Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms include: Depression, irritability, anxiousness, being angry, restlessness, having difficulty concentrating, insomnia and weight gain.
There are also "recovery" symptoms: increasing coughing, feeling lightheaded, tingling sensation in fingers and toes (as the circulation improves), and time distortion are just some.
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VJ
Yup, have had them all except the weight gain and the tingling sensation, (I am prepping today for tomorrows colonoscopy, so slushing around with water bottle in hand, and not gaining any weight yet, lol).
The inhaler is helping though, the headache is minimal now, I discussed this with the pharmacist and it seems like 4-6 cartridges per day will work for me- or at least is working at the moment after using 3 so far today. I am functioning better.
Jan VJ and LadyinBama thanks for hanging in there with me, and I will hang in there for you too.
dsgirl
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dsgirl--so glad the inhaler is helping!!! It ain't easy but you can do it!! wishing you good results on your test tomorrow!
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ds:
good luck with your colon. tomorrow. I hope it is a routine procedure. I have mine on 12/29 (routine).
Maybe I'll lose some of the weight gain at that time
Jan
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Haven't seen Seaside the past few days. Anyone hear from her? I hope all is well.
Jan
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Seaside hasn't posted since the 7th...
S E A S I D E where are youuuuuuu...we miss you!
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dsgirl,
First off good luck tomorrow on your colonoscopy!!! My husband just had his first done this year and I will say, from what I saw, the preparation is FAR worse than the actual event!!
As far as the symptoms on the quit smoking front.... I had them ALL... Pretty much felt like I had the flu for the first few days. Brain fog? Oh yeah! BUT you are RIGHT at the point where IT GETS BETTER FAST! For me, I saw a fairly big improvement around day 5 and then it improved daily and really was much better by week 3 and has kept going from there!
I kept telling myself "ya know what, it took me MANY years to get myself to this point.. WHY would I think I could be done with it over night?" It takes a bit for our brain to kind of re-wire itself and learn how it is to live without nicotine! Do what you have to do to get through today, be patient and BELIEVE that, given time, it will happen!!
Hopefully the inhaler will help you!!!!!!!!!
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Jan and O2B... Thanks for asking about me!
Haven't been posting for awhile BUT have been keeping up with reading this thread! Think about you all often!
I have a friend (who I have known since grade school) who's Mom was diagnosed earlier this year with Stage IV ovarian cancer. She entered hospice this past summer and things just really haven't been going well for her. The holiday season has been especially hard on my friend and her family so have been busy trying to help her!
This friend was THE friend who called every week to see how I was doing during the entire course of my treatment (you know, the one who stayed when all others fled the scene). I HOPE that I can return just a BIT of the comfort that she gave to me!
O2B, I hope that things have gone well for you and you have recovered from your thyroid surgery!!!
Jan,
Glad to hear you are still doing well!!! Just wanted to say thank you for all of the support and encouragement that you give to everyone here on this thread!
Have a good night all!
Jennifer
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Jennifer:
Missed you the past couple of days. I'm sure you are the best friend this person could ask for. You are so supportive and caring!
It's true, we have friends who 'stick it out' with us and we truly find out who our friends are in a time of need.
Have a great evening,
Talk soon
Jan
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(((HUGS))) to all, Haven't been around, been traveling. dsgirl - keep up the good work, we are behind you all the way.
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Got my quitnet anniversary email this morning. 4 months quit! One number they keep up with, based on stats you gave them on smoking history, is "cigarettes NOT smoked." That was 2,435. That number really hit me for some reason, that I would have lit up and done something that many times in the last four months. Everybody hang in there. We are having a cold spell in Alabama, highs in the 30s, and I am soooooo grateful that I don't have to go outside to smoke!
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LadyinBama--Congratulations on 4 months!! It is amazing at how fast the numbers add up--another way to look at it--each cigarette is about 10 puffs--so that is 24,350 puffs you didn't have.
This repetitive action is what conditions the brain to form "habit" cigarettes. Just like Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate to the ringing of a bell--by repetitive actions. The dogs knew food was coming when they heard the bell. A smokers brain is conditioned the same way. By pairing 10 puffs with a cup of coffee, after a period of time--the brain only has to smell the coffee--to "crave" a cigarette. (can be anything, not just coffee--each of us has different "habits cigarettes").
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Congrats Lady!! A big accomplishment...I'm very proud of you.
Cold here in NC too and glad I don't have to go outside either.
Jan
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well I've been silently hiding on this thread reading all the posts, looking for some guidence I guess but too sheepish to actually admit that I am still smoking.....yep I know, I'm an idiot, but just haven't been able to quit.
Went through a left side mastectomy, chemo, radiation and am now on Tamoxafin.
Well the time has come to quit, I will be having delayed DIEP surgery sometime next year and my surgeon has advised that she will NOT perform the surgery unless I have quit smoking at LEAST three months before...and she'll check my blood for nicotine...eeeek no cheating.
Sooooo here I am...finally joining the discussion....wish me luck everyone
Mo
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Ladym: You've come to the right place for support and encouragement on your smoking cessation journey. We have all been through this and the support and advice from those on this thread are so helpful!! There is always someone to help you out.
VJ is a smoking cessation professional so I'm sure she has some really great professional advice. I wish I could have had a DIEP reconstruction but I had to have the implants because I smoked...how foolish that was on my part.
I know you need to pick a quit date for starters.
I haven't had a cigarette since 9/19 and I'm so happy I did quit. If I can quit anyone can...it's not easy but it is doable.
Again, there is so much love and support here to help you!
Best of luck in your quit...
Jan
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Ladym13 - Welcome - I am at just about a week smokefree today, so just a newbie here, although I have quit many a time only to start again. You will find lots of good ideas for helping you quit here, read all the previous posts, I have picked up several great tools here that has helped me alot in this my first week, first the drinking straw cut down to a size of a cigarette, works for me, that is after breakfast, yes any meal, when I used to light up, I now smoke on the straw, also reading VJ work papers gives you lots of ideas on how to approach the whole business of quitting, look at one of her previous posts on how to get a copy. I'd say that would be best for you to have before even quitting, I thought I could quit and muddle thru without any crutches, but found I needed an inhaler. We are all different, and all find diff. ways to help us quit.
LadyinBama- way to go, 4 months, Congratulations,
I get the email from quitnet too, seems like my gained days of extra life mactches the money I saved, I like the daily e-mails from them with my update, that means I don't have to go to a wabsite.
to all of jou great ladies, VJ, Jan, seaside, o2behealthy Barbara A, (6months +) thanks for the encouragements, and congrats on being smoke free for so long.
Jan good luck on your colonoscopy the 29th, yeah the prep is a day wasted and not too pleasant it seems, but the actual procedure was easy, my appt. was at 9am, and we were heading home by 11:45am, I had one polyp only, seems like that is what I have each time I have it done and so far it's been ok, hope this one will be too. I feel pretty loopey, guess the drugs have not worn off yet, was told to take it easy the rest of the day. my husband fixed me a mexican omelet as soon as we got home, was good to get something solid back into my stomach. Used my inhaler afterwards and smoked on my pretend cigareete drinking straw. Now I think a powernap is on the agenda, did not get to bed last nite until 3 am, so need to catch up on some ZZZs.
Maureen813 and Sweet, how are you doing ? been a while since you posted, I think going thru chemo and trying to stop smoking would be one of the greatest challenges to face, but I am sure it can be done as well. So post when you can, and find the support here.
For the last 1 /12 months I had a tumormarker test that prompted chest x-ray & colonoscopy, then the routine mammo that turned out abnormal, then the biopsy and I thought why are you doing all these tests when you are still smoking ?? I all of a sudden I WANTED to quit smoking when the biopsy came back benign, usually, I quit because someone, doctor. husband, kids, sister wanting me to quit.
dsgirl
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Good post DS: Yes, the straw is helpful and the quitting is behavior changes. I find emptying the dishwasher after breakfast helped me. Also, walking and going to the gym has been a big help to me.
Glad your colon. has turned out good. I've had one before and I know the prep is the worse part.
Jan
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Welcome ladym13!!!
I think we ALL started posting here by first 'wading into the pool' by reading the posts to kind of gauge the atmosphere before jumping in. I think that you will find this thread to be full of very helpful advice and very lacking of any kind of judgement! We are all in it to maintain our own quits AND to help those who are in the beginning of theirs! Lots of people here in ALL stages of quitting!
You are NOT an idiot! You have taken the first step into a bit of an unknown which can be scary! We will be here to help in whatever way we can!
Dutchy, had the delayed DIEP back in (I think) September. The surgeon that she absolutely wanted said that she had to quit 6 weeks prior AND maintain her quit for 6 weeks after (yes they DO test). She has passed BOTH of those marks with flying colors and last I heard from her was still going strong!!! Hopefully she will be along to talk more about that soon!
I agree 100% with dsgirl. Send off an e-mail to VJ to get her workbook and read through it before you quit. Get your plan in place BEFORE you quit so that it is automatic (follow your plan) what you will do when you are stressed!
I look forward to hearing more from you soon!!
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dsgirl,
Just going to say... I think you are going to do JUST FINE! What a GREAT post!! I am so happy that, even though you are early in your quit, you have found time to help others that are behind you!! I definitely see a HUGE difference in your faith that you can do this!! Of course, we all are pulling for you and believe you can!
Hang in there... Hopefully you had your (very well deserved) power nap!!! I know after my husband's colonoscopy he slept most of the afternoon!
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OK... Let's try this again... started to post once and lost it....
Here's a quick roll call....
dsgirl - about 1 week
jan508 - about 80 days
bama - 4 months
dutchy - I THINK you are right about 4 months
barbara - Over 6 months!
seaside - 11 months (1 week from tomorrow)
O2B - 1 YEAR, 7 Months +
maureen813 and sweetaerobabe - just starting out
Kitchenwitch and kody22 - hope you are both doing well!
If I have forgotten someone, please know that you are always welcome here!
Here's some well deserved applause for ALL of us... Keep up the good work!
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Im here, not doing so good, allowed myself to smoke. I requested VJ's booklet.
Boyfriend mentions it once in a while, like today I got my period after having my 1st TCH 3 weeks ago, figured I wouldnt be getting them anymore, and he said "well, I know you dont want to hear this, but.... the Dr said smoking cuts down the effectiveness of the chemo, maybe its not working."
I know I can do it cold turkey, made it last time 4 days, but since I (for some stupid reason) like to smoke, I found myself allowing myself to give it to easily.... like bumming from my daughter when she would stop by. Like not even giving it thought.
I dont want to keep my daughter and the kids away from me just so I dont ask for a smoke. I need to make myself determined and stick to it somehow. Every time I light up, I tell myself how discusting they are, that they make me smell, not good for me, think about lung cancer, all trying to make it MY choice to quit, not my Dr or Boyfriends, but MINE.
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Aww Sweetie. Don't beat yourself up. It's hard to quit. I mean it is really hard. I LOVED smoking and I would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I already told my onc if cancer comes back all bets are off. I am not sure I really mean that but it's something I tell myself when I get tempted.
We are all in this together. It is so much easier to have a group to support you when you fall off the wagon and to lift you up when you achieve a milestone (6 MONTHS!!).
LadyM, you, too, can do it. You just have to decide that the time is now and do it. It isn't pretty but it is doable.
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LadyM, let me add my voice to the you-can-do-it chorus! You can!
SeasisdeMemories, thanks for that roll call. You can put me at 8 or 9 days and counting (my last one was Nov. 30). Funny coincidence, I didn't mean to quit on the last day of the month but I did.
For me, smoking has a lot to do with unhappiness and stress and terror. It was harder not to smoke when i was so frightened about my medical situation. Post mx, and now knowing I don't need rads, I feel much calmer (obviously). My life is still terribly stressful: Older son is disabled and a real handful. Husband and I are both longterm unemployed (tho I'm doing a lot of freelance). House is a mess! But I am feeling in general more balanced.
For the record, I loved smoking too! But it was terrible for me, and the pleasure was only a moment or two. Then it was over and the stress was still there, and it was compounded by the fact that I was doing something so terrible to myself (plus amazingly expensive).
For Hanukkah/Christmas I only want one thing: for my husband to quit!
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Can you add me to the list too? I quit the night before (10:00 pm on 9/28 but who's counting) my BMX. My BS and PS were not happy but the surgery went on. I so miss my "reward" system. Everytime I acomplished something at work or at home I rewarded myself with a smoke. My hubby still smokes but tries not to be around me. We have not smoked in the house for years we banned ourselves to the garage like the criminals we are. It just seems too cruel to insist that he quit when I know how hard it is to stop.
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It looks like we are getting some new peeps here on this thread. That is wonderful! I'd like to welcome y'all to our world and to let you know you have come to the right place for support and encouragement.
VJ should be along and she has some really great info, being a professional smoking cessation advisor (Read back on this thread for her wonderful tips and information).
We can all do this and be successful at it...we have each other.
Seaside: Actual is 82 days (next week I can say 3 months)
Jan
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More random thoughts:
I loved to smoke too but I love being smokefree even more. I love that I have control back over my life instead of letting a stupid little cigarette run me. When someone says they "enjoy" smoking--all it means is that we enjoy the flood of dopamine--the "I feel good" neurotransmitter in the brain--WHO WOULDN'T ENJOY THAT???? It's perfectly normal to enjoy it but when we're trying to quit, often we look at what we are giving up instead of what we are gaining. We feel deprived instead of of looking at it like---"I'm willing to go through this temporary discomfort because what I want (different for each of us) is much more important than that cigarette". Rewards are important--and once you've quit smoking--you have extra money to spend on something special--substitute something you want but haven't gotten --and use it to reward yourself--one of my clients decided to spend her tobacco money on weekly massages, another--it was fake nails.
Being around other smokers is often a very slippery time because it is so easy to ask our smoking friends and family for a cigarette--of course they will say yes. Talk to them before you quit and ask for their help---(I've posted on this before) but it is so important to get their support through the quitting process. Ask them to be strong for us and not give us a cigarette when we're weak and ask them for one. I used to run a singles club when you could still smoke in bars--smokers would always come up to me with a cig. in hand and want to talk--I would excuse myself and say I would be right back--once the cig. was out, I would tell them that as a cancer survivor, it was important for me to quit but it was too tempting to me to talk to them when they were smoking. I never asked anybody to quit, I just removed myself in tempting situations because it was important to me.
This is my second bout with cancer and I have thought about that if I had continued smoking, I would not have been a candidate for an immediate DEIP flap---and I am soooooo happy with my results---I really have breezed through it. So even though my cancer did return, I'm soooo glad that I'm smoke free and I have no intention of going back to smoking. You really can reach a time where you truly do not miss smoking.
I also have a blog that has a lot of different tips on it too:
www.StopSmokingStayQuit.blogspot.com
AGain, I'm not trying to sell anyone anything, no adsense, just want to help. Have a joyous day. VJ
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WOW. A friend told me about this site, this is my first post ! I am quitting on Jan 1 st. I have cut way back but what is the point?
There are so many good tips here - so glad to find you all
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Welcome Erica!
We are all here for you...
Jan
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THank you very much !! I have already gotten some great tips
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Wow... We've rolled over to page 113!
Can't stay on long because I have family coming in for my side of the family's Christmas get-to-together. We have it early and then that way my brothers and sister can spend Christmas at their own home or with their in-laws.
Just wanted to welcome kal_1865 and erica31!!! Hopefully you find this thread to be as supportive as I did! Couldn't ask for a nicer group.
I will update our roll call with the new info and post back a bit later (or maybe tomorrow).
erica31, just noticed your date will be 1/1/11!! Pretty cool!
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