UCers who've never smoked: tried nicotine? Did it work?

My former GI fed me with this info but he was clear, its not nicotine that is helping but its CO. He also mentioned that if you are a non-smoker, starting to smoke won't help and so goes with nicotine gum, patch or anything else.

I know it doesn't answer your real question but thought should chime in with what I know.

I was a smoker when I got UC, so it didn't help me any. They don't know if it's the nicotine or carbon monoxide or what the link is. I don't know if you've ever been addicted to anything, but nicotine addiction isn't fun or anything to mess around with,, FWIW.

Jeesh, is there anything consistent about UC? Sara, I don't suppose you tried any nicotine substitute since quitting and then getting UC?

platypus, did you smoke before UC? Can you please give me some more details about how you used the gum and how it helped you? If I try it, I'd likely use the gum or lozenges.

That's a shame about the CO - was hoping not to hear that. Not willing to puff on a cigarette or an exhaust pipe to get my UC under wraps. Congrats on kicking the smoking Carlie, though it sucks that you got this little "treat" for your efforts.

Hope! Thanks B!

That sounds awful. Back in high school I tried chewing tobacco once (gross, I know) and within a minute of it being in my mouth, I got the spins, the sweats and eventually vomited. That was it for me for the night. If nicotine gum is anything like that, I'll pass. Not something I'd like to relive.

Yuck, smoking is not for me. Having come up from "smoking" family (in my closest family, parents, grands and 2uncles and 2 aunts only one grandma wasn't smoking, and BTW, she lived the longest live) and being devoted to not smoking, I know that cigarets are not an option for me. Haven't tried and won't try, I'm sure.

Gosh, that sounds like a rough break. How is it now with the ileo?

I thought I would give my experience - I got UC after quitting smoking and had a really rough couple of years where nothing worked. When I got on remicade and went back to smoking it became manageable. Now I can mostly control with diet, remicade and and a e-cig. You have to be careful with Nicotine. Now real cigs are gross to me and I can't smoke them - I tried one a few weeks ago. The e-cig is working well for me and I haven't started to flare from switching over. If you try to smoke or use Nicotine and your body is not used to it you will get sick I think. If you try it then I would try a really small dose. My doctor says that people flare when they quit because their bodies are getting over the addiction and they are under a lot of stress from quitting. I don't know if I buy that or not. I plan on gradually cutting down and seeing if that affects my UC even though some people say that e-cigs are perfectly safe. From what I can tell, there has been almost no research on them and they use a couple different chemicals that most people are exposed to but not in the level that you are exposed to if you use an e-cig constantly. So when people say "hey its just water vapor" it isn't really quite true. I think it is probably safer than smoking. I like the nicotine because it is an appetite suppressant also but I don't know if using nicotine by itself long term has health consequences or not. If I cut down and I have a lot of problems with UC where I can't work etc. I will try to find a min dose and stick with it.

Never smoked and started using gum a few months ago.  It did initially cause side effects, but none that lasted all day, just for an hour after chewing it. I no longer get these symptoms. I started at the lowest dose and split the piece of gum in half.  I worked my way up to 2-3 pieces a day.  It did seem to work at that level for me, and gave me some relief.  However, I have since gone down to 1 piece a day.  Not seeing the results like I did when I was using a higher dose. 

I believe a patch is the best way to go.  It would deliver a steady amount to your system.  Once I use up all of my gum I will purchase some patches. 

And as a side note, I don't feel addicted to it.  There are days I forget to use the gum.  T

I honestly don't know why I stopped using it as often... I think it was maybe a hassle to remember? You have to chew it and then leave it sitting for a while by your gums. That's why I'm thinking the patch would be best. I could just put it on in the morning and leave it.

I've been currently flaring for a year now - I am not having any luck with medications, they all seem to create some resistance. I should also say that my GI is very cautious and I am currently seeing a new one for other treatment options. I have UC (left sided I think is what its called) and my symptoms are horrible intestinal pain, frequent BMS, body and joint pain, some rare bleeding.

I was at my worst when I started using it, and didn't notice results right away. However, I was so sick I just kept using it hoping it would work. I would say that my body just started feeling better. I didn't feel like I was going to die. Gave me a few less BMS a day, and relief from some of the other symptoms.

I can't say anything scientific about it, but I really feel its worth a try. I even cleared it with my GI, that it was an ok thing to use.

Just make sure that you give yourself an hour or two where you can sit and close your eyes when you first start using it. I would have to sit in my bed or else I would be really dizzy and want to vomit.

I was in a flare for over a year and a half, started smoking and within a week I was almost symptom free.  I smoked for years though prior to my UC diagnosis.  I have quit several times now and have flared badly every time.  It's a very tough, personal choice.  For me the last flare (1 1/2 years) was no way to live.  I couldn't work or do anything I enjoy.  I'd rather have quality of life now and take my chances with smoking.