Topic: Stop Smoking Support Thread

Janzin you are quite the writer...nicely put.

Bsain how are you? 

Well said Janzin.  As always.  Well, I have had a rough week because I know that I am going for my 18 month gamma ray mammogram on Thursday.  Will the worry ever go away?  All my ears want to hear is that I am still "all clear" but I am like a beaten puppy when it comes to these tests, I just flinch at the thought of bad news.  I think I need some Valium....heehee....I think I need to sleep too!  Has anyone had the gamma ray?  I guess it is much clearer than the normal, and they get a 3-d photo that they can read live on the spot.  I know the technology is new, because we only have one doctor in all of SW Florida that does this test.  It took me 5 months to get my appointment!

I hope all you are doing well.  My best of luck to the new-combers!  You are all doing great.

Love!

Ellie

O2Bhealthy, thanks for stopping in and for your support and congrats on your days. You have been strong and went through a lot of the BC process smoke free. Also want to thanks you hubby as he has been so supportive of you. Every bit of support helps!!!! I know life has gotten really busy and I really miss you. Vegas for BCBF or BCBK. For newbies that means Breast Cancer Butt Fondlers as some of us are still trying to quit, and BCBK stands for Breast Cancer Butt Kickers as some of has made it. I will be a BCBK one day soon! Also, would love to see you all here in Denver, maybe take a trip to one of the beautiful towns here such as Vail or Aspen. XOXOXOX

FIfish, I don't think you are beaten puppy, you have had so much strength and to be able to see the humor in things is a strong thing to do. I haven't heard about the gamma ray but I don't get out much either. Good luck with the new procedure! I had the new hip replacement and I am grateful for that newer procedure. Valium, mango rum drinks and some BAHAHAHAH's is what you need. Will post a card up for all of you soon to help cheer you all up.

REKOZ!!!!!!! SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!!!!! MISSED YOU! Roomies are doing great! Having a great time getting adjusted and already planning our quit date. She will see how really wacky I am, lol. Can't wait to get out and do some exploring and this is the first time in years that I have wanted to celebrate holidays. I have love back in my life and I am also helping a 19 year girl who has had a rotten set of cards in her life. Nancy is already feeling motherly to her so together I hope we can give some good to her and help her move on.

I hear you on the date, but I know your time will come. Just have to get your ducks in a row. I know how much you loved your father and I am sending out love your way. You have had so much happen so some things take time to heal. Looking forward to you and Ellie coming up and I will hunt you down if you stop posting!!!!!!! There have been times when quitting and posting at the same time was hard as I did not want to even think about cigs, got your back sis! XOXOXO

Pantufas, so happy you are here. I don't think you realize how much I needed you. The last 2 years have been horrible with the divorce, multiple surgeries and then BC. All of you here has made a huge difference in my life! I think I would of been in a really rotten place without you all as the last 2 years have been one of the most painful time of my life. I want you to be comfy and relax here. Much love to you, can't wait to start my jokes!!!


Cleo and Candie, thanks for everything and even though we do not see you two often, we are happy when you stop by for a quickie and let us know how many days you got in. Congrats on your quit smoking days!

Denise, miss ya girl and Nobleanna, sending you much love too.

Will reach out later as I think I have wrote a book, sorry.

Hugs,
Janet

Hi dear fiends,

Janet certainly put it better than I did with her post to Sue but what can I do when Pat gets fired up?  My apologies to the newibies.  I am not normally a hateful person but I am very protective of the gals here.  Sorry I haven't given you a proper welcome.

Hi Ellen. You are doing well to post considering what you are going through emotionally.  It takes a long time to get over the loss of your parent.  Actually, you never get over it but the passing of time makes it more bearable.  My hardest times are the holidays and here they are coming up.  Janet gave me a little bush for my bedroom and it is sitting here behind the pc where I can see it all of the time.  It is special not only because she gave to me but because it is the exact thing that I gave dad his last Christmas in the VA hospital.  I feel that he is here with me and through Janet, he has let me know it.  It has been 16 years since we lost him and now, even though tears well, I have a smile on my face when I think of him.  A time will come when your thoughts of your father are comforting.  I hope your mum adjusts to her move.  You are a wonderful daughter!

flfish, I am thinking of you as well, knowing that you lost your dear mum to bc.  The terror for you must be unspeakable but take heart.  I was properly diagnosed with a BSGI and the only painful thing is the beesting when they shoot the tracing agent into the top of your foot. It spreads throughout your entire body and converges in the cancerous cells (if any).  You are right.  You will have instant results that you can see for yourself.  It is very recent technology and one of the best diagnostic tools for finding cancer, especially if you have dense breasts, implants, scarring etc.  I will be praying that you will have no black areas and all of your dots are gray.  I am also praying that you and Irene will be coming to Denver along with anyone else who is brave.  No, just kidding!  We are having a wonderful time bonding.  ZinZin is so easy to live with and has an aura of peace and calm.  Very theraputic.  Then when we are though being Zenful we can go raid Wal-Mart!  Can you imagine all of us together?  Simply SPLENDIFEROUS!!!

o2b, so glad to hear you are doing great with your non smoking. malle, love it when you post, nobleanna, thinking of you, 2new, missing you and mb.  If I have missed you, you have my permission to come kick my a@@ in Denver but you just have to give me a head start first.

Love to all!

Nancy

I didn't think once was enough so I had to post it twice!  Rats!  How embarrassing!!

Denise, thanks for the update, I know you feel rotten, but we appreciate you keeping us informed on how you are doing.  That stinks the SE's are so bad.  Take one day at a time.  Suggestions?  Well, I think the little dum dum suckers help me to keep my hands and mouth occupied.  Licorice doesn't stink either!

Thanks Nancy for all the info on the BSGI.  It really helped me and I got ALL GRAY DOTS!  All clear and I don't need another one for 6 months.  SWEET!  Now I can sleep again.  What would I do without you ladies?  I love you all so much!

Ellie

Denise Oh I am so sorry your having such bad SE's  has your onoc thought of changing to taxotere instead of taxol? Sounds like your just not bouncing back at all.  Are you eating your fruits and veggie's or chicken soup?  I'll have to check around and see who else is having this bad of time and maybe they can share some tips with you.  Amazing how cigs seem to be the one thing we hold on to with all our energy.  I'll be sending good vibes and prayers you way....

Malle

Denise - I am so sorry to hear you are having such severe side effects...Hopefully the SE's will decrease with the changes in med's both rx'd and otc.  Please keep posting so we know how you are doing.

ffish - I am THRILLED you had all grey dots...That is such awesome news!!! Isn't it terrific that you get the results instantly rather than having to wait for a week to know for sure!  I googled and found a facility about an hour away that does BSGI and will ask my Onc about it on my next appointment as an alternative to mammo/mri.

Malleme - I am sorry to hear about your mom. Do the Doc's think that they can reverse the SE's with a change in medications?  I'll be praying for her and her doctors as decisions are made in tx options now that a dx has been made.  

Janet and Pantafus - howz the new roomies doing?  It's awesome that you can be support for each other!

For those of you who are on FB...you already know my news but for those who aren't on FB...I had an appt on Monday with RADS doc...she is suggesting rads for 6 wks "because I am young and I would tolerate it well" and 'just in case' because I had a thin surface margin.  I felt like the rug was pulled out from under my feet!  I have my exchange surgery in week!!! From the very beginning I asked my ONC and BS if rads were in my future...both kept saying I was in the 'grey' area and they were unsure, but the way they said it indicated they did not think so.  Any hidyho...DH and I prayed and talked it over and I have decided NOT to do the radiation.  I don't think the benefits out weigh the risks.  I am not mentally, emotionally or physically prepared to 'take on' radiation.  I know there are no guaranties in life & I just want to get back to living it.  So that's my story and I am sticking too it!

Hugs and Love to all!

Thanks for all the well wishers.  Michelle, I am happy you made your decision.  It is the RIGHT one because it is the one for YOU! 

Pantufas, have fun on the town, try not to fart.....BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 Malle--I am sorry to hear about your mom.  She is lucky to have you there for her. 

Denise, I hope you find some relief soon.

10 hours until the weekend!!!!!

Yippee!

Ellie

Snowbird wrote: 

[Hey there. Just stopping by to give you all some encouragement from a former smoker to let you know that you CAN do it. I did, and although it took some work and some physical and mental gymnastics, you can do it too. FWIW, here are some tips that helped me kick the habit 15 years ago now...

1: Focus on ridding your body of nicotine. Realize that the cravings you'll feel are your body's reaction to the drop in nicotine and, while they can be intense at first, they DO pass and they DO become less intense over time. Once the nicotine is out of your body (3-7 days??? can't remember now), cravings become less frequent and less intense until, gradually, they go away completely.

2. Mentally separate your mind from your body. Let your mind become the "parent", and your body the "child" that must be told "no, you can't have that, even though I know you really really want it and will throw a temper tantrum to try to get it." Then, let your mind wait out your body's "temper tantrum" and, like a child, your body will eventually realize it's not going to get what it wants and will quit throwing those "tantrums"...  It worked for me, anyway!

3. SLOW DEEP BREATHING! It truly works both mentailly and physically to get through a "craving".

4. EXERCISE! It too really helped, both mentally and physically. At times you may feel like your heart rate is high (cravings? anxiety?) and I found that by exercising up to the level I felt my heart rate was at already helped "match" my level of activity to what I was "feeling", and then was able to bring BOTH back down gradually and together. (I was lucky to have a health club/treadmill in my office building).

5. THINK and ACT like a non-smoker. Hang around with non-smokers. Ask for the "non-smoking" section in restaurants (where they still have them). It may sound cruel, but ditch your still smoking friends, at least for a while until you get through and feel you can manage.

6. Don't get discouraged if you fall off the wagon. Most everyone does, but just remember that if you do, it doesn't mean you've become a "smoker" again (unless you want to be, of course).

7. Eventually, I PROMISE, you'll get to a place where you'll feel better, breathe better, smell better (to others, that is!) and won't be tempted to smoke again because the taste does become quite "distasteful". (Yeah, I've had a couple in weak moments (my SIL still smokes), but they've each been really nasty!)

You're doing a good thing for yourself and those around you, those who care for you, and those who'd like to be around you but can't. Hang in there. Carry on. Don't give up. It's worth it! Good luck all.]

Hi Everyone,

I really liked this post (page 1 of our thread), and wanted to post it again. I would like to discuss how I relate to it a bit later.

((Hugs))

Still smoking, still really want to quit....

Great tips Cleo, thanks so much for those.  Some I have tried, but others are new, so I will have to try those.  We smokers appreciate you taking the time to help us.

Pantufas, I am so glad you had a good time.  There is nothing wrong with being home by 10:00, that just means you are fresh the next day.  I love looking at the galleries too.  We have beautiful art galleries down here, but I rarely go in because they are so much out of my budget.  Enjoy the wild, wild west.....and even wilder since you moved to town!

Hi All-

I have to agree with Nadine on bringing the thread back to it's original purpose. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE all of the feelings expressed and the wonderful friendships that we have developed here. I mean...what could be more evident of that result than Nancy and Janet now being roomies??

My concern is that there may be a lot of ladies like we were when the thread began, looking for any and every bit of advice and support to keep on going once they have put down the smokes. Then when they click on this thread, they find a group who has definitely connected but not totally in the realm of how it was intended. I think then that it seems exclusionary to them...as it feels for me sometimes when I go to a thread I may want to participate in but end up not doing so because it has become comprised of the same people who know each other quite well.I feel like it would be hard to 'break in." And you have to admit, it is mostly the gals who have succeeded that pop in every once in awhile with some great advice. Honestly, one of the reasons I don't post here much is that I haven't yet stopped so I surely can't be helpful to someone who comes here looking for help. Most of my "sociaolizing" is through Facebook but I definitely intend on using this thread when I do give up smoking in the VERY near future. Like I said, I will pop in here for advice AFTER I have gotten through some non smoking days.

I do hope I haven't offended anyone. After all, it is this group that I feel closest to and I have no intention of disappearing from your lives! But I do believe that in order to be of the most service to those that come to this thread, it should be primarily about coping with life without those gd butts!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend...Love to you all!

xoEllen

Hey Cleo-

I agree with you and see no reason why you or anyone shouldn't continue to use the thread in whatever way works for you. It's not like I won't post if it doesn't have to do with quitting...and on that you can count on!

I just want to optimize the purpose of the thread and also enable others who are dealing with this issue to feel that can join in and benefit!  Thanks to for copying that post...it is full of good stuff!

xoEllen

And this is a place where all opinions are respected.

Hi Ladies,

Reading the current postings in reference to what I posted yesterday...In all of the forums that I am an active member with or those that I now drop in from time to time...I have this to say...I have developed friendships that are very deep.  With those friends we write emails, call each other and also do facebook.  We are connecting in our private lives in other ways.  However as we all know we still need to connect on here with smoking or what ever the topic is for each forum.  I can not say quitting smoking was easy for me and continues each day to be a battle I fight.  But the doctor gave me the plain words on why I needed to quit.  Yup doctors over the years all told me the same thing, quit.  But when my cancer doctor tells me his reasons that I need to quit, my attention was got. Most would have thought that since my father died of lung cancer and mom died from cancer...however early on a 1/3 of her lung had to be removed due to lung cancer my attention would have been got then.  Or the fact that nearly every member of my family has died of cancer and near all also had lung cancer.  I am the only one who has to date had the luck to have BC.  With my experiences of treatments and such I am not wanting to go down that road anytime soon.  Which now brings me to a growth on my neck.  I have known it was there for about a year and told no one.  It was found recently...so here we go again with tests and biopsies.  Anyway the jest of all of this is why I choose to not smoke.  For me smoking is like booze is to an alcoholic...I just have to daily fight the urges. 

So my dear friends, I truly hope we can be more on the supportive side.  I also truly hope that everyone who continues to battle quitting can find a way to quit that works for them.  Its not a bit easy but I know if I can fight those battles anyone can.

Love you all,

Nadine