Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Judi and April,
The tiredness from quitting smoking is temporary!
Nicotene, or lack of, effects your body's ability to regulate blood sugar for a little while after you quit causing all kinds of symptoms relating to low blood sugar. As a smoker, when you feel tired often times you will smoke and voila... You get a boost of energy because the nicotene interacted with your body and caused an increase in your blood sugar. After years and years of relying on the nicotene to do this your body kind of 'forgets' how to do it on its own. BUT if you can stick it out, it finally wakes up and figures out how to do it on it's own again!
In the early days of your quit, that dropping blood sugar can cause some uncomfortable side effects as well as some pretty wicked cravings! Some tips for those just starting out... Drink juice throughout the day and be sure to eat many small meals throughout the day (try to focus on foods that are somewhat healthy but, a cookie or two can be good for the soul..lol). Rest when you can... Your body is healing from years of smoking and that is hard work (that goes double for you April... Your body also has the burden of healing from rads)...
I hope that makes sense.. I found the following that explains maybe better than I did...
"It is not that cigarettes put sugar into your blood stream; it is more of a drug interaction of the stimulant effect of nicotine that affects the blood sugar levels. Cigarettes cause the body to release its own stores of sugar and fat by a drug type of interaction. That is how it basically operated as an appetite suppressant, affecting the satiety centers of your hypothalamus.....
You may find though that you do have to change dietary patterns to one that is more normal for you. Normal is not what it was as a smoker, but more what it was before you took up smoking with aging thrown in. Some people go until evening without eating while they are smokers. If they try the same routine as ex-smokers they will suffer side effects of low blood sugar....This doesn't mean they should eat more food, but it may mean they need to redistribute the food eaten to a more spread out pattern so they are getting blood sugar doses throughout the day as nature really had always intended."0 -
April - Day 5 - a major hurdle congrats.
Lisa Marie - we miss you whatever you're doing.
Beckers - hope all is well.
And ladies - since I'm 69 this year, I only have 11 years to my 80 year old smoke date!!
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Judi,
If you are on any of the hormone suppressants, they can lead to feeling tired either directly as a side-effect or due to interrupted sleep due to hot flashes, aches and pains, etc... So frustrating!!
I'm finding, much as I hate it, exercising as well as some gardening outside (now that the weather has improved) has helped in the sleep department!
Minus,
Glad to hear from you... I am on another thread that you're on and keep tabs on how you're doing there... I hope that your digestive problems settle out and that things are a little more gentle on you going forward...0 -
Thanks for the thoughtful info Seaside. While I was reading your post, I kept thinking to myself .... my body has to make up for 40+ years of smoking. Yes, I'm on a hormonal suppressant so I'm thinking this is what causing my tiredness. However, your post was interesting regarding redistributing what you eat and when you eat it. You know, I realize that I still eat like I did when I was smoking so again contributing to my low blood sugar. Don't mind this bold type, I hit some button on the computer and don't know what I did, LOL. Lordy, it's getting harder. MinusTwo, you are young .... 11 years seems like eons so don't be thinking you are getting this smoke too soon! Ha, ha .... we would all be jealous. Hope your feeling o.k.
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Lol on the bold type and not knowing what happened to cause it! That is sooooo me all the time! I have to ask one of my kids to help... They just roll their eyes!
I think spreading your calorie intake into smaller, more frequent meals may help you a lot in keeping the blood sugar stable and may very well help with energy levels as well! That dreaded blood sugar drop in the late afternoon, especially in the workplace, has kept many a vending machine profitable to the owner...
Also water... Drink plenty of it throughout the day... Helps to make you feel full and, if you're trying to lose weight, there is a scientific reason behind why that water is crucial... Don't want to bore everyone with the details....0 -
Man, Seaside - you are anything but boring tonight!!! YEAH for April, you go girl, and Minus Two, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and you are definitely not old, we are in our prime.
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MinusTwo, sorry your chemo is so intense. Hope you get through the rough patch soon. For me it takes a week to feel so-so. Every day starts to feel better than the day before. Keep you in my prayers.
Changed my pic to show off my new hair. Still getting used to the whole wig thing.
Miss you guys, hugs and kisses to all.
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P.S.
April, you go girl!!!
Lisamarie hope you're doing ok. The weather is warming up, yay!
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Shawntez! You look Mahvelous!!! Glad to hear that you are getting through... Hoping that each day continues to feel better than the day before.... Thinking of you!
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Shawntez, was just wondering where you were and voila you appear, you look grand!! A friend of mine who had chemo said the same thing, it took a week to recover from a session, are you half way through?
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Hi girls. I'm okay. I was in San Diego on a mini vacation.it was wonderful being with both of my sons.
I came home to my overly anxious brother convinced my mother is dying as we speak and I wanted to smoke today. It has been soooo long since I have gone through this. So I chose wine instead. Damn!!! My Mom has seen brighter days but I don't think she's going any time soon if he stops freakin out!!!! Ugh!
Hope you all are well. I will catch up soon. Thank you for worrying about me. You guys are the best!0 -
Beckers, glad you enjoyed your mini vacation but what a bummer to come home too! Wine, eh? I went out for dinner tonight and wasn't go to have a glass of the bubbly but WTH! Good for me, went to sleep when I got home but now it is almost 2 a.m. & I'm typing on this computer.
Shawntez, you look fabulous. Loving the look!
April, how are you today? Finished the rads? Must be tired but at least it is over with!
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Judi, Hope you can sleep. I thought I would check in on my way to bed. Gnite!
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Good morning, I still smoke and I'm almost 3 years out from diagnosis. I'm going to join y'all and quit. Starting tomorrow. I admire all you that have quit its so very hard. I'm having terrible scan anxiety as I have been having back pain and had an MRI yesterday and will have my 3 year PET Scan on May 10th. I just really, really need to quit... Thanks!
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Welcome mahle. This is a great thread. Will be holding good thoughts for you tomorrow! Check in with us often ok? You can do this.
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Shawntez, you look great!
LisaMarie, where are you sweetie?
Judi, as always, thanks for your support. I am still NOT SMOKING!! Woohoo! Eight days! Still hard though...guess it always will be judging from the fact that Beckers wanted a ciggy the other day.
Hi Beckers! Glad to see you got away a little.
Rads are done and I am a little sore (like a mild to moderate sunburn) but because of the amount I had in one week, I am exhausted. Not going to work tomorrow. I worked 5 hour days in between the two treatments all last week since it was 5 mins from our New Haven office. But, now it has caught up with me.
Mmahle, this is the hardest thing of anything I have done and I have accomplished some amazing things in my life. I have lost over 150 lbs. I left a marriage of almost 28 years to live on my own for the first time in my life. I met and married a wonderful man since then. I went to college FULL TIME while working FULL TIME and graduated 18th out of my class of 1244, magna cum laude with a 3.88 GPA in 1999 when I was 44.
But, the most difficult thing I've ever done is quitting evil tobacco. So, if you are struggling, keep trying. After 46 years, I am going to make it stick this time. Best to you!
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Thank you for the support. April--WOW that is awesome! I work full time and my daughter and grandson (he is 2) live with us. Smoking is my little get a way from stress. I just need to figure out other ways to amuse myself
My husband quit about a week ago so, that will help. Every other time I have tried he was smoking like a chimney which doesn't help. If we both quit together it should help IF we don't kill each other first. Y'all have a great day!0 -
Welcome Mmahle46! Great support group to come through. I've only quit 2 years and 4 months and didn't go through the withdraws this time like others have gone through. But trust me, being a 40+ year smoker - a hard core smoker - I have gone through all of the ups/downs/pull my hair out and then don't give a damm, I'm going to smoke, routine. But I've been on this thread for probably a year now, and I've seen some pretty amazing things happen here. First and foremost, to those ladies who have quit, it was amazing. Now, I can say the same to April485 because she is now "8 days out". Whoo, hoo, April. You have made it past 5 days where you fall back and/or get stuck. You are out of that rut now! Also April, you are a pretty amazing woman for all that you have accomplished in your short life ... if I could only be that amazing. When we reach 80 we will meet, have a drink and think about that smoke. There have been other ladies on this thread before my time, who were the rock of this thread and still are. You will see them pop up and encourage you to no end. Take our hand and walk with us. We will be thre for you no matter what, Mmahle46.
Lisamarie, you are being missed on this thread .... come back to us!
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Dear Mmahle, I am a verteran of this thread, judiH, you mention us and we pop up!! Mmahle, I was a 40+ yrs. smoker and I have been smokefree for over 3 yrs. now, only with the help of this thread, with it's encouragement, support, and not wanting to fail both for myself and for them. You have a core group of leaders here and women who are days, months into the quitting. It is hard, it is doable, they will give you the cheerleading you will so richly deserve as you go 1 day, then 2... VJ - one of the members of this thread is a Smoking Cessation Instructor and will offer you one of her books, free of charge on tips and tricks in your battle. It is so good that your husband has quit, he will be able to support you and you won't have the temptation of having a smoker around. Stay connected to the thread and post often, this is your lifeline.
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As Karen mentioned, I will send a free copy of my Tips book to anyone who asks, I just need an email address. Send me a PM. Have a joy-filled day, VJ
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Hi girls! "poof" they magically appear! So cool.
Proud of you April!!!!! Important thing is I didn't give in. Shocked me that I thought about it...I won't lie. I'm coming up on a year in June which is a new record for me. I think the most I have ever quit for was 6-8 months. I started at 17 and will be 47. That's a long time. I love being free.
Hope everyone else is hanging in there!!!0 -
April: I stand in awe of your accomplishments. Shantez: How are you doing? VJ: Great new picture. Karen: good to see you. Mahle: you can do it. I'm in Houston too and smoked for 40+ years. It seems smoking doesn't have the same stigma here as many other locations, but there's so much freedom in not having to plan your days & nights around a place & time to smoke . Judi: If we're to meet when you're all 80 for that famous smoke, I'll already be over 95. Do I have to wait for y'all
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa...we miss you. Even if you're still smoking, come back.
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Most definitely MinusTwo .... 95 is the new 105. In all honesty, now that I think of it, that means I only have to wait 23 years for that smoke. Doesn't seem that long since we smoked for 40+ years. Wonder what they will cost then. MinusTwo, you've mentioned you have saved a lot of money since quitting ... save some for that day. I better start saving now .... I hate bumming a smoke from someone and imagine if I don't get one! Ha, ha!
Beckers, funny how the thought just sneaks up on you. Today I went golfing and I was watching all the smokers like a hawk. I waited long enough for the smoke to drift over to me. I liked it!
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P.S. Do we need to update our roll call for the new quitters?
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Sending huge Kudos to those attempting to quit and those that have. Although have used my Binky a few times this month, have not smoked since 1/2012.
Hi, I'm Galsal and I'm an addict. Tobacco addict that is. I know I can't start up again or even have some puffs or I'd would be right back into it as before within a week.
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Galsal,
Just noticed something... I quit 1/2010, Karen was 1/2011 and you quit 1/2012 and we're all within just a few days of each other! Must be something magical in the January air (or we're just all broke from Christmas shopping and can't afford the smokes...lol)....
Judi,
I'll have to go back and take a peek at the old roll call to see if it still makes sense to repost it... Some have moved on and may not feel comfortable with a repost...But a new list could always be started!
For those who are new, we used to keep an un-official and completely voluntary list of people from this thread who had quit along with their quit dates that we would post every do often to celebrate the quitting 'milestones'!
If you're curious, do a search on my userid as the membername and roll call as the search phrase and you should find it!
Minus,
Good to hear from you!
VJ,
Always good to hear from you and, in case I haven't said it lately, a big thanks for all you do here! And as aside.... Wow on the new pic!!! You look gorgeous!!!
Hi Karen!!!!0 -
Well, Just looked back over the posts and to just add a couple of thoughts before bed....
First, welcome to Mmahle46!!!!
A huge.... HUGE.... Congrats to April on completing rads AND 8 days smoke-free!!! Those days will turn to weeks, months and years before you know it!! Rest and heal from rads..... Hugs to you!
Beckers.... So cool that you will be celebrating 1 year smoke-free in June! It seems like time has just flown by from when you first posted.. You have done so well, including sticking around to support those just starting out! Very proud of you!
Good night all!0 -
Hi my name is Judy, and I am addicted to tobacco. I have been doing so so these last a couple of weeks, its the morning time that is the hardest part of the day for me. So tomorrow 4-30-13 is my official date to quit completely..I figured that was the a good day to quit, seeing that I can not have anything in the morning before surgery and I am hoping that when I come home, I will not feel like having one.
Have a great day!
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hi ladies i'm still here my computer crashed so i'e been totally isolated boy have i missed u guys only had1 smoke inthe lastn 9 days. had cyber thurs qnd started rads last mon.1 week down 7 to go.hope all u are doing good those on taxol my hai5 came back in with a vengence so thick& curly i look like i got an afro! love to all april see ya on the other one congtrads!
love to all chris
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Welcome Judy!
You've made a good start already with identifying the time of day that seems to be the hardest for you, setting your quit date and posting here for support! The ladies here are really a super group!
Good luck tomorrow on your surgery... Will be thinking about you...
Braids,
A big boooooooo on the computer crash! I had my hard drive crash a couple years ago and that was bad! Because I was so bad about backing stuff up, I lost quite a bit of info that I had on there. I learned they really aren't kidding when they say to do that...lol!
Yay, on 1 week down on the rads!! In the beginning it seemed like it was going to take forever but, I was really suprised at how fast those weeks went by.... Good job on only 1 in 9 days..... Just stick with it and you'll be telling us soon that you've had zero and weeks have gone by!0
