While Googling and researching CC and IBS-D I came came across something that provided me with an "Ah Ha!" moment: my problems (both colitis and thyroid) all started (or got worse) after I had quit my long-time smoking habit! I started searching and finding more and more about it and am intrigued by what I'm reading but was honestly apprehensive about posting anything on here, thinking I would get severely negative feedback and probably some lectures. I mean, seriously - to suggest that putting nicotine in one's body might be a solution to health issues?!?!? How crazy does that sound!?
But I searched this forum and find it HAS been discussed here and NOT in a berating and negative way - what a relief! I still have lots of research and reading to do but I am half tempted to order an e-cig with the smallest dose of nicotine available and experiment.
Most of the posts I found are older - has anyone done any recent research or experimenting with this? I am SO tempted to try it, but I really, really don't want to add any new complications to my life which could come from adding nicotine back in. God only knows what it would do to my TSH levels and my Synthroid dosage, not to mention my colitis and IBS.
Tex, are you still smoking cigars?
Sue
Nicotine for relief
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Nicotine for relief
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,
Sure! Not only is nicotine protective of UC, but it has also been shown to be protective of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's almost 6 years ago, I don't see any reason why I should stop smoking cigars now. I don't inhale them of course, because we tend to absorb enough nicotine through the mucosal tissues of our mouth, so inhalation is unnecessary with cigars, in order to get the effects of the nicotine (since cigars are wrapped with tobacco, not some sort of chemically-treated paper). So far (and since taking Metanx for years), my symptoms on which the neurologist based his diagnosis have not only not progressed, but they are significantly improved (though still not perfect of course). So either his diagnosis was wrong, or I'm doing something right. It could even be the diet changes — he had never heard that untreated gluten sensitivity could cause those symptoms. And another neurologist I saw later had never heard of it either, even though she was the head of the neurology department at the largest teaching hospital in this part of Texas.
Not much valid research has been done on the protective effects of nicotine in the last 10 years, especially since tobacco has been declared public enemy number 1. Not surprisingly (since funding for current research almost always supports conventional thinking), the only newer published article that I'm aware of showed a negative effect for Crohn's disease. Of course, as far as I am aware, nicotine has never been shown to be helpful for treating Crohn's disease, but there is evidence that it can offer preventive effects (in some cases), and as is the case with MC, stopping a long-term smoking habit can presumably trigger any type of IBD. Here's the most recent study that I'm aware of (but it's not new data, just a reassessment of old data):
The report concluded that:
Sure, strictures are not much fun if they happen, but neither is chronic bloody diarrhea and high inflammation levels that can have negative effects on every organ in the body, and long-term health in general. Look at what they are basing that claim on:
Of course they report it in terms of risk factors, instead of actual percentages to exaggerate the effect. As far as I'm concerned, those differences in risks are negligible in the real world, and probably based on cherry-picked data.
Smoking linked to worse Crohn’s disease, need for more therapies
I have a sneaking suspicion that they decided on the title for that article before they even looked at the data.
Research shows that nicotine can actually be used to treat UC, and I will assume that you found my link to a research article supporting that. I discussed this with my pharmacist last year at some point (since they had nicotine patches displayed right there at the checkout counter), and he said that the problem is that once the disease develops, it takes a lot of nicotine do handle it. And of course the patches are rather expensive, and they tend to make some patients nauseous in the higher (more effective) doses. But some UC patients do indeed use them with good success.
My own opinion is that stopping smoking can indeed trigger MC (because of the chemical stress in the brain), but I can find no evidence that resuming smoking will control MC symptoms, unfortunately. Because of that, I would be reluctant to take up smoking just to try to treat MC. I was smoking cigars for over 30 years before my MC symptoms began, and I never stopped, but I developed MC anyway. So obviously nicotine is not a dominant part of the equation (as far as MC is concerned).
Tex
Sure! Not only is nicotine protective of UC, but it has also been shown to be protective of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's almost 6 years ago, I don't see any reason why I should stop smoking cigars now. I don't inhale them of course, because we tend to absorb enough nicotine through the mucosal tissues of our mouth, so inhalation is unnecessary with cigars, in order to get the effects of the nicotine (since cigars are wrapped with tobacco, not some sort of chemically-treated paper). So far (and since taking Metanx for years), my symptoms on which the neurologist based his diagnosis have not only not progressed, but they are significantly improved (though still not perfect of course). So either his diagnosis was wrong, or I'm doing something right. It could even be the diet changes — he had never heard that untreated gluten sensitivity could cause those symptoms. And another neurologist I saw later had never heard of it either, even though she was the head of the neurology department at the largest teaching hospital in this part of Texas.
Not much valid research has been done on the protective effects of nicotine in the last 10 years, especially since tobacco has been declared public enemy number 1. Not surprisingly (since funding for current research almost always supports conventional thinking), the only newer published article that I'm aware of showed a negative effect for Crohn's disease. Of course, as far as I am aware, nicotine has never been shown to be helpful for treating Crohn's disease, but there is evidence that it can offer preventive effects (in some cases), and as is the case with MC, stopping a long-term smoking habit can presumably trigger any type of IBD. Here's the most recent study that I'm aware of (but it's not new data, just a reassessment of old data):
The report concluded that:
That seems pretty clear, but apparently it's a one-sided judgment call, because look at this quote from 2 paragraphs above that statement:“In the largest cohort study to date, we have found that smokers continue to have worse disease outcomes when compared with nonsmokers,” the researchers concluded. “This group also has earlier and more prevalent requirements of immunosuppressants and anti-TNF therapy, suggesting the presence of an increased disease activity among smokers.”
Say what? Talk about cherry picking data to get the results desired.Tobacco-exposed participants had significantly less colonic disease and inflammatory disease behavior, and significantly more perianal disease and stricturing, compared with nonsmokers. Steroid, immunosuppressant and biologic use were all more common among patients exposed to tobacco (P<.05 for all).
Sure, strictures are not much fun if they happen, but neither is chronic bloody diarrhea and high inflammation levels that can have negative effects on every organ in the body, and long-term health in general. Look at what they are basing that claim on:IMO a 3.3 % increase in strictures, and less than a 1 % increase for the need to use corticosteroids hardly justifies their claims. That's nitpicking cherry-picking at its best.Smokers were significantly more likely than nonsmokers to have strictures (22.6% compared with 19.3%) and receive therapy with steroids (91.6% vs. 85.8%)
Of course they report it in terms of risk factors, instead of actual percentages to exaggerate the effect. As far as I'm concerned, those differences in risks are negligible in the real world, and probably based on cherry-picked data.Smoking linked to worse Crohn’s disease, need for more therapies
I have a sneaking suspicion that they decided on the title for that article before they even looked at the data.
Research shows that nicotine can actually be used to treat UC, and I will assume that you found my link to a research article supporting that. I discussed this with my pharmacist last year at some point (since they had nicotine patches displayed right there at the checkout counter), and he said that the problem is that once the disease develops, it takes a lot of nicotine do handle it. And of course the patches are rather expensive, and they tend to make some patients nauseous in the higher (more effective) doses. But some UC patients do indeed use them with good success.
My own opinion is that stopping smoking can indeed trigger MC (because of the chemical stress in the brain), but I can find no evidence that resuming smoking will control MC symptoms, unfortunately. Because of that, I would be reluctant to take up smoking just to try to treat MC. I was smoking cigars for over 30 years before my MC symptoms began, and I never stopped, but I developed MC anyway. So obviously nicotine is not a dominant part of the equation (as far as MC is concerned).
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.
And here's a relatively recent article on how tobacco and second-hand smoke can benefit the immune system and the thyroid: 
An Immune System and Thyroid Upside for Tobacco?
Physicians/medical researchers tend to view issues as either yes/no or black/white situations. But unfortunately that's almost never the case. It turns out that every cloud has a silver lining, and virtually every "gold standard" that medical researchers have established as "fact" is actually only conditional fact. When scrutinized carefully, they virtually always contain exceptions and various other flaws. If you can't find a flaw, you're just overlooking it. In the real world, spectrums between the 2 extremes seem to predominate, so it's always a judgement call of sorts.
IOW, it seems rather obvious that the beneficial effects that tobacco might have on various issues (including IBDs) is due to the effects on the immune system, not the actual disease itself.
Tex
An Immune System and Thyroid Upside for Tobacco?
Physicians/medical researchers tend to view issues as either yes/no or black/white situations. But unfortunately that's almost never the case. It turns out that every cloud has a silver lining, and virtually every "gold standard" that medical researchers have established as "fact" is actually only conditional fact. When scrutinized carefully, they virtually always contain exceptions and various other flaws. If you can't find a flaw, you're just overlooking it.
In the real world, spectrums between the 2 extremes seem to predominate, so it's always a judgement call of sorts.IOW, it seems rather obvious that the beneficial effects that tobacco might have on various issues (including IBDs) is due to the effects on the immune system, not the actual disease itself.
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, Tex.... knew I could count on you to help me summarize the pros and cons and variables and contradicting information. My head is swimming and I'm not sure which way I'm hoping my decision will go. At first I was very excited..... I thought there was perhaps another approach I could try to calm things down in my gut AND it would come with the added benefit of giving me an excuse to purchase and play with a new toy (e-cig). But now I'm leaning the other way and thinking I shouldn't open up this can of worms until I'm more sure that it's worth the risk. God only knows what new problems I could create by putting nicotine back in and if it doesn't help my CC, I'm going to be in the same boat with my colitis but with an addiction to nicotine again. It was so hard for me to get off of cigarettes 12 years ago and I don't want to have to go through the quitting process again.
I was leaning towards a compromise in which I only purchased the lowest amount of nicotine and only took a few puffs a day so that I was barely getting any nicotine, but from what you've said, it seems it may take significant amount to offer some relief (of course, mileage may vary - everyone is different). If I have to start putting large amounts of nicotine into my body, I don't want to go this route.
I'll spend several more hours researching and let you know where the decision process takes me. Thanks as always for your prompt and informative responses.
Sue
I was leaning towards a compromise in which I only purchased the lowest amount of nicotine and only took a few puffs a day so that I was barely getting any nicotine, but from what you've said, it seems it may take significant amount to offer some relief (of course, mileage may vary - everyone is different). If I have to start putting large amounts of nicotine into my body, I don't want to go this route.
I'll spend several more hours researching and let you know where the decision process takes me. Thanks as always for your prompt and informative responses.
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!
Sue,
This disease always presents tough choices for us, and it doles out serious punishment whenever it doesn't like our choice.
You're most welcome,
Tex
This disease always presents tough choices for us, and it doles out serious punishment whenever it doesn't like our choice.
You're most welcome,
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.