My voice has just about gone and still can't stop smoking!!! Doc saying no oxygen and no transplant assessment until I've stopped. Why can't I stop, anybody else have this problem stopping smoking 
Hi new here been reading posts for ag... - Lung Conditions C...
Hi new here been reading posts for ages many very helpfull, I was diagnosed with COPD 3 years ago, it's now severe 24% lung capacity.
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albanne
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Hi Albanne I know exactly how it is ,I to have copd stage4 very severe and not a lot of voice any more.i must have tried a 100times always failing !id cut down having just the 1,5,10 and so on ,telling myself it was still better than 40-50 a day which of course it was.Then I'd have a ruck on the phone say with the gas board or one of my kids would be caught in a lie to me or I didn't like the colour of the sky!!!!anything and everything I could and would use for my next excuse to continue to smoke.Bonkers isn't it 3/4 of me wanted to stop I was suffering more and more unable to do much at all gasping for air as soon as I moved.i even peed myself coz I couldn't get to the loo in the morning which is only 4-5 steps from my bed panic would grip me.i really thought I wasn't long for this world!So many bad days .Then I happened to find this site like yourself,iwas taking champix at the time and it was really quite effective,again like yourself iwas reading only on the site and was a little afraid to admit to still smoking everyone seemed to be smoke free,and you know how some non smokers can be?!anyway within this particular week I hit the lowest I'd felt in many years and was at the verge of wanting my life over!! I put a message on here saying that I thought the champix was having a really bad effect admitted my sins .Well Albanne the response I got was overwhelming so much support and understanding and other smokers etc.That reaction triggered something in me something positive.saw the doc and smokey nurse and they took the champix away as Iam prone to being a little barking sometimes lol.came back on here and asked if I set a new stop date would they mind if I used this site to help me on my way,again the response was brilliant made me feel strong and now capable, ! Sounds daft doesn't it.But it has worked so far for me the people here have just been fantastic.iam into my 4th week,everyday I'm amazed at myself,I have become involved here daily I gain strength daily.i really don't want to let these good people down this means so much to me.i easily get to the loo in the mornings now,my panic attacks have lessened loads!im now on patches and the inhalators.iam feeling really good,strong and so much more happier!Bit long winded Albanne would like to say hi and welcome to this forum I'm hoping that you have noticed the friendlyness of everyone there is so much info,support,caring and humour gotta keep smiling.Give it go Albanne .When you are ready tell us and we will all help and support you there are a few of us all at varying stages .Great to have you on board see you soon I hope.There is absolutely no pressure.Janexx 
Awe Jane, just reading your message has brought a tear to my eye; so supportive whilst sharing your personal experiences with a true understanding of others. Good luck with your quest June
Hiya Jane Thankyou so much for your very long message I appreciate your effort so I don't feel alone!! Anymore....I live alone which makes it even harder sitting here thinking my lungs are in bad way and just keep having another and another cig. I've been getting dizzy spells the last couple weeks I stand and near fall is this because I've not enough oxygen going to my brain. I've the smoking lady on Monday and going to fail test again oh no!! I struggled to breathe all day at my sons wedding on Saturday I would have thought it would scare me into stopping!!! To pass the test I need to stop tomorrow Friday!! I have tried champex but it made me feel depressed suicidal tried everything else to, I have an electric cig which works most of the time, it's like I want to kill myself I am 49 years old and feel my life is over.... I will give it a try with all the support available on this site and don't feel so alone, nobody really understands what we all have to go through to get a breath but self inflicted thanku again Jane I will keep trying starting tomorrow morning I might pass the test yet!!! Albanne xx
Hello Albanne oh wow whats this a new stop day "this friday" good for you, Have you got e.cig refills at the ready and anything else that helps you,and maybe on monday get some other aids,i have the inhalator and patches and e.cig haha,my inhalator swings round my mouth all day.I wouldnt use champix if they made you feel like that my doc snatched mine from me for the same reason.But i know you can do it with other things and us lot here,if you have a difficult moment or day come on here and sound off first before you put a ciggie in your mouth,im not normally very far away am good at babbling on as you now know haha im already doing it again now.You can do it if you really wa anant ,thats me singing to you.So : Albanne, Will Power and us here that is a mighty force to be reckoned with !!! You go girl this is exciting news for you tomorow is the start of your new smoke free life. Janexx
Jane has said it all, i kicked my 53 year habit with help from GPs over 3 years ago.It was tough at first but felt proud to have done it. Good luck and welcome. Joyce
albanne• in reply to
Thank you Joyce and well done to you for stopping Albanne
I've also stopped, but I went to smoking clinic at hospital. I too was put on Champix and I had the tablets for about two months before I plucked up courage to start them. Two weeks after starting them i had stopped smoking and I've never had another one since I am proud to say. My husband also tried to stop with me and he had a reaction to Champix so, sadly he is still smoking. I was the heavier smoker and never in a million years thought I'd ever stop but I have and I can truthfully say I'll never smoke again. I had already tried quite a few times to quit and failed but I've definitely cracked it this time. So Albanne if an old biddy like me can do it, so can you. 18 months for me now. Good luck to you too Jane you're doing well xxx
Thanku well done to u if an old biddy like u can do it I can giggle I try again from tomorrow reading up on this site to keep me motivated xx
It is difficult to stop. I tried everything in the past. I now use electronic cigs and haven't smoked a cig since dec2012. It was the only thing that worked for me. Best of luck
As everyone says it's hard. I did it with Champix which suited me fine. After 2 weeks I stopped and have not smoked since. It's been nearly 2 years now and like others, I know I will never smoke again.
Whatever method you chose, I would suggest you get all the help you can. Join your doctors stop smoking clinic etc.
We all know there is never a good time to stop and we find every excuse to put it off, but you will feel better for doing it.
Good luck.
Lynne xx
Dear albanne, you poor soul, I do feel for you because the quality of your life sounds so miserable. Those flipping ciggies eh? So hard to put down and so easy to pick up.
I can send you all the encouragement in the world although it is only down to you as you well know.
So the advice I have for you may sound controversial. It is to sit down, write out your funeral plan, who would you like to be there, where would like it to be held, and who is going to officiate, do you want flowers? Cremation? Burial? And where?
Have you made a will? What would like people to say about you at your funeral?
We are all going to be in this situation sooner or later, some of us sooner, some of us later, but it is definitely going to happen. I have found it so helpful to have my final arrangements sorted out.
I was fortunate, cigarettes gave me up, rather me having to give them up which made it all a lot easier. You could simply ask this addiction leave you and see what happens? May you soon be free.
Bless you albanne, take care x
Hiya Polly Thankyou you have made me think omg funeral arrangements!!! I have not done any of it maybe I'm not accepting I'm dying because of smoking!!!! Not good yes it is an addiction I can't believe it's got such a hold on me but yes positive mind helps I can do this with all the support I have on this site!!! Starting tomorrow morning xx
Hi Albanne - if it was easy to give up we all would do it and that would be that! It is not that easy and it takes courage - don't be afraid you can do it. After all you are relying on a poison! Perhaps the BLF helpline could help you with some practical tips. PLEASE don't stop trying! Keep trying you will get there - but it is a very personal journey and only you can do it BUT you can get lots of support from the lovely people on here. GOOD LUCK TAD xx
albanne• in reply to
Thank you Tad xx
Albanne I really feel for you. It can be so hard to kick the dreaded weed. I am still smoking as well and trying to give up. My lung problems are not at your level but will get there one day. Longlungs has stopped with our help and willpower and has done brilliantly. Use this site for support like she did and it will help you. We are all behind you. Don't listen to anyone who says - give it up it's easy. The last person who said that to me nearly ended up in traction!
Bev x
Thank you Bev for your kind words yes starting in the morning I be a non smoker I hope good luck to u 2 xx
• in reply toalbanne
You are welcome albanne. I really hope you can kick it this time. I will hopefully be joining you very soon. Bev xx
Albanne, I was already at the severe stage when told I had COPD (22%). That was several years ago. By October they told me I would be dead before the New Year unless I stopped. I was scared, really scared, because there was so much I did not want to leave. Try another list - what would you miss if you were gone? What do you not want to leave behind?
I had been trying to stop (but not very hard) for years. This scared me and I stopped. I used patches (having had an earlier bad experience with Champix). Like Stitch, I had a great stop-smoking nurse who let me go at my pace, prescribing the highest patches for 3 months! Then I used the medium one for a month and the small one? I only used 2 before knowing I did not need anything any longer. You CAN do it. Stop making excuses to smoke (we all do/did). Jane has just gone through a family crisis and stayed smoke free and we are all extremely proud of her. We can be proud of you too. Give it your best shot. xx
Good luck, Albanne. Adopted mum has been trying for years as she's worried that not just she is effected by her smoke. She's an arrested alcoholic who quit drinking 1979, but still can't get away from the fags despite being very close to quitting last year.
Even though she lives with someone with a lung disease her GP, when asked for help to quit, just said "Oh, some people never manage to stop." Not very helpful. But I'll pass on to her Toci's experience with a stop-smoking nurse.
Everyone in our household will be thinking of you, and wishing you the best, Albanne.
keep on .keeping on......i tried so many times.......always giving in smoking secretly .......giving up , same old cycle its an addiction,......same old pattern,, same old excuses .....on and on., until i knew i HAD to do it..
Toci is sooo right, You CAN do it NO excuses .... you will be so proud of your achievement.....i had been hooked for 50 years. it is sooo worth going for, albanne. we will be right there with you,xx
Took me two yrs after being diagnosed with copd to quit, I tyred everything Drs stop smoking clinic ( didn't help ) champix that worked but only because they made me too I'll to move. All the time I had my family telling me to stop ( yeah as if it is that simple ) . Finally I got some electronic ciggys I was still having a few real ones till my sister was in hospital with a severe chest infection , she has severe copd and we made a pact not to smoke any more, I too was like you any small thing would make me go back for a ciggy, I can't believe I have done it because like you I never ever thought I could, I saved £250 the first month and got myself some card making things.
Still on 2.4 of the electronic ciggys but as long as I don't use real ones it will do for me.
Good look and take care.
After a trip to Hospital and being sent home on Oxy. I vowed that was it. No more cigs. I have just been 6months without cigs or help with patches etc. Then all of a sudden I had to have a cig and I did. I went outside and sprayed myself with fabreeze being very sneaky. So here goes You stop and Ill stop. Only way is no lighters or cigs in house. I kept 3 in a drawer. FATAL. Have a good try because in 2 weeks your test is likely to say non smoker! All the best to you.
I always say that if someone is making a serious attempt to stop they throw away the cigarettes, the lighters and all of the ashtrays. That means you can't give in to a moment of weakness at 2 a.m. and to repeatedly start again proves quite expensive! 
jwatch.org/na31587/2013/07/...
[Quote] Should Smokers Quit Abruptly or Gradually?
Thomas L. Schwenk, MD reviewing Lindson-Hawley N et al. JAMA 2013 Jul 3. Lindson-Hawley N et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Nov 14.
Quit rates are roughly the same, and relatively poor, with both approaches.
The main approaches to quitting smoking are abrupt cessation (sometimes called “cold turkey”) and gradual reduction of smoking before quitting. U.S. clinical practice guidelines, as well as pharmaceutical labels required by the U.S. FDA, strongly imply that smokers should try to quit smoking abruptly as part of various quit regimens. However, some smokers prefer to gradually decrease their nicotine intake. In a Cochrane review of 10 randomized controlled trials conducted in various clinical settings in several countries, researchers assessed quit rates at least 6 months postintervention (gradual reduction or abrupt cessation) in 3760 smokers who wanted to quit smoking. Smoking status was verified biologically in 7 studies.
Quit rates were 14% to 15%, regardless of cessation approach. The success of either approach did not differ in studies that incorporated nicotine replacement, self-help methods, or behavioral support. [/quote]
who says i quit sum years ago now using cold turkey method . never had any desire to smoke since and feel a whole lot better for it . if people took less notice of studies and just do that thyat feels right.
Good for you, but 'cold turkey' isn't the best way for everybody . . .
i am not saying it is but people read these studies and think i am not doing that because this study says this and this study says that . all i am saying just do what feels right
Dear albanne, poor you. I know it's hard, because my dad wouldn't give up. he said it was his only pleasure in life! As a result, have smoked passively for 19 and a half years. I know have bronchiectasis!
I'm sure if electronic cigarettes had been in existence, he would have had some.
It looks like a great way to try to give up smoking, as you still get your nicotine, but not the cancerous products.
hereis what the Telegraph online says about it:telegraph.co.uk/health/diet...
You could've a go!
We're with you. Take courage ... and perhaps an e-cig!
no . i was told that i had copd just after i had stopped smoking and that is a few years ago so what the hell is wrong with you . have you a death wish or some other thing . stop with the fags
• in reply tofrank65
Frank that is not helpful. Those trying to quit need encouragement and positivity. No negative feedback on here please. The rest of us are supporting Albanne and any others who are trying to pack the evil weed in.
I gave up nearly 3 years ago before I was diagnosed with COPD. I was diagnosed with angina and as I am not overweight and don't drink alcohol I blamed it on the rollups. I decided to give them up there and then and I did and have never looked back. I was aware of my " triggers ", like having a fag with a cuppa, I decided to enjoy the cup of tea for what it was and fond this sort of attitude helpful in stopping. After about 4 or 5 months I found I didn't get the urge to have a fag anymore.
Hi Albanne I have given up and started again four or five times. It is soooo easy to pick one up under stress. I know. I have even gone out to buy them and thought just this one, but one leads to two and many more. Please try hard. We are all hoping you will try real hard. I carry an electric ciggie with me but I hardly ever have a puff just something in my hand. If I do decide to have a puff the refill has run out so nothing but it does help me. About 18 months to 2 years now since my last ciggie.
Hi Albanne 7wks ago i was diagnosed with lch . I came home from the hospital and booked an appointment for hypnotherapy. 6 wks and no fags and i feel so much better everyway. I had my first walk up a hillside in 6months. There r lots of options out there i so hope u find urs very best of luck.x
Have a word with my mate WILL POWER he helps a lot of people.
KOTC
Your daily humour tonic
• in reply toKingoftheCocktails
Every smoker knows you need willpower King. Your remark is not very helpful not everyone can do it with willpower alone even if you could! If it was that easy everyone would stop now wouldn't they?
KingoftheCocktails• in reply to
As you should be aware hypercat I do not give medical advice because I am not qualified to do so.. It was a light hearted suggestion on my part and I did not say that it should be willpower alone. I am deeply sorry if I have offended you in anyway. I have been calling WILL POWER my mate ever since I have been on the site and having had many good comments from people trying to give up smoking this is the first adverse comment I have received.
KOTC
• in reply toKingoftheCocktails
Oh Richard you could never offend me chuck! Have known you far too long... Didn't mean to go off on you like that - sorry. It's just that I have had far too many comments like - you just need willpower to give up smoking, and the worst one - give it up it's easy! The last person who said that to me nearly ended up in traction! :). Friends?
Bev xxxx
Hi Albanne I really feel for you we have all been in your position I think we all think we need the fags more than we do I gave up about 8 years ago with champix I think if you go cold turkey your more likely to fall off the wagon.
My dear old mom had COPD and continued to smoke and I don't know how but she lived to see her 88th birthday she passed away February but every summer she would suffer with the heat, how ever you choose to give up smoking we are all hear to support you
hi again Albanne i did what Toci suggested and took my lighters and ash trays totally away,again that was a first for me always had that emergency supply ready in the cupboard somewhere,which i would attack in the evening then would have to pay for a taxi £20 for a pkt of cigarettes bloody madness!! Our brains are so crafty but you know all that Albanne you sound like you are ready to do this.How are you feeling this evening? Goodluck be strong be positive keep communicating with us it really helps.I promise i wont bother you any more till tomorow lol byeeeeeee Janexx
Hi Albanne just checking to see if you are alright?Hows your day gone?.Do hope you are ok.Just letting you know im thinking of you hope alls well take care.Keep well be happy. Janexx
Hiya Jane thank you for your kind post, feeling better today only had a elec cig but slept most of day very tempting to have one but no I'm not going to I have to pass the test on Monday and do it for myself day 1 over keep smiling xx
Well done you. Keep up the good work one day at a time. Good luck for your Monday test,
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