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I thought I saw a status on quit section , but of course when you need it you can't find it or it never existed lol . Seven days to go . I'm on the count down to ten years quit . Who woulda thought lol . No one , not even me , definitely not me . Its a day of gratefulness. Day one is where it all began . Ten years is my quit anniversary and retirement and when I'll leave it all behind . These will be my last few days talking about smoking , cigarettes , quitting smoking and everything related to it . Newbies , take the step , stay in touch daily with your support . You will not believe this yet just like I didn't , but you will make it if you do . Put the work in , it's short term pain for long term gain .

Gday NOPE..... not one puff Ever

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOPE!!!!!!

NOPE!

I agree nope here too .

NOPE!

Cigs are weak- you are strong Don't let them win

Nope....not today!!

Nope!

Nope.... I don't think so!!

NOPE

NOPE!!!!!!!

NOPE

NOPE…

It's a helpless feeling isn't it Jillar? Knowing how it's possible for anyone to quit if they truly want to and understanding that those with COPD are just hastening the progression of their disease by continuing to smoke There's just some si*t ya can't change no matter how much you'd like to. Sad; very sad

As many of you know I was officially diagnosed with severe emphysema and COPD after I had respiratory failure in January of 2020. Most of you also know that for years I was struggling with breathing issues that I was told was asthma. In the two years leading up to my respiratory failure I went from 110 pounds on a 5'5" frame to just 79 when I was admitted into the ICU. My prognosis at that time was pretty grim, get better or go home on hospice. But either way I was also going home on oxygen. Since then I have put most of the weight back on and continue to feel myself get stronger each day. So then what's the point of this post you may be asking and its this.... I found a great group for people with COPD on Facebook which is ironic because I never used Facebook pre pandemic but the group is awesome. So many people that can relate and answer the many questions those of us newly diagnosed have. Much like our community does. Here's the sad part, I read post after post from members of that group still smoking. Some are on oxygen and still smoke! I of course pass our site on to them and I hope they find their way here. Its just really sad to see. There's even a few who's Drs have refused certain procedures because they're smoking. Life saving procedures too I might add. COPD is a progressive disease with no known cure. It can be slowed with proper medications and quitting smoking. Sadly we can have it for years and not even know it until we get an exacerbation. Mine was thought to be asthma. My day consists of trying to keep my 50' oxygen tubing out of the walkways and from getting caught in the doors. I'm embarrassed to go anywhere because people will be whispering things like "that's what happens when you smoke" etc. My poor dog and cat also have to dodge it while I'm walking down the hall to feed them. Its no way to live. I'm not looking for any sympathy I just want to put a brutal face to this terrible addiction in the hopes it helps someone quit or keep their quit.....

NOPE

I hope that it is something that you can manage @jillar! This would be the ultimate treat for yourself! You so deserve this and I really want to hear that you got out one day and had a blast!!

@jillar That is fantastic news. You give so much of yourself to this forum!! Hope it all works out for you. You deserve to enjoy life to the fullest!!❤

Great news Jillar, you go girl!!!

I know I said I want this topic focused on COPD and not me but you guys were all so kind in telling me I shouldn't be embarrassed to go out in public that I wanted you to know I took it all to heart. I also discovered oxy glasses! They're glasses that can be fitted with a prescription lens and have a cannula built into them! So no more oxygen hose across my face I really think this may be a game changer for me and part of my researching it further is thanks to all of you P.S. anyone still on the fence about quitting, this could be your future problem too.........

Never forget where you've been never lose sight of where you're going and never take for granted the people who traveled the journey with you You may see me struggle but you will never see me quit

What kind of advice did you expect?

NOPE!

NOPE

NOPE!!!!!!

Occam's Taser: the most painful explanation is usually the correct one.

Brings it home ,just how powerful this addiction is .... It's sad some folk believe they can carnt quit ....everyone Can Quit .... I hope Jillar some take your advice and your Wisdom ,and join the Quit Train ....

I agree under those circumstances. But you can live a long life on oxygen. Years not days or weeks as long as you do what you have to to stay healthy. Number one being to quit smoking...

Don't know if I can predict what I'd do if I knew I had 4 weeks to live. An extra 2 days may not be that much motivation when in your mind its a choice between living 4 weeks happily doing what you like vs living 4 weeks plus 2 days in withdrawal (or torture).

I think this topic got a little off track. I wasn't looking for advice on portable oxygen, believe me I've researched it and also use portable tanks already. I'm just embarrassed going out in public with them. The point of my posting was to put a face on what smoking can do to you, even years quit like I already was when I got diagnosed. And the importance of quitting before you start having breathing issues which I did not do. I quit because of my breathing issues and I should have quit before I had issues. Also I was admittedly shocked by the number of people on the COPD site who still smoke and are on oxygen. I can't even imagine how they can do it and its sad to see when you know they can quit but they don't think they can....

We looked into one of those portable oxygen concentrators for my mom rather than dealing with tanks. But as fate would have it, she contracted pneumonia one last time and passed shortly after in the hospital. Yes she was a smoker with both COPD and also emphysema I think. she had a horrible wet sounding cough in the last 10 to 15 years. She used a large version of those portable machines in nursing home though with no issues, and they would give us small tanks when we would take her home for dinners and such. But @Katgirl is right check with doctor (as if we have to tell you to check with doctor as you’ve warned many others of this over the years)

Hubby,s Oxygen machine was supplied through the hospital .... And was closely monitored....they have a special oxygen team ....that kept a close eye on him ... If I took him out ,in his wheelchair ,he had a portable tank ,that lasted two hours ... We also had regular visits from the Fire Brigade ...to make sure we were safe ...

Opah, I am sure you mean well, but It is not a good idea to give out medical advice on this, or any forum, unless you are a medical professional. I AM a medical professional, and if asked would give simple advice, but always with a caveat to check with your own Doctor. An O2 concentrator is probably not sufficient for someone with severe COPD. Also, if you haven’t been diagnosed with a pulmonary condition, YOU should not need one. When hiking, uphill, just take it slower. When I watch an NFL game, and a player makes a long run, it drives me crazy, when they show him on the bench, afterwards, getting O2. They should allow him to recover naturally. I suppose there is no real harm in his getting supplemental Oxygen, but it bugs me….. Just my 2 cents. KAT

Shortness of breath is the most common sign of COPD @Opah. Other symptoms are different for everyone, some have a chronic cough. Some, like me, don't. Some have excess phlegm production. Some, again like me, don't. Some have frequent chest infections. Weight loss is another symptom, one I had. There's several other signs and normally your Dr will request a pulmonary function test to see what stage it is. As well as CT scans or chest x-rays, and blood and urine tests. For me I was so short of breath that I was burning more calories trying to breathe than I could consume. I couldn't even shower or get dressed without being short of breath and each cold I got only made it worse until it came to a head in January 2020. And really it was a double edged sword because at last I have treatments that are helping me. Too bad it came at the expense of my freedom from an oxygen tank..............

Sweetheart..... With tears flowing freely..... I know only too well what devastating Illness this is .... Not everybody understands just now crippling it is .... It's sad to hear and know some folks still manage to smoke ...my hubby Physically couldn't even Take enough breath to pull a drag .... He died of complications of this horrible illness ... Thank you for honest post .... We love you heaps Sweetie ❤❤❤❤

Know that you have done the best thing you could by quitting smoking and it's important to let others know the reality of long term smoking. If your story isn't motivation for others to quit & stay quit then I don't know what is Unfortunately, as you stated in your post about the Facebook group, some just don't heed the message no matter how or where it's delivered. This is how insidious this addition is! We are all invincible .... until we aren't!