Question for the Smokers

Intro:

HI I have had uc for 7 years .
It started 3 months after I stopped smoking
And took 5 years to diagnose
I have tried asacol prednisone and mezzavant over the last 2 years without much success

Some more about Sophie:

I am from Scotland
I am self employed and live for my holidays in the sun as u can imagine living in Scotland we do not get much sun
being self employed I don’t get much time for hobbies but I walk when I can and the symptoms allow

Symptoms:

I am currently on one prednisone every other day managing to go to loo 2 times every day which is great just soft stools and a little blood

Question for the Smokers:

My ulcerative colitis took 5 years to diagnose and it took for me to be hospitalized for this to happen.

Two years ago I lost 1 stone which on a 100 lb woman was a lot, eventually they put me on prednisone and asacol. The side effects of the prednisone are not good makes me quite ill.

This worked for a short time then symptoms returned.

Another colonoscopy which I think is the thing I fear the most especially the bowel prep I really struggle with this.

This has been difficult time running to loo 20 times a day and losing a lot of blood and still trying to work.

They then tried mezzavant and prednisone, this lasted a short time as well.

Now the next stage is azothiaprine which I am not so kean to try due to the side affects.

I seriously was considering an iliostomy.

Nurse I was dealing with wasn’t so helpful, basically try it because she thought I was being stupid.

Anyway I didn’t try it yet I came here.

I read about the smokers I discussed this with my husband and after a long hard think he went out and bought me cigarettes.

I am smoking 5 cigs a day and taking 1 prednisone things have improved dramatically.

Spoke to consultant and told him what I was doing he said all the medical evidence is there that it works so try it but do not wait long if symptoms get worse come back and we will try the mezzavant again only a larger dose
I have been smoking for nearly 3 weeks.

My question is for the smokers as you can imagine being smoke free for 7 years it took a lot for me to try this ?

How long were you smoking again till you went into remission and what should I expect ?

Should things go back to normal after I have been smoking for a few weeks ie going to loo once a day with normal stools and no blood ?

I know everyone is different but I just need to hear other people’s story.

I would also like to thank all the smokers who posted here for this information I know it’s not easy for smokers these days

Current Treatment:

Prednisone asacol mezzavant cigarettes

written by Sophie D

submitted in the colitis venting area

 

**related post – Does Smoking Really Help Colitis – 400 plus comments!!