Carolyn,

I you have truly been diagnosed as having Buergers Disease, then there is
only one way to stop it in it's tracks and that is by stopping smoking. I
should know, I have had both legs amputated below the knee and sustained
damage to my hands. Have lost half a finger on the left hand and the tips of
fingers on the right hand.
I was faced with the amputation of both hands and was told that my only cure
was to stop smoking: that was twenty years ago and I have not smoked since.

James
-----Original Message-----
From: carolyn_fassler [mailto:L82work@...]
Sent: 22 August 2004 09:49
To: beurgersdisease@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Beurgers Disease] Quitting Smoking


I was wondering if quitting smoking actually stops Buerger's Disease
or if it only slows it down. I am thinking of making an honest effort
to quit again very soon because it seems like each day brings new
aches and pains.

I was reading some of the past posts and noticed that others have
trouble healing and with bruising, which is something I can totally
relate to.

I must have had this disease for years before being diagnosed. Last
summer I had an ulcerated finger which I thought was due to gardening
without gloves. Then my dermatologist thought I had a wart underneath
my fingernail. It was incredible how much better I felt after the
doctor cut the nerves in my finger.

I frequently find myself short of breathe and break out in a terrible
sweat doing simple things, like bending down to pick something up; it
totally frustrates me. Do others have this problem? I often wonder
if I will become permanently disabled and if so, how long does it take
to go from bad to worse?

Any information would be appreciated...I want to learn all I can about
this and I want to beat it eventually!


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