Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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I just found Seasides' roll call from page 164:
ROLL CALL
Ladies who we've heard from recently:
sunangel27 - May 29, 2011 quit date
karen333 - Jan 16, 2011 quit date
kal_1865 - Sept 28, 2010 quit date
jan508 - Sept 20, 2010 quit date
Angelice - Sept 3, 2010 quit date
LadyinBama - Aug 10, 2010 quit date
BarbaraA - June 2, 2010 quit date
SeasideMemories - Jan 18, 2010 quit date
o2bhealthy - May 5, 2009 quit date
1Athena1 - April 27, 2009 quit date
Ladies who we have not heard from in awhile but hope are
still doing well:Dutchy - Set quit date for March 1, 2011
Ellie1959 - Set quit date for March 1, 2011
Sweetaerobabe - Feb 16, 2011 quit date
Malleme - Feb 6, 2011 quit date
Basia - Feb 5, 2011 quit date
chabba - Jan 11, 2011 quit date
dsgirl - Dec 3, 2010 quit date
Kitchenwitch - Nov 30, 2010 quit date
Linda603 - Nov 4, 2010 quit date
forgive me, I did not update it with any new dates, just cut and pasted into this post
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Sorry I haven't been posting much...I have been dealing with 'stuff''...trying to figure out how to make it with my hours being cut in half and feeling guilty for enjoying the extra time off, getting anxious for my bone scan on the 19th and Gpa's funeral on the 17th. I am really trying to turn my attitude around and put this damn cancer behind me so I am not spending as much time on the boards and when I do, I tend to read and not post much.
Jo - you are doing great!!!
(((Bama))) I was really hoping that chemo was being kind to you this time around. Sorry you are feeling crappy!
Seaside, Kal_1865, Jan508, BabaraA and all others....I do think of you daily and truly hope all is well in your worlds.
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o2bhealthy, [[[[[[[[[[[[[hugs]]]]]]]]]]]]], from Karen
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Kal - I hear you about the DH quitting smoking. My DH and I started on the same day using a gradual cut down program with 4 Stages to it - each stage lasting at least 2 weeks each. He is still playing around with Stage 1 and I have progressed to Stage 3 already. When we got our program materials in the mail - I jumped in and started at Stage 2 and did not even wait the entire 2 weeks before moving on. I have also ordered some natural herbs that are supposed to help cleanse the body of nicotine and the other nasty chemicals from the smokes. It should be here the end of next week and I plan to incorporate that into my current program shortly after I get it. My goal at this point is to be smoke free by the end of July. Hope I get there.
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Hi All! I'm so sorry I haven't been much good on these boards lately. I've been so busy (I know, no excuse) and I feel like I've neglected the 'newbies' but it looks like they are in 'good hands'. I'm very happy the new quitters are doing well and I'm very proud of all of you for keeping up the great job of being smoke free. I can't believe it will be 10 months for me this month.
To All the New quitters: Do I think about smoking? You bet I do, but maybe only once or twice a month now and believe me, it is a fleeting thought!! This is a very doable thing and I'm sure y'all will have great success with determination and wonderful support you get from the wonderful ladies here.
As an update: I had my nipples done about 3 weeks ago but having a necrosis issue on one of them. PS is hoping it will heal from inside out...they look great! Next is tattoos and then I'm done but that's a few months down the road. I'm going to miss my PS
:(I'm still with my personal trainer but I'm having some leg and back pain. Went to GP who will probably be doing an MRI. I started this before the personal trainer so needless to say I'm terrified it's more than just a pinched nerve - prayers please !!
Well keep up the great work all and I'll check in as often as I can.
Love y'all
Jan
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Hi All! I'm so sorry I haven't been much good on these boards lately. I've been so busy (I know, no excuse) and I feel like I've neglected the 'newbies' but it looks like they are in 'good hands'. I'm very happy the new quitters are doing well and I'm very proud of all of you for keeping up the great job of being smoke free. I can't believe it will be 10 months for me this month.
To All the New quitters: Do I think about smoking? You bet I do, but maybe only once or twice a month now and believe me, it is a fleeting thought!! This is a very doable thing and I'm sure y'all will have great success with determination and wonderful support you get from the wonderful ladies here.
As an update: I had my nipples done about 3 weeks ago but having a necrosis issue on one of them. PS is hoping it will heal from inside out...they look great! Next is tattoos and then I'm done but that's a few months down the road. I'm going to miss my PS
:(I'm still with my personal trainer but I'm having some leg and back pain. Went to GP who will probably be doing an MRI. I started this before the personal trainer so needless to say I'm terrified it's more than just a pinched nerve - prayers please !!
Well keep up the great work all and I'll check in as often as I can.
Love y'all
Jan
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(((Jan))) Hoping for pinched nerves!!
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From my blog- Stop Smoking, Stay Quit.
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Jo I'm just so impressed with your take no s**t attitude, i pretty much took the easy way out by being jumpstarted by my bc surgery-those 3 days in the hospital surely do start the ball rolling. I really did not "enjoy" smoking like I used to and was toying around with quitting before diagnosis but I hadn't made an attempt in years. Once I had the jumpstart, and i knew that all the recent testing indicated that I had not destroyed my lungs or heart, I finally said I'm done.
VJ thanks for the link. I sure wish DH would hear how he wheezes, coughs and hacks...he's just not ready but i sure wish he would just try a little harder.
jan hoping for the best results
o2b and karen and any others i've missed let's just keep the support and prayers!!
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Kal - Thanks for the words of encouragement. As I write this, I am on day 3 with the same pack of smokes - so it is getting to be less. Still not going to push it. I have until the end of next week until I move on to stage 4 and then 2 weeks after that I pick my final smoke date and then use the natural herbs I order to do the body cleanse and it also has a "maintenance" spray that is used to curb any stray urges. I don't anticipate any big problems. I just know I am going to do it this time.
Already I am starting to breath better and feel better. I am not inhaling as deep as I used to.
DH is still hanging back at Stage 1 and has been there for about 3 weeks now. I asked him when he is going to the next stage and I really did not get an answer. I am not going to push the issue with him. I think he is waiting to see if I really will quit this time. It's funny - he is the one who has been after me for years to quit - he would always tell the doctors it was my fault he couldn't quit. Maybe once I do - he will follow suit
Thanks to everyone on this thread for your support. It has helped me to realize that I don't have to be in a big hurry - that I need to follow my program and to not beat myself up when I think I have had a setback. You gals are my inspiration.
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you bet Jo, as you already know your DH just needs the encouragement, hopefully mine will look to me for inspiration and give it a try too..it doesn't hurt to try and there is nothing to lose either...what other cliches can I throw out there...0
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I have to disagree that "it doesn't hurt to try and there is nothing to lose". What happens when someone trys and "fails"--it eats away at their self-confidence--especially if someone else they know has used the same approach and "succeeded". Statistically it takes the average smoker--7 to 9 attempts before being successful (statistics don't apply on an individual basis, so someone who quit only once offsets someone like me that quit many times)
--unfortunately many give up before they reach that final attempt. "I'd rather be a smoker than a failure" is what one of my male clients told me after "trying" several times. That's why I encourage a strong foundation of motivation, reframing obstacles into learning opportunities and having a plan--smokers don't plan to fail but fail to plan.
Encouragement can feel like nagging--so there is a fine line to walk, nobody wants to feel pressure--the best encouragement is to support self-confidence--"I know you can do it when you're ready" and "I'll support you however you want--when you're ready."
Just my 2 cents.
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but i believe we learn with each attempt...
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Hopefully we do learn with each attempt. I have a whole different mindset than I did in the past. For some odd reason, this seems like MY time to quit. I don't say much to DH because I know it will end in an argument and I don't want to go there. I know for me, I am not giving up this time and it really is not my decision if DH quits or not. Right or wrong, at present, I am focusing on me.
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Dear Jo, it's funny how you just know that "this" is the time. I felt the same way, I slipped once in my second month, but now I know even 1 cigarette is too many for me. I see you've selected your quit date, that is just great. There are a lot of people here to give wonderful support. It helped me to know I had a team of people rootin for me, next Sat. is my 6 month as a non-smoker, isn't it amazing how much better you breathe. Karen
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Karen, We will just have to party next Saturday for your 6 months as a non smoker.
Just as I was anxious to get the Filtrim program to gradually cut down - I am more anxious to get the herb package I ordered to use at the end of the Filtrim program. I am using it as a reinforcement type thing. This one naturally detoxs the body plus has a natural herb spray that is used when a craving comes up and can be used as many times throughout the day as I would need it. One of the things I have read about quitting is it can interrupt sleep patterns. I am not worried about that - I am taking amitriptyline for pain management and this medicine is also used sometimes for smoking cessation. The way I sleep right now with the meds, I don't thnk that willl be a problem - at least I hope not.
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Jo, I too take amitriptyline at night and had no trouble sleeping as I tapered down and then quit, you should be just fine. I am intersted in seeing how the detoxing herbal system works, especially the spray for cravings. I get them infrequently, had one yesterday when I was sitting outside relaxing with a glass of wine, just powered through it and quit drinking, it seems to be a trigger for me. I should love a party, we have had some great ones on this thread, complete with servers, cyber liquor and feasting. Half a year, it is hard to believe. We had a party for o2bhealthy that did us in for a few days. I can't post pictures, but contribute with comments and compliments, especially on our servers and anything chocolate! Karen
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I agree that each attempt can be a learning experience and I think it's easier for women than for men to think this way because men are raised in the sports arena where you either win or lose. I usually suggest they reframe an "attempt" as a practice run--just as in sports--you practice, practice, practice before the big game. That seems to take the pressure off of having to get it "right" the first time (or 2nd time, 3rd, 4th etc).0
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Karen - I already know that I will not be able to drink anymore. I don't drink that much now as it is so that will not be a problem for me. I seem to be okay with coffee in the morning. Right now, I don't have the cigs in sight when I have my coffee - really no problem there.
Now for the cyber drinks - I can come up with some good ones. Don't get me started on food - on the Bottle O' Tamoxifen thread, I am known and the "Queen of Food". This sounds like it should be interesting.
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Jo, I am really happy coffee was not one of my triggers although I did change where I drank it when I quit. I can also drink wine from time to time. And DH's band plays in a lot of bars and I have no problem. If it is a smoking bar, the smoke always bothered me even when I smoked and I had to go outside frequently so no problem there either. Lucky, I guess.0
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Barbara - Coffee does not seem to be a trigger although like you, I may have to change for awhile where I drink it. I finish Stage 3 the end of this week and progress to Stage 4. When my herb detox and spray for the cravings arrives on Friday I will look it over and see how it is going to work. I will have it so I can start it at the end of the month. I am really hoping this works - if not I still have the information to a doctor in the local area that does the ear acupunture. Needless to say, I do have a Plan B and Plan C.
Although DH is still lagging way behind me - I guess I am going to have to prove it to him it can be done and hopefully he will follow suit.
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Good luck with DH Jo. I feel you can do it, as you ARE doing it!
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I forgot to mention that I opened a pack first thing Friday morning and still had 1 cig left this morning. Now that is progress. I am getting there slowly but surely.
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Excellent progress Jo - you are doing GREAT!
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Thanks Michelle!
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Dear all, I so want a cigarette. The DMV for some reason transferred my car plate numbers to my new old gardening truck, with the result that both vehicles are not registered. She said to park them for the four days until the paper work from Albany comes in, what am I to do for 4 days while a situation that is not my fault is corrected. This was my 3rd trip to the DMV in 2 weeks, apparently I was driving an unregistrated vehicle and truck for that whole period of time. And why when the fault was not my own must it be fixed by snail mail when we have all these high speed computers. I am literally chomping on Nicorette gum. Karen
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Karen keep chomping. How ludicrous! Typical bureaucracy. Stay strong!!!
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Karen - That's a government agency for you. Maybe the folks at the DMV don't know how to use the computer system and get the problem fixed right away. Keep chewing and don't give in.
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Karen, boy Barbara is not kidding that is insane! Doesn't NY have a temp registration that they can give you in the meantime? Personally I would say screw it and drive the car carefully anyway (what are the chances that your plates are run by the police or a trooper) but, then again, I seem to live on the edge lately....LOL!!
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Thanks for your responses, I called my insurance company, GEICO, because now the DMV wants new proof of insurance on both cars and they are going to try and intervene. I am to wait for a response within the hour. It's been my experience that the DMV screws things up and then the customer must be inconvienced by what they say, but I will wait. Still chomping. Talk about a stress smoker, that was me. Saturday is my 6 month anniversary, and I won't let this interfere, I've come too far. Karen
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