Posted on 01/26/2005 3:06:33 PM PST by Rennes Templar
There are two kinds of conversations about Johnny Carson. One kind is the one most of you are having. It is light and interesting, about showbiz, TV, popular culture. Then there is the other conversation many of us have been avoiding.
-snip-
A part of it (the conversation)landed on my desk with a little thump. It was a package, about the size of your palm, with a brown camel on it, two pyramids and three palm trees.
"You can have them," said a friend who tossed them, casual in voice, though there was no missing the symbolism of it, his casting away of the Camels.
"I'm done with them," he said. "I quit."
-snip-
Carson's death could have been due to pneumonia, to infection, or it could have been respiratory failure. Either way it was private, and ugly.
I thought of him suffering amidst tubes.
"You can quit," Dr. Gross said. "You can have a life. You can quit."
I've failed before. And I'm afraid of failing. But Johnny Carson convinced me.
If you're interested in doing the same, you can call the American Lung Association at 312-243-2000.
jskass@tribune.com
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
FWIW for the health/lifestyle nazi's who want to "not hire" smokers because of the burden on insurance rates: It is MUCH better to be a thin smoker than a fat nonsmoker. Diabetes is epidemic among the obese/fat and drains medical resources. It makes more sense to not hire fat non-exercizing persons.
Good point. I agree that everyone should have the right to choose for himself. For me, smoking was killing me...I changed my life, and now actually work 3x a week (I was raised in the south where ladies do NOT sweat).
My husband gave our children permission to use the hose pipe to put out the fire if they saw me smoking, regardless of where I was, inside or out. LOL! Needless to say, I think they secretly wanted me to light up just once;-)
I have quit a few times already, I'm just off the wagon for a while. Something always happens that gets me smoking again, then next thing you know you can't put them down.
I don't smoke much when I'm sitting in the house, just when I'm driving.
Congratulations to you. You can make it. I smoked for years, but finally quit several years ago because I kept getting a sore throat. I convinced myself that I was going to get throat cancer if I didn't quit. About a year ago, my mother died of lung cancer that had metasticized to her liver, adrenal gland, and bones. It was absolutely horrible to watch her suffer. She was in horrific pain and the hospice facility couldn't seem to alleviate it no matter how much pain medicine they pumped into her. I know that everyone is going to die, but I'm convinced that some ways are worse than others, not only for the person who is dying, but for their loved ones who have to watch them suffer.
I used to be the town drunk, I've been alcohol free since 1986, 150 lbs up to 180 lbs, then gave up smoking, 2 1/2 to 3 packs a day, in 1992, and gained another 30 lbs. Gave up both habits, quit COLD TURKEY, and I don't regret it.
Mr. Melbell's grandmother quit smoking over 15 years ago. She died on New Year's Eve (of this year) from Lung Cancer caused by her smoking.
I don't smoke, except the occasional cigar (like 2 times a year).
Have you ever seen someone die of COPD from smoking for years and years? I have...quite a few.
Granted, some people smoke and never get COPD and some people (asthmatics) get COPD and never smoke. But in my 20 year nursing career, I've taken care of one asthmatic with COPD and too many smokers with it to count.
There sure are a lot of ways to die, but since I'm not an asthmatic, COPD isn't likely to be one of them for me. Coughing up chunks of thick grey phlegm for years into a trashcan until I'm too weak to cough it up and a nurse has to run a tube down my nose into my lungs to suck it out into a cannister on the wall and then sitting bolt upright in bed gasping for that last breath that doesn't come isn't how I'm gonna die.
I certainly will die of something, but not that.
Thanks for the website. I really want to quit, yet I don't.
I didn't start until I was 30. Went through a painful divorce, and picked up the habit then.
My daddy passed last May of lung cancer. He was one to defend cigarette smokers nomatter what, even after he had been diagnosed, and knew he was terminal. But during one of our last conversations, he said to me "little girl, you really should give those things up".
But, I'm still smoking 2 packs a day.
I will check this website, though.
According to the American Lung Association, about 22.5% of US adults are current smokers. And we know that there is a strong inverse relationship between education level and smoking, and a strong inverse relationship between income level and smoking. As FReepers are certainly well above the median in terms of education level achieved and in terms of income, it seems to me most likely that fewer than 20% of FReepers are smokers. I agree it would be an interesting poll.
You have to remember that there's much self-selection involved: a thread on smoking will naturally draw a disproportionate number of smokers. If I started a thread on single malt Scotch whisky, a large majority of respondents would surely be single malt drinkers; but that doesn't necessarily reflect the overall percentage of FReepers with that preference.
My two daughters had quit for about 7 years and one night they decided to go out to a party and have just that ONE cigarette. It made them regular smokers again. You can never just have that one. I pray every day that I will never be stupid enough to ever pick one up and light it.
Shucks,I'm gonna start smoking now!
"Dr. Gross will see you now..."
EWWWWW!
Take a trip to a couple of authoritative sites and then come back and we will discuss.
Not a pretty picture. I think these comments illustrate that there is another factor involved as to whether a smoker gets lung disease or cancer. But I would say that the chances of getting either greatly increase with smoking.
>>There is no safe dose of nicotine.<<
Actually, there is. It's called "second-hand smoke."
Me thinks you haven't a clue. The uranium is found in the phosphate mine ores. I really detest it when someone that has no idea calls others clueless. Please do your homework before pursuing the personal attacks. Better yet, just stay away from the personal attacks.
Actually, "second-hand smoke" is pretty nasty stuff. If it comes from a non-puff it burns at a lower temperature and contains more toxins. It is also not filtered by the smokers lungs.
I quit when I was 39. Was up to 2-1/2 packs a day. Cold turkey. It worked. Been off the week for many years.
A friend of mine used the patch. He was up to 2 patches a day and complained that the patches never stayed lit.
Never mind.
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