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Gday Well I got sent off for heaps of tests. First the heart people. No lasting damage my heart that was good! The ear nose and throat mob got a try. They couldn’t find any thing of note and wrote off my slightly raspy voice to the normal effect of aging ( thanks I needed that). Next was respitory. I was really surprised to find the tests had now put me in the normal zone. Lower percentage but normal? The doc explained it bluntly If this was a race your coming last. If your running with the pack your the straggler. So I have to except that I still have COPD. My doses have changed but I still take a puffer. I’ve been encouraged to keep the weight off and the walking regularly. And the smoking warning. Always the smoking warning. Easy to say, yes I know, but really I just shut up and really take that in. I wasn’t unlucky COVID gave me a hard time cause I had smoke damaged lungs, I have COPD. I wasn’t lucky in surviving COVID I’d given myself the best chance being a long term non smoker. Thanks for listening, it’s good just to say this all. Hope it helps someone. It certainly helps me just saying it Chris

There are lots of reasons to quit smoking that range from better health to saving a lot of money but I think the most important reason ties into your 2nd question. Freedom from nicotine addiction! Think about it Pedro. Smoking runs the lives of all smokers from the time you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night. Most smokers don't even realize this is happening to them day in and day out because they're just so used to their routines and they want that hit of dopamine they get each time the light up. You'll realize what freedom is once you've been quit for awhile and changed your whole attitude toward smoking. In terms of why admit to being a nicotine addict? Easy ... how any of us make such a complex and difficult change in our life if we don't understand where we're starting from. We all must understand how formidable opponent our nicotine addiction is and just how strong our commitment to quitting must be in order to not only quit but to stay quit! We all must truly understand that we are addicts, addicted to the world's most addictive drug Nicotine! That's our starting point to becoming smoke free!

There are so many reasons to Quit Your health ..your money ..your self asteem ..smoking is not acceptable today ..so you carry that big black cloud around with you .. You stink..your fingers are brown Ect . I admit i am or was a Nico addict . Being honest is the first step to freeing yourself .

Not One Puff Ever!

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required).

NOPE !!!

Nope...no freaking way

NOPE

There are many reasons to quit. But it’s got to be for you. You can do this. This is THE place to be if you’re battling that Nicodemon.

I commit to integrate into this community of people who have smoked and quit! I Still am struggling, sorry, I'm reading NTAP by Joel Spitzer. I romanticize the cigarette. I am sticking to this forum for exchange of ideas. The last time I cold turkey-ed, I made it 2 weeks. Then self-pity hit me and as if a "gift from the skies" sure enough my brother, a smoker, crossed path with me and I succumbed. I believe that was the final barrier before becoming an ex-smoker. Self-pity - me whining about whatever, poor-me, poor-me. A cigarrete and I was and am hooked again.!

Congratulations on four weeks quit @tocevoD

NOPE!

NOPE!

G’day Mid 2022 COVID finally got me big time. As soon as tested positive I contacted my doc. He organised antivirals and medications. An oxygen reader that went on your finger. Got a call ever morning from the doc and a couple of calls fro the nurses over the day. So I hunkered down at home to ride it out. It’s all a bit hazy now but I remember day 4. I couldn’t breath when lying in bed so I got up to clear my lungs and sat in a lounge chair so I could get a breath. My oxygen was 90 dip below that and I must call an ambulance. Fell asleep and woke next morning my oxygen had got back up. Sleep the next week in that chair untherwise I just could breath. Damn COVID knocked me pretty bad. The effect would last. Took me 7 weeks to get back to work then I could only do a couple of days in a week. Was weak and tired for 6 months. Even though I still walked dayly I had to husband my energy I knocked up pretty fast. It was a painful and scary part of my life. I was really afraid that the COVID had damaged me far more than COPD had. But somehow I healed and got back on my feet

You’re doing great @tocevoD Excellent progress!

4 weeks in. Feeling good. Looking at smokers as victims rather than anything to be desired. Still getting thoughts but they're not strong thoughts. Thoughts that are easily batted away. The money saved is really bizarre. I was having, on average, 16 a day. My savings as displayed on the app I use for 4 weeks packed in is over £270. That is money back in my pocket rather than giving it to some faceless tobacco company employee or giving it to government taxes. No brainer isn't it.

NOPE!

NOPE

Why quit smoking? And why admit to being a nico-a-holic? My phone is running out of battery so I only write these words.

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOPE

Hello Robin. Yes that freakin nicodeman is definitly sneaky.

Yep, me too. I put smoking above friends and family in this same way. Addiction does this.

Resonating.

Congratulations on your 1st month That was the way i saw it too Never give those greedy murderer,s another penny of my hard earned cash .. Keep going !!

Hi Stewbum! I also lost a great quit and am determined to keep this one. That nicodemon is such a manipulative sneak! Let's hold on tight to our freedom.

Welcome, Stew! Stay close, we gotchu. Congrats on changing your life for the better

Nope...

G’day I landed at the doctors with a pretty heavy cold about a year after my quit. Lots of pills and potions followed and I began my love hate relationship with predasone. Once I’d healed I did the tests and it was official. Yep I had COPD. I had to face the hard reality that it could never be healed and would only get worse. I got the big warning from the doc not to smoke again ( as if!) The two biggies to help was to keep the weight down and to get moderate exercise. Easy …..started to walk every morning and felt better for it. Lost slowly the extra weight that comes with giving the smokes away. Still couldn’t say COPD out aloud though it was the elephant in the corner.

NOPE

Nope.....

9. Tye dye

Wow Dave ..i. sorry you hsve had to go through all that scarey stuff.. Good to hear you are feeling better Quitting is the best thing you could have done to help yourself xx

Thankyou for sharing your story, it sounds so scary what you went through CBdave. Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, I wish you all the best, you take care.

Sorry to hear this. God Bless and keep you safe. Best wishes.

Thank you for sharing your story @Cbdave. Shortness of breath is so scary. Happy to hear you are staying away from smoking and feeling better. An inspiration to me as a newbie.

Cbdave, so sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but am I understanding correctly that you were diagnosed in 2017 and are sharing your story chronogically to help others? Thank you for all you do for this board!

I’m sorry to hear this @Cbdave but glad you shared. Reminding us to be mindful of our health. I tend to let things go and ignore little issues I may question in the back of my mind. Sometimes I find myself thinking I’m bulletproof because I quit smoking but the truth is far from that. Take good care of yourself.

Sorry to hear cbdave, that’s certainly rough physically and mentally. Wishing you continued freedom and better breathing

Welcome aboard Stewbum, congratulations on your decision to take your life back again. Remember, you are stronger than the addiction. You have just joined the best support group there is for quitting smoking. We are all here to support you every step of the way. Don't be afraid to ask for help or for advice. We got you.

Hi Chris. I really appreciate your telling us this story. Smoking really robbed us of so very much, it's hard to accept that sometimes. But your sharing about your COPD is helpful and motivating for others. I especially like the reminder to walk a little every day. I need to get better at that, myself. In the meantime, take good care. And a big honking NOPE for good measure!

Nope!

NOPE.... NOT TODAY!!

NOPE!

NOPE!

Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time Over time, people who quit smoking see many benefits to their health. After you smoke your last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years. Reduced risks refer to cessation in comparison to continued smoking. Time after quitting Health benefits Minutes Heart rate drops 24 hours Nicotine level in the blood drops to zero Several days Carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to level of someone who does not smoke 1 to 12 months Coughing and shortness of breath decrease 1 to 2 years Risk of heart attack drops sharply 3 to 6 years Added risk of coronary heart disease drops by half 5 to 10 years Added risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box drops by half Risk of stroke decreases 10 years Added risk of lung cancer drops by half after 10-15 years Risk of cancers of the bladder, esophagus, and kidney decreases 15 years Risk of coronary heart disease drops to close to that of someone who does not smoke 20 years Risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box drops to close to that of someone who does not smoke Risk of pancreatic cancer drops to close to that of someone who does not smoke Added risk of cervical cancer drops by about half Source: CDC When I first quit I remember seeing a table of benefits like this and couldn't imagine the long term benefits. I was only really wanting to lose the morning hacking cough. I am still amazed by the body's ability to heal itself from the damage we inflict on it and this should give us all hope. I celebrated by making a pizza with ham, artichokes and mushrooms. I am proud to join the quitters that have reached a decade and would like to see everyone reach this milestone.