Think the only thing between me and quitting is that I worry my breathing will get worse.. have severe copd. So I wonder how other copders have been after quitting.
How has your breathing been affected ... - Lung Conditions C...
How has your breathing been affected on quitting smoking?
The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.
45 Replies
•
Julie, mine definitely improved, quite markedly. I stopped after starting a chest infection and my breathing was so bad I often thought I was going to die. As I gave up the cigarettes, the infection improved and so my breathing was helped twofold. Please don't worry about it worsening - if it appears to it will be in the shorter-term as your body tries to clear the toxins. x
• in reply toToci
thanks Toci, that really helps 
Mine has improved, you no doubt will go through the coughing up the tar stage before your lungs clear, (that's those little black specks in the mucus) that happened to me but once passed that stage things just start getting better. Its important in the early stages when your body is purging itself to drink plenty of water. I recommend always having oranges in the house, vitamin C is suppose to be important at this time too. Peeling an orange every time you get a craving. It smells good, good to eat and is a great alternative to a smoke that is for sure. The thing about cravings, they do pass, and the longer you remain smoke free the less the cravings become. Other distractions, also help, exercise, washing dishes etc.
Its a good move Julie stopping smoking, it will help prevent your lungs deteriorating further.
All good wishes
BC
music• in reply to
hi blakeyc.. thanks for this i often wonderd why them black specs were there and it used to worry me
• in reply to
thanks Blakey, I can cope with the withdrawals if I can see breathing not getting worse on quitting. Coughing up I can cope with - am very practised in that ! x
Hi Julie well im still early days having stopped only 31days ago so have probably not reached my optimum lung function,but i have noticed that the mornings when i wake i do not gasp for air as desperately as I used to which for me is wonderful used to be a bad beginning everyday,not so now :).I too am stage4.So its a definitely a thumbs up from me. Janexx
• in reply tolonglungs
great news for you and thanks ...hope its same for me. well done
• in reply tolonglungs
still watching uou LONGLUNGS, dont even think about starting again. I am so proud of you so far, your breathing will keep getting better as tine goes on, take my word for it. Malk x
longlungs• in reply to
Hello Malk good to see you how are you? Haha you've got your beadies on me huh!No I still feel strong thank-you so much.Im looking forward to that Iam reaping some benefits already so its all very positive a very happy bunny indeed. Janexx
It wasn't until I gave up smoking that I was diagnosed with very severe COPD just over two years ago. This was after 3 months of quitting. I used to get puffed out when I smoked but not gasping for breath. Although I get SOB now I do feel a lot healthier. As far as I know my COPD hasn't got any worse over the last 2 years.
• in reply toPuffthemagicdragon
thanks. hope I do too.
There is no option for quitting smoking, you must stop it's the best thing you can do.
Hi Julie.
It took me several attempts to stop smoking. I have depression as well as COPD and every time I felt low I had a cigarette. I have had more energy since stopping 3 years ago but should have stopped sooner. I told myself every time I wanted a cigarette that however I was feeling it would not change by smoking. I also try to keep busy. Wish you well.
• in reply topatty17
Wow...great tip. Thanks.
Hi Julie I don't have copd but some of my symptoms have cleared up since stopping smoking 7wks ago and some days are easier than others but so glad I have put some effort into doing it. The boost it gives ur confidence aswell is just awesome so I say go for it , if I can so can you . good luck Jackie.x
• in reply tojac493
I had never thought of confidence gained...thats a plus from the challenge. Thanks
I keep trying and failing but you all give me hope on here, many thanks pals. I'll try AGAIN AND WILL SUCCEED!!!!! Love to you all xx
Hi marytaz, Whats wrong with you, why do You keep failing, dont you have any faith in yourself ? Do you want your children or friends, to see you suffering so much that you cannot walk to the end of the street without stopping every 20 yards to get your breath, you will even get to the stage where you can't vacum your home without running out of breath, and having to sit down and rest until you get it back again. So you dont you want to join in with your children when there having fun ? because if you keep smoking you will have no choice. Take this advice Marytaz, when it happens its too late to reverse it. I smoked 40 to 60 cigs a day for around 50 years, it caused me to have a mini stroke, during this time my breathing and lungs got worse, The stroke was caused by smoking, the mini stroke took most of my sight, so you see its not always just your lungs that it effects, when it happens, Its too late. the brain does not repair its self, and the lungs are damaged for ever as well. STOP SMOKING Marytaz, you can do it I know you can. Malk x
Julie it is hard to do but it is worth it ! it took me 3 years, the only thing is when you stop, you will realise how bad stale cigies smell,[stink]
best of luck
• in reply torichardcrossroads
I look forward to that reminder of how daft I currently am. Thanks.
• in reply to
ha,your not daft,ur human same as the rest , dont beat ur self up,wat we cant change we no that but we can least try to salvage somethin ,come on now as 1 to another dafty,yeh we was all daft but we got there,u will,x
• in reply to
thanks ... yes I will get there
you are not daft,you have made the decision, if you haven't just yet you are thinking about it and that's not daft, i swore that the next NHS person who lectured me on smoking i would shoot, and it all boiled down when i stopped, i found out that i had alpha amitrypsin deficiency, which really means i would have most possibly become ill with Emphysema or worse, if i had not smoked,being happy is number one, the rest will just happen. have a good day
• in reply torichardcrossroads
realise I can be happy with COPD and without fags
Before I had any test, the doctor said that I may have COPD. I came out from the docs, Sat in my car and lit a cigarette up! I sat there and smoked it. Then I thought to myself ' what are you doing?'I threw the rest away and stopped! It'd been 6 weeks now. I know I am always going to have s problem with my breathing but I know it will be far worse! I want to be able to walk,I want too be able to play with my new granddaughter and I want to live as long as I can. My advice is stop, put up with the cravings and acknowledge that you are at least trying to help yourself and each day congratulate yourself on your commitment to your family and yourself. I do but still wish that I had never started smoking in the first place all those years ago!! Good luck, you can do it!
• in reply tocarolcolley
THANKS , yes you are right ... I CAN do it
Hi Juliekay u are not daft. Buy the Allen Carr book (the easy way to stop smoking) it will totally change the way u think. The book itself doesn't make u quit but it sure helped me on my journey. U can get it on amazon for a couple of quid . Jackie.x
thanks, Jackie. will read it
• in reply to
Check out You tube, there are lots of videos about Allen Carr's technique.
Don't be scared of stopping.
I'm convinced that for every individual there is a way to stop smoking which will be successful.
I tried all sorts including hypnotism and patches. The way which eventually enabled me to succeed was a book, of all things - no high tech, no miracle drugs, no artificial aids.
The book is called "The Easyway to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr which Jackie recommended in her post. You'll find it on Amazon or probably on the shelf of any major book shop.
The basic idea is simple. You have to get into the frame of mind which says that you are NOT "giving up" anything. Yes, you are stopping doing something but "giving up" means that you are losing out on something valuable. When you were young I'm sure you occasionally tried to run into the road in front of oncoming traffic. Your parents will have shouted "Stop doing that", not "Give up doing that". Spot the difference!
You are losing nothing. You are gaining lots.
What Allen Carr does is take you through a journey to changing your attitude. Some of it seems a bit silly but it does matter.
It isn't a miracle cure. I succeeded on the third effort.
However the punch line is taking your last cigarette and knowing that it's true.
Mine was at 8.20 p.m. on 26th August 1996. It's that specific. From fifty a day to nil.
Believe me and everyone else, It's worth it!
John
• in reply toWeymouthJohn
ok ... so just STOP
• in reply toWeymouthJohn
thanks...will read.
Another two penn'orth from me... - if you don't stop, you will be dead a lot sooner than if you do.
My GP was right; I stopped, coughed and felt lousy, but I'm still here. You just have to do it.
• in reply toCatnip
appreciate the straight talking, thanks.
true fact,
You don't have the breath to even ask for help. No breath for talk, drink or food. Don't go there Julie, stop now.
• in reply to
yep
they say tobacco is more addictive than heroin,i belive thats true,but its the addicts what get assistance ,were the smokers get treated as lepers,u did it urself,well junkies have done it to therselves to.and carry on doing it,but get help,we dont rob or attack for cigs,we work and there our wages of sin,they will never stop the drug barons,as they will never stop tobacco companies,no win,but who pays dearly for this ,the smokers,as always, stinks,who pays for lethal asbestos victims,thats been around far to long,have they stopped that no,1 cover up after another,keep linin the pockets of the treasury as thats what at the end of the day it comes down to,giants versus the workin normal class citizens,but least we are human,and humans make mistakes,and we pay for them and we learn,the governments past and present hang ur heads in shame,you will never learn,,
arghhhh ... awful thought !
that will be me ... a non smoker very soon .... first grown up christmas without ! just ordered an ecig.
Thankyou all so very much - for caring enough to offer support and advice . I am sincerely very touched and feeling so much more confident to face this battle and win. THANKYOU
my new mantra then will be ... I choose to be smoke-free. thanks.
Hi Julie
I see you have had a lot of replies. My husband smoked for many, many years. He just used willpower to give it up in the end. But unfortunately TOO LATE.. He now has end stage COPD and is on oxygen 24 hours a day. Our life has really changed we cannot go out very much because we have to organise the oxygen cylinders. He has to use a wheelchair and we put the cylinders on the back. I am happy to be his full time carer but it is very hard.
We have been married 47 years | do not know how much longer we have together. We get a lot of support but is just palliative care now. I have never smoked but I am sure it is hard to stop but I would not wish my husbands condition on anybody. Good luck Jean
you know i had no choice but to give up was rushed into hosp nearly died out of it for two daysbut i was so lucky came through it although ten days in hosp still mking hubby take me doenstairs for a puff but thinki9ng what the hell am i doing started patches then got fed up with them forgot to put them on when i put them on forget to tk them off lol so they came me little giggie thing that you put cartridges in still use it now only bout twice a day but been two years next may i class my self as non smoker
The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Quitting smoking
hi all, I hope you are well.
I thought I should come back with an update and to get some advice......
Will FEV1 improve after quitting smoking?
I smoked for 42 years and have been diagnosed with COPD with a FEV1 of 67%. I know COPD does damage...
Quitting smoking
Hi everyone.I have struggled to stop smoking as being diagnosed with copd year and half ago was a...
quitting smoking
hi all, i've been smoking for over 30 years & smoke around 40 a day :(
YES i know i should quit...
Quitting smoking.
Hi I'm not sure I belong here but could do with some support.
I had symptoms of copd & was offered...
Quitting smoking 
Since quitting smoking….
NO SMOKING - NRT - how long?
Breathing and smoking. 
Lung capacity with quitting smoking
