COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
This last week I have been surprised about the number of people on this board that still smoke after being diagnosed with COPD.
I am 56 years old, and started smoking when I was 10. It has been my best friend for 46 years. But I quit cold turkey when the oxygen went on, It was a no brainer!
Any thought that starting again would be o.k. was dismissed when my pulmonologist showed me a graph (using FEV-1) of my life expectancy if everything continued as it was. It was 4 more years, as of last September.
The only things that I have control over that will make a difference are my diet, exercise, and smoking. I have changed all three and I feel 110% better than I did 10 months ago.
I haven't had A real cigarette for about 10 months now, but a couple of times tried an e-cig. I don't trust e-cigs. We still don't know enough about them, we still inhale a foreign substance into our already weak lungs. I am sure that can't help.
I am sorry to be so blunt, But I don't see how we can complain about our worsening condition if we continue with the habit that got us here in the first place.
I also hope my being blunt will be a factor in somebody's decision to quit. We have no choice, quit smoking now or shorten our life.
I am also sorry, I don't usually write novels.
Gary
I am 56 years old, and started smoking when I was 10. It has been my best friend for 46 years. But I quit cold turkey when the oxygen went on, It was a no brainer!
Any thought that starting again would be o.k. was dismissed when my pulmonologist showed me a graph (using FEV-1) of my life expectancy if everything continued as it was. It was 4 more years, as of last September.
The only things that I have control over that will make a difference are my diet, exercise, and smoking. I have changed all three and I feel 110% better than I did 10 months ago.
I haven't had A real cigarette for about 10 months now, but a couple of times tried an e-cig. I don't trust e-cigs. We still don't know enough about them, we still inhale a foreign substance into our already weak lungs. I am sure that can't help.
I am sorry to be so blunt, But I don't see how we can complain about our worsening condition if we continue with the habit that got us here in the first place.
I also hope my being blunt will be a factor in somebody's decision to quit. We have no choice, quit smoking now or shorten our life.
I am also sorry, I don't usually write novels.
Gary
I was the one who originally posted this, and got this thread going, so I ask you. Please don't leave our support group/family.
I mention the word family...ya know...when you're family-you don't always see eye to eye, but you CARE!!
I know that you care, or you wouldn't have bothered posting. So, just hang out, comment/post when you want, and we will go back to supporting one another, not that you weren't, and we all must just accept that everyone...EVERYONE...is entitled to their own viewpoint on this board.
Hugs,
Boo
I do 70% of things completely opposite to what a good lil copd'er should be doing....yes I knew in my heart I needed to quit the cigs but don't anyone start telling me I had too...I finally had the easiest quit using the e-cig cos everything else I tried was a dismal failure...
What you have shown me Gary is that you are actually doing stuff I have long since left to memories...the bike riding..working in the yard etc and I got to thinking that here is a guy who is prepared to get on with his life then so can I....thanks cos sometimes one doesn't fully realize how much unheralded actions can rub off on a total stranger...
So if ya need to, then have a break from the forum then do so....when ready, please return....Peter
I don't really want to leave this board. But I also don't want to see anybody continue to smoke and worsen their condition. I know I will lose friends like flies if they continue to be in denial about the effects of smoking. And I don't want to see that. I am passionate about this subject.
Gary
Can we agree to disagree and as Boo says in families we don`t always see eye to eye but hell we soon get over it and hug and make up again. I really do admire your passion please stay x x
I have been smoke free since November 11, 2011. I am well aware of the requirements for lung transplant since I am still going thru the testing. I am proud of being smoke free, and like you, there are times I think, well if they can get away with it, why can't i have one more? And like you, logic took over and I realized why I did not want to ever put another one of those nasty things in my mouth.
People may very well react out of anger, or guilt, or fear, or what ever , but those are their reactions and they may be just as passionate about smoking as you are that they quit!!
You have the right to your opinion, and they have the right to theirs, and take it from a democrat in a republican state, that is not always a fair discussion. lol
In any situation, family, group, you will have disagreements, and everyone will be passionate about their own agenda. But agree to disagree,and understand that with any addiction, the person doing the drug is the only one that can quit.
That you have compassion for others is a wonderful thing, and that you want to share the wonderful feeling of being smoke free with others is a wonderful thing, and I have no doubt you have reach some people.
You may not ever know if you changed the lives of some people, like when I was at the prison and would be asked about Jesus, I would witness to them, but never know in the long run if it helped someone. You just have to believe in yourself and believe you are doing what you believe....understand?
If you go, I will miss you, as well as others, so please do not be gone long. Maybe we all need a break at times.
You can message us I suppose every so often....
Brenda
actually, we were getting a bit stale on posts & you perked it up with yours.
nothing like a good "discussion" to get people posting their opinions LOL
when people share about WANTING to quit, i try to share MY experience with them.
i they don't ask, then i try not to Preach.
i see where you said :
"I have tried to only to add inspirational stories to this board, But when it comes to smoking the only inspiration I can think of Is how much better things get after you quit."
that's it!
like someone that has turned religion & become a missionary, you just want to share how great quitting can be!
you just worded it that didn't portray that message without getting a few hairs standing up~~~~which i can understand as i am horrid at this typing what i want to say, how i want to say it.
wanna hear a story? (you're gonna LOL)
i "met" Paula (drinkcoffee) over a cigarette post. she had posted some reply (i don't even remember what) and i posted my opinion.
i hadn't really paid attention to her post, but mine was of differing opinion & she got all hurt & was not going to come back....i had to re-read the posts to realize she was talking about me & what i posted she thought i was "re-butting" her post.
several PM's later & me explaining; we became friends.
on these boards, you can't see a persons expression or hear their tone of voice so there are often misunderstandings; but we are big kids and hopefully we can work them out without anyone having to leave.
i too, had posted my opinion.
I TOTALLY agree that smoking is bad and i quit. Some people have a harder time, it doesn't mean they don't want to quit, or aren't trying to quit.
MY PERSONALOPINION is that when i was trying to quit (and it still bothers me) is when Dr's and others put the whole blame on smoking. smoking is a horrid disease, yes, but it's not the only thing that gives us COPD.
my grandkids live in Salt Lake City, which is one of the dirtiest cities in america. in the winter the air quality is that same as smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day!!!!
i live by 2 rock companies that in the summer, when they are crushing rock the dust fills this valley.
of course there is "Radon" gas that many people have never had the FREE check done on their homes so are breathing that 24/7.
when i started smoking i didn't know how bad it was for me.
what bothers me more than others on this board not quitting is MY OWN children seeing me have this disease and they don't quit!!!
talk about dumb!
and i don't say anything (much ;) because i know if i preach at them it's not going to help...people that preached at me just brought out the rebel & i did it more.
so i throw comments to my grandkids about "never starting so you won't have to ever try quitting".
well, i'm rambling again...in a nutshell, i'm sorry if i offended you. don't go away. and i like a good "discussion" now and then so if you perked up the board with one---good for you :D
Gary, I've been an ex-smoker for 21 years now. I was a chain smoker (4 packs a day), and had totally convinced myself that I could never quit. One day, however, I went to the doctor who told me I had borderline pneumonia (I had bronchitis every year). The doctor said if I didn't quit, I would have Emphysema within 5 years. He scared me so bad that I decided then and there that I wanted to quit. My son was 11 at the time, and I promised him I would never smoke another cigarette. I've kept that promise.
My point is that I've learned that some people take longer than others, and everyone's motivation is different. They won't stop until they find their own motivation, whatever that may be. I admire your love and concern for them, and I have no doubt that everything you wrote in your original post was meant to try to save lives and motivate them... because they're like your family. Please don't leave us. We need you, and you're an important part of our lives now. We may all have our little squabbles, but we all genuinely care about each other and are part of the same family and we can all learn a lot from each other. I sincerely hope you decide to stay.
Love,
Pat
I did quit smoking "cold turkey" as they say after open heart in 2001.
Still, in my profession, I saw many very sick people with co-morbid conditions who did not quit. In the end...Our lives are our own, we must live them for ourselves in the way that we alone must choose. And really, nobody else should be unhappy about that.
Perhaps anyone with real strong hating regarding anything... is really just feeling misguided anger. Just sayin! Hope you do the right thing for you, Gary. Debbie.
Remember too..you called some of us closet smokers...well, maybe we didn't feel comfortable coming out and saying anything, because we were AFRAID....afraid of the lectures, or comments...that now that I DID come clean to my wonderful friends..something I did NOT have to do, but wanted to, because I know a lot of you have stopped smoking...and I always get very good ideas from all of you, for a lot of things i'm goin thru, that you have already gone thru.
so, I think that maybe admitting to the smoking, was a big step for some. I know it was for me.
But, I didn't expect your response...I've gotten other ones, and then yours kinda just "HIT me"....that's all. Doesn't mean you can't give your opinion.
But you see, My mom knows I am still smoking, and she yelled at me, cause she smoked for 60 years, so I DO know the bad things that can happen to you, i'm not dumb, but it is one of the hardest things I 've tried to stop.
I stopped, then started, stopped, then bought the e cig...then started again. so, my plan this time, is this week, is to Stop completely.
But, don't leave because you didn't like how people reacted. I'm sure you have been in other social situations, that you felt you had to leave, but stayed. Maybe some works situations, where you wanted to leave, but stayed.
Everyone is different. We took your constructive criticism, and some didn't like it, some were fine with it. If everyone on here, left after making a strong statement like you did...we wouldn't have any members left!!!
wE ALL are entitled to go off on our own tangent, or say what we want. All it says, is that we have to "promise to be nice"...tHAT'S WHAT IT SAYS...UNDER THE COMMENT AREA, WHEN YOU POST SOMETHING. If it's not nice, then don't post it. But, if it's your OPINION...and you feel it's nice ENOUGH, than go for it. But, don't expect all responses to be sugar coated back to you, if someone didn't like it.
Ok Gary, i'm done trying to convince you to stay now. This was my last attempt, you're on your own. So, good luck if you don't come back, and if you stay, well dang....I feel that would be a great thing!
Who else is gonna reply to my last night posts, YOU!!! You're one of the ones that are still up, on the other side !!!!
Hugs,
Boo
Personally, I don't care if you smoke or you don't, it's your choice and if you want to quit I will try to help you (on the Smoking and Recovery Board) if not keep on puffin'.
i didn't hear you or deb complain
nor asking how to quit.
the whole thing got started because of anesthesia & how smoking can affect it.
i think the biggest mistake in gary's post was that he literally was picking on a few people FOR THEIR HONESTY about the topic.
we (I) all get our feathers ruffled if anyone "messes" with one of our "family"
i can't change ANYTHING until i get honest about it---so kudo's to you for your honesty!!!
now; i wonder what junk food awaits in my pantry....
HEH HEH HEH
Hope you found candy, that satisfied your sweet tooth!
Boo