Case Study - Recovering from Smoking - Introduction

I promised you a case study to demonstrate what results are possible after 40 years of smoking 1 to 2 packs of cigarettes per day. To put all this in some perspective, I have gathered some general data from my GP as follows:

Date...........Wt.. BP......... TRG..TC..FEV..FCV..O2
8/24/89..180..110/72
5/14/90.......... 118/70
11/8/90..176...108/72
3/19/91..179...120/74
6/4/91....186...132/88
4/16/93..184...130/72
4/13/94..179...126/78.....220
4/28/94...........136/70
12/3/96..183...138/92.....274...242
12/1/97..185...132/96
1/6/98....185...120/82
8/10/98..189...120/80
9/22/98...........138/80
12/7/98..187...116/80
8/16/99...........120/80
9/14/99..190...102/70
12/8/99..188.....90/62
12/29/99..........110/70
4/6/0......189...112/64
4/11/0..............120/60....425...194
11/6/0....189...112/76
8/28/1...197...108/76
11/12/1..196...122/90
5/28/2...196...120/78
6/25/2...195...124/90.....358...230
11/6/2...189...118/82
1/3/3.....186...114/74
6/17/3...192...134/84
11/24/3.191...120/80
5/21/4...195...106/74....291...253
10/18/4.186...104/67
3/28/5...185...116/68
4/7/5...............124/68
*******************Doctor told me to quit smoking or else.
8/17/5 *************Quit smoking completely
1/31/6...203...104/80
********************Referred to Pulmonary Specialist
2/13/6..206.......................................21%...32%..90%
2/28/6..210...........................................................94%
4/7/6.......................................202
5/1/6.....212......................................29%...52%..91%
10/11/6...........80/70
10/16/6.210..........................................................90%
12/5/6...203..........................................................93%
1/2/7......200..110/64......178...185
2/16/7...198.......................................29%...67%..92%
6/8/7.....193.......................................29%...77%..90%

BP - Blood Pressure
TRG - Triglycerides
TC - Total Cholersterol
FEC - % lung evacuation in first second
FVC - predicted % of total lung evacuation
O2 - % Oxygen absorbed in blood

Notes: up until 1997 physical exercise included amateur adult hockey 5 times/wk.
-from 1996 to 2000 - physcial activity at work was extensive.
-from 2000 to 2003, physical activity at work declined to almost nil.
-2003 to 2006, 0 physcial activity.
-fall of 2006 started on exercise bike - 3 minutes per day at lowest level.
-current - 10 or 15 minutes per day on exercise bike at medium level.

Notes:
-weight peaked at 218 in September of 2006.
-started Adkins type diet in September 2006. After 2 months, switched to a very
relaxed Adkins low carb type diet.

Since the Spring of 2006, the Pulmonary specialist has indicated that I have severe
COPD with borderline hypoxemia. It was recommended that I use Oxygen, but
to date I have refused as I am working to solve this health issue not develop
lifetime crutches.
Furthermore, all literature and the advice of the specialist indicate that there is
no return from COPD. In other words, you can not get back the lost capacity
of your lungs. OK, we have a baseline here and I propose to reverse the effects
of COPD using a combination of exercise and diet.
I believe at 5 foot 9.5 inches that my weight should be ideally 170 pounds.
I currently weigh 189.
My daily regimen for exercise is 10 minutes before breakfast on the exercise
bike at the 4 star level. I skip perhaps once or twice per week.
I believe that I should aim to increase the bike activity to 10 minutes before
breakfast, 5 minutes before lunch and 5 minutes before dinner. The level of
resistence will increase as I am able.
Every 3 months I will visit the Pulmonary group and obtain the FEV, the
FCV and Saturated Oxygen readings. This will be used to evaluate the
condition of my lungs and brochial system.
Every Wednesday I will report my weight and my exercise regimen for the
past week. Any special activities or issues will be noted.

This is not a scientific case study, there is no double blind or group sampling, I know
this, but if my personal case study can give hope to those with COPD, then it will
be of some worth.

It is my personal opinion that apathy is the real devil in this situation. You smoke
for a lifetime, you quit and are proud of yourself. You are surprized that you do
not regain your breath or health as everyone has promised. Because your breath
has not returned, you can not exercise consistently and physical activity is
difficult. This lack of physical activity allows your weight to balloon up. Other
factors in the weight issue are -nicotene appetite suppression, frustration and
personal apathy. As the weight increases, breathing is even more difficult and
exercise becomes impossible. It becomes a catch 22. The apathy increases and
your will to live disappears. It is my opinion that this is the cycle for most COPD
patients. Attacked the weight issue and forcing oneself to exercise no matter how
minimal is critical if you are to break the apathy cycle.

See you next Wednesday, June 20 2007.