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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

gagal

Well here's my two cents, to Krissy I use to smoke off and on for the past twenty years or so. I also have been having problems for that long that drs didn't know what the h--- it was till Jan of this year. I can also look back and see that maybe this makes some since of how thing would happen and then get better. I quit smoking and hope I can stay quit due to the Sarc being in my lungs as well as my lymp nodes and eyes. I also have a cyst in my spinal cord and deg disk diasese. So guess what running is out of the question for me right now as it might be for many others. My point is this, what works for you is and
always will be different for others. We all have to make our own desions as to what works for each of us. Everything
in this would effects each person differently, from SARS itself to meds to what we eat to life styles. But the one thing we all need is prayers, love and compassion.
I have always told my kids you will not always like
everyone and agree with and that's okay. Because if we
were all alike it would be a dull world. But that also
doesn't give us the right to be disrespectful. So if I am
being this to you I am sorry, but please remember to do
like wise.

IreneMarie

Since tar has had many uses over the ages, perhaps that is the compound in smoking that plays a part in suppression or masking of Sarc symptoms and not nicotine. I smoked for 20yrs but did not get noticeable Sarc symptoms until about 15yrs after quitting so I can't equate the two.

Anyway, it peeked my interest so I thought I would share what I found.

The word "tar" is often used to describe several distinct substances which are not actually tar. Naturally occurring "tar pits" (e.g. the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles) actually contain asphalt rather than tar.

In Northern Europe, the word "tar" refers primarily to a substance that is derived from the wood and roots of pine. In earlier times it was often used as a water repellent coating for boats, ships, and roofs. It is still used as an additive in the flavoring of candy, alcohol and other foods. Wood tar is microbicidal and has a pleasant odor — a sweet musky scent much like that of barbecue. Producing tar from wood was known in ancient Greece, and has probably been used in Scandinavia since the iron age.

The heating (dry distilling) of pine wood causes tar and pitch to drip away from the wood and leave behind charcoal. Birchbark is used to make particularly fine tar, known as "Russian oil", suitable for leather protection. The by-products of wood tar are turpentine and charcoal. When deciduous tree woods are subjected to destructive distillation the products are methanol (wood alcohol) and charcoal.

Tar was also used as seal for roofing shingles and to seal the hulls of ships and boats. For millennia wood tar was used to waterproof sails and boats, but today sails made from inherently waterproof synthetic substances have negated the need for tar. Wood tar is still used to seal traditional wooden boats and the roofs of historical shingle-roofed churches, as well painting exterior walls of log buildings. Tar is also a general disinfectant.

In Finland wood tar was once considered a panacea reputed to heal "even those cut in twain through their midriff". A Finnish proverb states that if sauna, vodka and tar won't help, the disease is fatal. Wood tar is used in traditional Finnish medicine because of its microbicidial properties.

Wood tar is also available diluted as tar water, which has numerous uses:

As a flavoring for candies (e.g. Terva Leijona) and alcohol (Terva Viina)

As a spice for food, like meat

As a scent for saunas. Tar water is mixed into water which is turned into steam in the sauna

As an anti-dandruff agent in shampoo

As a component of cosmetics

As an ingredient in Cigarettes

Mixing tar with linseed oil varnish produces tar paint. Tar paint has a translucent brownish hue, and can be used to saturate and tone wood and protect it from weather. Tar paint can also be toned with various pigments, producing translucent colours and preserving the wood texture. Because of its paint-like properties, tar should not be touched with bare hands or feet, as it can dry to produce a permanent stain. However, in any case, paint thinner is used to remove it.

This kind of puts smoking in a different light since lung tissue is so fragile it needs to be protected by a rib cage yet this boney barrel doesn't protect it from what we inhale - in essence - paint our lungs.

Nicki117

Dx with Sarc over 10 yrs... same experience, symptoms worsened after quiting, i thought about going back to smoking but will never do that .... i hope and pray my body re-adjusts for the better eventually.

Akhilluvs

the same here tried quitting and was diagnosed with sarc..... its stupid but still can't believe,,,,,,,

Jimmy-30

I hate to say it but i to have had a flare up since quitting smoking but would definitely not go back. It may be that our body's when giving up are going through hell, add the stress and most likely weight gain may be are body s are just re-adjusting

mvaughn1018

Why would anyone want to take on the risk of another disease and additional symptoms? I've never been a smoker. I'm the only child of three who did not smoke and I'm the only one with this disease and asthma. I would much rather work on an exercise program to keep my lungs up than to add to my problems. However my docs can't agree if it is safe for me to exercise. So with the help of prednisone, mtx and an array of other drugs, I'm watching my body turn into the Stay Puff Marshmallow Lady. I wish you luck on controlling your symptoms, but weigh the risks and benefits

Sebastien

I tried champix but was really ill, I eventually stopped smoking through cold turkey, then 10 weeks later collapsed and was diagnosed with sarcoidosis of lungs. I am now down from 60mg to 12.5 mg prednisone, but night sweats are starting again, breathing is becoming more difficult again, I am starting to feel panicky and not sleep. I had started smoking again but after reading chances of lung cancer are 3 times more with sarcoidosis I stopped again only yesterday. After reading this site and all these comments I think smoking could be the lesser of the evils!
Although I have posted as Sebastien I am actually female, Sebastien is the name of my beautiful horse, who also has sarcoids!!!!!!

jogardener

Yeah, I too have had the sarc symptoms since i quit smoking 10 years ago. I wondered why I was so damn sick after I quit smoking. I remember asking my doctor why I felt so awful and when was I going to feel better? I never did! I thought it was just coincidental and I had never put the two together until recently but I would never start up its hard enough to get a good deep breath now.

Scottd

Listen to me loud and clear..... I worked for a tabacco company for years....I did smoke occassionally back in the early 90's before I started working there. I was dx with asthma in 1991 and in 2006 bone sarc (everywhere in my body) without lung involvement. I had not smoked for almost 10 years when I started having sarc symptoms and was dx. At work people could smoke everywhere and anywhere. I believe the second hand involvement played a large part in the exacerbation of my condition. Three weeks ago the dr's informed me that I now have nogels in my lung. (Is it sarcoid?) Most likely... but they plan on waiting 6months to see if they grow and at that point the lung dr will do a biopsy.
Please.... we are already suffering in pain with this awful disease. Don't make things worst for your selves by smoking. I don't care what study they are doing.......nor what the results are when it comes to smoking. If anything, it may be the nicotine that is helping but I can tell you from experience..... everyday 8 hours or more a day of being in an environment where people smoked everywhere..... it is not the smoke that is suppressing your sarc sypmtoms.
Don't believe the hype!
Be blessed!
Scottd

Sunset57

I thought this was in my head and didn't want to say anything, but my symptoms also increased when I tried to quit smoking for a couple of months. I smoke about 1 pack a week to 1 1/2 weeks. I never really increased my habit and my urge comes mostly late in the evening. Of course this isn't an excuse to smoke, but there is something to it. Thankfully I haven't had to be put on steroids and I think I would refuse if it was suggested because of the serious side effects. Right now my symptoms are just enough to annoy me and keep me praying, but my first serious flare up was in 2005.
It would be nice if someone would do a documentary on this stuff. It's affecting so many lives.
I wish everyone the best and encourage you to take one day at a time and enjoy every moment you can.

Ellen

Hi

I had to quit a little more than two years ago. {I was on life support] that got me thru withdrawel. I feel better since January then in over twenty years. I hope they outlaw tobacco. The Tobbacco growers could raise the benign and healty Marijuania. I am not being crazy or silly I mean it. Tobacco is evil and deadly. If you have had a remission upon stopping it is coincidental. Good Luck Ellen

AngelsFarm

Point well taken Krissy. Fortunately my lungs are still stage 0/1 so I'm able to continue running also...at least between flare ups. Exercise does make me feel better and, IMHO, allows me to better weather a flare up. Please don't misconstrue my original comments. I wasn't endorsing smoking. Rather, I was giving an honest response to the original question...how else do we learn if not for the experiences of others.

mrsbias

Bat...as a smoker (barely)..I don't believe that cigarettes does ANYTHING for sarc!!! I wouldn't even use it as an excuse...I usually light a cig when I get stressed...stupid..but old habits are hard to break. Somewhere in my mind I quit...then when my husband smoke...I lite...no an excuse..but I can't stand second hand smoke...wow...coming from a smoker. Heres's the thing...I would honestly LOVE to quit...trying.....soon my pockets would agree...of course I haven't purchased a pack on months....I always getem from my husband!!!!
But back to the subject...I don't believe it supresses ANYTHING...hell they don't even have a clue on how to cure sarc...there's a thought!!!

jamiejlj

Befote you use chantix please look it up there has been alot about it causing real harm to people.

Bat

**********************************************************
Again ppl I thank you for your comments and thoughts but I think a lot of the comments are not relating to what I asked at the begining... IS IT TRUE? does anyone know for fact?

PLEASE NOTE: I was not asking if ppl should or should not smoke. Some common sense there I thought...

Personally I gave up smoking in a stress free way.... I simply got bored with it. So I dont see stress as a possible cause for my recent onset of sarc.
********************************************************

diamondgirl01

I've never smoked, but....I wonder if the fact that stress can trigger any disease to manifest itself is the reason that the Sarc. was held at bay. The stress of quitting smoking triggers the Sarc. to come forward. I would wonder also if quitting smoking, a death in the family, a divorce, or any stressful event might cause Sarc., cancer, or even a heart attack to manifest itseelf. Just a thought. However, I wouldn't take it up just to stop the inflammation and pain of Sarc.

Krissy

Yes Jeanie, you are right. Just lots of physical activity. I also believe the hit of endorphins that I get helps with the pain.

jeanie33

Krissie
wonder if it was the running or just lots of physical activity, cuz I notice I feel better if I just keep moving. Tried running but couldn't stand the pounding, now I walk and hike a lot when able, also..do regular exercise routine.
The more I do the farther apart the major flares.
Wish we had more answers --
jean

elon55

I smoked for 30 years and was so proud of myself for quitting. One year later (2004) I started coughing with every breathe and this is when it started ... it took 3 years (2007) for a diagnosis that I had lung sarc.

I've always heard that after quitting smoking for years, something kicks in and most get very sick. This is silly, but In my mind, I would think of how all the tar and nicotine is holding everything in place and when you quit, a serious health issue shows up. This happened to many of my friends who quit.

With all the pain and suffering I have been through, it would be crazy to start smoking again. I've come a long way ...

marian-anne

hi all I smoked for years and always had the "smokers cough" I had to give up in 2000 as I needed an op and thet refused to do until I stopped smoking, I was diagnosed 3 months later with sarcs and COPD, so no I have not gone back, been tempted but could not afford it anyway £5.00 a packet in the UK so yes I am sure it helps but to what cost the COPD is as bad as sarcs sometimes even worse so please dont be tempted folks to take up smoking, oh! and am the only one that now cannot stand the smell of tabacco on people, they say ex-smokers are the worsted well they are right! have a good day all.

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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.

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