Life after quitting smoking

[pepperbelly]

I quit smoking about 3.5 years ago. I had started a thread here about it and there were a few questions how my health was after 42 years of smoking.
I have been having a yearly low dose CT scan as recommended by the American Lung Assoc. Until this year there was nothing to be concerned about but there were a few small stable nodules in my lungs. This year one appeared to be larger and I was referred to a pulmonologist. He ordered a Pet scan. The scan showed no cancer or other reason to be concerned.
He also had me do a pulmonary function test. It showed no COPD or any other problem. I told him I dived and found out he does too. I told him I was concerned about having gas exchange problems and he said I have nothing to worry about.

I have remained smoke free and will for life.
If anyone here is thinking about quitting-do it. I will suck at the beginning but it is worth it.

BTW I think I quit at a very opportune time. I quit Thanksgiving 2018. I tested positive for Covid in December 2020. I had no symptoms or issues-not even a runny nose. I have had the 2 vaccinations plus a booster, again with no issues. If I was still smoking I may have had issues.

 

[Boarderguy]

I quit after nearly 8 years. The last 2 were a carton a week along with a log of cope long cut. Wife, then girlfriend, wanted nothing to do with me when I was partaking and have me a reasonable ultimatum. The first year or two I would randomly find myself holding a pen or pencil like a cig and chewed a lot of sunflower seeds. That was 16.5 years ago life is great. The smell of either product is repugnant now rather than appealing. Congrats on 3 years and keep it up. The money saved is crazy!

 

[Wibble]

I read/heard somewhere that if you quit smoking by 45 years old, there's little change in your life expectancy. After then it begins to drop. Don't have the source for that though.

The main thing is giving up the coffin nails (as we used to call them in school).

Well done for quitting.

 

[pepperbelly]

I quit after nearly 8 years. The last 2 were a carton a week along with a log of cope long cut. Wife, then girlfriend, wanted nothing to do with me when I was partaking and have me a reasonable ultimatum. The first year or two I would randomly find myself holding a pen or pencil like a cig and chewed a lot of sunflower seeds. That was 16.5 years ago life is great. The smell of either product is repugnant now rather than appealing. Congrats on 3 years and keep it up. The money saved is crazy!

I can’t stand the smell either, especially when a smoker walks by or sits near us and has that smell on him.

 

[GDHLEWIS]

Nice one, quit smoking 7 years ago and have been nicotine free for 5 years now. Annoyed at myself that I smoked for 16 years...But got there in the end and now cannot stand the smell of it

 

[BlueTrin]

Quit about 12 years ago, took me 3 tries. Hardest bit was to dissociate socialising from having a cigarette.

Well done for quitting.

 

[OlliestronI]

Congrats on quitting smoking! It's a huge accomplishment. I totally get what you mean about breaking the habit of associating socializing with cigarettes.

 

[rongoodman]

Quit about 12 years ago, took me 3 tries. Hardest bit was to dissociate socialising from having a cigarette.

About 45 years ago for me. I had to stop drinking coffee for several years for the same reason.

 

[Boarderguy]

21 months...

this thread got brought back to life like a bad habit after a night of drinking whiskey and tequila.

 

[Waterwulf]

I quit smoking cold turkey the day of my heart attack in 2014. I had a carton a week habit but fear is a wonderful motivator! I admit that I did start using an E Cig when I got out of the hospital but I had a plan. When I first started, I had them mix up the "juice" so it had the same nicotine as the cigs I was smoking.

Then every time I bought a new supply of juice, I had them lower the nicotine by one point. Eventually, I started forgetting to take my E Cig with me because it was no longer a habit.