From a member of my family:
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"UC is known to be much less common in smokers, and it is therefore assumed (but not proven) that smoking is a prophylactic against UC. Because of this, UC is sometimes called 'a non-smoker's disease'. This is a statistical observation as no one has demonstrated the causative factors. Normally, UC is a genetic condition in that it runs in families. So it would be unusual (but not impossible) for someone to present with UC and be a smoker with no relatives with UC. However it is worth noting that due to the symptoms, many don't admit to having it, and you may well only find other family members who are sufferers once you have announced it (we had another two in our family, who spoke about it only after another spoke out first).
There is some evidence that quitting smoking triggers UC in those who are susceptible and might well have presented with it anyway (there is no known cause and no known cure for UC). The same could be said of some thyroid conditions. This did seem to have happened with one of our family.
We don't know if it is nicotine or any of the other thousands of chemicals that helps prevent UC. It could for example be one of the other WTAs, or a combination. If you come from a family with two or more UC sufferers, there is something to be said for taking up smoking, at a very low quantity perhaps - or starting to
vape nic, or nic + WTAs maybe. UC is a serious and life-changing disease that ruins some people's lives, so this is not as mad as it sounds.
Once UC is triggered, all you can do is relieve the symptoms - if you are lucky. If things get bad, a colostomy or one of its variations is needed. That doesn't necessarily end it, because for some people it can also affect the joints, eyes, liver, and more. Those who have liver complications are not happy people.
We found that dietary adjustment was by far the best solution even though this is not recommended in the literature. After severe illness that would not respond to any drugs, including double the normal dose of steroids, a drastic dietary adjustment was tried as a last resort. These were removed: all dairy products, processed foods of the
dessert type with dozens of chemicals in, carageenan (a food additive associated with UC in lab tests), and tapwater (only bottled water is used for drinking, cooking or coffee).
The last one was the most drastic of all but found to be the most effective. The patient is down to 1 x 500mg Sulphasazine / Salazopyrine EN (enteric coated) per day, and can even omit this when necessary, and has had no relapses for years (this sufferer previously had many serious relapses and lost several years to the disease). Until you have had a few years with UC you will not realize just how amazing that is. Perhaps it is the chlorine in tapwater but we have no idea.
Tips
Make sure all tablets are EC (enteric coated). Especially, don't let them give you uncoated Prednisolone. This is the steroid used, it comes in 5mg white tablets (uncoated) or red (EN - coated - the type you want). The uncoated steroids can serious indigestion in a person that never had it before, and things are never the same afterward.
When things are bad, treat both ends
Avoid extended periods out in very bright sunlight without eye protection. You will need UV400 protected sunglasses. This is because UC sufferers are at risk of iritis ('UV-itis' aka snow-blindness) as a result of strong sunlight. It's very painful and distressing.
If you wear soft contact lenses, the sulpha /salazo pills can discolor them.
Don't listen to them if they tell you diet makes no difference, for some people the difference is dramatic.
UC affects the large intestine, Crohn's the small intestine. UC is not related to Crohn's in any way, although an unlucky sufferer could have a type of either that affects a greater part of the digestive tract than normal, causing confusion here. There is not known to be any benefit to smoking or nicotine in Crohn's, in fact it may be a bad idea.
Although smoking (or nicotine - we don't know which) is certainly a good idea for the prevention of UC, there is no evidence it helps after presenting with the condition. Nevertheless many UC sufferers do try it in the hope that it helps - probably because anything that might help is a good idea, and better than a relapse, which can be a very serious illness."
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We have provided this info to several others as it seems hard to find, even though there are 'usergroups' everywhere.
