Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm surgery

[Devi]

The reason someone doesn't "just quit" smoking is because smoking is very addictive, and quitting hurts. I smoked for 39 years and only quit because my husband asked me to and I said I would.

That said, it was very painful, and took about 1 1/2 years for the pain to go away. It isn't just a matter of a few days or weeks of agitation or feeling jittery and then you're done. If that was true, more people would find it easier to quit.

And I had been smoking American Spirit cigarettes, which (while expensive) don't have all the additives that other cigarettes contain. Still, very difficult to quit, but I got it done.

 

[Muskrat]

This surgery is a preemptive strike on what is almost always fatal. A ruptured AAA is not a good thing. For you both…thank your lucky stars it was found and he meets current criteria for a repair. Take a breath …bring things that will help keep you both calm. A magazine, a book ( don’t forget the cheaters). He will want you to be ok too. Good luck…

 

[Giants fan1954]

The hospital stay may help with the smoking issues.
It did for me,after the 10 days I couldn't see the point of starting again and I was a heavy smoker.
Good luck

 

[funsearcher!]

From all this thinking has made me realize I just need to take over. Theres no way he should be burdened with things he won't be able to do in his condition. So I will tell him how its going to be. My husband must focus on his recovery. I will be firm but still remember how utterly frightening this is for him. Paying bills and other finances, doctors contact info, medical portal to keep up on medication, doctor instructions, procedures etc. I love my husband too much and want him as long as I can have him around. He has to face this with me. Right now statistics says he has an 80% of pulling through which is wonderful and wish I could just hang onto this. But I cant ignore the 20% because he has comorbidities. Smoking, a history of life long heart disease 6 angioplasties, a 7way bipass, high blood pressure and his age are facts that can turn this to a 20% result. So preparations are very important. Then there is prayer. thank you all for your kind feedback.

If you have any thoughts on being prepared I would be appreciative. I wish you all a wonderful day.

You do all you can and let it be.

 

[Mike]

Smoking is very addictive and you must want to stop,
I did, I stopped after smoking for over 60 years and
my reason for stopping, was that I gave my promise
to the nurse at the surgery where I am registered, if
she was good enough to try and help, I was determined
to stop.

Another, is that I pride myself in keeping my word, I
did again keep my word, plus I saved a lot of money.

Mike.

 

[jimintoronto]

The reason someone doesn't "just quit" smoking is because smoking is very addictive, and quitting hurts. I smoked for 39 years and only quit because my husband asked me to and I said I would.

That said, it was very painful, and took about 1 1/2 years for the pain to go away. It isn't just a matter of a few days or weeks of agitation or feeling jittery and then you're done. If that was true, more people would find it easier to quit.

And I had been smoking American Spirit cigarettes, which (while expensive) don't have all the additives that other cigarettes contain. Still, very difficult to quit, but I got it done.

There is no such thing as a "safer " form of tobacco. JimB.

 

[Devi]

plus I saved a lot of money.

Yes. I used to tell myself that, after quitting, I could buy a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes every year.

 

[Devi]

There is no such thing as a "safer " form of tobacco. JimB.

It isn't just the tobacco, though. You'd need to see what else is put into "regular" cigarettes that harms the body and makes it tougher to quit. The tobacco companies don't want you to quit, after all.

(By the way, no need to sign each of your posts with "JimB" — we can see your "jimintoronto" at the side of every one of your posts.)

 

[win231]

Yes 77 is up there. But any age is too old for smoking imho. He does smoke outside and thats good for my health.

Even so, you're quite a saint to put up with the odor on his skin & clothes & his breath - which is terrible to a non smoker.

 

[Nathan]

Your nagging doesn't work. Go away."

I know from being on the receiving end years ago with a former wife that nagging isn't effective. I ended up leaving her, although I continued to smoke for another 19 years. I learned from that, is why I don't nag my wife over some of her issues.

 

[hearlady]

Try burning some money every time he lights a cigarette,
say, a dollar bill, if he complains, explain that, that is the
same as he is doing.

Mike

I hadn't looked at the price of cigarettes in many years. When I smoked they were 50 cents a pack.
A pack is 7 dollars in the BX!!!!!
Why anyone wouldn't quit for that reason alone beats me.

 

[RadishRose]

State	Average Retail Price Per Pack (Taxes Included)	Cigarette Excise Tax Per Pack	State Sales Tax Per Pack	Total State Tax Per Pack	Ranking
Alabama	$5.37	$0.68	$0.18	$0.86	14
Alaska	$8.81	$2.00	$0.00	$2.00	46
Arizona	$6.92	$2.00	$0.37	$2.37	36
Arkansas	$5.49	$1.15	$0.34	$1.49	17
California	$5.53	$0.87	$0.43	$1.30	20
Colorado	$5.26	$0.84	$0.15	$0.99	10
Connecticut	$8.91	$3.90	$0.53	$4.43	48
D.C.	$7.30	$2.50	$0.41	$2.91	37
Delaware	$5.50	$1.60	$0.00	$1.60	18
Florida	$5.50	$1.34	$0.35	$1.69	19
Georgia	$4.92	$0.37	$0.22	$0.59	5
Hawaii	$8.99	$3.20	$0.35	$3.55	49
Idaho	$5.23	$0.57	$0.30	$0.87	9
Illinois	$7.56	$1.98	$0.44	$2.42	38
Indiana	$5.56	$1.00	$0.36	$1.36	22
Iowa	$5.83	$1.36	$0.33	$1.69	25
Kansas	$5.89	$1.29	$0.36	$1.65	26
Kentucky	$5.36	$1.10	$0.32	$1.42	13
Louisiana	$5.42	$1.08	$0.21	$1.29	15
Maine	$6.62	$2.00	$0.35	$2.35	35
Maryland	$6.60	$2.00	$0.37	$2.37	34
Massachusetts	$9.08	$3.51	$0.53	$4.04	50
Michigan	$6.44	$2.00	$0.36	$2.36	32
Minnesota	$8.40	$3.00	$0.54	$3.54	45
Mississippi	$5.47	$0.68	$0.36	$1.04	16
Missouri	$4.38	$0.17	$0.19	$0.36	1
Montana	$6.11	$1.70	$0.00	$1.70	29
Nebraska	$5.32	$0.64	$0.28	$0.92	12
Nevada	$8.27	$1.80	$0.45	$2.25	43
New Hampshire	$5.81	$1.78	$0.00	$1.78	24
New Jersey	$7.66	$2.70	$0.50	$3.20	39
New Mexico	$6.53	$1.66	$0.34	$2.00	33
New York	$10.45	$4.35	$0.40	$4.75	51
North Carolina	$4.87	$0.45	$0.31	$0.76	4
North Dakota	$4.82	$0.44	$0.23	$0.67	3
Ohio	$6.10	$1.60	$0.37	$1.97	28
Oklahoma	$6.12	$2.03	$0.00	$2.03	30
Oregon	$5.26	$1.32	$0.00	$1.32	11
Pennsylvania	$8.27	$2.60	$0.47	$3.07	44
Rhode Island	$8.87	$3.75	$0.58	$4.33	47
South Carolina	$5.05	$0.57	$0.29	$0.86	7
South Dakota	$6.01	$1.53	$0.23	$1.76	27
Tennessee	$5.10	$0.62	$0.40	$1.02	8
Texas	$5.78	$1.41	$0.34	$1.75	24
Utah	$6.43	$1.70	$0.36	$2.06	31
Vermont	$8.01	$3.08	$0.45	$3.53	41
Virginia	$4.78	$0.30	$0.24	$0.54	2
Washington	$8.05	$2.52	$0.47	$2.89	42
West Virginia	$5.53	$1.20	$0.31	$1.51	21
Wisconsin	$7.67	$2.52	$0.37	$2.89	40
Wyoming	$5.04	$0.60	$0.19	$0.79	6

 

[Disgustedman]

I was blessed with a heatstroke in 2013, that made me so sick for 7 days, I was able to overcome the nicotine demands of my body.

However, I'm still suffering from the damage. My older sister is still smoking, her husband has quit for "now" but with the temptations just a hand grab away.....

 

[win231]

I hadn't looked at the price of cigarettes in many years. When I smoked they were 50 cents a pack.
A pack is 7 dollars in the BX!!!!!
Why anyone wouldn't quit for that reason alone beats me.

Even at $1.00/pack, I remember thinking, "I'm paying someone to hurt me!"

 

[jimintoronto]

The AVERAGE cost of a 20 pack in Canada right now is $13.86. A carton of 200 smokes is about $150.00 .In Canada smoking is no longer an acceptable practice. Surveys show that the higher the education level, the more likely it is that the individual has never smoked. The people who still smoke are likely to have a low educational background. The biggest consumers of tobacco products in Canada are the members of the First Nations, who buy their smokes from the Grand River tobacco factory on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. The Grand River factory pays no taxes to the Federal or Provincial Governments, because they operate on a reserve territory. At last accounting that company had an estimated value of about 40 BILLION US DOLLARS. The Grand River company exports tobacco products all over the world, but especially to China where smoking is popular. Link to a news article about the man who runs that company. Note the huge amount of annual income he gets. Link.The Six Nations tobacco tycoon, his angry ex-girlfriend and the world’s craziest child support case (torontolife.com)

 

[Raddragn]

Given your husband's medical history, he may have control issues and his smoking may be one of the last few areas he has left that he can control.

 

[jimintoronto]

Here in Canada, such a patient would very likely be told.....Quit smoking, and after being a non smoker for at least 6 months , come back and we MAY do that procedure. It has nothing to do with rationing health care, it has everything to do with common sense. JImB.

 

[Pepper]

Here in Canada, such a patient would very likely be told.....Quit smoking, and after being a non smoker for at least 6 months , come back and we MAY do that procedure. It has nothing to do with rationing health care, it has everything to do with common sense. JImB.

Yeah, and he could die first. No thanks Canada.

 

[RadishRose]

The AVERAGE cost of a 20 pack in Canada right now is $13.86. A carton of 200 smokes is about $150.00 .In Canada smoking is no longer an acceptable practice. Surveys show that the higher the education level, the more likely it is that the individual has never smoked. The people who still smoke are likely to have a low educational background. The biggest consumers of tobacco products in Canada are the members of the First Nations, who buy their smokes from the Grand River tobacco factory on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. The Grand River factory pays no taxes to the Federal or Provincial Governments, because they operate on a reserve territory. At last accounting that company had an estimated value of about 40 BILLION US DOLLARS. The Grand River company exports tobacco products all over the world, but especially to China where smoking is popular. Link to a news article about the man who runs that company. Note the huge amount of annual income he gets. Link.The Six Nations tobacco tycoon, his angry ex-girlfriend and the world’s craziest child support case (torontolife.com)

From what I could understand of this Tobacco Tycoon is a fascinating story!

 

[jimintoronto]

From what I could understand of this Tobacco Tycoon is a fascinating story!

He died recently at age 62. The fight over his estate is going to be in the courts for years. His lavish lifestyle was amazing. A 28 room house, with a 75 car building for his collection of classic cars, a helicopter landing pad, and an indoor Olympic size swimming pool. The Six Nations Reserve is the largest First Nations community in Canada, with a population of about 18,000 people, although there are another 15,000 who are members of the Six Nations, but do not live on the reserve. Mister Hill was the unelected leader of the reserve, and he, and his extended family controlled just about all aspects of the community. There is an elected band council, but the various Hill families really run the place. Money talks, as they say. JimB.

 

[shedevil7953]

I quit after smoking for 40 years due to the beginning of emphysema showing. It is not easy but can be done. Even if he just quits now, before surgery and then while he is recovering, he may be able to keep going. When I first quit, about 18 months ago. I used nicotene lozenges to help me get through the first part.

I must say that smokers cough cleared up in a couple of days. Tell him how much it is going to hurt after when he breathes and coughs. Talk to him, that this could be a good option. Ask him just to try!! If agrees, call the doctor to make sure the lozenges are safe for his condition.

I got my lozenges off amazon they were about $40 for 160 count. If you don't have amazon they can be found at any drugstore or walmart but will be way more expensive. I found the gum did not help but the lozenges were great. I will keep you both in my prayers!

I also used lozenges after 45 years of 2-3 packs of cigs per day. I got mine thru insurance over-the-counter coverage at no cost. I get a $40 allowance per quarter so it covered 2 containers of lozenges.

 

[Pepper]

I swear by Chantix. It's like a miracle, IMO

 

[shedevil7953]

From all this thinking has made me realize I just need to take over. Theres no way he should be burdened with things he won't be able to do in his condition. So I will tell him how its going to be. My husband must focus on his recovery. I will be firm but still remember how utterly frightening this is for him. Paying bills and other finances, doctors contact info, medical portal to keep up on medication, doctor instructions, procedures etc. I love my husband too much and want him as long as I can have him around. He has to face this with me. Right now statistics says he has an 80% of pulling through which is wonderful and wish I could just hang onto this. But I cant ignore the 20% because he has comorbidities. Smoking, a history of life long heart disease 6 angioplasties, a 7way bipass, high blood pressure and his age are facts that can turn this to a 20% result. So preparations are very important. Then there is prayer. thank you all for your kind feedback.

If you have any thoughts on being prepared I would be appreciative. I wish you all a wonderful day.

I can only share that my husband was exactly like that and also had a septuple bi-pass. Stubborn as all get out! I will pray for you all.

 

[mrstime]

I am the result of not quitting smoking earlier. I hope to die soon, I don't mind the oxygen and attached to the hose and cannula, what I hate is the feeling of shortness of breath no matter what bit of action I do.

I didn't post that looking for sympathy, I posted it as a warning.

 

[shedevil7953]

I swear by Chantix. It's like a miracle, IMO

I tried Chantix several years ago and it did nothing for me, because I wasn't ready to quit.