I just got home from the ER a couple of hours ago.... my asthma's been worse all year, starting last winter when my exhusband and I were splitting up, I was smoking a LOT then, 3 packs a day, about killed myself with it, was waking up between 4 and 6 every morning with bad coughing fits for about a month, had an asthma attack in January, the first time I'd had one since I was a baby. Went on Chantix for a month to try to quit smoking, at the end of the month I was still smoking 3 packs a day, was just too stressed and had so much going on, that I just couldn't cut back or quit so I stopped the meds, I wasn't ready yet.
When I moved to Nebraska at the end of January, I got down to 5 cigs a day cuz I was smoking outside in the freezing cold and snow... I should've quit then, but I still wasn't ready... as it warmed up I smoked more again, but usually under a pack a day, most the year I've kept it around half a pack to 1 pack, which is good for me, I've always been a heavy smoker... if I was stressed, it might go up to a pack and a half...
I've been stressed a lot lately, but usually keeping it at a pack or pack and a half, not *really* keeping up with it, but I don't think it's gone over that... but all year I guess my asthma's been progressively getting worse, I was using my inhaler morning and night, sometimes having to use it once during the day. When I got down to Mississippi I called my old dr and got him to call in an inhaler, I'd been managing without one for a month since the primatine mist was taken off the market, just drinking lots of coffee, even switched to lighter cigarettes that didn't bother me as much for that month... well that inhaler he called in only lasted 2 weeks, asthma's been so bad I was using it about 5 sprays at a time, several times a day. ran out about 3 days ago and have been managing with coffee and smelling eucalyptus oil, and got those primatine tablets they came out with but none of that was working good enough.
Asthma was so bad last night and this morning that I swore off cigarettes. Well, once I felt better today I was smoking again. did the primatine tablets today, drank tons of coffee, kept it sorta in check. After my meeting tonight it got bad again, wound up in the ER for a breathing treatment... didn't actually have an asthma attack, was just wheezing so bad, and coughing a bit, I knew I had to get another inhaler and I don't see my dr until Monday, have an appt for something else... I wasn't even going to ask my dr for an inhaler cuz I knew he'd chew me out for using that one up within 2 weeks, when it should've lasted me almost 2 months using it morning and night.
I now have 2 inhalers to use, I think one might be a preventative maybe, to use morning and night. One is every 6 hours as needed. Also have to take singulair every night. And got a steroid pack to get the inflammation in my lungs down to prevent an asthma attack. *sigh* The insanity???..... once I got my inhaler and headed home and felt better.... I lit up another cigarette. Ugh...
The dr at the ER told me to talk to my regular dr about help with quitting smoking, which I'm going to. But honestly, as insane as it is, I don't think I'm ready to quit even with all this. When the asthma gets bad, I think I'm ready to quit, but when I have an inhaler or something to manage it, then I'm still wanting to smoke just as much as ever.
Sorry, just had to get all that out. I must be so stupid to keep smoking :( When my mom found out I was smoking, when I was somewhere between 10 and 12 years old, she told me I'd just signed my death certificate lol sad thing is, it's true. My parents both smoke and don't want to quit, wouldn't have really cared about my smoking if it weren't for my asthma, and at the time when I started smoking, I was praying it would kill me, but at the same time never really believed it would, ya know the "it won't actually happen to me" idea... well, if I don't quit, it is gonna kill me, and I know it, but I still can't quit. :(
It's always amazed me how many people with long term recovery still smoke. I quit in 81, 15 years before I quit using. The bad news is Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known to man, the good news is if you can get over the hump (one day at a time) go 3 to 6 weeks you can be free. I never craved a smoke after a month like I still sometime crave a beer. Sometimes when I was drunk I would smoke a cigarette but I didn't relapse like I would if I took a drink. I used the Lifesavers and chewing gum method now there's the patch and gum and lot of other things. There's a 12 step program for Nicotine. Use the tools that got you sober and you can make it. Good luck. Bob.
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I quit smoking about 3 years ago and it was one of the hardet things to do for me. I was up to 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day. I finally was able to quit when I made decision to quit and meant it. I say that because I had said I am going to quit so many times before and didn't follow through. One of the many things I did was make myself accountable. I did this by telling all my friends and family that I was quitting and to give me "what for" if they saw a cigerette in my hand. I also told my co-workers and the places i most commonly bought cigerettes that I was trying to quit and to give me a hard time also. (I happen to have friendly relationships with most of the cashiers of the stores I shop at which helped) This helped me by sorta keeping me honest to myself with the help of my friends. Of course I could go to a different store to buy cigerettes but I would have those few extra mins contemplating buying them and where to buy them to talk myself out of buying them. But knowing all my friends knew I was trying to quit and that I had given them the o.k. to give me a hard time if they caught me smoking was the big help. I not only didn't want to let myself down, but I found that I didn't want to let my friends down too. I know this wont work for everyone but wanted to throw the idea out there for you. I wish you all the best in your efforts. You can do it.
Deb
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hey hey.... I also have asthma and I am a smoker :( You should keep an eye on other things as well.... Caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate) and perfumes are also really bad for asthma... my asthma dr. told me to keep away from all of that when I was younger as well as animals (fur)... Not that I exactly listen to it... but I figured I would pass along that information that might help... Also the steriods/inhalers that you are taking be very careful of taking too much... you will build up a tolerance and then it won't work at all... you may need to tell your Dr about getting a stronger medication and too much of the steroids are VERY bad for you!! Good luck and I know how you feel! Jamie
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"Advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer but wish you didn't"
while your smoking is not helping your asthma, spending a lot of time in close proximity to your dog might be worse. Most people with asthma (that I now of) have animals (dogs mostly) sleeping in their bedroom. Not only does their dander float around and get inhaled but it casuse large infestations of dust mites and their dust (waste).
Clean your car and the room you sleep in, bedding, pillow cases, carpets really well. It should make a substantial difference. If there is any way to have your dog sleep in another room (keep him out of your bedroom), your asthma may stop being acute.
My mother-in-law had it bad (hospitalized several times) and I kept telling her to kick the dog out of the bedroom, she wouldn't listen. then the dog passed away, my wife got her a new bed, pillows, carpet, and no more asthma!
Look it on the net, the National Institute of Health has several articles on it.
Thanks y'all... well, starting tomorrow I'm not smoking anymore. Been telling myself all day this is the last day to smoke... I shouldn't even be smoking today. I woke up this morning with bad asthma again, got through it with the inhaler and lots of coffee but have felt absolutely horrible all day... I'm shaky and weak and I ache all over I guess from coughing so much last night and this morning. I've hardly left the house, had to go get my prescriptions cuz Walgreens had some sort of problem with their system last night, so I had paid full price for one inhaler, went back today and got a refund and got my other meds.... was so shaky and weak that I had a hard time driving home. I've been in bed most the day, and haven't smoked much at all all afternoon cuz I feel too bad.
destiny, I hadn't heard of caffiene being bad for asthma. Actually I've heard black coffee is good for asthma, my mom had me drinking coffee when I was a kid actually, to help when my asthma was bad. When I don't have an inhaler (or even when I do and it's not enough) I use coffee a lot to manage it. I know I'm using the inhaler too much, the albuterol isn't enough for me, and it's the one the dr at the ER told me to use every 6 hours as needed (I'm having to use it more than that). The other one I still haven't gotten, they were out, and I have to go back tomorrow. Pulmicort? or something like that. It's to use morning and night. I think with not smoking, I won't have to use the inhalers quite so much though. But I've always been on albuterol, except when I was getting the primatine mist OTC, and I guess it's possible I've built up a tolerance. I'm not too worried about the steroids, it's just a z-pack or whatever they're called, I think I take them for a week.
Pete, I doubt my dog has much to do with it, we've had dogs all my life and never had a bad problem with my asthma unless I was smoking more than usual, until this year it's just progressed a lot, from the smoking, and probably a lot has to do with the house I lived in in Nebraska had lots of mold in it which I know was affecting me too (when the dr thought I had rheumatoid... turned out to be from the mold, I'm fine now that I'm out of there). Not saying you're wrong, it could be the animals, and I'll take your advice on cleaning everything well, but my dog has to sleep in my room, tears things up if she is in a different room and whines and howls and keeps everyone awake. She normally doesn't sleep in bed with me, she has her spot on the floor where she sleeps. Occasionally she gets up here and cuddles for a few minutes then gets down.
Honestly, worse than dogs and cats... I am probably stupid for raising chickens lol the barn is the worst place for someone with asthma. We cleaned the barn earlier this year, didn't wear face masks. I got out of the barn if exbf was about to stir things up too much, and I was careful to not stir much dust up, but that night my asthma was real bad, I'd been fine until after we got in town that evening a few hours later, and wound up stopping to get an inhaler. That's the only time it gave me a bad problem though, I normally didn't spend too much time in the barn, just to feed them and collect eggs, I usually played with the critters while they were out in the pasture.
In the beginning it was caused by allergies. I had probably 30 asthma attacks between 15 months old and 2 years old, all due to food allergies. They did the allergy test and I wasn't allergic to anything environmental or any animals, just food. Might not be a bad idea to get them to do another allergy test though, because I've outgrown my food allergies now, and I know it's possible I could've developed other allergies. But my dr is mostly just chalking it up to my smoking.
Anyway, sorry for rambling... ya know I'm good at that lol
I'm gonna pop in a movie and try to get some sleep... I see my dr tomorrow morning
Lisa I forgot to say that I hope that you get well soon and feel better. Take care of yourself, you're all you've got. You've been burning the candle at both ends and now it's time to be still and heal yourself. God bless
