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Posted 6/15/2011 11:15 AM (GMT 0)

bklyngirl said...
I truly believe, at least for me, that there is a heavy correlation between smoking and remission. I was a heavy smoker for years and 10 months after I quit I was diagnosed with UC. That was almost ten years ago and I can tell you that every time I quit smoking I have a flare. I was in remission for the last three years but decided for health reasons to once again quit smoking in February. I was afraid of the UC coming back so decided to start using an E-Cig so I would at least get the nicotine my body was used to. Well sure enough I am once again flaring so I have to assume it's not just the nicotine in the cigarettes that helps the UC. I saw the doctor today and off course she told me not to smoke but she doesn't have to deal with UC misery, I do. So, once again I've made the decision to start smoking to get out of this awful flare. I'm going to try smoking only 2 cigarettes a day to see if it helps because I really don't have any desire to go back to smoking but I feel like I have no choice.
Glad to see that there are at least some doctors that recognize the connection!

I had a follow up appt with my Gastro doc last week and I brought with me all the documents I've posted here. He knew of Dr. Hanauer and all of the smoking related papers I brought. He got a laugh out of it mostly because I was so shocked that a Dr would recommend smoking to patients. Than my Dr told me that he has a patient right now that he can't get off prednisone unless she smokes. She has tried all of the chemo drugs and nothing has worked. She cant' stay on prednisone (which doesn't work well anymore either for her) so her only options are surgery or to light up again.

Remember it's not that any Dr is saying that smoking is in ANY way good for you. Its just a matter of it being the lesser of the evils. And a quality of life matter. Like Dr. Hanauer says in that article I posted. The quality of life of a "healthy" smoker is greater than that of someone suffering with UC. And as far as cig's being poison...yes absolutely. But so is 6mp, Imuran...etc etc. None of those are good for you in any way shape or form. I'm not suggesting cigs are healthy or healthier than those drugs. Cigs aren't curing you and neither are those drugs. They are all just suppressing the disease. Which is all we can hope to do at this point until researchers find better treatments.
Posted 6/15/2011 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
A brief article by Dr. Hanauer that starts with the sentence "The evidence is clear" but sites absolutely no evidence?

The Hungarian meta analysis concludes the following:

Somebody said...
Smoking is an important environmental factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), having different effects in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). A recent meta-analysis partially confirmed previous findings that smoking was found to be protective against ulcerative colitis and, after onset of the disease, might improve its course, decreasing the need for colectomy. However, smoking increases the risk of developing Crohn’s disease and worsens its course, increasing the need for steroids, immunosuppressants and re-operations. Smoking cessation aggravates ulcerative colitis and improves Crohn’s disease. Data are however, largely conflictive as well as the potential mechanisms involved in this dual relationship are still unknown. In this review article, the authors review the role of smoking in inflammatory bowel diseases.

How does that study support nicotine use("might improve its course") let alone cigarette smoking?

skull
Posted 6/15/2011 10:26 PM (GMT 0)

AZYooper said...
A brief article by Dr. Hanauer that starts with the sentence "The evidence is clear" but sites absolutely no evidence?

The Hungarian meta analysis concludes the following:

Somebody said...
Smoking is an important environmental factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), having different effects in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). A recent meta-analysis partially confirmed previous findings that smoking was found to be protective against ulcerative colitis and, after onset of the disease, might improve its course, decreasing the need for colectomy. However, smoking increases the risk of developing Crohn’s disease and worsens its course, increasing the need for steroids, immunosuppressants and re-operations. Smoking cessation aggravates ulcerative colitis and improves Crohn’s disease. Data are however, largely conflictive as well as the potential mechanisms involved in this dual relationship are still unknown. In this review article, the authors review the role of smoking in inflammatory bowel diseases.

How does that study support nicotine use("might improve its course") let alone cigarette smoking?

skull

The evidence from which he based his conclusion on was from numerous studies done around the world dating back to 1982. Including one that he was a part of at the University of Chicago in 1994 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8170192
. As to why he didn't cite any specific studies I'm not sure. Probably because that article was written only for the Chrohns/Colitis foundation and not for peer review in a publication. It was meant for non-scientists to read.

As to your last question I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. How does the Hungarian analysis study support nictoine use? I'm not sure. It's not the be all end of of the studies done regarding cigs and colitis. None of these are. Researchers are still working on this. But the evidence at the moment is overwhelming (I'm not going to post every study. Just use google and you'll find them as did I) that something in cig's protects against colitis and instigates chrohns. If you are looking for a study that concludes with a recommendation that people take up smoking to treat UC I don't think you'll find any. The goal of the studies is just to find out what the effects are if any of smoking on IBD. And all of them seem to conclude the same.


Heres a few studies that a quick google search turned up

http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/13/6134.asp

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijapa/vol6n2/cigarette.xml

(Not a study) - http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com/issue/2006/01_15/3_advances_medicine03_1.html

Post Edited (xfinite) : 6/15/2011 4:29:23 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/16/2011 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Just came across this study -

"There is overwhelming epidemiological evidence that smoking protects against ulcerative colitis"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2014383/
Posted 3/20/2012 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
xfinite, I was a smoker when I got UC. I know I'm not the norm, but it does not protect everyone. The one good thing smoking could've done for me...
Posted 3/20/2012 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
The more I read about different people’s successes and failures, the more I come to believe that UC is not just one disease, but a number of different ones with similar symptoms, But with different causes and different treatments. The trick is to find what works for me, and what doesn’t. I am convinced that until researches come to realize this, they can do any number of studies and obtain any number of confusing results.

Some of us were diagnosed after stopping smoking, and some of us have been lifelong non-smokers; some of us respond to nicotine, and some of us don’t; some see relief from CO, but not others. Then there are meds, diet, whip worms, fecal transplants, probiotics, and any number of remedies that work for some but not others.

What works for me is nicotine replacement, in the form of e-cigs and Nicorette lozenges (I like the minis). I don’t get any of the CO inherent in tobacco smoke, but neither do I get any of the other combustion products that may (or may not) be more detrimental than the nicotine. All I know is that after months of heavy prednisone use with no relief, I felt better after two days of Nicorette lozenge use, and in complete remission after a week. And have maintained that remission for nearly three years now.

I’m still taking 6 grams of Colazol per day, but I’m not convinced that that’s helping at all. I continue taking it because my health plan pays for it and it doesn’t seem to cause any adverse effects. And who knows, maybe it does help.

Post Edited (wodin) : 3/20/2012 1:45:49 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/20/2012 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
While nicotine has been shown to protect, and even ease certain UC symptoms, it is a terrible treatment option to get it any way other than the purest pharmaceutical form.
Posted 3/20/2012 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have been told, as a smoker' that quitting would aggravare things, but never start because!
aggravate! Darn ipad fingers!
Posted 3/21/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Jakers - Quitting actually improved my symptoms. Fewer bathroom trips and less urgency. I am not the norm though.
Posted 3/22/2012 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Please refrain from discussion of marijuana on the forum. Thanks.

Forum Rules

Post Edited By Moderator (Madcat25) : 1/10/2013 9:57:38 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/11/2013 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Please refrain from discussion of marijuana on the forum. Thanks.

Forum Rules

Post Edited By Moderator (Madcat25) : 1/10/2013 9:57:28 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/11/2013 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Please refrain from discussion of marijuana on the forum. Thanks.

Forum Rules

Continuing on. Anyone tried herbal cigs? They contain no nicotine but still reduce the stress a little for me. Its what I smoke when I have an urge to start smoking again (usually when I drink).
Posted 1/11/2013 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
I quit smoking about 12 years ago. Had bad diarrhea for about four months, then went back to normal. Had no idea what it was. Fast forward to last year, during my pregnancy, began having horrible diarrhea with mucus and then blood but nobody would treat me because I was pregnant (which doesn't make any sense to me!) but anyway, after I gave birth I was given Asacol, which worked a little but didn't get me into remission. Then added Rowasa, a little better but not perfect. Went to Vegas with my husband for a much-needed drinking, smoking and eating sushi binge (lol, I might have 2 cigs a year, but after my pregnancy, i deserved a little indulging! i had two glasses of wine per night and about 15 cigs total in three days) and was finally in complete remission. I did not smoke at all after that and stayed well for 8 months, until i decided to stop my rowasa. I'm flaring now and thinking maybe another Vegas trip will get me back into remission. It's a good excuse at least.
Posted 3/10/2017 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Was good to find this older post. It even referenced some info that I had found on the Doctor from Chicago who recommended smoking 3-5 cigarettes a day.
I, too, had quit prior to going into a full blown UP flare. While smoking I would have a couple of days with D that were pretty bad on occasion but never more than 3 days while I was still smoking. Within 9 months of quitting I got the UP. I have read off and on about the correlation and I made the decision for myself to try 3-5 a day. Today is day 2. I am not too thrilled about smoking again but I also am using the mindset that this is not for recreational purposes and I was not craving a cigarette. I want to know for me, myself and I, if a couple cigarettes per day will put me in remission. For my quality of life I would rather smoke 2-4 cigarettes a day than play the medication game, if I can help it.
The other night I was woken up during the night with urgencies, although Ive been on Uceris foam and Canasa sup 2 x's per day. I know it's bad when it wakes me up. Hence, the smoking started the next morning. Possibly some small results so far, less urgent feelings, less noise and splatter (eeeek) and a little less blood.
We shall see. The only way for me to know was for me try it out myself. Just like diet with these ibd's, what works for some doesn't work for others.
Posted 3/10/2017 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
I am sure I heard recently that after new research e-ciggies are actually bad if not worse than cigarettes? not sure. I can tell you as an ex-smoker I tried the e-ciggies and something felt very wrong with them, I didn't feel great. I am currently smoking 4 ciggies a day to keep my UC at bay while I continue to up my Methotrexate dose. The problem I have is that it is effecting my MCS (Multiple chemical sensitivity) and so it is not something I can continue to do long term, although I do believe it is probably working well for me as Methotrexate has not been proved to be that effective for UC! which I am taking for my spondyloarthritis. Anyway, I have had no UC problems now for months!
Posted 3/11/2017 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Poppie - just curious if you've tried 2 cigs a day instead of 4? If I find out that the cigs do help remission I'd like to go as minimal as possible with them but I'm assuming it would be trial and error to see if there's a magical number.
Posted 3/11/2017 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
certainly not an endorsement, and we all know that everyone responds differently, but my 89 yr old mom has smoked since she was 15 - never more than 10-12 per day, and the last probably 30 years, avg about 6/day -

smoking isn't necessarily a death sentence for a lot of folks - risks ? of course - but if it were me, i would definitely go back to limited smoking before i started getting crazy with meds -

hope it continues to help you all -
Posted 3/11/2017 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Since I don't want to start just another topic about the correlation between smoking and remission especially for ex-smokers who got diagnosed with UC right after quitting, I'm going to continue in here. I was diagnosed with mild to moderate pancolitis last November, two months after I quit smoking cold turkey. I have been on 4.2 gr mezavant and just two weeks ago started a round of Prednisone (40mg and I'm currently tapering) however ever since November I haven't been able to get myself into remission. I can't say I have felt worse, but I have pretty much stayed the same after the mezavant first kicked in and reduced my bathroom trips from 10+ and mostly bloody to 1 to 2 per day, more formed (but still almost ribbon-shaped) with some occasional blood every now and then. I can stay I have been in a flair up since the beginning. :-| Now, I recently started vaping e-cigarettes and I believe it really helps but not that much. It noticeably reduces the abdominal pain and soothes my guts. However, my doctor believes since I'm still seeing blood and there's still inflammation, if my current prednisone course won't work I have to start Remicade or Entivyio. I am really reluctant to start the biologics, at least before I can make sure I have tried milder approaches. I don't know if it's a right decision or not, but my question is, since I've heard that smoking 3-5 cigarettes a day can get you back in remission, would that be a good idea for me to start smoking 3 cigarettes a day for a month (or until I hopefully get into remission) and then stop it and continue vaping as a maintenance along with my current drugs? Does this sound like a stupid plan or what? I'd really appreciate if someone with such experience could shed some lights on my cloudy thoughts!
Posted 3/11/2017 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
i have no experience, but like i said, i would choose limited smoking before i messed with more drugs -

ya, try starting with 3-4 and see how your body responds - who knows, you may need only 2 or it could take 5+ per day - certainly worth finding out imo -

and then maybe try vaping or one of the other smoking alternatives - although it does seem that smoking offers the best results for most folks -
Posted 3/12/2017 12:25 AM (GMT 0)

gozalot said...
Poppie - just curious if you've tried 2 cigs a day instead of 4? If I find out that the cigs do help remission I'd like to go as minimal as possible with them but I'm assuming it would be trial and error to see if there's a magical number.

I never started off with two ciggies, because I honestly didnt think it would cut it, and I sometimes only smoke three a day anyway. I think I would start off with 3/4 a day for a couple of weeks to get it into your system, and then reduce it to two a day.
Posted 3/12/2017 12:34 AM (GMT 0)

uc-newbie said...
Since I don't want to start just another topic about the correlation between smoking and remission especially for ex-smokers who got diagnosed with UC right after quitting, I'm going to continue in here. I was diagnosed with mild to moderate pancolitis last November, two months after I quit smoking cold turkey. I have been on 4.2 gr mezavant and just two weeks ago started a round of Prednisone (40mg and I'm currently tapering) however ever since November I haven't been able to get myself into remission. I can't say I have felt worse, but I have pretty much stayed the same after the mezavant first kicked in and reduced my bathroom trips from 10+ and mostly bloody to 1 to 2 per day, more formed (but still almost ribbon-shaped) with some occasional blood every now and then. I can stay I have been in a flair up since the beginning. :-| Now, I recently started vaping e-cigarettes and I believe it really helps but not that much. It noticeably reduces the abdominal pain and soothes my guts. However, my doctor believes since I'm still seeing blood and there's still inflammation, if my current prednisone course won't work I have to start Remicade or Entivyio. I am really reluctant to start the biologics, at least before I can make sure I have tried milder approaches. I don't know if it's a right decision or not, but my question is, since I've heard that smoking 3-5 cigarettes a day can get you back in remission, would that be a good idea for me to start smoking 3 cigarettes a day for a month (or until I hopefully get into remission) and then stop it and continue vaping as a maintenance along with my current drugs? Does this sound like a stupid plan or what? I'd really appreciate if someone with such experience could shed some lights on my cloudy thoughts!

In your shoes I would start off with 3/4 ciggies a day for a couple of weeks to get it into your system, and then reduce it to 2/3 for the following two weeks. I wouldn't smoke the e ciggies, sorry, I don't believe in them, I have a bad feeling that they could be worse, I know I felt very ill smoking them after a while and I suppose you could say I have been a hardcore smoker on and off all my life and so thats just my personal view. You could then try switching to a high dose of nicotine patch, it might work, although I am sure you know that it is not just the nicotine in the ciggie that goes towards stopping a flare up, there is something else in the ciggie that researchers haven't yet been able to identify and pinpoint which is why the nicotine patches don't always work, more so if you are an ex-smoker.
Posted 3/12/2023 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
I did not even know these forums existed till I quitted smoking in 2016. And honestly I wish I had never found out.
I was diagnosed in 2001 and I was hospitalized 3-4 times during all these years with prednisone and all the good stuff. From 2009 I started going out at least 3 times a week at night, drinking and most importantly smoking like a chimney. 2016 comes, this dreadful year, and went for a colonoscopy because I had done none in these 7 years. Results came back. Colon completely healed and the biopsy stated that there were no signs of the disease at all and only based on my history it could be correlated with UC being in remission. I knew it before even I had done the test because I was healthier than you can imagine. Leaving the hospital with the results my greedy self (lol) was thinking of cutting off the bad habits like drinking and smoking and be the healthier man on earth (lol again). And I did. Zero alcohol from that day and zero smoking. Of course the UC monster cannot hit someone completely healthy from one day to another so I only begun to have unspecific symptoms which were escalating day by day. One whole year went by with these non specific symptoms and an old friend came to visit me, someone I had forgot that even existed. He had a note for me with some blood on a white paper. After months of searching *** happened out of the blue without me having change anything except the "bad" habits and I found the link. Resuming smoking brought a somewhat remission then fool me stopped again UC came back and the cycle continued. I still cannot get the same healing effect, it is not something you can play with. Last time I was stable with 7 cigarettes a day and I thought 4 could do the trick, nope. I am still trying to get back on track.
Posted 3/12/2023 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
I am a former smoker. Smoking DEFINITELY lowered my fecal calprotectin last year, but it also dramatically raised my CRP. I think my immune system decided to attack my lungs instead of my colon.

Better to consume nicotine lozenges than smoking commercial cigarettes, though.

But yeah, tobacco is an extremely medicinal plant, and it should not be feared. Our culture just has no respect for it, and cigarette manufacturers put all kinds of horrible crap in cigarettes.
Posted 3/12/2023 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
And to answer some questions from previous posters.

a) 7 is the minimum requirement to maintain remission.
b) 7-10 is the ideal for maintaining remission.
c) If you are already in a flare it is better to achieve remission with some med 1st and then maintain because to reverse it with cigs you need over a pack.

disclaimer: All of these are personal observations from 2001.
Also if you choose this method and you have finally achieved remission, you can never ever stop or go under 7 otherwise your old UC friend will rear slowly it's ugly head. So choose wisely.

God bless and may this nasty disease disappear for ever.
Posted 3/12/2023 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm blown away at meds/cigarettes and all the stuff we put in our body to try to achieve remission. When my Dr suggested Remi or Humira I said No. Cut the diseased body part out of me. My gastro and surgeon both agreed. Yes I understand fear of surgery. But more meds for me wasn't what I wanted after 32 yrs of UC. Smoking cigarettes to help with remission is helping one disease with possibility of getting another. I would not do that to my body. I hope you all find a happy place for yourself and your UC😊🙏😊
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