colitis & smoking?

[Guest guest]

I am not suggesting anyone start smoking!!!!!!!!

I am only asking if anyone else out there with colitis has noticed that taking

nicotine via cigarettes or the patch has helped. I quit smoking 3 years ago, and

shortly after all these GI issues started in for me. Most recently I had an

X-ray done showing possible colitis, and a swollen, inflamed, backed up colon.

Well, I had a few cigarettes and wine last week, and woke up feeling so much

better - go figure! I then have been smoking 2 cigarettes a day, and don't feel

all this terrible inflamation anymore, also don't feel backed up. I read the

following article, and I can totally relate:

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/ibdfaqs/a/smokingguts.htm

I think I may start taking nicorette gum, maybe one or two pieces a day. As I

really don't like smoking - and long term it is in no way a solution. Although,

I instantly felt like I was in remission. Oh, and after 5 days of smoking 2

cigarettes a day, I no longer wake up in pain everynight with a burning side,

and my food sensitivities have decreased. I get the feeling smoking might not

help those with colitis that didn't smoke before, but it sounds like for

x-smokers, there is a definite link.

Overall, though, Smoking is very bad, and I may not have gotten GI issues like

this if I never smoked in the first place, but I did, and here I am I am 31

years old, and was never a heavy smoker, but I did start in high school and

smoke into my 20's.

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SCD 3 months