Here’s an open, honest and frank story. This isn't a pity me story just an opportunity to vent with a like minded group. Its not every day we get to meet those who can relate to our plight.
As a young child I had mild enough asthma but I did end up in hospital at about 6 years of age for a few days. My dear mother managed it well taking me to consultants and I grew out of it in my early teens. Sadly if my asthma had have been more severe I may have never smoked.
I had a difficult relationship with my strict and abusive father, I rebelled against him and foolishly began smoking @ 17.
I didn’t get on well with smoking as it aggravated my asthma but I was a big drinker and binge smoked and drank for years and years at the weekends. The association between alcohol and cigarettes was one I couldn’t break.
On paper I was also an alcoholic but it was the 90’s and things were different, smoking and drinking was more prevalent. This was the era of the Marlboro Clothing brand, Tobacco Sponsored F1, the arrival of "Superpubs", extended drinking hours and smoking was allowed both on flights (early 90's) & indoors. I was living the dream, making good money and spending it as quick, an indulgent Rock & Roll lifestyle.
Oddly enough I did keep the smoking to the weekends only, mainly due to the fact it impacted my breathing over the following days. I recognised this but a few puffs of Ventolin & felt I could get away with it as long as I was only a social smoker. I had friends with worse asthma that smoked more than me. The thing is they got married and sensible younger, I continued into my early 30’s.
I’m also convinced the term social smoking was coined by the sneaky Tobacco industry.
Now unfortunately my smoking has come home to roost as they say and I beat myself up daily because of this one massive life mistake that impacts everything.
I gave up smoking @ 32 with just a 6 year pack history but I now have difficult asthma with FAO & small airways disease and asthma meds don’t work. I'm 52 now & 20 years smoke free but the legacy lives on.
Now we know from our medical friends that the duration of smoking has more impact that the amount smoked. The pack year argument is really only relevant to those that have smoked 20 a day consistently. You can smoke 5 a day or 20 a day and the impact is not much more apparently.
There’s also a cautionary tale here for any young person with Asthma who smokes and stops by here on a fact find. Asthma is a serious disease and needs to be respected at all costs. I have also learned that the proportion of people with Asthma who smoke is the same as the general population, so if 15% of the population smoke, 15% of Asthmatics do. This needs to change.
Anyone else who smoked with Asthma care to share their story to help placate me?
I stopped within 3 weeks of an emphysema diagnosis, its not easy but needs must when with every cigarette you damage your lungs more increasing risk of more chest infections and yet more lung damage.
The effect of cannabis on the lungs - share your experience
young people with COPD
Are you kidding me??
Not COPD but Asthma
