My Health
I will be 55 in July and have smoked since I was 16. I have thought about quitting for a long time now but have been more scared of the side effects from quitting than the effects to my health from the smoking.
On Wednesday morning I was ready to leave for work when i suddenly coughed and then felt a pain in my back and side and couldn't move. When it eventually eased, I knew something wasnt right.i went to my Dr who sent me for a Ct scan that day. I was in pain all day and night and wasnt allowed to take anything until we had the scan results. I worried about the worst all night. When the results came the Dr told me I had a partial lung collapse and a a fractured rib. This was all from a smokers cough. The smoking has weakened my lungs and i need to quit. I am now onto my 4th day and my Mum decided to join me she is on to her 3rd day and my best friend started today so we are all doing it together for the benifit of our health.
I am not going to say it has been an easy 4 days but I am glad i am now doing it instead of just thinking about it. I am using Nicotinell Patches which are helping heaps. plus eating everything in sight but i know i will get past this part. I have a long way to go but i will get there as Iam determined to do it for my health and with the support i have all around me i have no doubts of achieving my goal to quit for ever.
I am only having a guess when I say health scares are probably one of the highest causes of people quitting the cigs.
I smoked for over 50 years until last December I had pneumonia which caused me to cough without much of a break for about 5 days and then weeks to recover.
That was time for me to quit and that was one hundred and forty something days ago. You have had a big scare and I hope that your decision is a lasting one.
Wishing you well and success.
Good on u Treena. I will b 55 next month and I also have smoked since I was 16 but due to a health scare also, I Quit and am now on 84 days smoke free. I used the patches along with the nicabate chewing gum.Keep going strong and 1 day at a time. Cheers