I thought i read somewhere that smoking can make your RA worse, does anyone know if this is true. Granted smoking is overall bad and I have been trying to quit myself, but have found it difficult, but with the amount of pain i am in now, this is a major reason to quit.
The funny thing is, everyone wants you to quit, but most insurance plans will not pay for the meds to help you stop.
thanks
Phil
I know one thing for sure, smoking makes you more succeptible to resp. illness and if your immune system is low due to RA meds, then chances are increased dramatically that you could wind up with a mega pnuemonia, or other resp. infection that could land you in the hospital...off of your RA meds...in alot of pain and possibly at risk of resp arrest. Is that good enough?PS-I am not one to cry conspiracy theory...but dont you think it is funny how most doctors and insurance companies dont want to help people lose weight, stop smoking, and stop drinking? If everyone in the US gave up their destructive habits, the hospitals would be shutting down left and right. Almost any major illness can be contributed to one of those three things.
Except RA---and some of them dont want to pay for that either...
something to ponder....
Phil, smoking is a subject that breaks my heart. I lost my father due to his smoking, and I would so love for him to still be here to share in our lives. Even after his 2nd by-pass heart surgery he couldn't stop. My mother is militant about smoking, and would drag her IV containing her chemotherapy treatments in it outside of the cancer clinic so she could smoke. She had breast cancer, which is now in remission, but I know it's just a matter of time before it pops up again. She keeps having "spots" appear on her ribs, or skin cancers that require radiation. But she's still smoking a pack a day.
PLEASE, if you can't stop for yourself and your own health, stop for your family!
Phil I've been a smoker for~Oh I'd say 18 years now. It's not good for us; no one has to tell us that we already know it. It doesn't matter how many rude or condesending things people say to us it doesn't make you all of the sudden drop the habit. If that's all it took we would have stopped years ago.
I'm on MTX and that alone can affect your lungs. For that reason I have tried three times over the last 4 years to quite and will continue to try and try again. I'm determined to be a non-smoker one day. I've known too many people in recent years that have died from cancer....and I'll admit it's a fear of mine as well.
As far as getting sick goes; yeah I've heard that too. BUT in my own experience it hasn't been the case. I guess it depends on the person and their over all health. I hear lots of folks here and at other sites constantly talk about being sick and they never smoke. How do you explain that? It's kind of going to depend on several different factors.
A man that I work with recently got some kind of shot. It cost him about 0 (out of pocket-Insurance won't pay for it) and he's been smoke free ever since. He's now like a walking advertisment for the thing. I'm not sure what it is exactly; but if you'd like i can inquire further.
We actually have lots of smokers here and I'm not sure what their opinion in the subject is but I don't think it makes my RA any worse than anyone else here. It's certainly not helping anything in my body, but you already know that. I just don't think I'll blame my RA or the pain associated with it on smoking.
At times we've had a small stop smoking support group here amoung several members. Often people won't post on the board about it because some of the comments made by others can be very critical and make them feel rather small. Those honestly trying to quit don't need that added stress in their lives.
You're not alone Phil....not by a long shot.
I have heard that accupuncture works really well for some people.I used acupunture about 20 years ago and it really helped me quit. It took away the terrible cravings and climbing the walls for nicotine. I'm saying it still wasn't hard to quit, you really must want to. But it sure helped with the nerves. Good luck!
Susan
Hi Phil,
I too am a smoker, about 1/4 pack a day so not a heavy smoker but it doesn't matter, I'm still doing damage.
I have quit 3 times, the first time I lasted a year, the second time 2 years and the 3rd time 3 years. I know that each time I really wanted to quit and that's the key. You have to want to quit, whatever your reasons, you have to want to.
The cravings did go away but not completely. Even after 3 years I had cravings and once I had even one drag I was back at it. It's no different than an alcoholic who knows they can't even have a sip of alcohol...same for former smokers.
I'm sure we all know people who quit and say they can't stand the smell of smoke and will never go back...I envy them. My father-in-law smoked 4 packs a day and quit cold turkey after a heart attack and never went back.
I will quit again but right now I don't want to and therefore I know I won't be successful. Having been just diagnosed with RA may be enough motivation for me but so far I'm still smoking
Because of years of smoking and the swelling RA and the Diabetes caused...her arteries in her legs began to close off. She ended up having to have two Fermorial Bypasses in her legs.
The doctor told her...if she didn't stop she would lose her legs. She weighed the cost...lose my legs or stop smoking. Lose being able to take care of myself and my own needs...or be in a home where I am at the mercy of others.
It took her a year and a one day. On her birthday...she quit.
Phil..and others...i know it is hard. I have never smoked...but even to give up my glasses of wine when dining or a cocktail for me has been hard...but...we need to think of all the people that love us...and want us here for a long time.
You are worth it...and so are they...that quiting to save your health...is much more then the satisfaction of our next fix.
Roblyn
Thanks for a wonderful topic !!!!
This is a subject I am dealing with right now. I don't smoke but I always smoked and drank to tell the truth when I was stressed. Maybe from all those years in college. Most of us did it. I would only smoke at finals time and drink when crisis happened in my life. I had an advantage, being active and athletic, I could never smoke long as if my lungs started hurting me, I would get disgusted and quit. They smell horrible to me, in fact, smelling them makes ME sick but still when I am stressed I crave them. My daughter smokes and it scares me. Knowing they are always there. For the most part I hate the smell on her and when it somehow gets in the house. (she smokes outside) but I also worry that they are too convenient for me if I get stressed out. Amazing huh. I HATE the smell of them but I still worry I will be tempted to smoke onePhil
I dont think that smoking will make your RA worse...I know that smoking causes health problems, and at least for me, the RA is enough to deal with.
I started smoking when I was 14. Of course I didnt smoke a dramatic amount since I was in school etc. but once I went to college that changed. I quit for about 8 months when I was 19 because the guy that I was dating was allergic to cigarette smoke. He dumped me and I picked them right back up again in full force.
I quit again when I was pregnant for my daughter, and then 2 years later again in my second pregnancy. I had started up again untill my son was diagnosed with asthma. I never smoked in front of my kids, but I was worried about the smoke on my clothes and in my hair affecting them. But still, after about 7 or 8 months, I was in nursing school and I became an occaisional smoker...sometimes smoking in between classes, other times eating chocolate or guzzeling tons of coffee. I was partially replacing the bad habit of smoking with eating and caffine.
Enter the beginning of my stint as an ER nurse on a graveyard shift. Most of the people that I worked with were smokeres and they would go out to the ambulance bay for a smoke every hour. I found that it was the only way I would ever get a break too and in no time I was smoking more than I had since my kids were born.
And that is they way it was for a few years. At home, my kids were at school during the day and then I would be at work at night so it wasnt a problem. They never knew I was a smoker. I did have to sneak around at times, go visit my neighbor etc. and then my daughter found a pack of smokes in my work bag. I had to tell her they were my friends cigs. I felt silly. Like a teenager sneaking around. It is just really important to me that me kids dont smoke and I didnt want to be telling them "do as I say, not as I do".
I kept saying that I would quit when I lost weight. Finally last Sept. I gave up that idea, since I was gaining instead of losing anyways. I couldnt control the food, so I chose the stop smoking for good.
I went on a vacation in may and was around a bunch of people who were drinking and smoking. I did neither and it was a real trial. I wanted to cut loose and party too. I just decided to relax and enjoy the people. I had a good time, but I will be honost...I was dieing for a cigarette!
When I got back and went to work, I grabbed on of my pals who is a smoker and said...come on, lets go outside...and bring your cigarettes...It was the most horrible tasting cigarette I ever smoked! I thought to myself, wow I guess I really have kicked the habit this time.
That was in may, now two months later, in the face of really trying to drop some serious weight, I have toyed with the idea again. I dont know why, I dont want to or need to, but then maybe I do. Just like maybe 3-5 a day. Thats just a little nibble. But sometimes a nibble turns into a binge.
but then again... a Marlboro Menthol Ultra Light 100 would be good about now while I am waiting for this damn pain medicine to kick in. Yeah, there are definate reasons why smoking is good for dealing with RA...and even more reasons why it is not. It is easy to say, not so easy to do. But it is do-able. I guess it is just something you dont ever just forget about completely. Hi Phil. It must be tough trying to give up smoking. I hope you succeed! I lost my beloved brother to lung cancer last year - he was 49. By the way, are you still in a lot of pain or have things improved on that front? All the best to you, I smoked a pack or more a day for over 20 years. I've been smoke free so far for 16 months. What helped me was going to a hypnosis smoke clinic and my desire to quit. My mother found out about the hypnosis through a friend of hers.This person had smoked for over 40 years and hasn't smoked for well over 10 years since doing it. She had been hounding me for a while to stop. For my birthday last year she sent me to the classes. I'm glad she did. Still in lots of pain Wendy, walking is getting more and more difficult every day, so when I'm just sitting on my back side at home, I seem to smoke more. I know thats just another excuse that I use, I keep saying, once the pain is gone I can start moving around and quit smoking, but if I had the will power, would just do it now. But thank you for asking. Phil Ah well, it's probably not a great time to try to make any 'lifestyle changes'. We have enough on our plates coping with the daily hassles of these diseases. (I'm amazed how many prescription drugs I need to take these days, just to keep functioning - sleeping pills, anti-depressants, codeine. And that's not counting all the drugs for the disease itself.) I hope you can get on top of your pain soon though. Wendy One thing I try to keep in mind is that there are things in my life that I dont have control over, my RA...my financial situation (now)...but I do have control over whether or not I smoke, and I am learning to take control over what I eat. One thing I always wondered is why do people quit suddenly. It seems that if you weaned cigs like prednisone, maybe it would be easier. If you smoke a pack a day, you could decrease by 2 every 3 days untill you got down to like 6 a day and then go down by one every week untill you quit. Then if you ever have a craving that you cant bear, just take one puff and put it out. If you are afraid you will go more than one puff, break the cig in half before you light it, that way it is a really short cig! I do know of people who are rationing their own smokes and they will just take a few puffs and then put it out and save it for later. That way they may only have 6 cigs a day, but they still go out to smoke 12 times. I guess that is better than having 2 cigs every time you take a smoke break. Maybe these ideas can help you get closer to your goal of quitting, or at least cutting back a bit. Lots of small steps still get the job done. It's good you can see the funny side! Maybe it is a beneficial side effect. Do you think people who manage to hang on to their sense of humour cope better with these chronic diseases? We use a lot of black humour at my house, with an ever-increasing number of 'cripple jokes'. I think it's best we don't say them anywhere else though
I KNOW that I couldn't possibly get through any of this without humor or making fun of myself. I look at every situation in my life and see humor in it. I think the ability to laugh at ourselves and our circumstances is the absolute best way to get through tough times. I remember when my dad died, there were so many things that struck me funny!! I know that sounds strange, but it's the truth. I adored him, and of course I felt the normal feelings of grief, but I found so much that cracked me up. One example is at his wake, my mother was introducing me to someone and explaining that I had arrived in time to visit the hospital before he died and two "real good" visits with him before he died. The person she was speaking to said, "Oh that must have made him so happy". My mother, "Oh it tickled him to death." I had to leave the room
Since smoking is really about addiction to nicotime, and I do know something about addiction, I think I can safely say that we often find reasons and excuses to continue, or to pick it up again, but I know that FOR ME, what it is really all about is wanting it more than not wanting it and the rest are simply excuses to make ourselves feel better about returning to it.
Those folks I know who have been successful in quitting were successful because they wanted to stop more than they wanted to continue. Not that the process was easier because of this, but it helped them maintain abstinence once they finally put it down.
I have not read the statistics about how many times people try to quit before they finally do for good, but I do know that each attempt gets you a little closer to success and you should be applauded for each effort.
A related statistic that I find interesting is that women in abusive relationships attempt to leave, on average, 7 times before they leave for good. Wow.
Simply knowing something isn't good for us isn't usually enough to make us stop unless you are one of the fortunate ones (especially if there is an addictive component involved). It has to become enough of a problem FOR YOU (not what others THINK is a problem for you) before you are going to decide to make a permanent change. At least that is my experience.
Jeanne
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