Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Seaside - The 50th anniversary is certainly a milestone and I am sure your parents really appreciated all your efforts. Sounds like they were blessed with a very loving daughter.
I am still smoke free and hubby is getting close. He is using his e-cig more and more these days. If he sticks with that for some time I don't care since it is water vapor and not the stinky cigs. I have not posted here for 2 reasons - not much to say and no one else was posting - did not want to talk to myself.
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{{JO}} you CAN do this and it sounds like hubs is getting there. At least you don't have the stink in the house. {{JO}}
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Hi all, just got back from a week long vacation to Conneautville Pa., it is a little town southeast of Erie. No traffic lights - two stores - and a Post Office. It is near a fair sized Amish Community so it is not unusual to see carts, buggies and horses on Main Street. There are even hitching posts in the front of the stores, the food is awesome. It is like going back in time to a simpler life. I was around smokers all week and as we say I stayed strong, not as hard as it used to be. I am still getting used to my godmother not being there though, it is good to be around my family there. Jo, good for DH on using the e cig more, slow and steady is a very good technique. Karen
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Where is everyone? Busy doing off to school things? Karen
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Karen and all....
We here in the southern tier of NY have had, over the last day or so, been just DEVASTATED by flooding! We have had over 7 inches of rain over. 24 hour period and all of the creeks and rivers are overflowing! This has been declared a 500 year flood event and the national guard has been called in! This area went through a similar flood in 2006 and this has exceeded that! Many of the same people who lost everything back then, have lost everything again! My heart just aches for everyone...
We live on a hill and my family is OK... Some of my daughter's friends families who live in the country and have no power (and therefore no water) have come here to shower and eat and a couple of the girls will be sleeping here rather than at a shelter...
The photos we have seen so far, are heart-breaking!! I am just happy that we are in a position to help others, rather than requiring help!
Please, if you can, say a prayer for all affected by this! The need here in the coming weeks/months will be HUGE!
Love you all!0 -
Karen,
No traffic lights, two stores and a post office, AND returning to a simpler life sounds just GREAT to me!! Sometimes things just have a way of getting waaaaay to complicated and we lose sight of what's important!
Glad that you were able to 'Stay Strong' ( Boy, do we ever still miss SweetAeroBabe!) in light of all of the temptation! I know, even though it was a good time, your Godmother not being there, physically, was rough!
I just attended my best friend's 50th birthday party ( we've been friends since 7th grade) and it was her first birthday since her Mom died of ovarian cancer in June. Even though there was sense of sadness that she couldn't be there, with all the stories that we all told, she was surely there in spirit!0 -
Seaside - Sending good thoughts and prayers. It is just not fair to folks to have to relieve a nightmare from the past. You are flooding and we are literally burning up in Texas. I'm sure the people you are able to help out really appreciate all you can do.
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Thanks Jo!
While I know the small things we have been able to do are appreciated, i can't help but wish I could do more! I will take comfort in that, while right now I can't help everyone, I CAN do the best I can possibly do to help those around me!
Pasta dinner with meatballs , salad and garlic bread tonight for my family and our extra guests.. A good hot shower for all who wanted one and a decent place to sleep! It's not the Hilton but, lots more comfortable than a cot in the shelter!
Soooo weird how the weather has been this year! I know the Texas weather has been dry as a bone with lots of fires while we, here in upstate NY (inland by about 200 miles) have had not 1, but 2, major hurricanes in the last week and a half.... AND an earthquake (mild here but noticeable)
Who would have thought?!? Sooo unusual!0 -
Seaside, sending prayers along, the pictures on the news are heartbreaking. How do people even start to build up again after losing everything. Bless you for all that you do. You were right - I did miss her but as Sam and I talked her memory and spirit were there with us. I thought of Sweet too, she was just so heartfelt when she told me to stay strong. hugs, Karen
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{{{Seaside}}} prayers going up.
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This may sound so weird but there is Tropical Storm Nate brewing out in the Bay of Campeche and we are hoping it comes our way enough to give us some much needed rain. It may turn into a hurricane and that is the last thing anybody needs right now.
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Thanks Barbara!
I think all in this area can use every prayer that can be sent!! If you google pictures from the Southern Tier of NY, you won't believe the destruction! Some of these people had not even recovered fully from the 2006 flooding and are now facing another catastrophic flood!
Just unbelievable!0 -
Jo,
Nate is most welcome to come your way just so he enjoys Texas so much that he stays down there! Lol....... We definitely do not need any more 'weather' coming our way!
We have been in a drought situation before where you would give your eye tooth for some rain but, this year that has not been the case! Hope you all get the rain you need.... Maybe we could send you some from here.
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Doesn't look like Nate is heading our way. He is making a sharp turn into Mexico so that leaves us high and dry still.
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Seaside: I've said a prayer for you all. It is weird weather this year; floods, hurricanes, tornadoes. You almost want to give credence to the end-of-the-worlders
We got flooding from Irene, but nothing as severe as you've had.Karen: I don't know about everyone else, but I find the further I get from breast cancer, the less time I check in here. I continue to pray for us all daily though.
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Bama, I think you are right, I keep tabs on certain threads and special people but am not glued to the computer as I used to be. For a thought provoking topic, check out Starbeauty and a topic called Self Worth, that isn't the correct whole topic subject, but you should be able to find it by going to the search function. Meanwhile, I'll find out the full title. I remain close to my fellow Western New Yorkers, we meet every other month for lunch or dinner and I do stay active on that thread, our next get together is on the 17th for dinner and I so look forward to these occasions. I discovered the chocolate martini by following one of the WNY's suggestions and we are all going to try it then. I'd like one for my 1 yr. quit anniversary which isn't for awhile, I forget what month I am. I used to be able to count the days, then weeks, if it weren't for this group of ladies I never would have quit.Sending a hug, Karen
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Bama, it's Recovery of Self Worth.
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Bama,
Thanks for the prayers! We need all the help we can get....
The water is starting to recede now but, the real work of cleaning up now begins...
Grocery stores here have been pretty much stripped bare... No milk, water, bread or meat... Paper products in short supply... Some trucks were getting through today to re-stock stores but, it's pretty much chaos if you go to the store (sometimes people aren't very nice)... Hoping this turns around in the next couple of days! I'm sure things were just as bad for you all with the tornadoes earlier in the year... This too shall pass!
Karen,
I read Starbeauty's post! Just wonderfully written and I think, sums up what soooo many of us have felt (and are still feeling)!! I rarely post outside of a couple of threads but, left her post on that thread! Now to try to follow her example!
As far as not spending as much time here... I read a post from someone who had missed her first cancer-versary... The date just passed and she missed it! I think she summed things up beautifully by saying... Living my life just got in the way of having breast cancer! Perfect!0 -
As I read the latest posts I am glad that you ladies are able to move on not only past the journey with breast cancer but also with your victory with the smoking beast. For that I congratulate each and every one of you. For me, I still have some denial issues with this BC thing which I may or may not get over - that is something that only time will tell. I am 8 weeks smoke free and still struggle each day with cravings - some not so bad - some pretty strong. So that I am not holding anyone back from moving forward with their own lives and future goals, this will be my last post on this thread. I will search for another website that I can find some support as I am not there yet with this stop smoking thing. I want to thank you ladies for helping me get started and for your support. I wish you joy and happiness for many years to come.
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Oh no, Jo..... I certainly hope that wasn't the messgae that you got from my post! In fact the post I was commenting on was in the Moving Beyond Cancer section and I posted a repy that I am not to that point yet though I hope to be some day as I'm sure we all do!
I will never turn my back on someone who is trying to quit smoking because I know how hard it can be BUT I also know how satisfying it is when you finally say buh-bye for good to something that used to have such control over you!
Please, if it's slow here on this thread and you need to talk or just a bit of encouragement, feel free to PM me! I check my PM's most days but, this week has been a little rough due to the situation here.... hopefully in the weeks that come, we will get back on our feet a bit and things will fall back into a more normal rhythm !0 -
Jo your not holding anyone back, feeling of value seems to become one of the most important issues with moving forward from BC. Although the boards may not be active lately is in no way indicating that the women on this site care any less or have moved on. It may simply be that they do not have electricity or are cleaning up, starting school etc. Your doing great at 8 weeks con grads, I,m sure these boards will get active soon hang in there.
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malleme, Good to hear from you!
I think that very thought (thanks to starbeauty's post) of feeling of little value comes from the cancer diagnosis shaking you to the very core of your being and, in some ways, making you really question who you really are! Couple that with friends who flee, people who don't 'get' the person they see now (quite frankly, some days, I don't get me, either...lol) and we can't help but have our faith in ourselves shaken a LOT!
I am encouraged by others stories, as I am so often by those on these boards, to know others have found peace eventually, and Knowing I will as well....
You ALL matter to me!0 -
Jo, please don't turn away from this thread and these women. They saw me through those tough earyl days and are still here now to remind me that if I am craving a cigarette and I do have those moments still, I am responsible to them too as well as being responsible to my family and myself. The boards are active and then in a lull, that you will notice as do I. I always read the thread each day to see how everyone is doing, but was away for a vacation without access to a computer. Please feel free to PM me also, I check and reply to those within a 24 hour interval at the most, it always feels like I am getting a surprise gift when I see I have a PM and I'm sure will feel the same to you. Karen
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Still here - been lurking daily but no new posts. This has been a terrible weekend for cravings. Don't know why. Went to lunch and shoping with a good friend who has also recently quit smoking - seems we are good for each other. Out of the blue I wanted a cig so bad - have not had a craving like this before. DH left cigs in the house and can anyone guess what I did???? Two puffs and I was sick to my stomach. Had a couple mild ones today. I am thinking more and more that I am so glad I did get the e-cig - been reaching for that today.
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Jo, good for you using the e cig, it's something about the ritual that helps. Sometimes those cravings come out of the blue. Karen
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Thanks Karen for the words of encouragement. I was driving myself crazy. Couldn't decide if I should reach for the e-cig or not and decided in the end that it was better than the real thing. I usually would reach for the hard candies but I have to back off of those and not eat so many. Doctor says there are too many carbs in them and that may be some of what is contributing to my not being able to lose the 8 lbs I really need to get off and soon.
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Jo,
Did you have anything that was a 'first' for you since you quit going on this weekend? I know when I was early in my quit, and even occasionally now, whenever I get a big cravig that seems to come out of the blue, it is because I have encountered ione of those firsts! As you get further out, they get less frequent because there a fewer 'new' situations but, they do happen occasionally!!
Those couple of puffs were just a slip and weren't even enjoyable! Pick up where you left off! You are doing really very well! I have heard from many that the 'memory' of what it was like to smoke was far more pleasurable than the 'reality'!
PS... If you ever need support, post even though there haven't been a lot of posts, I check at least once a day! Today is my 1 year and 8 month quit-aversary and I really still can't believe I am going strong! You can do it, too!0 -
Hello Ladies:
I'm sorry I've been really lax about coming to this thread which helped me tremendously a year ago when I was a newbie!
On Tuesday, 9/20 one year ago was my DMX surgery and the day I quit smoking. I cannot believe it's been a year!!
To all the newbies here, be strong and post often, these ladies are the greatest support you will find.
I'm sorry I haven't been here for you...
Trying to move on after the quit and now in my last stage of reconstruction (tattoos) which will be done in 3/2012 because of traveling has been a 'full time' job along with my volunteering, working and trying to lose the 15 lbs I gained UGH...Had a personal trainer for 3 months and didn't lose an ounce, but I feel strong.
God Bless all of you and I'll try to come back here often.
Jan
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Jan!!
Reaching those milestones whether it be 1 day, week, month, year or decade (well, I can imagine that one...lol) feels just so great! Whether it is time down since quitting smoking or time passed since diagnosis it just feels so good!
Even though my diagnosis was on May 8, 2009, the date I choose to celebrate is Oct. 2... The date that I finished treatment! It will be two years in a couple of weeks! Can't believe how fast time goes by... Then DH and I will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary the following day!
I, too have to work on the weight thing! I keep saying I will after.... insert whatever I have coming up heere.... but haven't...
Always good to hear from you!0 -
Yes, Jen I chose to use 9/20 (the surgery date) as my anniversary. My DX was 8/6 but I just let that day pass me by...didn't want to go there again
Glad all is well and it looks like you have been really busy too.
I work out 6 days a week but just read last night that Tamoxifen causes salt and sugar cravings...hmmm....maybe that's it? I've been loving chips and cookies
Talk soon
Jan
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