Huffin' & Puffin'

UPDATE! January 2003

I've now been diagnosed with another COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) in addition to the Emphysema. I now also have Chronic Bronchitis. This means I'm constantly coughing up phlegm. Sometimes, it's not too bad but if I'm having any shortness of breath, I then don't have enough "umph" to get that junk out easily. Sometimes I work for 5-10 minutes just to get one "furball" up. Do you remember the old person that you shied away from because they were always coughing so much they sounded awful? Well, that's me now, except I'm only 53 years old. This is NOT FUN! A bad cold or allergy attack could send me to the hospital and they'd have to put me on a respirator.

I had an episode recently where I was unable to catch my breath and ended up having to call an ambulance. After 5 (a LOT!) of breathing treatments in the emergency room I was released, but the Dr. told me that after 30 years of smoking, my lungs were pretty much shot. In short, I came to my senses too late. Let me tell you, being out of breath is an AWFUL feeling. A Pulmonary Function Test shows Emphysema, which is a progressive, incurable disease. I now have 3 different inhalers. I do feel better for now, but I'll have good days and bad days for the rest of my life. This is all the result of smoking - a heckuva price to pay for a dumb decision made when I was young and stupid.

When I first started smoking in the mid-60's during my teenage years, it was cool and not considered to be much of a problem. Cigarettes were advertised everywhere and it seemed that most people smoked. I played in a rock n roll band and it was always cool-looking to smoke while playing (the Rolling Stones did it and they always looked cool). I could swim the length of an Olympic-sized pool underwater without taking a breath. I could pick up my 60lb guitar amplifier and haul it upstairs without getting out of breath.

30 years down the road, things have changed a lot. I have learned that even people who never smoked will lose up to 30% of their lung capacity by age 50. Smokers lose a lot more. I now get out of breath just walking up one flight of stairs (WITHOUT the amp!) or sometimes after just tying my shoes. And I quit smoking for good over a year ago. I generally don't FEEL good either. I still run a greatly increased chance of all the nasties I listed on the main page.

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