Quit smoking

[Tom and Margi]

I don't know what to say.  After reading Carl, Tom, and Jim's reply, as well as the rest of them, I'm at a loss for words. 
I really don't have an excuse, do I?

Nope.  But just acknowledging that fact will take you a long way in your journey to quit. 

Margi

 

[denmarc]

After re-reading the previous posts (I couldn't help but re-read them), a quick note to AndraF...
My father passed just a couple of years younger than yours.  A totally different reason as to what took him compared to smoking.  But, who really knows?

He quit smoking in his 40's and passed at 54.  A type of MS (rare) finally made his heart weak enough after 8 years to take him.  We still don't know if the smoking made a difference or not.  I'll bet it didn't help matters any!

Just my opinion.

Margi,
Got the reply at the last second.  I hear you.  Thank you!

 

[Carl L]

I don't know what to say.  After reading Carl, Tom, and Jim's reply, as well as the rest of them, I'm at a loss for words. 
I really don't have an excuse, do I?

Excuse?  Excuses are what you take to school when you are absent so that you do not get hauled off to the vice-principal's office and put on detention.    All you have here are rationalizations and consequences. 

One last thought:  A person meets plenty of folks who regret having ever started smoking.  Have you ever found anyone who regrets having quit?

Get it done!

 

[denmarc]

I hear ya, Carl.  Thanks.

 

[davencjkan]

All 3 of us have quit - but - we smoke electronic cigarettes with 0 nicotine and 0 tar.  I (Dave) have COPD and my pulmonologist says that I can have all of these I would like.  They are water vapor and flavoring (we like vanilla).  My COPD has improved immensely since I have switched to this.  We started with just 6 mg of nicotine and found that it was soon too much and then we went to 0.  Has done wonders for all of us, and we don't miss not smoking cause we feel like we still do.

 

[jje1960]

Well I started the evil habit at four years old. No use in trying to quit.  In fact this thread has caused some stress and I am fixing to go fire one up. Thanks.  Now back in the good old days in the oil patch heard of a fella who could put half a pack of Beech Nut chewing tobaccy in each cheek..half a can of Copenhagen under his bottom lip..drink a beer and smoke a cigarette all at once. Now Paducah Patty could do this too..and she was a girl.

Sorry to have caused you "stress".  For those of you that have been inspired, if you (we) gain even one extra year of life, this was all worth the 'stress' of typing!

 

[Carl L]

I hear ya, Carl.  Thanks.

Get'er done and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you.

 

[denmarc]

All 3 of us have quit - but - we smoke electronic cigarettes with 0 nicotine and 0 tar.

I forgot all about those stupid things!  Do they work?  I always wondered if the "habit" aspect still remains due to still going through the same motions as if you were smoking a real cigarette?  I understand the concept that it's better to go through those motions (if you feel you have to) without the carcinogens.  I guess I'm asking if it's a constant reminder of actually smoking a Cancer Stick and possibly prolonging the pain of just getting over it PERIOD?

 

[Daisy]

Well, denmarc, if all these good folks with their great suggestions and encouragement haven't yet convinced you, perhaps your first (hopefully not fatal) heart attack will.  Or, perhaps one morning you'll wake up with a terrible case of smoker's bronchitis, and you can't breath.  Every step you take or every effort you make will leave you gasping for just a tiny bit of fresh air.  I'd be very surprised if you don't have a bit of that going on right now.  AND it will only get worse, the longer you smoke.  Those lungs have a finite capacity, and when they are filled up with smoke, tar, nicotine, there's very little space left for fresh air.  Keep that thought in your head while still rebelliously fighting it.

Daisy

 

[denmarc]

I hear you Daisy.  While I have a very active and physical job and not experiencing your examples, I do know what you mean.  Point well taken.  Thanks for the support.

 

[Wendy]

And your lungs can quickly repair themselves once they expell all that crap.

Wendy
non-smoker since May 1981

 

[davencjkan]

denmarc,  When we feel like smoking a cigarette, the electronic ones fulfill the desire, but we have the desire much less and it is never for the lack of nicotine.  Sometimes we go days with smoking any at all and sometimes we will smoke them quite a bit.  Either way, no harm no foul, and it seems to be much better for all our healths.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Tom]

[quote author=Wendy]And your lungs can quickly repair themselves once they expell all that crap.[/quote]

Negatory. When I visited a pulmonary specialist and took the air expulsion/volume and other tests, his comment was "the damage is already done".

 

[Wendy]

Negatory. When I visited a pulmonary specialist and took the air expulsion/volume and other tests, his comment was "the damage is already done".

Hmmm. Dad's pulmonologist and my regular doc said that your lungs can repair themselves.

 

[Tom]

your lungs can repair themselves

They don't, so someone lied. Simple logic says that tar and other gunk clogs up the tubes, and there's no way to clean it out.

 

[Wendy]

I've done a lot of research and some of it says yes and some of it says no. I prefer to believe those who say your lungs can repair, maybe not completely but certainly a good deal. I'm a glass half-full kind of gal

Wendy

 

[Tom]

Glass half full doesn't cut it in this case. If you'd ever worked with tar you'd understand, and your glass would look quite differently.

Remember, those tobacco execs LIED under oath about this stuff.

 

[Tom and Margi]

Well ... I had asthma, I had beginning stages of COPD, I was short of breath .... and 23 years after quitting I have none of those issues.  NONE!  You can't convince me lungs don't heal if you quit smoking.  I'm living proof and so is Tom.

Margi

 

[Wendy]

Glass half full doesn't cut it in this case. If you'd ever worked with tar you'd understand, and your glass would look quite differently.

Remember, those tobacco execs LIED under oath about this stuff.

Who said anything about the tobacco execs? I wouldn't believe them if they said the sky was blue.

 

[Tom and Margi]

Another thought:  We're talking about CANCER and HEART DISEASE and God knows what else.

Have you had cancer yet?  I have.  It's not pretty!  It's not pleasant.  Not something I ever want to repeat.  I'm a 12 year survivor.  Had I not quit smoking in 1989 would I have conquered cancer in 2000?  Probably not. 

Is smoking a cigarette worth losing your hair, losing a breast, losing your prostate function, losing your ability to breathe, losing your heart's ability to sustain your life?  It's a CIGARETTE, for chrissakes.  It's a detrimental habit.  It made money for the tobacco industry at your expense!

Give it up!  Stop!  Quit!  It will be the best thing you every did for yourself ... and for your loved ones.

Margi