cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Share your quitting journey

scared straight

cindywilson
Member
0 11 10
For the last two months I have been very sick. The doctor told me it was my lungs and my bronchial tubes.I also had sinusitis, and seriously high blood pressure. The cause; smoking. Did I listen, no. This last week I had to be rushed to the hospital because I could no longer breathe. My pressure was in the stroke zone and I was gray. I nearly died. In those moments when they were hooking all those machines to me and sticking needles every where I thought about the fact that I was going to die and leave my kids. I realized cigarettes are not as precious as life and when I lived I said that was it for me. I got the patches and have not lit one since. My husband still refuses to stop, so it is kind of hard, but I am determined. There is no smoking allowed in my home or car. I would really prefer for right now not to see them at all. Did any one else feel that way?
11 Comments
cindywilson
Member
I am so glad to hear that, how long have you quit now?
Ben3
Member
Welcome Cindy. Its normal not wanting to be around smokers while quitting. I wanted to quit before the health problems started to pop up. I havent been scared straight perse but ive seen to many walk down this path and end up six feet under or on oxygen. You made the right choice by quitting smoking.
cindywilson
Member
I am, tobacco in a piece of paperis not stronger than my will
cindywilson
Member
thanks for all the encouragement, every peson I know is a smoker, so I'm kind of on my own in this; I need people who understand
Giulia
Member
Well we sure understand. And I think your quit strength, being around smokers, is awesome. Although in reality, when you've said "that's it" to smoking, nothing can deter your determination. And it sounds like you've definitely gotten the message and have taken it to heart. Some of us simply don't want to go back to day one again of our quits. Your stakes are a lot higher. And you don't want to go back to that grey stroke zone. Ultimately it don't matter a hoot what keeps one quit as long as it does the job. And your will and a little support for us is all you need to keep you safe.

Congratulations on the decision, the determination and the forward progress.
Ben3
Member
www.WhyQuit.com is another great smoke free website you might want to visit too. You will find alot of encouragement and support on here. We understand what you are going through right now. Hang in there and stuff will get better.
cindywilson
Member
thank you so much, I will take your advice
cindywilson
Member
you are right, in that moment, the light came on for me. The other day I got in my car and found my cigarette case; I threw it out and kept right on going..... other thing are more precious
karen44
Member
Hi Cindy...It took me having a pulminary embolisim and not breathing before the perimedics got here to consider the fact that smoking was hurting my health. It wasn't until I was on total oxygen and not allowed to stand up from the bed to realize that I really had to stop. Like Jeff was saying about his heart attack, the embolisim gave me a second chance and I'm grateful for that. Keep coming on here and blogging and definately read up about your addiction on whyquit. The more informed you are the stronger you will be in this quit. You can do this!!
cindywilson
Member
thank you, when I got to the hospital; that is what they thought was wrong initially. I am glad you made it! I have no voice and haven't for several months, but even that didn't stop me. It is amazing to me all the excuses I made and how stubborn I was.....
jan__tx
Member

hi Cindy - its been a while since I have been on here...how are things going?

About the Author
Gone but Not Forgotten. RIP - they leave a legacy of their quit journeys behind as road maps for future members, to prevent the pitfalls, provide the tools and show the hope and possibilities for success at overcoming this addiction at any age at any stage. I quit after nearly dying from trying to smoke. I started when I was 14, I quit while I was pregnant and then when I had my spine fused with a cage. They wouldn't do the surgery unless I quit. I did for almost two years and then on that wrong day, I reached for a puff. Guess what? it has been almost 10 years since then. This last mess I went through, scared me enought to stop and I want to stay that way. I am in my early 50's, have 5 kids and 6 grands that I want to be around for. I love to cook and I was a professional cook. . I have COPD, pleurosy, asthma, chronic sinusitis,reflux, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and God knows what else, from guess what? Smoking right. I made up my mind no matter what I'm through with my abusive ex, Mr. Smoke, he always was a liar and he has no power over me now..... I also realized that I did not create me and I do not have the right to destroy what I did not create. I think you could say I was stubborn about my smoking, nothing anyone said would make me stop. I used every junkie lie in the book, but here is the reality of my life everyday , not what I wanted for my life, how about you?