As many of you know, I was a smoker for 36 years and quit in September 2007 with the help of Chantix.
Even though I quit, my breathing has gotten increasingly worse. A few months ago I went to see a Pulmonologist and he started me on a few more medications (some inhalers), and ordered lung scans and some blood work. Earlier this week I went back for a f/u and was told I have COPD-Emphysema, he ordered oxygen (delivered and set-up today, actually I'm using it right now) and Respiratory Rehabilitation which I will start this coming week hopefully.
All this and I'm not quite 54 years old - DAMN!!!!
Not everyone that smokes will get COPD (although most will get at least a mild form) or worse yet Emphysema but I was one that did.
I wish I had never lit a single cigarette.
Friday, May 29, 2009
COPD & Emphysema
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
31 comments:
I smoked for about 40 years. I quit and so far so good. No lasting effects that I know of. You just never know though. Most everyone smoked when I started. You could smoke anywhere as I recall.
I'm sorry this is happening to you. I wish I'd not lit that first cigarette either. Sending good thoughts and lots of good karma.
Big hug honey. :)
I'm sorry about your condition and certainly hope for the best for you, however I have known people through the years that developed lung cancer and emphysema and never smoked a day in their life. I tried the Chantix a couple years ago and stopped for a month or 2 and decided to go right back. I wasn't ready to stop, all the best.
Sorry to hear you have this condition now. Did they give you the Spirometry test? I do that in my work with all our COPD patients.
If only the youngsters of today who are smoking could actually believe that this might happen to them - they seem to think they are invincible..
nice post u got here, blog walking! visit me back!
I am so sorry to hear about your condition. I'm afraid my wife may be suffering from the same. We have been thinking that it is because of all of the weight that she has gained the past few years that is the reason why it has been getting harder and harder for her to breath, and we keep thinking that her doctor would at least say something if he thought it might be something more serious. On the other hand, HMO's greatly discourage exploratory tests--don't they?
My heart goes out to you. I guess our smoking days in that Army wasn't good. I quit in 1980 for reasons you know. Never picked it up again(Been tempted).My Aunt Linda has COPD-Emphysema. She is doing well on the meds. Talk to ya later this next week.
I am sorry to hear that. I am not a medic, but perhaps, after a while with the oxygen use, things might become better and you can stop? I wish you this with my heart.
I have no problems and I am a heavy smoker. And I cannot quit, the smoking keeps me going and in my job I need it.
Yesterday, I was running around in a refugee camp. My colleagues worry about food, water and a break to go through the day. Me, I just go on all day, talking to people, hearing "They have taken my husband away" or "I don't know where my son is". This is a big strain. And I "heal" the strain with a cigarette.
I know it is not healthy and one day I will pay the price.
FishHawk - please go with your wife to the doctor and see what can be done for her particular situation.
I "appeared" to be healthier than I was and my PCP first sent me to a cardiologist (due to family history) and then it took months longer and more difficulty breathing before he finally sent me to a Pulmonologist. Ask her PCP right up front.
I started to gain weight from some of the steroids they first gave me and of course I couldn't combat it with walking due to my breathing, it was an issue with a diminishing return.
I'm in hopes I will be able to exercise again after I start attending Respiratory Rehab.
I'm very sorry that this happened. My mom was a 1+ pack/day smoker for over 20 years and though she is okay-ish health-wise, I keep waiting for a phone call that she has something like this. I hate big tobacco for making it seem ok to so many people. Now we have to deal with the repercussions while our friends and family suffer.
I hope the oxygen help you :)
I am from a smoking family. I smoked for a little over 10 years, and quit almost 7 years ago. It took 2 full years before I could say I didn't want one and didn't think about it any more. I am glad I quit because I have no ill health effects that I know of, but my mom still smokes and I can hear it in her voice and cough. I worry about her. I wish I I had never started, either!
I hope for you that quitting will stop any ill health effects from further developing and that after a short time with oxygen, they will reverse so you no longer need it.
Oh Debs, I am so sorry that you have been diagnosed with such a dibilitating ailment. My Grandfather had emphysema and although he smoked up until he was 70 we all put his condition down to the trenches, mustard gas and so forth, in the first world war. The smoking was no doubt a contributing factor as he smoked, I believe, about ten per day.
Is it possible that lung strengthening exercises may be of help? Have they advised any such as swimming? It might be worth enquiring.
Have you been advised to get an ioniser? This takes all of the dust particles, pollen, air borne irritants, pet hairs, dander, etc out of the air - they fall to the ground so that you are not breathing them in. They are marvellous in the bedroom whilst you are sleeping and are very effective switched on in any room that you may be in. It is also possible to get smaller versions tht plug into cars.
Take care.
x
Lets all hope it just stays the same and nothing worse.. cheer up girl!!! Faith and positive thoughts work wonders.. now if I could only convince myself to think the same way..I want that Grandson of yours to have is Nana for a long time. :) I am so glad you quit smoking when you did. Hugs!!
Sorry to hear about it. Like Sandee, I am sending you good thoughts.
Oxygen? Oy vay!
I smoked for 40 years. Here's my
video about life on oxygen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxJrLrqJ2nwmy
Lois Perelman
That just plain old stinks. I'm so sorry to hear that you have to live with that condition. It is so wonderful that you quit smoking though. Better late than never! I hope that the medication that they have you on will help to improve your breathing so that you feel better.
Take care of you:)
Sorry to read this. I hope the treatments help things get better.
That is so terrible.
:( Very sorry to hear. God bless.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear your news. I hope the oxygen helps and that your condition will improve.
So sorry to hear this. I am trying to quit but having a hard time. The chantix helps, but too many stresses. And I don't care what anyone says, cigs do help me get through the stress.I too wished I had never lit that first cig so many years ago. Wishing you the best dear. Hope the meds, therapy, etc will help you.
I am most hopeful that the therapy will help you.
Take care my dear,
Kathy
I am sorry to hear this. . . stay well. It's great that you quit smoking when you did. Stay with the rehab program - never stop. I have asthma and can feel well for months on end and then the slightest trigger can be a big setback. Breathing, I've often said, is one of my favorite things to do. . . . always, no matter what else I am doing. . . it's in the top 3.
My Old Man is going though the same thing, hes 60 and has COPD from smoking for yeaaars he quit back in 2006 and it took having a heart attack and getting LUPUS and having his kidney's fail before he got COPD diagnosed this year.
he has this machine that he he has to sleep with. He has a CPAP machine but he refuses to sleep with it at night because it makes him feel like he is sufficating I think they have it set to high so he sleeps with his other machine that you stick the little oxygen thing up your nose and flip the machine on.
Mother- she quit in 05 and she just sleeps with a CPAP, she has sleep apnea.
Btw, what happened to my blog on your NOT ACCEPTING PAID ADS list? Its missing now :( ???
--- Christopher
http://life-accordingtochristopher.blogspot.com/
OH Deb...I am SO sorry. I, too, smoked for 40 years and quit 11 years ago. I also have emphysema. I take 3 inhalers and have oxygen. I don't use the oxygen except on really hot, humid days if I go out to the store or whatever. I know exactly what you mean...I wish I had never touched a cigarette!!!
I'm really sorry to hear this. My mother has the same thing. I watch her suffer. She had gotten pneumonia years ago, and almost died. They had to drain her lungs and that caused a lot of scaring and that led to the copd and emphysema. I watch her suffer and it's heart breaking.
I sure do appreciate everyone's friendship, it means way more than I can express here.
I'm feeling a little weird about going out and being seen in public with my oxygen. I take my little dog on a short walk every evening so he can do his business and I'm using the oxygen then and getting plenty of looks from those driving past us. I'm sure they are wondering why someone so young is hooked up to oxygen and then again I'm sure that some are saying that I got what I deserved from smoking.
I'm sorry to everyone that is suffering from this disease/condition themselves or for those who's loved one is/has lived/died with this disease.
Thank you again for your friendship and compassion!
I really emphasize with you. I just started on oxygen the middle of April following 8 days of hospitalization for severe bronchitis and asthma. No one has told me YET that I have COPD. The clincher is that I NEVER SMOKED!
But I grew up with a father who smoked and in a town where steam railroads were the primary employer. Those old steam engines burned coal and put out soot that dirtied the wallpaper and polluted the air, so our lungs took all that in. My ex-husband did not smoke, so that was a 20-year reprieve, but all my friends did and when my children were growing up I coffee clached every morning with those friends who I loved dearly.
Then 33 years ago my current husband and I married and he smoked heavy. He is paying the price now as he has COPD that has been hard to control. We are both on oxygen--we are both in our 70's.
I do not regret that I married him because it's been a good marriage, but I do feel angry over the tobacco culture we grew older in and at the ignorance of business interests that exploited not only the natural resources, but also the health
of the people.
I enjoyed reading your blog today and would like to follow it--we have many positive things in common, and I am learning how to celebrate the positive.
I'm so sorry you have to fight that nasty disease! I lived with parents that were heavy smokers and my sisters and brother did it as well, so I was exposed all the time. I have asthma and the doctor has said it is from the smoke I inhaled as a kid.
It's just not fair that these things happen after we quit. When we expect to be rewarded for finally being good! I am only 11 months quit, and am short of breath which I did not expect. But then, after smoking for 35 years, I guess I should expect it. Be kind to yourself.
Emphysema is a lung disease. It leads to breathing distress due to a restriction in blowing air out. It is main form of COPD. It is caused due to smoking also even air pollution contributes it. It is still not decipherable. One can use lung gel or lung surgery is the only option. For more details on emphysema, refer Emphysema
I too smoked for about 40 yrs.
But now (Oct 5th) I was diagnosed with COPD.
First thing they did was put me on oxygen. Then they taught me the breathing exercises (breathing for the count of two from your diaphragm, then, with pierced lips, out of your mouth for the count of four.) This gives you oxygen, and slows your heart beat.
When you're not on your oxygen your heart knows you need it so it beats faster and harder to try to deliver. As you can assume, this is very hard working for your heart. (Leading to other problems)
I found some very useful information on YouTube. Just put in COPD in the search.
Angels on your pillow, and I will be checking back with you.
I have a "quit smoking" date set for Nov. 26th-Thanksgiving Day. So every year, I'll have something to be thankful for..Living!!
Wish me luck lol
Post a Comment