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1000946 tn?1253807847

How many still smoke?

I was curious, how many on this board still smoke?  And if you do how much?
Also, how long ago was your diagnosis.

my family thinks I flipped out to soon and that my quitting is making my stress level worse and they think that Im making myself sicker in other ways now.  Just a note " family members that live with me are behind me not smoking all the way".
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Avatar universal
I had been smoking cigarettes for over 20 years at a pack to a pack and half a day.  I was successful with Chantix and quit, however when I found myself in a stressful situation I rebounded to smoking cigarettes.  Nine years ago I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection that would not go away.  I made a conscious decision to quit with Chantix again.  My 2nd  attempt was not as easy.  When I had to go the 2nd step and increase the dosage from 1 to 2 pills a day I started having vivid nightmares.  I kept at it though, reduced my intake back to 1 pill a day and still managed to quit with the 3 month supply.  Yes, 1 pill a day and I have remained smoke free.  If you want to do the Chantix you have to commit to yourself that you really want to quit.  Mindset is the biggest thing.  Stress..........find another outlet.   I tried counting, crying and taking a hammer and beating a piece of wood.  All 3 helped, I have made it the 9 years and soon to be 10 in November.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was diagnosed about 2 months ago. I am only 28, I have 5 children and a husband that is deployed.  When I initially went to the doctor I didnt believe there could be anything wrong with me, thought all my problems were just stress or something else I just went to calm my husbands fears.  I have had second and third opinions and am stuck with the diagnosis of COPD/chronic bronchitis and still smoke.  My husband smokes too and is willing to quit when I am ready but with the stress of his deployment, an upcoming move to Germany when he returns, and our 13 month old that has his own medical problems I know I wouldnt be able to quit. I have tried to cutback on smoking, but when the stress increases so does my smoking.  Luckily I am in early stages of the disease and I am not overweight and try to exercise and do what I am told to do, but smoking right now is the only way I know how to "deal with stress" as I like to put it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i was diagnosed in july 09 copd still smoke too much...have anxtys bad..on advair 250/50..i,m not a bit proud of what i do..but did it 30 yrs,,.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, I still smoke.....SOB with exertion started about a month ago.  Have had 2 episodes where it felt like my larynx just shut down, couldn't get air in.  Second time I was just walking and talking with friend, sudden sob, lips turned blue.  It passed.  Doc changed inhaler and put me on prednisone (day 4 no improvement so far.)  No cough, wheeze, fever, mucus, chest pain, etc.

Do I want to quit smoking?  Not really....I am one of those rare people who actually enjoys smoking.  I don't do it for stress, anxiety, etc.  I can go all day long without one and then in evening light up without a second thought.

But then I am single, 63, live alone, work 40 hrs week, don't entertain or go out with friends, etc., so I don't feel any social pressure......

Will it kill me?  Probably.....but knowing I am doing it to myself, I am really not motivated or want to explore it any further than inhaler/meds at this time.  I am well aware of all the risks and I don't need to be lectured!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
you guys must be CRAZY , I was diagnosed a couple of weeks back and it just wasnt an issue for me ....I had my last cig the day before I was diagnosed and wild horses couldnt make me smoke another drag again EVER
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I quit smoking over 3 months ago...still don't have a Dx though. Awaiting CT scan results.
Chantix works great to quit smoking.  It is not covered by insurance but you can go to the website and get a discount card.  The cost even without the card is about what you'd spend on cigarettes per month so the cost is NOT prohibitive.  The only drawback is that is causes nausea...you must eat when taking it and have anti nauseal meds on hand.
Good luck to all who have quit and to those who are pondering it.

Please consider the cost to your health and also that you are supporting the cigarette manufacturers...
Helpful - 0
980382 tn?1251481588
No, thank you for the reality check!

Not that it will do the trick, but it's facing those demons and it's a start.

Good luck with it. Just keep at it. We will all do it eventually . . .
Helpful - 0
1000946 tn?1253807847
I'm still having problems since trying to quit.  I went 4 days and slipped then I went 9 days and slipped!  Now in that time period I didn't smoke over 200 cigs (which is awesome) but I still do not know why I keep slipping.  Im using the nicotine lozenges.

Everytime I slip I think OMG what is this doing to my lungs :(  Its horrible.  I want to quit for good.  I just have to keep at it.  I think its better when we are honest, then it makes more people want to be honest and not feel like they are the only weak ones.

So thank you so much for sharing.
Helpful - 0
980382 tn?1251481588
OK you guys, you've come clean, I will too!

I'm still smoking with moderate emphysema.

Like lynnkay, I am not proud of it.

I was diagnosed a couple of months ago, and have a CT scan appointment next week to confirm the diagnosis. The anxiety of all the tests, which have all had big gaps between them, has made it impossible to quit. Just thinking of what might be found on the CT scan as well as the emphysema makes me light up!

I started off cutting down, which went well, my head seemed to be "in the right place" as the nurse said. Got down to 10, and then after the letter came for the CT scan, shot back up to a pack a day.

Patches burn my skin really badly, so they failed. The inhalator is great, but I was using it constantly, so I'm sure that was increasing my addiction. Gum didn't work. Tried Hypnotherapy twice. NLP twice . . . Nothing.

I've been on Champix (Chantix) for two weeks, and NOTHING! The only side effect has been to make me chronically tired. Not drowsy, but just dead on my feet! I could sleep for a thousand years! Not good when you're trying to do a physical job! AND I'm still smoking!

The more you think about the future, the more you panic and get angst, and what happens? You light up.

This disease will progress THREE times faster in someone who doesn't give up, allegedly. Those words are what haunts me. Every time I have a cigarette, they pop into my head, but it doesn't make me stop . . .
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I stopped buying them first. My state raised the tax and I said that's it. I can't afford them and I knew the place I was getting them would stop giving me discount I was getting. So I went through every butt I had in the trash, yes YUCK and it probably was worse than smoking another month, but I finally ran out and I have not had really had any cravings. Meanwhile I am banking all the money I used to spend. No wonder the guy liked me so much. I had saved thousands of dollars over the past 13 months and it's sitting in my bank account instead of inside me.  
Helpful - 0
1000946 tn?1253807847
I want to Thank you for your honesty!  I really really want to stay cig free but there will be alot of stressors coming up next month and I don't know if I will be able to keep it going.  I was just curious because alot of the message boards and stories all these individuals just quit when they find out.........and I know how hard it is to stop smoking and I was shocked to find smokers could just quit cold turkey that quickly.  I thought there was something wrong with me that I was "white knuckling" thru this whole not smoking thing.

Im using lozenges but it isn't helping.  I thought after a week Id feel better, but these cravings don't go away after a few seconds,  I cannot breathe thru them.......they last all day long!

Helpful - 0
518117 tn?1429276273
I was diagnosed in Oct. 2007 with moderate stage COPD. Family doctor ran tests to confirm the diagnosis. Went for a second opinion to a pulmonologist. He also confirmed COPD. Am I still a smoker? Yes I am. Don't want to even guess how many cigarettes I smoke a day. I tried Chantix twice. Personally, I would not give that stuff to a dog. Side effects were not good at all. Known of several other people who have tried the Chantix. They had bad side effects as well. Have tried the patches. I will do good for a day. But, the next day becomes unbearable. Can't handle the nicotine gum. I might add that I am also bipolar. So, I have to be very careful of what I take. Adverse reactions. I have had extreme anxiety problems for many years as well. The anxiety that goes with quitting, just sends it through the roof. I am not proud that I still smoke. I have a lung disease. It haunts me everyday, the fact that I still smoke. I might add that I have many stresses going on in my life right now, too. Have I progressed my COPD by continuing to smoke? Yes, I have. I have read in my research, that 40% of COPD patients will continue to smoke. Doesn't make what I am doing to my health right though. But, I had to post this and be honest.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I went six months and did not crave a cigarette anymore, but did want to feel normal again, so I started smoking and honestly! After just one, I felt normal again! The awful anxiety that never left but kept getting worse. Ever since then I have a harder time gearing up to do it again. I keep thinking any day now but am scared to death of the anxiety again!
Helpful - 0
1000946 tn?1253807847
I always found them very soothing......im into day 7 and going on day 8 at 2:30pm but for some reason Im having problems more now then in the beginning.  

Its not as easy as you'd want it to be..........I sometimes feel like a very weak person.
Helpful - 0
757137 tn?1347196453
I used to smoke a little over a pack a day. I have been reducing consistantly and now smoke about four daily. I expect to have quit completely within the next month. Cold turkey did not work for me. I find cigarette smoking soothing (and I am a little hyper) which no one ever seems to mention.
Helpful - 0
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