Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Today was abetter day and I did not start hurting until around 4pm, I sure do wish I still had some vicodin but the doctor would not refill it anymore and said I would have to go for pain management if I continue to have the pain. I find that sitting around for too long at my desk causes me to tighten up pretty bad and so then I walk around. No slips today.
I hope everyone else is doing well. Love Evelyn
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Dutchy:
I'm glad today was a better day for you. Keep up the good work on 'no slips' and please heal at your own pace.
Jan
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Oh Dutchy!
I was afraid of that! I know, for me, sometimes when I get out of my routine, I get some pretty good cravings. I imagine going back to work after being out for many weeks triggered some whopper cravings!
Just look at it as a very small slip! You still have Part 2 of your reconstruction to go and I'm sure you don't want to have to quit all over again!
Glad to hear that yesterday was a bit better but am so sorry to hear that you are in pain! I find that I get stiff when I sit around too long and I didn't just have MAJOR surgery!
Hopefully things will continue to improve over time and, in the meantime, rest when you can and take breaks from your work when possible to move around!
Heads up... This is also your first weekend since returning to work. That may also trigger some cravings.
Hang Tough!
Jennifer
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Dutchy: All is not lost, jump back on track and do the best you can.
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sweetaerobabe,
Thinking of you on your first day of chemo... Praying for minimal side effects!
Glad to hear the port placement went well and wasn't as bad as you had imagined it would be! From what I have heard it really does make things a little easier when you have your chemo but I'm sure it is not too comfortable in the beginning.
Not sure how much you smoked before but, I would say being down to one cigarette a day is REALLY a VERY good start! I tried to cut back and got down to about 1/2 pack a day and just couldn't seem to get below that. That was when I just took a deep breathe and quit! I guess I kind of figured I was already making myself miserable by trying to stretch my cigarettes out during the day, how much worse could quitting be? lol
You have made an excellent start and you'll get there!
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hi ladies
i have been following tour posts for a few weeks now- knowing soon i would have to jump on the boat and give up
well i gave up Monday going cold turkey and its only Friday and feel like i have been battling for months
i sure hope this gets a little easier
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kody22,
Thanks for your kind words! I do try to look for the positive in things when I can, although, sometimes I am more successful than other times at actually finding it!! I think we ALL do a really good job here of supporting and encouraging each other. I know in my life I have found that sometimes the difference between success and failure was a well timed smile or word of encourgement that someone gave me when I needed it most! I try to 'pay that forward'.
Glad that your line insertion went well and that your 2nd chemo was not as bad as your first! How many more do you have?
I had to laugh at your about what your daughter said! Sounds like something my daughter would have said! Both of my kids were the ones who wanted me to quit the most! I will say this, when I finally did quit (and they were sure that I was going to keep it up) both of my kids said, how PROUD they were of me! THAT felt really good!
Two days without smoking is great! Keep trying and, you are right, while the goal is to quit, every little bit DOES help!
As you said, laughing does beat the heck out of crying! May you keep laughing!
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(((DUTCHY}}} this is just a temporary set back. You can DO it!! {{{{{SWEETIE}}}} ((HUGS)) for you on your first chemo day!
Alison, welcome and you can do it, too. We have folks in all stages of qutting. For me, I signed up at quitmeter.com and today it is down so I can't tell you how much $ I have saved but it will be 6 months on 12/2. Wahoo!!!
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Welcome Alison34!!
You have come to a really great place for support! The ladies here are great!
You are JUST to the point where it DOES get better if you can just hang on! I did cold turkey and I can say the first 5 days were pretty awful BUT it got steadily better after that!
I also quit on a Monday and by Saturday I felt quite a bit better. Not ALL the way better, mind you, but better!
And yes, in the beginning, it feels like time is standing still and each day feels like a month. That also goes away with time to where thinking about smoking just really doesn't occupy much of your day.
Hang in there. Things will not get any worse than they are now and WILL get a whole lot better!
Post for support when you need to!
Look forward to hearing more from you soon!
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Jennifer:
Thanks so much for the balloons!!! We had a great dinner (new cleavage and all)!!! I can't wait until my next fill on 11/29....I think I'm becoming addicted to my PS instead of cigarettes
Allison: We are here for you with support and encouragement..you can do this. I did some things today which were part of my old routine and had some whopper of cravings but got through them..thank goodness.
Jan
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Barbara:
Love the new pic!
Jan
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Thanks, Jan. I met with Maureen in Boston (redsoxfan) and I posted the two of us then chopped out my pic because it is one of the few OK ones of me.
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Barbara,
OK doesn't even BEGIN to describe you!!! Your photo is ALMOST as beautiful as your SPIRIT!!
You are AWESOME girl!!
Crap that the quitmeter is down...We'll have to check in tomorrow to get the actual details BUT for now we know we are doing well!!
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Thanks Jen. I am NOT gonna touch a cig again. I know how I am. I LOVE cigs so if I do one, I am screwed.
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Oh Barbara I LOVED my cigs too!! I used them as a security blanket, stress buster and escape...that being said there is no way I am even going to touch another cig. I had quit for five years in my late 20's, I was out with some friends one night, asked for a drag and BAM! I was back to smoking a pack a day within a week
I figure if I did not smoke through a BMX, Chemo, early menopause and a 2nd cancer dx then I have no business even thinking about smoking.
It's been 1 year, 6 months and 13 days since my last cig!!!
I barely think about smoking, however there have been a few times where I have been blindsided by a craving. It helps to know that I am not alone, I have friends here who know how hard it is to quit. I like knowing we are accountable to each other and will support each other through our successes and slip ups.
((((To All)))
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02b:
Congrats on over a year smoke free but most of all on a clean MRI. YOO HOO!!!!!
Go celebrate in fashion!!!!
Jan
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{{{MICHELLE}}}}} Happy dance!
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Jan, congratulations on you fills.
O2b, congrates on a clean MRI.
Seaside Memories and Ladies, the other day was just a set back. I do not really want to smoke and I am not going to smoke. I am grateful for all of your support. Thank you for being here. I love that I can come here and cop to my slips and am not judged. You girls are the best.
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You will be fine!!!! We are here for you anytime.
Jan
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Allison, welcome and hang in there. Read some of the earlier posts here for tips.
I know what you mean about being blindsided by cravings. I really DON'T want to smoke but a couple of times this past week, out of the blue, I wanted a cig so bad. I too loved it. A friend of mine had an e-cigarette the other day and I was holding it and asking her about it, so maybe just having that thing in my hand set off something in my brain! But I'm still hanging in there, 3 months and 11 days.
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Wow, Bamachick! How surreal you had an almost identical experience to one I had just last night! DH's Band was playing at a restaurant with an outside covered patio on the water in St Pete Beach and all of a sudden BAM. I wanted a cig so BAD!!! I started doing the arm exercises I do when on airplanes and that distracted me until it passed but MAN that was severe!
If anyone is interested in music, check out our website: O2B, there are vaca pix from our AZ trip including some of Jerome and the Verdi Canyon RR.
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Hi everybody - haven't posted here fr a while but wanted to share a few recent experiences. I had a uni mx with immediate DIEP recon last Thursday (Nov 19). The plastic surgeon wanted me to quit COMPLETELY 4 weeks before but I didn't get this memo till about a few days before! I had been smoking 2-3 a day.
So I gave it up right away bc I wanted to give the nipple (I had nipple sparing mast.) every chance to work. I've already told myself that if the path report is bad and I have to lose it anyway I'll be so pissed and I'll "treat" myself to a cigarette or two, which is nuts but I have to say right now, having come out of this huge surgery I am having if not the hardest time breathing easily, not the easiest time. I wish I had quit 4 weeks before. I wish I had of course never started!
I am definitely focusing on the money saved from not smoking ($11.50 a pack where I live) and all the other great things about not smoking.
Kudos to everyone who's succeeding in this battle and best wishes to everyone struggling. It is hard even when you're doing it and you know it feels better but you just miss it.
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Hi everyone, thank you for the good wishes. I made it through my first TX, 2nd day after (yesterday) seemed to be the worst. (Belly pains) so last night, I just couldnt take the stress and bought a pack.
Yes, I am disappointed with myself, I know how guilty I feel hiding in a corner outside so my neighbors dont see me (they dont know I have cancer) I imagine myself trying to ex plane to them (They are Chinese) that I have cancer and am smoking..... But I DO love them, as stupid as that sounds. I also HATE them at the same time. My bf is supportive, and said I must fail before I succeed.
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Dear Sweet:
I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time but you have come to the right place for unjudged support and encouragement.
You will be fine and once this stress lessens you can try again!
Jan
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{{{SWEETIE}}}} It's OK to slip. I quit smoking a dozen times, once for 2 years (what a dumba$$ I was to start again). We are with you all the way. Try auricluar stimuation. It really worked for me.
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BarbaraA: auricular stimulation? What is? Might need... even tho I am completely off for the moment. One day I will be feeling much better (or much more stressed) and I know the temptation willl return. All advice/tips needed!0
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I LOVED smoking and would start up immediately if I take even one puff. The auricular stimuation uses a machine like a TENS unit in several places on both ears. They claim that several pathways are blocked by nicotine and after they clear them, you are no longer addicted to nicotine. I walked out unaddicted. I couldn't believe it. The addition part left me in a brain fog for weeks and as I have a high stress job involving brain power, I decided to try ti.
It worked for me and several of my friends.
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O2B,
Congrats on OVER 1 1/2 years! WOW!
I am with you in that I know I can NEVER touch another cigarette again. There are many who comment on how strong I am to not have slipped but, really, I think it is I recognize how WEAK I am! I know if I even have one, I won't stop!
Good Luck tomorrow on your de-portation!! I'm sure you will be happy to see that gone!!!
Jennifer
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