To think it is too late to stop smoking

[Nomoreworkathome]

Just that really....am 50. Smoking since I was 13. I guess the damage is done. Is it too late?

Similar to the OP, I'm mid-50's and started smoking when I was around 13. I've gone from 40 a day to nothing, thanks to vaping - I think the reason it worked for me when other types of NRT hadn't is that you can still have the hand to mouth habit. Coming up for my 2 year fag-free anniversary soon .

I think it is great you can admit that. It is a start. I wonder too if your smoking is a "fuck you" to cancer?
I guess the point to give up will be when the enjoyment is overshadowed by the total costs to you.

I'm giving up tonight, I have 6 left and intend to enjoy every single one in the garden in peace.

I don't actually want to stop but I have to, I'm 41 and started at 11, and I want to be around for my 5yr old, the fags will kill me just like they killed my Father at 55.

I'll miss my quiet times out in the garden, just me mn and my fag, but I have to do it.

My dad stopped 10 years ago, at 60. He had smoked 40 a day for 40 odd years.

Never too late!

So many inspirational responses. I need to stop being a weak and a slave to it.

My mum finally gave up at the age of 69.

Now, 16 years later, she has saved 16 years worth of fag money, her house and clothes don't smell and she has most probably lived longer than she would have done had she carried on smoking. She would tell you she wished she'd done it years ago ... maybe at the age of 50 !

Never too late. My mother quit after she knew her lung cancer was terminal. It helped hugely with the breathlessness.

I started around 14. Packed it in at 53. 58 now, not had one since I stopped. It's never too late. Go for it, and good luck!

My grandad died in his early 50s when i was a kid through lung cancer, was horrific, had to wheel oxygen tanks everywhere and went down to 4 stone and had drains in his torso, that never ever put me off smoking for some reason until my chest started playing up, you get so used to your chest being a smokers chest you don't realise its not normal until you stop long enough for it to clear up then start to feel the benefit

I gave up after 17 years smoking 30 a day (or more, during stressful times). I came to realise that in fact what I took for enjoyment was relief from withdrawal symptoms. Also - I did not like having smelly clothes and bad teeth. I did it with nicotine gum ( vaping did not exist back in 2006) and moving onto ordinary chewing gum. It was well worth it just in terms of the money saved, plus nice white teeth! You can absolutely do it.

Oh Euphemia good luck with your journey..... good for you! I SHOULD think of my family and the impact this could well have on them.

It's never too late. My mum gave up smoking when she turned 70, after smoking since she was 13. She hasn't smoked for 3 years now. She still says she would love a puff, but likes having the extra money too much to ever start again!

Never too late. I know people whi have stopped in their 70s and gained an extra 15 years or so, according to their doctors.
For me, after 21 years of smoking (40 plus fags on some nights out and about 20 on other days), hypnosis worked. She offered me another session, free, if it didnt work. She made me more aware of the emotional reasons for my habit and it suddenly clicked into place that i didnt really want to smoke anymore.
Good luck! I hope you find the help that is right for you.

Nomoreworkathome Soz to sound patronizing but don't think about it,

JUST DO IT!!

It's as simple as that understood?)

OP, I'm not a doctor, but I feel certain it's never too late to give up smoking. 50 isn't old. If anything, think of all the money you'll save and what you could spend it on instead...

Nomoreworathome, Allen Carr's 'Easy Way to Stop Smoking'. Brilliant book. It addresses all the reasons why we smoke - including the one that we enjoy smoking. It's not judgemental, you can smoke all the time you're reading the book and re-read if you need to.

I was lucky, had smoked for 20 years, been stopped for 10 now and I'm so happy to be free of the things. It's incredible how much my life revolved around smoking.

Good luck, it really is a great book and well worth a try.

Good luck Euphemia also.

My grandmother stopped in her 60s I believe. Given she was born in 1908, she would have been smoking without a care for a large number of years.

She died aged 99.5 having been really pretty healthy for the time I knew her - who knows whether she would have lasted that long if she had not given up?

My dad gave up in his 50s after my mum died as he believed it was passive smoking that caused her death
He is now in his 70s
He had started smoking at the age of 11

I enjoy smoking and I didn't want to quit. Tried vaping before, no joy
Bought a decent vape kit 7 months ago and haven't smoked since. I can't stand the smell now, there's a packet in the house and I wouldn't smoke any and don't want one. I was on 30 a day

It's not too late both my DF and DFIL stopped their 60s and are much healthier because of it. At age 50 you could still have another 30 or more smoke free years ahead. Apart from anything else just think of what you could do with the money. I've you stuck £8 (of however much fags cost now) in a jar everytime you would have bought fags that will add up to £100s of pounds over the year. You could treat yourself to something fantastic instead of killing yourself.

My dad stop smoking around 50 (~30 years ago).

If he hadn't stopped he wouldn't have enjoyed his retirement fishing, playing golf, bowling and the social aspects of these clubs. He wouldn't have had a chance to be an active grandparent and see his older dgc grow up to become adults.

If he hadn't stopped he wouldn't have met my ds(12) and know him until he was 10. It breaks my heart he wasn't there for longer.

The damage caused by smoking did kill him in the end (COPD) but I reckon he got a good 15+ years of quality life extra from stopping at 50.

It is likely you (and me, I stopped at 35) have done some damage to our bodies which we will pay for later, but the sooner you stop the more of life you'll get the chance to enjoy. It is not too late for stopping to make a significant difference.

Definitely not too late. I'm 53 and stopped just over a year ago. I think it has to be the right time for you though. I know someone who gave up in their 70s.

Naomoreworkathome I am 52 I started smoking at 14 and stopped last year. I too liked smoking I had an engraved baccy tin and special lighters! After being nagged by Dh and my dentist telling me I would lose all my teeth if I didn't stop I finally managed it. You can do it.It won't be easy but you'll get there