Do You Smoke?

[mina'smomma]

I started smoking when I was 10 and quit after the doctor told me I had a rare condition called AUSC (abnormal pre-cancer cell in short). With smoking she said cancer would invade my body by the time I was 25 and I would probably be dead by 32. So I went on the diet set by the dietician which nixed my sweetner. (never realized Sweet n Low could cause cancer) Threw out all my cigerettes and then I met Lee Roy who is a non-smoker and plainly told me when we started dating that I was to choose between him and the cigerettes and he was delighted when he heard I had quit smoking before we had gotten together.

Now three years later I'm very healthy and happily married. Had gotten my tests back on seeing how my AUSC is doing and the count is a lot lower than it was when I was diagnosised.

[Samantha Puppy]

I tried one cigarette once. I then ate everything in the house and slept with 5 pieces of spearmint gum in my mouth to try and get rid of the disgusting taste. I've never even been tempted to try one again. Blech.

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by Samantha Puppy
I tried one cigarette once. I then ate everything in the house and slept with 5 pieces of spearmint gum in my mouth to try and get rid of the disgusting taste. I've never even been tempted to try one again. Blech.

Ha ha, funny. I've never even tried one, just the smell of them on my clothes when I'm around people is nasty enough.

[beeniesmom]

Originally posted by slick
When I was 22 I gave in to peer pressure and started smoking....well, one pack would last me a week. I was still living at home and didn't want Mom or Dad to know.

Anyway, I met and fell head over heels for this guy who gave me a choice - either him or the ciggies. The choice was easy. That was back in 1975 and I haven't touched a ciggie since.

OMG.... the same thing happened to me too!

[crsvstang]

Yeah, I smoke.

I quit when I found out I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter. I started again after a few months she was born. I smoked for a few after that and quit again for awhile that was about 1 1/2 years ago.

I started smoking again just a couple months again. I am not happy about that. I do want to quit again sometime soon.

[furrykidsmother]

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, thoughts and suggestions! To those who have never smoked, don't ever start! Those who have quit, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Those who are still trying, BEST OF LUCK TO US!!!

[Queen of Poop]

Both of my parents smoked and drank coffee. As a kid I hated the good night kiss because they both smelled so bad. I have never smoked or drank coffee. My husband smoked when we met, but he gave it up 3 years ago. Ya hoo for him. He bowed to pressure from his children. His daughter has asthma and can't be around smoke and both kids told him how bad he smelled. I am very, very proud of him.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I quit February 22, 2001 at 3:30 pm.

I used Zyban....a drug that helps you quit.

[shutterbug0303]

Originally posted by Karen
I have friends suffer and die because of their smoking habits - Pancreatic Cancer in Bob's case, which was brutal, quick, and nearly symptomless until it was far too late.

I'll second this one!!! My beloved dad died just a year and a half ago from pancreatic cancer - most likely directly related to his smoking habits...a habit that he had quit 15 years earlier, but far too late in the long run. It was a harsh, cruel, horrid thing to watch and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

My dad smoked approximately a pack a day for as long as I can remember. I know that he started when he was 12 and smoked until the day my younger brother was born (48). He stopped cold turkey that day and never picked another one up. He would even comment that the smell of smoke made him sick!! Unfortunately, it was too late.... I lost my dad....

I will NEVER pick up a cigarette....it can't be worth hurting/leaving your loved ones for a habit such as that.

Good luck to each of you trying to quit!!

[Muddy4paws]

Personally smoking disgusts me and it always has due to my grandparents smoking so I have them to thank for that But now my Nan has given up I think this is her 2nd or 3rd year without now she tried for years since she had been smoking for about 40 years and she tried a patch to help her and it put her in intensive care and it was a real scare being in hospital so after that she was so determind to do it and she done it! but my grandad there is no chance of him giving up.

[finn's mom]

Originally posted by shutterbug0303
Unfortunately, it was too late.... I lost my dad....

I worry so much about this with my dad. He's over sixty and has been smoking since he was about 13. He gets a physical and is told all the time that he's healthy, his lungs look great etc. But, I worry about things like pancreatic cancer. Is that something that can be predicted at all? Or is just fine one day and gone the next? What an awful thing...

My grandmother died of lung cancer in her mid fifties. And, my brother was diagnosed and treated for leukemia when he was between the ages of 5 and 10. He's over 30 now and healthy. The idiot picked up smoking, though, in his early 20s. How does a cancer survivor pick up smoking?! Man, you want to talk about someone getting a lot of crap from people. And, I refuse to even date someone who smokes. Just not happening.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I smoked 2 packs a day for 26 years. Marlboro, Winston, and last brand, Camel. Occasionally cigars too. lol I quit 15 years ago for three years. I started back and smoked for three more years and finally quit for good. I became asthmatic at that point so I had to stop. I think that was a blessing in disguise. I used the patches to quit and I just told myself that I wasn't going to remove the patch for any reason and if I tried to smoke with the patch, I would become deathly ill. Whether or not that was true, I made myself believe it and it worked. I don't condemn anyone for smoking. I'm a strong believer in "to each his own". I also believe smokers have a real rough way to go. You're almost treated like lepers anymore if you smoke. After all these years I still crave cigarettes and I usually love the smell of a cig burning. Good luck if you want to quit. Just be sure you're ready to do it or you'll find yourself fighting it all the way.

Terry
p.s. A little tip I used; patches are so expensive so I cut them in half and they went alot further

[jesse_3]

I have asthma, and I am terribly "allergic" to smoke, even from cars..

My teacher told me a stroy of his brother. When his brother started smoking at age 14, their parents found out, and their dad made him eat one cigarette. This guy was a 4 pack a day smoker, and eating one made him stop for good!

I don't know if you want to eat a cigarette, but, I know of many more stories where they have eaten one and quit on the spot!

I wish the best of luck to everyone here. Maybe, you can all do it together, start a thread about it, and use PT'ers for encouragement!?!

Steph and Jes

[JenBKR]

Originally posted by jesse_3
Maybe, you can all do it together, start a thread about it, and use PT'ers for encouragement!?!

Steph and Jes

Great idea!

[shutterbug0303]

Originally posted by finn's mom
I But, I worry about things like pancreatic cancer. Is that something that can be predicted at all? Or is just fine one day and gone the next? What an awful thing...

Well, pretty much it is there and gone - although there are cases where it is caught early and surgery is able to be performed. Even in those cases though, most patients only live another year or so before it is back with a vengance. There is no early detection testing, no warning signs, no clues, no anything. It just pretty much appears one day, if your Dr. is smart enough to catch it with a CT scan.

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack this thread - it is just one of those subjects I am adiment about....the more info you have, the better able you are to stop it early.