Your doctor is absolutely right, smoking can greatly exaggerate the condition. Doctors rightly warn Crohn's sufferers to cut down and to give up as soon as is possible. Research has now proven that not only does it harm all the organs but is a greater risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases and......it has a very negative impact on those with Crohn's disease.
It can reduce the effectiveness of the medication you are on and this means your Crohn's will become more active. Many people go into a type of remission but smoking can reduce the potential for this or prevent it, so the pain continues. There is also evidence that those who smoke are at greater risk of developing cancerous colon polyps.
If you want to quit your addiction to nicotine, do it the sensible way and reduce it slowly, going cold-turkey could increase the risk of flare-ups. Reduce it a little at a time and then you won't feel the withdrawal symptoms the same.
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do when you have Crohn's disease so please do consider giving up.
Best wishes,
Annette
Smoking by: Cheryl
Wow, I think it is wonderful if you can just quit. I guess I'm just not that strong enough. Very happy for the person who can just put them down and walk away. However, the last time I tried that, I was so sick and had a bad flare up. My doc was upset I tried to quit on my own and told me that was why I was having so many problems.
I am weak I admit. It was much easier for me to just start smoking again and that is where I still am.
I hope to know someday what it would be like to be a non-smoker. But for right now I couldn't take the stress.
everyone is different by: Anonymous
I used to smoke. Doc told me to do whatever I could to avoid stress, so I took it literally and kept smoking. Anyway, long story short, one day I decided that was it and put them down, haven't had one since. That was about 5 or 6 years ago now and I remember immediately noticing improvements with my crohns. It was like night and day difference. I don't know if it was just good timing, or if the the tar/nicotine and any other crap that would usually make its way through my system wasn't there anymore to irritate things.
Smoking is bad by: Danielle
Smoking lowers your immune system and if you have crohnes and smoke you are asking for flare ups and complications its two things that should not be mixed together SMOKING WORSENS CROHNES.
Smoking and Stress by: Cheryl
The first of March I found my insurance company had finally been sucesful in getting rid of me. They gave it their best shot for 10 years. Due to a clerical error on my part, I no longer have perscription coverage. As of May 1 I am insured but only if I break a leg or have a heart attack. And then not for much. I quit taking all of my meds. I am a 50 yr old women, stress is a fact of life. If I quit smoking now...my family might just put me on a slow boat somewhere, anywhere but here in Sunny South Florida.
Smoking cause's so many medical problems. I do hope to quit some day. But just couldn't hack it right now. Good luck with trying to follow your doctors advice.
Smoking by: Anonymous
Hi,I've had "Crohns" for 12 years.My G.I told me i need to quit smoking as well.She told me that the nicotene is a dieritic,and like you're heart muscles constrict,well you're bowel does the same thing,causing u to go the bathroom! That is a big issue with me to.For one thing ,I do not like the fact of someone telling me "NOT TO DO THAT"! Good Luck! Traci
Smoking by: Cheryl
Smoking is bad. We all know that. However 2 years ago when I decided to quit I went into a full fledged flare up. After seeing my Dr and him ordering test, I mentioned that I felt better when I was still smoking. He was like "What? You quit smoking, no wonder" It did cause me into a flare up because the relaxing feeling I got from smoking was now gone. So I started again and soon my symtoms went away and I felt better. Except having the courage to quit again. I found that easier than being a quiter. In hind site I wish I had stuck it out and was smoke free. But I am not.
If you can quit, do it for all the other health reasons. But don't be surprised if you go through a bad spell from doing so.
Smoking and Chron's by: Anonymous
I had smoked for 30 years and would never have guessed that the 2 were related or that smoking could possibly affect Chron's. I was dead wrong!
I quit smoking and had remission for 5 years, 3 years. I often have several years between serious bouts which were much more frequent when I smoked. So yes, I beleive that smoking does make a difference in Chron's.
Smoking and Chron's by: Anonymous
I had smoked for 30 years and would never have guessed that the 2 were related or that smoking could possibly affect Chron's. I was dead wrong!
I quit smoking and had remission for 5 years, 3 years. I often have several years between serious bouts which were much more frequent when I smoked. So yes, I beleive that smoking does make a difference in Chron's.
smoking by: James
Ok, let me start by saying that i have lived with CD for twenty years. I smoked 20 a day from for many years. My symptoms began to relieve after about two weeks of giving up smoking. I have not had a ciggie for 7 years and in that time i have had hardly any reminder that i even have the disease. It DEFINATELY makes it worse, regardless of research, stopping smoking is the greatest thing that you can do to suppress flair ups. Get rid of the smoke to get rid of the pain.
smoking by: Anonymous
Michael,
I found that smoking actually helps my digestive system-speeds up the process kind of and eliminates the long periods of pain-a friend of mine that has Crohn's told me that he smokes after a meal or when his stomach starts to rumble a bit and it helps him digest easier so I tried it and it worked the same for me. I don't smoke on a regular basis-only when I feel I need it-it's great if your going out for dinner-smoke a cigarette-go to the bathroom almost right away and then go about whatever your doing-at least that's how it works for me but like diet everything is different with each person for Crohn's
Stress by: Cheryl
All Doctors tell you not to smoke. Face it smoking is dumb. But for me the stress is what really makes my Crohns flare up, everytime I quit smoking it would send me into a full fledged flare up. So I smoke. Which helps me to unwind and de-stress a little. I don't smoke a lot, not even a pack a day, don't smoke inside or at work, but it doese relax me so I do it.
Good luck quitting!
crohns/smoking by: jodi
hi Micheal,
ive had crohns for 22yrs and was a smoker.I gave up smoking on my surgeons advice this year as i have an illostomy and wanted it reversed(they couldn't reverse it)any way i ended up giving up the fags and have had 1 abscess which healed itself(yay)FIRST TIME EVER i haven't had to go and get it curated(cut out)by my surgeon.so yes give up the smokes you wont regret it
I smoke by: Anonymous
My doc told me that Crohn's is the one disease that likes smoking. The last time I quit smoking I had a awful flare up. I liked not smoking but it wasn't worth the trouble.
When I smoke it relax's me.
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