My Crohn's and Colitis Blog » What Is Colitis » Self-Will Run RIOT–taking care of myself
Self-Will Run RIOT–taking care of myself
Question:
Tessigood said: As i downed my coffee, took a drag of my cigarette (both of which I had quit and am now consuming full-time again) I realized that I must be insane. I know this stuff causes flares for me, yet as soon as I am well I’m right back at it.
Rosemary said: <<Just try to give up the cigarettes and caffeine again. If you could do it for six months, you can do it for longer! Now, Ellen is adding: Tessie, perhaps you are being way too hard on yourself. The fact is that quitting cigs and/or caffeine puts a lot of stress on your system and has been known to cause a flare. Are you on a cycle where you get well, start enjoying coffee and cigs again, get disgusted with yourself and quit, and then get sick again? (just a thought) My view is that given crohns we have to find some balance in life–some steady state of compromise for both our bodies and our minds. I get sicker whenever something is thrown off balance. Perhaps you can consider whether there is a place in your life for your coffee and cigs indulgence? (I’m feeling the flames coming). I drink two cups of coffee each morning. It’s my quiet time for myself where I look out at the trees and think about my life, I often write letters during this time. (It does trigger bathroom time, but that seems to clear things out for the coming day). Therefore, giving up coffee would take away a ritual that is dear to me and good for my peace of mind. I don’t usually drink coffee during the day–it’s the morning coffee that I savor. It’s been easy to give up the hurried cups of coffee at the office–water is a better choice there. Anyway, by illustration I’m trying to say that you need to take care of your *whole* self and that the choices are not limited to yes/no options. I hope this is helpful, Ellen
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I realized last night as i felt Chron’s pain kicking at me that i’ve never read about those of us that KNOW what the right things to do are, but don’t do them. As i downed my coffee, took a drag of my cigarette (both of which I had quit and am now consuming full-time again) I realized that I must be insane. I know this stuff causes flares for me, yet as soon as I am well I’m right back at it. I’m not whining or even really complaining. I am frustrated beyond belief because my actions are simply very stupid. Part of it is the mental addiction to cigs and caffeine–well OK, maybe most of it. I suppose all I’m asking for is a little encouragement. Has anyone else overcome their vices for good (not just six-month spurts which is all i seem to manage)?? Any advice is welcome–except that based in self-righteousness… just kidding–do what ya gotta do, A.
I know how hard it is to give up something that you are addicted to, but you have to think of how these things are affecting your health. I have successfully given up chocolate and caffeine for two years now, and I even work in a coffee shop! If I ever get the urge to slip up and have even just a little bit of these things, my body reminds me how bad they are for me! It gets easier the longer you do it. I don’t even miss them anymore, and I know that it is better for my general health anyway not to have them. Just try to give up the cigarettes and caffeine again. If you could do it for six months, you can do it for longer! good luck! rosemary bergamot
Response:
So true, As I light up a cigarette and pour that third cup of coffee, I respond to your post of causing our own suffering through our own actions. I had a resection in March and was told to quit smoking, it would lessen my chances of having my crohn’s act up. Well, as soon as I could walk again and had the strength to push my IV pole far enough, I went and had a cigarette. Mind you I almost passed out from it but boy did it feel good. I also drink beer, eat the occasional big mac and work long hours in a stress filled job. We can’t stop living just because we’re sick now can we. I know how hard it is to quite the things we love (that may be too strong a word) but it is very hard. I quit smoking for 5 months last year and I felt great. I had energy, could actually taste food, and was sleeping better than I ever did. But that wasn’t to last. And with the addiction to smokes comes the addiction to coffee and how about some sweets to have with that coffee. It’s a never ending cycle. I’m the same as you. Every day I beat myself up about this but I figure I’ll learn my lesson before too long and then I’ll really have to quit the things that are bad for me.
Response:
It was nice to hear that I am not the only one who destroys my system. I am not a smoker but I am addicted to FOOD. I often have terrible binges and this does not aid my illietis, with only a part of my small intestine remaining. I think(hope) that overtime our addictions will subside. Only when we will be ready to let them go. For the time being, I binge and physicaly suffer for the days following but I try to be easy mentally and not to blame myself. I just let it pass and try to put little energy into the thoughts that will remind me of my self-destructive addiction. To all the members of the group, take great care of yourselves…. one day at a time Brandee
Response:
I realized last night as i felt Chron’s pain kicking at me that i’ve never read about those of us that KNOW what the right things to do are, but don’t do them. As i downed my coffee, took a drag of my cigarette (both of which I had quit and am now consuming full-time again) I realized that I must be insane. I know this stuff causes flares for me, yet as soon as I am well I’m right back at it. I’m not whining or even really complaining. I am frustrated beyond belief because my actions are simply very stupid. Part of it is the mental addiction to cigs and caffeine–well OK, maybe most of it. I suppose all I’m asking for is a little encouragement. Has anyone else overcome their vices for good (not just six-month spurts which is all i seem to manage)?? Any advice is welcome–except that based in self-righteousness… just kidding–do what ya gotta do, A.
There have been studies to show that we crave foods that we have intolerance or allergies to. Don Wiss will gladly post some of the research he has accumulated on this subject. This topic is starting to be discussed more regularly in nutrition circles. Frankly it does not surpise me that you crave things that are not good for you. Welcome to the human race.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -After seeing Dr. Hanauer at U of C (how appropriate) for my UC Run Amok (he just looked at me and said "You need to get your colon removed") he suggested a causual link between my stopping smoking and the flare which never ended. I soon started smoking again – to no avail, but I was so sick I didn’t give a damn so I’n still smoking. Odd thing, though – I’m trying to quit and the nictine patches really seem to help my UC. Damndedt thing. I’ve gone on and off them several times and confirmed it to my satisfaction. I’ve heard of other people who have the opposite reaction – cigs help but the patches don’t… Just my $0.02. aok
My friend developed severe Crohn’s when she stopped smoking. When she resumed the problem disappeared. She quit again and wound up back on Prednisone and on a liquid diet. When stress was high (work), she’d have a relapse. Hope I’m allowed to put in my 2 cents even though I don’t have Crohn’s. I read that there is a strong correlation between Crohn’s and women who quit smoking. Good Luck.
Response:
I am frustrated beyond belief because my actions are simply very stupid. Part of it is the mental addiction to cigs and caffeine–well OK, maybe most of it. I suppose all I’m asking for is a little encouragement. Has anyone else overcome their vices for good (not just six-month spurts which is all i seem to manage)?? Any advice is welcome–except that based in self-righteousness… just kidding–do what ya gotta do, A.
Tessie (or A.?), I don’t want tos ound self-righteous, but I did manage to kick both habits (nicotine and caffeine). The nicotine was easy – I got into a new relationship with a non-smoker, quit for him and the euphoria carried me through. This was five years ago, and I haven’t touched the stuff since. Caffeine wasn’t too bad, either. I started drinking lots of herbal tea, and I now very occasionally have real coffee – but I usually regret it afterwards. So I only have it with real good stuff, such as a good cappuccino. At least then I don’t suffer in vain. Incidentally, the year I quit smoking was quite amazing. It was 1991. I left my ex-husband in May, quit smoking in June, married my present husband in September and was in hospital for the worst flareup of my life (six weeks in hospital and nearly lost my colon) by January. There was so much stress that year, who knows whether the cigs had anything to do with it? Be well, Hadass — Hadass Eviatar Email: National Research Council of Canada Phone: (204) 984 – 4535 Institute for Biodiagnostics Fax: (204) 984 – 5472 435 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1Y6 http://www.ibd.nrc.ca/~eviatar Obligatory disclaimer: NRC wouldn’t dream of saying a thing like that.
Response:
My friend developed severe Crohn’s when she stopped smoking. When she resumed the problem disappeared. She quit again and wound up back on Prednisone and on a liquid diet. When stress was high (work), she’d have a relapse. Hope I’m allowed to put in my 2 cents even though I don’t have Crohn’s. I read that there is a strong correlation between Crohn’s and women who quit smoking. Good Luck.
I’ve heard that there has been some studies that suggested that nicotine may have some effect on Ulcerative Colitis, not not on Crohn’s.
Response:
My dad smoked from age 13 until age 46. He got UC at age 59. He is past UC and has not had a flare in three years, however he is is suffering from all the years of smoking and what that great habit causes. He now lives each day not knowing if it will be his last. One thing is for sure, keep smoking and you will most probably die form its’ side effects one way or another. Nicotine is a hard habit to kick. I chewed Copenhagen for years and everytime I quit you could find me a day or two later rumaging through the trash for my old can. I finally quit because my kids made it hell on me to keep chewing. I eventually quit for them and ended up helping myself in return. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear A, I’m 47 and writing to you fom my hospital room. I had UC for a short time when I was 16. Not much was known about the disease then. One day a friend of mine convinced me to try a cigarette. We were going to cut highschool and go surfing. Sounded cool and appropriate at the time and I did. I started smoking regularly almost immediately and did so for the next 24 years. Guess what – no colitis. I didn’t make any connection between these two things. So when I turned 40, I quit because my lungs felt like garbage and it wasn’t reall conducive to the healthy activities I was trying to adopt. Guess what – within 2 years I developed severe UC and was in the hospital for 1 month. I never went back to smoking again, nor would I recommend it to ANYONE, but here I am in the hospital again after a 4-year remission. So tell you to quit- Okay quit – but in your case do it because it aggravates your disease. Regards, Stu I realized last night as i felt Chron’s pain kicking at me that i’ve never read about those of us that KNOW what the right things to do are, but don’t do them. As i downed my coffee, took a drag of my cigarette (both of which I had quit and am now consuming full-time again) I realized that I must be insane. I know this stuff causes flares for me, yet as soon as I am well I’m right back at it. I’m not whining or even really complaining. I am frustrated beyond belief because my actions are simply very stupid. Part of it is the mental addiction to cigs and caffeine–well OK, maybe most of it. I suppose all I’m asking for is a little encouragement. Has anyone else overcome their vices for good (not just six-month spurts which is all i seem to manage)?? Any advice is welcome–except that based in self-righteousness… just kidding–do what ya gotta do, A.
Response:
After seeing Dr. Hanauer at U of C (how appropriate) for my UC Run Amok (he just looked at me and said "You need to get your colon removed") he suggested a causual link between my stopping smoking and the flare which never ended. I soon started smoking again – to no avail, but I was so sick I didn’t give a damn so I’n still smoking. Odd thing, though – I’m trying to quit and the nictine patches really seem to help my UC. Damndedt thing. I’ve gone on and off them several times and confirmed it to my satisfaction. I’ve heard of other people who have the opposite reaction – cigs help but the patches don’t… Just my $0.02. aok
Response:
Dear A, I’m 47 and writing to you fom my hospital room. I had UC for a short time when I was 16. Not much was known about the disease then. One day a friend of mine convinced me to try a cigarette. We were going to cut highschool and go surfing. Sounded cool and appropriate at the time and I did. I started smoking regularly almost immediately and did so for the next 24 years. Guess what – no colitis. I didn’t make any connection between these two things. So when I turned 40, I quit because my lungs felt like garbage and it wasn’t reall conducive to the healthy activities I was trying to adopt. Guess what – within 2 years I developed severe UC and was in the hospital for 1 month. I never went back to smoking again, nor would I recommend it to ANYONE, but here I am in the hospital again after a 4-year remission. So tell you to quit- Okay quit – but in your case do it because it aggravates your disease. Regards, Stu – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I realized last night as i felt Chron’s pain kicking at me that i’ve never read about those of us that KNOW what the right things to do are, but don’t do them. As i downed my coffee, took a drag of my cigarette (both of which I had quit and am now consuming full-time again) I realized that I must be insane. I know this stuff causes flares for me, yet as soon as I am well I’m right back at it. I’m not whining or even really complaining. I am frustrated beyond belief because my actions are simply very stupid. Part of it is the mental addiction to cigs and caffeine–well OK, maybe most of it. I suppose all I’m asking for is a little encouragement. Has anyone else overcome their vices for good (not just six-month spurts which is all i seem to manage)?? Any advice is welcome–except that based in self-righteousness… just kidding–do what ya gotta do, A.
Response:
Has anyone else overcome their vices for good (not just six-month spurts which is all i seem to manage)?? Any advice is welcome–except that based in self-righteousness… just kidding–do what ya gotta do, A.
Given the title of the post (self will run riot), I suspect you already know the answer, Tessie. If you don’t know where it came from, I’ll tell you – the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Annonymous. Not that I’ve been able to do it anymore successfully (the coffee and nicotine, that is). Good luck.
Response:
I realized last night as i felt Chron’s pain kicking at me that i’ve never read about those of us that KNOW what the right things to do are, but don’t do them. As i downed my coffee, took a drag of my cigarette (both of which I had quit and am now consuming full-time again) I realized that I must be insane. I know this stuff causes flares for me, yet as soon as I am well I’m right back at it. I’m not whining or even really complaining. I am frustrated beyond belief because my actions are simply very stupid. Part of it is the mental addiction to cigs and caffeine–well OK, maybe most of it. I suppose all I’m asking for is a little encouragement. Has anyone else overcome their vices for good (not just six-month spurts which is all i seem to manage)?? Any advice is welcome–except that based in self-righteousness… just kidding–do what ya gotta do, A.
Response:
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