? for beeswax

zdenka, I was diagnosed with UP and the symptoms became so bad that I went back to smoking for 15 years and that kept it in remission. Every time I would try to quit I would flare. I actually think it was UC all along because of the severity of the symptoms I was having. I finally quit smoking for good in 2008 which is when I flared and was diagnosed with UC.

zdenka, I may not have been completely clear so I wanted to explain a bit more: My symptoms first appeared after I had quit smoking. I was a single parent with a small child and on medicaid. Even with medicaid my medication was really expensive, especially as a single parent and a full-time college student (at 33). My symptoms were not improving with Canasa and Rowasa so I just went back to smoking as a way to manage it. It was a real struggle to quit smoking because of the UP/UC. It was when I finally had good health insurance that I was able to quit. I did not know there were support systems or patient assistance programs available at the time. I think all doctors should have that information available for patients and really treat the whole person and be sensitive to their individual situations. It is a shame they are not.

Somedude, I was diagnosed in 2007 with the early stages of emphysema. I have not had any problems with it though. It is not reversible and would have only gotten worse if I continued to smoke. I have heard dying of emphysemal is like slowly suffocating to death. No fun. Also, since I quit, 4 years ago this month, I have not had a cold, sinus infection, or the flu, at all. I am so happy to be a non-smoker. I always felt a sense of shame with it and struggled to quit because of my UC. I am so thankful that I quit and have no regrets.