copd

[teddywinks]

I have copd and smoke unfortunately. One day will try and try again tog ive up the dreaded fags.

Smoking is not the only cause though to get copd can happen to many that don't moke

[Nottobad]

That is true but stopping slows down the progression

[PastMeBest]

I'm speechless! COPD and you are still smoking. You are either very brave or ............. Read some of the posts of how people on this site are suffering. I wouldn't wish what they go through on my worst enemy. My wife has COPD and I have seen first hand how it affects her and the rest of our family. I have been in tears watching some of the things she has had to go through because of this dreadful illness. You have the choice of really helping yourself by stopping smoking and if I was in your position I know what I would do.

I'm sorry if I come across as being harsh but there is a lot of help out there for people wanting to give up smoking if you want it.

Stay Healthy. John

[Christine-sa in reply to PastMeBest]

I SO agree with you!!

[Bentleyboo]

Hi Teddywinks, I've got Emphysema through smoking and a bout of pneumonia. I was smoking 20+ a day for 30 years.

Then in Nov 2011 I got a bout of pneumonia, I was on 5 different antibiotics then put on steroids, so my weight ballooned. I got help from my doctor as well as my nurse. But I found its the images in my head of how ill I was that helped me give up. It's got to the stage were I can't bear to be by someone who smokes as it makes me ill. It's 5 years now without a cigarette. With the money I saved, I went on holiday.

The moral of my story is ask for help from your doctor or phone "Quitline". I losted a friend on New Years Eve as she had Emphysema but kept smoking. She kept saying that it wasnt her smoking that caused her health problems but everything else.

Start tomorrow by making an appointment to see your doctor then get help from people on this forum. Also phone the "BLF" helpline and get some help from them.

Good Luck with giving up smoking and living smoke free. Put the money you save in a jar then treat yourself. 😊😊

[teddywinks in reply to Bentleyboo]

Thanks for your reply. I would add though my sister's father in law died. Had emphysemia, ended up with dreaded mask. But gave up smoking 10 years previous to getting disease. doesn't always work I suppose suppose.

[Nottobad]

If you need extra help with stopping HU have a Quit site you can join they are very helpful. I am a member.

[kimmy59]

I have Emphysema caused by smoking but its not our place to judge or make people feel guilty about smoking, its one of the hardest things to stop doing. I'm sure there are many on this site who still smoke. It would be better if you could give up, but finding the right time and method is important.

Good luck

Kim xx

[scorpiolass]

You are right in saying copd is not only caused by smoking. But smoking does make our disease worse. I used to smoke & had several times tried to quit. Sometimes successfully for a few years at a time. But at times of stress I would begin again. I wasn't smoking when I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Now I can't bear smoke near me. It is hard to give up but I hope for your own sake you will. Take care, Margaret x

[y_not]

Hi, teddywinks,

Do you want to stop? COPD doesn't happen to "many who don't smoke", sure there are a few but certainly the vast majority are smokers/ex-smokers.

I don't know where your lungs are up to but I'm sure you know that smoking won't make them better.

I'm the 40 a day for 40 years nutter so not in any position to judge but I hope you never get to find out what my life is like fighting for oxygen, having to rest after a shower, avoiding climbing the stairs except at bedtime etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Nottobad in reply to y_not]

The figure is 1 in 4 smokers end up with COPD

[y_not in reply to Nottobad]

Nottobad, I agree with your figure but, as I read it teddywinks is suggesting that 'Smoking is not the only cause of COPD it can happen to many that don't smoke'

Quick search of the internet suggests that around 20% of people with COPD never smoked (or turned on it's head, 80% of COPD sufferers are ex-smokers)

[Nottobad in reply to y_not]

Hi y not to be honest with you I used to think the same as teddy winks. And that stopped me from stopping. And now I am thinking I wish I never started smoking . I have stopped smoking now 19 months smoke free. But I was dx in 2006. And have had plenty of go's at trying to stop and I hope I have finally done it. All we can do is offer advice and hope teddy winks listens and stops.

[diesel12]

It's easy for us to judge but I would say (honestly) that you are nuts to carry on. I smoked for 44 years and switched over night to an ecig. Not perfect I know but much better than the 30 a day I was smoking. Please stop, the biggest influence you can have on copd is to stop smoking so please accept the advice we are giving you, it may make the difference between staying as you are or being on oxygen. It really is a no brainer. For me the fear was like that of a heroin addict being deprived of their drugs but it really wasn't that bad, it's all in the head I'm afraid. If you try and fail, then try again, your life may depend on it. Sorry to be harsh but I can't tell you it's ok when it isn't. Good luck and stay around and let us know how you get on, you'll get such a lot of support here xxx

[Kathygwanny]

Please stop smoking. It will kill you one away or another. I have severe COPD, almost 10 years since I was diagnosed. That's bad enough but because if the state of my lungs I obviously can't have any operations etc. Because of this the Bowel Cancer I was diagnosed with last week is terminal. I could have had some sort of treatment if idid not have COPD. Please give up NOW!!!

Kathy

[lynnekay]

You must stop smoking! You don't want to end up like me, unable to walk 15 meters, and on oxygen

Your GP should have smoking cessation courses and can offer a range of help. I failed to give up many times until I was given Champix which made it relatively easy

Good luck

[Dragonmum]

Totally your own choice. I smoked for 60+ years and made the quit attempt many times but always fell off the wagon. Six years ago I discovered the e-cig and switched overnight - have never smoked since; had I not made that switch I would not be typing this now. COPD and asthma which I got thanks to smoking are not funny; blue lights flashing and oxygen tubes trying to clear your lungs are not funny - but as I said, your choice.

[Abc1010]

I'm a 30 a day for 40 years smoker, stopped after numerous attempts in October, diagnosed with copd 6weeks ago. Had lots of stress and bad life experiences and have used cigs to help me get over things and it worked!! But all the time knew it would get me in the end!! Stopped using champix, didn't hurt too much but have put on weight but will worry about that in time! I am carer for 2 grandchildren 6 & 8!! So have work cut out for me! So please try and stop smoking only because you never know what the future will bring, I would have done it before if I'd known I was going to bring another family up!!! Please keep trying.

[teddywinks]

I will. Thank you

[meagan123]

My Dad had COPD at 56 years of aged, never stopped smoking he did cut down to 40 a day and lived to be 84. So was he just lucky?

[Pietba in reply to meagan123]

Try very lucky