Why Me?

[Thomas3.20.2010]

That's a pretty common question for Folks to ask when they're chronically ill And of course we know that our decision to smoke and consequential Addiction brought our odds of getting COPD to 50%. But what are some of the other risk factors that may have contributed to acquiring the disease?

Did you know that manicurists have more risk than others? What about construction workers? Did your parents smoke? Do you have a childhood history of Upper Respiratory Infections?

Those are just some of the risk factors for COPD.

Here is an article explaining what things other than smoking contribute to COPD:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/risk-factors-copd-130000122.html

Stop blaming yourself! Yes, you made a mistake by smoking but now you have Quit Smoking. And despite what people imply with their insensitive questions about your smoking history that may not be the only risk factor in you life.

We may be sick but we're doing everything we can today to take care of ourselves.

It's interesting that folks with diabetes and heart disease don't come under so much scrutiny! Let go of the blame and get on with the task of Living Well!

[YoungAtHeart]

AMEN!

When someone at work was diagnosed with or died from cancer, the conversation ALWAYS first started with, "were they a smoker?"  It NEVER included, "Did they eat ice cream every day?"  or "I guess they ate a lot of fatty foods?," or "Did they have a family history of it?" or any of the other questions it might have.  We were singled out and I somehow would have felt it was my fault if I was diagnosed with cancer.  Same with COPD!   It's easy to point fingers...I think people who don't smoke use it, perhaps, to convince themselves it won't be them next. 

Nancy

[elvan]

I remember thinking about COPD and lung cancer when I was fairly young and thinking that if I got either one of them that it would be my fault.  It didn't stop me from smoking but it sure made me sad.  The first question that was asked when a younger patient came to the ER with symptoms of a heart attack or stroke was "did he or she smoke?"  I think that reinforced my guilt.

I remember going to Alanon years ago when my husband first got sober and different people would chair meetings...one person's subject line was just that, "Why me?"  Why did I marry an alcoholic, why am I going through all of this sadness and anger and confusion.  She ended her meeting with the question, "Why NOT me?"  She said she would not wish her issues on anyone else so why NOT accept what she had to deal with and where she was in her life. 

I am still dealing with some anger and lots of regret about smoking but I also know that I had other risk factors, I had asthma, I had a very serious case of pneumonia when I was nine.  I also never protected myself from things that were pollutants and irritants to my lungs.  I am here now and I am free and I have been for 1196 days.

Ellen

[JustSharon]

Good Morning Thomas. I went to the link you added and it sent me to an old musical. Real sweet, but not what I think you meant. I have always blamed myself for my COPD as doctors seem to only associate it with smoking. I'm one of those kind of people that when anything goes wrong, some how I'm at fault. I was raised that way. I had smoking parents and I also used to get really bad colds as a kid. Once I was older, I realized what I was really having was bronchitis. We never saw doctors growing up. Mom would just pull out the Vicks vapor rub and grease us down. Yes I chose to become a smoker when I was 19, that was 43 years ago. Thank you for showing me that I don't have to blame just myself.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Sorry about that, JustSharon‌! I got the link straightened out now! Thanks!

[Chuck-2-20-2011]

 For me, I always wondered if it was environmental issues along with my smoking that created the first flare up. Since it was five years after I quit smoking before I had the diagnosis of COPD, I'm thinking that in my case, working in the dusty drywall industry and not taking proper precautions may have exacerbated what was already there. 

 Now I take precautions and wear a mask almost all of the time. I monitor my oxygen to make sure that everything is OK and I use all of the inhalers as prescribed. I, like most still run into COPD issues after I catch a cold, but that's really about the only time I do. As for my past, I forgave that after I quit smoking.

  As you said, there's no reason to worry so much about the past that nothing is done for the future. Stagnation is more dangerous then anything else, I think.

Thanks for the post!

Chuck

[freeneasy]

Both of my parents smoked and had COPD and continued to smoke with it. They were on oxygen, inhalers and other treatments. I went on smoking after they both passed away. I was exposed to lots of 2nd hand smoke and 3rd hand smoke. I am lucky so far. I had an exam by a pulmonary specialist and have 99% lung function.  I know I still might come down with COPD, cancer, etc.ect. I'm grateful that I have not suffered from any catastrophic health issues from smoking ...so far. What's done is done. We only have today and we can make it smoke-free.  

[Strudel]

Such an important message Thomas! 

[gregp136]

It is less scary to people if they can blame something outside of themselves so they do not feel as vulnerable.

[BHnCA]

Wow. That’s the first article I’ve ever read that speaks of this issue so honestly. It’s not that I haven’t asked my pulmonologists about it, either, since I was always concerned about the polyurethane dusts I inhaled for years when casting and sanding plastic reproductions WITHOUT wearing any protective gear!  MSDM sheets didn’t exist back then. There was only one pulmonologist who questioned me extensively about that exposure. He was going to research it and get back to me with his findings, but never did.  When I brought up the subject more recently, again, with my new pulmonologist he basically waved it off as “well yeah, industrial agents are everywhere,” preferring to emphasize that my smoking was the real cause of my COPD. I don’t question that, but it would just be kinda nice if the doctors would also admit what other things contributed to our eventual ailments. If nothing else, it would help to lift some of the enormous guilt and shame we feel on account of what we did in the past. Here’s another interesting aspect about the medical community’s take on COPD ... when I was having my 2nd PFT done the therapist casually mentioned that “COPD patients are a goldmine for hospitals.” When I asked him to explain that he said that it’s the “fastest rising disability in the country and hospitals are making a ton of money diagnosing and treating the condition rather than finding cures for it.” I have since repeatedly seen evidence to back up that theory.  Living in farm country, alone, I can attest to the cases of what they call “Valley Fever” and “Rive Dust Fever”. It is rampant here, as are certain types of cancer known to be caused by some pesticides. But this isn’t just the farmers or manufacturing companies fault; what they do is based on consumer demands, which also applies to demands in many other markets - just like when I was manufacturing and needed to produce what the collectors wanted; I used what ensured my ability to meet the demand. So I think we are ALL liable in some respect for what is impacting human lives today. It’s all about supply and demand!l