Can anyone help - I need to stop smoking & I have been told it makes RA get worse, faster.

[Southwestlady]

Hi, I am new to this platform and have been diagnosed since October 2020. I have been smoking since I was 15. I know smoking will make my RA worse, I truly do understand this. I am trying to quit smoking. Can anyone share their experiences on how smoking made their RA worse. I need to hear stories to push me into trying harder....please help, currently the addiction is still over powering me. Thank you.

[FamilyHistorian]

In many respects I am very lucky (although reading my profile you might not think so) I’m 72 and never smoked!

I have had RA for 40 years and have fought it the whole time. RA buggers your immune system and likewise some of the drugs do as well. That means without smoking your lungs are likely to be effected by the drugs. If you get pneumonia or similar (covid) it attacks your lungs. Just over a year ago I was in ICU, for quite some time, and now I have been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis caused by icu trauma / pneumonia/ RA drugs especially MTX and probably steroids.

If I had been a smoker I don’t think I would be here now!

[Southwestlady in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Thank you so much for sharing this with me & congratulations on reaching 72, what an achievement. Sharing your story really helps me move closer towards my goal of ending this awful addiction and improving my chances with RA.