Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Welcome djfrro - I am 16 weeks smoke free. With DH still smoking and in the house, it has been very difficult for me. I use an e-cig with no nicotine just so I don't go back to the real thing and stop myself from eating. I have gained 10 lbs and it is not coming off - that is the frustrating part for me. Like others have said, it does get easier. There is so much support here - it is incredible.
Karen - I'm here. My job gets super busy in the winter months. It has already started - the weather up north is getting cold early this year and my residents are coming back. That is a good thing - less time to think about smoking but at the same time it is also high stress. Glad I can reach for my e-cig and always have my Crystal Light candies. How are you doing?
Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend.
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Hi Jo, the residents coming back is good, less time to think about cigs (though you are so strong, it must be infrequent for you to have cravings) but high stress - that was a huge trigger for me, so keep reaching for the e cig. I woke up today with a full blown head cold, chills, runny nose and eyes, coughing. I was fine yesterday just a tickle in my throat. Great day, the Buffalo Bills won, no significant cravings, and usually my Sundays are tough, not today, which is great for me. Early to bed for me tonight, got Nyquil so I'll be out by 9 I'll bet. take care Jo, Karen
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so I bought the e-cig today to have with me while I am out working, I drive a lot and that is my big smoking time, let you know how it works for me.
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Karen - Sorry you are feeling under the weather. I'm sure it does not help that you have snow and yucky weather. You have been so very kind to me - thought I would make you a nice cup of hot tea with lemon go help soothe you.
djfrro - I have a high stress job in the winter months, so my e-cig goes with me. Driving was also hard for me and again, e-cig to the rescue. Car does not smell like smoke. Please let us know how it works for you. I swear by mine.
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Thanks Jo, how dear of you to do that, I'd put a little honey in it and drink it right now. Looks like you,me, djfrro and robo quit with the e cig. I still leave it hanging around, don't use it but it comforts me when the craving hits, although they are few and far between now. I am taking Nyquil, Dayquil, lots of water, and cough drops to soothe my throoat, if I was still a smoker, this would go directly to bronchitis. Always did before, so glad I am non-smoker, now it will just stay a miserable but bearable head cold. Take care everyone, Karen
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Karen - I know what you mean when you said the cold would have been worse before you quit. I have to say that I was one lucky person - I never got sick. Before BC, I missed 2 days of work in 11 years - that is a pretty good record. I am not able to give up the e-cig yet. I have not worked through a very busy, stressful season as a non smoker. I hope no one holds it against me if I kinda keep using it until spring. Do remember that my drops are no nicotine and it has helped calm me down. I don't really have cravings - that is not it - I need the hand to mouth thing. Hope you get to feeling better soon.0
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Jo, there's no nicotine in it, so you can use it for as long as you need to. I know what you mean about the hand to mouth thing, I was like that too. Karen
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Karen- The drops I bought are no nicotine - I did that on purpose. I figure it is another way to keep my sanity with DH still smoking. I find myself going for hours at work and not even reaching for it. Thanks for the nice words of encouragement.
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Robo - Aw Thanks! We can do this together. Definitely! Yeah for us.
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((((Karen)))) feel better soon!
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Dear o2b, thank you for the hugs, I'm feeling a little bit better. Off today to resupply my Nyquil, Dayquil, kleenex and Sinex. It is staying just in my head not dropping to my chest, which was where it always went when I smoked, thank goodness I quit. hugs back to you, Karen
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robo - What brand of e-cig did you get? Be interested in knowing. I am looking at getting another one. The one I have Cloud9 is not really that reliable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have been back to the store twice with problems and am just about fed up with it. I want to stay on the e-cig but don't need the head aches.
GOOD MORNING LADIES - HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GOOD DAY.
Karen - Hope you are resting - get better soon.
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Hi ladies, good to see everyone sharing information, I used the e cig (ordered off the internet, worked great for me, but it is not inexpensive). Jo, spent the day running errands and doing laundry, so no rest, but...... I am going to sleep after Dancing with the Stars. I wore myself out. Karen
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robo - Thanks for the info. I also found a new one locally - NJOY and got a basic kit - pretty cheap and it is working much better than my first one. Believe it or not, I got mine at the corner convienence store but did the research online first. I am using the zero nicotine.
Karen - I watch Dancing with the Stars also. Can't wait to see who goes home tonight. Don't over do it - take some time to rest and it sounds like you are going to sleep well tonight.
I also like the exchange of information. Nice to know I am not alone with the e-cig. Even though I have it, it sits on my desk more than I use it during the day. Once I get home from work is when I reach for it more often with DH still smoking the real thing.
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So happy to hear that everyone is doing so well!!
Karen,
So sorry to hear you are under the weather!!! Hope you feel better soon! You are so right in that odds are you are not as likely to develop bronchitis... Something I always did a bout with every winter!!! Haven't had that happen since I quit (knock on wood)!
Jo...
Thanks for the morning greeting along with the nice steamy cup of coffee!! Glad you were able to find an e-cig replacement locally and that it is working better for you.... Keep up the good work!!! You are now in a position to help those who are just starting!! I think you will find that it really will strengthen your belief in quitting was worth it!! Sooooooo happy for you!
Welcome djfrro!!!!
You and Robo have joined at a really good time!! I found it to be really helpful when I first quit to have some going through it with me!! Made me feel like I wasn't alone.... Swapping tips on what was working and what wasn't and just being able to talk about how hard it was with people who KNEW how hard it is was HUGE!!
The ladies a bit further down the road also helped tremendously but, in a different way... They were the ladies I aspired to be!! Non-smokers! Trusting that as they said it WOULD get easier even though deep down, sometimes, I thought they were lying...lol
Stay Strong!!!0 -
DH tried my e-cig and I may have found one that he is willing to try. I am keeping my fingers crossed. He has asked me to get him some cartridges tomorrow - he wants some that are a bit stronger than mine - hey! that's okay with me if he gets on the real cigs, then I can work on reducing the mgs slowly down to zero. Miracles never cease. Wish me luck ladies.
As a side note, Nov 15th will be 4 months. Never thought I would last this long. I did it with all the help and support here.
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Jo: Congrats. Four months is fantastic. Glad the e-cigs are working for you. Keep it up. Jan
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Dear Jo, fell asleep before the Dancing with the Stars even started, who got booted off? Just woke up for a few minutes, then it's back to bed for me, guess I did wear myself out. Karen ps 4 months!!!!!!, I remember when it was a week and we celebrated.
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Karen - David Arquette & Kym got kicked off. He was starting to do really well. Guess someone has to go.
Jan - Thanks. My e-cig is my saving grace with DH still smoking.
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Jo, next will be Nancy Grace, or should be. This can become a popularity contest, cannot believe she has a following, don't care for her manner at all. Thanks for updating me so quickly. Karen
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Karen - Yes, Nancy Grace has to go next. When she did the dance on Halloween, I thought she looked like a dancing pumpkin. She did too much bouncing around for me. Then we can get down to the good ones who are left.
Hugs
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Hi ladies, I haven't checked in for about a week, glad everyone seems to be doing ok, Karen, glad you are over your cold or whatever it was. Around here a lot of people had sinus stuff the last couple of weeks, but it has finally turned cool, so hopefully that season is gone. I hope everybody has a good weekend!!
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Hello to all you brave ex-smokers! I have not been on this thread for several months as I have not been as strong as any of you. I have been unable to make it past one day and am getting more and more frustrated with myself wondering if I will ever be able to successfuly post here! I need to have bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and absolutely need to quit smoking. Yet I seem to be unable to get started and it scares me. I always said, "When the day comes that my doctor tells me I need to quit, then I will do it." But that day came 7 months ago.... and I still have not scheduled any type of surgery. I am considering implant reconstruction which the PS told me I could do with nictotine replacement (but no smoking) but also occasionally think about the DIEP which would require quitting cold turkey. Chantix was not well tolerated. I thought maybe I could try the e-cigarette for a while (even though it does contain nicotine, it might help with the hand/mouth thing.) Does anyone know where I can get one of those devices? It it something I need to order on line? Also, how do you get through day one!!? I get so depressed when I think of what I have sacrificed in order to continue this insane addiction....the latest is that I had my ovaries removed and hysterectomy in July. The recommendation is to take estrogen until age 50 for bone health, libido, etc. However I have basically forfeited that option since I cant take estrogen as a smoker. Even my loss of libido has not been enough apparently to motivate me. So any words of wisdome would be greatly appreciated!!!
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Dear Lisa, two of our most recently quit women, robo and djfrro, we are talking days here and Jo, who has been a non-smoker for 4 months use the e cig and will be on to give you places to get them. I used an e cig I ordered on line but it was quite a bit more expensive than the ones these women found, Where are you in the process of quitting, full pack each day, half...? I cut back to half , then 6, then 4 and then the pack was empty and I used the e cig only, I also chewed strong cinnamon gum all the time, to satisfy the oral craving. I cut a straw to the size of a cig. and chewed on that as I cut back gradually on the e cig, others suggest blowing bubbles, Jo had an herbal spray which was very successful for her. I also drank a lot of water, bought a recumbent bike and started exercising, and always got enough sleep, if it was a particularly bad craving day - I went to bed early, since you can't smoke when you are sleeping. The other ladies will be on to offer their tricks and tips. Keep us posted so we can support you when you decide your quit day. Karen
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- Hi Karen, thank you for your quick reply! I am not proud to report I am nowhere in the process. I am so fearful of quitting and the anxiety of just thinking about it totally consumes me. In the evening I find that on some days I feel really strong and tell myself, "I am quitting, I want such and such type of surgery and nothing less, I can do this." Then I wake up in the AM with such a strong craving I can't get out of the house without smoking first. I probably smoke about a pack a day and have been smoking since age 14, have never stopped not even for one day. Just the mere thought of quitting puts knots in my stomach. I hate this addiction! How did you cut back? Did you only smoke at certain times of the day? Were you able to quit after you reduced the # you smoked in a day? If I could just get through one morning routine without smoking, it might give me confidence. But so far I haven't been able to find the willpower or strength to even do that. Thank you for your help!! Lisa
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Dear Lisa, initially I was lighting a cigarette as soon as my feet hit the floor in the AM, what I did first was to postpone it for 10 minutes, then fifteen, I changed my routine shower first then coffee. I drank water instead of that first cup of coffee to postpone it further, I switched where I drank my coffee. I counted out the number of cigarettes I could smoke in a day, kept them in visual view, and parceled them out accordingly. If I was really hurting - I took a couple drags and put it out to smoke a little more later. I could only smoke in one room in the house, then only in the garage, I kept myself busy, my house has never been that clean! I posted 2 sometimes 3 times a day and there was always some one on the other end to encourage me, this is the strongest support group you will ever find. I followed the active topics and posted where I thought I had something to contribute, the computer room was a non-smoking only straw room. It is hard but it is doable, just realize the power that that tiny cylinder has over your life, for you for your choice of reconstruction. Don't think of it as forever, think about this hour, then this 2 hours, pretty soon you will have time built up and don't want to waste it, As I think of more tricks, I will post them for you. I smoked for well over 30 years, always said the only way I could quit was to have my jaw wired shut and was not that positive I couldn't figure a way around it. slow and steady, baby steps and rely on your new group of friends, hugs to you, Karen
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Karen, thank you for this support. I so very much appreciate it. I am feeling very "down" about the entire situation but these are really good tips! It's great to know that the support is here! Thanks again! Lisa
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Lisa - Welcome to the group. These ladies are fantastic and have been so encouraging. Like Karen said, I used several methods to quit. I first used a "Filtrim" device that is a gradual step down program over an 8 week period. When I ordered the device, I was so excited that I actually started cutting down on my own. The way it works is with a series of holes punched in the filter that cuts down on the tar, nicotine and other chemicals. I did mine in 4 weeks times instead of the 8 weeks. I then found a natural herbal spray that was great. Along with both methods, I always had a supply of Crystal Light candies. Since DH is still smoking, I found an e-cig. You can get these in different strengths and can also use that to gradually cut down to zero nicotine. Karen had some really great suggestions. It comes down to a matter of just wanting to and then making that committment. It is hard but you are strong and can do it. We have all been there and know exactly what you are going through. Okay! the e-cig - there are tons to be found online. You have to do your research and read reviews and then decide. If you can find a local retailer, that is even better., You can go to the store and preview the e-cig before you buy it and if you have any problems, you don't have to make those calls to customer service and then wait for the mail. I happened to find one called NJOY at the corner convienence store. Cost was $19.99 and a box of refills was $15.99. Cheaper is not always better and the final decision will need to be yours. There are several of us using the e-cig, perhaps they will share with you what kind they have and their experience with it. Keep coming back - we will be your cheering section.
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Robo you will put on a little weight from quitting as well. The reason is smoking increases your metabolism… but in a bad way. That doesn't mean you won't be able to get to a healthy wieght again. As you know I don't have weight issues and I quit 6+ years ago, finished chemo Jan 18th, went through chemo-pause and am taking Anastrozole. All of these things can put on weight. Although I'm not as tone as I was when I started my jouney I am definitely thinner than I was in 2007… all my dress pants are too big on me. So don't worry too much about the weight. It will come off again.
Bottom line is you are much better of with a few extra lbs than smoking. And think about how much money you're saving!
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Welcome Back Lisa65!!!
I remember you being here earlier this year! While we go through some spells where it is very quiet here, right now it's been fairly active because we have some others who just joined in!
Great suggestions from everyone...
Since getting through your morning without smoking seems to be a stumbling block for you maybe leave those cigarettes alone for awhile and start cutting out some that are easier for you. Go for that 'low hanging fruit' so to speak.
I started by going outside to smoke and waiting just a few minutes between recognising that I wanted a cigarette to actually going out to have it. Gradually, I lengthened the time I waited, and then I noticed, sometimes the need would pass and I didn't go.... I remember thinking, Hmmmm, maybe something is changing here....
After quite a awhile... roughly 3 months, I had cut back from 1 - 2 packs per day to less than half a pack... For me the first couple in the morning nd the last couple before bed were THE LAST ones to go....
By the time I was down to just 5 per day, I was making myself nuts thinking and planning when I would have those 5 and thought ya know what... Just go for it... And I did... Cold Turkey... Not easy but, I don't regret it for one moment!
Although I went cold turkey, I would not have hesitated for a moment to use any of the aids that are available!
Glad you're here! Post when you need to!0
