After watching Phil escape from ICU to have a cigarette caused me to reflect on the reality of his condition - he just can't quit, even if it means his life.

As a nurse, I have seen many folks with exactly the same compulsion - even those dying of COPD and lung cancer. It scares me when they smoke regardless of their oxygen therapy, though. There is no use in trying to get them to quit - it's just not going to happen.

Guess we have to accept Phil just the way he is and pray that he will be able to return to the Cornelia Marie to captain his ship once again.

Bentwillow, I work in a hospital too and I have seen smokers do some strange things to get their nicotine fix. I prey that Phil's brush with dead will make him realize it's time to quit before there is no turning back.

I hope he is able to quit, too, but I think it would be unreasonable to expect him to immediately and successfully quit cold-turkey.

It appears that his smoking may be one of the stimulants he relies on to stay alert and focused through the long hours behind the wheel.

Phil is who he is, smoking and all. He seems to be trying to quit smoking, which ain't goint to be easy after all of these years, and that's a step in the right direction.

Dear Phil,

We would like to see you around more.Please quit smoking. I was floored to see you smoke while you were coughing up blood!

Phil, I understand how hard it is to quit smoking. Last year, I finally quit after 23 years of smoking off and on (mostly on), and I still think about it and want to smoke sometimes. I've been told it's easier to quit using heroin, and I believe that. I chewed lots of nicotine gum, and that did help. You can do it, Phil, I have faith! I will sure keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Capt. Phil,
I also have had a DVT and PE 5 years ago and lost my mother to a massive PE 3 years ago. Come to find out I'm protein S deficient which makes me prone to blood clots. I'm on coumadin for life and recently had a removable filter placed in my vena cava that will block 98% of any blood clots from going to my lungs that form in my legs. Ask to have your blood genetically tested and consider a filter. Also, have your boys blood checked it can be genetic especially if your Mom passed away from the same thing. Many doctors don't understand this disorder. You have to be proactive!! The filter is a easy surgery and is good peace of mind. Good luck and also stop smoking it increases chances of blood clots
Easier said then done. Right?
Take Care

Phil,
Man my heart sank when I saw you coughing up blood and unable to catch your breath. That brought back some tough memories for me. My father had a clot travel from his leg, through his heart and into his lung and survive. He has a clotting disorder and is on blood thinners the rest of his life now. The doctors still don’t understand how he survived.
My stepmother just a year later had the same thing happen, only she did not survive. The clot got caught in an artery and stopped her blood from flowing. She died within 10min of her first symptoms (collapsed in our hallway and by the time they wheeled her out to the ambulance she had passed away. She was only 39yrs old and had a 9yr old son).
Both my father and stepmother were heavy smokers. My father had quit about 7yrs prior to his clot so I am unsure what part his smoking had to play but I know my stepmother was a heavy smoker.
It’s a hard habit to break, especially living the lifestyle you live (full of stress). My father was able to quit using the Nicotine Gum. He became addicted to the gum, but the docs said they would much rather him chew the gum then smoke.
Its easy for us non-smokers to tell a smoker to just quit, but I have seen how hard it is and its not going to be easy. I try not to tell people how to live their lives (I just try to live my life the best I can) but I’m sure you realize you have to make some lifestyle changes. You have two beautiful sons who love you deeply and I’m pretty sure they want to see their dad around for a long time.
You are in my prayers. I pray for you to have the strength and motivation to be able to make the lifestyle changes the docs tell ya you need to make and I pray you get a clean bill of health and can go back to the job you love.
Best of luck!!!!
-Jessica

JESSICA, WHAT A HEART WARMING STORY. I ONLY HOPE CAPTN PHILL MAKES A SPEEDY RECOVERY. HIS BOYS DESERVE TO HAVE HIM AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

I realize that smoking is an addiction. I feel that the addiction to the nicotine, which has a calming effect on some people, make cigarettes a legal drug. Personally, I don't smoke. Food is my addiction. That said, my father had lung cancer, fast growing and had half a lung removed. He spent his last 10 months alive attached to a ventilator. He died looking like a skeleton with skin covering it. He had emphysema (sp) and my mother developed it. She had several TIA's then a couple of strokes, yet she never quit smoking until she wasn't able to get to the store and buy her cigarettes. They were also both alcoholics. They are the main reason I don't smoke. Also, cigarette smoke just plain stinks!

I am glad to see on "After the Catch" that Phil is chewing gum and not smoking. One thing bothers me though. Since the other captains know Phil isn't to smoke, why do they do it in front of him? Couldn't they just put the cigarettes away for the time it takes to film the "After the Catch" segments?

marymharp,

re: others smoking, I thought the same thing, especially when Josh lit up.
I live in MA, and know that most cities have banned smoking in bars.(if not a statewide ban. Being a nonsmoker, the debate never caught my attention.)
But I imagine Phil told everyone it was OK. It just seems to fit his personality.(at least what we've seen of him.)
Enjoy the marathon, everyone.

Wow, we have all of these people giving Phil advice--they all want him to stop smoking since so many people have seen loved ones die or suffer from smoking.

What gives any of you the right to give advice to Phil? I never offered Phil one piece of advice yet I was vilified and attacked.

I hope that Phil continues with his lifestyle since it is his right to live his life as he sees fit.

This board is amusing because it is also filled with so many hypocrits.

Phil, light up! As someone said in the thread that was closed, none of us can do anything to determine when we will die!

Isn't smoking just great! It makes men look so rugged and macho.

quote:

I'm only thinking of Phil's best interests. If he wants to live another 10 years he has to quit smoking, improve his diet and exercise. He has to get his hypertension under control.

If he doesn't, he might not return next year to DC.

hmmmm,
sounds like advice to me.

But you're right. you are better at judging.
I guess we have God lonebeagle here, folks. Line up and be judged.

Everyone else on the thread, I said I would ignore her, but proving the girl wrong was too tempting.