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Smoking and Coalitas

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/10/2012 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
New to forum but wanted to ask the group, has anyone else every experienced a connection with quitting smoking? This is the third time that after a few months of quitting smoking I end up in a very bad flare. Last two times, I was unable to get the flare under control until a few months after going back to smoking. This time I am trying to work through it but not having much luck. I am currently on 60 MG of steroids and 4 lialda daily and just added 6mp to the mix. Appreciate any feedback anyone may have. By the way, I still wear the nicotine patch (just in case).
Posted 6/10/2012 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
I quit 12 yrs ago and not long after were the first signs of things for me...early 20's at the time. I remember my family doctor mentioning how smoking seemed to "help" people with Colitis or people would discover it triggered after quitting...though she said quickly afterwards she would never reccomend going back to smoking to try and feel better! I would NEVER smoke again, but there seems to be a lot of people out there who seem to have had the same thing happen as well...hmmmm!?
Posted 6/10/2012 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I quit and I flare severely every time.  I smoke and I go into remission.  See my signature.
Posted 6/10/2012 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I quit smoking 6 months ago after 23 years as a smoker. Shortly afterwards I was in a wicked flare. I have had flares before, but never that bad. I'm using two enemas and 12 asacol a day and I'm still only in that "in between" phase. Between my own personal experience and what I've read here I can't help but think there's a connection.
Posted 6/10/2012 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Never had a problem until a few months after I quit smoking after 40 years. But, I am not going back to smoking to keep the problem at bay.
Posted 6/10/2012 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Nicotine messes with the neurotransmitter system in your gut- your body eventually adjusts if you continue to smoke. These adjustments can have a positive effect on UC symptoms. When you take the nicotine away, your body has to adjust back which can exacerbate UC until things return to their natural state.

Have you considered a smoking cessation medication like Zyban? It can help you to quit and minimize the effects on the enteric nervous system.
Posted 6/11/2012 6:21 AM (GMT 0)

kloe0038 said...
Nicotine messes with the neurotransmitter system in your gut- your body eventually adjusts if you continue to smoke. These adjustments can have a positive effect on UC symptoms. When you take the nicotine away, your body has to adjust back which can exacerbate UC until things return to their natural state.

The problem for me was that my body wouldn't adjust back to a natural state once I quit smoking.  My last flare was extreme and lasted over 1 1/2 years.  My choices were smoking or Remicade.  Imuran was working, but my LFT's went way out of whack....

Posted 6/11/2012 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
I quit last January and had 1st symptoms in Feb '11. So yes it could be to blame. still wouldnt go back on them though. bleugh i find them vile now.
Posted 6/11/2012 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
A new thread pops up here about smoking and UC every few weeks, a search for "nicotine" can be useful.

Many of us have found relief using some type of nicotine replacement therapy; as my signature says, I have had success with electronic cigarettes and nicotine lozenges. There has also been some discussion about the carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke having some efficacy, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with me.
Posted 6/11/2012 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Im down to 4/5 cigs a day from 20 a day, and im hoping to go down very slowly and try and stop in a few months. I've tried at least ten times to quit smoking and everytime ive had an increase in symptoms, but this time im gradually weaning myself off over a year period and hopefully this will be more successful.
Posted 6/11/2012 10:46 PM (GMT 0)

hineycase said...
Never had a problem until a few months after I quit smoking after 40 years. But, I am not going back to smoking to keep the problem at bay.

this is me exactly except I "only" smoked for 30 years. I quit smoking 4 years ago and won't go back to it.
Posted 6/13/2012 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
I had a really bad flare when I stopped smoking which lasted for about two weeks. Smoking seemed to help but I have too many issues with my lungs to continue.
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