Pipe smoking and stomach problems

[madox07]

Hey guys .. you know I kept reading around forums stuff like "make sure to smoke this blend on a full stomach", or "enjoy after a hearty meal", etc. I never paid much attention to it, until today I had my main meal of the day and probably a couple of hours later I decide to light a pipe. I was smoking Peterson's Wild Atlantic, which to me doesn't seem too heavy of a blend, but non the less I had this heart ache sensation towards the end of the bowl and after finishing it. Shoot, I even feel it a tad as I am writing this down. This makes me think that all those warnings have some truth to them .. Have any of you experienced this before? Can somebody be so kind to explain to me what is the correlation between pipe smoking (obviously by no means do I inhale the smoke or anything) and the digestive system? I did have a doctor diagnose me with irritable bowel syndrome a couple of years back, and I am currently recovering from one of those outbreaks ... should I be worried? I have never experienced this before with pipe, or cigar for that matter. Back when I was a heavy cigarette smoker, and my stomach was upset, I did have a similar sensation, but I though that was smoke inhalation related ..

 

[philobeddoe]

It was my understanding that these warnings were in reference to the higher level of nicotine in certain blends and the effects that ol St. Nic can have on us.

 

[phxrock]

Sounds like Acid Reflux, I've had this happen. Best to have your Doc check things out.

 

[aquadoc]

Nicotine manifests usually as more of a vertigo or nauseating feeling when it decides to punch you. It can make your heart race too... Similar to caffeine. Phxrock may be on to the issue. Take some tums and talk to your doctor.

 

[zerohunter]

Nexium helps me tremendously. I too have IBS, but the only blend that will sometimes affect my stomach is FM Cellar.

 

[Waning Embers]

Nicotine leaches sugar from the body, and that's what brings the light headed sensation. Try eating chocolate while you are smoking.

 

[unkleyoda]

For me, sometimes smoking can give me a heartburn/acid reflux issue. It doesn't happen often, but I have gotten it. High nicotine just gives me a light headed feeling.

 

[aldecaker]

Yep, sounds like heartburn to me. I've experienced it after smoking occasionally.

 

[aquadoc]

That is not quite what happens. Sugar is the gate keeper and at the surface of the neurotransmitter (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor), it announces the arrival of nicotine allowing the entry of the nicotine molecule. This then triggers a chain of reactions involving a deeply bound intercellular series of reactions resulting in the nicotine high. So the process utilizes the sugar. I do not think it necessarily metabolizes the sugar but it may take it out of service, so to speak. It has been too many years and I think they have only recently begun to understand how the mechanism works.
That said, nicotine stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such epinephrine, vasopressin, dopamine, and endorphins, etc. Herein lies why we can have increased temps, heart rate, sweats,... Nausea, etc. It also spikes

blood glucose levels because of adrenalin causing the liver to release sugar which increases your metabolism which can cause nausea.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Aquadoc just.., I'm not sure. But sugar cures nicotine overdose. I always keep chocolate on me for that reason. But, that does sound like heartburn or reflux. I had it once and the hurt sticks around for a while. Plus, it's dangerous, so go see a saw bone.

 

[mso489]

There are many ingredients in pipe smoke besides nicotine, and these all end up in your mouth and are swallowed and run out through your digestive tract. If you smoke just a little, this probably has little effect. If you smoke all the time, then you're getting a lot of whatever is in the smoke of your blends. Depending on your gut, this might cause reactions, allergies, etc. So change the dose (smoke less), or the blends and see what works for you. Reactions depend on so many variables including your genetic susceptibility, your age, what else you're exposed to in your diet and environment, and any other health challenges you have. Pay attention to your body and its reactions. You aren't like anyone else on Forums. It's all individual.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

It may have been what you ate? I sometimes connect tings to smoking a pipe, but in reality it had nothing to do with the pipe. Otherwise, without being scientific, nicotine has always relaxed my stomach making me need to go to the bathroom or have a little gas. It's never made my stomach hurt per se. I've been diagnosed with all the stomach stuff; IBS, leaky gut, diverticulitis, etc., but I think it's mainly anxiety. I've been on and off various medications, which all have helped to some degree, but I've always gone back to just taking a multi-vitamin and eating right with the occasional antacid. I had a serious attack of heartburn that lasted weeks earlier in the year and had to get an endoscopy, but the results just showed acid reflux. Some of the worst things for acid reflux are smoking (primarily cigarettes from my experiences, but pipes have affected mine to a lesser degree), coffee, chocolate, etc. If you had a recent bout of IBS, and your stomach is hurting, then it's probably the effect of the food, and may have been exacerbated a little by the pipe tobacco; but I'm no doctor?

 

[aquadoc]

Michael, I am pretty confident in the physiology of what is happening when nicotine hits the system. I am less certain why adding sugar to a system loaded with extra sugar might make you feel better but I drink sweet tea or a coke when I feel a nic hit. It probably stimulates an increase in insulin production to break down the sugar your liver is pumping out that maybe has reached but not passed a critical threshold. Will have to dig later.

 

[madox07]

Thanks for the input guys, mothernature what you say makes perfect sense. I have not been in my top shape with my stomach lately, and I have had a cup of coffee and a bowl, I think both can be quite acidic. Will mind my smoking as well .. Hope not to have to see the saw bone.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I am all lost on the medical jargon. I can only agree with you. I'm still not sure if we are in agreement or not, but chocolate works for me. I also will notice a drop in my blood sugar if I do the test just after smoking a heavy hitter nic blend. Not so much just smoking a Virginia or VaPer though. No differences there.
I also know that different doses affect me differently. High nicotine puts me right to sleep. Low nicotine gives me a boost of hyperactivity. Cigarettes give me a stimulant effect different from anything the pipe does.

 

[aquadoc]

High nicotine stimulates more sugar release into blood. Sugar is a sedative contrary to what our moms told us. We give our kids ice cream before they brush their teeth. They have a 5-10 minute pulse of energy. Boom, sleepy time.

 

[cally454]

Nicotine. The best drug ever

 

[woodsroad]

Aquadoc, thank you.
It's good to hear the science behind the symptoms. I appreciate that.

 

[condorlover1]

I find that smoking St Bruno gives me extreme flatulence for some reason and strangely on the extreme level one would experience after a bowl of Chili and Doritos, whilst I have never really noticed it people around me have commented that it can be most disturbing!!