Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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((((( Bama))))))))...
Saw that video and must say... That is one brave woman and for those who have not been through this, if they are brave enough to watch, it will be a real eye-opener!
I really hate it when problems just come in waves... It can be overwhelming... Take time to take care of what you need to! We miss you but we know you are here in spirit!
Hugs and Srength!0 -
Dear all. lost a dear friend to cancer today, she was much beloved by members of the WNY thread and a most wonderful family. Prayers for her family please hugs needed and hugs given. Karen
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Karen,
Just posted over on the WNY thread. Prayers going up for peace and comfort for all of you and her family... This has really been a rough start to this year on these boards! This disease just SUCKS!
Sending you the hug that I wish I could give you in person....0 -
Thank you Seaside, she was and is a much loved angel in life and now in her passing. The sorrow seems to come in waves, there have been many tears shed and many smiles over special moments.
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Karen,
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Wish I could give you a hug in person. This disease really sucks.
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((Bama))
{{Karen}}
Well, just wanted to let you all know that when my daughter visited last week, I took her to auricular stimulation to get her to stop smoking and she is amazed that she has had no withdrawal symptoms and very few cravings. It is truly amazing and really worked for me.
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BarbaraA - That is fantastic. One more to add to this group of non smokers!!!
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(((((Karen))))) I am so sorry...Sending love, hugs and prayers to you and her family!
((((Bama))))
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thank you Barbara, Jo, Seaside, and o2b - the hugs were wonderful, but then so are all of you. I've known of the mets, that's why all the stressers and cravings, but as sweet would say stay strong. Services are sceduled for next weekend, the WNYgroup will all go together. hugs, Karen
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Karen: Sorry for the loss of your friend. Reality sucks sometimes.
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Hi All. I just joined this forum, and I look forward to getting to know you all. Your stories are encouraging and inspiring. I quit smoking after 40 years, two days after I was diagnosed in August . I was so freaked out about the diagnosis that I didn't mind not smoking that much. Then I started chemo, and was so sick most of the time that I didn't want to smoke. That was the first time in my life that I didn't want to smoke! Anyway, that got me through from August through December. Now that my chemo is over, I feel better, but I am getting lots of cravings for cigarettes. It's been 5 months since I smoked, and I really think that if I start up again, I will get lung cancer. I think that I pushed my luck long enough, and that I simply cannot smoke again--not even one cigarette. So far, I have pushed through the cravings, but if it gets too hard, I thought about getting one of those ecigarettes. It was great reading all of your testimonials. Even opening this thread and reading some of the stories will be helpful in staying smoke free. By the way, it's really nice to be able to answer "No" when a doctor asks if you smoke.
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Hey all, going to join ya'll, I have to quit smoking, but with the up coming surgey and chemo it just makes me want to smoke. I haven't quit yet, I just had my last one, but I will do my best not to go buy any. On top of that I hear you should exercise, double yuck. Beegee I had once quit for 5 months and started again. I do not know who says the first three days are the hardest, must have been a non smoker. My hope is chemo will make me to sick to smoke. My drs want me to be at least 4 weeks free so healing isn't an issue when I have my BMX.
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Welcome Beegee & Jap62 - This thread is the best. These ladies are so encouraging and supportive. Even if you slip, they tell you to just start again and move forward.
I quit after 40 years and that was 7 months ago. I live with a smoker and for me I do use an e-cig and it does help me to not go back to real cigs. Also, I have a pretty stressful job in the winter and this was the first without cigs and so far so good. I know Karen recently went back to using an ecig. These are just temporary for us to help get us through the high stress times. E-cigs don't contain any of the hard crap that gives you cancer and you can get them with no nicotine. I love what Karen said about them recently - she called me an "adult binky".
I am sure VJ will chime in later. She is a stop smoking professional and has a workbook she will pass on to you for free. You just have to give her your email address. I personally did not get it but I have heard wonderful feedback from those who have used it.
You two ladies are just success stories waiting to happen!!!
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Welcome Beegee and Jap62 and a big hurray for joining us!! You will find many different methods have been used by the ladies here!!
I was a pack and a half a day smoker for over 30 years, for those doing the age math, let's just pretend I started smoking when I was 2...lol!
I smoked all through treatment and then, one day I got sick and tired of the control that the cigarettes had over me... So many places that I couldn't go to and things I couldn't do because smoking was not allowed and there was no way I could go very long without smoking... Also added up how much money it was costing me! Cigarettes here in NY are close to $10.00 per pack!!
Started by smoking only outside, then scaled back the number I smoked gradually and then, when I was down to under half a pack, I quit cold turkey and never looked back! That was a little over 2 years ago!!
I won't sugar coat it, quitting is hard and really takes commitment, but once you quit and have sometime under your belt, you won't regret it!!
Welcome aboard! Hope to more from you both soon!0 -
Jo,
I REALLY like the last line of your post!!!0 -
Seaside - Thanks! Once a upon a time, we were all success stories waiting to happen, And this story has a happy ending. The End!
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Welcome to the greatest support group you'll ever find. Wonderful, wonderful women here to help you. Beegee and jap62, it isn't easy, but neither is facing cancer and you did that!! I too like Seaside was 2 when I started, actually -12, as I am older than Seaside. I quit by cutting back, only 1 room was I allowed to smoke in, then when I was at about 6, I started using just the e cig with lowest mg of nicotine. A lot of time I just carried my adult binkie in my hand. Couple days I was in bed by 9, can't smoke when you are sleeping. I also chewed strong cinnamon flavored gum, till my jaws hurt. When I was finished with 1 refill pack of cartridges, I switched over to just gum. I am 13 mos without smoking. Just came on the loss of a great friend, so I am back on the e cig with no nicotine. O2bhealthy and Barbara and VJ will be popping in to welcome you shortly. Nice to meet you ladies, pop in alot it makes the journey bearable. Karen
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Welcome Beegee & jap62. I started smoking at 18 and smoked for 50 years. yup - do the math. I actually quit 3 years before BC diagnosis. Now it's going on 5 years. I did much of what Seaside did - quit in smoking in the house. Two weeks later quit smoking in the car. Two weeks later put them down with the help of a 1/2 dose of Chantix for a week. I feel like I succeeded because everytime I wanted to smoke I had a big glass of water, then I took a long walk. Joined Curves & never missed a day. I was trying to arrest the development of osteoperosis so quit I drinking coke at the same time. Yikes!! And oh yes, I had to cut back on the wine & gin for awhile since it was such a trigger. Sure wanted to start again lots of times during this BC ride, but I've held firm.
Please join us to scream or cry or just bitch. If you slip up - just start again. We've got your back.
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Wow! Lot's of support here. Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement. I like the idea of drinking a glass of water. Can't go for a walk every time the cravings hit, since my biggest trigger is driving in my car. Even after 5 months, I sometimes absent mindedly reach into my purse for a cigarette when I start driving! Minus two, I also quit my soda drinking at the same time--my DOC was diet Pepsi. That's hard too. Good luck on your journeys, everyone and keep on quitting!
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Welcome to our new ladies!! I started smoking at 21, quit at 53, what's that 32 years of smoking? The PS said he wouldn't operate without me quitting because it would interfere with healing, blah, blah. So that, plus cancer!, convinced me to try again (I'd quit several times before). It's been 17 months now, woo hoo! I used the patch and Wellbutrin. There are things out there to make it a little easier, so use whatever you need to get through. Hang in there.
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I too have just begun to try and quit. Sucks, when I need them the most (stress of all this BC) I have to give them up. This is a good thing I know, but trying to find a new coping mechanism in the midst of all this sucks, hoping at least being on chemo I won't even want to smoke. I am now a chain chewer!
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Dear jap62, I know some days I chew so much, my jar is sore. Jo also used sugar free Jolly Ranchers when the cravings hit. I like your expression "chain chewer"!!
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Karen - I used Crystal Light hard candies and still do.
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oops, I wasn't even close!! I suck on that e cig so hard I am going to have the sunken cheeks of those models. But it's working for me. hugs, Karen
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Karen - Everytime I use mine, I think of you and your analogy - an adult binky. That gets me laughing.
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Jo, when I first got it, I carried it in my hand all the time, firdt few nights fell asleep with it in my hand, can it get any binkier (new word) than that? hugs, Karen
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Karen, what a visual...you and the ecig in bed together. Whatever works is what I say! Keep at it!
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Barbara, I just loved my e cig!!1 hugs, Karen
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Karen - I can actually picture that in my head - you and your binky - how funny. But, whatever works.
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Was I a slave to cigarettes or what?
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