On the 23rd of August I went to work at 5am as usual. I felt fine and had no idea I was sick. By 8:30am I was freezing and my hands and feet were numb. By 9am I was in the ER ( my supervisor thought this was the best place for me, I just wanted to go home). I was running a temp of 103.4 and was dehydrated to the point of circulatory failure. and a white cell count that was through the roof. My body was shutting down, hence the numbness in my hands and feet. They pumped me full of fluids and it was 3 days before I could even pee. They had diagnosed me with pneumonia and sent me upstairs for a lengthy stay. I had no symptoms of pneumonia except for a shadow on my right lung. This shadow happened to be my gallbladder. It was also found that I have an enlarged ( swollen ) liver that was also leaking fluid into the sack around it. This made it hard to breathe just like it would if I had a lung infection. They pumped me full of very strong antibiotics and 10 days later removed my gallbladder. I have 4 tiny incisions, less than 1 inch long. I was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon at around 4.

The good outcome of this lengthy stay is that I have been a smoker for the last 25+ years. With a stay of 11 days in the hosp and no cigs I decided to quit. I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms in the hospital because I was so sick. I was worried about how I would feel once I got released since my hubby smokes also. I don't seem to want a cigarette although my hands do feel they should be doing something. Even when my hubby lights up I don't feel the need to light up also. I also do not feel the need to constantly eat as some others have felt. I chew gum and suck on hard candy (sugar free) if I feel the need for something but I do not light up.

Hopefully the results will last and I will be a reformed smoker from now on. Sometimes good things come from bad situations. The money I save will go for lots of new citrus.

Gardnerdragon, Thank God that you came through all this, and was restored to health. I was a smoker for 10 years, and quit many, many years ago. You can do it. Take care of yourself. - Millet

Gardner_dragon -citrus buddy, so glad you pulled thru this big ordeal!! WOW...I'm a smoker too, & sometimes I cut down & what I miss most is the habit of putting something in my mouth. I did the sugarless suckers too & they helped. If I'm in a situation where I couldn't smoke for that time, I would do same & think of you!
So glad you are getting better. Your supervisor may have saved your life.
Have a good rest & take time to smell the citrus!

Well today is day 13 without a cigarette. Its been pretty stressful and I almost gave up..BUT......I DIDN'T. I did not reach for the pack and light up. It makes it a bit tough cause I have a 15 year old with an attitude and I tend to get a bit ummmm testy right now. He has found out that mom can have a worse attitude than his. Hubby is trying to stay out of my way as I am a bit grouchy around him also.

I quit once before for 5 years. The reasons for starting back were dumb. I think if I get through this I will stay smoke free from now on. Its a bit harder as I have others living with me that must bear the brunt of mood swings. Before there was only me and the walls.

I will keep you updated on my progress.

As far as the illness goes I am a lot better. I go back to the Dr. on Thursday to see the surgeon and the following week to see my Dr.
Andi

Glad you are doing better!!!

Good luck with Successfully not smoking again...

Hope all goes well with the next Dr visit..

Gina *BabyBlue*

Wow, glad you are on the mend and as for those cigs.... Hang in there and we are here for you. I to quit once for 3 years and for dumb reasons went back, then 3 years ago gave them up again and this time I used the patch for one round of treatment and that helped a lot. I still crave one every now and then and it has done nothing for improving the taste of food but I have noticed that I am now very sensitive to the smell of smoke when I am around others who do smoke. It has got to be hard, having to live with someone who still smokes, maybe hubby could try smoking in only one room, or the garage. Take care of you!!!

Andi sorry to hear that. Hope you are feeling much better now. Good for you with the smoking !

ugh. glad to see youre OK!

I got a bad virus and was unable to hold down anything for about 18 hrs... by the time id finally gotten out of bed i figured i should quit, finace hates it.

3 yrs quit, went back after having a cig with an old high school crush before moving across country.

Ive had 1 or 3 on thursdays (karaoke night) the last 2 weeks, and been OK the rest of the week. I cant own a pack tho. its too much.

you should SO bake your boss some cookies or something!