I thankfully gave up when I became pregnant 38 years ago and yes, I have put on a fair bit of weight over the years but speaking to my GP recently she said that she was happier that I was overweight than a smoker. It killed both my parents, my father directly with lung cancer at 67 and my mother, after bronchial pneumonia, when her system was very low, developed ovarian cancer at 71. No-one in my family smokes.

There are lots of nicotine replacement lozenges on the market in the UK caz. My SIL's mother used them when she gave up smoking last year.

I gave up 4.5 years ago after smoking for over 50 years and feel, rightly or wrongly, very proud of myself. I could never contemplate smoking again, the very thought of it makes me feel sick.. .. I find the smell on other smokers quite repulsive.....yet that was once me!! I did it with patches, under the guidance and support of my local Health Centre. I have since put on three quartes a stone in weight, but I was possibly slightly under weight before, so it is not too much of a problem although I am trying to lose some.
I wonder what exactly these chalky lozenges are......I have not heard of them in the UK, and I am concerned that an increase of 2 stone in a year is not healthy. However, I wish her continued success with quitting and with the future management of her diet.

Susan, ignore the negative posts.

Think it's a moot point, carnationa. It wasn't mentioned anywhere in the blog post that she quit smoking to prolong her life. Like her, I quit smoking because I wanted my family to want to visit my house, rather than itching to leave because of the smell. It was a lifestyle choice and I am enjoying life better for it.

jane so true with regard to occupational hazards,mr.glamma has never smoked in his life but suffers from COPD (same as Bikers hubby) but not as bad as yet but will never get any better in fact it will worsen as time passes, his illness was caused by the dust from chemicals he worked with in the Laboratories in the 70s whilst they where testing new soap powders/cleaners containing enzymes at the time Health & Safety was not as stringent as it is now.

susan I am full of admiration for you for your determination in conquering your habit, and I think your blog should be required reading for health care professionals who sometimes find it hard to understand just how difficult it can be.
I can't remember the exact figures, but there is always a health gain from stopping smoking. It is something like 5 years after you have given up, you have the same life expectancy as someone who has never smoked. Don't forget that there are other reasons why people suffer from respiratory disease besides smoking - environmental factors and occupational hazards for example.
But the most important thing is that you, and not the cigarettes, are in control.

My father was a carbon copy of your friend carnationa. I stopped smoking 39 years ago by just throwing the packet away and not using any props. When I set my mind to things I am very determined and I was not going to fail, nor did I.

My dad smoked 40 a day until he had a stroke when he was 70. He stopped when he was in hospital and lived until he was 87. He still did lots of gardening until he was 80, and did not put on weight.
My husband gave up when he was 20 when we saw an exhibition of pickled lungs at the library. He never put on weight. He died of brain cancer when he was 65.
No lesson there, then.

I'm using an e-cig, really don't think I could have done it without. Patches and lozenges didn't help at all. Problem now is giving up the ruddy e-cig!

He also told me that he had never tasted food properly for as long as he could remember and can now really taste what he has cooked.

My son finally packed in smoking about a year ago now. He has tried to do so several times in the past without success using patches, inhalators etc. This time however he went cold turkey and went from 30 a day to none after having a heart scare and being rushed into hospital. He has put on a little bit weight, but he needed to as he was very skinny and obviously smoking instead of eating. He has always loved cooking for the family and now enjoys eating what he has cooked too.

I decided to stop completely and used an inhalator instead phoenix; it went everywhere with me. It was in the days before ecigarettes and I did get some funny looks in pubs or restaurants. Sucking at my bit of plastic was a bit like a dummy I suppose .

i think once I had accepted that smoking doesn't make anything better the cravings gradually eased off. Like all addictions I know that if I had just one cigarette even now I would be back where I started.

If you are trying to give up phoenix I wish you well and know you will be pleased with your achievement

DebnCreme what method did you use? Replacement stuff, hypnotherapy, gradual cutting down or stone cold stopping?

I gave up smoking after being a 20/30 a day person for 30 years. Haven't smoked now for 20 years so it is worth the effort.

I have said SORRY!!!

You did good by giving up dragonf you must be feeling better for it.

As I said the person had lots of other stress going on, a broken 40 year marriage a tax bill for £10,000 and cataracts.

Well thank you, carnationa. I stopped smoking on October 1st last year after 40 odd years. I had been feeling quite good about it till I read your earlier post about your acquaintance dying from lung cancer. Now I'm wondering why I bothered.

Yes soutra I am sorry, I would like to apologise It was all true though.

But I am speaking to grown Adults that know the benefits of giving up and not teenagers that maybe need persuading.

But with "encouraging" posts like that of 20.02.41 Carnationa, you might not think it worth the hassle.
Biker

no Ana why? everyone knows that smoking is horrid, it gives you bad breath it makes your clothes stink and it ruins your health

Sounds as though it might not be worth it!

I'll tell you what, if I'd been a lifelong smoker I'd certainly think twice about giving up after reading the posts on this thread!

good luck to everyone trying to give up..you can do it!!

Biker
x

agree with Nonu DH has smoked for 60 yrs and is now suffering badly, in fact he is on his nebuliser as I write, but which now gives him little relief, gasping for breath most of the time and every movement is so exhausting, he has c.o.p.d and end stage emphysema, like you say the damage had been done many yrs ago.

I would think that if a person had smoked for say 60 years , whatever the experts say it would be too late to stop, the lungs would be damaged plus the dependence might be overwhelming . Just saying !!
People just have to make life choices !

I know what it's like trying to quit when you've been smoking for years, it's really tough breaking the habit. Really feel for you Susan. Great blog post.