No more smoking

[Espeejay]

Hi, any ideas. Diagnosed COPD so seemed obvious the first thing to do would be to give up smoking. Since doing so 2 weeks ago finding it very hard to stay awake or get motivated

[2greys]

Hi Espeejay, and welcome to the forum.

No surprise there. Nicotine is a stimulant that your body has got used to, now that has been withdrawn your body is missing it. Do not worry about it, it is all part of the physical addiction to Nicotine. Things will get better, give it some more time, you have got over the worse by now do not let that effort all go to waste and slip back into the habit. If your appetite gets the better of you then snack on some healthy fruit. May I wish you every success in becoming an ex-smoker.

I was a very heavy smoker, chain smoking, for over 55 years. I got diagnosed with severe Emphysema and quit straight away (cold turkey). The shock of diagnosis and difficulty with breathing gave me the incentive to succeed, whereas all previous attempts had failed. 2 years after quitting I ended up with Lung Cancer as well (now in remission) If I had carried on smoking not only would the Emphysema have accelerated the outcome of the cancer would certainly have been a whole lot worse.

[CDPO16]

Hi and welcome. Well done for quitting 2 weeks ago. Keep up with it, it will get better just maybe not as quickly as you want it too. HealthUnlocked has a quit support forum if you think it might help you to join that. If you are able to, getting out walking (maybe when the heatwave is over) will help by means of keeping occupied as well as getting the exercise.

[katieoxo60]

Well done for giving up ,keep up the good work I've been a none smoking for 17 yrs but can still remeber how hard it was. It took me three tries, just take one day at a time and it will help your COPD to stay stable theres lots of things that can help you to get through . Every best wish and remember to pamper yourself with the money you save makes giving up seem well worth it at first eventually you will just become a none smoker and won't remember what it was like or crave anymore.

[Espeejay]

Thank you

[Izb1]

Well done Espeejay for stopping smoking, its one of the best things to do. I think exercise is one of the best things to take up. Depending on how bad your copd is. Take a slow walk to the bottom of your road each day, then next week go a little further increase it each week until your happy with the distance. Then walk a little faster, only while it is comfortable for you. This will increase your lung capacity and lift your spirits. Any form of exercise is good for you, even if its only stretching, it not only helps your body, it helps your mood too. We all need a little encouragement at times, get your spouse or friend to join you and do it together. Good luck x

[Ergendl]

Well done for making the decision and stopping. To stay stopped, find things to do instead of having the next cig. Even if it's read a book, or phone a friend, or something else really easy in all this exhausting heat. Keep going and you'll get through this.