Living in Fast Forward

Topic: Living in Fast Forward (Read 1834 times) previous topic - next topic

Living in Fast Forward

May 04, 2007, 01:24:31 AM

Up at the home site yesterday where I was getting the framers of and framing when I got a bit of a sharp pain in my chest. First about 11 am, then again about 1pm. Short sharp and quick, kind of shrugged it off.
Later on the way home down the freeway was a different story several times very sharp and lasting up to 2 minutes at a time with no more than 3 minutes between them. Drove straight to the emergency room where they stabbed, poked, took blood by the handfuls, kept me overnight in a hard bed then starved me and tried to kill me on a treadmill this morning.
They didn’t find anything wrong but an ongoing odd beat with my heart (they say not that uncommon) and a bit of high cholesterol, and I did take an extremely long time for my heart rate to recover after the bought with that treadmill. I assume that’s due to just quitting smoking 6 days ago after 25 years of 1.5 to 2 packs a day.

Why am I telling this?
Hell I dunno, seems I’m fine, we will know more after a follow up with my family doctor.
Maybe in hopes some of you may see that it’s never too soon to start taking care of yourself. I’m only 47 years old and wish I had quit smoking and living the wild life that I have YEARS ago. Or better yet, never started. Life is much to short to waste it away on neon light’s fast women and cheep easy thrills. How does that song go…

The Body’s a temple, least that’s what were taught.
But I’ve treated this one like an old honky-tonk.
Greasy cheese burgers and cheep cigarettes.
There going to get me if they ain’t got me yet.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #1 – May 04, 2007, 06:44:51 AM

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Later on the way home down the freeway was a different story several times very sharp and lasting up to 2 minutes at a time with no more than 3 minutes between them.

I assume that’s due to just quitting smoking 6 days ago after 25 years

Withdrawal symptoms? Your brain is saying "gimme a smoke, or I'll hurt you some more"? Maybe your body doesn't know what to do with all that fresh, clean air, and is panicking?

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #2 – May 04, 2007, 11:08:51 AM

My dad is a smoker,and was a heavy drinker.I siad that wouldn't be me,and I've never touched alcohol or ever smoker (no drugs either0,and I'll be 40 next month.It's hurt him a lot.I remember when he was 40,I was 22,he was not in great health.I'm still moving good and feeling good.I'd like to keep doing that as long as possible.I have a family and a great wife,and I'd like to be around for a long time.As always,there are those people who think that they are invincible,they're not,and that don't think anything will ever happen to them.If you ever watch the news,everyday people are dying because of the way they live.As stated by Jim,the body is a temple.You have to take care of it.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #3 – May 05, 2007, 12:13:33 AM

the mind is powerful so dont start "thinking" something is wrong with you. Keep us posted on the fast women and cheap thrills though,,,:D

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #4 – May 05, 2007, 01:39:21 AM

Quote from: Jim_Miller;144651

Maybe in hopes some of you may see that it’s never too soon to start taking care of yourself.

Take that advice to heart, no pun intended. 30% of all cancers are caused by Tobacco. You'll have to watch for that for the rest of your life. I've lost at least half a dozen friends and relatives to it.
My next door neighbors brother is stage 4/5 lung cancer which has spread to his backbone and liver. He wasted a year on chiropractors trying to get relief from back pain. He's only 61. My mother did something similar before she was diagnosed stage 3/4. She had been tobacco free for over 10 years. Get regular check ups!

Good health to you, your cancer and heart disease risk is still lowered by quitting. Keep up the good work.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #5 – May 05, 2007, 09:11:30 AM

Jim, the realization you came to is the same one I wish my dad would come to. He's been smoking since he was 17 and is going to be turning 57 in two weeks. That's 40 years of about half a pack to a pack a day. My mom and I plead with him to give up smoking and try to get him to take better care of himself but he just won't budge.

I never smoked but since my dad does, I'm around it a lot which is a bit of a concern for me. I also rarely drink and have never done any drugs. Life's too short and there are so many important things that aren't worth the risk losing over something stupid.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #6 – May 05, 2007, 09:51:26 AM

I've stayed away from this thread for a while because it hits too close to home, but man, it's time for me to make some changes.

Last time I had bloodwork done, my cholesterol was 264, triglycerides were 460-something, and everything else was within 'tolerances'. I smoke... 'bout a pack a day and that makes me angry. I'm 23... my numbers shouldn't be this high. Since I had that bloodwork done, though, my job has thinned me out by about 30 lbs, but I still need to lose more weight, IMO. I'm 5'7" and 194 lbs. Sure, my upper body is bigger from pulling 2500lb pallets around, but at my job I really do no 'cardio' work. I guess it's time to put some more miles on that bike I bought 2 years ago.

Sorry to hi-jack, but I thought I'd share my story, as well. I've not had any really harsh chest pains yet. Occasionally it hurts to breathe deep and I cough all the time... it's worse now because of a cold/sinus infection.

Anyway, be glad you got a wakeup call when you did... my father had a couple of 'em and now he's 57 years old and practically an invalid. He can't drive, walking is a labored task, and he can't see worth . Because of strokes, his memory is shot... he sometimes comes up with off-the-wall thoughts that make me feel very sad for him... I can only change my lifestyle and hope I don't end up the way he is. I still love my dad, but as far as I'm concerned, the father I grew up with is dead... he's barely a shell of his original self. *sigh*

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #7 – May 05, 2007, 10:56:57 AM

Man that sucks B.. Hope you turn a toe for a healthier life.

Despite Zach's protest's and warnings I have picked up smoking.. My room mate smokes and my co workers smoke. I'm at a pack a day of Marlboro man killers... :(

My grandmother is in the Hospital right now because she has [FONT="]Emphazima. Smoked all her life until 15 years ago.. It doesn't matter, its not killed her yet but she will pass in the near future. She has been there a week now and we don't know when she will be released. Grew up with my grandmother not more than a couple houses down, and now that I've moved an hour away.. she is going to die.

Today I think I will put the Cigarettes down.
[/FONT]

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #8 – May 05, 2007, 11:10:45 AM

More people would rather die from smoking,or,harm theirselves from it than to stop.It's easier to say "I need to quit",although saying it,and meaning to,doesn't change anything.I work at a Veteran's Center (VA hospital),and can't count how many people I've seen die from smoking related illnesses.Pretty sad to see some guy wearing oxygen,in a wheelchair,can't hardly breathe without hacking and coughing,but still want to smoke.I've seen guys as young as 30 who can't breathe,their immune systems are weakened and they are pr0ne to upper respiritory infections,colds,and pnemoniia.All becuase of smoking.I see people all the time who can't afford anything,but they'll pay out the a$$ for cigarettes.Just seems really like a waste,and all for nothing.You're money literally goes up in smoke.Not to rag on you guys who do smoke,but as I stated,I work around people who suffer from related illnesses and other physical problems,and would really hate to see any of you follow in their footsteps when you have the choice to help yourself.Not a personnal attack.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #9 – May 05, 2007, 12:02:56 PM

I hope nobody misunderstood my post, reading it now sounded like I was in some kinda depression or something, I'm not, my life is so frigging good these days it's sickening. Just trying to pass on my experience to date, which for the most part it seems I have.
To answer Jcassity about

Quote

Keep us posted on the fast women and cheap thrills though,,,:D

and also 5.0willgo about

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the realization you came to

at the same time. This realization actual came to me over 4 years ago, second domestic violence charge (threw my now wife of 23 years out of the house as I found out she was turning tricks to supply a meth habit I decided we were going to quit) divorce was filed, I was raising 2 kids by myself, Judge gave her everything, plus alimony for 2 mouths (can't throw a handicap person out on the street with no means of support.. her handicap per the court, "drug addict") So thats my experience where cheep thrills (pot, meth, pen 15e, acid strip club's) and fast women (sorry, not going to tell you how far things went with the strip clubs, just tell ya that the wife and I were both known to many of them) led me. Like everything in life it has a price, even though often times the "price" is not real obvious and hidden in the fine print.
I quit all that just over 4 years ago and have been working to straighten my act up ever since. as seen in this thread by the non smokers relaying there experience , "ourselves are not the only ones we hurt" all three of my kids (now of age) smoke, all three drink, worse than any physical condition I may have as a result of my actions the example I set for my children was the highest price I'm paying'.
I have been trying to change that these last 4 years. lol sorry Jcassity prolly not exactly the update you were hopping for. :flame:

This thread has turned mostly about Cigarettes and thats fine (nobody worry about hijacking, would rather see where it goes) smoking is the by FAR the hardest one on the list. I attempted 2 years ago and actually made it 5 months then figured "Aww I have been doing so good I could have 1" then a month later was right back to 2 packs a day... then again 3 months ago.. made it 2 weeks then same thing "aww 1 wont hurt" then found myself right back to a pack a day. This time I know "YES 1 will HURT"
Don't be to hard on us smokers Vinnie

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More people would rather die from smoking,or,harm their selves from it than to stop

it's not so much that we would rather die as it is indeed a physical addiction that consumes your body and mind and causes irrational thinking like I just mentioned above "Awww.. I deserve ONE"
DESERVE?? WTF am I thinking? I DESERVE to spend $5.00 a pack to slowly kill myself in a horrible manner and set a bad example for all those close to me? <---irrational thinking

Not that some of us would "rather" just some of us can't help it.

CougarSE

Quote

Today I think I will put the Cigarettes down.

go for it man!!

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #10 – May 05, 2007, 12:07:33 PM

Jim,I'm sure you've heard this a million times........One day at a time,brother.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #11 – May 05, 2007, 02:24:13 PM

I thoroughly enjoy smoking.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #12 – May 05, 2007, 03:47:26 PM

Jim, i have to say, Im glad someone on this forum has the balls to talk about their lives like this. Many hide their lives, and are ashamed, and because of that, no one else can learn.

When it comes to addiction, its hard to learn from your own mistakes, because once youre stuck, its much harder to kick than it is to "learn". Yeah, youll know the effects, youll know your breathing suffers, you know you wake up coughing and hacking, but your body knows different. Having someone to tell their tales of their battles makes it much easier to those of us who havnt started smoking, to decide "thats definatly not for me"

I was young, and i tried smoking, and it burned. I tried it a few more times, and i realized it wasnt for me. Funny thing is, I never inhaled it, just puffed away and blew smoke. I look back and realize how foolish it was, but Im glad i had the bad experience. Both of my parents are smokers of about 30 years, Im glad to say i learned from THEIR mistakes, and I never took the time to fully make that mistake.

I have to say thanks to you Jim. Maybe some of the knuckleheads around here will learn from you before they make similar mistakes.

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #13 – May 05, 2007, 10:13:24 PM

Quote from: Tbird232ci;144977

Jim, i have to say, Im glad someone on this forum has the balls to talk about their lives like this. Many hide their lives, and are ashamed, and because of that, no one else can learn.

Don't give me too much credit. It's largely selfish of me. Henry Ford once made a remark to the effect of
"Experiance is the thing of supreme value in life"
Now that is true only if i'm willing to turn the past to good account.
So how can I turn my past to good account? IF it can help even just one person to not follow the same path...

Quote

Having someone to tell their tales of their battles makes it much easier to those of us who havnt started smoking, to decide "thats definatly not for me"

thus helping them and all those arround them...

Bingo!
As simple as that it's no longer something to be ashamed of, but instead it's now an asset. One I payed dearly for, but an asset none the less.

Thank you!

Living in Fast Forward

Reply #14 – May 06, 2007, 03:39:31 AM

Well Jim I failed. Smoked half a pack today. Everyone I picked up I knew it wasn't good and honestly snuffed it half way through.

I used to smoke dope, alot. Gave that up when i was a sophomore, at the end of the year. I passed out from it once, and only once. I've smoked a handful of times since then and yes enjoyed it but I don't feel the need to again. It consumed my life and changed my friends. Caused me to nearly total the same truck twice.

Biggest scare? At a party once some people from a rival school came in breaking stuff up. A guy grabbed a shotgun and I thought it was smart to jump him. Luckily no one was hurt but it was stupid.

Once I get myself psychically back on track I know it will be easier for me to quite smoking. I've gotten fat with these cushy IT jobs..