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Quitting Smoking = flare up

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/27/2012 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
So after having a sinus infection/bronchitis for about 3 weeks I've decided I really really need to try to quit smoking again.  The only problem with this is that unfortuantely, the last time I tried, was the last time I had a really bad flare up...and it really didn't go away until I started smoking again.  I KNOW I can't keep smoking, I want to get pregnant in the next year and I'm sick of getting sick from smoking...

Has anyone here tried to quit and figured out what helps w/ the smoking flare ups?  I broached it w/ my doctor last time but he wasn't that helpful...he just re-iterated that I needed to quit.

Posted 3/27/2012 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
I would honestly think its impacting your body more negatively than say a perfectly healthy person. Because in a person like you with this condition, you're immune system is already overworked, but adding smoking would further exacerbate the flares, this is pretty much what my doctor told me, -that smoking is like 'death' of the colon when you have UC.

What other methods of treatment have you tried? Anything dietary related?
Posted 3/27/2012 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks stereo but I have the opposite issue - smoking greatly helps my UC, it doesn't exacerabate it at all. Practically NO flare ups in several years other than when I try to quit smoking.

I know this is normal for most UC suffererswhen they quit...what I'm hoping are tips from people who quit smoking have that helped with the flare ups associated with quitting...I'm going to try the patch again but I'm not sure if that is enough. Last time I still ended up with several flare ups and bleeding until I started smoking again - after starting smoking again, the flare ups were completely gone again in days and haven't really re-surfaced since. That was 2009.
Posted 3/27/2012 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Are you on any maintenance meds?

What about e-cigs? They might work better than the patch.
Posted 3/27/2012 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Asacol - 400 mg/8 pills/day. It's stupid but I hardly take them b/c I've been fine for literally years w/ out them. My old doc was ok w/ me off them but my new doc wants me on them all the time. I started taking them again today and I'm hoping that when I try to quit Mon if they are already in my system, it will help. I also am going to start w/ a cigarette in the morning and at night and the patch in between rather than cold turkey.
Posted 3/27/2012 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
I would also add in mesalamine enemas or suppositories (same active ingredient as in Asacol). Flares start at the rectum, which is hard to treat with oral meds because it just doesn't quite reach that far. The rectal meds will help keep that area quiet, and hopefully, help keep a flare at bay.

Oh, and get on a good-quality probiotic supplement.
Posted 3/27/2012 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Can you recommend a good probiotic supplement? I've never taken anything like that before.
Posted 3/27/2012 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I would add in rectal meds at the very first sign of any symptoms returning. They aren't that bad...

I quit smoking May 23, 2009 with no UC issues. In fact, it helped reduce my urgency and frequency of BMs. But I am not the norm in this...I often wonder if I really have Crohn's because of this.
Posted 3/27/2012 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
I just called my doctor, he said he doesn't want to add any more meds until there is a reason to, which part of me understands and part of me finds annoying as I've been through this twice and want to be preventative this time.

He did say I could increase asacol to 12 pills/day so I guess I'm going to start there...
Posted 3/27/2012 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
That sounds like a good plan. Just call your doc at the very first sign of symptoms and he should be able to call in a prescription for you that same day. Who knows, maybe it will be smooth sailing this time! Congrats on quitting! It is so much better being a non-smoker, and I very rarely get sick anymore. I used to get colds constantly and now it's been over a year since I've had one.
Posted 3/27/2012 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
That's really dumb, IMO, since you have a history of flaring when you quit smoking. Oh well. Just be extra-aware of any symptoms and call and be VERY FORCEFUL about requesting rectal meds if you notice anything is happening.

As for a good quality probiotic, well, that's mostly opinion. I prefer those that have a good mix of different strains and has at least 5 billion active cultures/pill (if not more).

VSL#3 is the "king" of probiotics, and you can get it OTC.
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