Ok all I have completely avoided this topic here on the forum but I have to now ask from reading the first part of Tex's book. It's in the causes of Microscopic Colitis section. I was REALLY entrigued by the comments that "long term smoking habit" could be a 'cause' of developing MC.
As I said.....I've avoided this topic because I KNOW smoking is bad for me and it's not one of my proudest aspects of my life but I do want to quit. In fact I started to quit shortly before this MC started. I switched to these new 'teche cigarettes' that are the electronically ones that look real but all you get is the nicotine and what looks like smoke coming out is just water vapors. I used these for about 2 weeks for probably 75% of my smoking needs and still had a real cig every once in a while. Once I started with all my MC issues and of course I became stressed, humiliated, depressed......etc. I gave those up and went back to my old smoking habits. However, this was to only be temporarily until I got whatever was causing the D under control. That was 4 months ago and I'm still smoking. But since starting the Entocort and feeling ssssoooo much better the thought has come back across my mind to start going back to the tech-e cigs. Now I'm a bit scared to switch but with the health risks of continuing to smoke I know it would be best for me. But again I don't want it to trigger the D again. Has anyone else on this forum had issues with quitting smoking and having more issues with their MC.
Smoking is way to expensive to continue to put these toxin's in my body and I really do want to quit!!!!
Intersting reading so far Tex.......I'm still learning a lot from the book that I haven't come across on the forum yet. Thanks for the efforts you put forth for all of us.
Verbage in Tex's book ???
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Hi, I found your comment about smoking very interesting when you stated that the MC started after you quit smoking. I have researched about smoking and their effects on ulcerative colitis and crohns disease. Two interesting sites, The Effect of Smoking and Nicotine on IBD, " ibdcrohns/about.com>...>UC and Nicotine " and, Colonic mucus, smoking and ulcerative . www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov>...>AnnRColl Surg Engl>V.78[2];Mar1996. I only smoked for two weeks in high school. When the basketball coach saw members of his basketball smoking he made the whole team pay a huge price. Instead of running two miles after a two hour practice he increased in to five miles and sat there and watched to make sure we did not cheat. That was the last time I smoked. One of the studies explains how it may help people with UC but make crohn's disease worse. Jon
Hi Cathy,
Actually it's quitting a long term smoking habit that is associated with the development of the disease for some people, rather than smoking, per se.
We have a number of members (most of whom no longer post) whose MC apparently developed when they stopped smoking (IMO, due to the stress induced by terminating the use of nicotine). As noted in the book, with UC, research has shown that nicotine is actually protective of developing UC, and nicotine patches have even been shown to be an effective treatment for UC. However, to date at least, no research has convincingly proven that nicotine can serve as an effective treatment for the symptoms of MC or Crohn's. And since the medical community has taken on the project of campaigning against smoking, it's unlikely that any more research will be done regarding the use of nicotine to treat IBDs.
The point here is that while stopping a long term smoking habit can trigger the development of MC, resuming smoking doesn't seem to be effective at treating the symptoms of MC, unfortunately. IOW, there is no medical reason why you cannot safely discontinue smoking if you choose to do so, because once the disease is triggered, nicotine does not seem to be beneficial for treating the symptoms (not for MC, anyway).
The stress can definitely influence the disease, however, so the key to discontinuing smoking is finding a way to do so that minimizes the neurological stress in the brain. As you will see before you finish the book, IMO, stress plays a major role in the genesis of MC. I'll go so far as to suggest that in the total absence of chronic stress, none of us would have ever developed MC. Note that my definition of chronic stress also includes the effects of physical or chemical stress, such as can be caused by drugs that induce MC.
Thanks. I tried to add enough "new" information to make the book interesting even for members here who have read every post on the board.
EDIT: I see that Jon posted while I was writing, and noted the same information regarding the association (or lack of it) between nicotine and UC and Crohn's disease. Since MC has mostly been treated sort of like the proverbial "redheaded stepchild", as far as IBDs are concerned, no one has done any research on nicotine treatments specific to MC, and probably never will, now that the medical community has an official anti-smoking stance.
Jon,
I was very lucky. I bought a pack and tried a couple of cigarettes, and for some reason or other, I didn't like them. I decided there was no point in trying to force myself to learn to like them, especially since they didn't seem to be worth the money, anyway, so I never developed the habit — one of the few things in my life that I ever did right the first time. LOL.
Tex
Actually it's quitting a long term smoking habit that is associated with the development of the disease for some people, rather than smoking, per se.
We have a number of members (most of whom no longer post) whose MC apparently developed when they stopped smoking (IMO, due to the stress induced by terminating the use of nicotine). As noted in the book, with UC, research has shown that nicotine is actually protective of developing UC, and nicotine patches have even been shown to be an effective treatment for UC. However, to date at least, no research has convincingly proven that nicotine can serve as an effective treatment for the symptoms of MC or Crohn's. And since the medical community has taken on the project of campaigning against smoking, it's unlikely that any more research will be done regarding the use of nicotine to treat IBDs.
The point here is that while stopping a long term smoking habit can trigger the development of MC, resuming smoking doesn't seem to be effective at treating the symptoms of MC, unfortunately. IOW, there is no medical reason why you cannot safely discontinue smoking if you choose to do so, because once the disease is triggered, nicotine does not seem to be beneficial for treating the symptoms (not for MC, anyway).
The stress can definitely influence the disease, however, so the key to discontinuing smoking is finding a way to do so that minimizes the neurological stress in the brain. As you will see before you finish the book, IMO, stress plays a major role in the genesis of MC. I'll go so far as to suggest that in the total absence of chronic stress, none of us would have ever developed MC. Note that my definition of chronic stress also includes the effects of physical or chemical stress, such as can be caused by drugs that induce MC.
Thanks. I tried to add enough "new" information to make the book interesting even for members here who have read every post on the board.
EDIT: I see that Jon posted while I was writing, and noted the same information regarding the association (or lack of it) between nicotine and UC and Crohn's disease. Since MC has mostly been treated sort of like the proverbial "redheaded stepchild", as far as IBDs are concerned, no one has done any research on nicotine treatments specific to MC, and probably never will, now that the medical community has an official anti-smoking stance.
Jon,
I was very lucky. I bought a pack and tried a couple of cigarettes, and for some reason or other, I didn't like them. I decided there was no point in trying to force myself to learn to like them, especially since they didn't seem to be worth the money, anyway, so I never developed the habit — one of the few things in my life that I ever did right the first time. LOL.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks Jon and Tex........I'm going to give it a good hard try of quiting. My biggest stress that I was having is no longer...its called work. I had a terribly stressful and demanding job and was stressed everyday. About 9 months ago I started chest pains(which I thought was a heart attack) but they said it was heartburn. I had NEVER had heartburn in my life so heck I didn't know. Resolution to that.......retired mostly because of MC and the fact I couldn't make it to the bathroom at work(which was also stressful). So between general stressful work conditions, messing myself and throwing away all of those perfectly good clothes......enough was enough. So on top of that work stress though is when I decided to quit smoking and then MC started. So then work, D, humiliation, tiredness, not smoking and then not being able to go to work because I was so sick...........aaaahhhhh I couldn't take it no more. So oddly enough on Aug 31st I started Entocort, Sep 1 was my retirement date............and wala I have been feeling wonderful!!!!! So now I thought ok.....the next thing to fix is to quit that nsty habit that my grandkids have been harping at me about anyway!!!! I'm gonna try it so I will keep you posted. And Tex I am going to keep reading because even though my existing GI would no way in heck read your book........my family doc is really interested. So when I go back to him on the 27th I want to be done with it so I can loan it out to him. He was amazing with me 2 days ago and feels bad that I went through so much mess that I had to retire. He was interested in hearing about the forum and said he would love any input I had for any of his future patients that get diagnosed with MC. He's a keeper!!!!
Cathy
Cathy, IMO, quitting smoking and the onset of my MC definitely go together. I used Chantix to quit a habit I'd had since age 19. And, during the time I used it, I had my first episode of outrageous D (D is a listed side effect) such that I could not finish the 3-month course of Chantix. The good news is that the 2 months I *was* able to take Chantix completely shut down the nicotine receptors in my brain and I can tell you honestly that I have not craved a cigarette since taking it in 2008. But, I believe that something was triggered, because after that, I began to have outrageously awful stomach noise, and by 2011 I had a DX of LC. I'm not saying I'm delighted to have LC, but I feel immensely better in many other ways for having quit smoking. Not to mention that cigarettes in my state are about $8-9/pack today, so that's $$ in my pocket.
FWIW, my brother, a heavier smoker for fewer years than I, used Chantix prior to me, which is why I tried it. He had none of the symptoms I had, and has not relapsed either. So, I seem to have been pre-disposed in some way to be susceptible to the D.
SOOOOOO, since you already have the MC DX, and have had such awful D problems, I wouldn't recommend trying Chantix.
FWIW, my brother, a heavier smoker for fewer years than I, used Chantix prior to me, which is why I tried it. He had none of the symptoms I had, and has not relapsed either. So, I seem to have been pre-disposed in some way to be susceptible to the D.
SOOOOOO, since you already have the MC DX, and have had such awful D problems, I wouldn't recommend trying Chantix.
Suze
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I also had a very stressful job and retired in 1995 because I could no longer handle the stress. I stopped and started smoking many times through the years. The last time I quit was early in 2009 with the help of Chantix and that is when my D began. I also was taking a large amount of Ibuprofen that year for a back problem. In January of 2010 I was Dx'd with CC and discovered this group. I don't know what I would have done without them.
Just finished reading the book. You did a wonderful job TEX. I hope it becomes a best seller.
Just finished reading the book. You did a wonderful job TEX. I hope it becomes a best seller.
Charlotte
The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison. Ann Wigmore
The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison. Ann Wigmore
Hmmmmmmm. We may need to add Chantix to the list of drugs known to cause MC for some people. 
Charlotte,
Thanks,
Tex
Charlotte,
Thanks,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Rich,
It's good to hear from you again. I hope your MC has been mostly behaving itself, and I hope you won't be disappointed by the book.
Tex
It's good to hear from you again. I hope your MC has been mostly behaving itself, and I hope you won't be disappointed by the book.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Wow - this link between the possible quitting of cigarettes and the start of colitis is fascinating! I quit smoking about 9 or 10 years ago and immediately noticed that I all of a sudden had a lactose intolerance. I always tell everyone it started as soon as I quit smoking but of course no one believes that's possible. I started taking a probiotic that supposedly eliminates lactose intolerance and it worked.... I'm still taking one every day after all these years.
I think it was probably within a year of giving up cigarettes that I then developed CC so I'm thinking it's more than coincidence. Really interesting.....
Sue
I think it was probably within a year of giving up cigarettes that I then developed CC so I'm thinking it's more than coincidence. Really interesting.....
Sue
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Hi Sue............yea WOW see that is what scares me about quitting now. I started to quit and shortly after is when all my problems started so the stress of it all I started smoking again. Now that I have had the last 2 weeks of complete pleasure as opposed to the last 4 months.......I thought I would quit again for good this time. Then I saw the correlation between the 2 and now yikes......I don't want to go backwards and go back to D issues. This forum is truly for of all kinds of great advice and sometimes(even though its true) some things you really don't want to hear!!!
Cathy
Hi Tex,
Just got home and your book is waiting here for me. Will enjoy reading it this weekend. Is the cover a tree on your property? Is that a mesquite tree? Looking forward to a relaxing weekend reading.
Thanks for asking about my MC. My MC waxes and wanes. It definitely flares and remisses. I have learned to live with it, and accept the ups and downs, as best I can. To be frank, it sucks the life out of me at times but I know I can get myself out of those situations by behaving.
Since I have been with this board, I have learned to have more realistic expectations for what I can and cannot do. I have also learned to live each day, one day at a time. I am less the type A planner that I used to be. I am still traveling extensively but more at my pace. And I stop along the way to visit friends, family, and to smell the roses.
I rate my well being as a 7 out of 10, and I no longer strive for anything higher. 7 is my new reality and that isn't all bad.
So how have you been feeling? Well I hope? How did your crops do this year?
Rich
Just got home and your book is waiting here for me. Will enjoy reading it this weekend. Is the cover a tree on your property? Is that a mesquite tree? Looking forward to a relaxing weekend reading.
Thanks for asking about my MC. My MC waxes and wanes. It definitely flares and remisses. I have learned to live with it, and accept the ups and downs, as best I can. To be frank, it sucks the life out of me at times but I know I can get myself out of those situations by behaving.
Since I have been with this board, I have learned to have more realistic expectations for what I can and cannot do. I have also learned to live each day, one day at a time. I am less the type A planner that I used to be. I am still traveling extensively but more at my pace. And I stop along the way to visit friends, family, and to smell the roses.
I rate my well being as a 7 out of 10, and I no longer strive for anything higher. 7 is my new reality and that isn't all bad.
So how have you been feeling? Well I hope? How did your crops do this year?
Rich
"It's not what I believe. It's what I can prove." - A Few Good Men
Hi Rich,
It's good to see that you're generally able to stay in control of your MC, despite your tough travel schedule. While I'm sure you could enjoy life with far fewer setbacks if you didn't have to travel so much, IMO, your expectations are realistic, given your difficult work and travel schedule. And it's good to see that you're at peace with that, because IMO, anything that we can do to lower our stress level and minimize anxiety is bound to be beneficial, in the long run.
Yes, that old tree (a hackberry) was here on our farm, along a creek bank, but disease took it over, and it rotted and fell down many years ago. I've been doing OK, in general, and I feel more relaxed now that the book is finished.
The drought was fairly intense in this area of the state, but not quite as severe as last year, so the crops were better than last year's miserable turnout, but still short of a good crop. All in all, I reckon we were lucky to make what we did — it could have been a lot worse.
If that book doesn't put you to sleep, nothing will. LOL.
Tex
It's good to see that you're generally able to stay in control of your MC, despite your tough travel schedule. While I'm sure you could enjoy life with far fewer setbacks if you didn't have to travel so much, IMO, your expectations are realistic, given your difficult work and travel schedule. And it's good to see that you're at peace with that, because IMO, anything that we can do to lower our stress level and minimize anxiety is bound to be beneficial, in the long run.
Yes, that old tree (a hackberry) was here on our farm, along a creek bank, but disease took it over, and it rotted and fell down many years ago. I've been doing OK, in general, and I feel more relaxed now that the book is finished.
The drought was fairly intense in this area of the state, but not quite as severe as last year, so the crops were better than last year's miserable turnout, but still short of a good crop. All in all, I reckon we were lucky to make what we did — it could have been a lot worse.
If that book doesn't put you to sleep, nothing will. LOL.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
