My journey to quit started in January of this year, 2023. I thought I could do it, but I was still making excuses thinking if I cut down greatly then that will be good. Surely 5-7 cigs/day is much better than 30-35/day. Health reasons are what first got me here to this site. I had a heart and lung scare and technically I am still going through that. I have had chest pain multiple times every single day for the past 5 months. Every. Single. Day. My doctors knew it, and for every test they ordered....it was 2 months out. I suffered in silence and when I would have these attacks, it would seize my entire being up for about an hour each time. I have used heating pads, stretching, burping, small sips water, a TENS unit for pain because it was unbearable. So a bit later on this...
So first, the good news! My last cigarette was May 29th in the evening. I had a cardiac stress test May 30th. No smoking was the rule for 6 hours prior. The stress test day was awful. I failed it and I super panicked. My lungs hurt really bad from the exercise. My bones hurt from being sedentary the past five years and my super weight didn't help matters, I just quit. But I did make it for 5 min with a HR 130. I knew if I could do that then I could start doing things to help myself. I made a pact that things were going to change from here on out and cigarettes were going to be the first to go. I gave them to my husband and told him to put them where I can't find them and thus starts my 2nd journey to a non-smoking life and a healthier life-style. I started walking that evening and am doing so each evening.
Not-so-great news. They did get resting images of my heart that day of the stress test which shows I have major problems in my heart. Major and severe perfusion deficits. Evidence of myocardial infarction. At first I was shocked but when I thought about it, that is probably what is happening to me day after day after day (for five months debilitating heart pain multiple times a day every day). I have an area that has reversible ischemia but the other area they found looks like it is not reversible and denotes damage. I got the results from my patient portal but no one has explained them to me. I see the cardiologist tomorrow.
So back to the good news. I am walking every day...only a little bit, like the first day I did half a block, then yesterday I almost did the whole block. I try not to get too winded and just gradually building endurance. I bought a bunch of healthy foods and keeping calories under 1200/day. Watching my salt and keeping it under 2gm/day. Gave up most of my caffeine...I still drink de-caf coffee which has a tiny bit of caffeine in it. Other than that I drink water, small amt of orange juice or whatever is available. I am adding more veges in my diet and fruits. But no cigarettes and my house is getting a little bit cleaner each day. My health is what kicked me into totally giving cigarettes, vapes and everything up. It isn't as hard to do as I thought, but I still get those beastly cravings. I just replace those thoughts and get up and do something else.
Anyway that is an update on my journey. I quit coming here for the longest time, but I will keep checking in now and again.
Good luck to all who are trying to kick this habit and congratulations on the steps you have taken!
