I am pretty new to this sight ,this morning I am going to admit something which I am ashamed and embarrassed about
and that is after being diagnosed three years ago with bronchiectsis and mild emphysema I am still smoking ,at that time i smoked 25 aday for the past 12months ihave managed with the help of aids to cut down to 10 aday .i am not well a lot with the illness but this been unable to stop the cigs depresses me more than the illness its self .i am 71 age now I have been smoking 57 years I am lucky to be still here .I go to see my consultant on next Tuesday were I always admit to still smoking this time because I am so embarrassed about it I'm going to tell lies ,the way I look at it is she must be thinking I'm trying to help you and your not helping yourself ,I've tried to take the bull by the horns and just stop icarnt seem to do it .is anyone else in my position, and what can we do about it
Thank you stone yes I've tried e cig really hurts my chest I believe this is because my chest is always slightly inflamed and the heat from e cig makes it more inflamed
Hi stone-UK my consultant said I would be better having a normal cigarette than using them oils...,,If people could see their lungs like I do when I operate the oil is worse than the tar off cigarettes x
Hi Alice. It’s very difficult to quit smoking and very hard to admit that you do smoke. However, maybe you could try telling your doctor that you’re still smoking but really want to quit. She may well be thinking she’s trying to help you but you’re not trying to help yourself, but if she sees how much you want to try, she should offer you help, advice and support to quit. I know it’s not easy to quit something. And doing it alone can be almost impossible. Therefore seek out the support of your doctor, or your pharmacist if the doctor won’t help, and keep trying. 👍
Don't lie to your to your consultant Alice. It's funny how smokers think that nobody knows they smoke. A non-smoker, especially an ex-smoker, can smell a smoker from 50yards off. Better to put up with the embarrassment than be branded one who lies.. Cutting down from 25 to 10 is an achievement, half way to stopping you could say.
I stopped some years ago after smoking longer than you. It was very difficult but I did it by trying not to even think about it by avoiding the circumstances when I used to smoke. Like after a meal don't sit down for a fag, do something else. Concentrate on the benefits of stopping, more money to spend better health etc. Keep in touch, don't hide. 😉
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No Don Rhymed I won't lie to my consultant it was something that had crossed my mind as I don't no how to tell her I'm still smoking ,thank you for you comment on how you stopped
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Good for you Alice. 😀 I’ve a strong feeling that you are going to crack this. 👍
Hi nice to meet you. I was diagnosed with mild copd 10 years ago and only managed to stop smoking last year. Fortunately I am still mild though don't deserve to be.
I found it incredibly hard to pack in the ciggies but did manage to do it with the help of the great Quit site which is also on here. Never thought I could so have a look at the link below. x
It is a great site and provides all the positive support and encouragement many of us don't get in our normal lives. I must admit I lurked in there a couple of months before I had the courage to try then I had a false start But I have packed it in for nearly 15 months now so am well proud of myself. This was after being a heavy smoker for 44 years. x
I live by the motto, "You never really quit smoking, you just don't light the next one." Its been pretty hard lately due to stress but I havent smoked for 9 years. I wish you strength and luck!
Aww Alice70 it’s just an awful addiction.. you know even when I’m in bed with a chest infection I still crave a cigarette 😱.. it never leaves you .. Don’t lie to anyone especially doctors and your consultant .. try everything on the market again.. patches, gum and the smoke sensation group.. I really do wish you luck.. hugs xx
It's nothing to be embarrassed about honestly, it's an addiction after all, especially when you've been doing it for that period.
It does take will power, my mum stopped two years ago nearly at 68 after an illness and she literally just stopped one day. But we are all different and have different ways of coping.
Could you try and cut down to day 6 to start with and actually set the time when you have those once, e.g. 10am, 12pm etc. Then slowly cut one out?
The advice above is great, it's about changing your routine completely so maybe go for a short walk if you fancy one rather than sitting down with a coffee?
It's so hard but ask your GP for help as I think there's lots of groups available now, or even your chemist.
Good luck and please don't feel bad, we're only human after all!
I know exactly those feelings, I am 63 and smoked over 40 years. I was the same and smoked after a diagnosis of COPD/emphysema for about 2-3 years but finally quit. Like you.. the depression from smoking when you know it makes everything worse got so bad...I just couldn't take it anymore. And also a first granddaughter which made me want to be around for awhile and not disabled. Those two things really changed me. I also cut down first and just got used to denying cravings, joined the Quit Support on here, and used the nicotine lozenges it has been almost 2 years now. I agree with @schmu, I am a smoker that simply stopped lighting them up.
Hi and welcome Alice70... Although there is a sister site on here for giving up smoking,you are always always most welcome to use both sites. You mention that you've been diagnosed for over 3 years now and I hope you are not suffering too much. I've always had the opinion that I can't get the best help available from my Lung Consultant, if I'm not totally honest about my lifestyle. I don't know,but would guess, yelling your Con that you still find it really hard to give up smoking,will come as no shock to him as your spirometry results,would be telling him you probably were still smoking.
Please do keep us informed,we'd love for you to stay with us as well as the Stop Smoking site.
I'm no good at lying I'm going to tell the truth ,it's true if you won't descent care the consultant must no were she stands thank you for your sensible answer I am going to take a look at the quit site on here later
Great! I think they should understand that it's very difficult indeed to stop and addiction of nearly a life time. Don't forget to be proud of your 10 a week - and counting down to your aim of 7 a week, one per day 😜
I've read here that there's a drug called Champix which has halted many peoples smoking habit. It doesn't suit everyone but for some it's been brilliant. Good luck. P
You could try a good Hypnotherapist. Nothing to lose and maybe so much to gain..
National Hypnotherapy Society
The National Hypnotherapy Society is a not for profit professional organisation whose purpose is to ensure that all of our registrants are safe, competent and ethical practitioners.
I second your idea. My mother was a smoker for over 50 years. My sister took her to a hypnotherapist, when she was 71. The therapy worked for her, surprising everyone. We're all different and just have to search out the right path to change that suits us.
Well done for cutting down to 10. Good luck with quitting all together. Maybe you can just quit one fag at a time 9 tomorrow then 8 next week and so on please dont be to hard on yourself alot of us have been through or are going through giving up we understand how hard it is. And you should be honest with your consultant they can help us best when they have the full picture. Take care and never give up on giving up.
Ps. vape's aren't supposed to be warm/hot. So shouldn't case a problem
Thank you Corriena apparently the battery heats up the liquid that makes the smoke ,I wish I could smoke them
Its not an easy thing to do, and you might need to build a support team to see you through. I quit 6 months ago, because it's critical to my health. You can do it, one day at a time. You don't need to be smoke free A+ best person in the world right away. Like others have said, keep minimizing it. But I think you should build you a team to help you, and that includes your GP. Maybe meet up with a counselor, and then a smoking cessation team. Call the hotline, chat with them maybe when you feel the need. Go for a walk, rather than light up. Take a deep breathe and be thankful for it, rather than light up. Talking to friends here on this site is a good start to building that team!
I was asked by a nurse at my GP surgery if I would like to see a quit smoking nurse before I was diagnosed with COPD I agreed not knowing she was in the next room. 10 minutes later I came out with a prescription for patches . I had cut down to 15 ciggies a day from 25 . They worked for me. I had repeat visits until I was able to say I didn't need them any more. Good luck
Hi Alice. I smoked for 53 years and had tried to stop several times with absolutely no success at all. Having being diagnosed with COPD I knew I had to stop, I tried patches, sprays, pills, you name it I tried it with absolutely no success. So I decided that I would have to do it by cutting it down slowly. I eventually decided on the lozenges and off I went. It took me four months to stop, I was prepared for it to take longer, but I managed it in 4 months. The lozenges taste a bit odd to start with but you soon get used to them. I was smoking 30 a day, and I was 66 at the time and I have now been smoke free for 11 years. I also treated myself to a new laptop which I really couldn't afford and I knew I had to put the money back, which I did fairly quickly, then I got a very expensive pair of shoes and a new fridge, and managed to put that money back into my bank account, it was just another incentive.
Sorry to have rambled on so long, but I hope this may help you. Take care and breath easy xx
You have nothing to be ashamed of. Many of us have struggled with quitting smoking, me included, although I managed to quit around 8 years ago. For me it was the fight between me and it, and there was no doubt in my mind, I had to win. It’s a chemical based battle, combined with a big battle of wits. Some of us find it easy, most of us don’t. Either way, it can only make you more ill than you already are so it’s a battle you must face. Fortunately, most surgeries have excellent plans to help us quit, with certain staff dedicated to helping us. Good luck with it! 😊
Hi Alice 70, my Dad started having mini strokes when he was 76 and was told by the drs if he didn't stop smoking he would have a massive stroke....he stopped immediately and survived another 4 yrs. He had smoked since he was 14yrs old. It's funny how a fright can make you see sense. Keep trying to give them up you will feel the benefit in no time. I am an ex smoker and can't stand the smell of cigarettes. You CAN do it. Good luck xx
Hi Alice 70, Everyone's different, what works for one may not work for another but try & keep on trying, for me personally having something in my hand and feeling the "hit" in my throat as i inhaled was needed, I couldn't tolerate the e cigs they choked me but I switched to a small vape pen with menthol juice ( as poster above said they shouldn't get hot) and for me that did the trick, I've never looked back, asthma & copd well under control, reduced meds and a much fatter purse,lol, wishing you well in your efforts. Good luck.
I'm in the same position as you, but have never lied to a Dr. or consultant. Like you - e-cig.s/vaping doesn't agree with me. I'm thinking of hypnotism, but almost too afraid to give it a go. What I do know is that my FEV1 has been getting lower and lower (30%) and it is due to smoking.
Hi Alice. I gave up 30. years ago when my Dad died of Lung Cancer. It took a couple of tries but cutting down didn't work for me as you need to get the nicotine out of your system .I did it cold turkey and it wasn't easy! However the craving did lessen after a week or two. I had a little glass swan that I held in my hand to "fiddle" with and swapped my ciggies for extra strong mints! I also looked forward to a can of lager at night to relax. I used my cigarette money to treat myself to something nice every week.Now with my lung problems I cannot bear even a whiff of smoke or vapes for that matter. Vaping is new and contains chemicals that as yet have not been proved to be safe. I wish you luck,being smoke free is so worth it!!
Firstly don't beat yourself up for not being able to give up instantly. As lots of us know here its hard to stop something you have done for many years. I smoked from age 13 - 50.
You've done great cutting down to half - well done!
3 years ago, growths in my lungs were suspected as cancer, this frightened the life out of me, but prompted me to stop smoking 7 days before my first biopsy, in order to try and clear my lungs for the procedure.
During this time I just kept telling myself "it's only 7 days" and took one day at a time. I broke the main smoking habit times first... (the first one of the day and the one after meals). When I craved, I just asked myself "what do you want a cig for? - you don't even smoke!" then I distracted myself til the craving passed.
Luckily it wasn't cancer and I realised that after 7 days without smoking I had already Given UP! and why would I want to go back? I will admit that in the three years I have once or twice still tried a drag from a cig when a friend has been smoking, but it's unpleasant for me now and I don't enjoy it any more.
I have since been diagnosed with bronchiectsis, mild emphysema, COPD and "the mystery lung growths" myself, but I am doing much better without the fags.
Why not see if you can try to time your cigs, - ie: try and do without the first one in the morning and plan to have one say in two hours, go out to the shops or for a walk and leave your cigs at home, tell yourself you'll have a smoke when you get back. If you plan one every two hours, that only 6 in a typical 12hr day (4 less than you're on now). Once you get used to this, try spacing your cigs out further (say 3hrs). Pretty soon you will find that at certain times you forgot to smoke at all, but all the time you are reducing your habit and you will be feeling much better and responding to treatment better too.
This is just an idea Alice, it's really not at all easy to give up and any reduction is better than none.
Remember when your parents used to say don't worry - just do your best?
Oh zenga im so glad it wasnt cancer ,it must have been scary for you at that time ,I've cut down to 10 over the past 12 months and I think the way to go for me is by reducing this last 10
All I can say is that the more times you try to give up the more you increase your odds of success.
I gave up smoking by telling myself I wasn't giving up and that yes I could have a cigarette but just to wait 5 minutes. 5 minutes would pass, and if I still wanted one, I would tell myself the same thing. Eventually the urges became less and less until I gave up.
Hi Alice I have the same problem as you I don’t tell my consultant that I smoke or like you say they might stop helping us I’m 70 yrs old now so I’ll be having my last days with the smoking of the fags I’m too old in the tooth to fully stop.....I have cut it down to between 5-10 a day I’ve been smoking for 55 yrs.....Take Care Alice you’d be surprised how many still sneak out of respiratory ward in hospital to have a cigarette outside xx
Oh snazzy if you and I were together we would be the naughty ones going out for a sneaky cig .on a serious note we need to do the write thing and try our best to give up
Hi Alice.
I've read almost all the replies on here, mainly from people who have managed to kick the habit, and I applaud them all! 👏🖖 There are many who are still trying to quit - some after many attempts - these deserve our applause and respect! 👏👏🤝 There are many more who never tried, or failed - to their cost - but they don't tend to message here...?
It's a habit which - if you think about it - is vile! It makes you and your clothes/house/car/breath stink, costs a fortune, and ruins your health! So WHY do we do it??? It's because nicotine is a drug which - once ingested - makes you crave for more! It's up there in the top addictions along with Heroin and Cocaine, but the only difference is that it's LEGAL. You can be a legal junkie!! The Government makes a HUGE amount from it in tax, yet then condemns smokers for using the Health Services when we begin to suffer? We are made to feel like social pariahs!!
For all those who have succeeded in quitting any addiction, they have found their 'key', but everyone's key is different - there's no magic key that fits everyone's 'lock'! It maybe that they want to see their children/grandchildren grow up, save money, get married, have a dream holiday...., or just LIVE? Think 'WHY do I want to give up?' - 'WHY do I want to go on living?' - and keep that/those reason(s) in the forefront of your mind - every time you reach for a cigarette?
If you can't just STOP, give the gum/patches/electronic ciggies a try, and find something that works for you, but keep on trying! Life IS worth living!
I wish you all the luck in the World.
From an ex-smoker. xx
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This is a fab reply you have sent me ive reread it a few times all makes sense thank you
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You're more than welcome. Good luck. x
One more for you. I read a response from a gentlemen who said he would tell himself, Ill have one later. Then later came and he said, ok Ill have one tomorrow. He just kept pushing it off until he no longer had the desire. Good luck
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Thank you rigcu1
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We are in this world together. Let's help each other for goodness sake God bless you
Hi Alice, I think it's natural to feel like this - I gave up smoking 27 years ago and still feel ashamed. Also apparently everyone fibs about the amount of cigarettes and alcohol they consume and doctors double whatever people say. We are all human! Best wishes to you
Golly ,gosh Alice...so many replies and words of advice and encouragement! Please let us know what way/method you chose to follow to stop smoking. You have definitely formed a huge group of interested followers.
Best of luck and you will succeed,every attempt whereby you smoke less,is in effect another success!
Hi, I am probably going to tell you what other members have already but let's make it something you wont forget, give up smoking completely NOW. We've all had to do it one way or another. I gave up, after probably as many years smoking as you, and am still regularly asked by the specialist if I still smoke. It feels good to say no and as you say they probable think their advice or message has done some good and I am working with them.
The whole disease thing is a bit much to take in so I understand the stress you feel if you have to get rid once and for all. Cutting down is good but you will get back up to the original number in time.
Lungs are precious things that do not repair well or easily, the older you get the more damage you cause and the treatments begin to run out together with your choices. I can tell you this from bitter experience, no recognised treatment is available to me anymore.
I can only turn to stem cell treatment abroad at a financial cost to me, expensive. Most UK specialists tell you it has not yet been proven but when it is your last choice what are you supposed to do? Take a chance it can't make the disease much worse if at all and hope for a few more years.
You do not want to get to that position, stop further damage ASAP, it's hard but think forward a bit and you will see it is worth it.
I am sorry to hear treatment is not working anymore ,please God let stem cell work for you ,I have taken in everything you have said on smoking ,thank you for your reply .wishing you good luck
I am sorry to hear treatment is not working for you anymore ,please God let stem cell treatment work for you ,I have taken in everything you have said on smoking ,I would like to say thank you for your reply
I think you’ve done very well to cut down as much as you have. I’m sure that with small steps, you can reduce some more.
I think your consultant will know if you lie about not smoking. There is a smell on skin, in clothes and hair etc that non-smokers are acutely sensitive to. You’ll also deny yourself any more help in quitting so honesty is definitely the best policy!!
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But I have packed it in for nearly 15 months now so am well proud of myself. This was after being a heavy smoker for 44 years. x
Oxygen and100 yard challenge
Trying to stop smoking
Recent COPD diagnosis
Anyone asking about Trimbow inhaler
Little blue pills and linctus
