For you smokers
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Just got home from U of A hospital in Edmonton a few minutes ago and felt the urge to post this.
My mother has been a smoker as far back as I remember, about 30 years I would guess. Over the last year she has been complaining about shoulder pain which she thought was a long term injury from work. She has been on WCB for about a year now. Well, over the past few months the pain became worse and worse untill she could no longer take car of herself. My wife flew down to be with her in Vancouver 4 weeks ago, and to help out around the house. As the pain got worse and worse they finaly decided to go to the hospital emergency dept. X-rays showed shadows in the shoulder/chest area and a biopsy was schedualed later in the month. She was also diagnosed with Pnemonia.
In the meantime, my wife needed to get back to work, and my mom was in no condition to take care of herself, so they flew here together. Let me tell you, I have never seen anything like it before. My mom had lost about 40 lbs. and was barely able to make a decision on her own because she was in so much pain and taking so many pills. Honestly, looking into her eyes, was like staring right through her, it was like she was somewhere else. She was litteraly pacing around in circles in her room because she didn't know what to do. She would lay in bed moaning throughout the night, and no one slept for days. Several trips to the hospital only resulted in being sent home because she was told she was addicted to pain killers, and it was all mental.
Finaly on about the 4th trip in as many days we met with a cancer specialist who went out of her way to help after my wife broke down in tears in the hospital. It was decided she would be flown to Edmonton for an emergency biopsy so they could figure out what was going on. Last thursday was surgery day, and it was discovered she has advanced lung cancer. During surgery a rib had to be removed to relieve some of the pressure on her lungs, and to ease the pain.
After surgery, my mom had a rough time recovering, one lung had colapsed, and her oxygen levels were dangerously low. After a day in ICU she was released to the trauma unit.
After surgery we spoke with the surgeon and got the bad news, the cancer is quite advanced, and is uncurable. His specific words which I will never forget were "it is not a type of cancer which we can operate on, or that is curable. It is a type which will shorten your life. Maybe a little radiation to ease the pain".
As of right now we are playing the waiting game, more test have to be done, and other specialists need to see her. She is alone in her room right now, and I can't imagine what is going through her mind.
She will be released soon, and will stay with us probably for the rest of her life. It is not something I want my 2 year old son to go through, but we have no choice, she cannot be left on her own.
I am not looking for sympathy here, I only posted this in the hopes some who smoke may reconsider, if not for yourself, but for the ones who love you. It has been the worst time of my life, and I am soo lucky to have a loving wife.
We've tried telling the smokers in the family, and they dont want to hear it which is pathetic if you ask me. If you think you it cant happen to you, or if you dont care, you sure as hell will if it does happen. It is not a quick painless passing, it is the most awfull thing a human could be put through, that goes for everyone close to you. Im telling you now, it would scare the hell out of you.
Anyways, I have to try and live my life normaly now, knowing my mothers days are numbered, and she is only 54. Just give it some thought guys....
[ April 13, 2004, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: Kilowatt ]
My mother has been a smoker as far back as I remember, about 30 years I would guess. Over the last year she has been complaining about shoulder pain which she thought was a long term injury from work. She has been on WCB for about a year now. Well, over the past few months the pain became worse and worse untill she could no longer take car of herself. My wife flew down to be with her in Vancouver 4 weeks ago, and to help out around the house. As the pain got worse and worse they finaly decided to go to the hospital emergency dept. X-rays showed shadows in the shoulder/chest area and a biopsy was schedualed later in the month. She was also diagnosed with Pnemonia.
In the meantime, my wife needed to get back to work, and my mom was in no condition to take care of herself, so they flew here together. Let me tell you, I have never seen anything like it before. My mom had lost about 40 lbs. and was barely able to make a decision on her own because she was in so much pain and taking so many pills. Honestly, looking into her eyes, was like staring right through her, it was like she was somewhere else. She was litteraly pacing around in circles in her room because she didn't know what to do. She would lay in bed moaning throughout the night, and no one slept for days. Several trips to the hospital only resulted in being sent home because she was told she was addicted to pain killers, and it was all mental.
Finaly on about the 4th trip in as many days we met with a cancer specialist who went out of her way to help after my wife broke down in tears in the hospital. It was decided she would be flown to Edmonton for an emergency biopsy so they could figure out what was going on. Last thursday was surgery day, and it was discovered she has advanced lung cancer. During surgery a rib had to be removed to relieve some of the pressure on her lungs, and to ease the pain.
After surgery, my mom had a rough time recovering, one lung had colapsed, and her oxygen levels were dangerously low. After a day in ICU she was released to the trauma unit.
After surgery we spoke with the surgeon and got the bad news, the cancer is quite advanced, and is uncurable. His specific words which I will never forget were "it is not a type of cancer which we can operate on, or that is curable. It is a type which will shorten your life. Maybe a little radiation to ease the pain".
As of right now we are playing the waiting game, more test have to be done, and other specialists need to see her. She is alone in her room right now, and I can't imagine what is going through her mind.
She will be released soon, and will stay with us probably for the rest of her life. It is not something I want my 2 year old son to go through, but we have no choice, she cannot be left on her own.
I am not looking for sympathy here, I only posted this in the hopes some who smoke may reconsider, if not for yourself, but for the ones who love you. It has been the worst time of my life, and I am soo lucky to have a loving wife.
We've tried telling the smokers in the family, and they dont want to hear it which is pathetic if you ask me. If you think you it cant happen to you, or if you dont care, you sure as hell will if it does happen. It is not a quick painless passing, it is the most awfull thing a human could be put through, that goes for everyone close to you. Im telling you now, it would scare the hell out of you.
Anyways, I have to try and live my life normaly now, knowing my mothers days are numbered, and she is only 54. Just give it some thought guys....
[ April 13, 2004, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: Kilowatt ]
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,770
sorry to hear that
i smoked for close to 15 years and i have now been a nonsmoker for around 7-8 years
my dad passed away just a month ago
he was 73 his eating and no exercise cought up to him he passed away with no warning
i smoked for close to 15 years and i have now been a nonsmoker for around 7-8 years
my dad passed away just a month ago
he was 73 his eating and no exercise cought up to him he passed away with no warning
2000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,142
yeah that sucks man. I know plenty of smokers and I tell them everyday that they need to wisen up a little bit. The problem is nobody thinks it will happen to them. And then when it does they can't believe that it is happening to them. It's too bad that people don't realize sooner. Nobody is immortal and your number is coming just like everyone else's. And smoking only makes your day come sooner. I hope your Mom is able to live somewhat of a few more normal years. Good luck!
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,085
In the process of using Zyban to quit. Once I get to the 2 pill a day part I start to get sick a few days later and have to quit.
Patches dont work very well either for me.
Going to try to stick to Zyban if I can.
Sorry to hear about your mom. Hoping all goess well in the future for her.
Patches dont work very well either for me.
Going to try to stick to Zyban if I can.
Sorry to hear about your mom. Hoping all goess well in the future for her.
4000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,655
Sorry to hear that man my thoughts as well are with u n ur family.
As for that 1-2 2-2 ratio anyone remember the part in Italian Job where they actually have a billboard that counts how many ppl die and he sits through a light was like ## died while I sat in traffic today [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img] Do they actually have those billboards and are they actually that accurate?
As for that 1-2 2-2 ratio anyone remember the part in Italian Job where they actually have a billboard that counts how many ppl die and he sits through a light was like ## died while I sat in traffic today [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img] Do they actually have those billboards and are they actually that accurate?
