Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

Smoking suppresses Sarcoidosis

Bat
3 Recommendations

Smoking supresses Sarcoidosis, does anyone know if this is true.

My symptoms disappeared when I returned to smoking, now I have given up again the symptoms seemed to have come back.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Asthma Cancer Neurosarcoidosis Nicotine patch Chantix SARS Anxiety Pain Prednisone Heart attack Sarcoidosis Depression Lung cancer Stress

41 replies

Krumdawg

Tobacco use by me seem to have slowed but not stopped the onset of Neurosarcoidosis. I was diagnosed with Neurosarcoidosis in May 2008 had a really bad flare up in August of 2008 (I did not know who I was for a while). I was using tobacco at that time. I can now look back over the last 20 years a see the signs that I had sarcoidosis. So my use may have slowed down but it did stop it. I used copenhagan or snuff tobacco for almost 30 years. I am starting week 14 tobacco and nicotine free. No signs of cancer with my tobacco use at this time. Thank the lord for favors. I do not suggest tobacco use as a treatment, For it may slow and restrict the initial onset (at least in my case) but it will not stop the onset or limit flare ups, and of course the possiblity of adding cancer to your mix is not a fun thing.

I do not know if my findings will effect you in the samr way. I have noticed at least the followin things during my study of sarcoidosis. And that is this on the average everybodies sarcoid involvement is at slightly different. And how we react to various drugs and treatments is different. I wish you luck and days that are pain-free.

Greg aka Krumdawg

ellj

Smokers are in a very small percentile of sarcoidosis diagnosis'. However, there is no research to provide the information to state that smoking suppresses sarcoid.
In fact, smoking would be very discouraged if sarcoid is already affecting your lungs.
A current NIH study is examing the nicotine patch and sarcoid. No study results are yet available.

mannyuno

I have started having symptoms last year right after I had quit smoking, I told the Doctor that I kind of felt the symptoms right after I quit smoking. Hope this help for something and God bless.

Angelfox

The episode on the tv program "House" that did finally address sarcoidosis was about a young man who had given up chewing tobacco and the symptoms began. It was suggested that the tobacco had kept the symptoms at bay. Most of us on this site were glad they finally had a case of sarc after hinting at it for years, but we were disappointed at the way it was handled. I wouldn't advise the use of tobacco especially if you have lung sarc!

MissLet

Personally, I never tried to quit smoking. I found that the anxiety of trying to quit usually sends me to the doctors office for an eye shot of prednisone. Smoking keeps my anxiety at bay and I have less symptoms. I don't know if its clinically sound, and I don't have sarcoid in my lungs (I think I would be less inclined to smoke) but for now its working for me....

shellycav66

Up until now i hadnt even thought about it, but i quit smoking in sept 2007 and by april 2008 i had become so ill and it was later they told me i had sarc

Lisalee

I just wanted to throw my "Me too" in. I was told that if I were a heavier smoker, I probably wouldn't have became ill with Sarc. No more than a year after I quit, I got sick. What the heck is going on? I thought that the doc was just feeding me a Bull**** line because they didn't know how to treat me. We should add that if you smoke cigarettes, you won't get Sarcoidosis to the Surgeon General's warning. Lol!

Great-gram

Hi! I'm a non-smokker and a retired nurse - I've been exposed to an extreme amount of second-hand smoke in my life-time - aggravating almost life-long asthma, back in the day when there was no real treatment. -- this amounts to COPD = If you don't smoke, I wouldn't recommend smoking. One of the reasons we missed the original sarcoid, was because of the asthma. Now, I don't know which is which or what is what. Isn't that what we call brain fog - think I have a double or triple dose - I can blame not enough oxygen or is it the ADD (the H up and left -sarcoid will do that; or is it brain drain from second-hand smoke - could be chemo brain - maybe I'm just plain tired - the list goes on - oh, I forgot depression - wow! lots of excuses. There's just one problem - my mother never let me use anything as an excuse. I messed up tonight - my husband of 48 years went to go out to the store for some things, and instead of "I love you!" He got "Whatever" and apparently it was how I said it. What's worse, I don't remember saying it - Ouch! I apologized. Ooops, I just remembered - I forgot my mother had Ahlzheimers. YOu know that's a word I never could spell.
Remember, smoking cuts back of your circulation, as it decreases blood flow and decreases healing and increases pain - especially in the back and legs. It also narrows blood vessels to the brain, and causes brain drain.
Everything we take - no matter what the medication, but especially smoking -- has it's own set of side effects. I guess that's why my doctor limits my meds to the heart ones and the asthma.
Well, time to go. See if America's got Talent has any laughs for the night. God bless! Great-Gram

mrsbias

Sad to say...I guess..it depends on which way you look at it....I smoke...with asthma, sarc in the lungs and lymph nodes....honestly speakking I like the side effects to the cigarettes verses the side effect to the predisone, xanax,lexapro and the list goes on. For some reason I feel better after I smoke a cigarette...might sound crazy...but I do. Maybe it's because my body has got use to all the chemicals and don't know how to react without them...but believe me while on predisone.....SOMEBODY better give me a cigarette to calm my nerves. I actually think the cigarette is the ONLY reason I haven't caught a case....lol

Krissy

Nicotine is thought to suppress sarcoidosis. Anyone who is stupid enough to use this as a feeble excuse to smoke is asking for the health consequences of smoking.

Bat

Thanks to all for your replies, some waffle on and some make sense.
Maybe I was not expecting 3 words to trigger so much reaction but Im glad it has for the better knowledge. To some whom misread, I was not suggesting anyone should take up smoking, nor would it eliminate all symptoms. It was mearly a coincidence that I found with my own changes when I gave up smoking and then returned to it.
As for which way one should proceed, well thats anyones guess. I dont want to smoke anymore, or do I want to make "feeble" excuses to restart. I was just curious to know if anyone else experienced the things I did.

AngelsFarm

I’ve smoked on and off for a number of years. Not the brightest thing I've ever done (please read that as if you don't smoke, don't start) but IMO, flares ups are less frequent and severe when I’m smoking. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that the nicotine or other components of cigarette smoke have a positive effect on sarcoid as there is currently a clinical trial underway to assess the interaction:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00701207
http://www.clinicalconnection.com/exp/ExpandedPatientViewStudy194358.aspx

(two links to what appears to be the same trial at Ohio State)

Further, according to an article in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine:
(http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/169/8/893)

“… these findings suggest that smoking may be protective or inhibit the development of granulomatous inflammation”

I would suspect there is strong evidence if a respected journal which deals with respiratory care references positive aspects of smoking. Elsewhere I read that the proposed ‘treatment’ would involve the use of a nicotine patch or gum rather than cigarettes which makes practical sense. The patch / gum treatment would only be effective if the study found that nicotine, rather than the smoke itself, is the inhibitor. The study is slated to end in 2010. I'll be interested to see the outcome.

BevB

Hi Bat,
I cannot believe that you asked this question !!! I only smoke in times of great stress, which has been off and on now for a few months...anyway, I just told my husband a couple of weeks ago that since I've been smoking I've had almost NO symptoms of Sarc !!! WOW! I know that smoking has many life threatening health risks but the fact that it could actually do SOME good is pretty amazing! BUT, hear me loud & clear, I am NOT encouraging anyone to smoke.
Take care & God bless.
Bev

thatsryt

Hi there, Lung/Lymph Sarc here. I did smoke for years and was dx with sarc when I was smoking. Been trying to quit since dx back in 2006. It is strange but I seem less symptomatic when I do. My lung sarc has gotten worse so I really want to quit becasue of dimished fucntion and the fear of something worse happening. So I am using the nicotine lozenges (spelling?).

My mother-in-law has IBS and/or Chron's which is similar to sarc but effects to lower GI tract. She as been on Pred for it, and is currently taking 6mp chemo for it currently with little results. She did smoke when she was younger bus had not for the last 25 years. The IBS symptoms were not improving. The doctor actaully reccomended she take smoking back up. And YES her symptoms did improve. I am not sure if it was psychosomatic or if there is an anti-inflammatory effect form the nicontine. She has since quit smoking and living with the symptoms.

I do not reccomended people go out and smoking. I just stating my experiences. I personally beleive in the end smoking/tobacco will casue more harm than good.

Mark

mrsbias

Allow me to say this...I don't by no means suggest anyone to pick up the habit of smoking!!! I smoke...yes I do...and I am grown too....I am a person that believe if you haven't done it don't speak on it. I wouldn't dare tell a alcoholic to stop drinking...hell he can read the bottle when he puchase it (the side effects) and mainly because I have never been a alcoholic. What works for one may not work for another. And like I posted yesterday...the side effects to nicotine ain't nearly as bad as the side effects to half the meds they got me on!!! Smoking is a bad habit and I admit it is hard to quit (for me)....I guess I gotta ween myself off cigs too.....(sounds familiar)

ImaHouseEpisode

I never even thought there might be a connection! I quit smoking, had my last on Oct. 31st 07... and my SCD was in June 08 just a few months later... they think the cause was probably the sarc. I am so proud of myself for quitting, I haven't cheated and I refuse to pick up the habit again. Even if it were to cure the sarc, I would wait until an alternate solution were avail. I have a young son and a super hot hubby to love for many more years. =)

prairieannie

Wow! I'm another one that got sick almost immediately after I quit smoking 2 years ago.
The cough started, and continued for almost a year before they finally diagnosed me with Sarc, but looking back, every sarc symptom that I had began in that first month after I quit. SonofaB it just figures doesn't it? LOL!

jenniestarrish

hello,
This is my first post here and this subject really caught my attention. I am a smoker with sarc. My sysmptoms also began when I quit smoking. I also do not sarc in my lungs. I am getting ready to quit again and plan on using Chantix, which blocks nicotine receptors in the brain. I'm wondering if anybody here has used chantix and with what result. I'm almost thinking I should use nicotine patches instead. Any thoughts? Thanks so much!

Krissy

You know, I am a runner and there is no doubt that my running has kept lung symptoms at bay. It seems that many people would rather hear smoking suppresses symptoms than running does.

nitt121

My boyfriend used to smoke marijuana and when he stopped the sarc flared up. At the time we thought he was having symptoms b/c he stopped smoking....you know light cough, sweats, headaches, etc. But it progressed and he had a flare up that was unbelievable

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!

Forgot password?

Help and information from FSR

Sarcoidosis and the Body
Sarcoidosis is a "multiorgan" disease - meaning it almost always involves more than one organ. It's unpredictable and affects different people in different ways.

You can learn about the ways in which sarcoidosis affects the body in FSR's Sarcoidosis and the Body brochure.

Group leaders

You