smoking topic

[Jozee]

I was reading the post that listed all those sites to go to and noticed mention of smoking and how some felt better before they quit. I'm wondering how many of us ex-smokers felt better prior to quitting smoking?? I'm not looking for an excuse to start again but just curious. I'm trying to cut costs so starting again would be too expensive with buying cigs also my life insurance would double again.

After I quit smoking I became exhausted all the time. It's been 4 years now and still exhausted. Every symptom I had increased ten fold. Breathing issues now, stomach issues are worse, severe thirst, terrible muscle pain, neuropathy 15 times worse and I'm 60 pounds heavier because I have no energy and too much pain to move.

So, I wonder...are better before or after quitting smoking and how has it affected you??

[Jellyb]

Hi Jozee, i am not a medical professional, but I think that the nicotene in ciggaretts is a stimulant and that may be why you had more energy when you were smoking.

As far as the other Symptoms I dont know why they have gotten worse.

[stephL]

I think there is something to this. It's not well understood, but Celiac Disease researchers believe that cigarette smoking has a protective effect against the development and or progression of the disease. It really needs to be investigated further. There is a strong connection between Celiac and Sjogrens.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11280554?dopt=Abstract

[susanep]

I can't explain it either, but I have thought many times how much better I felt when I still smoked. It has been several years now since I quit. I have read that it speeds up our metabolism slightly, and helps our mood. So who know what else it does. I am not promoting it though, and no I couldn't afford it either to start again.

susanep 

[mshistory]

I quit smoking in December 2004 after smoking for about ten years and for a while, felt MUCH better. It's only recently that I've begun to have all of these autoimmune problems (or at least worsening enough to become a problem).

So maybe I'm in the minority here, but I felt better, and never had the desire to start smoking again because I enjoyed life much more as a non-smoker 

BTW, my rheumy said pretty much the only thing that wasn't allowed while I was taking Plaquenil is smoking because it would negate its effects (not that I smoke, but I had asked about other meds). Thought that was interesting.

Sharyn

[Nathan]

Smoking supresses the immune system. I wasn't a smoker before SjS, but I have been lately (not heavily or anything), and sadly it is helping.

[Joe S.]

That may be why a few hits of Mary Jane helps some people.

[eyeamdry]

Jozee, you mention things you think may be better.  However, don't forget the amount of harm to things we may not think about:  your heart,  your vascular system, and on and on.  I am a 20 year clean, ex-smoker, and have to be vigilant all the time.  I walked past a couple of relatives today outside smoking at a motel.  I stopped and talked for a minute and it smelled so good.  Sometimes a fresly lit cig smells good, but most of the time is nasty.  Cigs cost $6.05 a pack in Michigan, not sure about where you are.  I think I would be dead if I had not quit smoking in Nov 1989.  Lucy

[stephL]

Jozee, you mention things you think may be better.  However, don't forget the amount of harm to things we may not think about:  your heart,  your vascular system, and on and on.  I am a 20 year clean, ex-smoker, and have to be vigilant all the time.  I walked past a couple of relatives today outside smoking at a motel.  I stopped and talked for a minute and it smelled so good.  Sometimes a fresly lit cig smells good, but most of the time is nasty.  Cigs cost $6.05 a pack in Michigan, not sure about where you are.  I think I would be dead if I had not quit smoking in Nov 1989.  Lucy

Lucy, thank you for your kind words of caution. But these days, (in case you hadn't noticed, haha) I am vigorously questioning the lifestyle arguments that medical experts make to the public in general. The claim is that if we just eat healthy, exercise, wear sunscreen, and avoid smoking, then good health will be assured. Well I did all that and look where I am now. There's strong evidence that illness has little to do with lifestyle, and everything to do with genetics, especially the epigenome. Another thing to consider is that we are not the general public. We have an illness that can bring us serious complications and the treatment options are meager. I think Jozee has brought up a worthy topic that merits a discussion.


As far as the cost goes, I buy pipe tobacco which is not taxed as heavily, then I roll my own cigarettes. After quitting for 18 years, I started smoking a few years ago just before my diagnosis. I began smoking to cope with the stress of becoming acutely ill, not having any support and suffering deprivation of all my needs for a prolonged period of time. I became unable to care for myself and there was no one who would believe me, let alone help me.


Does smoking help me? Yes it does make feel better physically, and not just emotionally. I also drink coffee. A doctor would say I have low self esteem, I'm sure. lol Tobacco and coffee, two pleasures in my life that bring me relief and I have no intention of giving them up. I'm not advising you to do the same, just saying that this is what works for me.


Medical Marijuana, Joe? Even if it were proven to help autoimmune disease, I don't know if I could go there. lol I associate it strongly it in my mind with crime and addiction.

[Joe S.]

stephL, A number of people that I know with Fibro, and MS have had on going discussions. Your point of linking it to addiction and illegal activity is similar to the points that I have taken in these discussions. The studies that Sha presented would indicate that smoking challenges that immune system and that may be why they choose Mary Jane.

I prefer to support my immune system--carrot juice among other supplements.

[Patze]

Hi Jozee, I quit smoking in January 2005 as things started to go down hill already (sure did feel better smoking, but the comments from coworkers/oder was really starting to get on my nerves).

Hi StephL, I knew how to roll a good cigarette by the time I was ten, whew, the things one learns in childhood (had an older relative that taught me (he swore by them)).


Patze

[SueAnn]

I have never smoked, but I bartended (major 2nd hand smoke) until I was 42 and I was very active.  When I finished my masters degree I started working in an elementary school and wham, my sypmtoms hit me like a ton of bricks.  It took me a while to make it to a doctor and I was diagnosed with SJS.  So yes I do think there is something to the smoking angle. 

SueAnn

[really?]

Who knows?   but like some of the others,, lived good,, quit drinking almost 20 years ago,, rarely smoked,, then the hammer hit me,, so I just think its a crap shoot on who gets sick,, and who doesnt,, lot of people die from lung cancer thatnever smoked a day in there life,,, on a side note,, when I was smoking,, I would go to a casino to lose some money and there would always be the one person that wold wave her or his arm constantly if i was smoking,, I finaly got pi**ed and told them,, look,, there are non smoking areas in this place,, dont make me look like the bad guy here,, but does smking help,, no,, I dont think so, does ithelp with teh stress,, ya it does for me,, at times,, but lets face it,, its not good for us,, I can see why someone with a chronic illness wold smoke, and if they tried to quit,, I can see why thre so sick,, its hard enough dealing with all this stuff,, and then the withdrawel from smoking,, that would send anyone over the edge,, least it wold me thats for sure,,

[lolo1979]

You guys might be on to something. I read the following study saying sjogrens smokers had less salivary gland infiltration than nonsmokers.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10627428

I too have been questioning this lately. I have never smoked and always taken good care of myself, run 3-5 miles a day, and generally have taken good care of myself. But of course who knows what things would be like if I had been a smoker. One thing I did not do all my life was pay attention to what I ate. I didn't read ingredients or pay attention to all the chemicals and additives they put in everything. I didn't make sure I ate fruits and veggies, etc. So  I am starting with that and maybe I will revisit this smoking thing later. Although- I wonder if having one or two a week would give the same benefits without quite so much of the negative impacts.

[irish]

My hubby went to a GI doc who was a really great guy and very down to earth. My gosh, he went on fishing trips to Alaska and he had rheumatoid arthritis.

Anyway, he was always after hubby to quit smoking, but he did tell him that nicotine was good at controlling ulcerative colitis and other types of colitis. Actually a person could use the patches and my hubby tried that but it was very short lived. He would rather smoke.

I know from his experience with tobacco and celiac and microscopic colitis that there is something to this story. However, you will not see this advertised by the doctors---not in this day and age at least. I actually think it paralyzes the muscles/receptor sites that instrigated the diarrhea and cramps. There also might be some relationship between the vagal response and the nicotene also.  Just my opinion. Irish