Quitting smoking was a tough one for me, I was so addicted I would drag my IV pole full of chemotherapy out to the smoking area because I couldn't wait another hour for the IV drip to finish. I was miserable and I need a cigarette much more than I needed the chemotherapy drip to finish. So there I was in the middle of winter, with an IV bag hanging onto the catheter in my neck, and a cigarette dangling from my fingers. Oh, how fashionable I was. I made one excuse after the other and believed every one of them. I wasn't ready to quit. When I finally did quit, I did it for me, nobody else, just me. I had harassed by friends, family, and coworkers. My DH and DS DD used to ask me almost daily to please quit. I did try many times, and I failed many times. I prayed about it, I worried about it, and I stressed about it.

It was long after the chemotherapy was finished and my blood work went sideways showing all sorts of inflammatory markers, and I began to worry the cancer was trying to return, but I got the courage to pray harder. I went to the doctor and asked for the nicotine inhaler. It was one of the best things I ever did, but I was ready. I was ready to do it for me, nobody else, for no other reason, it was only about me. When I stopped smoking my blood work almost instantly dropped back down to normal levels. What I didn't know then, is that I had MS and I was in a flare or a relapse. I was dropping my left foot, and had fuzzy vision in my left eye. That alone would explain the increase in levels of my blood work. Had I even suspected MS, I probably would not have had the courage to stop.

I am so happy I did. I smell better. I no longer have that funny little cough. And I spend my money on a better selection of toys. It was hard work for the first couple of months, but after that it got easier and easier. I know I'm one of those people that can never, ever pick up a cigarette even for just one puff. I know with just one puff I would be instantly hooked all over again. I know how hard this struggle is to lay them down. I don't envy the task for anyone, but I'm ever so glad I took the journey. And the famous line is, if I can do it anyone can.

to those who can, to those who can't.

I think this is a record for NewsBot! I don't think he's ever gotten this many responses to one of his "news flashes"! Bless his little heart.....

Newsbot knows how to start a comotion. He/she should be banned for flaming..

Pernicious anemia, which is a B12 deficiency caused by the gut not able to absorb B12 from food, is one of the most missed diagnoses, especially in the elderly. Sometimes, a serum test will not pick it up, only a urine MMA test will, especially in th elderly.

Sometimes B12 injections can partly reverse the damage, sometimes not.

Ys, it can lead to death.

Was your doc negligent in assessing you, or did you jsut never go to see docs?

PA is a mimicker of MS.

Thanks so much for verifying what I said PG