Enphyseamia/Smoking

Francesanne

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Is she getting help for the depression and anxiety? My husband takes anti depressants and has tranquillizers available for occasional use.

She's been having help for over 2 years but the situation got so serious last year and we needed to get her off the toxic drugs the hospital were feeding her and the only way to do that was to move her down to live near my sister. She's still on the drugs. She has good periods & bad periods but she's a natural born worrier and worries about EVERYTHING.

Katykat

Vicky123--- very much an addictive personality although thankfully no alcohol problems, he still uses the inhalater for stopping smoking but I understand that is safe
Vicky, it definately is not safe to be using an inhalator for 5 yrs. He is still inhaling nicotine & this is still increasing his chances of heart disease, mouth & throat cancer. These nicotine replacement products are supposed to be used to first quit smoking & then to gradually reduce & stop them to quit the addiction.
Also, it is still possible to develop COPD ( which incidentally is the new term for Emphysema) even many years after you quit. The big difference is the intensity. If you continue to smoke, the symptoms will be much worse and quality of life extremely bleak. However, if you quit, it will halt or at the least slow down the deterioration COPD is not always visible on Xray, so I do think your hubby should have a Spirometry done. It is the only sure way to diagnose it ( apart from the actual symptoms which I'm afraid many smokers are in self denial about) I've seen it from all sides, both as a COPD nurse and as a daughter watching my dad die in severe distress. Get him back to the Dr.

Savvy_Sue

margaretclare wrote: »

I don't understand what you mean about 'not at the right place to stop'. Where IS the 'right place'?

This is not an excuse for not giving up, but DH has seen several people with severe mental health / addiction problems have complete breakdowns if they have given up smoking legal tobacco without enough support.

Some people will need quite a lot of help. Although the first step is wanting to do it, if there are complex (and not necessarily medical) problems then the smoker does need to make sure that there is appropriate support, especially before going cold turkey.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Something to do with smoking acting as a displacement activity for all and any uncomfortable emotions, perhaps?

Savvy_Sue

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Something to do with smoking acting as a displacement activity for all and any uncomfortable emotions, perhaps?

More to it than that, I think, but that would certainly be part of it. I don't think you can discount the effect of the chemicals (not just nicotine) in tobacco on the human brain and body.

It's complex, because some drug rehab programmes insist on abstinence from alcohol AND tobacco (as well as non-prescription drugs) from the start. Others insist on abstinence from alcohol, but let participants carry on smoking, indeed advise strongly against trying to give up tobacco at the same time as the 'other' drugs.

And I'm not sure that there's much difference in the outcomes long term.

However I'm taking the thread off topic. To the OP I'd say get your OH back to the GP, there are as others have said a number of reasons why he might be very breathless.

Vicky123

Katykat wrote: »

Vicky123--- very much an addictive personality although thankfully no alcohol problems, he still uses the inhalater for stopping smoking but I understand that is safe
Vicky, it definately is not safe to be using an inhalator for 5 yrs. He is still inhaling nicotine & this is still increasing his chances of heart disease, mouth & throat cancer. These nicotine replacement products are supposed to be used to first quit smoking & then to gradually reduce & stop them to quit the addiction.
Also, it is still possible to develop COPD ( which incidentally is the new term for Emphysema) even many years after you quit. The big difference is the intensity. If you continue to smoke, the symptoms will be much worse and quality of life extremely bleak. However, if you quit, it will halt or at the least slow down the deterioration COPD is not always visible on Xray, so I do think your hubby should have a Spirometry done. It is the only sure way to diagnose it ( apart from the actual symptoms which I'm afraid many smokers are in self denial about) I've seen it from all sides, both as a COPD nurse and as a daughter watching my dad die in severe distress. Get him back to the Dr.

Thanks for this, did wonder about the inhalater but obviously not as smart as I like to think I am, was under the impression that the nicotine is the addictive thing and the other stuff was the dangerous, having said that it did cross my mind.

lilmishap

This thread was started by a woman showing genuine concern over her husband, her fears for his health and his longevity. It seems to have become a battleground with people trying to justify addiction to cigarettes.
This is insensitive to say the least.
Those of us who have seen the unpleasantness of copd, emphysema which includes invasive treatments, phlegm (at times I have had to help remove phlegm from his throat) and bladder/bowel accidents as well as the pain suffered by those with the condition I would like to point something out.
When you kill yourself off through smoking. You will leave behind people who have been given HORRIFIC memories of your last few years.
Smoking is an addiction. Like ALL addictions it tends to affect those around you MORE than the addict themselves.
My bf has had to watch his father disintegrate, Screaming and then collapsing, choking, terrified and very slowly dying in front of him. His father will still smoke when he is able to.
To his son this feels like a great big wee is being done on his life.

Addiction does not affect just the addict. My bf has had his early adult life taken away as a result of his dad smoking. HIS life will begin when he gets to bury his dad.
Not much to look forward to is it.

lilmishap

margaretclare wrote: »

No, in fact having his first heart attack at age 38 when he was a young dad with everything to live for did not stop my first husband smoking. As I wrote earlier, it did not scare him enough. I don't know what would have scared him enough. I don't think there was anything that could have done. Even after he started to have strokes he didn't stop entirely, although he didn't smoke in my presence - but I know darned well that he smoked the minute I'd gone to work.

I can sense your anger and understand it entirely. My bf is a young man who has tearfully pleaded with his dad to quit. Given up a job in the army and all his friends to provide care.
His dad seems to feel that as HE is dying, his needs must come first. Including his NEED to continue smoking.
His son has had to clean him and do the most disgusting types of care. He feels his dad owes him to stop smoking. (each cigarette causes real breathing difficulties that my bf has to sit and soothe him through).
Its bizarre the way that addiction cancels out the feeling of care for those around you.

Aputsiaq

Francesanne wrote: »

My elderly Mum (82) has COPD & emphysema and still smokes 20 cigarettes a day.We've tried for years to get her to give up but it's impossible. She suffers from depression & is such an anxious person and she just couldn't cope without a cigarette. She can't walk very far without becoming very breathless. She has to use a nebuliser twice a day to aid her breathing. She started smoking at 16 and regrets that she ever started but she hasn't the willpower to smoke plus she actually enjoys it. I've never smoked in my life and can't see any attraction plus the thought of all that money going up in smoke would break my heart.

And which selfish person goes out and buys them for her then?

Aputsiaq

bakerp wrote: »

My wonderful mum died from COPD but she refused to give up smoking,it was her decision and i respected it,as long as she was happy,it's coming up for 3 years soon and it still hurts like hell.But i still continue to smoke and hate myself each time i light up,but it is not easy to stop it is after all an addiction.My girls get cross with me all the time for smoking and yes i feel guilty but still i do it.Not for the devil of it simply because i can't give up.:o:(

You have the heartbreak of losing your Mum and you say it hurts and yet you are quite happy to do that to your children????

When you say you cant give up.....what you mean is you dont want to give up because it takes too much strength.

Isnt it time you thougth about your children and how they will feel losing you??? About how life is like for them not having Grandma around????

It is HARD! But you can do it.