I know someone who continues to smoke, on oxygen 24/7, started with 50% lung function 6 years ago, currently only 18% lung function, chest infections year round now leading to more lung damage every time.
The quality of life now is very poor, mainly because they are ill all the time and end up missing out on breathe easy meets, breathe easy socials and exercise, (these were the only thing that was managed last year when lung function was 23%).
The person is dyeing before our very eyes. The person continues to smoke.
I am writing this for any smoker who is thinking about stopping smoking or those who are thinking of starting smoking again.
There is evidence and I have seen it with my own eyes, those who continue to smoke deteriorate more quickly, they experience increased lung infections often resulting in further lung damage and this has a knock on effect, lungs weaken further and become more vulnerable to infections, increasing the likelihood of even further lung damage.
We have some choice on how well we can stay, slowing down the deterioration in our lungs and how quickly our health and quality of life deteriorates if we don't do those things that are known to help preserve our lungs and health.
I was told for every cigarette smoked further lung damage would be incurred, it was enough to stop me smoking. I have reaped the benefits and continue with those things I know help us the most. A pulmonary rehabilitation course explains how well we can help ourselves and manage our symptoms, our lung condition.
I would say to anyone diagnosed with a lung condition, if you want to save your lungs stopping smoking is your best option. The next thing I would say is ask your doctor to refer you to a pulmonary rehabilitation course so that you can learn how to become the best carer for your lungs and health in general.
I write this not for discussion purposes, but just for anyone who is serious about saving their lungs and enjoying a longer and better quality of life.
It is a very sad thing to watch someone so much younger than yourself smoking themselves literally to a premature death. Yet there is nothing any one can do, there is only so many times you can say 'you need to stop the fags), it is the persons choice to continue smoking or to stop.
The person finds it more and more difficult to breathe, overdosing in medicines which no longer help the way they used to.
I won't be responding to any comments concerning this person, on this blog, it is something I find upsetting and difficult accepting, why this was their choice. .
The person had attended two pulmonary rehabilitation courses, never stopped smoking.
The person is only 53 years of age and to be honest I think it will be a miracle if they live to see 54 years.
I hope others will not choose the same path.
I hope instead people will choose lung preservation over smoking.
This is a very sad story, it is a real story and I hope somehow, in someway this will help people to make the best choice for themselves in life.
Thank you all for being here.
BC x
45 Replies
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Thank you bc, I have read and re read your blog, and will continue. To do so, everyone thinks I have given up cigarettes, but I secretly smoke around 10 a day, fatal for me I know, I don't know why I do it as I have an e cig,I'm selfish I know as my family worry about my condition and I know I'm just lying to myself, something wonderfull happened this week that will change our lives forever for the better, but I still continue to smoke, I do believe it is a mental blockage or something that some people suffer from,reading your blog is looking at it from the outside in if you get my meaning, I see what others are going through friends/family they are living in fear of my health, and here am I. Smoking behind there backs I am ashamed and its taken your blog for me to think of what they are going through, regards jan
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x x best wishes to you jan, look after yourself x x
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I have a friend some one who over the yrs had lost contact she moved away came bak to Oldham I saw he at xmas went to visit her,was on oxygen 15hrs a day then now its 18hrs day and still smoking as been told to stop I told her why u still smoking for god sake,she livs on her own her sister gos daily gets her meds etc,she as stopped telling her as dosnt listen never eats just coffee an little bottles in fridge of gp vitamin drinks,thats it,she is 57 ,2yr ago her sister told me wasn't like that was able to go town etc last yr came bak from turkey visiting her only daughter who livs there now,wanted to go this may but consultant said no ,was upset but didn't an wont stop the bleedin cigs,her sister as moderate copd but stopped the cigs wen told as I did,ive seen her coughin spewin up but wont stop,broke me that did,but wat can u do ,she bluffs ppl an says she is stopping but we no now never will,her sister wont get cigs for her its a silly daft mate of hers wat gets them and yes she has copd bad to ,god ,ive stopped goin now as always got infection after infection and I cant afford them ,god
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I understand carol its very hard.
Keep well yourself. Good wishes
BC x
Tragic tale Blakey.. and probably not uncommon.
Its so odd how different people react so differently to diagnosis and smoking
I gave up the day I was diagnosed with COPD, nearly 3 years ago.
I had tried to give up for 25 odd years without success.
I sometimes wonder if the difficulty people have in giving up is not in the addictiveness of nicotine but how we regard ourselves with respect to smoking.
I pretty much disliked and mildly despised myself for smoking, but addiction is addiction; my brother cannot give up and is also ill with repeated infections .... heading for COPD as I have repeatedly told him; however he sees smoking as a part of 'who he is', in some way being 'a smoker' is important to him in a way it was not for me; my brother speaks of smoking as an essential part of his daily routine that he very much enjoys, I don't think I ever felt like that, I 'needed' a fag, but it was no great pleasure or part of who I thought I was
I think there are quite a few people who do feel that they are 'born smokers' and destined to smoke (as my brother does), as opposed to people who smoke (but would rather not if it were easy) which was me and ill health made stopping suddenly very very easy (a few fidgety weeks and never had a fag since)
I do hope any smokers out there amongst the lovely crowd here can give it there all. (Champix helped me hugely .... but it is also 70% in the mind I think)
Best best to all,
be strong (pass this on to your friend if you can Blakey)
That is a great post BC. My specialist told me when I was diagnosed (I had already given up smoking 2 months before) that if I had continued, I could have been dead in 5 years. Having stopped, he reckoned I could make 80. I am so glad I managed it.
All I can say to people like Jennyren and others is it is hard, but get every bit of help you can. I failed so many times, mostly when I tried to go it alone with patches, e cigs, gum etc. I succeeded when I went to my practice nurse, joins the smoking cessation clinic, got support from her and other quitters, had Champix (I know it doesn't suit everyone) but it was that support that helped me to stop forever.
18 months now and I will not smoke again. I never even think of it now.
You can do it Jennyren, it takes more effort to hide the smoking than to stop it. The one tip I ave though is don't tell people you are giving up, I didn't until I knew I could do it.
Thank you for you post BC. I am also 53 & was diagnosed with emphasyma about 2mths ago. I have 65% lung capacity and Im being put forward to join a pulmonary rehabilitation course. I still smoke! I intend to try again and keep trying until I stop as I know its the best thing I can do to keep myself well. Reading your blog has really given me pause for thought at the additional worry I am causing to my family & friends and how selfish I am for continuing to smoke. I truly want to stay around for as long as I can and have a decent quality of life too. I will keep re-reading your post until I give up the 'evil weed'.
Lynne1955: your last paragraph is so true! I will take your tip on not telling people until I know I can do it. So thanks for that.
Blakeyc hortatory brought tears to my eyes it's,a hard thing,giving up smoking but I choose to to give,after finding I,had copd Ian,on,day,19 now and dont intend to touch the fags again but if I ever get a urge to have,a fag I will re read,your post it is,a real sad story and Iam so sorry that you after watch this person dying xx jennyren I was a smoker for,33yrs and only on,day,19 of giving you never thought I could do it because I suffer with,depression and other illness like alot of people probably do on this site please don't think Ian,judging you because I would never do that all Iam saying is that iam always here if you need a chat or support Ian here and Iam sure alot of people on this site will say the same xxx
Since I'm reaching my 3 score years and 10, and newly diagnosed with COPD after contracting pneumonia, I'm still smoking. Why? because it's my choice. We all die of the same thing - the want of breath. Our bodies are designed to last a certain length of time, and not one of us on this earth can determine how and when we'll die or predict anyone else's death. Only think for certain is we will die and be taxed until the day we do.No amount of pressure by some holier-than-thou jumping on a soap box will change my mind either. Think this post is more a put down to those struggling to give it up. What's happened to all the funnies? Place is dead, & after reading this depressing. I joined for advice, not a bleeding lecture.
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Please Hubblebubble .... it was not a lecture, just a sad sad and unfortunately true story as\I believe bc was telling it as it is
Of course smoking is your choice
And of course ..... Everyone dies .... its a case of when ... not if
And yes .....Our bodies are designed to live a certain number of years .. absolutely...like cars
and like cars the number of years they do actually last depends on how they are used... bad use, no servicing ... well that's the scrap yard for my old banger .... could have lasted longer if I had looked after it
The post was a call to be strong and a window to the real ... and the best advice I can imagine
Izzy
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Why the need to tell it and depress us? It's condescending is what it is, as if we don't already know smoking is bad for us. Sad this person is in that shape, but it's their choice, their life.
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We have to watch them smoke and wreck their health. Not funny, hubblebubble. I personally think this lung forum is fine as it is and helps a lot of people.
I have to say that whilst watching someone else we care about is very sad, I also agree very strongly in the right to choose the way we live our lives. I myself have moderate stage emphysema, asthma, fybromyalgia, cervical spondylitis, and hypthyroidism, I am supposed to be fit, everyday tasks are hard enough never mind more and more exercise.... Due to my pain and fatigue I choose to relax more, so therefore my health will only detiorate but unless someone can feel how I feel than they can't change my mind.... It's my choice and all your choices..... Live life however you are happiest... No one knows when it will end...
Hubbelbubble Are we reading the same post, it does say don't read if your feeling low
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Happy chappy me, until I did read it. Lass, no disrespect, but I've been on this earth long enough to make my own choices in life. I don't need some opinionated non smoker to lecture me. You want to stop smoking, fantastic. Don't say it. Do it. Good luck.
If you read it and analyse it it is saying more about the sadness of her still smoking as being wrong..... All I am pointing out, rightly or wrongly is.... Who is it sad for? And why is it sad if someone wants to be that way.... You should just be happy with whatever you choose..... That is all.....
I thank you for the post BlakeyC. I cried as I read it. Tobacco is a powerful, destructive drug and if anyone chooses to fight it I wish them all the luck in the world. x
I agree with you Lynne the post that bc wrote was a good post and I respect you bc for writing it it must of been so.hard to put your feeling down for all to see xxx
Goodish post and it is food for thought but and it is a big but giving up is not easy and there are lots of reasons for a persons inability to do so.
I used to smoke about 40 a day and gave up easily one day I was feeling poorly and I just couldn't be bothered to get dressed to go to the shop. I had also just the week before seen an old lady slumped over in a chair in a hospital ward oxygen on and begging people to take her outside for a ciggie and I didn't want to become that woman.
I appreciate the feelings behind the post but please use it as a warning not a threat after all if it was an easy thing to do no one would be smoking. Also don't use it as an excuse to bully those who continue to smoke they know the risks.
No I didn't mean what Blakey had written was bullying what I meant was some do use this sort of post to bully I said DON'T use it to bully. I would have never ever accuse someone of that on post I would do that privately please read the last para again
I DID read this as a warning rather than a threat Janet and can see no bullying there. The writer constantly refers to choices in what was an obviously painful blog to write, and I for one thank her for it.
There have been many blogs on giving up smoking and I always find it interesting that advice to stop is taken by some as preaching or lecturing. I personally don't understand why people continue to smoke when they're having problems breathing, and yes I gave up years ago because I wanted to live, but the fact that some don't want the advice doesn't make it any less valid. New people to this site need to know that there are things they can do for themselves to stop the rapid progression of a very scary illness.
was thinking the same and how to word this and could not have put that better myself..well said carrieme
There have been many blogs on giving up smoking and I always find it interesting that advice to stop is taken by some as preaching or lecturing. I personally don't understand why people continue to smoke when they're having problems breathing, and yes I gave up years ago because I wanted to live, but the fact that some don't want the advice doesn't make it any less valid. New people to this site need to know that there are things they can do for themselves to stop the rapid progression of a very scary illness.
Spot on Carrie
honest information is never bullying/preaching or lecturing
we all take the choices we do but the more information about the consequences of our choices there is then the better
Oh dear, I think enough's been said. This was a good blog, and quite moving. We all are entitled to our opinions, and mine is; we have freedom of choice. I gave up smoking this year after 40 years, it was sheer hell, and still is difficult. I chose to give up, for many reasons and I feel much better for it physically.
I wish everyone as good a life as they possibly can have.
Thanks... a hard post to write. I don't feel you are lecturing - it's a devastating picture you paint with words and it will help some (me) to quit. Thanks again x
This post was fine, I don't smoke, but it will always cause deep consternation (now there's a big word for a Saturday!) among those who do smoke/given up smoking/trying to give up smoking. Tobacco is a very powerful thing that takes hold of people and before they know they are hooked. Pete used to smoke but gave up over 20 years ago because of sarcoidosis yet our son (30 years old) has tried to give up previously but always goes back to it. He refuses help (suffers from depression and refuses help with that too) and goes cold turkey but does not last very long. I have tried to talk to him to no avail so yes, it is everyone's choice whether they smoke or not and it is very sad to watch someone dieing because of it. My father-in-law smoked for years and died 21 years ago at 64 of emphasema.
To those who have given up, well done, to those trying, keep on trying and you will win, to those who continue to smoke, so be it - your choice. End of.
Have a great weekend all and let's hope the sun is shining wherever you are. Take care and keep smiling if you can. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Toci, thank you if your "well done" was to me. Though obviously we say well done to everyone who manages to stop smoking. I have tried many many times over the years, and always gone back to smoking,(though this time I am more determined to stay off them). I lost my Mother, (my best friend in all the world), this year, and still grieve sooooo much, and will never get over it.She used to worry about me smoking especially when I was diagnosed with copd.So that is one reason I have stopped, and she knew I was stopping, I told her, and I know she knows now that I have managed. She will be pleased. It is very difficult still with the cravings, but I rely on ecigs at the moment. (but noy forever).
Greetings to everyone, and hope your weekend is good.
if you have copd the only chance you have is (stop smoking), there is nothing else that works just stop . it is never to late to stop , i smoked 40 a day for 50 years and i stopped a few years ago now and i have never felt better i still get out of breath but my lung function is improving every time that i go for a spiro test and i am nearly 70 years old .it is no good sneaking out side every hour or so for crafty drag it does not work just throw them in the bin with your ash trays and be bloody minded about it you have to want more than anything else.
i have copd. had it for 7years. i gave up smoking 4 wks ago after bein rushed in to hospital as i couldnt get my breath.ive bin using a electronis cig. its called 10 motives.i feel better now than i have done for months. cant belive how much more i can do before getting short of breath.
Read it again Blakey
Good post as always
Keep telling it like it is, despite the 'stuff' that happens ... rise above it, or join in and sink below
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xx jennyren I was a smoker for,33yrs and only on,day,19 of giving you never thought I could do it because I suffer with,depression and other illness like alot of people probably do on this site please don't think Ian,judging you because I would never do that all Iam saying is that iam always here if you need a chat or support Ian here and Iam sure alot of people on this site will say the same xxx
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