Hi Mike,
There is no magic pill. I personally believe that the only way you will quit is if you really want to. I started smoking again, two months after my valve surgery in March 2001. I, like you, thought I was invincible since my new valves gave me a new lease on life. Members who have been at the reunions I attended, know I smoked. They all gave me their input and though they meant well, I ignored them, just like I did my doctor and cardio. I did cut down to less than a half a pack a day, but it wasn't enough. Prior to about a year ago, I did not have any heart issues, just valve replacement. I didn't have high blood pressure, palpitations, nothing like that. I then started noticing my blood pressure was going up more and more. I started noticing palpitations. I didn't and don't now have high cholestorol. In fact my cardio says I have cholestorol numbers that people would die to have! No pun intended!
I bought myself a blood pressure monitor in March, because I decided I needed to keep a check on myself. Did I stop smoking? Noooo. In April of this year I ended up in ER with chest pains. They couldn't find anything wrong with me after many test, other than yes, my blood pressure was high, even when I was resting and they noticed skipped beats. They did put me on my first blood pressure med, Norvasc. Did I stop smoking? Noooo! I continued. I had an angiogram done on Aug 8th, everything looked good. My cardio mentioned again to quit smoking and i told him I was thinking about it.
Fast forward to Oct 22 of this year! I came home from work, was pouring water in my coffee pot for coffee the next morning and boom! I got excruciating pains in both my arms that hurt so bad. It felt like a boa constrictor was squeezing the life out of my arms. I ended up in ER and was told I was having a heart attack!
Now that got my attention. After feeling that pain, I vowed I would never touch another cigarette again. And I haven't. My whole family smokes.
I wasn't even tempted nor wanted one when we were all together at Thanksgiving. In fact I seriously didn't even pay attention that they were smoking. It's like I wiped it out of my mind. I knew I wasn't addicted to nicotine, like so many people are. Was it because I didn't start smoking until later in life? I don't know that answer. All I know is that I wouldn't quit until I was ready. It took a real eye opener to wake me up, but by then I knew I was ready. I don't miss cigarettes . I find I can breathe better. In the winter I would always get congested and now I haven't at all. I have more energy and I am exercising. I too did not like listening to people lecturing to me, so I would turn a deaf ear. I do believe now, that my heart attack was very much related to the fact that I was a smoker. I wouldn't have believed that a year ago.
I want to wish you Good Luck on quitting. Since I did it Cold Turkey, I have no tips I can pass to you on how to quit, other than the fact what made me quit was being scared out of my wits, on Oct 22.
