COPD & Emphysema Support Group

Liz, Welcome to DS.
The first thing is to try to get them to stop smoking, which is the probably one of the hardest things to do.Try to get them into an exercise program or rehab class. Talk with them about going to stop smoking classes. Talk with them about COPD and support each other and stay positive.
Being exposed to the second hand smoke, you should talk with your doctor and make sure you don't have any early symptoms.
Best regards and God Bless !!

Wes

Welcome, lizthinks!
first: About the second hand smoke thing, I wouldn't worry all night about it. Try to stay clear of it today, but otherwise I wouldn't say the sky is falling!

Emphy and smoking are like, finding you have lung cancer, and still want to smoke ! You feel the damage is already done. But oh-contrare. They will, sooner rather than later, find that continuing to smoke only makes things much harder. Eventually they won't even be able to inhale the smoke from cigarettes! They have to be ready!!!

I'm glad your taking the time to try and understand your parents health problems!

Hang Tuff*

Hi Liz;

You just got to get them to give up the cigarettes: Look up 'become an ex' on the web and tou will find 3 educational films that you can show your parents.

Donal:

thanks to all !

You can call out the National Guard but if a person is not ready to quit smoking they just will not do it! I perceived any encouragement from my family as nagging. Both of your parents know they need to quit smoking, they just don't want to. I would think it would be doubly hard to quit when there are two smoking. It would be hard to quit if someone was smoking around you. When your parents get sick and tired of being sick and tired for a long long time 'MAYBE' they will quit. They may quit when they have to go into the hospital. Who knows!!!

Liz, I would just like to commend you for being so caring and taking such a deep interest in your parents well being. Quitting smoking is the hardest thing I ever did. However, I did not do it because someone else told me to, or because someone tried to nag me into it. (I was extremely ill and hospitalized and that scared me into it.)I am kind of stubborn and that would have made me more determined to smoke then ever. YOu know the proverbial saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can' make it drink"...well that is the truth of the matter. Just be therer in loving support of them. (Not, of the smoking of course. LOL) I wish you the best. JoAnn ~smile~

Hi Liz; I'm new to this group too. (Recently diagnosed with Emphysema). 4 months ago I went from cigarettes, to chewing tobacco, and now I'm using nicotine gum. The chances of putting another cigarette in my mouth are nil to none.

Chewing tobacco is not an ideal replacement, but
I believe for anyone with lung disease it would be
much better than continuing to smoke.

Chewing tobacco comes in pouches that are very
satisfying and make it very easy not to smoke.

Just a suggestion. Not medical advice.

Well, what can any of us say? No 2 people are alike, and they are to a certain degree in denyal...
Still, You have a right to your opinion and love and caring about and for and toward them. However, 'nagging' won't help, it only helps them feel "EVEN MORE ISOLATED" from feeling normal or that they have to change this so fast that it's overwhelming them.
If you can, talk to someone in some of the support groups right here in DS and see how they deal with being the 'caretaker'...it's the other side of the fence,you know?
It's hard to quit smoking, and stop doing soemthing that became a major part of our lives for years in most cases. It's rare to have it happen over nite.
What can I suggest? A heart to heart talk, when the time is right? COPD magazines left all over the place. Print outs of some of these 'advise and discussion' things you see and read right here on DS too.
Try anything that you can think of, but what ever you do,
ALWAYS OPEN WINDOWS IF THEY ARE SMOKING, try complaining about the smell, etc. anything like that and then, let it go...sometimes, the "little things get thru sooner than the BIG things",,who knows?
But, try a little bit of all of it.
There's other thots I can think of, let me know, if you want more ideas, but I'll bet you know your family much better than I do. Good luck and God bless you and yours,,S

Hi Liz
I'm in a similar situation. My parents don't live together though. Both of them have has COPD for a few yrs and refuse to quit. I know they will when they are ready so I really don't give them much of a hard time anymore. My Mum is 48 and my Dad is 54. They both live interstate but I see my Mum at least once a month, I haven't seen my Dad in years as we aren't close. But anyway, just wanted to let you know your not alone and good luck.

Hi:
You can have a lung function test done to see how you are. You cant do anything about their smoking, but you are at risk because of 2nd hand smoke. Try to exercise and see your dr to see how your lungs are. Let me know.
Have a good day,
Jan