The sound of zebras...?

Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
"When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said to
inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
they are seeing...

I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
"bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
everything from your diet to your mood.

Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
willfully stupid for that long...?

I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to set
me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--
although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can.
A step at a time.

Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.

Jef. wrote:
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said to
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can.
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.
>
>
((((Jef)))) I will send healing vibes your way. Sometimes those darn
Doctors can scare a person. I had my own brush with the reality of
aging. Spent three days in the hospital getting my heart to work right.
I am now taking more drugs than I thought possible. The local Rite-Aid
loves me. At any rate, I will be thinking of you and hoping for the
best. Take care of yourself!!!!
Debbie VOF Rocker

I'm sorry Jef, these things scare me too. DH is still smoking, and has
since age 19.
I will keep you in my thoughts... and prayers too.
With hope and heart,
Kathleen

"Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote in message
news:39adnQl9xbal99XVnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said
> to inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the
> problem they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also
> treated my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and
> **at no charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his
> practice over to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer
> patients, there's an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or
> next day appointments. He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very
> thorough. One of the pluses is an annual top-to-toe physical, where they
> do an EKG, hearing and vision tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual
> "turn your head and cough" and "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things,
> and a ton of Q and A about everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow
> into a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the
> volume of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I
> made that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless
> in recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased
> lung function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be
> the beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but
> think that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if
> *I* managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for
> all of us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the
> wound? What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been
> that willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to
> set me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT
> scan-- although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung
> cancer are pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on
> determining treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might
> have lung cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as
> best he can. A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my
> lungs for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's
> just horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to,
> please.
>

Well, Jef, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure it's going to take you a while
to assimilate the info. And I also hope you know that I LOVE YOU and would
do anything at all within my power to support you while you you process this
news. And I LOVE MARSHA, too. You're such a lucky bastard to have found
your true love. Tell her if she needs anything, I'd be glad to fly up there
and do anything -- take out the garbage on garbage day or whatever.

Jef, you know, we all gotta die of something. You men don't know what it's
like for us female types who have pap smears and mammograms every year.
Every other year, I get a scare. The pap smear was "incomplete." Or the
mammogram has a "blur." One year I actually had a lump. Just fiber.
Another year, they thought I was going blind -- turned out to be a migraine
variant. I've had lab test anomalies that suggest I'm from Mars. And my
only points in mentioning this is (1) to suggest that I am feeling some
empathy for you right now, old friend, and (2) to emphasize the futility of
worry. Worry is like paying interest on a debt you may never owe.

And I'll be remembering Dawn tonight, too. I wasn't as close to her as you
were, by any stretch, but I get it, I think.

Given that the contemplation of death is part of the human condition, I'd
say you have good reason to rejoice in your life thus far, from what I've
had the honor of hearing about it. Now take good care of yourself, goddam
it. Keep us posted on the COPD.

Much love,
ep oooooooof


"Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote in message
news:39adnQl9xbal99XVnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said
> to inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the
> problem they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also
> treated my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and
> **at no charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his
> practice over to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer
> patients, there's an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or
> next day appointments. He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very
> thorough. One of the pluses is an annual top-to-toe physical, where they
> do an EKG, hearing and vision tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual
> "turn your head and cough" and "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things,
> and a ton of Q and A about everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow
> into a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the
> volume of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I
> made that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless
> in recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased
> lung function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be
> the beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but
> think that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if
> *I* managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for
> all of us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the
> wound? What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been
> that willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to
> set me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT
> scan-- although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung
> cancer are pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on
> determining treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might
> have lung cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as
> best he can. A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my
> lungs for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's
> just horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to,
> please.
>

Jesus man I can imagine your scared. Telling you to take it one day at a
time isn't going to hold water here. Having COPD is not lung cancer and
being short of breath could be anything from allergies to nerves. ever
listen to someone else's breathing than your breathing matches theirs then
your sucking air as fast as possible nearing passing out because your so
winded?
I had a little scare just these past months. one nurse practitioner found
something during an exam and well it was freaking me out for 2 months. I
went to the specialist who told me " you are completely normal no cancer or
anything" and even showed me, yes he had this really cool camera and a huge
TV in his office and I got to see ... well lets not finish that statement
but it was COOL.

But the point is Jef I worried and worked myself up into a dizzy for
nothing. I hope you are getting worked up for nothing as well. We can't
change what we did years ago only make today better. Dawn faced alot and she
did it not by looking down the road years ahead but by living today the best
way she could.

When will you hear news? I will be thinking positive thoughts for you
--
Lynn VOF+ Leaper
"Everyone seems normal until you get to know them."



"Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote in message
news:39adnQl9xbal99XVnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said
> to inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the
> problem they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also
> treated my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and
> **at no charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his
> practice over to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer
> patients, there's an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or
> next day appointments. He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very
> thorough. One of the pluses is an annual top-to-toe physical, where they
> do an EKG, hearing and vision tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual
> "turn your head and cough" and "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things,
> and a ton of Q and A about everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow
> into a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the
> volume of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I
> made that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless
> in recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased
> lung function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be
> the beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but
> think that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if
> *I* managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for
> all of us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the
> wound? What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been
> that willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to
> set me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT
> scan-- although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung
> cancer are pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on
> determining treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might
> have lung cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as
> best he can. A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my
> lungs for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's
> just horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to,
> please.
>

On Jun 5, 6:35*pm, "Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote:
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." *This is often saidto
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. *He wants to set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--*
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can..
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.

Sweet Jef, I am so sorry that you have been scared by this; I am
proud of you for getting thoroughly tested even though it is scary. I
just recently read your tribute to your quit buddy on your site, and
was touched by how brave her fight was, and how deep your friendship
was. It sounds like you are in excellent medical hands, and I am sure
you will only continue healing as your smobriety continues. with hugs
and prayers, Stephanie

{{{{{{{{{{Jef.}}}}}}}}}}}}

I can totally appreciate your feelings. Lung cancer and other smoking
related illnesses are definitely the 800 pound gorilla for any of us
who do not already have some sort of problems. I know that the longer
I am smober the better my chances are that I'll miss the monkey but
it's no sure thing. I am glad that I stopped and I am glad that you
are stopped as well. We both are doing better but realizing how we
messed up our health is no picnic.

Hang tuff and I do hope it's horses you are hearing and not zebras!

FlatironMike
One year, three months, three weeks, four days, 22 hours, 13 minutes
and 8 seconds. 9618 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,885.30. Life
saved: 4 weeks, 5 days, 9 hours, 30 minutes.

On Jun 5, 5:35*pm, "Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote:
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." *This is often saidto
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. *He wants to set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--*
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can..
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.

Jef. I haven't read any replies yet, so maybe I'm repeating someone.
I have the same fears.
But, as of today, I've done everything I can do.
Tomorrow, I will do the same.
The rest is in other hands.
I'll be prayin' for you.
I need to go check raw-elemental.

On Thu, 5 Jun 2008 18:35:43 -0400, "Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg>
wrote:


>Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
>capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
>for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
>horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.

I'm inclined and sending all sorts of kind and warm thoughts your way.

I, too, have heard the COPD diagnosis. It scared me out of my wits at
the time and still scares me. It will never go away, but I can tell
you that the occasional breathlessness has not gotten worse than it
was the day I was told. I use an inhaler (albuterol) and it helps.
I'm still able to play my flute and piccolo. Life goes on and I
continue to hope for the best.

Yes, I'm quite sure those are horses. :-)

Leslie

--
BessieBee
"Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one?"

I think we all have that fear, Jef. Hugs and prayers coming your
way...stay positive by thinking it's only the pitter patter of horses.

Sally
VOF

"Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote in message
news:39adnQl9xbal99XVnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said
> to inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the
> problem they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also
> treated my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and
> **at no charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his
> practice over to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer
> patients, there's an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or
> next day appointments. He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very
> thorough. One of the pluses is an annual top-to-toe physical, where they
> do an EKG, hearing and vision tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual
> "turn your head and cough" and "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things,
> and a ton of Q and A about everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow
> into a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the
> volume of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I
> made that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless
> in recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased
> lung function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be
> the beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but
> think that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if
> *I* managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for
> all of us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the
> wound? What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been
> that willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to
> set me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT
> scan-- although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung
> cancer are pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on
> determining treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might
> have lung cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as
> best he can. A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my
> lungs for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's
> just horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to,
> please.
Hiya Jef.,
I had a doctor once say that to me..."Susan, if you hear hoofbeats, think
horses, not zebras, lets rule out everything before we start thinking
Zebras". He was right. And from a medical standpoint working with these
guys, do your best to stay off the internet and self diagnose or else you
will find that you have some rare Malasian GI disorder associated to your
lungs! <kind grins, been there done that and humiliated myself with not only
my Doctor but my employer!>
Slow breaths, maybe not so deep. Relax, if you can. Pace, Rant, Post,
Pray.
We all love ya.
We are all doing the same for you.
Much fondness and hugs coming your way.
You know the drill,
Love and hugs from Delmarva,
Susan
PS Screw beating yourself up. You probably will anyway, but come on, you if
anyone knows, no time for that!
Think horses!!!! xoxoxoxoxooxoxo

Thinking good thoughts for you Jef. It is not yet time to live in the
"wreckage of the future" because tomorrow is not yet here.
Best wishes.
SteveS
OOF

Jef. wrote:
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said to
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can.
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.
>
>

On Jun 5, 5:35�pm, "Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote:
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." �This is often said to
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. �He wants to set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--�
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can..
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.

Here's a bunch of kind thoughts, Jef. And I am willing to entertain
horses and zebras but mostly I try to make my kittykat smile. I think
we all know how unnerving those doctor visits can be (I have one
scheduled for July 11) but I would rather be told what's going on than
not know and get a nasty surprise one day.

Since my childhood, I have always believed I lived on borrowed time so
I never worry about what might happen. My mother died when I was 7
years old; I don't know how old she was but I figured maybe late 20's/
early 30's. So I always lived as if there was no tomorrow. Until I
had kids.

But even having kids didn't stop me from smoking. I can remember
sitting in my rocking chair, giving my youngest son his bottle, with
an ashtray beside me and a cigarette in my hand. Yes, I should have
known better, but I did it anyway.

Flash forward. In the past few years I have had a few health
problems: a hip replacement shortly after I quit smoking, more
recently a series of fainting spells and just falling down. Broke a
wrist. Had a series of tests at that time, all inconclusive. I had a
CT chest scan and read the report of that. Some lung scarring that I
knew was from a childhood bout with tuberculosis. But the thing that
caught my eye was "mildly emphasematic." And most recently, cataract
surgery on both eyes.

Dear Jef, the only thing we can do is to keep on keeping on. I was so
happy to see my elder son married in March to a very wonderful young
lady. And it looks as if my younger son may be doing something like
that soon. Incidentally, the entire wedding was held in a completely
non-smoking venue. Even the hotel where we stayed was non-smoking.
When I got home after three days away, I got out my pictures of my
mother. I do that from time to time. She still looks young and
pretty. And she had long skinny legs, just like mine.

Be well, dear companion in this great adventure that we are all taking
together. This group has benefited so very much from your
participation. You are so very talented and you share your talent to
keep us all on the straight and narrow road to freedom from nicotine.

Love and be well,

Joyce

Jef, you're certainly not alone. When it's not in the front of my mind,
it's in the back. That nagging question.....did I quit in time?

It can make me crazy if I let it. I don't. I'll either know if I quit
in time when I'm either diagnosed with something terminal, or become a
drooling 82 year old man grabbing Patty's butt as she feeds me my
morning apple sauce.

Man, I hope it's the latter.

You've done what you needed to do...you quit. Remember that always.
Don't worry about seeming "parallels". Sometimes the path deviates.
Most times, in fact, I think.

Lee
OOF


Jef. wrote:
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said to
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can.
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.
>
>

Jef..
Many many kind thougts and prayers are coming your way! Please let us know
how things turn out on your next visit
Becky
One week, five days, 1 hour, 31 minutes and 5 seconds. 603 cigarettes not
smoked, saving $53.98. Life saved: 2 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes.

"Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote in message
news:39adnQl9xbal99XVnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said
> to inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the
> problem they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also
> treated my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and
> **at no charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his
> practice over to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer
> patients, there's an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or
> next day appointments. He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very
> thorough. One of the pluses is an annual top-to-toe physical, where they
> do an EKG, hearing and vision tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual
> "turn your head and cough" and "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things,
> and a ton of Q and A about everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow
> into a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the
> volume of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I
> made that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless
> in recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased
> lung function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be
> the beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but
> think that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if
> *I* managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for
> all of us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the
> wound? What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been
> that willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to
> set me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT
> scan-- although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung
> cancer are pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on
> determining treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might
> have lung cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as
> best he can. A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my
> lungs for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's
> just horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to,
> please.
>

Thank you Steve S. "Wreckage of Tomorrow" is an excellent way of
kicking fear back 100 meters when that is needed. We all know we can
not control our futures but live them the best way we know how.
Adding in worry is about 400 of those 800 pounds of apeshit.

FlatironMike
One year, three months, three weeks, five days, 1 hour, 52 minutes and
38 seconds. 9621 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,886.22. Life saved:
4 weeks, 5 days, 9 hours, 45 minutes.

We all played with fire as smokers, it was the risk.
I hope all of my quit buddies live longer than me. :-)
Stay strong all of you.
Gordy, feeling old
Two years, four months, one day, 1 hour, 43 minutes and 0 seconds. 21301
cigarettes not smoked, saving £2,130.07. Life saved: 10 weeks, 3 days, 23
hours, 5 minutes.


"Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote in message
news:39adnQl9xbal99XVnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said
to
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the
problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also
treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients,
there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day
appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses
is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow
into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the
volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased
lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if
*I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to
set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he
can.
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my
lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.
>
>

"Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote in message
news:39adnQl9xbal99XVnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said
> to inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the
> problem they are seeing...
>
I understand what you are saying very well indeed. I had no breathing
problems until about a year after I had given up smoking. Since then I
have been on inhalers and have also been told I have the lungs of a much,
much older woman. (My daughter cheered me by saying 'Hey Mum. Look at the
rest of you though!) I have had several chest infections and I had got to
the stage of thinking that the best of life had gone, especially the last
twice on trips abroad I had ended up in hospital.
Recently I had a very thorough examination at Papworth Hospital (world
famous for it's care) and the doctor, sensing my worries, told me I only had
very mild COPD. In fact, I hardly registered. He told me to give myself a
while to gain my confidence back and then go and live life as he reckons I
have a lot of life left to live. He assured me I will have enough breath to
last me out!
How different I have felt since then! I am sure attitude is half the
battle.
I do trust on further investigation you will realise your worries are
greater than the reality.
I've been there Jef. I do know. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
ChrisB

On Thu, 5 Jun 2008 18:35:43 -0400, "Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg>
wrote:

>Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
>"When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This is often said to
>inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
>the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
>they are seeing...
>
>I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
>my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
>charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
>to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
>an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
>He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
>an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
>tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
>"bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
>everything from your diet to your mood.
>
>Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
>a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
>of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
>that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
>recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
>function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
>beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
>that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
>followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
>Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
>she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
>managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
>us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
>What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
>willfully stupid for that long...?
>
>I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. He wants to set
>me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--
>although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
>pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
>treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
>cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can.
>A step at a time.
>
>Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
>capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
>for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
>horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.
>
Jef,

I am mostly lurking, but I had to respond.

I have COPD from emphysema from smoking. I had seriously reduced
breathing capacity.

I say had. That was 3 1/2 years ago that I was diagnosed in the ER
near death from not being able to breathe..

I am much better now and have no signs of cancer (based on Xray
analysis).

I improved my lumg capacity significantly with diet and exercise. The
latter is difficult for me because of arthritis and degenerativd disk
disease, but definately worth it.

I say this as a means of encouragement for you.

Keep on truckin', as they say in hippie land.

Fred


Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

I have always liked this phrase for its ability to bring me back to
things that I can control, TODAY. I have recently been hit with a
double whammy of my own: I had spinal fusion surgery three weeks ago,
two weeks after being notified that my job was being eliminated at the
end of June. Suffice to say that the worry over what MIGHT happen in
the future (will the surgery be successful, will I ever work again) was
driving me almost batty, and driving a wedge between me and those who
love and support me. I was forced to consider today's problem as a
method of staying in the day. It works!
SteveS
OOF

FlatIronMike wrote:
> Thank you Steve S. "Wreckage of Tomorrow" is an excellent way of
> kicking fear back 100 meters when that is needed. We all know we can
> not control our futures but live them the best way we know how.
> Adding in worry is about 400 of those 800 pounds of apeshit.
>
> FlatironMike
> One year, three months, three weeks, five days, 1 hour, 52 minutes and
> 38 seconds. 9621 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,886.22. Life saved:
> 4 weeks, 5 days, 9 hours, 45 minutes.

On Jun 6, 7:03*am, SteveS <inyo...@spamm.ers> wrote:
> I have always liked this phrase for its ability to bring me back to
> things that I can control, TODAY. *

I'll be beating folks over the head with it from now on.

On Jun 6, 6:59*am, Sparky <inva...@example.com> wrote:

> I improved my lumg capacity significantly with diet and exercise.

Can you elaborate on this?

Oh Jef, I'm so sorry to hear this. But please don't worry. I believe
it's definitely horses that you hear. You just have a thorough doctor,
and that's not such a bad thing.

I believe all of us probably have reduced lung capacity because of the
years we spent abusing ourselves. That said, I believe our lungs heal
a little more every day that we're not inhaling shitsticks. Will our
bodies ever completely recover? I doubt it. But we do what we can.

I don't know how old most of you are. I'll be 35 next month. Although
I did start smoking at a really young age, I'm glad that I've quit
before reaching middle age. I'm hoping that I've somehow managed to
minimize the effects on my body.

As far as "quitting in time," I can only echo what EP said: We all
gotta die of something. And as I'm sure you know there is no magic
quit period for anyone, we're all different. Hell, there are people
who can take scrupulous care of themselves, not drink, not smoke,
etc., and they can get hit by a bus just as much as we can. I'm just
sayin.

That said, you are in my thoughts. Big hugs.

Ashley

On Jun 5, 6:35*pm, "Jef." <jefATquitbuddiesDOTorg> wrote:
> Some will recall Dawn (Black Sheep) posting some time ago:
> "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." *This is often saidto
> inexperienced interns, who tend to favour
> the rare and exotic diagnosis, instead of the commonest cause of the problem
> they are seeing...
>
> I had my super-physical today. The doctor Marsha and I see (who also treated
> my father-- outside of his no-Medicare-patients restrictions, and **at no
> charge**, I might add... helluva guy!) recently switched his practice over
> to a sort of "concierge medicine" situation. He sees fewer patients, there's
> an annual fee, and you most often can get same day or next day appointments.
> He spends a LOT of time with you, and is very thorough. One of the pluses is
> an annual top-to-toe physical, where they do an EKG, hearing and vision
> tests, all sorts of bloodwork, the usual "turn your head and cough" and
> "bend over and spread 'em" kinda things, and a ton of Q and A about
> everything from your diet to your mood.
>
> Part of it was a spirometry test. This measures lung function. You blow into
> a tube and they take readings that determine your lung capacity, the volume
> of air you can expel in a given time, and how well you can yodel. I made
> that last part up. Because I'm nervous. I've been a little breathless in
> recent months. Turns out there's a good reason for it. I have decreased lung
> function, most likely due to smoking. I have COPD, and what may be the
> beginnings of emphysema. As I absorbed this news I couldn't help but think
> that his was rather like the route that my closest Quit Buddy, Dawn,
> followed. We quit in the same week; we smoked for the same length of time.
> Her situation was just fine for quite a while-- until it wasn't, and then
> she developed lung cancer and died. I'm scared shitless and wondering if *I*
> managed to quit in time. It's the 800 pound gorilla in the room for all of
> us, isn't it? Have we dodged the bullet, or do we just not feel the wound?
> What the fuck did we do to ourselves, and how could we have been that
> willfully stupid for that long...?
>
> I have the lungs of a much older man, the doctor tells me. *He wants to set
> me up for a comprehensive chest X-ray series and possibly even a CT scan--*
> although he says the benefits of the latter in detecting lung cancer are
> pretty negligible, at least in terms of having any effect on determining
> treatment. He did not say "You have lung cancer" or "You might have lung
> cancer". He's a thorough man, and wants to check things out as best he can..
> A step at a time.
>
> Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Maybe it's just a simple, diminished
> capacity for breathing and a short-windedness that's due to abusing my lungs
> for too long and being in such otherwise shitty shape. I hope it's just
> horses I'm hearing. Spare a kind thought if you're inclined to, please.

Dearest (((((((Jef))))),
I also have been diagnosed with COPD, at times I have a cough, only
during the night, that sounds like whooping cough, but then I go for
months without.
When I quit I did not cough up cookies like most people here, so all
that stuff maybe still down there.
I had X-RAY and the pulmunary function test and did great. I have a
little breathing machine that strengthenes the lungs, you inhale
through it and try to keep the needle at a certain point, they sell it
at the drugstore, it sure does help to increase your lung function.
I did however develope tachycardia, probably from smoking and I'm out
of breath all the time, just walking from one room to the next. Now
when I go shopping I hop in one of those motorized shopping carts and
off I go. Eveybody get's out of my way and also I get help with my
bags, and they insist on it. :-)

I don't think you have anything to worry about as far as the cancer.
Lung cancer showes up on an x-ray as small white spots and the doctor
would have noticed them as did my husbands