Thursday, February 8, 2007
Dear Crabby:
My kids are after me to quit smoking. I’ve smoked since I was a teenager and I am in good health. Why should I quit now? After all, we all gotta die of something, right?
Smoky Joan
Dear Smoky:
Well, if this is one of those “If I can’t be a good example, I can certainly serve as a horrible warning” type cases, I guess you could just keep on puffin’ — but I sure hope you don’t. We BoomerGirls were sold a bill of goods — “We’ve come a long way baby?!”
Hah!
Yeah, a long way toward evening up the lung cancer rates between men and women.
I know we all grew up watching the cool cats of Hollywood blowing smoke, and to tell you the truth, in a fit of late (I mean really late) adolescent rebellion, old Crabby here actually took up the nasty habit for about 5 years after my divorce. It was fabulous — all that coughing in the morning, stinky breath, hiding it from the kids (who was I kidding?) and money literally up in smoke. I felt so cool. Yeah, right. Glad I wised up. We all gotta die, but we don’t have to help the Grim Reaper along quite so much.
Joanie, it’s never too late to quit. You may have already done some serious damage to your lungs, I won’t kid you, but if you quit now, you will improve your chances of dancing at your grandkids’ weddings without being hooked to an oxygen tank (and you know those things don’t come in leopard print!) Not to mention avoiding all those wrinkles around your mouth, the ones that catch your lipstick and make you look like your scary ol’ Aunt Flo with the red starburst mouth and the voice like a truckload of gravel…but I digress.
If you want to know more about the benefits of smoking cessation, check out www.lungusa.org, under “Smoking Cessation Support.” Go see your health care provider about one of the many excellent medications to help you with the demon cravings and the crying jags (hey, no one said it was a piece of cake, but it’s worth it) and sign up for a community smoking cessation support group (check your local hospital). You can do it, girl!
Comments
Wind (anonymous) says...
Hi Smokey,
I am 51 and have been a life-long smoker with few ill effects. But two weeks ago, I thought I had brochitis and was I ever wrong. I spent four days in the hospital and have been diagnosed with COPD. I am writing this at home hooked up to an oxygen tank for the first time in my life. I am waiting for appointments with doctors to find out what I can expect from here on out. Will this pass? Am I now disabled? When will I be able to walk down the hallway and not feel lightheaded? Go back to school? Look for work? My world is upside down and it happened literally overnight. I wonder which cigarette (and how many) caused my lungs to react so very violently.
You mentioned that we all have to die of something. There is undoubtedly a whole list of nasty little ways to exit this life. But I can now say for certain that gasping for your next breath must be right there at the top.
February 19, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SouthernGal (anonymous) says...
Hello Smoky,
I'm not going to tell you how bad smoking is to your health - you already know that; what I am going to pass on to you is something that helped me to quit smoking after "enjoying" my cigarettes for over 20 years.
I decided to make a life style change and quitting smoking was my priority. I had heard of cold laser therapy and hypnotism to stop / alter behaivor and made appointment with a doctor I had researched on the web. I was cautious to say the least, about the success, but decided this was the way I would pursue my desire to stop smoking.
Well, low and behold, it worked! I had one treatment that lasted 45 minutes and have been smoke free for 5 months. Eventhough 5 months is not a long time, I feel tremendously better. The first thing I noticed after quitting was the appearance and feel of my face. The skin on my face was dramatically smoother and the color was healthier. My lungs have cleared up and I no longer have any coughing bouts.
So, not only do I feel better, but the money I was spending on cartons of cigarettes is now going to my "indulgence fund". I am so glad to have overcome being a slave to my cigarette habit.
Hope this helps.
February 20, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
amazonratz (anonymous) says...
Dear Wind:
Yes, COPD often brings a lot of self-reflection, and sometimes regret. But all we can do is move on and try to maximize our health from this point on. If you are not seeing a pulmonologist (lung specialist) I recommend it. COPD is an illness with good days and bad days, ups and downs, setbacks and forward motion, it's true. I wish you the best in your journey, and appreciate you sharing it with our readers. The voice of experience is often the most compelling.
Crabby
Dear Southern Gal:
Hypnosis has worked well for many people, and I appreciate your input. And 5 months is super! You are correct about the effect of smoking on your skin--it's an age accelerator for sure! I also want to encourage all of you who want to quit to talk to your healthcare provider...there are some newer treatments out there that are having really good success, even for those who've tried many times to quit. It often takes multiple tries, so keep at it!
Crabby
February 27, 2007 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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