With the best will in the world, Tig, you don't "start" to give up. You either do it with determination or don't bother - no heavy lecture intended, but your mindset is everything, repeat everything.
And, makedamnsure, I endorse all you say. Lung cancer is a foul and horrible way to die. I watched my stepfather die of it, and also a couple of contemporaries of mine. It is not a pretty sight and is a most unpleasant way to go.
I admit that reformed smokers (like me) are in a special league of boringness of their own, but once you've fully realised the unnecessary damage you are doing to your health by smoking you inevitably want to help others to avoid the self-inflicted wounds that the habit involves.
Lottie, I'm not doing so well with it at the moment. I seem to have a bit of a mental block about it!
My nan had terminal lung cancer, and it was horrible to watch her get ill, especially through all the chemo and radiotherapy, she was given 6 months and we thought it would be her last christmas with us. 8 years later, she is still going and totally independent, but it was still awful to see her go through the illness.
I originally started smoking when I was in a secure unit, where it was the only way to get 'fresh air'. And smoking proved useful in the higher security units as cigarettes could be used as currency (most patients had previously been in prison, which is probably where it started) and also as a bit of a bargaining chip, to avoid having the crap kicked out of you!
I'm fine! Totally fine. I don't know why it's coming out all loud and squeaky, 'cause really, I'm fine!
The important thing, Cacoethes, is did your Nan stop and has she remained stopped. I do hope so, 'cos you don't get much clearer a warning than that ...
yes, she did!
Well, because she has a stent holding her throat open, she has one occasionally, she says that it helps her get stuff past the stent and she can breathe better.
I'm not sure how that holds medically, but she says it works for her
I'm fine! Totally fine. I don't know why it's coming out all loud and squeaky, 'cause really, I'm fine!
Tony (I think!) - That makes a lot of sense about either going all in with quitting smoke etc. Don't worry, didn't seem like a lecture.
Ah Beckie, it sounds really difficult with your Nan. I also started smoking when I was in hospital because like you, it was the only way to get 'fresh air' which is really bad and perhaps the hospitals need to think about it! I also find that when you are in hospital, if you aren't smoking it's a lot harder to socialise. I used to feel quite out of the 'group' if you get what I mean?
I've thrown away all my smoking stuff today and going completely cold turkey because I don't want to get stuck on nicotine patches and then have to come off them later.
My nan just takes it in her stride! She's a tough one. She quite enjoys being her doctor's 'miracle patient'!
Hospitals really should think that through. I gave up smoking in hospital because I wasn't allowed outside, and then I was only allowed outside for 5 mins on my own with 2 staff and because I was pregnant I didn't want to start again so I just had to avoid going outside!!
I'm fine! Totally fine. I don't know why it's coming out all loud and squeaky, 'cause really, I'm fine!
Tig, (yes, I am actually Tony), I do believe that for most people the only effective and lasting way to give up is to go for it sh*t or bust. But of course if a 15 a day smoker cuts down to only 5 a day then that has to be something from the health point of view. However, the odds are that given the pressures of life (which provide a huge number of excuses to say "Christ, I must have a fag" - I used to find that just answering the phone or going to the loo was sufficient excuse) they'll be back up again to the 15 a day very soon.
I have a friend, who we'll call T, who is middle-aged, grossly overweight and smokes continuously. A while ago he said of another friend, who we'll call P, "he's marvellous, he can just have a single fag or two and then smoke nothing for days." He was wrong. P now smokes 15 or 20 roll-ups a day and is as hooked on the weed as are many on this site. It may or may not kill him (of course I do hope not) but he's pushing his luck. Meanwhile, T continues his suicidal lifestyle and, if he's not struck dead by a coronary at almost any time will surely be killed by the lungs which he's abused within the next few years. I don't wish it on him for a moment - but he is actually wishing it on himself.
And note, these guys whose names I would never dream of disclosing, are human beings just like you and I. They'll both have to die in due course somehow, as will we all. But why push your luck and risk an early and particularly unpleasant death for the sake of an addiction which can be shucked off with much less effort than most people think ...
