Not good news :(

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by EDfutura25

As for quitting being hard. It isn't hard if you WANT to quit, or have a good reason like yourself

this is a very true statement - my personal experience is different, but still probably relevant. i have never smoked, but made up for it in junk food - maccas 4 times a week plus more lollies, chocolate and chips in a day, than most would eat in a week/month. after years of this abuse, i found out that i was gluten/wheat intolerent. instantly, i gave up the maccas, pizzas, lollies, certain chocolate, chips, biscuits, bread and anything else with wheat in it. why - because i felt much better straight away. it may take a little longer for you to feel better for it, but in the near future you will - and while it is a hard lesson to learn at all (certainly so young), you now know it will do some damage to you
best of luck and just think about your health - you can do it

[vik351]

Originally Posted by EDfutura25

Wow that really sucks. Especially so young, maybe you can use it to deter other young people from taking up the habit, I wish you well.

As for quitting being hard. It isn't hard if you WANT to quit, or have a good reason like yourself. That is the key, most people (including myself when I was younger) say "oh yes I am going to quit", but they don't really want to. I started smoking a pack a day, sometimes more when I was 13, one morning when I was 22 I just woke up and said "I don't want to do this **** anymore", also my partner was pregnant with our daughter, but I actually didn't feel like it anymore, my partner being pregnant I guess was a bonus to help me. I went cold turkey and even had a pack sitting infront of me. The 1st 2 days were the worst, after that I was fine. That pack of smokes sat on my capping for 6months, and not once did I have one. I am now 27 and I have not had a cigarette since then.

So all I am saying is if you want to give it up quick, cold turkey is the best, with the motivation it isn't as hard as it seems.

Same here,smoked like a train,SWMBO was up the duff,thought bugger this,gave up cold turkey with 1/2 a packet left...I reckon that is the trick,you look at that 1/2 packet and think,up yours Jack,I aint smokin ya...that was in 1983...The smell of smokers makes me sick now...

To hear your still suckin on fags is a worry...!!!

Read this...put the packet next to your bed,open...

And say to your self..."Thats it,had me last fag!!!"

vik...JUST DO IT!!!

[sbcb]

Sorry to hear about your health but just out of curiosity what were the tests the GP had done to diagnose emphysema? Even after 7 years smoking 20 is blimmin early to have breathlessness from permanent lung damage. Has the GP excluded other posibilites? Is there other contributing factors such as fitness/weight?
I've worked 15yrs as a paramedic and have never come across a 20 year old with breathlessness from emphysema. Was it combined with a chest infection? Have you previously had asthma? Are you exposed to industrial sources of lung damage? Emphysema is generally 50-60 year olds problem (by the time its causing general breathlessness anyway). The damage is being done well before then but it takes
a few more years to cause the breathless problems, unless you smoked a massive amount or are particularly unfit/over weight! My point is have all other posibilites been looked at? Perhaps a second opinion wouldn't be out of the question. GP's are just people, you usually find that 3 different GPs can give 3 different diagnoses for the same problem.

[TC200six]

I am also sorry to hear about that bad news about your health. At lest you have found out early and believe you will be okay. Now you have a real reason to quit smoking.
I know you have a lot of support from forum members already, but good luck.

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by sbcb

Sorry to hear about your health but just out of curiosity what were the tests the GP had done to diagnose emphysema? Even after 7 years smoking 20 is blimmin early to have breathlessness from permanent lung damage. Has the GP excluded other posibilites? Is there other contributing factors such as fitness/weight?
I've worked 15yrs as a paramedic and have never come across a 20 year old with breathlessness from emphysema. Was it combined with a chest infection? Have you previously had asthma? Are you exposed to industrial sources of lung damage? Emphysema is generally 50-60 year olds problem (by the time its causing general breathlessness anyway). The damage is being done well before then but it takes
a few more years to cause the breathless problems, unless you smoked a massive amount or are particularly unfit/over weight! My point is have all other posibilites been looked at? Perhaps a second opinion wouldn't be out of the question. GP's are just people, you usually find that 3 different GPs can give 3 different diagnoses for the same problem.

This is exactly what I was thinking, but then I looked at it logically. I work in a timber yard, have been breathing the dust from treated timber for near on 2 years now. I've always had very weak lungs anyway, as a kid I would have to sit out on most sports because I'd just run out of puff too soon. The GP also considered that I "passive smoked" since I was born. He believes it's emphysima, but if a second or third opinion could rule it out, I'll do what's necessary to find out.

[Dave R]

I'd have to agree with post #33, you do seem a bit young for it. My aunt has smoked most of her life and never had any problems until she was diagnosed at around 50 years of age. Unless you smoked like a steam train, maybe a second opinion wouldn't hurt?

Regardless, it's not the best news to have received and being the same age as you, I can imagine how it would feel to be diagnosed with something unpleasant at this early stage in your life. However I'd be happy with early stage emphysema and the option of quitting smoking than, say, cancer or numerous other nasties out there.

[Iggypoppin']

That's true, and yes even though the GP was certain it is emphysima, I will get another opinion, as 20 is too young for this kind of disease. I wonder why he is so certain?

[Iggypoppin']

I am booked in to see a specialist next week. After a discussion over the phone with him, he does not believe I have emphysima unless some other tests are performed and conclusive proof is found. He wants me to have an endoscopy(I think) where they shove a tube down there and have a suss. He told me the youngest he has seen emphysima in someone is around 30 or so, and younger only in extreme cases or people who work in heavy industry. So definetly feeling better about this!

[ebxr8240]

Don't find excuses to keep smoking !!
I had an older friend have this and he slowly suffocated !!

[Iggypoppin']

No, I won't keep smoking, I'm committed to quitting and I have a deadline and a plan etc. Hopefully it will work. It has to I guess. But all the same, once they raise the tax on cigarettes I won't be able to afford smoking anyway.

[ED Classic]

Hows about the most important thing that research didnt mention, that is; you dont effect the lives of others who dont smoke including kids

[Iggypoppin']

Very true ED classic. And something I am truly ashamed of, contributing to young peoples' passive smoking.

[MAD]

Not good news to receive.
I wish you the best of luck with quitting.
If you're open to it, I HIGHLY recommend hypnotherapy. It's what I did, and it is by far the easiest thing I have ever done. The hardest part was actually making the phone call, cause I knew once I did that I most likely wouldnt smoke again.
My first session, I made a promise that I wouldnt smoke for a week then after the next session I never smoked again.
It's been about 18 months since I quit, it was june last year but I honestly dont remember the day I stopped, because it is completely irrelevant.

[Iggypoppin']

how much is it?

[snappy]

Not good news at at all , Good luck at the specialist . I hope news from those tests provide better result for you.

But the impact this thread has had on me is huge , im 26 in month and this will be my 13th year on the the cancer sticks and your tragic news is making me have a good hard look at myself .
Anyway good luck .

[Iggypoppin']

Give em up snappy. I read what you write on here, you're a good bloke, so listen to this thread and quit. 6 years older than me, and I am potentially screwed. Don't do it to yourself!!

[Franco Cozzo]

We should make a motivation group with people in similar situations who need to quit smoking/lose weight etc.

[GK]

I hope and pray that you are able to walk away from those horrible things.

I also hope and pray that your 2nd opinion with the doc is more positive than the first. You are very young however, and will be able to be fine from here on in if you quit.

Please do everything you can to discourage mates around you to give up also.

All the very best with it.

GK

[snappy]

Originally Posted by 76txcoupe

Give em up snappy. I read what you write on here, you're a good bloke, so listen to this thread and quit. 6 years older than me, and I am potentially screwed. Don't do it to yourself!!

Yeah your write , especially the bit about me being a good bloke : .

Seriously giving up is something i think about all the time . An sitting here listening to my wheezing chest reading your terrible news , its just to close to home .
Sad thing is i think im scared of quitting or trying or somthing , i dont know .

Again best of luck with the 2nd opinion an also on the upside for you being 20 gives you plenty of time to be able to improve your health .

[Iggypoppin']

That's it mate, once I kick the smokes just need to give alcohol the flick. Much harder in my opinion ;). Out of interest snappy how long have you smoked for and how heavy are you?

[snappy]

13 years ive'd smoked for and counting . I have been sucking down a pack a day for at least half that maybe more( winnie blue 25's).
Im a plasterer so work in dust all the time , and have the odd asthma attack usually triggerd by hayfever or something .
At 25 at the moment im not in good health allways coughing crap up out of my chest . Allthough i have basically given up the grog have a binge 2 or 3 times a year but that it .

[Iggypoppin']

Give up the smokes man... All I can say. I have breathed MDF fibres for two years and am dreading what that will do to me...

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by 76txcoupe

how much is it?

A lady around my area offers a 60 minute give-up smoking hypnotherapy session, cost is $450, less for seniors etc.

My old mum, had been a pack or two smoker for what must have been be a thousand years, but once attended at Chatswood in Sydney a visiting American chaps program, who hypnotised an entire group audience, admission back then was $50. He basically had them bring in a full pack and made everyone simply destroy the packet, and told them that they'd not desire one anymore. A 60 minute program and this was back in 1989.

Worked well without craving for many, many years, until a particular traumatic family episode involving death, she then simply started again, she's 85 now and wants to try the ladies program, if only to save dollars! She is basically 'drowning' as the ciggies block the fine hairs of the lungs. She has survived a heart attack about 2 years ago, a stoic old lady.

Personally never smoked, but a very heavy passive smoker, hot wifie, 25, is a habitual heavy smoker who *must* stop, this one is destined for an early grave if she does not.

Dad was a smoker but it killed him, throat cancer destroyed part of his voice box,- using bowel tissue they rebuilt the damaged parts of that, and he then had to retrain his voice (barrister QC). He died within 12months of its discovery and survived the ENT operations (despite suffering two heart attacks on the OP table-age 58) and usual big weight loss; a floating blood clot lodged, and he died at night in bed age 59.

A year or so later medicine discovered that taking an asprin a day after surgery can reduce such fatal clotting. Post mortem of course - found he had developing serious respitory problems in any case and whatnot, so his passing was perhaps the best way to go.

So I do suggest quitting, and the walls inside the 'even well ventilated' house will no longer be yellow.

Try the hypnotherapy.

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by Keepleft

A lady around my area offers a 60 minute give-up smoking hypnotherapy session, cost is $450, less for seniors etc.

My old mum, had been a pack or two smoker for what must have been be a thousand years, but once attended at Chatswood in Sydney a visiting American chaps program, who hypnotised an entire group audience, admission back then was $50. He basically had them bring in a full pack and made everyone simply destroy the packet, and told them that they'd not desire one anymore. A 60 minute program and this was back in 1989.

Worked well without craving for many, many years, until a particular traumatic family episode involving death, she then simply started again, she's 85 now and wants to try the ladies program, if only to save dollars! She is basically 'drowning' as the ciggies block the fine hairs of the lungs. She has survived a heart attack about 2 years ago, a stoic old lady.

Personally never smoked, but a very heavy passive smoker, hot wifie, 25, is a habitual heavy smoker who *must* stop, this one is destined for an early grave if she does not.

Dad was a smoker but it killed him, throat cancer destroyed part of his voice box,- using bowel tissue they rebuilt the damaged parts of that, and he then had to retrain his voice (barrister QC). He died within 12months of its discovery and survived the ENT operations (despite suffering two heart attacks on the OP table-age 58) and usual big weight loss; a floating blood clot lodged, and he died at night in bed age 59.

A year or so later medicine discovered that taking an asprin a day after surgery can reduce such fatal clotting. Post mortem of course - found he had developing serious respitory problems in any case and whatnot, so his passing was perhaps the best way to go.

So I do suggest quitting, and the walls inside the 'even well ventilated' house will no longer be yellow.

Try the hypnotherapy.

definetly quitting then...

[DBourne]

Don't quit because you can't afford it, do it for yourself, your family and people who care about you.

You are 20 years old mate... 20.. You have a long future ahead of you, family, kids, mates, cars etc.

Don't throw that down the dunny for stupid cigarettes..

Do yourself a favour and go through the hard yards of quitting NOW and in no time at all you will look back and say "Thank God I did that"

Also don't say it's too hard, once you do that then you're stuffed. I'm sure you have a bigger spine than that!

Best of luck

[MAD]

The first session was $150 (including some CD's) and $95 for the second.
I went to Whole Mind Strategies in Dandenong. No help for you, but someone else may benefit from it.

[RG]

Damn mate, no good. No good at all.

Get that second opinion but no matter what QUIT!!!. I did 5 years ago after smoking for about 10, I was dared that I couldn't so I did

I substituted with munchies everytime I wanted a smoke and that worked for me (I have a high metabolism so all good) and then after a while all was good. Easy to get off the munchies lol.

You know how to get a hold of me if you need anything.

[ROLLI]

Hey mate sorry to hear about the news. Hope all goes well with your new opinion. I am a smoker as well this thread has disturbed me alot as i am 23 couldnt imagine getting told news like you have.How many smokes did you smoke a day? Wish you the best of luck mate!

[Iggypoppin']

Used to be around 35 a day, now on about 5. Thanks for the kind words guys..

[ROLLI]

Man that is a lot of smokes for one day! Best of luck mate