I had smoked for 40 years and totally enjoyed it, but when the Doctor told me I had emphysema starting to get worse I quit smoking asap.

[tvernstrom]

cannot understand how a person could continue to smoke with that illness unless your tired of life. I'm not ready to go so I am working on controlling it, and believe me I did enjoy my smokes. Some day when the end is very close I am going to smoke a couple for old times sake,

[redted]

I know how you feel I smoked for 50 yrs,and kept getting Bronchitis,so gave up, hate the smell now,but I enjoyed my ciggies too,but life is short and precious so we must do our best to hold onto it.

[katieoxo60]

Very nice sentiment Tvernstrom, I smoked for forty years before giving up. I have COPD. Keep up the no smokes well done to give up :). Could not smoke now if I tried tastes aweful.

[CornishBrian]

I gave up after being diagnosed 20 years ago. Have had a great time since but now smoke again and not bothered about it. The damage has been done. I've had a good, varied life and as I approach end time, there's other things to worry about. I've assembled an "exit" kit and my family are aware but not happy about that. No way am I going to go after spending six months confined to bed, being looked after constantly by family or nurses....no, quick get out of jail free card for me. Why did I start again? One of the few pleasures I have have left is going for a pint at the pub a coupe of times a week. One of my locals is near a busy canal junction, very photogenic and with a nice out door area...ideal for fresh air and a beer...but what happens, every twenty minutes the doors open, about 15 to 20 folk come out, light up and fill the air with fag smoke.

[Hidden in reply to CornishBrian]

Whats the exit kit x

[CornishBrian in reply to Hidden]

It's just some few things that I have gathered so that when I feel I am being cared for too much and cannot do enough for myself, I can gracefully and peacefully opt out of this life.

[Nanny1086 in reply to CornishBrian]

I know what you mean ,as an ex smoker to ,,,,,I gave up over 20 years ago ,

And in the summer when my friend and I go out for the day,we would love to sit outside the resturant or pub where we have decided to have lunch, but ,,,all the smokers come and sit next to us ,so back inside we go ,,,,I don't complain ,,,I don't think I have any right to ,,,, when I think back to all the times I inflicted my smoking onto others inside resturants etc,

[orchidcass77]

I've just been diagnosed in October. First off they checked to see if my rheumatoid arthritis had entered my lungs...I was petrified. I quit smoking my cigs but still smoke a little marijuana for its very effective pain relief, my lungs have pretty much healed and its not ra, had it been so the life expectancy is about 2 years! There's still some emphysema in there so I'm gonna stick with quitting the cigs cos I know it's them that caused all this, but by god do I often fancy one especially when I'm stressed with 4 +1 kids to look after x good luck x

[Hidden]

Its not that simple for some people but what i found sad was attending pulmonary rehab and see them having a smoke at the end of it.

I personally found its easy packing in smoking i did it 5 times and once did it for 2 years .....its hard staying off them.

I doubt most people who do still smoke feel good about it i think support and encouragement works better than criticism

[Nanny1086]

Well done for stopping smoking ,like you I enjoyed my cigarettes,until I was blue lighted into hospital back in 1992 ,the consultant asked me if I smoked ,,,yes I said,,,,wrong answer he replied ,,,,,the next one will kill you ,,,,,needless to say ,,,I never had or wanted another cigarette ,,,,,however a lot of damage had already been done to my lungs ,,,so every day us a challenge to get my fitness levels up ,and oxygen into my lungs ,thank god for Pulmary Rehab ,

Good luck ,

[onamission]

It's very scary to give up smoking the thought of not being able to light up a cig but I did it 10 years ago still can't believe it, now I walk past someone with a cig and I'm on the floor coughing.

Now I'm very pleased I gave up or I think I would be on oxygen 24/7 and house bound I try to keep my lungs fit by swimming and I think I have saved some quality of life by giving up.

I know what Sonia means I just finished my PR course and the one women would go straight outside and light up.

[mskpjb]

If I`ve learned one thing in this life it`s not to judge. I`ve given up smoking but Yes I CAN understand why some people haven`t managed to. I don`t know what other pain or problems they have. I`m not standing in their shoes. I didn`t find it easy so I understand all too well how difficult it is and I`m not going to make those who haven`t managed it feel guilty. Just keep trying is all I would like to say. Regards, Sheila x

[mwalker23 in reply to mskpjb]

Well said.xx

[Hidden]

Know what when my time is up I will resist the temptation for one last fag and think of it as a final victory.

[Royanne]

m a mere beginner at this though but what i would like to mention is.... few weeks if you succeed to avoid...and if you have decided then ,be stiff at your will don't let it shiver at all, else it will be hard the next time to end...... cause occasion never happen but smoke continues..... like i smoke the day it rains and the day it doesn't rest of the day i avoid.... good luck and stay well

[Dragonmum]

I don't get it - I smoked for 60+ years but when it became obvious that I had to stop smoking I just switched to e-cigs; painless, and I've been a happy vaper for 5+ years. Why put yourself through more than you have to when COPD and asthma are demoralizing enough. The lovely man who helps keep my garden in order turned up last week waving his newly acquired e-cig - for me that was better than winning the lottery. He has emphysema and I've been on at him for years to switch - he had tried the look-alikes from Tesco and failed but this time he went to a proper shop, got some very good advice and good refillable kit - he's happily vaping banana flavour and looks and feels better already. I've read the scare stories in the press and they are total rubbish - in almost a decade there has not been a single fatality from proper use of e-cigs, they could save hundreds of thousands of lives.

[Dragonmum]

familypracticenews.com/home... Here's a link to some interesting information - I hope the link works!!!!

[helingmic]

tvernstrom, This is a brilliant step. Be encouraged. You can also tame the emphysema though regular exercises. I have bronchiectasis, similar to emphysema. I was very ill, but \i go to the gym 3 times a week and that has really helped me fantastically. so much so that I have now chosen to learn the flute at age 66!

Develop a passion for living! Exercise and transform your life.

[bobsmum]

Good luck with stopping take one day at a time. over a year since my last cig and rarely think of it now .

[Cyberpunk]

Good on you I smoked 50 a day for 36 years now been off them 8 year but when this illness gets the better of me I'm gonna clock out with a few smokes

[tvernstrom]

thanks for all the nice comments, It is helpful to know that people all over have had to struggle with that evil little poisonious weed that can cause such comfort and pleasure while it is slowing killing you. makes it not so lonely here in the semi-frozen tundra of

Minnesota.

[eastridingbigden]

Hi tvernstrom I gave up smoking when 43 years of age and promised I would have a Player ciggerett at my 65 th and while in in cyprus on my 65th a shop was selling players and full strentgh capstan bought 20 players and lit one taking me back to my 18th birthday and I promise you it tasted disgusting I could not finish the cig in fact went home with 19 in a packet and gave them to my son who was and still is a smoker although i have tried to get him to stop so I do not think you will be able to once your clear you realise how stupid we have been

[hallentine47]

I have a similar story and when diagnosed 11 years ago I gave up smoking but not before a long struggle reducing them down to one a day from 60!! That last one was the most difficult to stop but my breathing became so restricted I didn't really have a choice. Now 10 years without a cig I regret ever smoking. I enjoy life without a ciggy and I smoked everything including a pipe and cigars and thought I enjoyed them at the time. I am now convinced that if you have damaged lungs then only one cigarette is very harmful.