Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Congratulations Bama.....well done!
Barbara:
Yes, I definitely think a party is in order...can we get those same servers???
I"ll bring the wine!
Jan
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Hi everyone, I wanted to chime in on the TM, my onc said there is no real way of knowing if the chemo is working other than my own symptoms. So basically, I will become a hypochondriac.
As far as smoking, yes, I have cheated, But, am in the middle of chemo and trying my hardest, a slip every now and then is defenatly WAY less than the 1 1/2 packs a day I smoked for 25 years. So Im proud of myself. The day will come that I just walk away completly.
BTW, getting snow again here tonight and tomorrow. (up to a foot the last I heard) The boyfriend has a cold, and Im getting a runny nose. Could be the herceptin, could be the start of a cold. So Im running to the drug store to get Nyquil. Good stuff.
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Sweet:
I'm glad you checked in with us. Slips are a slip...you will do this I'm sure when all the stress is behind you. You should be proud of yourself. You've been through alot and you will be fine!
Sorry your BF has a cold, my DH has been sniffling too. I hope you don't get it!! Take care of yourself because I'm sure your immune system is now compromised due to the chemo.
Nyquil is good stuff!
Take care!
Jan
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Update re: Allergies after quitting
No one from ATTUD posted any comments, which means either there is no research on a connection between quitting and the development of allergies, it is a rare phenomen or it's a coincidence. Over the years, I have heard of many strange physical issues arise after quitting, and sometimes we just don't know. While I don't suggest it, it would be interesting to see if the allergy went away if you went back to smoking. One client complained that his stomach hurt every time he quit-I suggested a visit to the doctor and he had an ulcer--his smoking was masking the pain.
I'm speculating that since smoking decreases the ability to smell, that in your case that it might have also blocked the allergens from entering into your nose and now that you're not smoking, the portal is wide open or maybe masked the allergic symptoms??? Has your sense of smell returned?
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Hi VJ: I really appreciate your feedback. My sense of smell certainly has improved since I quite smoking, as well as my sense of taste. I would never even entertain the thought of smoking again to see if the allergy went away...I worked too hard to quit! I have a dr. appt. in February, I'll run it by her. In the meantime, if you hear anything please share! Thanks,
Linda
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sweet- I think you are dong a great job, you are absolutely right that a few here and there are way better than the 1 1/2 pack you used to smoke. You should be very proud of your self. I hope both you and your boyfriend dodge the cold, lots of Vitamin C!
I am feeling pretty well today, this surgery truly has been so much easier than the last one. The pain is very tolerable and I have even slept comfortably on my side with the use of a pillow. I too woke up this morning feeling like I am finally getting the cold I've been fighting. I took 1000mg of vitamin C and hope to make it go away before it comes on full force. I have been sleeping on and off a ll day enjoying the silence of the house with no one home. I will admit I am still thinking about smoking but have promised myself I need to wait to cheat- I don't want to compromise my circulation and hinder my healing...I've come this far....
Hope eveyone is having a great day. I am looking forward to the snow storm tomorrow!
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Laurie:
I am so glad you are feeling well. Are there drains involved? UGH, if so!!!
I can't wait to get these TE's out!!! They have been driving me crazy this week, so much so that I resorted to putting back on the bra I got in the hospital. I think I should have been wearing a bra when going to the gym and doing my walking. I've also been sleeping on my side so who knows what I did. I just hope I didn't injure anything. I have alloderm which I think protects the te's but I'll ask my PS on Thursday when I see him.
Feel better!!! Be good to yourself. It is now time for Laurie!
Jan
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Jan508, I never said thank you to you, you were the first person to welcome me. I did get VJSL8 quiting smoking booklet, some great tips in there. My home is getting real clean and I'm drinking tons of water!! Karen
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Jan- Nope- no drains, yay! Try not to worry about your TE's. I found if I over did things I could have pain for a few days. I have Alloderm too. You have to try to remember that your body went through a lot when you had your surgery, muscles were cut and moved etc and if you do little too much they get strained and need to rest to feel better. So try to relax!
Keep up the good work Karen!
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Ackkkkkk!!! I thought we were only supposed to get a couple inches here but, just looked at the report to see what storm Laurie and sweetaerobabe were talking about!!
They have upp'ed us to 8-12"! Guess we are in the collision path of the storm you all had earlier this week and one moving in from the midwest..
Just hope it's outta here by Thursday and they get the roads clear. I have to take my daughter back to college on Thursday and I'm a bit of a wimp about driving in the snow!
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thanks Karen but that is not necessary...we are all a nice group here and we all work together! Gee, maybe we should open a business!
Anyway, keep up the good work and as long as it's water you are drinking you'll be fine a
Now that your house is clean do you want to come over and clean mine?
Jan
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You can keep the snow...UGH!!!!
Our schools have been closed for 2 days and we have 'nothing'!! They get a little nervous here in the South when there is a threat of snow
Jan
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Jan and Barbara,
YEP one week from today is my 1 YEAR quit-aversary. I still really can't believe it!
I haven't checked my quitnet.com stats in awhile!! I'm waiting to surprise myself on Tuesday with number of cigarettes not smoked and money saved!! Sort of like unwrapping a present FROM me TO me!
I'll post my stats when I know them!!
Hmmmm, now that I think about it, wasn't I supposed to be getting e-mails from them with that information? I'll have to check.
sweetaerobabe,
You are in a very stressful time during your treatment so you get a pass on your slips! Being down from 1 1/2 packs to bumming one here and there is GREAT. To do that, given your stage of treatment, I find to be remarkable!!
Keep doing what your doing, and yes, I have no doubt you will walk away completely when the time is right!
Hope your BF and you both feel better! Seems everyone is sick recently. Even at the store today it seemed like everyone was coughing! Must be too much celebrating over the holidays!
PS... You're still invited to my party...lol
Edited because I almost forgot!!! TODAY is 2 MONTHS for you!!!
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jan508,
I wish I could send it elsewhere!! I don't know if it's just me or if we really seem to be having a lot of snow storms this winter. Really strange weather hitting places that just aren't used to it!
Like my DH says, "It's winter in the NE, what do you expect???" He's a western NY'er and they're used to all that lake effect snow. Me, not so much!
Jennifer
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Interesting discussion on quitting smoking and allergies!
I don't have the itchy, watery eyes but, I do seem to have a bit of a runny nose all of the time. Maybe it is allergies?
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Kitchenwitch and chabba,
Haven't heard from you in awhile! Hope all is going well!
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Thanks Seaside! I got my quitnet email yesterday and it said I've saved more than $500 by not smoking these last 5 months.
Allergies: I don't know how far out from chemo you are, but could it be connected? Since I did chemo, I'm much more sensitive to smells. And with no nose hair, my nose drips a lot. Plus, quitting smoking does funky things to us like makes us cough (clearing out the old gunk) and other stuff that could be mistaken for colds and allerlgies.
With all we've got going on with our bodies right now, it's hard to know what's the cancer, what's the chemo and what is something else!
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PS on Snow: Huntsville's official total for yesterday was 8.9 inches. And of course it was below freezing last night, so today we've still got the snow, plus ice from where yesterday's slush refroze. It will be tomorrow afternoon or Thursday before we are able to get out according to the weather forecast for here.
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Oh Bama, so sorry, and Sweet, man you all have had so much snow this year!
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Seaside, I've been meaning to post. I've had a "relapse" or two. Tried to quit cold turkey, didn't work. After a week back smoking--but at 1/2 to 3/4th pack I got some patched. Used them for about 4 or 5 days and developed an skin alergy that nearly drove me nuts, smoked some more. Today I'm trying again. This time I'm trying the Nicorette lozenge. Nine hours into it and no craving. Guess you better reset my quit date to 1/11/11.
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chabba,
It sometimes takes awhile to figure out what will work for you and IT IS different for everyone! Doesn't matter which method you wind up using, what IS important is that you keep trying!
The patch thing would not have worked for me either! I get a rash from any kind of adhesive including band-aids!
Can't quite recall who (sorry Tamoxifen leaves me forgetful) but I know there was at LEAST one person here who started out on one path, quickly discovered that was not going to work and switched (or supplemented with something else) and are doing well!
I will reset your date and it's (I think) a really cool one! Dutchy is 1/1/11, you are 1/11/11, can't wait to see who has the lucky 11/11/11 quit smoke date!! I'm going to re-post the roll call soon to add Dutchy (and karen333, if she wants). I'll switch you date then!!
Take your time, form your plan and post when you need to!!
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Hi Ladies, it sure sounds cold everywhere and grateful for living in CA. It was not as cold as it had been...67 today.
Jennifer sounds like you had a good time with all of the kids home. And of course it is always good to have the house back to the ones that live in the home. I am always cold and for me that was finally warming up. I would never survive where it snows and has ice storms. I talked with my friend who lives in Minnesota and has snow that is in the double digit...can't recall exactly what she said. but I thought she said 13 inches.
Still doing okay and am not craving the cigs very much.
Pretty tired from work so am going to bed.
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Ladies I just have to post this picture...my hair dresser ironed my hair flat and I looked in the mirror and almost cried...it was ME! A glimpse of the girl I used to be before cancer. I only wish it would last for more then a day but I know those damn curls will be back after the next washing...
Edited to try and shrink the picture...wow I didn't think it would be so big.
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((((MICHELLE)))) Great pic! Love the hair. I hear you about looking great for a day then my hairdressing skills (right) take over and UGH!
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What a beauty you are!!! The hair does look great!!
Jan
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O2bhealthy - Awesome hair! Want a flat iron?? I have two and will gladly send you my extra one. You really don't have to be that much of a hairdresser type to use it! PM me and let me know if you want more info. Also, fwiw... wow. Curls??? Lucky you! I just have this hair that gets wavy in very stupid ways, which is the reason for the flat irons!
Jill
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BarbaraA - yeah my hair dressing skills did not accomplish the look I wanted this morning plus I will have to wash my hair sometime in the near future so the curls will be back with a vengeance...
Thank you Jan508! I actually felt pretty in that picture, what a difference a good hair day can make!
Kitchenwitch - Thank you! I sent you a PM.
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O2B- Just before I was diagnosed I had l=very long naturally curly hair and I chopped most of it off and started flat ironing it. I am not very "girlie" and I mastered it in a few days- do it!! It doesn't take much skill at all, if I can do it anyone can. Your hair looks great!!
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Michelle: You look great! And your hair is so shiny & healthy looking. What little bit I have is ratty looking, so this gives me hope that as it grows, it will one day look like hair again
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Oh Michelle!
What a PRETTY picture that is of you! You can truly see how happy you are by the sparkle in your eyes!
My hair is flat, flat, flat!!! Have always wanted curls! I do have a friend who has beautiful curly hair but every so often she will have it chemically straightened at the hair dressers and then it's straight for a few months.
Don't know if that would be an option for you or not because of the chemicals and also because I'm not sure how fragile hair is after chemo. Just a thought!
Of course, we think you're beautiful with or without curls!
Jennifer
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