done the gum, e-cig or the real McCoy? I have been on an E-cig for about 5 years now. Nicotine helps me - but never has been able to stop a flare. I'm one of those ex smokers to catch UC though.
Posted 1/28/2015 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
hey bad gut!! i use the patches now but started with the lozenges. i've used the e cigs and LOVE them, too. i never bought one myself just because they taste so good and i'm sure i'd overdose haha there are too many good flavors.
Posted 1/28/2015 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
That's awesome bgirl.

My last pred course was in April 2013. I was also in bad shape, but a good GI dissuaded me from surgery and told me to hang on. Since then I have gained weight and am nearly back to normal using alternate treatments.

It certainly was not as difficult as your journey, but we are on the same boat in this realm of suffering. I don't intend on going back either (unless something catastrophic were to happen).

Wising you the best.
Posted 1/28/2015 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
YAY!!!!! Congrats, buddy! You have worked so hard to find what worked for you and have always been so giving of your experience on boards - you have helped so many people (me included! :) I hope you celebrate - you deserve it! yeah yeah yeah
Posted 1/29/2015 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad that you've been doing well on the nicotine! Keep it up! I wish that your remission lasts forever.
Posted 1/29/2015 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Awesome! Thanks for the update, it's nice to hear not only when someone tries something new, but also how it's doing as time goes on.

Long may it last :-)
Posted 1/29/2015 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
thanks, g!! hey, whatever works, right? i hope you stay flare free, too.

caroline, i actually forgot today was the day or else i would've baked that coconut butter cake and eaten the whole thing!

andrea, thanks girl. you better stay healthy, too!
Posted 1/29/2015 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Happy for you Bananagirl!!! Wishes for this remission to last forever!!!
Posted 1/30/2015 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hey this is awesome. Congrats!

I always find it amazing something so simple can have such a profound effect.
Posted 1/30/2015 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
That is so awesome! Congrats!
Posted 1/30/2015 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
LOVE it!!! YOU ROCK!
Posted 1/30/2015 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations BGirl!

By way of encouragement, my own experience with N was almost immediate remission with lozenges, and continued remission with Lozenges and E-cigs for going on six years. I had one minor flare during that time which I was able to knock out with Canasa.

Now the RANTS!!!

1) It's impossible to find Nicorette lozenges any more, their excuse is that the factory was having QC trouble with the dosage so they suspended production. Thankfully WalMart and COSTCO have Equate lozenges which don't taste as good, but are cheaper and still work.

2) Our elected representative are nearly in panic mode over the loss of tax revenues from tobacco products and are trying their best to figure out how to regulate (read tax) e-cigs.
Posted 1/30/2015 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats!!!!
Posted 1/30/2015 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
thanks everyone! yeah, i hope it lasts forever, too!!!

wodin, the lozenges are pretty powerful! they helped as soon as i used them. i used the walgreens brand because that's the first place i looked but then i found the walmart-equate brand- and agree, not as good tasting, but a fraction of the price! honestly, i prefer the patches just because i was using about 5 lozenges a day to equal 20 mg. the patch is just easier.
Posted 1/31/2015 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Good for you!!!! its really quite incredible that something like a nicotine patch can have such a profound impact on your life.
Posted 1/31/2015 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
thanks, poppie! i didn't have high expectations just because nothing had worked over the years.

i still take my simponi and imuran just because i think it would be foolish of me to discontinue anything with how severe my UC is.
Posted 1/31/2015 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Very cool! Glad that's it's working for you as well as it is. I know I could read through some of your old threads to find this, but could you remind me if you're an ex-smoker? Thanks
Posted 1/31/2015 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
hey artvark! no, i have never smoked before. i only tried it because my dad also has UC and has been in remission for 25 years with smoking and takes no medications. i figured since it worked for him and we are related, that it might help me.
Posted 1/31/2015 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats!
Posted 2/1/2015 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats Bananagirl-you deserve a long remission!
Posted 2/3/2015 7:16 AM (GMT 0)
yay! awesome bananagirl!!! happy that you finally found your way!
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