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221913 tn?1372276661

Cigarette Smokers Please Respond

I know cigarette smoking is bad, but I've been a smoker for years and am 38 yrs old.  I know also that cigarettes are bad when you have HCV.  How many of you guys are smokers and has anyone quit?  Has anyone just continued smoking anyways and still had good results?  How does being on TX and smoking make you feel?  Thanks everyone........

billstrong1969
40 Responses
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228020 tn?1201650185
I began smoking all kinds of things when i was about 18. I was a smoker up to the age of like 37. I started worrying about  being an smoking addict about 2years earlier, after watching this add on tv where a surgeon is on a verge of amputating this leg off from a victim that smoked, smoke related of course.  So, i tried and tried again, the longest i had stopped was for 9mths, then smoked again when my ex decided to also smoke behind my back on the sly.

Then one day, i was online chatting away and i ran outa paper to roll my tobacco.. i got fed up with it, rolled the 6 i had left, tossed out the rest and chained smoked through those, puffing away like a chimney . NEVER again did i touch another, or another drop of my old mate Jim beam.
mind over matter!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If I was in your position I would make the choice to treat, just as you have.

In reference to my statement that "most who have done tx have not needed to", this is what I meant: Only 20% of those with chronic hep c will progress to cirrhosis. The vast majority of serious extrahepatic manifestations occur during stage 4 (cirrhosis). So, this is obviously a stage you want to stay out of, if possible. However, one can still lead a full productive life for many years with cirrhosis, which should be noted. This is one factor that went behind my statement.

The statistic that only 1%-5% will die from hep c-related complications is evidence that most with HCV do not ever need to treat. But, let me also say that I do recognize the grey areas that exist which can influence the decision to treat. I also realize that whether they "needed to treat" is a different question from "should they have treated"?

Although the exact rate of progression between any two stages of fibrosis cannot be known for any one patient, patients can be still classified as to their overall rate of progression after a period of years ( I believe it was a min. of 10 years of infection in one study).The accuracy improves with the length of infection, of course. Most HCV patients can be placed into 3 different groups of either ,slow, medium, or fast fibrosers. Example: If a person has been infected for 25 years and is still only stage 1, they are most definitely a slow fibroser. The chances of this person ever reaching stage 4 are extremely improbable. However, this does not stop doctors from "recommending" tx to this type of patient, nor the many patients in these circumstances from demanding it. Also doctors who tell their patients they "have" to do tx, regardless of histology, deserve dishonorable mention and add further to the pool of over-treated patients.These are a few ways that contribute to the tx population of those who never needed to treat. (One research doc who knows more on the subject of fibrotic progression than most is Thierry Poynard. You can search PubMed or Google him if you want to learn more.)  

I  hope this makes my statement understandable now. Have a great day.
regards,
Mr Liver
Helpful - 0
86075 tn?1238115091
youre not a moron, youre addicted to cigs...you come in a lot of good company, many highly intelligent people are addicted, got nothing to do with intelligence....you'll get a hook on it, know you will...when youre ready...then you won't have any vice addictions and people will secretly hate you for it, lol.lol...sick humor again! you know what I mean, betcha within in a few years time you'll get rid of the butts too!
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
I wish I could have quit but - am too weak.   So I just kept smoking.  4 months post i was still UND and haven't had my next test yet (at 8 months now) because life got in the way.

Its stupid...all that work of 72 weeks to treat my liver but yet I continue to just poison my lungs every day over and over.  Still - even knowing it - all I want to do is leave my desk and go have a smoke right now.

I am a moron but at least I'll tell ya the truth about it.
Helpful - 0
250084 tn?1303307435
Love the name, BTW.
WHAT? How does that work? Why? I understand being 50-60, no liver damage, or early stage deciding not to and to just change life style, etc. But 'most' never needed too?
Just to put my mind at rest (1st shot Tues.).... I'm 49, female, 128lbs., no other health problems, WAS moderate drinker, anti-drug over 30 yrs., carried this over 30 years, stage 3 fibrosis, type 2b. My decision to treat a good one.....right ??? (especially being 2b?)
( sorry if some questions sound 'stupid', but I have only known about , gotten bx, found a hep Dr.and set up tx all in 3 1/2 mths. All gone very fast and I AM researching my fingers to the bone, but so much to absorb, while being ALREADY fatigued.)
                    thank you, LL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I smoked before the treatment and during the first few weeks.  After that I just did not feel like it anymore.  Infact my doctor said that I would probably quit.  I guess you can look at it as a good side effect of the treatment.  Even after the treatment I have no desire to smoke, just finished the 24 week schedule.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The statistic is correct. Most people who have treated never needed to.

Mr Liver
Helpful - 0
250084 tn?1303307435
Hey!  "1%-5% will die as a result of an HCV chronic infection. " That true? Than why do we (some 3 times over) go thru all the H*LL to get rid of it?? May sound like a dumb question but I am serious! I'm sure part of that answer is the symptoms/pains of hep.
                                                                                 LL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I love your attitude," get my misery out of the way at one time." I was told by doctor quiting while on Tx. wasn't the best time to quit, but tx and sore mouth, dry mouth sure makes you cut WAY back. Hey if we can kick this virus, we can kick the ciggs! It is so easy to say. One day at a time, one thing at a time. One step at a time. Two steps forward, one backward. Keep placing one foot in front of the other. Whew, I'm getting tired.
Best of luck!
Helpful - 0
254544 tn?1310775732
I'm 47 and was a pack a day smoker for 30 years.  I smoked up until the last  month of my treatment.  I started Chantix 2 months before I finished treatment for Hep C and was smoke free before I did my last shot.  My GI told me not to worry about trying to stop while I was also trying to do tx (stress factor) but I made the decision that I would try to quit at the end of tx so I could get all  my misery out of the way at one time.

I am a true beliver in Chantix.  I was smoke free after taking it for 3 weeks.  I've now been smoke free for almost 7 months.

Mouse
Genotype 1a, Stage 3, Grade 3
Finished 48 wks of tx on 4/13/07
Doing 6 mos Post SVR PCR tomorrow!
(9/20/07)
Helpful - 0
250084 tn?1303307435
LMAO, LMAO.  
Helpful - 0
86075 tn?1238115091
you must be a real kick at parties! :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I wouldn't worry too much about the impact smoking has on your liver, or on HCV. If you are a long term smoker chances are you've got alot more important things to worry about Here are the possible long-term outcomes for a smoker with HCV.

1%-5% will die as a result of an HCV chronic infection.

50%-60% of those who smoke, will die from a smoking-related illness.

Regards,
Mr Liver

Helpful - 0
137025 tn?1217764741
Right now.  Ice cream and smokes...last refuge of this old woman and her virus.

Willow
Helpful - 0
150807 tn?1194955315
Hahaha thats cute.....thank you i needed a laugh.
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206807 tn?1331936184
I tried the patches but quit using them because I found hard to keep lit when I smoked them
Helpful - 0
150807 tn?1194955315
Same here i like the gum more than i ever did the cigs lol and i was a 2 pk a day smokers lol. Has alot to do with me being OCD too didnt like the smell in my hair. I can be around smokers now, matter of fact it smells good to me now lol.
Helpful - 0
100019 tn?1335919717
I started smoking when I was 13.  At 43 cut down to 2 packs a week.  Couldn't quit (didn't really really really want to! just knew I should) smoked during TX.  Ended Tx last Sept - was told I had a lump in my lung.

Scared me so bad I quit.  Haven't had a cigarette since that day.  It's been a year now.  Doesn't mean I don't think about it when I get stressed or something but it usually only lasts for a minute or two.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i also smoked thru trx,but like APKhaos says,midtrx is an excellent opportunity to kick the habit....wish i had
Helpful - 0
80575 tn?1207132364
I quit 18 years ago through willpower (got to have that or nothing will work) and the nicotine gum.  I did find that I liked chewing the gum though.

The cigarettes may kill you before HCV or old age.

You can do it, quit.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I smoked for maybe 25 years. About midway through tx I figured that quitting could not make me feel any worse than I already did, and stopped. It worked. Its unlikely that anyone would suggest HCV treatment as a good therapy to stop smoking, but it worked for me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I smoked all the way through tx and am 3 years SVR.  Quit if you can, cut back or stay the same, I don't think it really makes a difference to the end result.

Good luck
Mattie
Helpful - 0
221913 tn?1372276661
Thanks so much for the feedback guys, it gave me a good insight on what I should consider doing in the future.

billstrong1969
Helpful - 0
86075 tn?1238115091
oh, what is it called? I just had "posting remorse" ha ha...I think what I said was kinda insensitive, I''ve never smoked (ciggies that is) so I should be more understanding...I just hope that all who smoke can find some way to quit..guess what I really hate is these tobacco companies formulating the cigarettes to be as addictive as possible...that really burns my butt...I can't stand evil corporate interests...guess a few here are w/ me on that? huh OH? hope youre feeling better and better SF....
Helpful - 0
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