Stopping smoking with asthma...

[Blouise1504]

Hi,

I'm giving up smoking today and I've got 3 more days, out of 10, on my steriods after asthma attacks. I guess my biggest worry is I hear you bring up phlegm in the first week or two of giving up and was wondering could this set off another asthma attack... Or have people had situations where it doesn't affect asthma at all??? I'm still new to all this! Thanks 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Ts777]

Hi,

Whenever I did it, i had to watch out for chest infections. Weirdly though, on my final attempt I didn’t get one. No idea why. I’m sure that’s not what helped me succeed.

I’m certain others have different experiences. Well done for taking the first step 🙂🙂

Please be kind to yourself. The thing that finally helped me kick it was Alan Carr’s stop smoking book. He’s not the comedian.

Good luck

[utkmybrthawy in reply to Ts777]

Every day without a cigarette is a struggle. But every single day without a cigarette, you are getting better in tiny ways by tiny degrees. After three months, you will be able to take a deep breath and exhale slowly and will thank God. I promise you, you are not sick: it is the cigarettes. The cigarettes are killing your tiny cilia in your lungs. Tiny veins atrophy in your heart. It is the cigarettes! And your body will heal! You must watch your back on the addiction and a little voice that says “oh you can just have one.” You can’t. (I just quit after 40 years of smoking, and I’m getting better by tiny degrees. It’s amazing that my body forgives me at all.). Here is what helped me: I made eucalyptus cigarettes. What I did, is got a bunch of cheap pens from the dollar store, took out the guts, put in a piece of bamboo soaked in eucalyptus oil and smoke them like cigarettes. They are cool, they fill your lungs with with eucalyptus fumes, and they are actually rather healing. NOT vapes! They are just as bad as cigarettes. They fill your lungs with moisture and now you really have a problem. Write me anytime if you need support D

[fenny123 in reply to utkmybrthawy]

I would never have managed to stop smoking without my vape 8 years ago. From the day I started to vape, my lungs started improving and I never ended up with pneumonia every winter.

Given the tens of thousands who have stopped with the help of vapes and *stayed* stopped, I wonder what field of expertise you are in and what experience you have of vaping? Can you perhaps link to the study showing that vapes are as bad?

[Poobah]

Well done for taking the first step. Only some asthmatics experience worsening symptoms for a few days after giving up smoking and after that things start to improve quite quickly. If you're unlucky to be one of those people then be prepared with additional meds and support.

As for phlegm and coughing, use the huffing technique to help clear any gunk out of your lungs. This is a video that explains the technique and if you're lucky enough to be treated by a physiotherapist then this is what they will teach you. youtu.be/bXJkZ5fGU7c(Not working as expected?)

Good luck with your endeavours and we're always here, as an asthma community, if you want our support.

[sarahjane12]

Hi Blouise1504 I packed in smoking 2016 when i was rushed in to hospital with life threatening asthma attack didn’t know I had asthma at the time had a bad chest infection that turned into pneumonia so had to be put to sleep for a week to give my lungs a rest I stopped there and then I was a bit mucus first couple of days but not as bad as I thought it would of been my chest is loads better now as I used to have lots of chest infections in one year am lucky if I get one a year now 🙏it’s hard at first but worth it i done it with the patches and had loads of mints on hand good luck you can do this.

[Troilus]

I had read about this coughing gunk ( of many colours 🥺) before I stopped, but I didn’t experience it at all - I had smoked for many, many years. I gave up by reducing down until I got to 4 a day and then stopped completely. Maybe this is why?

[juneflo53]

Well done to you all. I've tried everything, was doing well til the pandemic. Isolation, anxiety and I can't stop. I've just started another programme -fingers crossed.

[Jollygood in reply to juneflo53]

Don’t beat yourself up about it; this last year has been hard for us all. I used to love smoking but now I can go without. Good luck x

[GYPSYMITCH]

Hi, I stopped smoking 4 years ago with Allen Carr the Easy Way to Stop Smoking.. it’s a book small and easy to read would really recommend it. I became asthmatic after I’d stopped smoking, I got viral pneumonia which left me with asthma.

I haven’t suffered and didn’t suffer with chest infections and coughing when stopping smoking, we are all different so please just be kind to yourself.

Hot water, honey and lemon help with coughing and also, head over bowl of steaming water also helps me relieve my asthma cough when it flares.. in the beginning it’s a bit of trying out what helps and works for you.

This group is very helpful and knowledgeable so please do ask if you are struggling or just wanting some feedback.