AM 51 year old male been on disability for 5 years , feel worse than ever after having 2 stints put in 3 month ago. quit smoking 45 days ago after 36 years of smoking my lungs hurt worse than even and take apox. 25 prescription pills a day for all my diseases. any ideals ?
I Have Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetic Pertheral Neuropathy And Sleep Apnea . ?
June 26th, 2010 § Tags: Apnea, Congestive, Diabetes, Diabetic, Failure, Heart, Neuropathy, pertheral, Sleep Posted in Diabetes § § 4 comments
jez, dude, your lungs hurt cuz they are trying to flush out all the crap you put in them, i’m trying to quit right now- i’m 28 i’ve been smoking since i was 13, COPD is no joke, i’m nursing student- i want to quit.. it hurts like hell but it will get better, if i’m gonna quit then you are too. i feel like i can barley breath but it will get better… no pills nothing and i’m done… don’t smoke. i promise the second you reply i won’t smoke again if you promise me the same.
Ideas for what? What are you asking?
Just quit the bad habits and manage your diseases through medications, healthy diet and exercise (whatever’s possible). I’m sure your doctor already talked to you about it. What else do you want to hear?
I hope you have treated your sleep apnea. Getting that treated with nasal CPAP will, hopefully, improve the CHF and improve your control of blood sugar. Unfortunately, lung damage is permanent, although function can improve with the proper treatment, as recommended by your primary physician or a pulmonologist.
Stay OFF the cigarettes. You are still having nicotine withdrawal.
Reduce you weight. FORCE yourself to get some exercise.
Control you blood sugars EXTREMELY TIGHTLY. You MUST keep the blood sugars as close to normal for as much as possible.
That means a VERY strict diet completely free of sugar, greatly reduced starches, and increased fibers.
I don’t care how many pills you take, pills won’t cure the problem until YOU take charge of your lifestyle.
The good news is that your lungs WILL heal, but slowly, if you NEVER smoke again.
The peripheral neuropathy will reduced, but slowly, as you bring your blood sugars under control.
The sleep apnea will reduced or stop as you lose weight.
The bad news is that you may also have kidney failure due to diabetes, and that probably won’t heal. You’ll need diuetics (water pills) to get rid of the congestion, and THAT will take time, too.
I’m just a few years older than you. At this time last year I was hospitalized for congestive heart failure. I weighed 325 pounds! (never smoked, though). We got that under control. I began walking 1/2 mile twice a day, 7 days a week. Made SERIOUS changes in my diet (see above).
I now weigh 235 (lost 90 pounds, about 30 of it water). The congestive heart failure and associated swelling are gone. I’ve dropped or reduced dosages on ALL my pills, and cut my insulin use in 1/2.
But now I have kidney failure, I’m preparing for dialysis, and hoping for a transplant.
But I’m still alive! And you can be too. Stick with The Program, change your lifestyle, and get back on the payroll!