Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Christy,
It KNOW how frustratingly HARD it can be to stop smoking! I do remember how angry it made me that those stupid cigarettes had THAT much control over me but, they did.
I was absolutely terrified to try to quit, get this, NOT because I was afraid I might fail BUT, because I was afraid I would SUCCEED (not sure I ever told anyone that before). How would I ever live without my cigarettes? That's how crazy powerful this nicotine addiction is! Sorry to use that word because, I know it really used to make me bristle to hear that coming from someone else, just couldn't come up with a different word.
What helped me in the beginning was to change my thinking from 'here's everything I'm giving up by quitting, to here's everything I'm gaining'. For example, something as simple as going to a movie theater to see a movie... Hadn't gone in years and years because, no way could I sit there for over 2 hours without smoking... Had a chance to go by limo with a group of friends to NYC for dinner and a play something I would have LOVED to do. I passed! Why? Because no one else smoked and I couldn't handle the 4 hour ride down and back without smoking... I started shifting my thinking to 'If I could just stop smoking I would be able to ALL those things' (and believe me there were tons more).
It's was a very subtle change in my way of thinking but it made me realize how very much the cigarettes were controling my life. Made it easier, I guess to say "Gee,Cigarettes, don't let the door hit ya on the way out" rather than "Good-bye my friend".
Quitting smoking was, one of, if not THE, hardest things I have ever done!! But I do NOT regret doing it! The freedom you gain truly feels awesome!!
Hoping for the best for you on Friday! Check in if you need support!
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LOL, Anne068 about quitting for a new set of twins!
I think you have a great idea in just quitting for now to get through what you need to and, then, after that, your decision is up for re-negotiation! Doesn't have to be forever, if you don't want it to be!
I do think you may be surprised at the end your year!
Hang in there!
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Boy Jennifer:
You came back and posted just in the nick of time. I was just sitting here thinking "Gee, I'd really like to have a cigarette just about now" - BAM! I read you post and thought is gone! Thank you my friend!
Jan
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Jan,
Glad I could help! I'm not usually on this early so SOMETHING must have made me check in!
Those cravings are sneaky little buggers! I'll still at times just get one out of the blue and it does really catch you by surprise!
In theory from what I read it can happen anytime you are doing something for the first few times that you used to do while smoking. The book I read said that could be a reason why some people who have quit for a long time start again. They have more than likely encountered a "first" just one that they used to do rarely. Apparently even small things like the changing of the seasons without smoking can trigger it!
Glad your craving passed!!! You are doing GREAT!
Jennifer
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Thanks again and glad you were here! See, everything happens for a reason
Today is day 51 for me, wow almost 2 MONTHS!
Jan
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Good monring ladies:
I hope y'all are having a great day so far and are healing well.
So, last night I went to the casino and smoked 9 cigarettes....YIKES!!!! But it was a dream...holy moley. I woke up this morning was was smelling my hands to be sure they didn't smell like cigarettes! Scared me to death!!!
But the funny part is I don't remember if I won anything
Jan
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Jan,
Read your first part of your post and thought 'Oh, No, she was doing so well!' Felt my heart sink a bit!
You had smoking on your mind yesterday so makes sense that it may carry over into your dreams.
I've had dreams like that where you wake up and you're so sad about something that happened in your dream and then it's like 'wait a minute, there's no way that could have really happened' but for a second there it feels so real! You kind of have to convince yourself that it was just a dream!
Glad to hear it was just a dream and you ARE doing so WELL!
Gotta run to a doctor's appointment. I will check back later!
Hope everyone is doing well!
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Im back, had my onc appt today, hadent had a smoke since last night, but with the crazy week I have next week, Mon, heart scan, tues, social services to try and get medicaid (need to be accepted for SS first) wed, port placement, thurs a Dr appt and bloodwork and Friday is my first chemo. So, I stopped and bought a pack. But..... I will quit by sunday, and hopefully never smoke again.
BTW, I lost count how many times I have quit.
Kristy
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BTW, is it ok for me to pick up a bottle of wine this weekend and just try to relax a bit? Get a nice Buzz?
Kristy
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Kristy, you can do it. We have all done it. Many many times. But cancer gives us a REAL big reason to make it stick. We are here to hold you up, let you cheat, whatever it takes but you CAN do it. I did it and I LOVE smoking to this day. I smoked for 30 years. But I am smoke free since June 2. (((HUGS)))
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I was reading that earlier Barbra, to pass the time before my appointment. Congrats to you and all the sisters that are doing great. I'll keep you all posted after this weekend. 1 last hurrah. <sp?> LOL. wanna have wine and smoke before all this starts.
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sweetaerobabe,
Welcome back!
You are doing the right thing, I think, in waiting until this next week is over since it DOES sound like one crazy week!
I was supposed to be a January 1 quitter. Took a really good look at all I had going on and decided, realistically, it wasn't the best time. Soooo, instead of the dramatic stop smoking at the stroke of midnight moment I had planned, I had the stop smoking at the stroke of 11:00 on January 18th.... lol. Nothing wrong with re-scheduling if you think it will give you a better shot at success!
I do still enjoy a good glass of wine or two. I know that it is a risk factor (especially, as the current research is finding, for us ladies with ILC) but, it is one I am willing to take!
Can't see that having one last hurrah would be a bad thing! Go get that bottle of wine and enjoy your weekend!
Edited to add: Hope all goes well at your appointments next week!
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Sweet
As one Jersey girl to another..we are tough and you can do this when you are ready!
Keep coming here and posting..these peeps have some great advice.
jan
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Hi, I spoke with the nurse today, and she agreed, by all means, go get a bottle of wine. She said obviously not to drink the day of chemo, but an occasional glass of wine was fine during treatment.
I have my first TCH Friday morning at 8am, I would have to be a raging alcoholic to start drinking before 8am. lol
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lol @ raging alcoholic! Hope you get through your week alright sweetaerobabe, sounds very hectic.
Well, I was supposed to have my quit day and....I started the champix right on que...and...I am still smoking. *puts paper bag over head* However, on the bright side, I went from a good pack a day to around 6. Every day it seems as though I am smoking less and less, and am wanting one less and less. So that's a step in the right direction. Now, to cut those few smokes out I am having a day and I'll be very happy with that. I already notice a difference...am not feeling the 'smoke' hangover a person gets when they smoke so much. I reallyyyyy like not having that feeling. :-)
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In the past, when I try to quit, I seem to be ok the first couple of days I dont smoke, (no real withdraw) but I do kind of enjoy smoking, so I look for an excuse to bum one from my daughter. The past couple of days, I have bought them. I will buy 1 more pack this weekend, to enjoy with my wine (cant drink without smoking) and by Monday, I will be done. My quit date is Monday. There. I said it.
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I broke down - on Day #35 - yep....was doing so well and then had 2 smokes today. Thankfully I can come here and admit it without being judged.
I have a friend from our breast cancer support group that tried to commit suicide. I took her to the psych hospital yesterday and was there with her for about 4 hours.
Today I dropped off the paperwork at the pain management clinic and was told it could take 1 week to 1 month to get an appointment. As the lady is telling me this I am at a level 10 on the pain scale and in tears. I immediately rush to the hospital to see my GP who of course had left for the day but the lady called him on the phone and told him I was there. You see he changed my pain meds from lortabs to morphine but gave me the lowest dosage of morphine. I have been in tears for 3 days because within 3 hours of getting up I am at a level 8 to 10 and emotionally I just couldn't take it anymore and then to hear that I might not get into the pain management clinic for a month - heck I was close to checking myself into the psych hospital.
Thankfully I was able to talk to my doctor over the phone who doubled the dosage and I am sitting here on a pain level 8 as we speak after doubling the dosage. I can't get on top of the pain and I don't know what to do but I can't deal with this emotionally.
I am not even angry with myself for smoking even though the 2 tasted like total crap. I needed the mental release but in reality it didn't work. I still feel horrible. I was in tears when my horse trainer called me - she knew something was up because I hadn't called her to see when she was going to work my horse and in the very least I like to watch.
Tomorrow I am going to see my friend at the psych hospital. She has no family at all - absolutely none - she has been alone for years and I have watched her go downhill emotionally for the past year and have been concerned but she is private and doesn't readily open up. She totally opened up to me when she called in a cry for help before she did something that she couldn't stop. What is sad is that she told her therapist about her suicide attempt last week and the therapist just blew her off. I told her to fire that lady immediately and get a new therapist. Can you imagine?
I am going to have to catch up to ya'll individually over the weekend. I am just exhausted right now and sorry....yes....I am having a pity party.
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{{{JANCIE}}}} It's OK. You can still do it. I am so sorry about your pain not getting any better and your poor friend. Take everything 1 minute at a time.
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Jancie: Hang in there, pitch a fit and get the pain meds you need. It is ridiculous that we should have to be emotionally dealing with all this crap and have pain on top of that
Isthisforreal: Aren't you supposed to keep smoking for a week or so with champix? I didn't do that one because I heard that it gave some people nightmares and my nights are bad enough! Don't beat yourself up. Do the best you can, you'll get there.
3 months & 3 days for me, woo hoo!
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Bama, Good for you. Congrats. I'll be there soon. (I hope)
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jancie, I know how frustrated you must feel.... I had quit before for over a month, and allowed myself to smoke. As they say on quitnet, as long as you dont go back to smoking the way you did, it was only a slip. Not a relapse. Just try to keep going. I'll be here soon enough looking for support as Monday when I wake up, I will not smoke.
Sorry to hear about all your pain, you shouldnt have to deal with that..... (((Hugs)))
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Aw Shoot Jancie,
I was hoping that this time was going to be it for you!
Sorry to hear about your being in such pain. I know from when my Mom had knee replacement surgery, it can take awhile for them to figure out which combination of medicines will work the best. Also, once the pain gets away from you, it can be hard to get it back under control. Hoping they get you feeling better soon!! It is really so hard when you hurt so bad!
Thank goodness that your friend opened up to you and you were able to get her to go for help! You are a good friend! Sometimes things can seem very dark right before the dawn. The hard part is remembering that the dawn will come and hanging on till then! I Pray that her doctors will give her the help she needs and that she will start to feel better emotionally.
As for the smoking.... Like you said, they tasted like crap and didn't work at all to fix your problem. Once your body has 'moved on from smoking' the ONLY way that smoking will taste good and feel good again is if you return to smoking however much you were smoking before. Hopefully, you will decide, as aerobabe said, to just call this a slip. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back in the saddle!!!
I am REALLY rooting for you, girl!
Jennifer
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IsThisForReal,
No need for the paper bag... lol.
You will quit when you are ready. Cutting back was also how I started. Forced myself to go outside to smoke (REALLY cold here in Dec and Jan) and gradually cut back from over a pack a day to around half a pack. Stayed there for a few weeks, took a DEEP BREATHE and took the plunge!!!
You will do it when you're ready and until then cutting back to 6 a day is GREAT progress!
Hang in there!
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Bama,
Congrats on OVER 3 months!!!
Have you re-started your treatments? If so, hope you are doing well.
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sweetaerobabe,
Good Luck on your first day tomorrow! Will be thinking about you!
Jan508,
You still doing OK? I hope so!
Barbara,
Love your new avatar photo!
Linda603,
You still hanging in there?
CHRISTY2,
Thinking of you and hoping all is well!
Dutchy,
How on EARTH did I forget you???!
In case I don't get back here before then. Good Luck to you as you return to work on Tuesday! Hope they don't bury you too bad! I'm sure it will feel good to be back!
Have a great Sunday, all!
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Jancie:
I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. Please be paitient! You will do this!
I hope all others are going ok this fine Sunday - I'm babying a toothache today (UGH, if it isn't one thing it's another). And I just had my teeth cleaned last week !!!! Geez
Other than that, doing well....55 days! WOW
Jan
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Update on me: 5 months 3 weeks and 3 days and 1,411.00 saved.
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Barbara A:
Great news! I didn't do the quit meter...maybe I should have.
Congratulations!
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Well girls I am disappointed with myself. I slipped and had a couple of cigarettes. Two factors though, I do not smoke in the house and no one knows that I have slipped and fallen, my secret and now yours. Like everyone, I am having a pity party and I feel I deserve it. Stupid I guess. I quit for 1 month after my masectomy, smoked a little, quit for another two weeks when I started chemo. Had my first chemo tx 2 weeks ago and just about ready for my next one. I was pretty sick and never thought of smoking. Even though I don't really enjoy the smell and feel bad sneaking, I still do it. My next chemo tx is on Wednesday and I am sure I won't smoke again and will really try not to at all. Heres hoping. However, I am very concerned, because I am smoking and taking chemo. Very little cigarettes but I know it does not matter. What exactly I am doing to myself. I am making my chemo tx less active. The reason I think I did start smoking is because I am very concerned that tomorrow I am getting my pike line put in for my chemo tx and I know this time my hair will be falling out. I am really scared. It is something that has been bothering me from the beginning. I know that I can quit smoking because it did not my bother me at all. Now I now I can have one and not have another for a long time. However, I will definitely quit altogether. I can't even tell the oncl. because I have family with me and I don't want them to know because they will kill me. Can't even have cancer and be scared with out worrying about everything else. Please give me some help on this chemo and smoking situation. I feel like this board is my bff. Like writing in a diary.
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Oh Kody!!!! We are here for you! A slip is not the end! You can do it! Pick yourself, dust yourself off and start anew! We have all slipped and fallen (I've fallen and I can't get up). We will help you!
Start again tomorrow. It is another day.
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