How do I get past this

An addiction is an addiction and the smoker's body chemistry changes so that he needs the chemicals tobacco contains.

To be honest it really doesn't sound as if he was ever very committed to vaping, just thought he might give it a try, didn't give him the kick that cigarettes do so back he went to his cigarettes.

if your DH really is determined to give up smoking i would expect him to be seeing his GP or surgery nurse, and actively seeking all the support he can to give it up and have a health check. That or determining to go 'cold turkey' and destroying anything to do with cigarettes, including matches etc, possible wanting to clean all his clothes to get rid of the smell etc etc.

From what you say he didn't say he would give up smoking, merely that he would try vapes. he did that, didn't like them and went back to cigarettes.

I understand your anger, but he was never committed to giving up smoking in the first place. You have my sympathy.

Thank you for that information Monica , I do understand its an addiction. Its just hard to see and hear how it's effecting his health . It makes me feel so helpless

You have my sympathy.
Personally, I cannot even go into a room , where someone has been smoking.
It must be extremely difficult to give up a 40 year habit. He needs professional help.
He needs to have chest X-rays etc to make sure that there’s been no damage to his lungs.
Good luck !

I’m afraid that the only way anyone changes their behaviour is if they see some benefit to themselves.
As Monica says, your DH will be addicted to nicotine & it would be physically as well as psychologically very difficult for him to give up.
I understand your anger, but you need to let it go for both your sakes. Just imagine how you’d feel if he was angry with you, over something over which you had virtually no control.

I can understand, my DH had sleep apnea for years, DD and I did everything to get him to go to the doctor, but would he? of course he wouldn't. Then he had a micro sleep when driving on the motorway, thankfully, when nearly stationary in a traffic jam. He did then see a doctor, but had a heart attack some months later, which was what I feared and now lives with serious heart problems. I cannot say, for definite that it was caused by the sleep apnea, but it is likely. As I said I really understand how you feel.

Smoking is a strange thing. I smoked when I was young but stopped the day I found out I was pregnant. I can’t imagine smoking now.

My DH smoked heavily until he was 73 when he got Legionnaires disease and our granddaughter was born. He just stopped smoking from one dat to the other. He said it was because of the baby. Who knows but since he stopped it has changed my life.

Unfortunately they have to have a reason to stop.

If you phone your husband’s doctor and tell him about the coughing he might call him in for a ‘general health check’ without disclosing you rang.

Debbi I also understand your anger. My OH was a smoker for many years but gave up about 15 years ago after a health scare. I agree that you can’t change his behaviour, but, I now regret not having put boundaries in place all those years ago e.g. no smoking in the bedroom, or the kitchen.

Smoking indoors is banned in most places, so I’d be quite firm that if he chooses to smoke, there will be some restrictions or compromises as to where he can smoke at home. Why should the non smoker make all the sacrifices?

Good luck.

I've never smoked but I understand addiction due to my previous job. Vaping is not the only option if your husband wants to give up, there are also patches and gum. However, as you are more than aware, he has to want to stop smoking in the first place. Good luck.

Thank you for your replies, he won't see a doctor, he never has as long as I've known him . He's never done any of the tests the NHS send out. I suppose I was hoping he might try a bit harder because he knows how I worry about his health

Debbi58, I have been in your situation and this will be difficult to hear but you are in control of your health and he - a grown man - is in control of his health. Buy the book Alan Carr’s “The Easy Way To Stop Smoking” so he can learn the triggers and cut back IF he wants to. Also he can look up the CBQ method which is a spinoff from Mr. Carr's original method. The book looks at it from a scientific / logical view rather than an addict view.