Smoking

Crohn's Disease Forum

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rosie

rosie

Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
111
smoking

Does anyone smoke on there chrons? i know im meant to stop, and i know its bad to smoke on chrons and iv been told to stop but its really quite hard too.
 
Just taper it down. If you smoke a pack cut down to 2 less, and gradually decrease. It takes willpower. What do I know? I don't smoke but best of luck.
 
i smoke but last year i did try the patches but had weird dreams, so went back to the fags. i enjoy my fags though they keep me sane. but i will add, that i dont smoke in the house so when the weather is bad (as it always seems to be!!!) i have to choose either have a fag and get wet or go without and stay dry. regards sharon x
 
I had quit about a year before the disease began...my husband tried, but is smoking again. For me I just decided to quit and that was it. It is hard...to this day I still think about having one every now and then, but I know I can't cuz I will start smoking again for sure.
 
My dr really wants me to quit so he is puttin gme on Wellbutrine (sp?). I am excited as it will help with my quiting smoking as well as depression from crohns
 
I have no willpower.
I was in the hospital for the birth of my last baby for three days.
Came out and my hubby cleared away all the paraphanalia.
It was still HARD.
 
Well, teeny5... quitting CAN trigger it.. or at least smoking can in some cases keep symptoms at bay.. Thought it was just the nicotine doing it.. but apparently the carbon monoxide (nasty poison produced as a by product of those killer cigs) can reduce inflamation.. Anyway, my attempt at quitting was a cake walk, due to the nature of the Naltrexone I take... but within 2 months of quitting my symptoms went thru the roof.. Back to smoking, my bleeding has stopped (thank god.. eer, tobacco) but my status is far from where it was before I quit.. This is the THIRD time my symptoms have gone crazy after going off tobacco.. Thing of it is, Naltrexone makes smoking a hatefull ordeal..
 
Hmm... I wonder if going on Pred would help you Kev... itd keep your inflammation down and you could keep trying to quit. Just a thought.
 
Well, to go on pred, I'd have to come off the LDN.. And I now have some evidence the LDN is still working.. Caught a 'killer' cold/flu.. something that wouldn't have happened back when my immune system was extremely overactive (my theory, but I'm sticking with it.. one has to have some straws to clutch onto, correct?)
 
I'm sick too, with a cold. I threw up two nights ago and I think its because of the mucus production I have going on. And yeah I forgot that you'd have to quit LDN to be on pred. I still don't feel very well... haven't been eating much because my tummy is queasy (not the same as Crohn's queasy though I don't think).

So I guess LDN is working for me too?
 
Yeah... ain't it wonderful.. Our overactive immune system that tries to destroy us keeps us impervious to most bugs.. Go on LDN, which fixes that, but it makes us totally vulnerable again.. sort of a crohnies kryptonite.. Can't win for trying. Sigh!

Anyway... opting for pred to get off smoking could work for those not on LDN, but pred is only temporary... tho it might get you past that critical stage. Think the balance of a 'remission' is soooo perilous.. that we need to really think over any big changes first. Right now, I wish I'd shot myself in the foot rather than my quitting tobacco.. It was a totally brash, un-thought out decision on my part
 
i smoke. i've also had bleeding every day for over a year from a very angry Crohns patch... my two consultants have stressed more than once that stopping smoking may be as effective as medication treatment - yet i have been unable to stop so far.

5 days ago, my new partner moved in to our home - he doesn't smoke. i made a conscious decision that this is the time i am actually going to kick this habit - not because i believed the Crohns/bleeding theory particularly, but for every other reason. so - i have cut down from 15 a day to 5, and am waiting for the smoking cessation nurse to call me regarding me starting Champix (Chantix in the USA) anti-smoking drug.

this may be coincidence but my bleeding has abated. not stopped completely, but reduced in frequency and volume - for the past 5 days. i am starting to believe my consultants' theory.

will keep you posted - just wanted to share my thoughts & experience thus far.
 
:( i dont think its coincidence ding:(, i think there is some pretty strong evidence against smoking and crohns:(

:(i'm thinking of joinng you in the quiting:(

:(why do i love it so?:( when all it does is hurt us more?:(

yup:( thats a lot of sad faces:(


but i save one smiley face, and thats for you, so glad things are better than the other day:D:D:D


(okay, so maybe that earns you three smiley faces, but who's counting?:D)
 
Having spent the past 4 weeks in hospital, I regularly went outside for a cig. On one of the occasions, my GI Doc walked passed and came over to talk to me, I threw the cig away. That was in the first week.

On the night before I was discharged, he was in one of the wards talking to a patient that my wife and I had got friendly with (Bowel Cancer). He then started a nice, friendly conversation with us.

Just before he left, he said to my wife, "get him off the cigarettes, they are very bad for his Crohn's". He has never said anything to me in the last 10 years, but he didn't target me, only my wife... Cleaver man. I've been nagged since I came home constantly.

To be honest, I have been planning to quit after Christmas for some time now, but this little episode has spurned me on.

I've always known about the link between nicotine and Cohn's, and also the link between Nicotine and Collitis (It's known to help!!!).

My advise (from a current smoker) is quit. Maybe we can help each other?
 
I smoke and would like to stop. I tried cold turkey but failed, so now I'm cutting down. Seem to be doing good cutting back, so hopefully in time I will be able to quit. We'll see! :)
 
i smoke and dont want to stop. so what if it kills me? i aint gonna live a long life am i? crohns will see to that. so for the years i have left i intend to enjoy them with a ciggy in my hand. sharon xx
 
I use to smoke. I quit before this fun little disease came along. Tempted to test the whole theory about it being worse for Crohn's and better for UC. My husband smokes. I have been smoke free for a little over a year and let me tell you I still have dreams sometimes that I am smoking. I know not to even smoke one cig because then I won't want to stop.
 
I too used to smoke but quit now for 3years. When I was in the hospital I was
to sick to get in the elevator and go outside in the rain or snow.
S I would steal the odd drag here and there when my other half came to
visit me )he still smokes but never inside the house)I just liked the instant
head rush when I inhaled then seconds later I was in the john.

You have to have will power and the desire to really want to quit.

Its tuff but just think positive.

Now I cant even stand the smell of them.
My other half reeks of smoke every time he comes back in and it lingers on
and on and on...
 
merrywidow said:
i smoke but last year i did try the patches but had weird dreams, so went back to the fags. i enjoy my fags though they keep me sane. but i will add, that i dont smoke in the house so when the weather is bad (as it always seems to be!!!) i have to choose either have a fag and get wet or go without and stay dry. regards sharon x
Click to expand...


Hey Sharon its been a long time since i herd the lingo "FAGS" (SMOKES)
 
I smoke :)

But I got tired of being a slave to the smokes and it's really not good for me or my tummy so I've switched to a roll your own style. It's super cheap, and a pain in the butt and it tastes - ok. :D

So I have to really want one to go thru the pain of rolling one, I'm down to about two or three smokes a day and my tobacco costs me $18 every six weeks. It satisfies my smoking urge, cuts my guilt factor, and helps my budget!

Good luck in quitting, come here and muck about if it helps any. We're always around :)
 
I don't smoke, but I did want to tout the benefit of welbutrin, someone was mentioning going on it earlier. I went on welbutrin as a replacement for prozac and one of the first things I noticed is that cigarette smoke was suddenly noxious and it made me feel sick to my stomach. I've been on welbutrin for 4 years and I still have to hold my breath when I walk by a group of smokers (which at my school, is every few feet...) I don't know how it would work for someone who is really addicted, but I bet it would help if you suddenly couldn't stand the smell or taste.
 
I have crohn's but it mainly affects my colon (croh's colitis) and I quit smoking for 3 yrs and my CD got sooooo much worse so I said poo on it and started again, mind you I don't smoke near as much like I used to but it sure has lessend my symptoms. Not to mention not every UCer benefits from smoking either so although I do believe it is a trigger for CD, I don't believe anything is written in stone when it comes to this topic...like everything eles, it varies from person to person.

:)
 
I got my starter pack of Champix from my doctor. I'm going to try in the new year. He's prescribed it specifically for my Crohn's, as opposed to a mere smoking cessation treatment, so hopefully insurance picks up the cost.
 
Smoking...well NOT smoking...

Hi there. I was walking in those shoes just a little over a year ago. I smoked for 20+ years and thought it would never end. The truth of the matter is that you have to WANT to. And you have to CHOOSE for YOURSELF not to ever smoke again. I used Chantix. The first time I used it, I had no willpower to go with it..I guess I just thought it would work with no effort on my part. Well, that didn't last. So I chose to go a different route. I learned everything I could about what smoking does, how to quit, ect. I got my started pack of chantix and tried again. But what was different is that I had made my mind up that I was done! I year, 2 months, and 1 week later.... there is NO part of me that wishes to ever smoke again! I smell it and it is soooo nasty!
I went to an awesome forum that helped me so much. It will help you too when the time is right! The link is http://quitsmoking.about.com/ There is a lot of helpful info there and many wonderful people to help you along the way. Maybe a few of you can get together, all pick a quit date and do it together. Having someone there with you makes all the difference in the world. :) On the site if you click on My Forum (in red) it will take you in. You will either have to enter as a guest (you can do this if you just wish to read) or sign up (Do this if you wish to post).
I do hope to see you there. You only fail if you give up on trying!!
Take care! And Good Luck!
 
I smoke like a chimney. I will probably quit sometime in the next year. I quit for a few years and then smoke for a few more years. Time to give it up for good.

Trouble is that I really like it. Cold Turkey is tough for a few months, but then it is not too bad.

Dan
 
My soon to be step son came in yesterday evening and said he was going to the chemist today. I asked him why and he said " to get some nicotine patches so I can stop smoking. I am getting out of breath really fast when cycling and I dont like it one bit!"

I went online for him and got the details of the nhs helpline and ordered an information pack whilst he was with me. We talked about his dad and grandfathers history of heart disease and the impact of smoking, his breathing, and the financial cost with him looking at getting his own flat.

He is 19 and has been smoking roll ups since 13yrs old and has decided its long enough. If he manages it I will be over the moon for him and have told him so. Will help him any way I can.

At least with the website he has the option of going to a group, getting help planning to stop, has a helpline to call etc etc too. He is going to see if he can get an appointment to see his GP today who can give him the replacement therapy on prescription and it wont cost as much as over the counter.

Am sooooooooo pleased! Time will tell. Will keep you posted on how he does.

Thing about smoking though.... yes I hate it, but who of us doesnt have a weakness of some description? As Tonya says we each have to deal with it for ourselves and not those around us..
 
Last edited:
Trust me, you want to quit smoking if you have chron's , it was the best thing that hapened to me. I am now 3 months free of smoke and I could tell you it healed my chron's symptoms to about 40% , yes , thats how much! Smoking irritates the bowels . It will take will and determination you'll feel a little crappy for a few days but hang in there and before you know it you won't even think about smoking again.
 
I have researched a lot about smoking and crohns there was one study that said more than 50% of people who smoked did not respond to Remicade . I was on it for 13 years but I never smoked I always bouce back extremly fast from a flare up and always respond to meds . My brother always remained sick but he smoked .
In my own experience it only adds problems to CD.
 
hi all been off the cigs 3 weeks and my crohns has flared big time! especially the fistulas has anyone else had this problem?
 
I would steal the odd drag here and there when my other half came to
visit me )he still smokes but never inside the house)I just liked the instant
head rush when I inhaled then seconds later I was in the john.
Click to expand...

What is that about? Whats the link between smoking and pooping?
 
Has anybody tried any of the drugs that are supposed to help with quitting, like Chantix? Are they safe for people with CD?
 
sidney88 said:
What is that about? Whats the link between smoking and pooping?
Click to expand...


I don't know what the connection is, but smoking and coffee would always make me go to the bathroom quick!
 
teeny5 said:
I don't know what the connection is, but smoking and coffee would always make me go to the bathroom quick!
Click to expand...

Me too!!!! Always has, even before I knew I had Crohn's...when I was a teen, I smoked, and I always had to go poo immediately after...
 
daisy_dueller said:
Me too!!!! Always has, even before I knew I had Crohn's...when I was a teen, I smoked, and I always had to go poo immediately after...
Click to expand...

Well its because they are Stims. (Stimulants) and so it activates not just your mind/body but everything, specificly the GI tract. Im the same way with Coffee, never touched cigs tho.
 
GregD said:
Has anybody tried any of the drugs that are supposed to help with quitting, like Chantix? Are they safe for people with CD?
Click to expand...
I believe that GoJohnnyGO is using this, and I think Dingbat either is using it or has used it in the past. Maybe more info about it on the 2009 quit smoking thread. Or try searching chantix on here (champix in UK I think).
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=4861
 
Champix (here in Canada) or Chantix (US) has worked very well for me with no side effects at all. I'm wrapping up my treatment regimen soon.

Not for everyone, but its been fabulously successful for me. And I was a pretty hard core smoker.
 

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