Cat scan results.

[Samcar]

Hi all. Haven't been posting as things crazy around here. Still battling giving up smoking...so hard but I keep trying. I had a repeat chest ct a week ago. I have to wait another 5 weeks to see pulmonologist but I was able to read the report. I obviously have cold and several lung nodules but report says the nodules stable for past year. Then some stuff I really don't understand. Says bilateral subsegmantal telecasts, mild bronchiectasis, mild groundglass pacification, unspecified 0.2 cm calcified granular. Internet scares the heck out of me, so then have panic/anxiety attack and smoke. I did have a really hard summer with some unknown respiratory type infection. I coughed for almost 3 full months lungs were burning, cough not too productive, lost weight. Also on ct, additional findings mild prominent right peri hilarious lymph node, aberrant right subclassing artery, and small pericardial effusion.

My primary gave me inhalers to use and it helps some but I can't help wondering if I need something else or should start planning for a funeral. No cigs today so that good, but I do better when I have information and then do something with it.

Thanks for letting me ramble, it helps to talk and I really don't have anyone I can comfortably talk with here. I'm in USA and their lung support site doesn't give a person much hope. My lung doctor is at brigham& women's hospital in Boston, mass., so I know they're a good facility but I'm beginning to question why they only check me once a year.

[chart]

Use vaoes. Stop smoking. If only cheking you once per ye, you are ik. Use inhalers as needed. Modt imo dump cigs. Use the ecigs only. They work great. You will notice big improvement once stop cigs. Lung nodules almost always benign l have had them for yrs. You dont need tp plan funeral. U sound pretty good to me. Walk a lot, or jog a bit as you can. Cough is normal with early emphy. If productive, prob have an infection. No big deal. Get antibiotics to clear it up. Might take longer to clear. I had 2 rou nds if zithromiacin, it worked! Quit worrying. Again, stop cigs. Use ecigs. Walk. You will be amazed how much bettet you will feel.

[Samcar in reply to chart]

Wow,thank you! I need positive thoughts. I know there are medical issues but if I think it's hopeless I'd not try. Some people told me that people can live up through their 80s -90s if take care of self. Still concerned about those other things on cat scan, I don't know if they'll go away once whatever infection I have is cleared and I don't smoke. I did forget to mention that I have Wegeners disease so I'm unsure if that plays additional role with the cold. But thank you again. I will try the vape cigs if you're sure they're not as bad as real cigs. Around here the news says worse than cigs, and burns holes in lungs...but unsure how reputable these reports are.

[CornishBrian in reply to Samcar]

Hi, so you've read your report and it means nothing to you....or me. What I do know, is that you had all the nodules etc long before the report and probably long before your diagnosis and you kept on living....and that is what you will carry on doing. Fags are bad but don't beat yourself up over it...you know they are bad without everyone else telling you that. Do what you are doing, cut back as much as you can and keep cutting back until you are ready to quit. It took me years. Then, one day, I woke up with a really bad infection....coughed to just move my leg. I was laid up in bed, not my favourite place and after two days, I said to myself "If I ever get out of this pit, I ain't going to smoke again" and guess what, as soon as I was fit again and getting out and about...."Ah, go on...one fag a day won't kill ya"...then within a week one became ten, sometimes fifteen....but I never gave up giving up. Now in the happy situation that I don't smoke...unless I go out for a beer, then I have a n occasional one...a situation I can easily live with. So, don't let the meaning of the report worry you...get on with your life and wait for them that know to tell you in a language you can understand.

[freefaller in reply to CornishBrian]

That is the way to look at things!

[music in reply to CornishBrian]

like your answer to post cornishBrian

Good luck

Music

[Samcar]

Thank you for your encouragement. Smoking is by far the worst addiction ever and non smokers don't get it. Also the more family and friends keep bringing up the subject the more I want to smoke. I can usually hold off smoking for a bit if I'm real busy with some hobby or baking or playing with the grandson. I will keep trying as I'd like to live a lot longer. Lots of laughs but I have all kinds of plans now that I am not working. Just gotta get healthy.

Thanks again

[casper99 in reply to Samcar]

I had to tell my family to back off with the nagging because it was making me panic and smoke more.

It worked, along with the ecig. I've just got to get off it now. I have halved the strength of nicotine now.

I cut right down first, it eased the panics I was getting at the thought of stopping dead. Good luck. xx

[Samcar in reply to casper99]

Sometimes people in my family are sarcastic about my smoking. I never smoke indoors, never in cars, I stay at least 50+ feet away from the house and if outdoors for a cookout I leave and go for a walk. Now that I think about it, it's really an annoyance when I want to smoke, especially in the winter.

I am going to buy an ecig tomorrow when I go to market and give it a try. Thanks for the encouragement as it it appreciated

[frose in reply to Samcar]

Have you tried nicotine quickmist? It did the trick for me. I still use it! I always say I'm as much a nicotine addict as I ever was, but now I take it differently! Not perfect, perhaps, but I'm not smoking

[piggi]

Hi - is there no help from your doctors to stop smoking? I'm in the UK and went to a cessation clinic. It was fab. Think I'm now addicted to nicotine inhalers but even that use is dropping off now. I haven't had a ciggie for nearly 6 months. I'm severe COPD so stopping is one of the few things I can do to help myself really. I agree it's pointless beating yourself up about it but I'm surprised you don't seem to have been offered any practical support to get off them. Good wishes x piggix

[Samcar in reply to piggi]

Support on stopping smoking has been poor. One doctor says oh don't worry about it, just quit when you can. Another gave me a anti depressant called wellbutrin which I had an unfavorable reaction to. I'm going to try the ecig as suggested also I don't know if insurance company offers a cessation program but it's definitely worth a call to ask.

[piggi in reply to Samcar]

Yes I think call your insurers - and see cough's answer below. Good luck! x

[Samcar in reply to piggi]

And thank you for your support and kindness

[Hidden]

Hi did you know there is a quit smoking site on here? Go into 'my communities' at the top of the page, click browse other communities then type in quit. Ok? x

[Samcar in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I will check it out.

[camping-girl]

Nobody loved their cigs like me, however I stopped 12 years ago with nicotine gum, still chewing it but e-cigs weren't around then. Never had a cig however I do dream that I'm a smoker & wake up thinking OH NO, have I started again.

[Samcar in reply to camping-girl]

Oh no, that's a horrible dream! But I did welcome the giggle, as I too wake up sometime after a weird dream wondering if it's real. I can't use gum or patches as my gums and skin blister. Going to try ecig and call insurance company to ask if they have any cessation program.

[Dragonmum]

Samcar, if you keep on smoking you are just killing yourself! Stop it right now! There is no excuse - if I, as a pack a day smoker for 60+ years can give up overnight with an e-cig then anyone can. There is no need to give up e-cigs, ever, which is the comforting thought - they will prise mine from my cold, dead fingers. Casper says he's cutting down on nicotine, really no need because it's the tar in cigarettes that kills but he'll find it a lot easier to quit e-cigs (if he feels he must) than to quit the evil weed. I have never lowered my nic levels nor do I intend to. Please read Public Health Report England which states vaping 95% safer than smoking.

[Samcar in reply to Dragonmum]

Thank you for making me feel worse about myself than I already do!

[Dragonmum]

Not meant like that, hope you are kidding, all we smokers have been very very naughty! Cheer up - you're just like all the rest of us, trying to do our best in difficult circumstances and my post was REALLY meant to help you kick the ciggies - it will be the single best thing you ever do for yourself. Please try, I so wish you the best of luck because I know how hard it is - I did it hundreds of times!

Editing to say don't go arranging that funeral just yet - I'm sure you sound feisty enough to stick around for many a year - just come on here and have a good moan whenever you feel like, it does a world of good.

[rubyred777]

Hi me again! It's been 6 mos. Now. Just wondering if you stopped smoking. How was that ct  scan? Kind of bored,  so chatting about older posts. Hope you are doing well. 😊 Rubyxx