Smoking hasn’t killed me, but it sure has fucked me up.
 

The Doctors have been telling me I needed to stop smoking for years, I’ve had several lung function tests and always passed them with flying colors, so I always figured I could quit latter. I was diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD) several years ago and told that smoking was the worst thing I could do, the Doctors even told me that my Johnson would eventually stop getting hard if I didn’t stop smoking (you would think that would have motivated me to stop).
In the last couple weeks I’ve been to the emergency room twice and had a angiogram, spent a couple days in the hospital the first time for what turned out to me being allergic to a new arthritis medicine my Doctor was trying out on me.
The Angiogram didn’t go well, they tried going in from my crotch and my left arm thinking they were going to fix me up with balloons and stints. My wife was talking to the surgeon and looked more out of it than I was when they wheeled me into the recovery room (he was telling her all about bypass surgery).
A couple days after the angiogram I was back in the Emergency Room with my throat so swollen up I thought I was going to suffocate or drown in my own saliva. Turns out I picked up a bad infection in one of the two hospitals I had been in.|banghead|
I’ve been sitting on pins and needles waiting for the Vascular Surgeon to call (he said it would be about a week, 5 surgeons get together and decide on a plan of action). If they think I can last without stroking out, I’m putting the surgery off until after Vegas in July, if not I’ll be going under the knife this month.|huh
So far we know they are going to cut me and gut me like a trout, replace my abdominal aorta with a teflon tube, shove my guts back in and sew me up. About 2 days in ICU, 7 to 10 days in the hospital, 6 to 8 weeks recovery time.
Today is day 7 of no smoking for me, I hope you smokers out there think of how fucking bad this is going to hurt when you spark one up, it was enough motivation for me :D

Ouch. Sorry to hear about all this mate. I hope things go well and we'll be thinking about you.

I actually quit about a month ago |thumb

Thats terrible man, im sorry to hear that.

I am very sorry to hear what you are going thru Pat. Though this is a tough time in your life I applaud you in sharing in the hopes it gets others to at least think about quitting.

Congrats to Greenie and may you stick it out. Took me three times to successfully quit 14 yrs ago and so very happy the third time took.

That does suck Pat. I am seeing an eye, nose and throat guy this afternoon. 3 month long sore throats rarely has a great outcome.

ohhh TPat.. mucho speedy recovery to you.. i hate that sliced open biz.. especially after being an avid scrubs addict. and the recovery is a given since you didn't give the the keywords to make Mrs. TPat cluck like a chicken.. :D

(((((BIG ASS hugs)))))) and we will see you in Vegas.. heart healthy and all!!

Damn what sad news Pat so sorry to read that post. Glad you have been 7 days smoke free |thumb I'm a month now and never plan on smoking again.

Best of luck to you and you'll be in my thoughts.

Damn Tpat... Sorry to hear about this, best wishes to you.

I struggled to quit smoking in 1984 and eventually managed it.

My Dad had a heart attack in 2002, after smoking for 73 years, and he effectively quit overnight. Just like that! He's never gone back to it and never missed it.

Its all a frame of mind.

I wish you well.

sorry to hear Tpat, i know my fatherinlaw is in hospital now with all kind of shit and he was told to quit smoking the heavy stuff years ago, he didnt do it, see him now, still i dont believe all what he has got is from smoking, alot of people reach the age of 90 and still smoke:) still it sucks when you get sick from smoking, i smoke too and realy i dont wanna stop, but i also cant stop, bad habbit i know, i hope your sickness and surgery will go well for you and that you get better soon:)

Sorry to hear about this :( ... I quit smoking 2 months ago

Best of luck TPat. Quitting smoking is next on my list after I lose 15 pounds.

TPat...sorry for all the crap you are going through. You'll be in my thoughts.

Seems a lot of us have quit smoking recently. I had been smoking 20 years, and was up to 2 packs per day (sitting at this comp all day). Stopped 5 months ago. Good luck Tpat....you can do it!!

Sorry to hear that Pat, best wishes to you.

I should quit too but past experiences tell me I'm not that good at it...

Jeeze TPat, sorry to hear about what you're going thru. Hang in there, we're all pulling for you. Glad to hear that you quit smoking, it's a bitch. I never picked up the habit myself, but it's taken a couple of people in my family.

Damn, Pat - you're too laid back and groovy to have these kind of health issues. Start taking care of yourself buddy.

Hey TPat,
Sorry to hear about all the crap you're going through dude
You've talked me into giving it another shot. I've tried acupuncture, patches, lozenges, stopwatches, gum, etc with no luck I'm talking to my Doc nest week and hoping that Chantrix is available up here. If I could quit for two weeks I'm sure I'd have it beat. Been smoking for 31 years and haven't been able to quit for more than one day though.

Hang in there bud, you've got a large cheering section here!

|sad|

How about a gentle hug and a little smile? :)

Hang tough "T"

I’ve been off for three years by linking embarrassing moments to cravings. Gotta love the sub-conscious mind, it can’t take a fuckin joke and now avoids cravings like bad memories.

Trust me if you keep at it long enough it works |thumb

Damn sorry to hear about your health Pat :(

Be strong and kick some ass bud...you'll get through it |thumb

Quitting those nasty sticks is high on my list...it'll be happening SOON!

Sorry to hear about your health issues Pat. :(

Hey Pat, sorry to hear your news but it sure as hell strengthens my resolve to quit. I decided i was going to the other day once the smokes i have run out. Best wishes from emmy and myself for a speedy recovery.

Thanks Guys
SheepGuy and bluebrit I'm pulling for you

Wishing you a speedy recovery.. don't overdo yourself!