Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Way to go Seaside!!!! I am so proud of you for not giving in to the urge!
I hope everyone had terrific turkey day.
Happy news...final pathology from thyroid showed all the cancer was removed and the margins are thick and clear
If only this huge adams apple (swelling) would go away...patience is not my biggest virtue. My DH keeps telling me that it has only been 5 days but I think I am just ready to be done with all things cancer related...0 -
Seaside, I am so proud of you to not give into that craving. Wow that is a lot of people to be around who smoke. That voice inside of our head can really mess with ya...I know. Just so proud of you. There is a person inside of the house who will smoke in the garage in the morning because it is too cold to smoke outside although the landlord has said no smoking inside. I believe she means the garage. But anyway it continues to set me off but I do not give into it. Keep up the good work.
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Seaside:
I am so proud of you for not giving into the urge! That was a "big" deal!!!
O2b: You are alot like me. I am NOT a patient patient. I want to take 1 pill and be cured forever! I'm sure you will be fine soon!
Dutchy: Keep up the good work
Jan
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O2B: Congrats, great news!
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Thanks Ladies for your support! It means a lot! Hopefully I didn't give the impression that it was like that for the whole 4 days we visited. It was really just Thanksgiving day and only a small part of the day where I struggled (but, Yikes, was it EVER a struggle). Of course the wine had been flowing for quite some time by then and that may have played a small part in the trouble!
O2B,
That IS really good news!!! I hope that the grin on YOUR face is at LEAST as big as the one on the smiley face you posted!! I know it's frustrating to have things move slower that you would have hoped but, in the end, good results are worth it!! So happy for you! Hang in there girl!!
Dutchy,
My brother's extra fridge was in the garage and that's also where many of the people smoking were smoking. I think passing through to get stuff out and put stuff back into the fridge is what set me off so I totally understand where you are coming from! You are doing so well! Keep it up! Has work gotten any easier since you've been back? I hope so!
Jan508,
Thanks for the encouragement! Sounds like you are doing well too! When is your next fill?
For all of us that this was the "first" Thanksgiving minus the cigarettes, way to go! Here's to many more!
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Gals, I am coming up on month number 6!! On December 2!! I can't believe it. I did have a real moment when I was at the mall shopping. Weird that it wasn't in the bar I was in Saturday or Sunday (watching DH's band). I can DO IT!! NO PAIN NO PAIN!!
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YAY Barbara!!!
For me, the 6 month mark was a BIG one!! You should be very proud of yourself!
That is the very odd thing about this whole quit smoking thing... You just really don't know when something is going to hit you hard. Sometimes it just isn't the stuff that you would think would do it!
Think about how GREAT it will feel to be on your dream cruise in just a few weeks and to not have to worry about it!!
You're ARE doing it!
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Kitchenwitch,
Not sure where you are located but, I do know the weather here in the Northeast has taken a COLD turn! I quit last January but had started going outside to smoke from October on. I pretty much froze my buns off! BUT it WAS a great deterent!
Fear was not a really good long-term motivator for me either. What worked more for me was to focus on all I had to gain by quitting and not what I would be giving up! Even I cannot believe how quickly the money saved has added up! And, yes, you should be thinking of what you will buy yourself with the money you've saved!!! You DESERVE nothing less! Being able to answer, truthfully, that you do not smoke when asked at the doctor's office is a nice bonus as well!!
Hope all is well with you!
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Seaside: Yes! I love it when they say "do you smoke" and I say "I quit!" I always get a pat on the back instead of the stern shake of the head I used to get when I said, yes, I smoke. You could just see the disgust in their eyes. And I understand why they felt that way, but I also know that if they had never smoked, they had no idea what a hold it takes on you and how difficult it is to quit. I totally understand those people you hear about who blow up their oxygen tanks while smoking.
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Bama,
OH, that look! How I hated it!! And you are right, if they have never smoked they haven't a CLUE how tough it is to quit.
I AM, however, enjoying the pat on the back far more than the shake of the head at doctor's appointments!
May we ALL enjoy far more 'pats' and far fewer 'shakes of the head'!
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It looks like we are doing so well!
Barbara: Congrats on your 6 months! I was 70 days today - 2 months and 10 days.
Jennifer: I got a fill today and go back again in 2 weeks. We're going to try to go for a "C" cup. I was a "B" but the PS says I could go bigger and I think a "C" would be great (a small "C").
We'll see if I have any issues on the skin expanding.
Jan
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Jan,
Wow! Almost 2 1/2 months! Fabulous!!
Geez, seems like just yesterday that we 'met' on this thread! Time surely does pass quickly!
Hope that all continues to go well with your expansions! Have they given you any idea on how many fills you will need? I didn't get far enough in my consultations to discuss reconstruction so I'm not real sure what all is involved.
Thinking of you!
Jennifer
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Thanks Jennifer
Yes, I am very proud that I have gone 2 1/2 months. A first for me!
We don't know yet how many fills I will need. He is filling slowly I guess because I had that incision issue before and I'm not sure how many cc's make a "C" cup. I have 160 cc's now and have some really cute boobs with some really nice cleavage - so I'm guessing maybe 2 or 3 more time? Don't know... Then I wait a month before the exchange.
Jan
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Jan,
Congrats on the cleavage! It has to feel so good to be getting on with things after having the set back that you had early on.
I know you said you are not a "patient" patient but, good results are worth the wait!! Better to go a bit slow and have the end result be great!
Everything that you have done on the quit smoking front has absolutely helped in your reconstruction! Hang in there!
Jennifer
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Thanks Jennifer for the support
Having met you and the others on this thread has helped so very much!!
You will never know how appreciative I am.
Jan
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Is anyone else married to or living with a smoker? My husband stilll does and it's making it very hard on me, even though I can go a few days without even one. Then there willl be a day like today where I get a little bit of disappointing news (I only had two drains removed) and... well, I had one.
: (
Will just have to get back on non-smoking horse tomorrow. Sigh.
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Kitchenwitch,
Your situation is a tough one! I don't have anyone at home that smokes so can't talk too much about that! Hopefully someone on this thread has some ideas on how to deal with that and can provide some insight.
Quitting smoking is hard under the best of circumstances and when things aren't going well, it can be really too much! Yes, today was not good. And, yes, you did slip and have one BUT tomorrow is another day all together!
Like you said, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and get back on the horse!! We will be here to help in any way we can!
I hope someone comes along soon to give you some tips on quitting when someone close to you smokes.
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Seaside - I am so proud of you!!!! I went to my aunt's 60th B-day party about 75 days after I had quit. It was my first outing totally bald and I would say out of the 40 plus people there, 25 were smokers. I totally understand how hard it was to be surrounded by family, enjoying adult beverages and staying strong in my commitment to be a non-smoker. I think it helped that I would have been slapped up side the head it I had lite up in front of anyone
I was digging through my sock drawer the other day (I don't wear socks very often) and ran across a blister packet of nicotine gum...OMG I was so tempted to chew on a piece for a few minutes...I resisted, but crap that was HARD because technically that would not be considered smoking, no one would have known since I chew gum like a cow chewing its cud and I would have gotten a nice nicotine buzz... Damn even a year and a half out I still get those zingers!
Jan508 - my expansion was done during chemo. I finished chemo and my expansion at the same time - double reason to celebrate! I had a fill every three weeks, usually the week prior to my chemo. I was an almost B and am now a small C. I am surprised at how heavy these 'girls' are but with the weight gain I have experienced they do fit my new shape nicely. I think you are VERY wise taking the expansion slowly. It will give your body time to adjust and stretch the skin nicely. We went too fast with me, 75-100cc's with each fill, My final volume was 550cc per TE, with my implants at 650cc's. If you have any questions or concerns about your final results, there is a thread under Reconstruction named Implants Sizing 101. The 'breast whisper' whippetmom is a wealth of information and can answer any questions you may have.
Kitchenwitch - my mom is a smoker and she 'visits' every few months for weeks at a time. Our relationship is...odd. My mom is nice but she really can be clueless and is very into 'alternative' kinda woowoo stuff. Her visits are usually stressful but add the constant smoking on my back patio (in my chair) is a pretty big trigger since that was my smoking place. She leaves her smokes on the table so it would be very easy to steal one. I just keep reminding myself how hard it was to quit and how easy it was to start back up again after a long quit...I don't want to ever have to be in that place again. it is a conscious choice and sometimes a battle of the will but my good angel always wins and kicks the bad angel (temptation) to the curb. Just keep the faith and do not give up on yourself. You will find that inner resolve and you will succeed...
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Thanks, O2Bhealthy! Going to remind myself today is a new day, and that just because I slipped yesterday doesn't mean it's all over. Honestly, since I've gotten a wonderful post-mx path report the only thing I want for the holidays is for my husband to quit!
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O2B: You might have just gotten sick off that gum. You reminded me of one time years ago, my husband had quit smoking, he'd been quit a couple of years, and we were playing golf and a bee flew down into the Coke can he was drinking out of and he drank out of it and the bee stung his lower, inner lip. I was still smoking, so I'd heard that tobacco was good for bee stings, so I tore apart a cig and put it between his lip and gum. In about 5 seconds he turns green and is sick as a dog! That nictotine hit him hard. I laughed my butt off.
Kitchenwitch: Hang in there girl. Don't let it get you down. Just keep on trying.
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Hello everyone, you all sound so positive, I pray it rubs off on me.
Wow, 109 pages about Stop smoking, took me a while to read thru them all, I am at the point where I THINK, I want to quit smoking, whereas before it was everyone wants me to quit, and I couldn't.
Have stopped for a while many a time, 3 years was the longest, cut down to 3-6 per day and so on, but basically smoked for 50+ years. The last couple of years my motto has been, well it's OK to smoke now that I am are pushing 70 years of age, it's not gonna be what kills me anyway, life after all is not a permanent thing.
My husband is a smoker too, like Kitchenwitch's. We both smoke in the house, ugh, even I cant stand that anymore and I do smoke still. The vehicles seem to start only if a cigarette is lit first, and so on, I am sure all of you know the drill.
Soooo, Kitchenwitch, could you send me your 10 tips on why quitting is a good thing.
I am slowing down on my smoking, seems to be easier (from past experience of quitting) to eventually stop, and have picked Dec. 4th as my quit date.
Thanks for having this thread to lean on
dsgirl
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dsgirl:
Welcome and it's never too late! You have alot of support and encouragement here so just post away!!! I'm glad you picked a date to quit. I'm into my very first real quit ever and I'm at 71 days...it took cancer to make me quit...go figure.
I'm sure the other lovely ladies here will be along for support too!
Hang in there...it can be done and we will be with you every step of the way!!
Jan
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OK, ladies I have a dilema..
Tomorrow I go on my first business trip since surgery and I'm driving 4 1/2 hours alone in the car...YIKES I'm afraid I'll cheat....pray I don't.
I'll stop and get lots of snacks for on the way...
Jan
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dsgirl - welcome to the club! just knowing YOU want to quit for you and not because anyone else is asking you to is a huge plus!
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Random thoughts that may help:
A slip is an "oops", it means that a situation overwhelmed your ability to deal with it at the moment. It does not mean that you have to go back to full time smoking-use it as a learning experience-how could you have handled it differently the next time it comes up. Often the times we slip are the times that are unexpected. I call them "out of the blue" cravings because the ones we expect, we are prepared for. We dont' plan to fail, but fail to plan.
A relapse is going back to full-time smoking. Nicotine has changed the structure of the smokers brain --hijacking the survival instinct--which is why cravings can feel like, "I'm going to die or go crazy if I don't smoke". Smokers have a whole lot more of a certain type of receptors in the brain that never goes away, they go dormant after a period of time (can take 6 months) but reintroducing nicotine into the brain can cause a full relapse very quickly. We underestimate the powerful hold nicotine has on the brain because of these receptors (I've had clients quit for 20 years and within a few cigs, were back smoking same amount as before).
When living with a smoker, the temptation is always close at hand. What can help is to talk to the other person (while you're still smoking-go have a cigarette together) and ask for their help--"it's important for me to quit smoking, so I need your help---then ask for what would help--please don't offer me a cigarettte, please keep your cigarettes with you and not lying around the house, please only smoke (outside, in one room, in garage etc) or what ever will help you resist the temptation. In return for their help, promise them that you won't bug them about quitting or become a "holier than thou former smoker". What's difficult is when they won't support your quitting efforts at all--usually means there is an underlying problem that may need professional help.
To be successful at quitting, the long term benefits of being smokefree have to be more important than the temporary discomfort of not smoking. Two things motivate us in life--carrots and sticks. Most of the time, doctors etc, think they need to hit us with the biggest stick they can find (Don't you know that smoking causes....) but that only works to keep non-smokers from starting, but doesn't motivate smokers to quit, often that big stick makes us cling to the positive things we get from smoking--relieves my stress, I enjoy it etc.. There are no short term benefits from quitting (ie not smoking one or two cigarettes), only long term benefits from being smokefree--they have to be more important than your cigarette, otherwise it's too easy to relapse because you slip, reintroduce nicotine into the brain, brain lights up--says "don't tease me with one cig, I want the whole pack" and without a good reason(s) to get back on the quitting horse, you're back to full time smoking.
Wishing everyone success in their journey to become smokefree, it's not a one time event (just put them down and walk away) but a process that you move through. Have a joyous day. VJ
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Both driving and smoking are "automatic" behaviors, you don't have to think about them to do it anymore. So what often helps when driving is to replace that "automatic" motion--the hand to mouth--fake smoke a straw cut to the size of a cigarette, have a cup of raisins, sunflower seeds etc that you can eat one at a time (mimics the hand to mouth motion), chew on a coffee stirrer, the nicotine inhaler (Rx only) works to replaces this motion too (but not the e-cig, unless you don't use the cartridges). Hope this helps.
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Thanks VJ:
I haven't had a cigarette in 71 days and I'm not about to start now! I do have some snacks (carrots, raisins, etc) that I'll take with me. Or I could just keep singing to the tunes
Thanks!
Jan
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Jan,
I had to take a long trip by myself about the same time in my quit as you. I had quit in late January and needed to go to pick up my daughter from college for Easter break.
It did feel a bit strange that first (actually first couple of times) that I made that drive without smoking. I brought lots of snacks, gum and bottled water. I remembered to do my deep breathing and I SANG along with the radio like there was no tomorrow! I'm sure people passing me looked at me like I was a lunatic! Thank God they couldn't HEAR me because I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket...lol
What I lacked in pitch I more than made up with enthusiasm!
The way to get through it is like any "first"... Recognise that any discomfort is temporary, that after you do it a couple of times it will get easier and do whatever you need to do at the time to get through it!
As VJ said so well... people do not plan to fail but they do fail to plan. Sounds like you have a good plan together!
You will do fine! I'll be sitting next to you in spirit hopefully you can't hear me singing!
Hang in there!
Jennifer
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O2B,
LOL at you saying someone would have slapped you upside the head if you lit up. When I was having a really tough time on Thanksgiving and talking to my brother he said, 'You need to go do something else to take your mind off it NOW! AND if I come out in the garage and you are smoking I'm going to hit you upside the head!" He quit chewing tobacco (which I think yuck but, I'm sure that's how many non-smokers feel about smoking) so he gets the nicotine thing!
I didn't do the nicotine gum BUT I did keep Wrigley's and Trident in business for awhile. I have never been a gum chewer and I guess I kind of figured maybe it wasn't for me after awhile when my son kept saying, 'Geez, Mom can you ease up on the chewing'.. lol. You do what ya have to do to get through it!
Even though I still get surprised with some of the cravings that I get hit with, I do think that, as time goes by, I KNOW (rather than having to take on faith) that they will pass and can handle them! That being said... I still get a little bit of a butterfly excitement feeling when I see my old lighter in the kitchen drawer... Go figure!
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Thanks VJ!!! I knew our brains were more susceptible to nicotine, I just didn't understand how that worked.
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