Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Karen, thank you again! I just feel like I'm having a major setback... Because I know this:
"The desire to quit smoking has to be stronger than the desire to smoke." And I understand that... The desire is there, if I don't have this surgery I WILL get cancer. There is no question about that. Everyone feels it's not a question of IF but WHEN (if not already). So what am I doing wrong???
Also, does anyone think it's a good idea to take some time off from work and just attempt a cold turkey quit (regardless of cold turkey or use of NRT I just feel like I need my doctor to put me out of work for the first 2 weeks....) I am going nuts over here.... I tried this several months ago when my doctor put me out so I could take Chantix. Unfortunately, the chantix did not set well with me but wondering if worth trying again.
I am scared because I don't know that I have enough time to work an NRT program - I have to be nicotine free for 6 weeks prior to surgery (and after). My surgery isn't scheduled yet, I keep putting it off... I just don't know what to do...
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Bobbi - That is fantastic. I too, smoked for over 40 years and quit on July 15th. I never thought I would reach this point - I loved smoking and did not want to give it up - kept telling myself I did not want the weight gain. I did gain 8 lbs and probably needed it - I was too thin.
Lisa - Don't overthink this thing - it will just add to the stress level. It really is not as scary as you think. This is really a mind over matter situation. Find something that you think will work for you and just go for it. Identify your triggers - such as driving in the car, that first cig in the morning, etc and focus on those. Others have said it many times - take baby steps and don't beat yourself up. You can do this.
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Failed again... Great American Smokeout, promised I would try not to smoke today. 5:30am, straight out of bed. Had to run outside....in the dark...
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Lisa - You did not fail - just a little setback. I tried many times on the Great American Smokeout and never made it. I think it was just the idea of a smoke free day. You will get there. (((HUGS)))
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Dear Lisa, I tried then too, many times, just keep taking those baby steps. Karen
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I'm starting to feel like it just wasn't meant to be and that I need to just accept the consequence of my choosing to smoke all these years. Always knew it would be an issue but made the conscious decision to keep smoking anyway. Now I'm faced with having to quit and I just can't pull it together. I don't know that a person with a severe (diagnosed) panic/anxiety disorder can quit. I thank you all for putting up with me but don't want to waste any more of anyone's time. I don't have any support at home and can't seem to muster up the strength as much as I really want this. I feel sick, embarrased and ashamed. How pathetic I can't have the surgery I need....
Thank you all for your kinds words and encouragment!!!!!! And congratulations to all of you that are not smoking! You guys are the best!!!!
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"The desire to quit smoking has to be stronger than the desire to smoke."
I would amend this to: The benefits of being smoke free have to be stronger than the benefits of continuing to smoke AND have to be worth the negative consequences of going through the quitting process.
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Dear Lisa, do try one thing for me, stop at a different drugstore or Walmart and get the 14 mgs. patches. You were so successful on that one day. Many of us try multiple times to quit, you may follow that pattern also. hugs, Karen
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Lisa-- or if you still have the 21mg. and think that is too much, then you can fold it in half (don't cut it) and hold it on with a bandaid.
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Lisa - Don't go away. It may take several attempts - don't be so hard on yourself. Rome wasn't built in a day........
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Thanks Karen, VJ, and Jo! I did go out and lunch time and bought the 14mg and just slapped that baby on 15 minutes ago. I'm pressuring myself to do this cold turkey so I can have the surgery (where I need to be nicotine free) but maybe I need to do the NRT for a few days first... IDK....Will ask MD tomorrow for wellbutrin again. Thanks again for picking me up!
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Lisa, good for you, and do it for more than a few days, use them till you are ready to step down again. I believe the instructions that come with the patches have them on for a few weeks, remember these directions are given for the exact reason for helping you quit, follow the directions as written so you don't pressure or sabotage yourself. That way you are not getting panic attacks and I know what those are all too well. If you are on anti-anxiety meds, just give your Dr. a quick call to see if he/she would up them for this attempt, does not hurt to ask. hugs, Karen
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Lisa, Don't be so hard on yourself. It is just hard, period. I spent all day fighting with myself, I wanted a cigarette so so bad. At this point it is not physical for me, it has been long enough that there is no nicotine in my system. I did not give into it but it was really hard all day. and just for the record, I did not quit as a plan. I was really sick with serum sickness for about a 5 days, so sick that I could not smoke, so by the time I felt better it seemed stupid to start again since I was leaving for New Orleans for stage two of my DIEP in a matter of days, I had two days in the hospital there plus a recovery time in a motel with my daughter so another 5 days, I was nicotine free and just decided to not start again, so the hardest part was either spent sick, or in the hospital. Keep trying.
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Hi Karen, well it turns out that the 14mg didn't help much. I (stupidly) smoked while it was on it. The 21mg, on the other hand, worked beautifully. But I don't really undersatnd how the patch works - does it give a continuous 21mg release all day which could be more than the cigarette itself?
This whole thing makes no sense: I'm trying to quit to have mastectomy to save my life from b/c, but I can't quit smoking to save my life from lung cancer. I guess one seems more absolute to me than the other. My sister (BRCA-2) died from b/c that was not caught on a mammogram or MRI. The doctors feel that because I am also BRCA2 and past the age that she (and my mom) were diagnosed, that this could be the same fo rme which is why the mast is urgent.
I take klonpin (.5 mg) - I took one this morning before I left for work and then another one about 2 hours later - neither helped. I'm going to see MD tomorrow.
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lisa,
the patch at 21 mgs may seem like too much but......it really helps you to forget the hand mouth and anxiety issues. In the beginning I tried switching to 14 mg and still had the cravings for a cigs...Not sure actually how the patch works.Each person has to try and see what works for them..So while you are in this get really phase ..relax see what works for your body chemistry. Some have taken chantix or anti anxiety meds with the patch and that worked for them speak with your DR...So keep experimenting until you set your actual date..But don"t get upset if by that date you are not mentally ready. quitting takes preparation for some of us...0 -
The Patch releases a slow steady amount of nicotine into the body. the 21 mg is over a 24 hour period. It can take 2 to 6 hours for the nicotine from the Patch to reach maximum strength. Nicoderm is has the fastest absorption rate.
Not smoking with the Patch on-- is old advice. Using nicotine replacement before you quit can be a great way to taper down the number of cigarettes you smoke as you learn how to replace cigarettes with other activities.
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VJ, I thought I had heard that somewhere before but couldn't locate where. I certainly would not smoke on a 21mg patch as I felt it really helped to curb my cravings. (Not that I didn't want to smoke but felt like I really didn't "need" to smoke.) Until I took it off... It was only for 10 hours...
The 14mg patch didn't feel strong enough and I don't think I would have had a nicotine overdose if I smoked.
My question is, how exactly does the patch work? If you do Step 1 (21mg) for a few weeks, wouldn't you feel the withdrawal when you go down to Step 2?
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Lisa,
You kinda have to test the waters with that. You pretty much know within an hour or more if you start getting craving and thoughts.than go back up to 21mgs. the directions say use step 1 for one to six weeks. again it"s up to your body chemistry and anxiety,stress level. its all trial and error...goood luck your doing just fine.
malleme0 -
I'm trying to find the source of something I read recently-I'm hoping someone can provide a source.
I read that women on Arimidex who smoke have less hot flashes than non-smokers (which is counter-intuitive since smoking lowers hormone levels in non-BC women which can increase hot flashes).
If this sounds familiar, please send me a source--thanks!0 -
VJ,
That happens to me all the time. I read something that I find to be interesting and then when I go to find it again, I can't remember where I read it... So frustrating!
I have not read that so can't help ypu with a source but, a possible explanation might be that, since people who smoke already have lowered estrogen levels (sometimes dramatically lower) maybe it is because the drop in estrogen when beginning taking Arimidex (or for that matter any of the AIs as well as Tamoxifen) is not as huge of a drop as it would be otherwise, making the side effects perhaps less pronounced?
I have not looked into this at all so is nothing more than a guess on my part!0 -
Hello ladies,
I have set a quit date of Tuesday 11/22. The reason is that I will be traveling to spend Thanksgiving with my parents who do not know that i picked up smoking again.
As for the questions on the patch, I was successfuly quit for 21 months and did use the patch. I started with the 21 ml and followed the directions to a T. The hardest part for me were those first few days.
I was on chantax but did not stop smoking. I have having terrible se's from it so stopped taking it and am enjoying my final cigarettes. Although the patch breaks out my skin, I am going to try it again since it worked for me in the past. Is there anyone here that is quitting soon and want to buddy up with me and quit together??
I always joked that I AM NOT A QUITTER but I think it is time.....Good luck to all you quitters and soon to be quitters. You gals rock!!
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Dara,
Welcome!!!
This is a good time to join in as there are a few here who are just starting out! This thread was very quiet when I first joined but, there were a couple of us going through it together and I found it very comforting to know I was not alone!
I know you will find lots of support here!
Glad to have you here!0 -
Hi everyone.
I am 54 hours smoke free now!!!! And I am going cold turkey. If I am going to quit, I don't want to consume nicotine in one way or other. Just my thinking. So far it has been not too hard, had few cravings but took deep breaths and keep busy. Wow, never thought I would get this far. Kind of proud of myself. I have tried to quit several times, but always ended up having one, then two, then you know what happens. Thanks to this thread, it contributed in my determination. I pray to stay strong and keep going. They say the third day is the hardest, especially that it's a stressy Monday, so see how it goes through the day. Keep you posted.
Good luck to everyone!!!!
Karina
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{{Karina}} Way to go!! Dara, we are here for you!!
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Karina and Dara, quit buddies!!! Way to go ladies, The first Monday is tough, but look at the time you have invested already, Karina. Welcome to our group, it's a strong support group. I quit after 30+ years at a pack to a pack and a half day, we hve a mantra, stay strong, when the cravings hit, repeat that to yourself, remember to breathe - drink plenty of water - exercise is a very good outlet too. Keep going ladies, it is doable. Karen
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Thanks for the welcome Barbara and Karen. It's so encouraging knowing that others have achieved it!!!! I CAN and so can anyone. Have to say, that I already feel better - no fast heartbeat, no shallow breathing and more energy. It is also strange how much time we save when we don't smoke. I seem to get better organized !!!! Now that's quite a benefit, is it???
Strength and peace to all. Karina
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Way to go Karina! Seaside, have you quit yet? I am on the countdown. I will be taking a flight Tuesday morning at 6:15AM. It is my intent to put the patch on in the AM, smoke on the way (as my DH nags at me) then toss any remaining cigarettes at the airport.
I am soooo glad I joined and even happier that I found this thread.
To those who have quit, plant your feet firmly in the Non Smoking Section. For those of you trying to quit, may God help you all succeed. I am prepared to toss the nico-demon off my shoulder this time for good, but one day at a time, or one minute at a time. Keep the great suggestions coming! You gals are the BEST!!
God Bless!
Dara~~
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Welcome Dara and Karina. Hang in there, you can do it. A couple of us who have a year now started around the same time, and I can't believe it's been over a year. One day at a time.
Karen: Did the Bills play this weekend? Auburn played a Division II team and fooled around in the first half enough to almost give me heart failure. This weekend is our BIG rivalry game against Alabama. I expect we'll get beat again, but in that game you can never tell!
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Dara,
Yes... It will be 2 years for me come this January!! Good Luck tomorrow.... We'll be thinking about you!!
Welcome Karina!!
By now day 3 should be just about behind you!!
I quit cold turkey, too and did find that the first few days were the hardest with the physical effects of nicotine withdrawal reaching a peak around day three.... I found that from there on out things got a little better each day... By day 5 I was feeling at least human again.... lol!
Around the third week, I realized I really wasn't thinking about smoking nearly as much... By the third month, I knew I was never going back to smoking!!
Glad to have you here!!
PS.... You are right.... Since I made myself go outside to smoke, I couldn't believe how much more time that I had once I quit.... Take some of that extra time, to do something nice for youself!0 -
Bama,
The Bills showed up to the game but, I'm not sure I'd call what they did 'playing'....lol. They got just slaughtered! As my husband said at one point during the game, 'They have more injuries than points!'.... After such a great start to the season, this is so sad!0
