Loula21

[Condex86]

I am new to this thread. Hi fellow sufferer I was diagnosed two weeks ago with COPD mild and was prescribed ventolin (blue) inhaler. I've been a smoker for 50 plus years and find it difficult to kick the habit, even with the stop smoking help I am on right I find it difficult not to have fags inbetween. I know I have to kick this dirty habit once and for all. I only see the lung nurse in October.

[mrsmummy]

Hello and welcome. Don't give up on giving up. Many of us have been there and know what you are going through.

[Currasier]

I smoked too untill as well as copd I was diagnosed with lung cancer.Go cold turkey nothing else really works

[Condex86 in reply to Currasier]

Thanks I'll have to find that switch in my brain and turn it off. Only way to go as I already feel so guilty costing the NHS unnecessary money trying to give up with with the help they've offered.

[Hidden in reply to Condex86]

Good luck. I just went cold turkey 8 weeks ago . I just wanted to breath. I am turning into one of those pain in the backside reformed smokers, despite smoking 40+ years I hate the smell now.

Just keep trying I guess. Best wishes Lynn

[Hidden in reply to Currasier]

I think cold turkey works for some but not everyone. There is lots of help these days for those who need a gentler method of stopping.

There is a very good site on here called Quit so why not join them.

[sandiego in reply to Currasier]

Just find anything to suck as a substitute! Worked for me!

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi and welcome you can kick the habit of you really want to. Good luck with it please let us know how you are doing love Bernadette 😳 xxx

[Condex86 in reply to Damon1864]

Will do and thanks x

[Annie31]

Cold turkey - painful but it does work! All the best

[Condex86 in reply to Annie31]

What are the hardest days to overcome cold Turkey?

[Hidden in reply to Condex86]

Every day to begin distract yourself everytime you think about smoking, have an orange, peal an orange, clean up, wash dishes go for a walk, drink a glass of water.

I found the 1st 3 weeks were the worst after that just a question of repeating the procedure of distraction and persistently choosing not to smoke.

Good luck. The Quit site also good. quitnow.smokefree.nhs.uk/

[sandiego in reply to Condex86]

Mostly when you are out with others, but I found that being around other smokers helped!

[sandiego in reply to sandiego]

Me too! Also every night in bed before sleep I would say to myself, I don't want a cig, I don't need a cig and I think this helped too!

[Annie31]

Agree with Bkin, also try to change your routine a bit as that helps. Your body feels as though it has been knocked for six! But remember those are withdrawal symptoms and that is a positive thing. Once you've cracked it remember you only have to do this once, no having to reduce other aids etc. You will have to persistently choose not to smoke as bkin has said but you can do this if you really want to. You really have to want to quit

[Magpuss]

It's not easy but - it's not impossible, I smoked for 48 yrs and stopped on the fourth 'serious' attempt. As others have said doing other things as soon as you get the urge to light up is a big help, it helps to break the habit If you can distract yourself with other things, and for me - the habit was harder to ditch than the nicotine. I gave myself a visible incentive and it was that that really helped me to stop. I worked out how many ciggies I smoked on an average week, totted up how much they cost and put that amount of cash in a jar and when I wanted to buy a pkt of cigarettes I took out enough money to pay for them. At the same time I tried cutting down how many I smoked, the first week I managed to save a bit of cash which I left in the jar and then added the same amount of cash as the week before, after four weeks of doing this I was smoking less, saving more and becoming very reluctant to take out anymore money to burn. I stopped smoking eleven years ago when cigarettes were quite a bit cheaper than they are now but even then I was putting £25 a week in that jar and watching it mount up was the best incentive to stop wasting it. And - there was a guilt free spending spree to look forward to as a bonus! You can do it - honestly! Good luck.

[Hidden]

Thanks Graham and great to meet you. How long since you gave up ?

I guess everyone has their own way but I really had ,had enough of smoking. Kinda weird as I always used to say I would like to be buried with a packet of B&H and a bottle of wine 🍷. Lol

Thanks 🙏 again for your reply.

Lynn

[Christabella153]

I was a heavy smoker for nearly 30 yrs gave up developed COPD 8 yrs after as it is a family disease was told if I had not stopped smoking would be dead or on Oxygen 24/7 so please try harder it will be worth it otherwise the results will be deadly

[Leesea]

Hello Loula

It is possible, just keep trying. Pleased to meet you!!

Just don't beat yourself up if you don't manage immediately!

This site is a great resource for information and help!!

Keep on keeping on and well done.

[GrannyPamG]

Hi, I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago with moderate COPD. I gave up the next day with the help of an inhalator. My house is now spotless as I was scared to sit down in case I wanted a cig. I've overcome that hurdle now by taking up knitting again to keep my hands busy. I find if I'm concentrating on something I forget about the cigs. Good luck its really hard I know because I also smoked for 50 years but I'm sire you will do it.

[Phyll]

Hi

I've read all these posts carefully, and no-one has mentioned e-cigs. Vaping makes giving up so much easier. You don't have to suffer. But make sure you go to a proper e-cig shop. They'll let you try different tastes and strengths that suit you. Good luck!

[Tilley19]

Hello I am new myself and have it very helpful I'm 61/ and gave the feg s up 4 years ago I have c o p d welcome

[Healthylungs5]

Hi - It's worth bearing in mind that not everyone who has Copd is or has been a smoker. I'm a case in point. Also there will be smokers who never get Copd. That said it will be better for you in the long run if you can reduce or stop smoking.

I enjoy a glass of wine at night but have been thinking of giving that up due to my condition but then I tell myself - life's too short.

Good luck with everything. It's important to keep positive regardless x

[Budgie1954]

Hi Loula, welcome to the club. Your on the right track, you just have to try and see how far you can go without a smoke, then next time try a bit longer

[Ksb6420]

Hi Lula and welcome to the club. The first time I quit smoking I went cold turkey. It was hard but I did it! Had a couple of deaths in the family and started to smoke again. I tried Nicorette gum which is not cheap and the vapor cig. I don't smoke anymore but I have to try to get off of both items now that I have been using for years. I would go cold turkey that way you don't have to break another habit. The vapor cig is not good for copd patients I don't care what anyone says, it does make breathing worse. Take care and wish you the best.

[marrigold]

Hi loula,

I've never smoked but still have breathing problems, I can't imagine smoking and making it worse, maybe you should really try to stop smoking, try chewing gum, or sucking a boiled sweet when you feel like a smoke, good luck. Regards Marrigold