Hey! You know how they say smoking is bad for you? Well it's true!

[shadowknows69]

After being poked and prodded by my local medical community it appears your humble friend Shadow has, well emphysema basically. Trying the task of quitting on Monday. Not looking for sympathy as I did this to myself with the help of RJ Reynolds favorite addictive product, but if being able to say you know someone who has been hurt by smoking gives you some strength to quit than I won't have gotten sick in vain, or something like that.
Keep you posted as long as I can and all that good stuff. Happy New Year.
S

[tekisui]

1. Good Luck.

[JuniperLea]

2. Good luck, Shadow...

Howardx and I quit a year and a half ago... both smoked a carton a week for over 25 years.

Try the patch, and find a buddy who can talk you down from high places:) Better yet, find someone to quit along with you. I've quit many times, but doing it with Howard has had lasting results!

Good luck with the quitting... and with your health.

[crim son]

3. You've got my attention.

I'm sorry to hear that you aren't well. :hug:

[mtnester]

4. Exercise...keep your muscle tone

seriously..if you did not do that before, do it now

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

5. I've been working on quiting this past week.

However, my goal wasn't to quit altogether. It was to get it back to where I didn't smoke everyday. So far its working. The first few days were a little homicidal, but its going well now.

[bigwillq]

11. I am trying to stop too.

I am doing the whole cut down gradually and break some habits and routine.
Today, I only had one smoke while driving to work instead of two. It's a start. I feel I need to break the routine first.

I tried to go cold turkey a few times and that didn't work so now I am trying this approach.

[sam sarrha]

20. meditation can give you the skills to let go of the addictive cravings and thoughts, if you

want more info let me know.. i was able to quit drinking after 27 years of alcoholism everything else had failed, and quit smoking within the next year.

meditation is simply a method of training the mind not to attach emotions to thoughts and let go of habitual patterns

[WritersBlock]

Aw shit... sorry to hear that, Shadow.

Good luck with the quitting. I did it 3 years ago. The patches helped this time.

[TomInTib]

6. My money's on you, shadow. You'll kick them both in the ass...

The Habit...

and the Health Issue.

Knock it out of the park, shadow.

Tom

[11 Bravo]

7. Smoked for 30 years, diagnosed with cancer in '97, surgery ...

and a 6 week course of radiation, and I'm still here! Hang tough, Shadow. I'll be thinking of you.

[cynatnite]

8. My Dad was diagnosed with emphysema....

He died.

Please stop smoking.

[lse7581011]

45. My Dad Too, But...

he lived for 12 more years and died of Alzheimer's 3 months ago.

[Wheezy]

9. Good luck, Shadow.

There's a book called "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr. Sounds like a gimmick, but I've had three friends quit cold turkey after reading it. Worth a look on Amazon.com, at least -- there are like 350 comments, most from readers who have quit because of this book.

[bigwillq]

10. Good luck to you.

All the best. :hug:

[Stephanie]

12. Nicorette! Worked for me.

And I know a guy who's been living with emphysema for at least ten years. He's a busy guy, always working. Wishing you the best. :hi:

[sam sarrha]

30. they have nicotine antibody injections.. about 40% last i heard.. if you add a support group it

should double that.. also quit coffee before quiting, anything that makes your urine alkaline will cause craving.. stay away from tobacco triggers.. places, foods.. stay away from smokers smoking too, let everyone know and use their help all you can..

lit me know if you want some information on meditation.. pema chodron has some amazing teachings on 'Shenpa'.. the Tibetan system of breaking addictions, thought and behavior.. i have a lot of Cd's i can send you. her tape ..'When Things Fall Apart' is what helped me quit drinking and smoking.. and led me into many other wonderful things.. saved my marriage too

[Subdivisions]

13. SHADOW!!! Listen to me very carefully...

YOU CAN DO THIS!

You have to. I want to see you around for a long time.

I did it. You CAN do it too.

Now, buck up.


Edited to add: Sending this to the Greatest page. Now all of DU can encourage to you do what you have to do to get past this.

[gratuitous]

14. Good luck, and . . .

You were gulled into buying an addictive, deadly product by a company that has spent billions over the years to induce, incite, and otherwise trick people, particularly young people in their teens and early 20s, into starting the habit. The case I worked on established comparative fault at about 20% for the smoker, and 80% for the tobacco company, and I think that may be overly generous toward tobacco companies. The companies are very well aware of what they were and are doing. And people pay with their health or their lives for their ignorance.

Good luck to you, and best of luck, really and for true, in quitting. Use every trick, every technique, every therapy you can think of, ask your doctor and everyone you know for help. This is a major league addiction, and it's the rare individual who can overcome it alone.

[Benhurst]

15. I tried for years to stop smoking. Finally I read to stay somewhere you

didn't smoke for a few days.

I took to bed, since I never smoked there, always afraid I'd burn myself up to a crisp.

I stayed in bed for three days. After that I was tempted a few times; but I haven't smoked in over twenty years.

What ever you try, good luck!

[PDJane]

16. You have my thoughts, Shadow.....

I'm very sorry to hear this. I am also going to recommend mindfulness meditation. There is a book, called "Full Catastrophe Living," and you may find a group in an urban centre hospital. It's worth doing. There is a very good, sound biochemical reason that the stuff works, and it does.

Hang in there........and keep us posted, please. I, along with others, do care.

[Bonobo]

17. Just curious...was this related to your previous "swallowing problems"?

[shadowknows69]

22. I suspect it may have been

Technically I have COPD-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which Emphesyma falls under. The damage I'm told is irreversible. I've been prescribed two kinds of inhalers to supposedly help preserve what's left of my lung capacity.

[Bonobo]

24. Bah, it's just a flesh-wound!

[shadowknows69]

27. heh, thanks I needed that

B-)

[laylah]

34. Not to diminish

modern medicine; however, please keep in mind this is how we enable the pharmaceutical companies!
"The damage I'm told is irreversible." I cannot stress enough the garlic oil thing. Garlic is God/dess's gift to man...the best natural antibiotic of all! I, too, smoke (not proud, nor bragging), suffered bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia for years. Started the 6000 mg. per day regimen when I started to feel punky and have not had any upper respiratory problems in 20 years. I take 3000 mg day for maintenance.

Of course you MUST stop the cig thing but garlic oil, in large quantities as I earlier described, will help you! Please try it.

In the meantime, once again, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Stuart G]

18. Good Luck shadow.

[OneSelf]

19. Best of luck!

I'm also trying to quit.

Not just for my health, but also for financial reasons. Seems a little silly to give these companies so much money just so they can kill us.

[tandot]

21. Wishing you the best, Shadow. There are lots of ex-smokers here

who might be able to help you quit:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=326

I quit 13 years ago and haven't touched a cigarette since. For some people it is easy to just stop smoking but most people have a very hard time and try it more than once.

Good luck! :hi:

[Bonobo]

26. After about 10 tries, I quit umm...let's see a year and a half ago. Tobacco anyway.

[qanda]

23. I wish you all the best

Nobody deserves to be sick. I hope you'll find the strength to quit.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

25. If smoking were actually the worst human weakness, we would be living, heavenly, right now.

I am an ANTI-PERFECT person. *grin* I do not believe in anyone's 'perfection'.

I'll bet you have lived a very full life IN SPITE of your 'weakness', haven't you!

:hug:

My Love to you and your life, neither of which has ever been in vain, smoking aside.

:hug:

[Dorian Gray]

28. Good luck with the quitting.

It's tough going. Moddiness ensues. I think the only reason I was successful (coming on three years) is that I'm so darn competitive with my husband, I didn't want to break down and be less successful than he was.

[bear425]

29. Wishing you well shadow, but why put off till tomorrow what

you can do today. You can quit now, not Monday.

I believe in you.

[Greyskye]

31. Good luck man!

We've got faith that you can do it!

[irish.lambchop]

32. I'm almost afraid to know

everything that is bad for one. I shall think about quitting myself now. And let me be the first to point out that I realize what my "think about quitting" bit really means. Will send good vibes your way (if you accept them from those with fewer than 1,000 posts! :hug: :)

[laylah]

33. ...

:hug: Good luck, Shadow. Take LOTS of garlic oil (no less than 6000 mgs daily). It may not cure you, but it will definitely help. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[hfojvt]

35. get some nicotine gum

The nicotine is not nearly as bad as the tar, and it is the nicotine you are addicted to.

[BrotherBuzz]

36. My forty year habit ended the first of November

My lungs were deemed in reasonable condition, considering, but I guess being diagnosed stage IV cancer of the stomach, liver, lymph nodes, and large intestines kinda scared the shit out of me. I'm two months smoke free and doctor says I'm now also a cancer survivor. I gained sixty pounds after surgery and DURING my chemo treatment. Quiting the butts was surprisingly easy considering the ordeal I had been trough, but I continue to think about that one drag. That's all I desire, one drag.

Make it a big deal...Monday is the day. No if ands, or butts. Simply say good riddance to them and get along with you new and improved life.

[dysfunctional press]

37. it depends on what you smoke. sorry to hear that you chose tobacco.

nt

[SnowGoose]

38. If you find yourself falling off the wagon, and are willing to take drugs

Zyban worked for me. The impulse still came in certain situations (late night reading & music listening), but the gnawing, craving, yearning, hollow, gigantic, cavernous, empty feeling went away pretty much completely.

Best of luck to you.

[laylah]

39. A very important kick

for a very important DU family member!

[pipoman]

40. I found out my 16 yr old son had been smoking

in September. I had smoked for 25 years. I made a deal with him we would both quit. Neither of us have had one since the 24th of Sept.

When you get up Monday morning you will have been off them for 8 hours. Take it 1 hour at a time and know with each passing hour that you will never have to relive that hour. Soon hours pass between thoughts of cigarettes then a day will pass and pretty soon you will be off for 21 days. Every habit takes 21 days to break.

My wife is currently taking the generic of Zyban and it is useful. There is also a new drug out to help people quit which I heard is good.

My step dad is 70 quit last year because he is diagnosed with COPD. He does feel better an doesn't tire or cough as much as he used to. I took him to Lowes last weekend and he kept up with me well. He couldn't have done that a year ago, I would have had to put him on the bench in front of the store.

[annabanana]

41. "being able to say you know someone "

Lost my MIL to it... Hubby is working on it...

It is tough to quit. All I can do is cheer your efforts and wish you success.

[Raejeanowl]

42. You've Still Got A Lot Of Living To Do

And you're going to feel significantly better overall when the cigs are behind you.

Moment by moment, day by day, my friend. Best wishes.

[madokie]

43. Hey Shadow how I done it years ago was pretty easy actually

I know its never easy but anyways here goes. The next time the urge hits you tell yourself that you won't smoke one this urge but allow yourself to think maybe you will the next urge, then go on about your business and in a moment the urge will go away and stay away for a while, then the urge for a cig will return and when it does make note of how long it has been and I think you will find the time that has passed will surprise you. In three days I was going 3 to 4 hours between urges and thats when I realized I don't ever have to smoke again and guess what on august 14 '77 I smoked my last cigarette. What ever you do make sure you have a pack of cigarettes or smokes of choice with you so if you just have to have one you won't go into a store and buy one cause if you do that you will go right back to smoking. remember the next urge tell yourself maybe the next one and take if from there. I tried quitting a hundred times before I finally did. one of my friends went to a quit smoking semanar and thats how they said to do and and he quit and he told me and then the next time I thought I was going to quit I tried his way and I have been smoke free for 30+ years now. I'm not talking about the left handed kind though, ok;-)

[shadowknows69]

44. One kick for friday

Who's quitting with me on Monday?