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I am a 59 year old woman who smoked since the age of 29. I also inhaled damaging chemicals and now i have emphysema. I am in the moderate/severe stages of this aweful illness and wish i never picked up a cigarette.
Everyone around me, in my life, smoked and encouraged me to do it, too. So, just for that reason i started smoking. By the grace of God and help from wonderful people in this group, i quit. It wasn't easy, but it is doable.
Since this disease zaps your energy, there is only a small amount of responsibility i can take on during each day. Each day is full of wonder: Wonder if i can finish the dusting today. Or laundry. Or shampooing the carpet. You never know. So, i just do what i can and know when my energy is very low and quit for the day.
This disease is hard on family members and friends, too. Much of the time i am not clear headed. It won't occur to me to say this illness has taken my energy and i cannot do another thing. So for the sake of others, i am drilling that message into my brain so i can say it without thinking too clearly. That way they will understand that the problem is emphysema. Not them. It's hard.
At this stage in the disease, i do not know what is comming next. I just got rid of a lung infection and had a mini stroke, so anything can happen. What i am doing is trying to have more fun. Twice a week, people my age and i, gather together at the Friendship Center and play dominoes and bingo. It's a lot of fun and friendship. And everybody is dealing with thier own illnesses, so none of us feels left out. That is fun.
If you are here, you probably picked up a cigarette somewhere in your life. I applaud you for having the courage to come here and go through the process of quitting. If you do it now, your chances of getting this horrific disease will be lower. And if you already have it, it will get a bit better and then progress very slowly. Bless you all who are ready and already in the process of quitting smoking. It is the most loving thing you can do for yourself and your health.
Hugs,
Doris
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