Don Scancare
02-18-2004, 12:20 AM
I have a quit date set for early March. I have already quit twice, only to go back. With this new date approaching, I developed a bad cough and it won't go away. I scheduled a doctors appointment for after my quit date, because I know if it's before hand, I will get the 'I have to quit' speech. Anyway, what could the cough be? I am obvioiusly aware and worried about the worst possible scenario. But what are some of problems, outside the worst-case scenario, that this could be?? I'd like to do some resesearch before I see the doctor.
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jc001
02-18-2004, 01:52 AM
Im sorry you're going through this ... keep tough and I wish you the best of luck for March.
As for the cough, it could be any number of things ... could be bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, a virus, irritated throat, etc ...
All of us smokers hate going to the doctor for breathing, coughing, heart, lung problems amongst other illnesses, but for the faint of the heart schedule an appointment with him ASAP. It's better to be $1000 short (assuming thorough breathing tests, chest X-rays, etc...) than to have had the chance to live a descent life and blow it away because of a month of smoking.
Again, good luck and specially in March
As for the cough, it could be any number of things ... could be bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, a virus, irritated throat, etc ...
All of us smokers hate going to the doctor for breathing, coughing, heart, lung problems amongst other illnesses, but for the faint of the heart schedule an appointment with him ASAP. It's better to be $1000 short (assuming thorough breathing tests, chest X-rays, etc...) than to have had the chance to live a descent life and blow it away because of a month of smoking.
Again, good luck and specially in March
Deda
02-18-2004, 05:11 AM
Don-Please get it checked out. Did you start with a cold? It could be bronchitis or allergies or a hundred other things, but you shouldn't let a cough go unchecked. Try to give up your smoking earlier, (if you can) and it might just go away. You never know, it could just be a smokers cough, which is from irritation, but you still don't want to let it go unchecked. jc001 is right, get it checked out asap. :nono:
DEDA
DEDA
LL29
02-18-2004, 11:41 PM
Amen to that - please go to the doctor's now. You could have walking pnemonia(sp?) and not even know it. When there's something not normal with your body - you should ALWAYS get it checked asap............shoulda, coulda, woulda - don't regret not going later. Even if it's bronchitis or anything - you need to have an antibiotic (assuming) in your system to clear it up.
Besides - when you go in tell the doctor about your quit date so you won't have to hear the lecture. :)
Best of success and don't forget to say your prayers to help you along :)
Laurie :bouncing:
90 days smoke free CT
Besides - when you go in tell the doctor about your quit date so you won't have to hear the lecture. :)
Best of success and don't forget to say your prayers to help you along :)
Laurie :bouncing:
90 days smoke free CT
Tobias
02-19-2004, 11:25 AM
I can identify with your fear of a doctor visit for a persistent cough. You know you're going to get the "stop smoking" lecture. While I was a smoker, I NEVER saw a doctor for a cough. NEVER. I dreaded getting a cold because even minor ones usually went directly to my lower respiratory system and I'd have a cough for weeks. Bronchitis I suppose. Once I'm pretty sure I had pneumonia. Guess I'm a tough (or lucky) customer because I survived all this stuff so I could quit smoking much later and find out that it doesn't have to be a given that every time one gets a cold, one coughs for weeks.
When I smoked I got at least one cold a year which left me coughing for a couple of months at least. I also coughed at night, even when I didn't have a cold. The very minute that I stopped smoking, I stopped coughing. Completely stopped. that was two years ago. I'm so glad I stopped.
You could decide to not wait til March to stop and DO IT NOW. What better motivation?
When I smoked I got at least one cold a year which left me coughing for a couple of months at least. I also coughed at night, even when I didn't have a cold. The very minute that I stopped smoking, I stopped coughing. Completely stopped. that was two years ago. I'm so glad I stopped.
You could decide to not wait til March to stop and DO IT NOW. What better motivation?
Deda
02-19-2004, 03:36 PM
Tobias, your story sounds like mine. Every cold would linger for weeks and weeks, and I'm sure a few times my colds turned into bronchitis, but I was too chicken to go to a Dr. Thought they'd just act like it was my own fault anyway, and I too didn't want to hear a lecture. Gee...I wonder why??? (could it be...SA-TEN?) LOL!!! Maybe because I knew it would all be true anyway! Duh! The good news isI have not had a cold yet this winter, and I haven't coughed at all since I quit!! Woohoooo! No wheezing either, and that used to happen once in a while too.
Congratulations Tobias on your 2 years smoke free. Will be glad when I get there!!!
I agree with you that Don (above) should quit now and who knows maybe his cough will disappear for him as well! Wouldn't that be wonderful Don? :confused:
Good luck Don Scancare, just do it.
DEDA
Congratulations Tobias on your 2 years smoke free. Will be glad when I get there!!!
I agree with you that Don (above) should quit now and who knows maybe his cough will disappear for him as well! Wouldn't that be wonderful Don? :confused:
Good luck Don Scancare, just do it.
DEDA
Don Scancare
02-20-2004, 10:29 AM
Thanks everyone. I did have a cold, the cough never really went away. I did have an anti-biotic for coughing, but that hasn't really helped. I think I will try to go the doctor earlier than planned.
Don Scancare
02-20-2004, 10:30 AM
Thanks everyone. I did have a cold, the cough never really went away. I did have an anti-biotic for coughing, but that hasn't really helped. I think I will try to go the doctor earlier than planned
Deda
02-20-2004, 03:16 PM
Way to go Don! It's probably not anything life threatening, but it's foolish not to go. That cough is just your bodies way of telling you it's time to quit smoking. :nono: You can do it, if we can, you can. Stick around here for support.
Good luck! :)
DEDA
Good luck! :)
DEDA