During my last discussion about sin, one of my dear friends said she was sorry that I have lung disease. Don't feel sorry for me. Smoking was a bad habit that I acquired as a teen. That's why some doctors call nicotine addiction a pediatric illness. My father was a chronic smoker. When I was 23, he died of emphysema and heart disease. Plus, I was a Mormon. Smoking is against the Word of Wisdom. I knew that smoking was wrong and had been linked to lung cancer. When I was young, I was too headstrong to quit.
There is another reason why I don't want people to feel sorry for me because I have lung disease. Several years ago, I went to the army hospital because I woke up twice short of breath. I couldn't understand waking up short of breath. The radiology techs did a CT lungs on me. My doctor told me I had multiple nodules (or lumps) in my lungs. He was concerned that it might be lung cancer. I thought I was going to die. I was so depressed I didn't even want to go shopping. You know things are really bad when a lady doesn't want to shop.
After a second CT lungs, the doctor explained to me that multiple nodules on the lungs are found in certain areas of the world. He asked me where I was from. I told him that I lived in California's High Desert for 15 years. He told me that there is a disease called Valley Fever that is found in California and Arizona, especially in the desert. The disease is caused by a fungus that lives in the soil. The fungus can be stirred up by farming, construction or wind. If you inhale its spores, you can develop acute Valley Fever.
The proper medical term for Valley Fever is about ten syllables long. I can't say it, much less spell it. The doctor said I may have caught acute Valley Fever when I was young, but not have realized it. The symptoms of acute Valley Fever can be mild. You feel like you have a cold or the flu. It may last for about two weeks. It can resolve on its own. In my case, I don't remember being sick at all. But it could have been much worse. Chronic Valley Fever can make people very sick. Recently, 1700 prisoners had to transferred out of prisons in California's San Joaquin Valley after 62 inmates died of Valley Fever.
The proper medical term for Valley Fever is about ten syllables long. I can't say it, much less spell it. The doctor said I may have caught acute Valley Fever when I was young, but not have realized it. The symptoms of acute Valley Fever can be mild. You feel like you have a cold or the flu. It may last for about two weeks. It can resolve on its own. In my case, I don't remember being sick at all. But it could have been much worse. Chronic Valley Fever can make people very sick. Recently, 1700 prisoners had to transferred out of prisons in California's San Joaquin Valley after 62 inmates died of Valley Fever.
To rule out lung cancer, my doctor said that I had to undergo a series of CT examinations of the lungs. If the nodules on my lungs didn't grow, I was ok -- meaning that the lumps on my lungs were probably old scars and that I probably did not have lung cancer. But if the nodules grew, I probably had lung cancer.
Every six months I went to the hospital for a CT lungs. No growth was noted. After three examinations, the doctor ruled that the lumps were old scars. He said I didn't have to undergo any more CT lungs examinations. That's when I knew I didn't have lung cancer. I was so relieved. That's why I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I'm grateful it was only Valley Fever. I can live with a fungus.
Naturally, this experience was very stressful. I decided to quit smoking because I didn't want to do anything that might make the condition of my lungs worse. The army hospital was giving nicotine patches to people who wanted to quit. I got a set. I picked a date. On that date, I applied the patch to my skin. I used to be a real b**** if I ran out of cigarettes. With the patch, I didn't jones at all. A week later, I completely forgot about the patches. I forgot all about cigarettes too.
I hope my smokealogue hasn't been too dull and boring. I wanted to inspire you. We all have our vices, our weaknesses, our little sins. Mine was tobacco. I didn't think I would ever quit smoking. I thought I would die with a cigarette in my hand. But I feel so much better since I quit. I don't cough nearly as much as I used to. I no longer have to suffer those unpleasant nicotine fits.
I don't have to tell you what your bad habit. You already know if you smoke, drink or eat too much. I don't want to be a nag. I want you to know that when it comes to the point that your indiscretion is ruining your health or destroying your life, you can quit. You really can.
Here's to your good health and happy life!
Here's to your good health and happy life!
