Gave up smoking 2 years ago, but maybe the damage has been done.

[Craig krup]

I've never smoked, but the air quality issue does my head in. Apparently "bunker oil" is killing thousands every year: the world's worst grade of oil burned in ships' engines and left to drift over the country. The other thing I only found out recently was that these PM5.0 particles that stick in your lungs aren't the whole of it. PM2.5 goes right across the lung barrier into your bloodstream.

People with clean air live years longer, and in lots of countries you're made to "smoke" whether you want to or not.

[Shiver]

On one occasion about 25 years ago, I went to the doctor because I was concerned about a health issue (unrelated to smoking), but because I was embarrassed that my question might appear stupid (I wanted to know if multiple sclerosis was hereditary, and we didn't have google back then), I started off instead asking about smoking. The Dr showed me a diagram about how quickly the benefits of stopping happen. It started at a couple of minutes, and went onward, with the last item on the diagram being 8 years, as that was how long she said it would take for complete cell turnover of the entire lungs to occur, at which point to all intents and purposes you'd be considered a non smoker. I haven't looked to see if that opinion is still the common opinion however, and suspect that in reality there would permanently be less surface area to absorb oxygen.

Bottom line is, after 2 years you may still have more to go before getting up to the best that it is going to be.

[Ulic]

Congratulations on quitting. Damage has been done and you will never get back 100%

function but things will improve.

[giddyup]

Thanks for all the encouraging words. My only regret, like a lot of reformed smokers, is that I didn't quit sooner, but I guess better late than never.

[vogie]

I never even started smoking, but I do have a bit of sympathy with lifetime smokers in their sixties and seventies because they never knew the health risks when they started.

Younger people in their forties and fifties who are smoking, I just can't understand their stupidity, the health risks were well documented when they started smoking, but they

obviously didn't bother, and most of them are going to suffer in their old age. there is still time for them to try and stop smoking, I wish they would.

You're an 100% right, but quite often its a case of 'it will never happen to me'

[umbanda]

Ask your doctor or any non traditional doctor about oxygen therapy done with hyperbolic chambers. This kind of treatment, for any internal infection or tumors, is getting popular in some countries with fantastic results. I do not know if available in Thailand.

In any case, this is very beneficial to the human body, even on an apparently healthy ones. You can also find some info online.

Take care. Get well.

Edited April 22, 2015 by umbanda

[Acharn]

I stopped smoking over five years ago, after years of chest discomfort and pain. I thought I had quit in time, as my breathing got more comfortable, but a couple of months ago I was feeling a tightness in my chest and general fatigue similar to when I had bronchitis. Went to a private hospital here in Nakhon Sawan. First day the pulmonary specialist wasn't in -- he's only available Fridays and Saturdays. The GP who looked at my X-Ray decided I had an infection and gave me an antibiotic. Next day the pulmonary specialist (who speaks good English, thank heaven) said he didn't like the look of the X-Ray but needed better data so I had to have a CAT scan. Only ฿4,000! Turns out I do have emphysema (which I believe is also called COPD). Doc is prescribing a broncho-dilator, runs me about $100 a month with the monthly check-up. I'm trying to get back to doing regular aerobics, which seems to be helping, but it will take several months to reach maximum benefit. No cure for it, it gets worse at a rate of about 1% a year, and I don't expect to live long enough for it to get really bad anyway. I consider myself lucky. Smoked about a pack a day for sixty years and always promised myself I'd quit before developing COPD, but I didn't.

[Acharn]

I never even started smoking, but I do have a bit of sympathy with lifetime smokers in their sixties and seventies because they never knew the health risks when they started.

Younger people in their forties and fifties who are smoking, I just can't understand their stupidity, the health risks were well documented when they started smoking, but they

obviously didn't bother, and most of them are going to suffer in their old age. there is still time for them to try and stop smoking, I wish they would.

You're an 100% right, but quite often its a case of 'it will never happen to me'

I can't agree with this. I'm 77, smoked for about 60 years, and remember when the data about the harm of smoking started coming out after WWII. I recall one story in, I think it was, Time Magazine, around 1948 or 1949, that the tobacco companies put out a chart showing that tie increase in lung cancer was exactly correlated with the increase in importation of bananas. We knew all along that it was harmful and dangerous. I chose to gamble anyway and have no right to complain now. I mean, after all, is this a competition to see who is the healthiest when we die?

[laislica]

Well done OP, giving the darned thing up was very hard for me.

Great that you have "come out" with this thread.

Worrying about what damage you may or may not have done is not a good thing.

The good thing is you did quit!

Try to move your thinking away from worrying.

As others have mentioned, it takes time for recovery and there may be particular stages when ingrained gunk is loose enough to come out.

Be happy about that, it means you are beginning to undo some of the clogging with tar and other stuff.

I was a heavy smoker from 11 to 30 years and it was really hard to quit.

After more than 40 years as a non smoker I still wheeze like hell but it generally dosen't get in my way of enjoying life.

Get a few checks done to put your mind at ease and then get on with life.

I am pleased that the tone of your posts seem to have changed through this thread and IMO, you seem less stressed about your situation now and that is good news.

Great stuff!

If you ever feel tempted to smoke again, create a new thread and get support!

Quitting is one thing but staying off them forever is another thing altogether.

[sawadee1947]

I used to smoke, then stopped, but it didn't stop me getting COPD. This is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Symptoms are wheezing, coughing. It is caused by damage to the lungs primarily caused by smoking. I think the damage varies and it comes and goes and sometimes gets infected - what they call an exacerbation.

It can't be cured - but there are inhalers that help. My Doctor gives me antibiotics that I can use if I get an infection on my lungs when on holiday.

So I am ok with it most of the time.

I got a copy of my medical records from my Doctor and interestingly there was a note - years before it became apparent to me - saying "Possible COPD?" I would like to have been aware of that.

I have been a lot better recently and use Tiotropium (Spiriva) inhaler and more recently I have an inhaler for Fluticasone furoate (Relvar) which helps a lot.You will understand that I am not a medico - just a geezer with a similar sounding problem. Yours might be quite different.

Three months in Nong Khai 2014/15 and not a wheeze - well from the chest anyway!

You are a good Doc already and could figure out what cuses your problems. From my point of view you are right

[losworld]

You may simply have an allergic reaction to something in the air. Best to see how it is in a few weeks. Not sure antibiotics needed if no infection. I would first reccomend trying an allergy tablet first. I would also recommend doing some vigorous exercise to try an get lung funtion back to near normal.

[Andre0720]

_{Cannot poison oneself for a number of years, and not expext some kind of repercussion...}

_{I will never understand why people willingly poison themselves, with no personal benefit, and benefits to others only in profits for the big tobacco manufacturers.}

_{At 20, I quit, as I realized that this was not a good thing for me.}

_{So why does it take so many years for others to realise the same thing...}

_{Everybody claim that they are smart peope....}

[giddyup]

_{Cannot poison oneself for a number of years, and not expext some kind of repercussion...}

_{I will never understand why people willingly poison themselves, with no personal benefit, and benefits to others only in profits for the big tobacco manufacturers.}

_{At 20, I quit, as I realized that this was not a good thing for me.}

_{So why does it take so many years for others to realise the same thing...}

_{Everybody claim that they are smart peope....}

You might want to drop the bold text and also the holier than thou attitude.

[Rustapha]

Agree, Great Post, Well done as well, I hope your efforts are rewarded with many more years of good health, Myself, I was in a simular situation, Smoked about 10 to 15 a day for 50 odd years, Gave up completely 4 months ago, Now having problems, coughing up gunk in the mornings, and worrying about my longevity , I joined a gym a month ago, and are feeling so much better, i am returning to Australia in 6 weeks to have some skin cancers sorted, Will have a full medical whilst there, One thing i am absolutely certain about is that i will never, ever smoke again, Good Luck, !!!

[nickcar]

_{Cannot poison oneself for a number of years, and not expext some kind of repercussion...}

_{I will never understand why people willingly poison themselves, with no personal benefit, and benefits to others only in profits for the big tobacco manufacturers.}

_{At 20, I quit, as I realized that this was not a good thing for me.}

_{So why does it take so many years for others to realise the same thing...}

Have you ever heard of something called addiction?

_{Everybody claim that they are smart peope....}

[giddyup]

Agree, Great Post, Well done as well, I hope your efforts are rewarded with many more years of good health, Myself, I was in a simular situation, Smoked about 10 to 15 a day for 50 odd years, Gave up completely 4 months ago, Now having problems, coughing up gunk in the mornings, and worrying about my longevity , I joined a gym a month ago, and are feeling so much better, i am returning to Australia in 6 weeks to have some skin cancers sorted, Will have a full medical whilst there, One thing i am absolutely certain about is that i will never, ever smoke again, Good Luck, !!!

Thanks. It took several attempts, first using Nicorette gum and patches, but in the end I went cold turkey, and with the encouragement of a good woman have never been tempted in the 2 years to light up.

[laislica]

_{Cannot poison oneself for a number of years, and not expext some kind of repercussion...}

_{I will never understand why people willingly poison themselves, with no personal benefit, and benefits to others only in profits for the big tobacco manufacturers.}

_{At 20, I quit, as I realized that this was not a good thing for me.}

_{So why does it take so many years for others to realise the same thing...}

_{Everybody claim that they are smart peope....}

I believe that cigs are even more addictive now than they were say 50 or 60 years ago.

The "Scientists" at the tobacco companies know how to perforate the paper so that the smoker draws cooler smoke deeper into the lungs.

They add nicotine to their specification.

They add aromas and loads of other gunk!

Edit added the ipicture

Glad you were able to quit at 20, not everyone is able to do that, it's a horrible addiction that is scientifically crafted to be as addictive as possible.

When I started secondary school at 11, we could by a packet of two fags! .Woodbines, Park Drive, Players Weights etc.....

There were also packets of 5, 10 and 20.

Such a huge choice to get us addicted and it worked for many of us.

I feel very sorry that giving up smoking is so very hard for most people.

Edited April 22, 2015 by laislica

[soalbundy]

I get through two lighters a day, i'm 66, i gave up for three months once but never noticed any difference so i carried on, a disgusting addiction granted, hope for good genes but at a certain age the grim reaper is just around the corner anyway

[Wat dee]

Latest Australian study tells if you stop smoking by 45,your body can recover 100% and you live 10 more years.

2 out of 3 smokers will die early due smoking.

[nickcar]

In case it of any interest, i was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis about 4 years ago. This is a very nasty lung disease for which there is no cure or treatment. Except of course for a lung transplant. After the first year i noticed that my breathing was slightly impaired. For example i could not float in the pool on my back anymore. But it was not enough to cause me any serious discomfort. After the first year the doctors told me i should be able to survive for at least 2 more years. I of course studied up in the internet about it and peoples experiences and i was mostly struck by how lucky i was. I am now nearly 71 and have had a most splendid life so i was not to disheartened to learn it might be shorter than expected..my daughter were somewhat upset but the oldest wouldn't believe it, insisting that i would outlive them all. I am quite strong for my age and i decided to enjoy those last two years and consequently spent rather a lot of money hahaha. I also started to do lung exercises on my exercise walks.. After another year the doctors said the deterioration had slowed so much i probably would have 10 years before i needed oxygen. On my last test after another 12 months the dr said no deterioration at all. I must add that i have been a smoker all my life, i gave up for 2 years with the aid of a medicine called champix that made it very easy i started again 2 or 3 years ago and even though i usually only smoke 6 or so cigs a day i am still unable to,give it up properly. I am determined to do so sooner or later. I think the moral of this story is that you do have some control over your lungs even if they have been damaged by years of smoking. I can now float on my back and the slight breathing difficulty i had has disappeared. I put this down to my very simple lung exercise as i do my daily brisk walk of 2 to 3 km, i breath in deeply and then let it out slowly 3 or 4 breaths. I believe this is also taught as a form of yoga but i learnt it from my uncle who lost a lung in the war but lived to 83.

Cheers

Nick

[nickcar]

Ps dyeing from a disease like Pulmonary fibrosis is very unpleasant, you basically slowly suffocate to death. I am hoping now the progress will be slow enough that my heart gets me first hahahah

[Neeranam]

"I'm wondering whether it may have just been better just to continue smoking after so many years."

Is that a serious statement ? 55555

Depending on his age, it might be.

If he is 70+ then maybe just as well to continue

[Harveyg]

Ask your doctor or any non traditional doctor about oxygen therapy done with hyperbolic chambers. This kind of treatment, for any internal infection or tumors, is getting popular in some countries with fantastic results. I do not know if available in Thailand.

In any case, this is very beneficial to the human body, even on an apparently healthy ones. You can also find some info online.

Take care. Get well.

As this person and a later one talking about lung exercises, there are proactive things you can do that usually only alternative MDs know about. Things like ozone therapy, green juicing, and detoxing in various ways, are some examples. I'm not a doctor and i was never a smoker. I have a colleague in Nong Khai that was given 2 yrs to live 5 yrs ago bc of stage 4 prostate cancer. He has hospital experience back home and teaches/knows his science. He studied on the Internet several hours a day for about 3 years now and has amassed an incredible amt of info. He found an American dr in bkk who has set up a cancer clinic similar to the one he has in Arizona. That was one of many sources he has used. I have learned from him and applied to my own health for completely different reasons. BTW, my colleague is in much better health now, all Cancer symptoms gone, other issues gone. If you want more info send me a line.

[janpharma]

Save yourself the stress of guessing and have an examination by a pulmonologist.The one thing about the lungs is they are self cleaning with cells having micro hairs or cilia that clean the debris away...nicotine paralyzes them so debris builds up. When you quit they start working again. See the correct Dr and have some tests done.

The "hairs" you are talking about disappear when one continues smoking for a long time...this also gives the cough because the sputum doesn't go out anymore by the so called "self cleaning system" while it has been destroyed. See a qualified pulmonologist and you will know where you are up to ...

[pomchop]

and now the tobacco companies are on double overtime drive marketing the vapes hoping to trick an entire new generation into becoming nicotine addicts...and unfortunately it is working especially among the very young who suck on the damn strawberry/cherry/fruity flavors thinking it's cool....RJ Reynolds has opened many new factories to produce and sell as fast as possible.....the more they can hook the higher their sales for decades....and of course the feds do nothing to regulate as they are all paid off by tobacco lobbyists....very little study has been done as to the potential harm of the nicotine vapes and they are back on TV advertising them like they are lollipops......some parents complain as it was once possible to simply smell their kids breath to see if they were smoking but now there is little or no smell .....nicotine is actually a POISON that was/is used in many insecticides etc but it is also highly addictive to most humans...and yet big tobacco freely promotes and sells a NEW WAY to ingest an addictive poison...and seem to be targeting kids with the fruity flavors....

disgusting bunch big tobacco....anything to get anybody hooked for as long as possible.......i was hooked on cigs for way too many years and poured a ton of money into the big tobacco coffers (coffins?).....it was/is pure hell to quit but fortunately i did manage to do it and haven't touched a cig in over 15 years....as some have said " it's easy to quit smoking...i'v done it dozens of times"...

to OP...good for you now stay off the damn things and slowly your breathing will likely improve....along with your taste buds, your smell and your overall self esteem.

[mikiea]

Saw the specialist at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital this morning. The X Ray showed nothing abnormal, lung function test was around 80%, not surprising as I'm wheezing a bit, and feel like there's fluid in my lungs. The doctor prescribed antibiotics (don't they all) and if it doesn't clear up, come back and see him in a week.

it may take a few more years before the flem hacking stops, it took me 7 years. only after i started walking every day did it get better, stressed the lungs a little more, made them stronger. i wheezed, coughed & gagged but kept walking. it took a few months before i could walk with my mouth closed. please understand the walking did not make me "healthy" again, but it did give me back my breath & control i lost to the devil sticks for 40+ years .

[mikiea]

and now the tobacco companies are on double overtime drive marketing the vapes hoping to trick an entire new generation into becoming nicotine addicts...and unfortunately it is working especially among the very young who suck on the damn strawberry/cherry/fruity flavors thinking it's cool....RJ Reynolds has opened many new factories to produce and sell as fast as possible.....the more they can hook the higher their sales for decades....and of course the feds do nothing to regulate as they are all paid off by tobacco lobbyists....very little study has been done as to the potential harm of the nicotine vapes and they are back on TV advertising them like they are lollipops......some parents complain as it was once possible to simply smell their kids breath to see if they were smoking but now there is little or no smell .....nicotine is actually a POISON that was/is used in many insecticides etc but it is also highly addictive to most humans...and yet big tobacco freely promotes and sells a NEW WAY to ingest an addictive poison...and seem to be targeting kids with the fruity flavors....

disgusting bunch big tobacco....anything to get anybody hooked for as long as possible.......i was hooked on cigs for way too many years and poured a ton of money into the big tobacco coffers (coffins?).....it was/is pure hell to quit but fortunately i did manage to do it and haven't touched a cig in over 15 years....as some have said " it's easy to quit smoking...i'v done it dozens of times"...

to OP...good for you now stay off the damn things and slowly your breathing will likely improve....along with your taste buds, your smell and your overall self esteem.

you are so shallow to think you know all there is to know about e ciggs. it is a easy, & safe, method to get off of ciggs. you fail to understand, or maybe you do not want to understand it is another tool to use to quit smoking. your self esteem is bordering on "crackpot" status.oh and do you smell your childs breath? truly? do you sniff bike seats to check for. ... oh forget it you probely do.

[heybuz]

ive just returned home from phetchebun and all the time i was there i never stopped wheezing , it was definately the air quality for on my return it went. while there the locals were burning rubbish including plastic and probably other carcinogenic material.

[F4UCorsair]

The damage has been done, but on the credit side, your sense of taste will Iimprove and you'll enjoy food, and your breath won't constantly be offensive.

A couple of days ago I endured a 9 hour flight sitting next to a smoker. His breath was vile, like a sewer and I arrived with an aching neck from sitting with my face turned away for the entire flight. No empty seats or I'd have moved.

And no, mikiea, I don't sniff bike seats, but I'm sure there wouldn't be one on this planet that even came close to his breath for rotten. In fact I was wishing there was one to sweeten the area a little.

Edited April 22, 2015 by F4UCorsair

[jacko45k]

I'm wondering whether it may have just been better just to continue smoking after so many years.

Don't go saying silly things like that.

The benefits of stopping smoking start straight away and your overall health should improve.

There are no negative health impacts of being a non-smoker, although you may undergo some withdrawal symptoms.

A minor chest infection may have come your way.......

Burning somewhere can impact you.

Avoid second-hand smoke now.