Thursday, July 27, 2017

Giving up smoking...


Giving up smoking has made me feel like i can do anything i want to. It's been several weeks now since i gave up and the risk of getting another stroke is the reason why i've given up. I've already had one stroke and i consider it very lucky that i didn't die from it. Lots of people have died from having a stroke while those don't die suffer because of it. Smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking.For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

It makes you wonder why anyone smokes at all when you see what's at risk. You're really dicing with death when you smoke. I'm alive despite having a stroke. It's not fair to those who are dependant on you to let them know why you passed away and that you could've done something to prevent it. Giving up's not easy. But nothing has been easy for me (take my word for it) since having the stroke in Febuary 2013. Think of it as a question of whether you want to live or die. The choice is yours.

Think of how much money you could save if you didn't smoke. There are always positives to everything.
The guy lives next door to me is the biggest advert for not smoking there has ever been. The noise he makes every day just shows you what smoking will do for you. Be very scared because i am. He's younger than me and nobody will be surprised if he died from cancer tomorrow. Having a stroke was bad enough. I don't want to go through it all again.

i don't want anybody to think of me as a preacher of virtuous living, but there's a lot to be said for living life that way. How i live my life is not to be recommended to anybody unless you want to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair like i do. If only i could do it again i would. My son ignores the advice i give to him. Why he does that is anybody's guess. If i can't convnce him, why shoul i bother with anyone else?

33 comments:

  1. Well done you. I have heard that giving up smoking is as hard as giving up heroin.

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  2. It's been easy so far. There have been harder things I've had to do. Such as injections for instance. Everybody has nightmares. Mine are injections. Anything else is easy. I remember at George Eliot Hospital being injected 5 times because they couldn't get it right first time.

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  3. Good for you for stopping smoking. It's all a matter of will power. I've had injections for cancer in 2003 and I've topped smoking many years ago so I know that it's a decision we have to make for ourselves. It comes from within.

    I must have saved enough money to buy a car by now.
    Hugs, Julia

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  4. Getting a car is good news. What sort are you after?

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    1. My Dodge Caravan is getting all rusty on the bottom but still works good but will not pass the safety inspection without major repairs.
      It's time to get another car. I never buy new cars as the depreciate a couple thousand dollars as soon as they drive off from the dealer parking lot. I usually get a good used car or a demo.

      I'm thinking on a Rave4. I've driven a Rave before and I liked it.
      Hugs, Julia

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    2. I'll look into it to see what they look like

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  5. I wish my husband would stop smoking. Even seeing my dad after his stroke didn't do it. For some people, though (like Elephant's Child said) the physical addiction is enormous. For others, less so. I read that it affects different people's brains differently. Good on you for quitting. You were determined, and you did it.

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  6. I didn't want another stroke, Jenny. There are worse things that I have to have. Things like injections, for instance. Giving up smoking is far easier when you've had 5 5injections. I had 5 because they kept getting the injection wrong.

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  7. This is an accomplishment you should be very proud of. Quitting smoking can be very difficult. I quit in February 2006 and have never looked back. Best thing I ever did was to quit the cigarettes!

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    1. Having a stroke gives you the impetus to quit. It's the best thing I could do too.

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  8. Good on you! I knew a lady who quit smoking cold turkey after her husband had a heart attack but most people find it really tough even when they know the consequences

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  9. It means that you have a Strong willpower and can do anything you want to do .
    it's all about the way of thinking ,we see thing through glasses we wear .Nothing is hard except on we think is

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  10. Having a strong willpower has helped me overcome the pain of an injection.

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  11. Good on you and to your better health. My husband gave up cold turkey after a heart attack 12 years ago. Loads of people still smoke here. It is quite acceptable.

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  12. It was acceptable when I was younger. We smoked indoorsif you wanted to.These days it is banned thank god.

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  13. I salute you for giving up smoking Terry! I gave up at the age of thirty four and I haven't had even one cancer stick since then BUT there is always the possibility of falling back into the vile habit. You have to guard against it forever. As for your son - he has noticed you giving up - and in his own time he will surely arrive at his own smoking crossroads. Does Mandy smoke?

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  14. Mandy still smokes but she'll have to give it up soon. Thanks for that salute. I don't really deserve any congratulations for it. It can cause a stroke and I will make sure Mandy knows about it.

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  15. Well done for giving up. I've never smoked or used drugs, it was just never my thing. I think I was too scared of dying!

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  16. Having a stroke makes you think about it and take action. I kind of defines you as a person.

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  17. An extremely powerful post. This man is speaking from experience people, heads up! What does it say about our government who is happy to take revenue from the tobacco industdry while telling us all that smoking can kill us? I watched my mother die of cancer that most certainly had something to do with a twenty year or more two pack a day habit. I know she wished she had never started. DON'T SMOKE PEOPLE...YOU ARE JUST BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY A GOVERNMENT THAT DOESN'T GIVE A FIG ABOUT YOU.

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  18. Two packs a day? That's a lot of cigarettes. People should realise how dangerous it is.

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  19. Dads parents both smoked roll yourr owns...no filters.....Grandad died of congestie heart failure and Grandma died from a massive stroke. One cigarette is one too many.

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  20. I wish you continued success to stop smoking. I never crave a cigarette when I am awake but in my dreams I smoke like a chimney. LOL Been free for 14 years but too late to avoid heart disease.

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  21. It's funny you mentioned smoking when asleep. When I was asleep I dreamed I was smoking one of those ecigarettes.. Never used one before. I hear what you're saying about it being too late. Thanks for stopping Granny Annie. Much appreciated

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  22. You know Terry, I've thought about this a lot. I mean, I smoked from age 18 through to my thirties, and I gave it up 15 years ago, cold turkey and it wasn't easy. I STILL smoked, knowing that my grandpa died of smoking-related emphysema. My uncle got throat cancer from cigarettes...I think it has so much to do with short-term "pleasure" vs. long-term risks. I think, at least in my case, it was that mentality that kind of made my constant excuse of "I'll quit soon or tomorrow". I don't know what exactly pushed me to quit though...but I'm so glad I opened my eyes!

    I have a friend who is always on a diet. She is obese and has high blood pressure and a host of other physical ailments because of her weight. She is risking diabetes...but she has no real intention of changing her lifestyle because eating and drinking is more important to her for the instant gratification; than self-control and being more healthy and potentially increasing her life span. The threat doesn't seem to be immediate enough for her.

    I don't know, just thoughts I have! But congratulations on quitting!

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    1. Thanks Rain. I must admit it's always there trying to get me to start up again. The longer you resist the temptation the more confidence you get and you don't want to start again. A lot of it is down to willpower though.

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  23. Well congrats on that. I know it's hard, my hubby quit 7 years ago and my brother has been trying to stop.

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    1. Hi Mary, it's never easy to give up, but it's all about desire to give up. Your husband sounds like he found the desire and should be congratulated for what he has done.

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  24. Hi Rain and thanks. High blood pressure isn't good. She should see a doctor and get herself checked out. The fag smoking when you're younger can give you serious problems when you get older. It's best you give up as soon as you can.i know it's hard. I've been there and you never think you'll suffer, but you do.

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  25. Keep up man, I used to be a smoker, 20 years ago, but I gave it up. My stroke consent was due high blood pressure.

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