Quit smoking WITHOUT a flare?

Hey all - havnt been on here for some time as I've been in complete remission without meds or anything for about 2.5yrs. Reason I'm posting is because I have been able to keep myself in total remission for extended periods of time by smoking cigarettes and I'm getting the itch to quit again. I've quit three times and had three flares as a result, though the first one didnt occur until a year and a half after quitting (so I dont see those as connected).

My question is - has anyone here managed to quit smoking and NOT have a flare as a result?

I've done some searching of the site, and found many posts on the connection with smoking and UC, but have only seen posts by those who have quit only to break into a flare as a result... Of course it could be the case that if some folks have managed to quit smoking and not break into a flare might not be on here at-all, as they in remission...?

I know that it might seem odd that I'd want to try this again with a 3-0 record, but I think I may be able to quit without a flare this time... I'm far less stressed now than either of the 3 previous times (was in college at the time - Engineering Degree) and havnt seen a single drop of blood or anything without being on a single med, which has not been the case in the past (I had at-least reminders of the UC every now and then). So, I feel like my remission is somehow 'deeper' this time. Also, I will most likely try using Chantix to quit, rather than cold-turkey like I have the last 3 times, which will most certainly make it a less stressful affair. And I am even considering getting back on Imuran (which works great for me) before quitting, quitting the smoking and then tapering off the Imuran and see if that works. The reasoning behind this is I feel that the 'shock' to the system from quitting smoking just might be what throws everyone into their flares, and this may be a way to smooth the transition... In any case, any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.

Don't go back to Smoking to stop a flare - I'm sure there are better ways!!  

I don't have any real experience to add.  I forgot about the correlation between smoking and UC remission, so weird!  I do find it interesting that when I stopped smoking about 1-2 cigarettes each weekday (you know, social work smoker, that sort of thing), I went into a flare!  

Could you talk to your doc about a plan for quitting - maybe up the meds or take rectal meds while you're quitting in order to be proactive?  

What about using nicotine patches when you quit? Seems you'd get the benefit of the nicotine and could ease down on the dose slowly.

NRT as in patches and gum don't work on UC, to my knowledge, nor does smokeless tobacco like snus. The combination of carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigs do the trick. Nicotine alone might help some people a bit, though.

"festeris101 said...
I only quit once back in 1998 after smoking for 15 years. My first flare came around 2 years later. I'm still not smoking and I still have UC and actively in a flare. I'm actually considering going back to it..."

There are many here that do not like to hear this - but I'd MUCH rather be a full time smoker than be in a perpetual flare - I am far too active of a person to be hampered by such a condition. I can do this as a smoker, and not while flaring. I'd rather be dead than live with that for the long term... I dont know how you guys do it - I'd get the thing taken out before I'd deal with that for more than 6 months or a year...

"luv2ride said...
What about using nicotine patches when you quit? Seems you'd get the benefit of the nicotine and could ease down on the dose slowly."

Tried that - doesnt work... Nicotine is seemingly unrelated to this... It's the cigarettes. Chew/dip/pouches/gum/patches dont work (tried all of these). It's some combustion product or must be taken through lungs or something.

NRT is Nicotine Replacement Therapy, and in my case it is specifically electronic cigarettes occasionally supplemented by Commit lozenges, but it also could be patches or gum. Mitzo said “NRT as in patches and gum don't work on UC, to my knowledge, nor does smokeless tobacco like snus. The combination of carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigs do the trick. Nicotine alone might help some people a bit, though.” I beg to differ, at least in my case. I don’t tolerate the patches well, and the gum is hard on my teeth so I use(d) the lozenges.



Last year I had a severe flare that lasted for months, and would not respond to 60 mg/day of Prednisone. I was very sick and at my wits end . The Prednisone cause steroid induced diabetes, and I found later that I also had a urinary tract infection.



After reading a couple of threads here at HW, I was surprised to find that sometimes UC is related to smoking, so I did some research. I found articles in peer reviewed publications about studies that were done at Mayo and in the UK that indicated that people who were treated with conventional treatment and NRT, in this case patches had double the remission rate that those treated with conventional treatment an placebos.



I spoke with both my PCP and GI about it, my PCP said “harrumph! Old studies!” and my GI said “I’ve heard of anecdotal stories about that.” Realizing that it’s reputational suicide for any MD to acknowledge that there might be ANY medically redeeming value to nicotine, I decided to try my own experiment.



In September, I decided to try a controlled dose of nicotine using the lozenges, I started with 12 mg/day (3 lozenges) on a Saturday and by Monday I was feeling somewhat better. By the end of the week, my symptoms had improved to about half, and by Sunday I was feeling well enough to get in a round of golf. While enjoying my outing I lost track of the number of lozenges I was taking. I have no idea how many I ate, but it was more than six. By Tuesday I was in full remission, and have been so since.



After a couple of months, I discovered electronic cigarettes and thought I give them a try. I ordered a starter kit on line, and well … started. I found that they worked well for me, were more satisfying, and much less expensive. Now I mostly use those, and occasionally supplement them with the lozenges during those times when sucking on an e-cig is not PC, like in meetings or training classes.



I understand that there is some evidence the carbon monoxide is also a factor, but that does not seem to be the case for me, as neither lozenges of e-cigs emit any CO. Also the evidence seems to indicate that one of the many contributing factors to UC is long term (one to four years) nicotine withdrawal, and NRT only works for those who fall into that category.



Bottom line is that I am now re-addicted to nicotine, and I feel very much better; my UC is in remission, my diabetes is under control. And my UTI responded very well to Cipro. But then I was very sick, so all that is relative.