SwiftVets.com

dusty · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:22 am Post subject: Smoking

Boy I got a lot of catching up to do.
Been in the V.A. Hospital in Houston, Tx. last 3 weeks getting my throat cut from ear to ear.
Throat cancer on my vocal chords from years of smoking. Quit 15 yrs. ago but that apparently didn't help for the 40 yrs. I smoked 2 packs a day before.
My message now is, if you smoke, please please quit.
You can take it from me, this was no fun at all.
Now I don't have a voice and I have a permanent hole in my throat through which I will breath for the rest of my natural life. This is not cool folks.
Think about it.
The surgens said that the smoking was the cause of my cancer almost 100%.
Anyway, so glad to be back and able to at least type and read.
I'm gonna go start catching up on what's been going on now.
Everyone have a good weekend. Smile

Dusty
_________________
Left and Wrong are the opposite of Right!

kate · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:31 am Post subject:

Dusty, so sorry to hear what you've been going through, and hope you are on the mend.

and so glad to see you back!

Kate
_________________
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one of..... We The People

LewWaters · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:52 am Post subject:

Welcome back, Dusty. Sorry to hear of this, but also glad to hear you came through it.

GenrXr · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:00 am Post subject:

Good reason to quit. Glad to hear your doing ok Dusty and hope your continued recovery goes as well as can be.
_________________
"An activist is the person who cleans up the water, not the one claiming its dirty."
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Founder of Conservative Philosophy

margie · Seaman Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 187

I quit only 8 months ago, was getting "wobbly" read about a "safe cigarette" in Drudge report this morning. Thanks for your post, came just in time for me!

GM Strong · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:52 pm Post subject:

Me#1You#10 · Site Admin Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 6503

Welcome back Dusty. Good to hear you weathered the storm. Wink

dusty · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the good wishes guys.
If what I've been through can keep just one person from having to go through it it'll be worth it.
Like I said, this was no fun at all.
6.5 hr. in surgery, two days in I.C.U. then a week with NO swallowing allowed.
That was maybe the hardest part of the whole thing. Try not swallowing for just a few minutes and you'll see what I mean. They give you a little suction tube thing that you can keep your saliva from building up with. But a person makes tons of saliva when they know they can't swallow it it seems.
Keeps you up all night and all day almost.
Course now I'm going through all the swollen neck, hard to swallow and attendant fun of looking like a Frankenstein monster.
Please hear my words if you smoke and quit and if you haven't started yet DON'T. If these details can deter just one I'll be happy.
I didn't think it would ever happen to me either. Been a bull all my life. Nothing I wouldn't tackle or try. But it don't help when that gene turns renegade on you. And an element in smoke will make it happen without you even knowing it for a long time.
I'm slowly catching up. Been a lot going on.

Dusty
_________________
Left and Wrong are the opposite of Right!

Nutso · PO3 Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 271 Location: Minnesota

I just started cheating after a year without, maybe I will re-think that. Me best to you Dusty, good to see ya back.

Doll · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:55 am Post subject:

Glad you are back and can catch up on all the latest news. I am sorry you had to go through this. Sad

God bless you!
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shawa · CNO Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 2004

Welcome back, Dusty. We missed you.
Wishing you all the best in your recovery.
_________________
“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.” (Thomas Paine, 1776)

MrJapan · PO1 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 465 Location: Chiba, Japan

Great to see you in here still kickin' up the dust Wink

I hope that you are 110% reall soon too.. we all have to get ready for the next election ya know Very Happy