Smoking with Crohns

[Emma A]

Hey all,
just a quick question, i smoke and since i smoke i decided to ask you all the question that is playing on my mind.

im 24 with crohns, diagnosed last February (2012) and i i'm not well.
is there anybody else that has crohns that smokes cigarettes or has, and how is that with your crohns?? if there is a certain support group or if there is any tips on stopping that wont effect your medication :ghug:

Help is needed

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Smoking is really bad for Crohn's disease. If you seek help quitting I would ask your GI or hospital for help because they usually offer many programs.

"Crohn’s disease is more widespread among smokers than non-smokers and smokers with Crohn’s disease aren’t spared from tobacco’s raft of ill effects. Crohn’s patients who smoke put themselves in jeopardy for increasing the severity of their symptoms, complications, medication dosages, and likelihood for surgery.

Smoking can also reduce the effectiveness of medication, make Crohn's disease more active, and prevent remission. Moreover, post-surgery recurrence of Crohn’s symptoms will happen sooner and with greater intensity in smokers than in non-smokers. Finally, evidence indicates that smokers can develop high-risk colon polyps, the type that can become cancerous."

Article on quitting smoking with crohn's http://www.healthline.com/health/crohns-disease/quit-smoking?toptoctest=expand

 

[Axelfl3333]

smoking and crohns is a really bad combination.

 

[Crohn's gal since 1989]

I quit smoking 18 years ago and my Crohn's has been much improved for doing so.

 

[krika]

HI
I smoke and have been told to top asap by my gastro specialist, when he says that this put me in a higher risk group for complications.
there is a medicine that is called champix that I have been susbscribed to help quit, when i have no motivation and find it really hard to stop.

 

[rollinstone]

nicotine is a massive NONO w this disease, marijuana on the other hand is one of my medications

 

[barelyalive]

nicotine is a massive NONO w this disease, marijuana on the other hand is one of my medications

Is it the nicotine or all the other chemicals? I am trying to quit smoking and have started using e-cigs.

 

[Beach bum]

I had already quit smoking when I had my first major Crohns flare, but I used to sit next to my mother in law while she literally chain smoked most evenings. The Doctor told me that passive smoking was just as bad for crohns as doing it yourself.
Asking her to smoke elsewhere has actually helped her to cut down no end too, so we were all winners.

I think I read somewhere that gum and patches can trigger flares so it must be the nicotine I am afraid.

 

[krika]

how is e-cigs working out for u? thinking about doing that aswell

 

[bettyboop12]

I smoked on and off for 15 years. I am now 35. The last time I smoked I was having 20 a day for 5 years none stop. Had flare last year but still smoked.

I cut down on the wine and could hardly eat during flare so my only vice I convinced myself was the cigs.

Anyway, I finally quit about 6 months ago as I wanted to be fully better. The aza that I am taking really done its job but was still going to loo 3 times a day and stomach cramps.

I quit using patches and stomach cramps went within a week and now going loo every other day.

I never ever thought I could or would quit the cigs but looking back its the best thing I ever did.

 

[barelyalive]

how is e-cigs working out for u? thinking about doing that aswell

You need to find a brand and flavor you like. I settled in on Halo e-cigs and Tribeca juice. I still had withdrawal and depression for several weeks (probably missing the other chemicals in real cigs) and I am think I am starting to feel better mentally. The e-cigs can be very satisfying, and in my opinion are your best nicotine replacement therapy out there.

As for GI issues, been pretty bad, though I do not believe the e-cigs themselves have caused any problems.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

I recently started working as a stop smoking advisor. I am really enjoying the work and love helping people to quit.

The evidence shows that behavioural support programmes make a lot of difference in the success of quitting, as well as using a combination of nicotine replacement therapy.

We do not recommend the e-cig as it is not licensed as a health care product. It has not been around long enough for us to know if it has any negative effects. However, if you are not smoking tobacco you are making improvements. The other thing with the e-cig is that at some point you will need to get away from the hand to mouth movement, or you could be replacing one addiction for another.

Hope this has helped anyone who is trying to quit.

 

[Emma A]

thanks everyone for writing back, so nicotine is a no no with patches even mints.
e-cigs = not gonna help either
Only leaves will power to stop & congrats to everyone who did stop and quit the wicked habit!!

appreciate all the feedback!!

Emma

 

[Emma A]

nogutsnoglory, your after scaring the life out of me :eek2:

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Nicotine Replacement Therapy will definitely help you Emma A, just don't expect it to be a quick fix you need to stick with it and you need all that will power as well.

If you do have any support programmes in your area then I recommend them.

 

[Kev]

I just recently quit (3 weeks now)... Smoking has an adverse effect on Crohns, and it can lessen the impact many of the drugs have on the disease. With Ulcerative Colitis, it can have just the opposite effect. Those with UC really need to be careful if thinking about giving up tobacco, especially cold turkey. I tried quitting about 5 years back. I'd been symptom free, and thought it was a perfect opportunity. I went on nicotine patches and simply stopped smoking altogether. Now, my form of IBD is pretty rare, I've both Crohns and UC. Within days of quitting, I flared really bad, started bleeding heavily.
Gave it a week, resumed smoking, bleeding stopped within 24 hours. Took me months to recoup. This time, I did it differently, and so far, so good. I tapered off tobacco slowly.
Essentially I reduced how much I smoked on a weekly basis. Then, when I was down to 6 cigarettes a day, I stopped cold, and started using Nicotine Replacement Therapy. I've gone from 21 mg, to 14, then 7, and these last 4 days.. no nicotine of any kind. And no issues... no bleeding, other symptoms. My pain levels have increased, but that was something I anticipated. I don't know what the connection is, how the mechanics of it works, (and it seems to have no connection with nicotine itself, at least not in my case), but smoking really curbed the pain from my internal scar tissue like nothing else (I've been told I could get the same effect from MM, but it isn't an option given my line of work). Now, some might mistake my post as advocating smoking... make no mistake about it... smoking kills. However, I started smoking in hospital way back as the ONLY way (at the time) to stop my bleeding... I realize how dangerous a treatment it is.. but so are many of the things we take/do to try to fight this disease. And I personally feel no one has the right to judge our decisions, choices... we are all just trying to cope. But, if someone out there automatically thinks quitting smoking will improve everything, AND part or all of their IBD is Ulcerative Colitis in nature, they need to be warned there is a real potential for a major downturn in their symptoms... and to tread very carefully.