I have a dilemma

So I have been flaring since July. Things have finally started to calm down with double doses of remicade. During this time I began smoking sometime around October. It never helped anything and I basically continued on and off because of mental stress. It never helped the flare. I would stop for a few weeks and then go back because I was so stressed...didn't help or hurt the flare.

I haven't been smoking a lot maybe around 5 a day. Sometimes more when the flare was bad.

Now I am finally feeling better. I am on a pred taper and at 15 mg and taking steroid enemas a few times a week. Taking my time with the taper and I want to quit especially since I am on steroids right now. But I do not want to rock the boat of course.

I have been a non smoker for years and hate it. I want to quit...using a 7 mg patch to get me through the beginning since it stops the cravings.

My question is do you think that since the cigs didn't help will quitting have any impact? I am seriously scared. If they didn't help I keep telling myself that stopping won't have an impact either.

I know with some people the cigs help and induce remission and then quitting can cause issues. But if they aren't playing a role in healing will it really have an impact if I stop??

Any thoughts/guidance for me?

There's minimal chance smoking has helped you now unless you match a very specific profile. Were you originally a smoker, who quit smoking and then were diagnosed with uc afterwards? Those individuals find the most benefit when reintroducing smoking. Why? Smoking tends to mask uc symptoms, making the mucosal wall thicker, an area that's often thin, permeable, and problematic with uc patients. Stopping revealed uc.

If you're worried then reduce slowly, like you would a medication taper. Easier than quiting cold turkey. Better for revealing a gradual worsening of uc symptoms (if smoking did anything).

"Then there is the other side of the coin...I taper cigs and I taper pred and I start having issues...which one is it that's causing the problems." - good point.

In that case, since you say that smoking doesn't help or hinder then the wisest choice would be to quit.

I have tried the e-cig a couple of years ago. It seemed to have the same impact...much of nothing. Plus for me at least its the action of smoking that I enjoyed. But now with 2 kids and sneaking around and smelling and craving its just a mess.

If I am getting anything from it at all its a mental stress reliever which is something but I don't think it helps my UC. At one point I was smoking a half a pack and still flaring...no change in symptoms at all.

@OldHat - I can promise you that when I quit I will NEVER pick up another cigarette again. I hate that I am in this position and it's just plain stressful for no good reason.

I've decided to drop to 2 for a couple days let me see how my body reacts and then stop all together. Wish me luck :)

I think smoking is bad no matter what. My opinion. There are other ways to reduce stress. Meditation, exercise, essential oils, yoga, reading, etc. I hope you can quit. Good luck to you.