Kery Quit Smoking Cigarettes

I finally quit smoking. This is my second day cigarette-free. Not that I wanted to--I had to.

This winter was bad. I have three kids, and one of them would get a cold at least every other week--and give it to me. At the end of winter, I think I had about seven or eight colds, but the colds were not the worst part of it. I finally ended up with a round of pneumonia. I went to the doctor, and he gave me a chest x-ray (pneumonia it was!). He put me on antibiotics. Like a good girl, I finished them and started feeling better. Then, one of my kids starting getting the sniffles (I almost fainted). Did I catch that cold--of course (before I had my two-week repeat chest x-ray). I went back to the doctor, and he gave me another round of antibiotics.

When it came time for my two-week repeat chest x-ray, the doctor said it had "partially resolved" and to come back in another three weeks for another repeat chest x-ray. The colds had ceased at my house--finally! I was feeling better and went back for my three-week chest x-ray. The doctor said it looked good but was going to send it to the radiologist to review and that I should call on Thursday for the results.

I did not have to wait until Thursday. On Wednesday morning, I got a call from the doctor's office. The nice nurse told me that the results were back. The pneumonia was gone, but I had some early evidence of emphysema. I almost fell over. My heart started pounding. I repeated it back to her, as if I had not heard her right. "Emphysema?" "Yes," she said, "Emphysema." She told me I needed to quit smoking and to stay away from secondhand smoke. Then she said, "Have a nice summer."

This news scared the life out of me. I could not understand why they would tell me this kind of news over the phone, so I made an appointment with the doctor to talk to him about it. That was yesterday (my first day smoke free!). He said that I did have emphysema or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). He said if I quit smoking, it would not progress, and over time, may even start to reverse itself.

I am only 31 YEARS OLD. Just to be sure, my doctor did an alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency test, which is a test they do when such a young person has emphysema. The test results have not come back yet, but I am hoping they do not show a deficiency. I asked him if my emphysema could have started because I've been exposed to smoke all my life, and he said, "Yes." Both my parents smoked--in the house, car, etc.-- when I was growing up. I started smoking at 15 years old.

So, I have to say goodbye to my best friend. Even though it is hard, I know it is something I have to do or I will go to an early grave. I am not looking back. My stepmom has severe COPD and has to wear oxygen--and still smokes. NOT ME--I am giving them up and not looking back. I pray that God will help me through this process--he has so far and I thank Him for that!