Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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O2B, i don't know if you've ever heard this bout cigarettes (was probably originally said about drinking and alcoholics) but one is too many and 1,000 is never enough! That is def. true for me. These last few years I did manage to hold it to 2-3 a day, and up to 5/6 if things were VERY stressful, but I could def see myself creeping up and up and up. I am hoping to stay 100% free from now on, and given how I'm not that impressed with my own breathing, post-surgery, i am kind of mad at myself for the last few years (had quit for FIVE years aaargh).
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KitchenWitch,
Wow! $11.50 a pack even tops the price here in NY and I thought WE took the prize for insanely expensive cigarettes!
I think most of us here wish we had never started smoking but, we are doing the best we can with where we are now. Even though it probably would have been optimal to have stopped before your surgery, you were down to 2-3 per day and have now quit completely! That's GREAT! Everything in the past is stuff that can't be changed so no sense worrying over it. What matters is what you do from here!
Glad to hear that your surgery went well. Sometimes the anesthesia can be rough on your lungs whether or not you smoke but it does seem to hit a bit harder when you do smoke (as I did when I had my surgery)! Hopefully your breathing will become easier as time goes on.
Hoping for the best possible outcome for you!!!
And, yes, it does feel better when you don't smoke AND you do miss it BUT eventually it just feels better when you don't smoke and (most times) you don't miss it!
Post when you need to and I look forward to hearing from you!
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sweetaerobabe,
Please DO NOT beat yourself up! You are really at a very stressful time in your treatment right now and I know many people, including doctors, who would tell you that this isn't the optimal time to quit!
Do what you can to minimize the smoking impact BUT don't think because now may not be your time that there will not come a time that WILL be right for you!
Yep, Love/Hate describes it perfectly! Love the feeling from smoking and hate the control it has over us!
Wishing the best for you!
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Barbara,
Good for you in getting past that craving!!. Sometimes when they hit it is really unbelievable how tough it is!
Went to your website! Your husband is a VERY talented guitar player! The blues jams were outstanding! Does your hubby do this for a living? Where would someone get a copy of his music?
Not sure what the heck is going on with the quit meter but, it's been down for days! I will say this... I just passed my 10 month quit-aversary on Thursday!! Very Happy!
Hope all is well with you!
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Bama,
Almost 3 1/2 months!!!! Wonderful!!!!!!
Dutchy,
You doing OK????
Jan,
How about you? Still hanging in there?
Kody22,
Thinking of you and hoping all is well!
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Seaside: Woo hoo! 10 months is great. The longest I've ever gone was 6 months. Keep it up!! I'm with you, I'm not strong, I just recognize my weakness and know I can't mess around with it; that's what got me before.
Everyone: stay strong! We can do this.
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{{{BAMA}}} when you want one REALLY bad, think that Barbara wants one too and SHE is doing it, not YOU!! (well maybe use someone you don't like that much). Keep on going! I am doing it one minute at a time.
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Seaside, Congratulations with your 10 month quit date. I am really happy that you are doing so well.
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Thanks Bama!
Here's to everyone staying strong!!!
Dutchy,
I think of you everyday and hope that you are doing OK!
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Hi ladies...surgery was a success, tummy is a little wonky and I keep drifting in and out but otherwise feel great. nurses are amazed that I can talk
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{{{HUGS}}}} Michelle, so glad that's done with!
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o2b: congrats!
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Yay Michelle,
Thanks for letting us know! Glad to hear that your thyroidectomy (sp?) and de-portation was successfull and that you are home and doing well!
Hope all continues to be good. Rest when you can! Let's hope (there's that word again..lol) that this is IT for you! You have had quite enough for one person!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Jennifer
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0b: Congrats on successful surgery.
Seaside: Wow 10 months, wonderful
Dutchy,Barbara,Lady
I hope you are doing well too!
I'm going on 2 months and 3 days...
Jan
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Jan508, Congrats on OVER 2 months! Those early days are the hardest and you have made it through! It gets easier from here! Hang in there!
I will be away for a few days and wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Talk to you all soon!
Jennifer
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Jennifer:
Thanks! Yes, I'm not sure how often I will be here either so Happy Thanksgiving to all...
Jan508
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I don't know about you guys but I hope to...
Wishig you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
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O2b, congratulations on your surgery and getting it behind you. Could you please tell me what de-portation is?
Ladies, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Lets all be strong this weekend and not smoke.
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Dutchy the surgeon removed my chemo port at the same time...hense de-ported
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Well the tme does go when you haven't smoked. I started over again and I am at 7 days. Had my hair shaved and don't think I will smoke with my bandanas on. I don't want to hear people say you have cancer and you are smoking. I think I am ready to give it up. I quit last time for 6 years and don't know why I started again. It just took one puff and there I was a smoker again.
Anyway Seaside, I have 2 chemo treatments and 6 to go. That will be the happiest day of my life when I am done. I get discouraged when it takes so much energy to do anything. Does anyone else hae the problem of sweating like crazy. Have a good nite all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Kody - 1 week is AWESOME!
I too had quit for five years and one puff had me back to a pack a day in no time. Now I know better and jut have to stay away from cigs. I did have issues with sweating, I literally would have to throw towels on the bed and some times I would sneak over to DH side when he wasn't home. My onc put me on effexor for hot flashes and night sweats and I did experience some relief.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Happy Thanksgiving Ladies.
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Jan, congrats on 2 months!!
Kody, yes, hot flashes and sweating are NO fun. I, too, am on effexor. Hasn't seemed to help yet, but I've only been on it about 3 weeks, so maybe it'll build up in my system and give me some relief. My DH bought me a little hand held fan the other day that also squirts water. I love it! My portable hot flash reliever.
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. I'm so grateful to be smoke free and hope to stay that way for the rest of my life. Everyone hang in there and if you do slip, just jump back on the bandwagon. I've quit bunches before, you just have to keep on trying and you'll get there. Thank you all for the blessings of your support these past few months.
Gobble till you wobble, love it! I hope I feel like doing just that.
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Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. Went out last night with my hat on. OMG I was soaked when I got back to the car. Really finding it hard to wear something on my head. I am definitely not a hat person. I am already on effexor and it does not seem to help with the sweats. Any suggestions for canker sores and constipation. The joys of chemo lol. Have a good nite all xoxoxox.
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Hi Ladies,
Just got back in town today! Sounds like everyone is doing well and had a good Thanksgiving!
We went to visit family for the holiday. Stayed with my sister and had dinner at my brother's house. He has a big dinner every year! This year it was dinner for 27! They make the turkeys (yes that's plural) and everyone is assigned something to bring. How he and his wife do it, I couldn't tell ya! It's a bigger job than I could ever handle and they do it with such grace! So nice to see everyone together.
This was my first Thanksgiving with them since I stopped smoking. Most of my sister-in-law's family (12 out of the 27) smokes. By far the most people smoking I have been around since I quit, and WOW, I have not been hit by a craving that HUGE since the first week that I quit! I thought I was going to come out of my skin I wanted one so bad! I even started having the mental conversation with myself that "I could just have one" and then that would be it!
But, I DID NOT DO IT!!! I am very proud that I didn't but, dang, I would have thought after all this time it wouldn't have hit me like it did! Hopefully that is a 'first' that has now come and GONE!! Next time will be easier!
I have all of YOU to thank for that! Remembering the stories of quitting for a long time and then starting again after having just one, plus a LOT of deep breaths, (I even tried your straw trick, Dutchy!!) helped me to get through it!
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and took the opportunity to recognise all we have to be grateful for!
Jennifer
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Hi all, new to site and really trying to quit. I'm a 1+ pak smoker, use it as my crutch, I feel I've just had a second chance at life and want to heal my whole body. The anxiety of the CA dx. is overwhelming and mind races all the time even at night. I try but end up reaching for the smoke and then starts all over again. I need help with this.
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Welcome Maureen813 (East Amherst! Yay, Western NY, my husband's home town is Olean)!!
You have come to the right place! Lots of really great ladies here in ALL stages of quitting!
Not sure where you are in your treatment right now but, yes, the anxiety of a cancer diagnosis can be VERY overwhelming. I remember so well the feeling of my mind racing all night long. I remember asking a breast cancer survivor that came in to talk to me during my second opinion 'Will there ever come a time when the fact that I have cancer doesn't occupy my every waking thought from the moment I open my eyes in the morning till the time I go to sleep at night?' She responded with an enthusiastic YES! I thought she was a liar! But she absolutely spoke the truth! The beginning is tough but, as you get a plan and get going with it, things do get easier!
Stopping smoking is tough BUT it is worth it!
I have to run soon to pick up my son but, what I would recommend as a first step, if you haven't already, is to go back a bit in this thread and read some of the posts. It will give you a feel for what worked/didn't work for some of the ladies here. Keep in mind what works for one may not work for all but, it will give you an idea of the different methods out there!
Hope to hear more from you soon!
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Seaside: You go girl! It's great that you got through that. I've been lucky since none of my family smokes and few of my friends, so I haven't had to be around it.
Maureen: Welcome. You'll get there if you just keep on trying. Have you tried to quit before? Read all you can for tips to quit, do whatever it takes and whatever works for you. I used nicotine patches. Then, when I seemed to need more help than that, I went to my doctor and started on Wellbutrin (aka, zyban). That combo worked for me. Others have done hypnosis, accupunture, gum and plain ole' cold turkey! Check in frequently for support for the smoking, and also for the BC diagnosis. This forum is a lifesaver in a lot of ways.
ps When you are new to BCO, you are limited to how many times a day you can post (I think it's 5 a day for a bit, not sure); but you can read all you want.
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Thanks Bama!
It was surprisingly rough as I thought I was out of the woods! But it was also a REALLY good reminder to not get TOO confident and to keep my guard up.
Good reminder on the 5 post per day limit for new people!
Maureen,
That will be true until you reach 50 posts (so 10 days if you do the max of 5 per day. Longer if you don't). You can, as Bama pointed out, read to your heart's content. You can also send a Private Message (PM) to any member by clicking on their name (far left) and then clicking on send a private message on the far right of the screen that comes up.
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Hi, Maureen - and congratulations on wanting to quit! I have quit succcesfully a few times in my life (blush) and I can tell you what always worked for me best was to focus on the positive aspects of not smoking.
Fear is what motivated me to quit (or want to quit) every time but somehow you can't keep focusing on that. At the moment I am trying to remind myself how very wonderful it is to have the control of not having to run out for a cigarette (we don't smoke in the house). I am trying to think of what I might buy as a present for myself with money i'm saving not smoking. And I also LOVE being able to answer honestly on medical forms that I do not smoke (even tho I was only smoking 1-3 a day it felt dishonest to lie and say I wasn't).
Please feel free to PM me for my top ten list of things I love about not smoking (I'm still strugglign and occasionally falling but I am really on my way to being a former smoker once again).
The other thing to remember about giving up smoking is that yes it is difficult but it IS doable! So many people have succeeded, and you can too.
Jill
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