Yep! I usually sleep for short naps and have a cigarettte now and then. Try to keep from finishing it and the hot coffee helps . Currently using Siriva and Albuterol. They seem to work OK, for me.

Keep trying and . This forum helps!

teespoon

Blaming yourself accomplishes very little, except maybe to prevent you from getting the help you need.

Many of us here smoked at one time, actually, I'd bet the majority did. Some still do. Nonetheless, the best thing you can do for yourself is quit, but if that's not possible, there are still other things you can do to improve your life and have much better quality days.

I'd say first thing is to see a doc and get some testing done...Pulmonary Function Tests, Arterial Blood Gases, etc. and whatever else the doc recommends. Then get on the right kind of medication, which is usually daily maintenance - this will help you breathe better and cut down on exacerbation. Exercise is also of great benefit.

COPD is progressive, make no mistake about it, but we, can by our own actions and determination slow its progress and have a fulfilling life.

I hope you continue to read this forum and ask any questions, no matter how silly they may seem to you...we've all been there and can relate, so don't be shy or ashamed!.

Best good wishes!

Hi jc

Thanks for posting.

I don't still smoke, and I don't have problem asking for help should things be getting real bad. In fact for patients with COPD it is crucial to not only ask but to act quickly as to delay any treatment, ie any worsening of symptoms, could save you further permanent deterioration in health.

There are decisions you need to make to help yourself, especially if you want a better quality of life...

These are:

Seeking medical help in managing your illness and get the right medications that are going to help keep your condition stable and to help you breathe easier.
.
Stop smoking to preserve your lungs, quality of life and help you breathe easier. (also avoid passive smoking)

Attend a pulmonary rehabilitation course to help manage your illness and improve your quality of life generally, you will breathe easier, be able to achieve more and enjoy more in life.

The decisions are all yours. I can only tell you that those 3 things have made a tremendous difference to my qualify of life.

Good wishes to you whatever you decide.

Hi jan.You sound as though you dont think too highly of yourself,perhaps a little self love would not go amiss.Good luck with the tobacco quitting,it really is such an important thing to persevere with if you hope to maintain a reasonable standard of quality life whilst coping with this disease.

Oh and yes, smoked heavily for fifty two years finally quit four years ago after three previous attempts.Still continuing to reap the benefits daily.

Hi Jan & welcome!! I understand how you feel! I've probably tried to quit 25 or 30 times over the past few years! I am on day 42 now & I'm sure I can do it this time. Everyone is different & there are many products to help. I am using the patch & the gum.Most states have free programs to quit & give you them free. You gust go 30 mins --1 time a week for a smoking class.I don't know what your other health issues are but not smoking is a HUGE benefit to your breathing, circulatio, etc. Keep posting your thoughts & everyone will help all they can. A good sense of humor is GREAT!!

Good Morning,

I just wanted to tell you to stop beating yourself up over smoking. I read a book on COPD and the author who has emphysema said when someone gets colon cancer you don't ask if they ate enough roughage or when someone has a car accident you don't ask if they are a good driver so stop blaming yourself. I hope you try to quit as it really does help and makes a drastic difference. It is extrememly difficult but it can be done. Hang in there.

Thank you all very much for your replies...jc

I was a chain smoker for 25 years; 4 packs a day (yes, it is possible to smoke that much). Back when I smoked, businesses let you smoke at your desk, so I was always puffing on a cigarette. Smoking was the last thing I did at night, and the first thing I did every morning before my feet hit the floor. I arranged my life around smoking. If a business didn't allow smoking in their building, I wouldn't shop there. I smoked two cartons a week, so it was expensive, even back then.

After a doctor told me if I didn't quit I would have emphysema in 5 years, I finally quit with the help of patches...on my very first try! How I wish I had quit sooner. Now, 18 years after I quit, I was diagnosed with emphysema. It's discouraging that I still wound up with it, but I really believe that quitting earlier helped me to have a longer quality of life. For someone who has emphysema, I'm doing very well. I use Spireva once a day, and have an emergency inhaler (Albuterol). That's it; no oxygen 24/7.

The best advice I can give is to quit smoking now. The sooner you quit, the better quality of life you will continue to have. I know it's difficult to ask for help when you feel like you're the one responsible for your condition; but the fact is that not asking for help when you need it is the wrong path to take. I have found all the medical professionals more concerned with how to help me in the situation I'm in now, rather than degrade me for how I got here. Believe me, please; you care more about that than they do. Please get started on the right path and go to a professional.

I wish you the best. Everyone is here to try to help.

To make it simple: You need to quit smoking & stay away from second hand smoke & other irritants.

I smoked for 35 years and finally used ecigs to quit (that took two weeks) and then quit the ecigs (that was another six months). I have to confess, though, that for all the hype about how much better you'll feel, I missed that boat. I no longer sound like a harmonica at night but, alas, there was no magical improvement in any other part of the respiratory system. I guess supposedly it slows down the progression, but I'm not sure of the point in that.

And, yes, go out there on some of the other bulletin boards and it's clear that they think that we deserve to suffer and be miserable since we brought this on ourselves. But keep in mind that these are also the same people who felt that the gays deserved AIDS, fat people suck, they shouldn't have to look at ugly people, and any variety of disdain for those not quite as perfect as them. But did it to ourselves or not, nobody deserves to or should have to suffer like so many with COPD do, so difficult though it may be, find the strength to ask for help. People have compassion for the suffering and quality of life of death row inmates. Don't you think your "crime" of smoking is less vile, and therefore worthy of some relief of your suffering?

Hi..
Thank you all again...
I just wanted to say that I do, of course, know that not smoking is the first and likely most important step I have to take to improve quality of my life..
Absurd as it sounds...due to other health issues..I have to gain a few more lbs in order to stop again..and I absolutely will........I have only ever been able to quit with Chantix....which, unfortunately, is extremely nauseating to me, so I loose weight for the first month or so........and then, of course gain it and then some back not smoking...
I'm extremely underweight right now and working at gaining enough to be able to lose that bit I do on the Chantix...

I know that sounds nuts....other health issues involved...I hope to be able to start Chantix again in about a month....unfortunately...that will also be about the time I start Plaquenyl for Lupas.....also said to be quite nauseating....dang it...

I've been on Chronic Pain boards for over three months, and don't write posts this long there, still....

You all seem to be a great, cohesive support to one another, and I enjoy reading the threads here...

Thanx...jc

Hi again jc

Wishing you every success with everything. You may find that you have a greater appetite when you stop smoking.

Maybe chat with your doc about an alternative to Chantix, your doc I am sure can refer you to a cessation clinic too where you can get that extra support in quitting.

So sorry you are dealing with chronic pain too. I am wishing you more of the good days.

Peta x

See, told you the majority of us smoked at one time! LOL....

And, as you can see quitting is not impossible, though if asked we might have said it was at the time we smoked, so we all hope you can quit.

Am wondering, why you would need to gain a few lbs. again for another attempt? I've always been under the impression that most people gain weight when they quit. Wouldn't that be of benefit to you?

I'm sorry Chantix didn't work for you...but there's probably as many quit methods as there are people. I quit cold turkey some years back, had one relapse, smoked e cigs for a couple of weeks then quit again and haven't touched a cigarette since.

It's an addiction plain and simple. Us older folks probably weren't even aware we were becoming addicted at the time - it's a sneaky, underhanded thing the tobacco companies did. I now take all the money I save by not smoking and treat myself to something much more positive......(I'm not sure about the occasional chocolate, though).

The other thing, is I'd bet smoking is exacerbating some of your other health issues, for it certainly can cause them.

Hang in there, and remember there's a whole bunch of peeps rooting for you!

Boy would I like all that money back from cigs!! I quit 6 years ago, but they were expensive even then. Now they are outrageous! I like to spend money, but not to have it just go up in smoke! Had to get that in:>))

$10.00 bucks per pack here in New York..............