Julie's story

By Julie Barnson

1 min read

Hello, my name is Julie I am a smoker I do have COPD emphysema and I have three nodules on my lungs.

Trying to quit smoking

I have severe pain in my back I used to be 360 lbs and I have lost 160. I thought that would help with the back pain but it does not, wow it really does hurt and I'm trying to quit smoking. I have some patches ordered, please wish me luck, prayers. I'm married and I've been married 30-something years, happily married just got to quit smoking but it's the hardest thing I ever had to do.

Finding support

My life depends on it, I have two grandsons they're my joy and I want to be healthy for them. I just hope I can do this it's hard I'm hoping that this is a good support group that could help support people. I need that because I do not have any friends thank you for listening, Julie.

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Julie Barnson Member
I did contact my pulmonologist and we're going to try some new inhalers 
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember9cff15" user-id="6657899"/> Hi CM9cff15 (Julie), and thanks so much for sharing your story here with the community. We hear you! I recall you have engaged with the community on a consistent basis and we all appreciate your conversations with all of us. Quitting smoking can be one of the most challenging endeavors in one's life. For some, quitting can go quite smoothly while, for still others, it can take some real effort. Using aids to help one quit is not uncommon either! It's easy to understand why you want to. Clearly, for health reasons - it is important to stop smoking. But, when you mentioned your two grandsons, well - there is an incentive all on its own. Have you discussed your desire to quit with your physician? Your doctor may be able to guide you through this. We, as a community, are all here to lend and provide whatever support we are able to as well. If we can assist you with anything, please let me or any other moderator / team member know. You are always welcome here in our online community. Warm regards,
Julie Barnson Member
Thank you
Ptouri Member
Hi Julie, I have COPD and was a smoker. Congratulations on losing the weight! That’s awesome! You know you have to quit smoking and you’ve got the grandsons as incentives. I stopped smoking with the patches many years ago. I had to have eye surgery for a cataract and knew I had to quit because I coughed so much. I got the patches, told my husband to slap one on the middle of my back when he got up early in the morning, while I was still sleeping. I can still remember turning over in bed, seeing him coming at me with the patch! I lost my nerve and yelled “NO” but he was too fast, he got right in the middle of my back!! I couldn’t reach it to take it off to have a smoke. So that was it….I’ve never smoked again and that was over 20 years ago. Good luck, you can do it! You need to be around for those grandsons! God bless you!
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="Ptouri" user-id="4261126"/> Hi Ptouri, and thanks for lending your own support and encouragement here. We appreciate that! We also value you sharing your own personal experience managing this disease and, how you were able to quit smoking so many years ago. Congratulations on being smoke-free for over 20 years now. Keep up the good work! All the best, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
melrscott Member
Hi Julie, Just wanted to add some comments about quitting smoking. You really have to find your own reasons for quitting. Any reason will help give you more incentive to do it but it will probably still come down to you finding that you want to be a non-smoker. I tried off and on for years before I was able to finally manage it. I know that to this day since I quit I have not had one cigarette and I still feel like I could slide right back. Of course that is not true because if I tried smoking now I would probably kill myself in a few days. One of the biggest things that I found not to be true, was when they said, if you quit smoking your lungs will heal themselves. That my only be true if you quit before there is any damage to your lungs, but it sure wasn't the case for me. The best you can do is stop because you know it is the best thing for you. I am 20+ years as a non-smoker and I am slowly loosing the battle with COPD. I was a heavy smoker for mor than 30 years and compounded my problem with also smoking a lot of weed back in the day. You know sometimes when I am watching a movie or something like that and I see someone light up a cigarette it still gives me a feeling that I would really like another smoke. It tells me that when I originally started smoking it was probably to make myself feel more cool or special. The portrayal of smokers did a lot to push us weaker folks to start originally. I spent most of my working career working for cigarette manufacturing companies, and the irony is not lost on me. Keep trying and trying and trying. One of those times you will make it and the sooner the better. Good luck. 
1. Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="melrscott" user-id="4254829"/> Thank you so much for sharing so honestly about your experience with quitting. I'm sorry to hear that you didn't experience physical healing ... but we can certainly hope that quitting did prevent additional or faster damage to your lungs. It's always worth it. I think sometimes we create a rosy picture of what quitting will be like, which is why perspectives like yours are so important and valuable here. Keep making the most of each day! -Melissa, <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
Ian Wick Member
Hi Julie: when I quit smoking after 50 years of puffing a pack a day, I also used the patch but used an "E Cigerette " as well not the flavored kind just the salt water mist ones. the 'E Smoke' helped with the habit of hand to mouth. it took a few months but it worked patches were dropped after a month but stayed with the Esmoke till ready to leave it as well . found that I was using it less n less per day till no more. That was over 10 yrs ago, n now if I see someone smoking on tv etc I think "what bloody fools" it looks disgusting not kool like i used to think" be sure that it is the non nicotine E Smoke that u try. ps I had/have copd stage 4 before I quit n still do but now I have 1 less problem 2 deal with. It is not easy but 'not impossible either' just do it 4 YOU and it will happen. best of luck from an x smoker who really does care. We are all in this together so u r not alone. Just 'do it'