smoking

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ALL OF YOU, BUT MY SPECIALIST TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO STOP SMOKING OR HE COULDENT or WOULDENT TREAT ME. I'VE BEEN SMOKING 35 YRS YES I PROBABLY CAN AND WILL STOP BUT IT JUST SEEMS SO SMALL COMPARED TO EVERTHING ELSE, DID ANYONE ELSE SMOKE DURING TREATMENT?

[SusieS2010]

Smoking is known to increase fibrosis. However, it is not a reason not to treat. It would be best for your overall health to quit but if you can't, find another doc to treat you.

[fretboard]

That's a bit severe for a doctor to say but it doesn't surprise me much because of the way society has gotten against smokers in general.  You can quit if you make up your mind to quit but you gotta find an idea that you can make work for you, like patches, pills or gum.  I quit over 2yrs ago with help from the patches.  Smoking affects everything you do and the older I get the more society turns against smokers.  I smoked for over 40yrs before I quit but it was starting to cause really bad wheezing at night and other health issues.  There are many smokers on this forum, they'll be in later.  good luck

[Susan_1a_CC]

You might want to check out this book.  The author has been so successful in helping people quit smoking - easily - the even the World Health Organization has recruited him.  Good luck to you.

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-Smoking-Non-Smokers/dp/1402718616

[nygirl7]

/Actually my doctor told me that when I first started treating was not the time to quit that I"d have enough stress going on already. However he did want me to quit later. I never did though but now that smoking makes you a straight up criminal dirtbag these days I really want to. Bad enough having the hep stigma adding the smoking to it doesn't really help my self esteem.

[GSDgirl]

I didn't quit but then my doctor did not mention it.  He did not mention a lot of things tho.

[Survivor45]

I read about a study online that found that the progression of Hep C was faster in smokers than in non-smokers.  The study was conducted in Europe.  I asked my doctor about the findings...he said that it was true.  I quit smoking after that visit; 8 years ago.  Quitting the habit was difficult, and I had a few, brief relapses but eventually quit completely.

[paen53]

I was a long time smoker too - and a frequent "quitter". (40+ years) Decided I was going to give myself the best chance at tx and healing my liver and quit cold turkey on December 29, 2008. Almost two years now. I don't think I could have smoked during tx anyway as my senses were so acute then, especially smells. My Dr. never mentioned about quitting during tx, just the overall recommendation for quitting healthwise. Anyway, I finally kicked it and feel all the better for it. Plus a good chunk of change more in my pocket.