Hi everyone hope all our well since being diagnosed i have given up smoking as was told would help with my RA. Oh my do i need a cig right now flare up of all flare ups worse i ever had but not smoked in 5 months has anyone found that not smoking helps there joints as my consultant says it does,Really struggling with pain but will keep going and take my time xx

Hi Becky,

Well done for giving up smoking. I know how hard that is to do. Give yourself some credit.

I gave up a month after diagnosis, so can't answer your question really. But think of it this way, if your that bad with pain, the last thing you want to do is go outside for a ciggy, so you won't suffer in the winter by wanting one and not being able to move or stand the cold ec, hope you know what i mean???


I gave up March 2010 and still get the odd craving. Just remind yourself 'WHY' you gave up and the other benefits of giving up too.

Good luck, keep praising yourself.......you done good girl.

trace xx

Hi, Beckie,
VERY WELL DONE.
I gather the first few months are the hardest to give up the fags.
Do I gather you are fairly new to RA? There are lots of side effects and "add ons"
to this so and so disease. I don't want to scare you but sometimes the lungs can
get involved. Anything that aggravates the lungs eg, smoke and tar etc. can only make
things worse if you get coughs and colds and lead to bronchitis. PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE
don't go back on the fags, however tempting. Having got tthat off my mind,I hope the
flare subsides as quickly as it came. As Tracy said, rest as much as you can, pace yourself
(easier said than done) and take the Tramadol. Your body is undergoing many changes, DON,T
succumb to the fags. Sorry to be blunt, RA is hard enough on its own. Very Good Luck, Keep posting,
Better than lighting up Anne

Thanks to you all and yeah anne new to ra will not give in to temptation will speak to you all instead Thanks agian xxxx

Really very well done. My Husband smokes and I hate the smell, him coughing, and the denial he
puts himself through.

I take Tramadol for the pain, I do seem to get lots of dreams though, so not sure if that is a side effect?

You are doing really well, well done.

Rose

Hi all still off the cigs the smell makes me feel sick .Tramadol is making me sleepy so not taken it today and boy do i know about it will continue tommorrow

Thanks too you all for your support and words of encouragement xxxxx

Well done Becky. I have never smoked myself but my husband gave up five years ago, and he found it really hard especially the first few months. He used the smoking cessation service at our gp's.

Bevxx

Hi Becky

I am new to this site but saw your post and thought I would say a big well done on quitting

I managed to give up smoking 20 months ago and it was the best thing I ever did. Although I don't feel it helped with my RA so much in that I still have joint swelling and pain, I definitely feel much better in myself.
I was very lucky in that although I had smoked for about 10 years I didn't have many cravings after the 1st couple of weeks but my husband did and he used the nicotine gum for about 4 months until he stopped having any cravings.

You should be very proud of yourself

Deb xx

Well done. I know it's hard as i gave up about 23 years ago.

Just think of the money saved for new clothes or whatever takes your fancy.

The health benefits are worth it too!

Love Shirley x

Hi Becky,

I stopped on 11 July so I'm with you all the way girl! So the research says it helps reduce your symptoms and increases the efficacy of your drugs, can't say I've noticed but still determined to stay off them. Strangely though my husband, only a social smoker, is finding it just as hard! We were camping with some friends recently and he asked for a silk cut, I did my disappointed what about the solidarity darling look, and he withdrew his request!

So I've bought some herbal cigarettes for the odd moment when the cravings are unbearable, this is therapeutic in itself because its like smoking peat and really horrible so it gets stubbed out pretty quickly and reminds me why I really don't want to do this any more.

Keep up with it Becky, I've been checking the other things that are supposed to improve like circulation etc and am hoping for fewer chill blains in the winter. Even if it doesn't help your joints giving up reduces your risk of heart disease etc so there are many plusses. Having said all that, as soon as I get a chill blain, that's it they're all fibbers and I'm going to start again,only joking!

Sara