Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Im feeling like crap, so making this quick. US was clear, no blood clots.
Night everyone.
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Feel better sweet!!!
Jan
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sweetaerobabe,
Good news on the U/S!!
Sorry you are feeling poorly. I assume it's your chemo side-effects kicking in.
Please know I will be thinking of you tonight and have just said a prayer that it will pass quickly! SO sorry that you have to go through all of that!!
Jennifer
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Thanks Jan and Jen, yes, the side effects are starting to kick in. There goes the taste buds already, I was looking at the food pics that were posted and started drooling. lol. Im so hungry. The stomach is acting up, and the bone pain starting from the shot earlier today. Im downing the water hoping to flood it out of me.
Thanks so much for the good vibes.
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Oh Sweet - I am sorry you are feeling like crap. I had TCH and it really kicked my ass on #3 but for some reason #4 was so much better, just major fatigue...I slept for almost three days straight
Sending prayers and gentle hugs your way for a speedy recovery.
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Are all of you smokers or recent ex smokers? It's refreshing to hear of others who just couldn't quit when diagnosed and going through treatment. I'm still working on "wanting to quit" Like "webwriter" said, smoking is my friend...I enjoy it, still. Crazy I know! My husband quit coId turkey soon after I started chemo. It's my sincere hope that by the time 2011 ends I will no longer "like" my friend and have said goodbye FOREVER. Thanks for letting me know I wasn't the only smoker who went through chemo/radiation.
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Hi, everybody - The NyTimes had an interesting short article yesterday: Can taking a walk help reduce cravings? I hope the article is accessible without having to sign in if you don't have an account (though it's free, I think). Bottom line was, yes, a brisk walk can help you get over a momentary craving for a cigarette or a cookie or whatever, and help you change habits.
I found it easier to give up smoking now that I've lost weight (25 pounds). Almost like changing one set of habits made me realize I could change other habits. Now if I can get myself to clean up more and get rid of stuff...
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Seaside- Thanks again for the support. Your idea of counting down how long I have to be smoke free is one I have considered. I decided I will give it until 2 weeks after my surgery. If I still feel like I am having a really hard time and things have not gotten much better I might let myself be bad for a month or so and try again with Ciantix or Zyban. Hopefully it will be better by then and I won't want to go back to it. Foe me smoking always represents a break. I have tow young boys and I am go go go all the time. When I was smoking I would go 4-5 hours with out smoking because we would be at a park or with friends, and then blessed nap time would come and ahhhh- smoke break. Same thing when Daddy gets home at night. When my husband would get home I could sneak outside and take a break from it all for a few minutes and have a cigarette. Then once the kids went to bed I could go out as much as I wanted, have a glass of wine and relax. Now that I'm not smoking I just keep going at nap time and night time. I fold laundry I clean, I cook, no more breaks
Thus tired, grumpy and feeling a little crabby.0 -
I have to add I laughed when I read someone suggestion of just going to one spot and standing and smoking, no coffee, no phone etc- just smoking. That is pretty much the only way I smoked. I only smoked outside, I was almost always alone, and I loved the peace and quiet...so I guess that tip wouldn't work for me, lol!
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AintB,
I think you will find many people here, myself included, that did not quit until after treatment was over! As you know, that time is SO stressful and I knew my chances of succeeding would not be good. I didn't even cut back on my smoking until after. My hat is truly off to the girls here that have quit while undergoing treatment. It is a true testament to their strength!!
By just entertaining the thought of quitting, you have begun the process! Yes, getting to the point of really wanting to quit takes time and each of us gets there on our OWN timetable!
Feel free to read/post when you need to.
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Well put, Seaside. Really quitting completely was much easier when my surgery was over and I'd been told I would not need radiation. I have more surgery coming up but it's all elective and cosmetic to make the other side match and fix my nipple. Yes, I had a couple of errant cigarettes even before DIEP surgery and a few after (didnt' smoke at all in hospital, obviously) but until I got that path report... I was terribly stressed and frightened.
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Kitchenwitch,
Good article!!
When I first quit smoking, the late afternoons and early evenings were the worst. I DID find that using the treadmill in the late afternoon REALLY helped! Personally I think it has to do with your body releasing endorphins (the feel good hormones) when you exercise. Not sure about that but it worked for me.
Unfortunately once my cravings subsided so did my treadmill time
I'm working on getting back into it. Have done at least 2 miles each day since Jan 2nd (was supposed to be the 1st but, I managed to procrastinate my way out of that!! lol)
I hope to drop 20 pounds by summer. We shall see!
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Laurie08,
That sounds like a good plan! It may very well make it seem not so "forever".
Good that you see a pattern to when you smoke! I know I was what I call a transition smoker (my own not too great term). I would take a smoke break after completing one thing and before moving on to the next. Almost like the period at the end of a sentence. Finish vaccuming, have a cigarette. Finish a meal, have a cigarette.
One of the things many people talk about is how much money they have saved and what they would spend it on (or maybe that's just me..lol) what is often overlooked is the savings in amount of time wasted, especially for those of us who smoked outside. I also figured out how much time I spent outside smoking and that amount of time was MINE to do something I LIKED to do. Replace something enjoyable with something also enjoyable (just better for you).
That sounds like it would be a very good thing for you, if you are able to manage it with 2 young boys. No wonder quitting smoking has been so hard on you! You are giving up something you like for just more of the stuff you don't. You're bound to feel a bit ripped-off! Even if you take just some of the time to do something for you, I think you will feel so much better!
We're rooting for you!
Edited to add:
My youngest child is now 17 and I STILL remember what a glorious time nap time was!!!
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Seaside, I haven't smoked inside a dwelling of any kind in like forever. I don't so much count the time I'm saving not going out as sparing myself the misery of going out on an agonizingly cold night to have one. I feel so bad for my husband, going out in insane weather (we live in NYC) -- icy winter nights or horrible hot summer ones. Ugh. But you're right that there is definitely a time savings there.
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Kitchenwitch,
I live in upstate NY. I know what you mean about it really being nice to not have to shiver in the cold for a smoke! This winter has been particularly bad it seems! I feel so bad for the people outside the stores smoking. Glad I don't have to anymore!
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Yes, when I was working this past month I felt bad for all the people huddled outside office buildings. I never felt one bit of craving - just grateful that I wasn't one of them. I feel last winter was very cold! Still,we've got a couple of months to go. where upstate are you? I used to live in Ithaca.
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I'm just outside Binghamton. Just a hop, skip and a jump to Ithaca. My sister graduated from Cornell. Beautiful town. The gorges are just breathtaking!
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Yikes! Just thinking about where you guys live makes me shiver!
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Barbara, I might envy you a few days here and there in winter, but honestly I've come to love and appreciate the cold weather. It doesn't last that long. Last year i never wanted winter to end (but mostly because I knew that once spring came I'd be having lumpectomy and probably rads).
Seaside, Yes, Ithaca is beautiful! Binghamton's cool too. Here and there in that whole central area you can find some great surprises.
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I can deal with the cold for a short time but my biggest problem with winter was no sun. I am pretty sure I suffer from seasonal affective disorder. I would start to get very depressed in late November and would really be dragging around March. So I moved and LOVE the sunshine. I get my cold fix because my work takes me to all kinds of places like White River Junction, VT, Salt Lake City, Boston, Reno, and so on. I even had to buy a real winter coat, boots, gloves, scarf and hat.
Have a great day gals!
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This is even harder than I remembered. At least my husband is not tempting me with his smoking this time. He hasn't quit but a few years ago he switched to little cigars. Can't stand them.
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Chabba: Hang in there! You can do it. You need to do something else when the dreaded craving strikes. Drink a glass of water, eat some grapes (that's what I would do), fold the laundry, do the dishes, take a walk, anything. The craving will subside in a just a few minutes. It is hard, but you can do it.
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chabba- I just started day 11, yesterday was the first day that wasn't completely horrible. It is tough, very tough. Hang in there and just don't allow yourself to be any where near a cig. I knew if I had, I would have smoked it. Good luck, and come here to vent, it has helped me a lot.
Thanks again everyone.
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So far chewing or sucking on a cinnamon stick seems to be working. You can even hold it like a cigarette.
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I would carry a baggie of celery and carrot sticks around. I could suck on them, fondle them, etc. You can do it!!
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It's been a bit quiet here lately!
Hope everyone is doing OK!
Laurie08 and chabba,
Thinking, especially, of BOTH of you tonight and hoping that you are still doing well!! Laurie so happy to hear that day 11 was not horrible. I think you have rounded the bend!!!
sweetaerobabe,
I hope that your side-effects from this round are winding down and that you are feeling a bit better!
Hope ALL of you are having a good night! Hang tough and KNOW someone is thinking of you tonight!
Girls in the NE, are you ready for the next round of snow? UGGGGGG!!!
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I'm still here...still not smoking. Today was a very busy day, I took the kids to the science museum and we met a group of friends. I have been trying to pack in a lot of fun things since I will be laying low after surgery on Monday. Having two boys ages one and three- there are not too many quiet moments in my home
But we all had a blast and piled up together and slept for a bit when we got home. We are in NH and I am ready for more snow! I love New England and all the seasons, if it's going to be cold- bring on the snow to play in. Again, glad it will be this weekend so we can get some good playtime in before next week. Maybe I will find a way to not feel guilty for laying low and watching movies while hubby takes care of them
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Laurie:
I'm so happy for you having your exchange surgery on Monday but a bit jealous...I cannot wait for mine (hopefully March).
Yes, you let your DH take care of things and you let your body heal!!!
I will be thinking of you and praying for a wonderful result!!! A perfect 'c'?
Jan
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Laurie,
I agree... Snow on the weekend is magical if you have no where to go!! It's also especially great when you have young kids to see it through their eyes!! I went to the grocery store today. My son's girlfriend will be staying with us while her parents move her brother to college. Glad we're not the ones traveling!
We're all set... Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.....
Enjoy your time this weekend with those two cuties!!! Get through your surgery on Monday and, DO NOT feel the least bit guilty for turning over the reins to your husband while you take care of yourself and heal! Do not consider it to be selfish, consider it to be an investment in YOURSELF that will pay off for your whole family!
Make a few snow angels for me!!
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Thanks Jan. I am hoping all will go well and I'll be excited whenit's all over. This "journey" started for me last April...I am ready for it to be over. No more surgeries!!! No more explaining to my son what is happening. I told him last night about the next surgery and how I won't be able to lift him again. He seemed ok with it. And yes I am going for the perfect C. I was very large chested before, a DDD so I am enjoying the reduction in weight that I carried around for so long.
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