Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Lisa65inNY,
PERFECT!!! You are starting to kind of "try it on for size" and finding out that it's not as horrible as you (and we all did) have built it up to be! Keep doing that and see about other situations where you can stretch the time before smoking. See if you can go even longer given the same situation!
You have tried one quit smoking aid that may/may not be "the one" and are open to trying others! GREAT progress!
Try to take your time in developing your plan to quit. Many people try to skip or rush through that step but, I think having a good plan in place is a REALLY critical step to ensure your long-term success!
Also, remember, while we ALL would love for this to be it for you... It doesn't have to be forever!! Just long enough to get the surgery that you want and deserve!! I agree with someone who posted earlier, in that it would suck if those d@mn cigarettes even dictated what surgery you could or couldn't have BUT, I was right where you are now when I had to decide what to do.
I went with lumpectomy/radiation BUT a very big reason for me quitting was that if, god forbid, this beast would ever rear it's ugly head again, I would be faced with mastectomy and, since I had prior radiation, my reconstruction options would be very limited!
Just one of many reasons on my list!
We are ALL pulling for you here!!
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Seaside, I will be praying that your results come back okay. Sometimes it feels as though time is endless when we're waiting for them....Sending lots of positive energy and hugs your way!
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Jennifer:
I'm sorry to hear you had a bad appointment. I don't think it was very nice of that nurse to say those things to you. I'm sure it's nothing and yes there are many many reasons for undetetable blood in urine.
I'm staring to get my appointments in order for a 6 month check up and had a chest xray done and have to see the BS the end of this month. I go to oncologist in June with a Dexa scan and then to a new gyno on July 1 where I'll have a PAP and I'm sure a ultrasound for overies.
I'm feeling pretty good today. I was tired by the end of the day (I worked today) but my girls are feeling pretty good. I have a little puckering on one so I'll show the PS next Monday when I go for my follow up visit.
Jan
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Jan,
Saw my BS last Wednesday. Have my 2 year follow-up mammo/US scheduled for 4/4. Just scheduled my Dexa and ultrasound for this Wednesday after my GYN appointment today! Just hoping those at least go OK.
SO Happy to hear that you are feeling pretty good even though tired! That was a really quick healing period! Hope that all continues to go well!!! And, do take some time to be kind to yourself! Healing is hard work!
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Seaside,
Thank you (and all) for your continuous encouragement! I guess today was a day for testing the waters, to see what may or may not work when the actual day comes.
Tonight I ordered a book from Amazon called "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" that was recommended to me by someone on the FORCE website. I don't know much about it, but the book received a phenominal number of positive reviews, it was shocking really. I figure I have nothing to lose but small change. I'll take any help I can get!
I'm trying hard to listen to the voice of logic, rather than the voice of nicotine. Like you, I too am trying to put my on my list of reasons the impact smoking can/will have on future situations and decisions.
Tomorrow I am going for my consultation with the plastic surgeon in NYC. Hopefully I will leave there a bit more motivated.
Wishing you a peaceful day, and praying that things go well for you on Friday.
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Hi ladies...just doing a drive by to say hi!
Welcome all newbies!!
Jan - happy to hear you are feeling ok and the twins are looking good!
Seaside - Praying that the recent results end up being nothing serious, sending you hugs!
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Seaside: Back in November, they put off one of my cancer treatments for a week because I had blood in my urine. They did tests (urine test, pelvic ct), couldn't find any reason for it, and it resolved, so my doc just shrugged it off. The nurse said there's tons of reasons you could have a little blood. And last week I had it again. Just for one day, a little blood and a little pang when peeing. Again, it resolved quickly. I don't know if it's a UTI trying to start up or what. Anyway, just want you to know that this does happen for lots of reasons. Hang in there!
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Seaside, hope the test results come out fine, seems like it could just resolve itself, sending hugs your way. Karen
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I got my results of the MRI. The nurse called and said no mets. I have bursitis and I have tendinitis in the muscle behind the big muscle in my leg. I'll get more details tomorrow when I go for my FINAL TCH. I have had this pain everyday since before my DX, so I'm not sure how he is going to treat this.
I got my quitnet email this morning. Today is my 1 month anniversary. Yay me!!
Jennifer, I hope all is well.
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Yay Sweet!!!! One month is Awesome!!! Congratulations!
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Oh Sweet!!! What a wonderful day for you!!!
Congratulations on your no mets and on your one month anniversary!!!!
You Rock!!!
Jan
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Dear sweet, congratulations for both of your awesome achievements, no mets (yeah yeah yeah) and a full month smokefree. You hve done such a great job, one month during active treatment, extra points for that! Karen
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Things have been kind of crazy here with doctor's appointments and tests so just haven't had the time or the energy to post.
Had an appointment today for trans-vaginal ultrasound (due to being on Tamoxifen) and bone density test (due to periods ending when Tamoxifen started). This is all on the heels of the blood in the urine appointment and PAP smear on Monday!
Ultrasound was up first... Ovaries look good... but uterine wall shows definite thickening. 'Normal' would be < 5mm and mine was 10 - 12 mm! CRAP! Could be polyps.. could be cystic changes due to Tamoxifen (this is what I am expecting)... could be cancer. Will require a second, more specialized trans-vaginal U/S with a saline injection and possibly a D&C... Yuck!
Bone Density was within normal limits! Now we're talkin'.
Met with the doc after to talk about results for today but, figured, as long as I'm here I might as well ask what my results were from the urinalysis and PAP that they did Monday even though they had said they wouldn't have them until Friday... hehehe... My vast experience with doctor's visits FINALLY pays off! He had to call over to the lab but, the PAP was normal and the urinalysis was negative for blood cells!!! Hallelujah!!!
Scheduled for saline trans-vaginal next Tuesday. If all goes well, that will be the end. If not D&C to follow!
I know I have had quite a few moments this past week, where smoking would have been my coping mechanism in the past and, even though I have not smoked in over a year, I sure could have gone for one.. BUT DIDN'T!!
Hope all is well for all of you!!!
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Sweet!!!
GREAT news on the MRI and hoping that tomorrow's final treatment will be done and there are NO side-effects! It is a funny world that we have been thrust into where having tendonitis, arthritis or bursitis is GOOD news!!! BUT... it truly is!!!
Congrats on 1 MONTH!!!!
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Lisa65inNY,
I did use Allen Carr's book when I was thinking about quitting and felt it really was VERY good in taking every reason why I said I smoked and showing how it is all just an illusion caused by addiction (and yes... I HATED that word)! By the time I finished it I went from just kinda thinking about trying to quit because I "should" to being sort of excited to try!
It worked REALLY well in getting me motivated to try to quit BUT fell a bit short in the "how to actually do it" department!
That's where a 2-pronged approach worked well for me.... The book for motivation AND a second program for the "how to" part of it. That's where VJ's workbook or some other program comes in!
I think we need to understand both why we smoke and have some help in getting a game plan together in how to stop!
We are all pulling for you!!!
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Seaside,
That is GREAT news about your test results and...not having to wait until Friday! Yay! I hope all goes well for you on Tuesday too!! :-)
I met with the surgeon yesterday in NYC. She was very nice and I was comfortable with her. However....she said no smoking OR nicotine for 8 weeks prior to and after the surgery because it's actually the nicotine that affects the blood vessels and affects the flaps and healing. So unfortantely I am slipping into a deep panic and depression about this because unless my doctor can give me Zyban or Chantix, I don't know how I will quit cold turkey.
Today, while I was doing work from home, every time I started to think about not smoking I would actually start to shake, got very dizzy and had a few moments of uncontrollable balling! I'm starting to feel hopeless. I don't know if my MD will give me the Chantix due to the panic disorder I have but maybe under controlled circumstances he will. Or, I would love for him to lock me up in detox! I fear that I will never get through even one day...
I know that millions of hard core smokers have quit and I know that I'm no different but somehow I feel like I will never get there. I keep going on the internet and freaking out when I read how hard quitting is and how many people "fail 5 times" before they succeed. I am a wreck about this.... I want this surgery and I can't even believe how difficult it is for me to get through not even half a day.
Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble...
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Lisa65inNY,
So been there!! Deep breath... Repeat after me.... The THOUGHT of quitting is really far scarier than the REALITY of quitting... And yes! I would have slapped ANYONE who said that to me when I was getting ready to quit! Lucky for me, you don't know where I live...
My impression is that you are a person who 'knows they should quit' but hasn't really gotten to the point of wanting to yet (been there). You need some motivation to quit, as I did. I found that motivation to just give it a TRY through the book. What continued that momentum was following a program on the "how to" part AND having several reasons to quit that were STRONGER than my desire to smoke (SO important)! One of which was possible future reconstruction.
Prior to that point, I was perfectly happy as a smoker and, truthfully, if someone were to tell me tomorrow that it didn't affect my health and they were giving them away, I'd probably do it again! BUT they DO affect your health AND since you are in NY like me they are costing you a king's ransom for that privilege!!
You can read quite a bit of Allen Carr's book at Amazon for free by clicking on the "Look Inside" link to get a feel if you think it would be useful to you!
If memory serves me correctly, and things have been hectic here so I apologise if I am wrong, your surgery is a prophylactic one so you may have a little time on your side where you could maybe use a NRT for a short while before quitting completely.
Once the motivation is there AND you get your plan in place (VERY important) I think those 16 weeks will just fly by AND if you want to go back to smoking, you can... In the meantime, you will have 16 weeks of "not smoking" savings to buy something nice for yourself!!!
Please post when you need to and I wish for strength for you!! You CAN do this!
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(((seaside))) - good news on labs, hopefully you won't have to have the D&C! Been thinking about you and you've been in my prayers. Still praying for good news on the uterine thickening.
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Hi Seaside,
I think the motivation is there but I am so overcome with fear that I can't seem to get to the next step. I have a lot of anxiety/panic issues that are fear-based and in those situations as well, I tend to get completely overwhelmed instead of stepping back and taking the time to work on the steps that are necessary to be successful. I actually have a full blown clinical panic/agoraphobia diagnoses.
Instead of taking the time to read and work through the workbook, I think to myself, "I need this surgery, I want this surgery, I don't want a b/c diagnosis, so why can't I just quit right now" and then panic because in my head I'm saying, "If I can't even imagine quitting today, then how could it possibly work at all? Then with the extreme shaking and dizziness I had today I wonder - what will actually happen then on my quit date? Will I end up in the ER from a heart attack?
I guess I'm confused about the fear of quitting vs. the actual reality of quitting. If I wait 2 hours to have a cigarette and fear that I'll never be able to get past 2 hours, how will that change when I actually come to my quit date? I think I'm just so overcome with terror that I'm not able to think clearly anymore. I'm thinking I may need to work in conjunction with a therapist? Is that even realistic? God, my stomach is in knots...
I am so sorry to be all over the place tonight - fatigue, travelling and just wanting to be an ex smoker in the worst way. Am I maybe just putting too much pressure on myself because of the impending surgery and having to "hurry up and quit"? Is that maybe just setting me up for failure?
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Lisa, how soon do you have to have the surgery? Maybe if you write down a scenario of small steps to quit, like I wait an hour before I have my first cigarette, then 2 hours, etc... Then allow yourself a certain number of cig. per day and gradually decrease the number, that way it is in your power and such small steps you won't feel so overwelhmed (sp.?) You wll just focus on the step not go all the way to quit quite so fast. If it is so associated with panic attacks, perhaps working with a therapist to break the link between the panic feeling with the thought of quiting, might not be a bad idea. From someone who had to do little steps too, and thought I'd never, never be able to do it. Remember to breathe deeply to calm the panic. Karen
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Seaside, I'm so glad the urine test and PAP came back normal, such a wonderful word isn't it. Hope the next test on Tues. is normal too. I know when those tests come in a bunch like that, that smoking just calls to you. but you didn't answer - hip hip hurrah for you. Karen
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Lisa,
I meant to mention this before, (chemo brain) but I also suffer from extreme panic attacks and panic disorder for many years. I also had bad agoraphobia years ago. I was on antidepressants and they worked with the agoraphobia, and the panic attacks. (I was on paxal sp?) eventually I weaned myself off and the agoraphobia has been fine (I just dont like to go out because of the wig and painted eyebrows) and my panic attacks are under control. I always have my xanax with me in case of emergency, and I usually take it at night to help me sleep.
Are you on meds for this?
Thank you all for the well wishes. Im getting ready to leave for the last TX, I'll check in when I can. Oh and BTW, my daughter finally got the patch and she is supposed to make her quit date tonight. I really hopes she sticks with it.
Have a great day everyone.
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sweet congrats on 1 month and REALLY good news about your daughter, you inspired her...good luck today on your last infusion. I'm done with chemo 2+ weeks and have started the next step of radiation planning. I don't have a start date yet but I'm sure I'll start next week.
seaside congrats on your test results and praying for you on next Tuesday.
lisa I didn't have time to think about quitting, my diagnosis and surgery were so quick with barely any planning so I can't provide you with any tips or tricks. I know I sound like a broken record but the one thing that keeps me from stealing a cigarette from my husband is that my lungs and heart are clear after soooo many years of smoking. When you decide you WILL do this, don't sweat it, work with the doctors I'm sure they will work with you.
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Karen: Thank you for your support!!! My surgery is prophylactic so it has not been scheduled yet; however, due to my age (46 next month) and my sister & mother's ages at diagnosis (both 44) and my BRCA-2 status, the general feeling is "sooner rather than later". So while I don't need the surgery immediately, the odds get worse the longer I put it off. (My sister had a very aggressive cancer and passed away a year ago at the age of 48.) The bottom line is that if I were a non-smoker, I would have had this surgery scheduled already. Ironically, with the panic disorder I'm panicking about not smoking when I should be panicking about NOT having the surgery. Maybe I should write that down on my 'reasons to quit" card in big bold letters.
Kal: That is so awesome that your lungs and heart are in great shape! I worry about that too and hope mine are ok.! Did you quit smoking for any period of time before you had your reconstruction?
Sweet: First off, congrats on one month! That is truly worth celebrating. And I hope everything went well today with your last treatment.
I have been on klonopin for years, but I don't take as much as I should. Last night; however, after slipping into such a deep panic and depression about the smoking I took an additional half and honestly I think all it did was make it worse. So I was thinking today that some of the intense anxiety may fall in line with the agoraphobia (fear of being in situations where you feel trapped). In a way, I feel as though there is a connection, more than the typical anxiety. Like, "you better quit smoking right now or else" and then in my head I can list all the consequences.
I have an appt with my MD on Monday to talk about Chantix or Zyban or any other help he can offer. I think I need more intensive support for the first few days. I also made an appt today with my therapist (who specializes in panic disorders) so I am praying that between the two.....
Thanks, again, everyone for letting me vent here. I type really fast and tend to get carried away!
Hope everyone has a wonderful, peaceful day!
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Hi all, I'm home, surgery went well. The doc said everything looked good to him, but of course, we've got to wait and see what the path report says. That'll be back Mon or Tues he said. I'm sore and about to take a pain pill and get some sleep. Just wanted to stop by and check in and tell everyone how much I appreciate the support and prayers.
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Praying for a quick recovery Lady
Jan
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Lisa, good idea getting in to see the M.D. and your therapist on board, you'are starting to build your own personalized support team for quiting. And you also have all of us just waiting on you. One thing I wold caution you about is not taking the amount of meds. your therapist has decided on for you. You are self medicating and you are paying him/her for their expertise in creating your treatment program. Perhaps if you took them as prescribed the panic wouldn't have the chance to overcome you. Karen
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Glad your home and resting Bama! Praying for b9, b9, b9!!!!
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Seaside-I popped over here to this thread from the dinner thread to see what was going on with your gyno appt. I had the same thing going on about 2 yrs ago, the thickening was a12 and had heavy bleedingm, i had a d&c and a hyscoscopy(sp) done was surprized that the results came back b9. Hoping the same for you. "hugs"
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Hope you dont mind my chiming in here, i havnt really read very many posts so dont know all that was recommend, I quit smoking 3 yrs ago, i was a heavy smoker, severe asthma,, had lung cancer and still didnt quit smoking, untill my 30 yr old daughter was dx with bc. i knew i would have to fly to her home in another state and take care of her and the only way i was going to do that was to quit smoking, i guess you would say that was my motivation, i tryed the chantix the se on that was worse than my not breathing, so i got the nicorette gum, and it worked, i chew it like a trucker now, and am addicted to that, but still not smoking and breathing great.
Also my DH bought the electronic ciggerettes for his employees 2 weeks ago, and this week 5 people told him they havnt smoked in 2 weeks, it looks like a ciggerette, and has the nicotine in it but not the chemicals or tar- It is like a vapor and odorless, this works for people who feel like they still need the nicotine and want to have somthing in there hand, Hope this helps.
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