Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Karen, yes U are right day 13 today .. for some reason I thought I was day 14 .. hahah // ahead of myself ... I know Easy does it and one day at a time ..
JUST FOR TODAY I WILL NOT SMOKE ... you are all my support buddies and I luv u all 0 -
Jo... That is one cute puppie.... I would absolutely rub his belly if he were mine...lol! Anyhoooo, TGIF to everyone here and a big old hurray for making it through another week!!
lisamarie,
While this can be a stressful time think of it this way... Each day that you go smoke free is a deposit into an account that, in the short term, will help with your surgery and, in the long term, will help with overall health... The way I see it if you can make it through the next few weeks until you have your surgery and then a couple more for recovery then you have met your short term goal....
At that point you decide whether to continue or not... Sometimes removing the finality to quitting and looking at it as... just for the next XX weeks is helpful....
We are all rooting for you! I look forward to the day when smoking is just a distant memory for you and we are reading your posts offering encouragement to those just starting out!!
You will get hit with those cravings and will learn what works for you to get through them...
Thinking of you!0 -
Chef127,
The weekends can be a little bit on the quiet side here... I will make it a point to check in this weekend! Will be thinking of you and sending you all the strength that I can!
Quitting is hard but, once you are done with the smokes and have some time under your belt you will look back and wonder... What the heck was I thinking?.... Promise! And this is coming from someone who smoked for 30+ years....0 -
lisamarie - Like Karen and Seaside have said smoking will not help you in the long run and actually smoking does slow down the healing process. You are well on your way. Now that you have a surgery date that means you have a plan of action - you know what is coming next. Smoking is a thing of the past now - leave it there and don't look back over your shoulder. You can do this - I just know it.
Hi Kare, Seaside, Maria, Chef, VJ and anyone else I missed. Hope everyone has a great smoke free weekend.
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As you said, Lisamarie...just for today I will not smoke! I'm taking that to heart. Thanks for sharing!
Another smoke-free day is behind me and I'm excited about it.
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Seasidemem,
I know the pain of quiting But I also know the pain of not quiting. I'm mentally ready to go. It's a start. I am committed. One day at a time. I'm stressed and nerveous thinking about it. This sux. But a vision of being a non smoker is attractive. I want my energy and rosey cheeks back. Cigarettes have robbed me of sooooooo much. You know, you have all been there and thanx for the encouragement. WE can do it!
I have to get on with my life and get HEALTHY and smoke free.
Jo..............That puppy looks just like my Sasha when we first got her Thats my kind of eye candy....I luv her soooo much. You always bring smiles with your pix. thanx
OOH, I almost forgot to plug in my e-cig........
HAPPY WEEK END........Maureen
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Galsal,
Yes... It's FRIDAY...laugh, smile, be happy!
Gas prices are high now and they are expected to go much higher yet over the summer....Hope you find that perfect vehicle for you!!0 -
chef, you will be shocked when you notice the change in your complexion. Before I retired one day I noticed one of my staff and how much healthier and smooth her face looked. I asked her if she had had dermabrasion done, her reply, "I quit smoking". The difference was amazing! You're on your way there.
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Karen,
Amazing what that extra oxygen will do for your skin....I saw an improvement when I quit but when I had my D&C last year I was out during the procedure but was on oxygen while it was performed.... Well, my skin looked just fabulous right after and for a week or so after... Such a nice rosey color....0 -
Wow, wish my skin had a wonderful improvement from not smoking!
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Lisamarie: One more benefit - you won't be able to smoke in the hospital so you'll be ahead of the game. It's hard to find smoking areas anymore to hit in your cute backless gown & in range for pushing your IV pole.
Chef: I forgot - when is your quit date? Galsal & all - Just One More Smoke Free Weekend. I think its easier as the weather gets nicer & we can get outside.
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Thank you to all my non smoking friends ..
Chef.. we are all here together to do what is best for each one of us .. we deserve to be healthy and smoke free .
I too have noticed a change in my skin in just the two weeks of smoke free .
Seaside , that is just perfect . I will do that .. to help me .. and hopefully by the grace of god I will meet my goals short term ...
Jo , i love everything u say .. you have helped me so much ..
Another d ay smoke free is another day with the gift of a better life ahead.
Just for today ....I choose not to smoke ..
Have a great smoke free day ladies .. big Hugs ...
LisaMarie
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May it be a smoke-free day for all of us!
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I am counting the smoke free hours since i woke up................................KEEP busy...........Breath....... snack on the pumpkin seeds............I feel like a junkie with a monkey on my back. thats right............. I AM.
I feel better for now. SOO glad your are here....xoxo
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Our bodies are amazing things, it starts healing immediately and continues for a long time:
Remind yourself how quickly the body heals after you quit smoking. Notice how much better you feel. Watch the time add up after you quit and realize how your body is improving:
After 20 minutes:
• Blood pressure drops to normal.
• Pulse rate drops to normal.
• Body temperature of hands and feet increase to normal.After 8 hours:
• Carbon monoxide level in blood drop to normal.
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.After 24 to 48 hours:
• Chance of heart attack decreases.
• Nerve endings start to grow again.
• Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier.
• Lung capacity increases.After 1 to 2 weeks:
• A pregnant woman provides her fetus with nicotine-free blood.
• Your sense of taste and smell improves.
• Skin color improves as the circulation to the skin improves.After 1 month to 1 year:
• Your blood circulation improves, your hands and feet feel warmer.
• Blood platelets become activated and your heartbeat will slow down.
• Blood pressure will drop.
• Coughing, wheezing, respiratory infections, bronchitis, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease.
• The small hair like cilia that clean out your lungs become more active, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean lungs, and reduces infection.
• Body's overall energy level and stamina increases.
• At one year, your risk of heart disease is reduced by one half.After 5 years:
• Lung cancer death rate for the average smoker (one pack a day) drops almost in half, decreasing from 137 per 100,000 to 72 per 100,000.
• The risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, and bladder drop by one half.
• The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice-box) drops to that of a non-smoker.
• The risk of a stroke decreases to that of a non-smoker.After 10 years:
• Lung cancer death rate for the average smoker drops to 12 per 100,000 almost the rate of non-smokers.
• Precancerous cells are replaced.
• The rate of other cancers, such as those of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas continues to decrease.0 -
VJSL8
ALL the points that really count......................THANX
Maureen
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Hello Ladies! I did not smoke for about 3 months during chemo, because I never felt very well. I was hoping once I finished chemo, I would not crave nicotine anymore. Well, as soon as I started feeling good, I wanted a cigarette. I felt like I had never stopped and I started smoking again. It is all I could think about. After a couple of weeks I decided to try Chantix. I have been taking Chantix since Jan. 12th., and most of the time I do pretty well, but weekends are so hard. I just really want to smoke, and cannot quit thinking about it. I read where a few of you talk about your e-cigs. Could you tell me about them? I need something more than this Chantix.
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Dear Laura, essentially an e cig looks like a cigarette and can contain nicotine or be nicotine free. I think since you are using Chantix, you would have to use the nicotine free. It gives you the feel of smoking and satisfies the hand to mouth routine. I got mine on-line but Jo bought hers at a tobacco store I think. She will post probably tomorrow since she has a very stressful job Mon. - Fri. and may not be posting today. It is essentially a prop to satisfy the ritual of smoking. If you go back and read perhaps the last 4 pages of posts you will find lots of tips on what to do when a craving hits. Check in frequently for the support and encouragement of this group, you are stronger than that little white cylinder and can quit one day at a time. Stay Strong, Karen
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chef127,
Just checking in to see how you're doing... Sounds like you took the the plunge! Very happy for you! As you know the next few days are probably the hardest... Staying busy and eating the pumpkin seeds one by one will help... Also, make sure that you drink lots of water... It helps to flush out the nicotine... If you are able to, doing some moderate exercise can help to release some of the 'feel good' endorphines....
Remember... The urge to smoke will pass in just a couple of minutes whether you smoke or not....
Here is something that I saved from when I quit... Hope it helps you, too!
"Cravings to smoke are not commands. How you choose to react to a craving can either increase or decrease its power over you. Try a little reverse psychology - instead of tensing up for a fight when the urge to smoke hits, relax and mentally lean into it. Let the craving wash over you, and accept it as a sign of healing, which is just what it is. The urge will run its course and pass, usually in just a couple of minutes. Practice makes perfect with this technique. You'll get the hang of it and will find it empowering.
Have some faith, and trust in the process of recovery from nicotine addiction. Thousands of people no different than yourself quit smoking successfully every day of the year. They don't possess any special qualities that you don't have. Everything you need to quit smoking once and for all is within you right now. Believe in yourself and be patient! Take the time you need to heal and learn how to live your life smoke-free. You'll get there just as surely as the next person."
Thinking of you!!0 -
Welcome Laura5!!
Weekends can be tough because most times you are not as busy and are not in as much of a routine! Try to keep busy especially with any activity that occupies your mind... Another thing that helped me was to schedule some exercise for those times of day that the most difficult. for me it was the late afternoon.... i found exercise helped me feel better and also, since I had just done something healthy, it curbed the urge to undo it by smoking...
Can't help with info on the e-cig but, Karen gave you good information and I'm sure when Jo gets a minute she will respond as well!!0 -
karan33 and seasidememories, Thank you for the tips. I read back a few pages and the more I read about the e-cig, the more I think it might help. I hope Jo gets on soon, she seems to rely on hers as I feel I would.
You would think quitting would be a little easier for someone who does not smoke in their home, doesn't smoke all day at work, and doen't smoke that many in the evening, (although I smoked plenty on the weekends). But.....it is NOT. I love to smoke and I loved each and every one I smoked. As you can probably tell, I am really having a tough time today.
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Dear Laura, do you chew gum?, I never did till I tapering down on the e cig, I bought Trident cinnamon since it is a really strong taste. I now keep several different flavours of gum at the ready to satisfy the oral fixation. I ordered my e cig on-line but I know Jo got her's locally and it was less expensive. Just went through a really stressful time and had to use my e cig again, I am now switching over to gum again. Moment to moment sometimes, every moment as a non-smoker counts! Karen
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Karen, I do chew gum at work, so it may be worth a try at home, thanks.
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Seaside,
Thank you for those paragraphs. I'll have to keep reading them to reinforce the GOOD words..........
My girlfriend stopped by a couple hours ago. We are all smokers. I did ask her for a cig and I smoked it. Wasn't that great. Most cravings do go away in a few minutes but some linger and really torture my will power.
The e cig really helps with hand mouth thing. I am wearing a nicoten patch so I don't inhale it. Clean ashtrays all over..Love it.
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chef127,
Tomorrow is another day.... Sometimes the weekends are a tough time to start....0 -
Welcome Laura - I see you have received some really good information and tips. Weekends also seem to be bad for me at times. You see, I live with a smoker and he refuses to go outside. Instead he migrates to the kitchen. I do use an e-cig and it has been my lifesaver. If it weren't for that I would definitely be back to smoking - I LOVED SMOKING! I bought my e-cig at an electronics store in our local mall. They also have a website and I can order supplies that way. It is cheaper online but I like the idea of chatting with someone in person. By using one with no nicotine, you are really satisfying the hand to mouth habit and ridding your body of the carcinogens associated with regular cigs.
The best thing I have noticed about quitting is my teeth are so white and no I have not bleached them or used any whitening strips. That, to me is amazing. The skin does look much better but I don't know how much of that is due to no smoking or the Biotin I am taking. Guess it does not really matter.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
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Yes, one isn't supposed to use nicotine patches or gum or lozenges while on Chantix.
I'll say that when I get my teeth cleaned while not smoking they look great!
I'm proud of that I was at the Legion post this afternoon to play Steak Shoot (a form of bingo) and it didn't bother me being around the smoke. Of course, I did sit on the side of the room that doesn't smoke. The other good news of that outing is that I won FIVE filet mignons. Since they were fresh and not frozen, called my Sis to see if she and the BIL wanted to grill them up for us to have for dinner. They were all over it! Hope it's been a good day!
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Yes you can use NRT with chantix--even though the box instructions don't recommend it. Chantix only fills 1/2 of the receptors in the brain, ( it was made that way so it didn't become addictive like nicotine too). The latest news from the Mayo clinic is that they are treating all smokers with combo meds--one long acting and one short acting
From a powerpoint from the Mayo Clinic:
Treat tobacco dependence for the serious medical problem it is
Motivational counseling plus pharmacotherapy
Dose response to counseling
Higher nicotine patch doses are better
Combinations are better
Longer treatment is better. This is not strep throat nor a UTILong acting
Pick 1 or 2 from here
Nicotine patch
Bupropion
VareniclineShort acting
Plus 1 or 2 from here
Nicotine gum
Nicotine inhaler
Nicotine lozenge
Nicotine nasal sprayClinical decision-making using clinician skills and knowledge of pharmacology to decide on medication selection and doses
Patient involvement: past experience and/or preference
Nicotine patch, varenicline and/or bupropion viewed as "floor" medications
Short acting NRT products for withdrawal symptom control
Combination pharmacotherapy is the rule0 -
Thank you all for your responses. I just ordered an e-cig.
VJSL8, Mayo findings very interesting. Do you have a link to that power point?
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VJSL8, how new is that report? I'm just curious since previously when I was on Chantix the computer system showed a contradiction for using both. I'm not starting an argument, merely would like to know that or the link.
Any recommendations on specific zero nicotine e-cigs?
Thanks!
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