Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Thanks Minus2 . Have tried Chantix before and had too many side effects. Don't smoke in the house. However you have given me hope as a 40 year former smoker. I have decided my quit day will be the day after I get a scheduled surgery date. I have been waiting 1 week now for a date and have smoked more now than ever . I have no excuses other that I am P*ssed off at having to wait for a date. Hopefully I will get a date sometime this week. My OC does not recommend e cigs or Chantix which is probably just as well for me, as that would just be yet another addiction . I know people read this and think I am nuts. What do you mean you have had cancer before and still smoke , what's wrong with you . Also thanks for the triggers thought. I will start with removing coffee first !!!0 -
Fiaranch,
Welcome! I quit smoking with help from this thread over 3 1/2 years ago and have not regretted it!
I was a cold turkey girl! I did have a prescription for Chantix as my plan B if I couldn't do it but did not get to the point of using it!
I was going to be a very dramatic January 1st, stroke of midnight quitter! Started cutting back off of my 1 1/2 - 2 pack a day habit after my treatment was over in October. Managed by December to be down under 1/2 pack but just couldn't get it down under that!
Then came New Years Eve.... I was all ready to quit... and DIDN'T...
Took me till January 18th when my final pack was gone at 11:01 pm to quit!! So rather than my huge, dramatic text-book moment of quitting, it was a kind of run-of-the-mill day, without the fireworks BUT one that I will remember forever!
I will be honest, the first 5 days were hard. I felt a little bit like I had the flu and cried many tears asking my DH to get me a pack which he would not do as we had agreed! I got through them by saying that I would go on faith that, no matter how bad things were today, they would be better after 5 days AND, if they weren't , then the whole stop smoking thing was up for re-negotiation at that time! In the beginning I went minute to minute, then hour to hour, then day to day and, well, at the end of the 5 days, I wouldn't say EVERYTHING was better, but I WOULD say it was a whole lot better!!!
It IS SO hard but, once you get through the beginning, you will look back and think, what the heck was the big deal?
Some tips....
Drink LOTS of water/fruit juice. Helps to flush out the nicotine!
I know everyone is worried about weight gain. FORGET about it in the beginning! Eat small and frequent meals/snacks. Being hungry feels a LOT like I want to smoke! Smoking causes our bodies to release stored glucose and until your body re-learns how to do that on it's own, your blood sugar can be all over the place. A large number of the really crappy early side-effects can be directly related to low blood sugar. Be kind to yourself early and eat whatever strikes your fancy. After things are more under control, you can still snack but, choose wisely.
REST! Your body is going through a lot of changes and needs rest! As an added bonus, at least for me, I did not crave a smoke when I was sleeping. Also my big smoking time was still in the evening so turning in early helped to shorten that window!
Stay busy! When the urge hit early on I would get up and do something else until it passed! My house was never so clean! Remember the urge to smoke will pass within 5 minutes whether you smoke or NOT!
Suck on a straw.... Blow bubbles, either with gum or real bubbles... I was never a gum chewer before but, I did find it helpful in the beginning!
There is a fellow survivor that used to post here who is a Smoking Cessation Counselor. She has, in the past, offered her book for free to anyone on this thread who asks. All you have to do is PM her with a valid email address... No strings attached... It is chockful of really great info covering everything from how to get motivated to quit, actually quitting and, once you're there, how to stay quit! If you're interested, I will track down her email info and post it for you.
I wish you the best!
Edited to add: I was a 30+ smoker and really enjoyed smoking (or so I thought). Really, 3+ years out, I don't miss it and really love the freedom of all I can do without having to be uncomfortable or excusing myself to go outside for a smoke. The money saved is pretty cool, too!0 -
Seaside - great post & good ideas.
I'd forgotten to mention that I too cut way back before quitting. It does help. Also a distraction is important. Every time I wanted a smoke I went for a walk. Good luck Fiaranch. We're here whenever you want to 'talk' about it. I'm sure Judi & Beckers will weigh in before long.0 -
Seaside memories and Minus2 ,
Thanks so much for your responses . Would love the stop smoking guide if your have the contact . Did not sleep much last night "contemplating the meaning of life" All the years in Corporate America I was so busy "making a living " that I neglected to make a life !! The positive thing about cancer is that this time around it has jerked me into reality . Everything happens for a reason so the reason must be to take time now and figure out life . Just like an alcoholic I took an inventory last night of every thing that needs to change . The first stop was the closet , my god did I really think I needed 78 pair of black pants and 48 bras ? I never have considered myself to be a hoarder but I guess there is a fine line between hoarding and an obsession . Food hmmmm avoid all estrogen there is another long list of things to avoid . Also out goes the bathroom cabinet of lotions and skin creams full of soy and estrogen. Then I rummaged through the basement chocked full of antique furniture I was hoarding for the retirement home we are building , oh yeah I forgot we have downsized that house to half of the original size. Then finally ................ an inventory of cigarettes I have on hand . Ok how could I have 13 lighters but only 17 cigarettes left CRAP !!! I will see just how long I can make these last and HOPE the %)#$#)$# surgeons office calls back with a date soon. Bottom line is I have more than enough to do if I get my butt in gear and do it ! I love the "non smoking smoker" analogy. For me quitting It will have to be 1 minute , one hour and one day at a time . Again thanks so much for your responses and allowing me to RANT . Forgive me in advance for what I may write daily as I transform (sarcastic is my middle name) .0 -
Hi Fiaranch1--I'm VJ and I am a tobacco treatment specialist. I have an e-book that I will send to anyone on these boards--just send me a PM with your regular email.
I have recently expanded it and would love feedback from anyone who would care to critique it. I also have a workbook along the similar lines. Right now I am editing so that both have matching information. I hope to have them published soon. I would love it if anyone wants to offer a critique or suggestions to add/delete etc.
Just an update on me--In June I had a severe allergic reaction. Since I've cancer twice, I've thought about dying but not about dying right now--it was very dramatic. As I lie on the floor, I really thought I would die right then. The firemen broke into my house and saved my life. Instead of affecting my breathing, the allergy stopped my heart and I was unresponsive when they got here. And thank God for Obamacare--I've been on the PCIP which lowered my deductible from my old individual policy from $9000 to $1500. My hospital bill for 2 days was $40,000--which was totally unrealistic.
Hoping everyone a joy-filled day, VJ0 -
Oh MinusTwo, I would love to chime in but I'm sitting on the fence myself. I read these posts and say no way to smoking but I have to go back for another mammo plus ultrasound. I'm saying shit, if only I had a smoke but in all reality, the smoke wouldn't make a difference. At some point in our young life, we have to make the decision to quit and stay quit. So, for those of us finding the demon hard, remember it's just something that we can really kick to the curb!
VJ, thank God you are allright. My dh is a fireman and saves lives on a daily basis. We are so lucky to have them. As for Obamacare, I'm Canadian and I love our health care system. I couldn't imagine getting a bill like that and figuring out how I would pay for it. I don't know - I've had our health care system all of my life and we bitch when they take away one of our services. All I can say, is that I'm lucky that I have it and was extremely grateful I had it when "C" came around.0 -
VJ - Wow - sorry to hear about your hair-raising experience. What a scare. Hope you're healing & back to "normal" soon.0 -
JudiH--The firemen were great. I didn't see their faces or even know who they are but I thank them everyday. Obamacare is far from perfect but it's a step in the right direction. 2/3 of bankruptcies are medical, and most have insurance. We have a long way to go.
MinusTwo-I'm back to normal, thanks for asking. I was fine a few hours after the event but since the allergy affected my heart, I stayed for 2 days for them to run a bunch of EKG's, CT's --etc.--Which I found out my heart is in really good shape!! They think it was a food allergy--by the time I got to the hospital I had a full body rash. I have no idea what caused it-which is scary. One of my biggest fears since I'm single, is to die and no one find my body for days. So I got a roommate--just in case.0 -
Wow VJ, a food allergy. Now try and go back to remember all the foods that you ate so that you never have to experience an episode like that again. Or maybe, they can send you to a food allergist and find you what foods you are allergic to. I think this would be your best best .... could be many foods. My dh cannot eat shrimp and drink a certain type of beer - goes completely red and almost in shock.0 -
Oh, wow, VJ... How scared you must have been!! I can't even imagine! I am happy that you came out of it all right and, even more, that you have a room mate. I hope that gives you some peace of mind.
With all you give to the people on this thread I would be happy to critique your latest edition of your ebook. I will PM you with my email in case you don't still have it!
Fiarnch,
VJ was the specialist that I referenced in my post... Her book will be a great help to you!0 -
Well - just posted and got a "page error" and total post lost.
This was to bump - and to say rah rah for everyone who's made it or those still trying.
Beckers - hope you are OK.
Judi - hope your mammo/ULS came back w/sterling results. It's hard not to think about lighting up when we face stressful circumstances.
Funny - when I first quit in 2007 I told everyone the first thing I would do if I was diagnosed w/a "bad" disease would be to buy a pack of smokes. I didn't think about it too much in 2011 w/the first diagnosis & treatment. But it's sure been on my mind w/this darn recurrence this year.
Just for today - I won't smoke. Tomorrow is another day (to say it again).0 -
stay strong minus2...you can do it. At times I have to tell myself I would never be able to quit again if I even smoked one cigarette. that helps me get through the urge.0 -
Love: You're right. I know I can't smoke even one - ever!!!0 -
Hi there girls. Sorry I have been MIA. My DH is in town. We had all of our kids together last weekend as well. It has been wonderful. I am in Calif but actually live in Oklahoma. My hubby works there and I had to be here for treatment and to take care of my Mom after my Dad died.
I hope everyone is having success at quitting!!! I will catch up on reading soon. Hugs!!!0 -
Ugggggh, I posted and lost it. MinusTwo, my mammo turned out o.k. I had to go back for rescreening and ultra sound. I'm at Sunnybrook Hospital and they have a new cancer centre. Thanks to the generous donation of a couple ... I don't know who has that kind of money but I love them. So, at this cancer centre, you now get your results within 24 hrs. So, what I went back, the technician told me that if they needed to do a biosopy, it would be done then and there. After 1 1/2 hrs. I was told good news "no c". Lots of scar tissue and some other "white" stuff that was not calification or cancer. MinusTwo, I know how you feel about the smokes as I thought the same thing. Didn't do it but I told me dh about it. How are you feeling MinusTwo???? Almost finished or are you finished that darn treatment?????? I hope you are o.k.
Beckers, have fun with you dh and family. Well ladies, getting cold here this week. Winter is coming. Thank god I don't smoke and have to go outside for one ... couldn't handle it.
Hope all the other ladies who are battling the little demon are doing o.k.0 -
Judi: Great news on the negative results. I know you're relieved. Isn't it amazing what they can see with the "new" machines. Hooray - no biopsy needed.
I've only had one tx of the new AC chemo so will be going at it until January. Then rads. The good news is no nausea & no Big D - at least the first round of this cocktail.
Funny about cold. I was upset that it might get to 46 tonight & I'm really not ready to turn on the heat. Of course it will still be at least 70 during the days for awhile. Not unheard of to have 80 for Christmas.
Beckers: Are you home from CA? Didn't realize you lived in OK. Hope everything is going OK - no pun intended.
Did you all see the news about e-smokes today? Supposedly they are really helping people to quit.
Lovewins: Are you hanging in there with the nasty treatment side effects?0 -
Hi minus two...I am hanging in there! going on 3 months smoke free. Still have urges but I tell myself the chemo won't work if I smoke! Glad your SE have not been too bad, I think that is the best we can hope for.
Keep hanging in there ladies...let's stay smoke free!0 -
Hi MinusTwo! Thanks for your kinds words .... relieved I was. It gets so tiring all this worry, eh? It must get tiring for you but I think your strength and mindset is up and strong. I guess you will be relived when you get to the rads .... enough of this treatment and you will be happy when it's all over. I'm rooting for you. Where do you live that you get such high temps sometimes at Christmas? My sister winters in Texas and I was there last Christmas. Weather was really warm .... only a few cool days but not like Ontario where we get the minus temperatures.
Lovewins, good going. Guess what ... the urges I think are always there. God, tonight I thought of having one and it's been 3 years since I laid down the demon. I like you mantra and I thought the same as you .... treatment won't work. Keep going, we are cheering for you!
How is everyone else .... or is there anyone on this thread anymore?0 -
Funny Judi - my thoughts exactly.
What happened to everyone? Did they all successfully quit & move on with their lives? Do they never think of the old demon again? (nah - we can't be that different) Did they all suffer a partial failure and haven't decided to try again yet? Hope they're not embarrassed to check in since we all know how many tries it takes. Did the docs find nicotine in their blood tests? Were all their surgeries cancelled? Oh well - we may never know. Obviously there are a few of us who have bookmarked this site & see any activity. Wonder if i should 'bump' every day for awhile to keep it on the active list?0 -
I recently been dx with idc..was told no immediate reconstruction due to I smoke..just saw dr last week.i am trying to cut back, it's so hard .i am more nervous than ever especially since this is new to me..any advice and how long do I have to be smoke free before they would due the surgery..I also have copd...ty for any advice0 -
I have an e-book with tips to stop smoking (that Seaside just graciously edited for me-thanks again) and I offer it to anyone on this board at no cost--I just need a regular e-mail address-send me a PM with and I'll send the e-book to you. VJ0 -
Blissful: Glad to have you here. I quit 4 years before my original BC diagnosis so can't answer your nicotine free question but I'm sure others will chime in soon. I quit with Chantix. Some have used patches & gum. Others have found e-smokes helpful. Activity - running, walking, working out - seems to help many of us. Carrot sticks, sunflower seeds in the shell, something to replicate the hand to mouth movement. The key is you have to want to quit for it to "take". Or at least you have to be very determined, since most of us loved smoking - even if we don't anymore. Remember, for the process to work, you only to make it one day at a time. Do email VJ and get her book.0 -
VJ,
Anytime!! Glad it helped.
Hey! My emoticons are finally working!
Blissful,
Welcome! This thread does seem to ebb and flow at times. Sometimes there are lots here trying to quit and sometimes not so many! It's been pretty quiet here lately but that doesn't mean people aren't reading and willing to help!
Minus, had some really great suggestions! I recommend reading back through this thread. Lots of ideas on what to maybe try and what worked (and didn't) for different people. You will see quite a variety of methods showing that no two 'quits' are exactly alike. The key will be in finding what works for you. And most times it's not an event but more a process that continually evolves and changes as you discover what is right for you!
VJ's book would be a good place to start. It is a step by step guide to help you through the very beginning stages of just deciding to quit, to planning your quit (mentally and physically) to quitting and finally, staying quit! Also great descriptions on the many 'aids' that may help.
Another book that I found worked well for me in building motivation before I quit was Alan Carr's The Easy Way To Stop Smoking. While the title is a bit deceiving in that I don't think it's ever easy, the book does a good job in dispelling every reason that we give for why we smoke and showing how it's just an illusion! This is motivational where VJ's is more instructional.
As for number of weeks smoke free for recon. Lots depends on type of reconstruction (implant vs diep or other micro-vascular method) and individual surgeon preference. I have seen anything from 6 weeks to 6 months but, I don't have personal experience there.
Sorry that you are newly diagnosed but, glad you found your way to this thread!
Minus,
Glad to see you here! I think you are, if I recall correctly, our most 'veteran' quitter! I will be 4 years out in January and don't regret quitting at all! And I am finally taking that trip to NYC that I declined years ago because I didn't know how I would manage not smoking! I'm so excited!0 -
Oh Seaside - I'm so jealous of your NY trip. When this darn BC reoccurred I had to cancel both a planned week in NYC with my BFF with tickets for THREE plays in March, and also a cruise to Alaska w/my kiddos last May. Thankfully I'd purchased trip insurance for both. And I'll miss Christmas in San Francisco this year visiting my son and next Easter in HI visiting my 'adopted' son. So much for saving & planning for retirement.
I can't remember if there's someone further out than I am. I quit 6 years and 4 months ago. Actually it was on an 11th so it's 4 months exactly on top of those 6 years. And yes - I still think about it, just not every day as time goes on. I hear smokes in NYC are $10.00 per pack.0 -
Awww Minus,
That really does stink that you had to cancel all your trips but, thank goodness for trip insurance! We go for a week at the beach every summer and never used to buy the insurance pre-diagnosis. Now there's no way I wouldn't buy it! It actually paid off one year when Hurricane Charlie hit.
I didn't have chemo so forgive me if this is a ridiculous suggestion but, could you possibly schedule an abbreviated trip to see your son between treatments? Or is traveling out of the question?
I checked back to the last roll call and you 'are' our most veteran quitter!!! As for cigarette prices... Don't even have to go to NYC to see the $10.00 plus price tag! The price tops $10 here in upstate NY as well! Just crazy! I will say this though, at that price, my 'money saved by not smoking' rose dramatically..lol0 -
I want to thank you vjlsb for the book. I sure appreciate all the help I can get...0 -
This is really ONLY for those who have truly tried to get off nicotine entirely and just can't seem to do it.
I quit smoking for 8 years, but chewed the nicotine gum during the entire time: Beware of it. It's just as addictive, if not more so, than the cigarettes, partly because it's just so *easy*. I found out I liked chewing the gum way more than I ever liked smoking. Then after a few years I got a red rash on my face, which everyone (including me and my doctor) assumed was rosacea. I also sort of got used to having occasional sores in my mouth. I also wound up with horrible gum problems and wound up with partial dentures, top and bottom, and I blame *that* on the gum, as well. After reading some anecdotal accounts on the internet that sounded eerily similar to me, I eventually started to suspect that the gum was connected to my facial rash and experimentally quit the gum....and went back to smoking. Facial rash disappeared within weeks. Incidentally, I also read that some people blamed a certain thinning of their hair on the nicotine gum and I realized that the hair on my forearms had nearly disappeared---not that I minded THAT, but still.... So yeah. Started smoking again. Facial rash disappeared. Forearm hair thickened back up. Teeth did not grow back, unfortunately, LOL. I did realize that the stomach pain and indigestion problems I'd been having weren't due to spicy foods or age. It was the gum the whole time.
My husband and I tried the patch for a while. Misery lol. We didn't smoke for 6 months, but we were not happy people, AND while I was using the patch, my facial rash came back. Back to cigarettes. I also tried the lozenges. Facial rash plus horrible sore throat, lol. I was starting to figure I just couldn't win.
Just before my BMX, my husband and I both quit smoking cigarettes and tried out e-cigs. The first type we tried---those sort of cheap ones that are advertised and for sale at pretty much every convenience store and drugstore in the country--did NOT work for us. Not even a little bit. So my husband got on the internet and did a little research and got us another kind to try. Neither of us has smoked a cigarette since then, and neither of us WANTS to. All my doctors have asked "Do you smoke," and when I've told them we recently switched to e-cigs they've all said "Good! good!" rather than, "Well, try and quit that, too."
We find that because we can "vape" just one or two puffs off the e-cig when we want to---rather than being committed to smoking an entire cigarette because we lit it---we are actually consuming LESS nicotine. We don't cough. Our sinuses aren't stuffy. Our clothes and house don't stink. We aren't in danger of burning down our house, lol., and I no longer have to wash out icky ashtrays yay! Once we got the initial starter kit, the upkeep (buying new "juice" for the e-cig) is a LOT cheaper than smoking. A LOT. Of course, since then my husband has invested in extra ones for us, but we didn't NEED them. He just wanted to.
Of course, if you can get off nicotine altogether that's obviously the best choice, but if you really find that it's just TOO distressing right now, I highly recommend a GOOD e-cig. It's worked for us .I think there are quite a few good ones out there, but you can google "evod" for the one that we've been extremely happy with. I'd go with that, or something similar to it, if possible. Hope this helps someone! It's been working for us since August.0 -
Lisa137 - thanks for your post.
Bumping for all the others who may be out there trying.
Beckers - are you still in CA? My folks were from No.California. After my Mother's last stroke I was out there at least every other month for a week. After she died I was out there every month for a week w/my Dad. Thank heavens I could work by remote and my boss was a doll. Dad wanted to move to HI at age 92. While that was a nice dream I told him I already had a 4 hour flight and adding another 5 hours was impossible. Also I didn't know anyone in HI - doctors, car mechanics, grocery stores. I told him if he'd move out of the big house into a smaller rental, we'd go on one last blow out trip over there. We took the 7 day Norwegian cruise around the islands & had balcony accommodations off the stern. We even spent two nights at the Royal Hawaiian, something my Mother had always wanted to do but the costs were prohibitive in their previous vacations. It was a wonderful trip. After his death in 2007 is when i finally reduced my stress enough to quit smoking.0 -
Hi everyone ,
I have been gone a long time I know ... been smoking .. just feel like a big fat failure to come here... I was just on Chantix for 2 months and I did not smoke .. I was doing good until the first time I became stressed and now .. I am smoking once again . The doctor put me on Wellbutrin .. I am trying .. I smoke 1-2 in morning ,,, go to work and smoke on at 8pm.. and that is like 3 a day .. if I am working .. If I am off I smoke more but less than 10 a day ... I am considering calling the doctor back for another RX for chantix .. but I am feeling really good on wellbutrin .. I am less depressed and just feel better ... anyway .. Glad to see everyone still here .. Beckers, Judi, Minus 2 ... I prob forgot some ... I just hate to come here because I feel I let everyone down ... The one I let down is myself .. really just wished I was stronger ...
Hugs Lisa Marie0
