General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumscollapsed lung. breathing tube. permanent trach (maybe not)
and I STILL want him home.
His sats were still great.
But the writing seems to be on the wall about Dad's breathing.
2 packs a day for 25+ years is reaping its toll.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)I fortunately gave up cold turkey in June of 1999 after 25 years. I started smoking at age 11.
At my worst, I smoked two cartons per week.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Except for the ones in my family, they smoked for over 40 years until it crashed in on them. Both ended up with the same condition at about the same time. Not with the lungs (not that they didn't have problems there) but both came down with a condition where they were both paralyzed from the neck down from a constriction in the cervical spine and had to have surgery.
My brother had to go on constant oxygen, can't go anywhere without that tube, but it's not a trach. He seems happy and content. But my BNL was fussing to get out of bed and go outside and smoke again at the VA hospital as soon as he was able to sit up, although he couldn't lift his arms to smoke. My brother, however, was put into an induced coma and perhaps he broke the addiction while he was out.
My BNL is for all intents, immobile now, using a scooter and still smoking, but less than before. Which was likely more than you, I guess. He was a chain smoker and had a constant supply of cigarette smoke every waking minute and he almost never slept.
They both got great care at their VA hospitals, follow up care at home and BNL had his vehicle modified to be able to get around out of the house.
I've known smokers on constant oxygen who would take off the tube to smoke. One had a stay in the VA hospital where they collapsed one lung at time to fill it with a solution to clean it out, IIRC. It's that powerful.
But I had an aunt and uncle who smoked and did like you. Doctor said he has enphysema and they came home and tossed their cigarettes and never looked back after 50 years of smoking. Everyone is different.
We were taught in high school the effects of smoking on the lungs with pictures of lungs opened up to show it. It was pretty shocking the changes the lungs go through. Then in a college class we learned how smoking deforms the blood cells and affects the metabolic functions.
It's been years since I've thought about it, but it went generally like this: the CO2 inserts itself where O2 is in the hemoglobin, and then as the millions of cells are being reproduced daily, they are not normal anymore. Instead of people dying of CO2 poisoning by combustion, it's slower.
Neither course came out against smoking, they just presented facts and no judgment. After going into what smoking did in the college course, we went onto the next thing without comment. I've talked with some who never saw that in high school and said it would have made a difference to them. I think the high school and college courses showing the cellular change might impress most smokers, I don't know. I've never been a smoker, although as a teen I experimented when a friend gave me some to smoke. I recall smoking two, then noticed my hand going for the next one. It seemed mindless and it scared me.
I'm glad you quit and I hope you stay healthy.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)It was cool. I could be the MArlboro Man I had seen in the television commercials from my early childhood.
MADem
(135,425 posts)I hope he rebounds, but he's gotta stay away from the cigs.
LaydeeBug
(10,291 posts)SheilaT
(23,156 posts)how many smokers are in complete denial about how terrible smoking is, and what it can do to him.
I hope he makes it home. I hope he gets of the cigarettes permanently and that he lives many, many more years.
Warpy
(111,332 posts)fighting for every breath she took. It is an ugly, ugly way to go.
Collapsed lungs can usually be dealt with, although sometimes it requires surgery to pop all the blisters in the lining so it won't collapse again. It's a miserable surgery (nurses nagging him to cough with a lung incision are never thanked) but the success rate is quite high.
You might yet be able to bring him home but yes, seems like the writing's on the wall.
People, if you smoke and you can't seem to quit, at least switch to e-cigs. Anything is better than all that crap from concentrated smoke going into your lungs.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)Skittles
(153,182 posts)if you feel the urge to smoke tobacco, post here first and we will kick your ass
dionysus
(26,467 posts)Flying Squirrel
(3,041 posts)He should have been able to smoke 1 pack a day for 50 years.
jk, hope he gets better
calimary
(81,440 posts)I hope he can come home soon.
gvstn
(2,805 posts)2 packs a day for 35 years. I had a collapsed lung way back 25 years ago--they told me if I didn't quit smoking I would be dead.
I quit for 3 mos. and went back to it. 25 years later I am feeling the toll. Probably early stages of emphysema. I am really considering quitting now.
If the breathing tube is just a Chest Tube that is to reinflate the lung which is different than a breathing tube. A breathing tube is what I would consider a trach. I wish him the best.
If there is no cancer then quitting still allows quite a bit of lung healing. You may very probably have him home and with a chance of recovery.
AAO
(3,300 posts)I feel for you at this time and hope you will lean on your friends on DU to help you through hard times. I've been there before, and the sun will come out again. Soon. But first you have to face what's before you. I know you can do it. Keep us posted, and don't be shy to reach out for help.
LaydeeBug
(10,291 posts)My head is spinning because he is on a respirator now, and this time it is breathing for him. I don't know if that will change, but I *still* ****REALLY**** want him home.
Are there any posters out there who are familiar with this? I will talk to the hospital social worker on Monday, but until then I am wondering.
And wondering.
And wondering