Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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April , sorry the only thing that really has worked for me is the patches so far . but I like you go for days then I pull it off and smoke again .. so I am seriously considering the e cig for times like that ... I am also trying to read the Allan Carr book the easy way to stop smoking . but it is quitting cold turkey by end of book. I just find that the patch takes away the cravings, I mean they come but go just as quick.. good luck in your journey
Lisamarie
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Good to see you Lisamarie. Is surgery the only way they fix pockets? Is that fluid pockets? I'm glad your outcome is good but so sorry you have to be back to work already. I feel guilty for being fearful to go back after 11 months! Hang in there girl!
Welcome April. I used the patch and the e-cig. First one had nicotine and then I found one without. My PS was no joke! He even nicotine tested me before surgery. Quitting smoking is one of the perks of this BC. I am sooooo glad I quit!!! Good luck and stay close okay?
Happy friday!0 -
Btw Lisa, I was asking about pockets because I think I have some in my tummy after DIEP. :-(
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Beckers, My pockets had to be revised to fit the smaller implants that I now have . my other implants were wide and too big .. these are now narrow and smaller .. yipppeeee
you can see my pictures on my blog at Hopeserenitystrength@blogspot.com
Hugs
Lisamarie
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I read the Allan Carr book and kept right on smoking at the end. Didn't do it for me at all. But, I have two friends that it worked for! So, maybe it will be the ticket for you. Hoping it is. Maybe I will reread it now that I have BC and I am even more motivated...sigh...life changes all at once!
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Oh, those pockets! Ha! (I think I have fluid pockets after tummy tuck from DIEP surgery) I will check it out.
April, it is a lot of changes!! I quit smoking....fricken miracle....then they tell me mostly plant based diet because I am so ER+. Woah!!! No wonder we get depressed. You can do this. Remember first things first. One thing at a time.0 -
I'm not going to go mostly plant-based despite the ER+, Beckers. I do though go for the more organic type, hormone-free, etc.
You know, I don't think any one of us expected to still feel physical problems, whether breasts or abdomens or what have you, a half-year or year or more later. Drives me crazy how much I swell during the day from belly-button to the ribs. I'm sure it has to do with the lymphatic pathway being disrupted if not disconnected. There's no way in hell though I could let any MLD occur on the upper abdomen!
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You know Galsal, my PS was so kind as to lipo the upper abdomen at stage 2. I have been faithful about compression since, so that area is ok for me. It's my mid tummy that gets preggers :-/. I remember last April 6th telling my job it would be my last day as the BS called with date of 10th. I told them, oh I should be back by May. I thought BC was going to be way simpler! I mean, they caught it early and all. Ha! I am just going back to work a week from Monday and I don't even feel like the same person. Tamoxifen makes me a bit rowdy at times. Ha! I used to be nice. Seriously though. Heavy sigh.
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Beckers and Galsal, I'm ER+ but was never told to change my diet .... other then absolutely no grapefruit and no herbal products. I'm on Femera (Letrozole). I'm wondering if it is because you are also PR+. My readings are telling me that we should all eat less meat, more veggies/seeds/nuts. I can't figure all of it out. I mean some people have the worst diets/drink a ton/smoke/do dope, etc. and natta - no cancer. I'm leaning towards moderation as I don't eat a whole lot of red meat but have cut out deli meats almost to nothing. Beckers, the Letrozole made me a bit rowdy but I feel it is starting to subside... been on it a full 2 years.
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Hi ladies sorry I cant say much about the topic as I have no clue if I was ER + or - same as PR+ or -.. but I do eat healthy ..my boss is a organic person so she feeds me all kinds of healthy stuff .. and I must say it's not bad at all , I don't know if I could let go of red meats ..lol I don't eat too much of it really but when I do I love it .... and I am not on any meds ..but I am sending hugs to you all
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Hey Lisamarie, ask your boss for some great receipes to wean us off. Like you, I love a good steak in the summer ..... don't eat it in the winter. However, I'm making a prime rib roast tomorrow ..... eat this probably once every 4-5 months. My dh would love to eat fish 3-4x a week but I'm not a fan - oh yeah, I love Red Lobster or when someone else makes it. I would love healthy stuff more often but hard to do .... old habits die hard .... shopping today and was starving .... grab a bag of popcorn to eat. Yikes, what's a girl to do!
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I hear ya Judi. I wish I had Lisamarie's boss to feed me healthy food. I have been working on this since Oct. Ha!
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Well Beckers, maybe we need to do a challenge ..... healthy eating and lose a few lbs. (for me at least). Damm Letrozole and quitting smoking .... have gained 20 lbs. When I go on the tread mill, I lie about my weight. Keep it at what I was a year ago .... last time at hospital and they weighed me, I told them I didn't want to know. So, challenge???????????
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thnakfully am at the same weight before any of the surgeries this past year, despite
Tamoxifen then Lupron then Arimidex then Femara.
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Webwriter. Congrats on your decision. I too was a smoker for 40 years and it was my live line, so I thought. I quit on Jan. 27 as a birthday gift to my daughter after I was diagnosied with BC.
I did it cold turkey and my husband has not quit so that has made it even harder for me. However, I am doing it. I have slipt once or twice, but have only taken a puff or two, have not smoked a whole cigerette. The last puff I took no longer tasted good.
Everytime I get the urge I look at the scar on my breast and think about my daughter and grandkids. That has been my inspiration.
Somethings that helped me are snacking on carrots, celery, lots of fruit. Trying to change my routine a bit to avoid doing the things where I like to smoke the most, like drinking, parties, sitting on the porch with my husband and dad.
Instead I find something else to do to stay busy. I did find that sometimes just holding a cig in my hand helped.
I think that with both you and your husband working together you can do this. Rooting for you!!!!
And just think of the money you can. at nearly $50 a cartoon that's an easy 200 a month.
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Good for you dseko. You are coming up on the one month mark!! Amazing how you will start counting the months. I got one of the no nicotine e cigs at a smoke shop that we call a "binky" and that helped me a lot in the beginning. I still have it in my purse but haven't used it in months!!!
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Galsal, why all of the antihormonals?
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Judi, I would love the challenge. Am up 20 lbs also since diagnosis one year ago. I have gone on a hike two days in a row now. Major step for me. Having trouble with the eating though. I'm staying with my sister and she loves the sweets. Well, I can't stop!!!! Dang! Outta control. She has more self control. I can eat myself silly. Tamoxifen makes me nauseas but all be darned if I don't keep munching right on through the nausea!
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Judi, just reread your post...you lie about your weight to your treadmill... Lol!! :-)
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Yup Beckers, never lie about a thing except the treadmill. I know smoking was one of the reasons I did it - except me slim. After quitting and going on letrzole, the 20 lb. weight gain (could be more) bothers me. Then I remember why I quit smoking, why I don't want to go back, and then am glad I don't smoke. However, I can slip sometimes and think, just "one". But I know that I can't be just "one". So I do battle now with the weight crap. I'm not a sweet person but find my hand in everything - a little bit of that, a little bit of this. I've just started back to my exercise program. I'm going to weigh myself today and my aim is to lose 5 lbs. So?????????? I'm not going to be disappointed if it doesn't happen - remember muscle weighs more!
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One of my fears of quitting smoking is the weight gain! I have worked really hard and lost 80+ lbs in the last two years and am down over 150+ from my heaviest! I am truly scared to gain any weight back. I am already up 4 lbs since my diagnosis from stress eating...gah!
I know the AI's can go either way with weight gain. Some people lose weight. Hoping I am one of those..lol
I have the patch on this morning and so far, so good. No smoking today. Praying I get through the next 24 hours smoke free. One day at a time. Congrats to all of you who have conquered this beast! Cigarettes are the devil!!!
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Beckers, quit Tamoxifen because of throwing blood clots during the Diep surgery. Arimidex gave me headaches every single day and multiple times too. Had Tylenol and Aspirin at home/work/car or purse and would alternate them so I wasn't overworking only one organ but shared the wealth between the two. Headaches stopped immediately when I quit taking it.
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Welcome april485! This site will help you and we all have been in the quitting process like you. You are right about Als .... I was one of the ones who gained weight. You have to know your limit as to what you want .... I'm only there 1/2 sometimes. I don't like the weight gain but, on the other hand, I am alive. Put in all in perspective, I'm sure there are a lot of people who would be nodding their heads. I think part of my weight gain was quitting exercising .... muscle does weigh more and I'm old school .... scales tell me one thing. But, I've vowed to start the exercising again and a lot of it is image in my head. You are your own boss and will decide what is right for you. But I hear you and I only wish the best for you. Keep going!
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April, one thing I have to say is only 5 of the 20 have I gained since I quit smoking. Honestly, I first became overweight (40lbs) when I quit smoking for 6 months after hysterectomy in 08. Guess what though, I didn't lose it when I went back to smoking. I really don't feel like I have been eating in place of smoking this time. I truly feel like it's been the emotional roller coaster of having BC and recuperating from 3 surgeries mostly. You have recently harnessed the secret of weight loss and have good habits in place with respect to food going into this thing. I think this will be to your advantage. Congrats on starting today!!!
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Good luck on the 5 lbs Judi! I will take it 5 lbs. At a time too. I have quite a bit to lose now unfortunately. Let it get away from me for too long.
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Morning ladies... another day another struggle ... grrrr.... I guess I woke up not feeling so great this am .. bummer .. I find I am constatly beating myself up over this and I wished I could stop . I know this is all in my head and I need to get right there first . I am going to really try hard today . I went out last night on a date and I guess I had too many drinks .. ugh threw up when I came home and feel really crappy today and I have to train someone . I am so sick and tired of living and being alone . I dont even like to drink .. and now I know why ... blah .. so sorry about my B***h session this am ... hope everyone has a good monday ..Hugs
lisamarie
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Lisamarie, Oh what a night! Throwing up is the worst!!!!!! I'm sorry. New day. How about your date? Disappointing? Bummer. Being alone is so different. I admit, I have had some difficulty adjusting to the empty nest. Back in the day, I would have loved to have some peace and quiet! Ha. Guess the grass is always greener.... How's the quitting coming? Is that why you are beating yourself up? I am so glad I don't have to any more. That is the beauty of quitting. I was a closet smoker. I work with patients so I never smoked during the workday, but made up for it the minute my car hit the freeway. Went to church and hoped nobody knew. So tired of pretending. I am what I am. Just for today, love who you are and just do your best!!!
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Oh Beckers and Lisamarie. I think we are all peas in a pod. I think we have all done the same thing, and if you asked any smoker, they all have beent there. Lisamarie, was the date a blind date???????? I remember when I was young (ha, ha - in my 20s), I would drink too much .... hated blind dates. I remember one, the guy was an a##hole, and it was a weekend date. Can you imagine sleeping on a patio chair (plastic webbing) the whole weekend. Anyways, long story short .... lost my friendship with my girlfriend, and I heard a few months later, that the guy's x-wife blew his head off with a shotgun. Tell you, I was feeling pretty good about my judgement. Lisamarie, stop, stop, stop. You know, I've been smoke-free two years now but have been yearning a smoke so much until a smoker comes in .... the smell is so bad that I reel. It's cold in Toronto right now so the smoke sticks to you. Then I think, yikes. When you stop worrying about everything, it will click for you. I hear you about being alone but you have family and friends. I know it is not the same, but sometimes I yearn for that peace and quiet ... hating hearing about what a disaster I am in the kitchen .... and that is putting it mildly. My sister tells me they won't live forever, and then it's just us girls. I love my dh to no end, but the harping and how right he is can send a girl wild. We are all alike .... just do what you can do. We are here for you.
Beckers, love the avatar. It's nice to put a face to the name ... don't you think?
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Oh yeah Beckers, good luck with the 5 lbs. I was going to go to exercise tonight but have a really sore throat ... drinking my medicial drink right now .... Cointreau. Had my tequila and then it's tea and cointreau and off to bed. No cough crap for me .... only the good stuff!
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Ditto what Judi said, Lisamarie!
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