Re: Quitting Smoking with UC

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply but I have been out of town.

Anyways, my personal story-

I quit smoking (3rd try used Chantix and was very successful!) in

October '07. Almost exactly 1 month later had my first UC symptoms,

which I ignored/negated for a month before I got really concerned. I

had self diagnosed by mid December and began researching UC. I quickly

found the link between cigarettes and UC. I was officially diagnosed in

early Jan '08. At this point I had already resumed smoking (my symptoms

were so bad I was willing to try anything to get out of my flare). With

the help of Prednisone and Asacol and SCD my life is again livable.

Here is what I learned about UC and smoking:

People who have quit within the past 3 years have a 5 times higher risk

of being diagnosed with UC.

People who resume and keep smoking are more likely to achieve remission.

Nicotine is a highly researched alternative therapy for UC, even for

previously non-smokers.

Previous smokers are more receptive and tolerant to nicotine treatment

than non-smokers.

There is much more but that is the gist of it- hence my resumption of

smoking. And I've got to tell you, I cried when I went into the store

and bought my first pack again. I didn't take the decision lightly to

start again.

But in my research I also learned that nicotine patches do decrease

symptoms. As I said previously though I was desperate and smoking seems

to work best according to the research I found.

So, I don't know whether you've tried nicotine patches before but it

may help. You say that you are a light smoker- normally a light smoker

wouldn't use the higher dose patches but as you seem to flare after

quitting it might be best to use the 21mg patches and try to go down

after you get past your danger point of 35 days. Patches are the only

SCD legal alternative, trust me I checked, the lozenges and gum aren't

legal. Plus two of the studies I read showed better results with a

continous replacement vs. the intermittent replacement supplied via the

gum. Interestingly, both my pharmacist and the anesthetist at my

colonoscopy mentioned that smoking may help my symptoms after I

mentioned that I believed I had UC due to quitting smoking, so this is

obviously a well known phenomenon.

You can find lots of the research I am refering to if you search

nicotine and UC.

Glad to hear about someone in the same boat as myself, and I hope this

is useful to you.

For all else out there-- I AM NOT CONDONING SMOKING! I know its

horrible for your health, I was in a severe flare and hope to quit

again using the above plan when I get normalized.

UC 1/08

SCD 12/07