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Olivia, I hope you are feeling better and maybe able to keep something down. I'm so sorry you are so sick. Here is a little silver lining. You may hate me for saying this--please don't! If you have ever wanted to quit smoking do it now. You have just gone through the worst part. As one who smoked for 30 years and felt as desperate as you describe I know what you think. It is your one pleasure! But I just thought I'd mention it. It is a pleasure to be free, too.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Another day in the Hospital
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Regarding the suggestion to take this opportunity to stop smoking - while I realize that the suggestion was made out of love, and with the best of intentions, and I also realize that such advice, (under many conditions), might be a good idea, I have some reservations about trying to stop smoking, while trying to get MC under control.
First off, stopping a long-time smoking habit can actually trigger MC, so it seems rather logical that trying to stop during an MC flare, is bound to prolong the flare, possibly for a long time.
Secondly, the stress and anxiety caused by MC, (for most of us, at least), is sufficient to fully occupy our senses, with little reserve capacity to be concerned with any additional stressful issues. IOW, when we are dealing with an MC flare, we definitely don't need any additional stress, and stopping smoking, is an extremely stressful event, for most people.
I do agree that stopping smoking is generally a good idea, in the long run, for general health considerations, but not when one is trying to control an MC flare. With MC, anything that can be done to minimize the stress level, will help to bring remission faster, and believe it or not, research shows that smoking is protective of UC and MC. I can cite references on that, if desired.
So Olivia, if you should happen to want to stop smoking, fine, you are capable of doing it, if you want to. However, if you don't want to do that, then this is certainly not an ideal time to even be considering it, anyway, since nicotine can have a protective effect on the IBDs.
We just want you to get past this disease, so that you can get your life back, ASAP, and we're here to help in any way we can.
Tex
First off, stopping a long-time smoking habit can actually trigger MC, so it seems rather logical that trying to stop during an MC flare, is bound to prolong the flare, possibly for a long time.
Secondly, the stress and anxiety caused by MC, (for most of us, at least), is sufficient to fully occupy our senses, with little reserve capacity to be concerned with any additional stressful issues. IOW, when we are dealing with an MC flare, we definitely don't need any additional stress, and stopping smoking, is an extremely stressful event, for most people.
I do agree that stopping smoking is generally a good idea, in the long run, for general health considerations, but not when one is trying to control an MC flare. With MC, anything that can be done to minimize the stress level, will help to bring remission faster, and believe it or not, research shows that smoking is protective of UC and MC. I can cite references on that, if desired.
So Olivia, if you should happen to want to stop smoking, fine, you are capable of doing it, if you want to. However, if you don't want to do that, then this is certainly not an ideal time to even be considering it, anyway, since nicotine can have a protective effect on the IBDs.
We just want you to get past this disease, so that you can get your life back, ASAP, and we're here to help in any way we can.
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.
