Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Hello to all:
I dont post much anymore
but saw this thread and want to wish
all of you the best on your attempts
at quitting the smoking
It was v. difficult for me, in fact a t times I did cry
as didnt know what to do, but finally
after my dx, and losing my dear
I just quit it, was going thru chemo then
l3 yrs ago
Knowing you all try so hard
and it is not easy at all
Hugs,
Sierra
)even now, when I smell a bit of smoke
I get the odd urge but am just so grateful to
be here
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Hi and thanks for posting Sierra and so happy that you STAYED quit for 13 years. We know it can be done. this is the longest I have gone in YEARS or maybe even ever since I don't think I ever lasted longer than a year before this time and I am in month 15! I know we all have to do this, as hard as it is.
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Sierra - thanks for sharing. I'm working on catching up with you. Last Friday 7/11/07 was my quitting anniversary. SEVEN years. If anyone had asked me if I'd ever make it I would have laughed. Anyway - I celebrated by sleeping late & having an extra glass of wine for dinner.
Beckers - good to see you.
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Some of you have requested my e-book "How to Win at Quitting Smoking". I also wanted to make available to you my "workbook" that I use in my classes. I just finished re-doing it. It has some of the same information but it has more questions to answer, activities to do. You can also print it out to write in. Just send me a PM if you'd like a copy.
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Sierra ..... congrats fellow Canadian! MinusTwo, April and Beckers ... congrats fellow Americans! Quitting is the hardest thing to do but once you conquer it, it's o.k. I still thinking of smoking but forget about it really quickly. When I smoked, I thought of quitting every moment but could never do it. Funny how this works!
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Remember when everyone used to smoke while playing cards? I still have all those fancy little ash trays that went at each individual place. I played Chickenfoot (dominoes) today from 2pm to 7pm and never once thought about smoking.
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MinusTwo .... never heard about those fancy little ash trays ... mine was one big ashtray that I always had to empty .... I had a garage sale and tried to sale a couple of ash trays that I picked up in Mexico years ago .... never used and nobody wanted them. I still think that smokers were a lot of fun .... when I read your post the first thing I thought of was the early shows where they smoked doing everything!
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LisaMarie - thinking of you.
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Bosum - My thoughts are with you. What a trial. Can you try Chantix? It has no nicotine.
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Hugs Bosum! I know exactly how you feel...been there, done that! Not easy!
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Those of us in tobacco control have argued with surgeons for a long time that the nicotine in nicotine replacement products does not affect surgical outcomes the same way as smoking does. There are numerous research papers about this but PS continue to count NRT the same as smoking. Unfortunately PS are being overly cautious.
Having said that--you can do this. Sometimes to helps to journal about what is going on --to remind yourself later on what you went through to become smoke-free --as a deterrent if you ever think about having "just one".
Good luck!
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I quit 3 weeks before my mastectomy and made it 4weeks after. Then smoked probably 10 cigs a day through radiation. Decided to quit again so I could be smoke free for 4 months before my DIEP surgery. I did it because I was forced to make certain deadlines.
I did have super small veins in my abdomen and I only got 1 breast from my tummy tissue and he was scared I would loose it due to bad Venus flow. He had them use nitro glycerin cream on my flap to try to save it and it worked but it gave me a pretty bad headache. I was willing to accept the headache in return for a successful flap. Small veins were probably due to my smoking for 40 years. My second flap he did from my hip and I am having a horrible time healing. I am as of today on a wound vac pump to try to heal the entire lower incision of my flap. This is probably also related to my smoking.
Luckily my PS was a smoker at one time in his life and he encouraged me and supported me. Each week he sees me and I can tell him I am still smoke free and he gives me a high five.
This was the hardest thing I ever did; it is now almost 9 months and I feel great.
You can do it too.
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BosumBlues .... you can do this .... you have to let it go. I and many others were just like you ..... hanging on and kicking to the bitter end. I only quit because I wanted the surgery and there was no way that they weren't go do it. However, it was my rad onc that encouraged me as she was the only one who didn't make a fuss about me smoking. All she said about my early attempt at not smoking was that it was a good thing. And you know what, she was so right. So in her honour and not to disappoint, I forged on. Now 3 years and 7 months later, I'm proud to say I'm smoke free or as MinusTwo puts it "I'm a smoker who chooses not to smoke". You can do this but you have to wrap your head around why you are quitting. We all kept bucking it but finally chose to become a nonsmoker and as April said "you be glad you did it". Check in with VJ as she is the expert and will help you with all the tips. We are all rooting for you!
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Bosum - hooray for day 3. Judi's right - all of us fought giving this up. Sounds like you have a good incentive. Try doing something physical to distract your mind - walking, swimming, etc.
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Hey LisaMarie honey - we really care what's happening to you, whatever it may be!!! Please check in.
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Hi ladies so sorry it's been a bit .. but I have been making a lot of major choices in my life and finally feel like 10000 pounds lighter .... I decided to file chapter 7 bankruptcy .. and sooo I did ... and I gotta say I feel great .. alos made the decision to take my ass to school again .. a short program 8 weeks for hemodyalisis... I feel the old job is playing too much with my emotions and finances that this is a good thing .. so going to leave the private duty and move on back into scrubs and the hospital...and at least try to get some health insurance and some type of retirement ... then I am still dealing with the whole gyno stuff will keep all updated .. maybe headed for hysterectomy but not sure ... other than that I miss you all nd sorry again for going all MIa .. just needed time to figure out these major life decisions ..I love and miss you all very very much and not a day goes by that I do not think of you .... hugs for now ... Oh yeah O harvested my first bunch of potatoes .. not bad for the first bunch ...
purple potato's .... xoxoxoxoxLisa Marie
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Thanks BosumBlues, but you deserve all the credit--you were the one doing all the work. Congratulations! YOU CAN DO IT and you are doing it!
Lisa Marie--I love the purple potatoes. I live in a desert, I wonder if they would grow here? I'll have to look into that. I have wanted a veggie garden for a long time and I'm finally making plans for a fall planting. I have a raised garden bed but it is full of rocks (large ones! I'm surprised anything could grow in there) I have been cleaning it out, removing the rocks and the overgrown bushes that were knocking over my fence. I'm about 2/3 done, been procrastinating in this hot weather (114 today).
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LisaMarie - sounds exciting. Please do keep in touch.
Bosum - good going.
VJ - Wow - 114 degrees!! I've been complaining about 97, but then the humidity is also 97-100%. Just had to look up your city. Wiki says La Quinta is the premier golf location in the US. I've been to Palm Desert & Indio many years ago. In fact I went camping with some church teens in the Santa Rosa mountains to the south in the early 1960s, I think towards Anza. Thanks for all the non-smoking info.
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MinusTwo--La Quinta is between Palm Desert and Indio. Most people have heard of Palm Springs but don't realize we have 9 different cities here, each very different. The valley has almost 200 golf courses and for 9 months out of the year, we have perfect weather--which is why everyone comes here on vacation. I actually live about 10 minutes away from CoachellaFest and StageCoach. The summers are just brutal though. The A/C in my car went out yesterday but lucky for me, it is working today. The heat does strange things to cars.
Rumors are floating that President Obama just bought a house out here. I used to see President and Mrs Ford out and about which was really cool, so I hope the rumors are true. Who knows I might run into Michelle at Target. I've seen quite a few stars out here--Kevin Costner was a huge disappointment but I feel in love with Sean Connery---he just oozed testosterone. And so show my age, Don Meredith (Dandy Don) and his wife were in one of my smoking cessation classes about 20 years ago. He told some great stories, even about smoking in the huddle between downs.
PS. I think it actually reached 117 today. It is a dry heat---but so is an oven.
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Ladies .... you are so funny about the hot weather .... here in Toronto it goes hot then cold. Nice for sleeping when it is cool. I love the heat but not the humidity. I feel your pain MinusTwo. BosumBlues ..... can you hear me clapping .... day 4 ..... how fantastic. You are starting to employ strategies and that shows you are on your way. Keep going .... my hands are clapping so much they hurt! VJ ... love where you live .... I don't know Dandy Don .... who is he? LisaMarie .... chin up .... only gets better from here on in .... good for you for making difficult choices!
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Dandy Don was a football star and then a sports commentator. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Meredith
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Bosum, congrats on day 4!! Yes, you will feel worse before you feel better. All of that nasty mucous in your lungs will be trying to work its way out and so I remember feeling lousy and coughing a bit but it stops soon enough and then you begin to breathe easier. Again, high five! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VJ, 117???? I would die. I would never leave the air conditioned house, dry or not..lol. We have humid weather in the 90's today here in CT. Very high humidity like Minus Two has. I hate humidity the most.
VJ, I remember Dandy Don Meredith! Of course, the atheletes in those days smoked like the general population. If you watch old movies, everyone was puffing away..lol
LisaMarie, love your purple potatoes! Sounds like you made some decisions and are moving forward...good for you! We are always here if you need us! xo
Judi, am betting it is not too humid in Canada which is great! My daughter is in Vancouver BC this week on vacation with her fiance'. They went to Portland for a conference (they are both attorneys) and so decided to add Canada and Seattle to their week and take a much needed vacation. They return on Saturday...am sure they will be sad..LOL
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VJ .... thanks for telling me who Dandy Don is but never heard of it .... is my memory getting that bad. Bosum .... April is so right about getting worse before better as the crap is trying to get out of your lungs. I remember being very short of breath but had just had my surgeries and I could hard breath. Now, I wondering how pink my lungs are after being 3 years and 7 months out - VJ can you answer this. Bosum .... don't worry, you can do this .... think of all the positives .... I just told my dh that if I lose 10 lbs I going out and my over-the-knee boots ... yahooooooooo! April, B.C. is supposed to be having great weather there this summer .... when it was crappy here it was supposed to be nice there .... I found B.C. a bit chilly but I've been out there always in August or March .... hope your daughter and fiancé have a great time and enjoy the beautiful rockies!
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Bosom, this was my first attempt at the potato growing and I did it in a container .. a large garbage can ... go figure . I am going to start my second bunch today and also put in my baby spinach seeds .. looking forward to that . I love spinach and balsamic ... my tomato plants are going well as well as my cukes ... not so much on my peppers or zuchinni and eggplants.. my strawberries are abundant... life is easy and good .. gardening makes my whole spirit lift.
The smoking is yet another failed attempt . I only had a couple weeks of chantix .. and was just not enough .. need new RX but doc is so much to go to him just for that. I dont have it ... Today is my hystogram... and I am freaked out we shall see...
Judi same here NY is hot and cold .. nights are cool so I have not used the air in a while .. easy to sleep in... My mom lives in Las vegas and she says it is so hot and her tomato plants dont do well .. but my brother is also there and he is doing everything in containers and it is doing great for him... so I have no clue ...
Bosom .. I am proud of you .. this smoking shit has been the hardest thing in my life thus far to conquer ... xoxoxo hugs
love ya all xoxoxoxo one day at a time for me... maybe its just all the stress ... maybe after all this crap im doing is complete I can concentrate on the other things ...
Lisamarie
P.S I know I can always come here and express my feelings and never be judged .. and I am so blessed and thankful for that
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Bosum hang in there. I remember bluebird well through the fall rads last year. She had a very challenging course of rads. So sorry to hear she has joined the angels. Just a few weeks ago i saw the picture of her out kayaking. I knew she was recently admitted to the hospital but did not expect this. I hate this disease. Prayers for her family and friends and a special prayer for you.
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I knew Bluebird in passing from the insomniacs thread (which I rarely frequent cause it moves too darn fast to keep up! that chevy is too fast for me..LOL..love her though) I was sad to read of her passing this morning when I went to see what was up on the insomniacs thread. She posted just a few short days ago! (I think it was on July 18th that she last posted!!!)
jbdayton, I am with you. I HATE this freaking disease. It is cruel and does not discriminate. Age does not matter nor does anything else. Fiercebluebird was much too young to die. I have no answers, just pray they find a cure soon!!!!!!!!!!
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Bosom, Thanks for the advice , I was on chantix before and did the whole 2 months and it worked amazing .. the wellbutrin my doc gave me never helped .. so I need to get the chantix back and a full script .. as far as anxiety I finally got an appointment through a program here called catholic charities . they help us folks who do not have insurance ..so hopefully I can get my anxiety meds again as well..... I do know i will never ever give up .... I will always struggle and always try...
I am so sorry for the loss of a sister ... prayers go out to bluebird and her family ... xoxoxox
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie--Have you applied for low or not cost Chantix through Pfizer? Doctors also can get coupons from their Pfizer rep--they used to just hand them out but they don't anymore, the doctor has to ask for it. And can you piggyback your request for Chantix on some other doctor visit? Doesn't have to be your primary doc to prescribe it.
http://www.needymeds.org/drug_list.taf?_function=...
Needy Meds is a great resource. You put in your medication and it links you to websites that offer discounts etc for that particular drug.
JudiH--Pink lungs--I wish I could tell you that your lungs are healed, they do start cleaning themselves out really fast--which is why when you quit, coughing is often more intense the first month. Within 5 years your lung caner rate drops in half but it can take 12 to 15 years for your lungs to get back (almost) to non-smoker status. But once a smoker, you are always at a higher risk for lung cancer. I know a social worker at a hospital where they were running a test study on spiral CAT scans to see the efficacy. She had been quit for 25 years, signed up for the study just to help and her lung cancer was found--very early. She has surgery to remove it and that was it. We recommend spiral CAT scans for any "30-pack" smoker (1 pack a year for 30 years is a 30 pack smoker, or 2 packs a day for 15 years, 3 packs for 10 years). I have had several clients find their lung cancer with this screening test. Most insurance companies won't cover the cost because it hasn't been "proven" that finding lung cancer early increases longevity.
Having said all that-- your body does get healthy in many different ways very quickly. From my book:
After 20 minutes:
Your blood pressure and pulse rate drop to
normal.The temperature of your hands and feet increases
to normal.After 8 hours:
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to
normal.The oxygen level in your blood increases to
normal.After 24 to 48 hours:
Your chance of a heart attack decreases.
Your nerve endings start to grow again.
Your bronchial tubes relax, making breathing
easier. Your 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.
Your skin color improves as the circulation to your
skin improves.After 1 month to 1
year:Your blood circulation improves, your hands and
feet feel warmer.Your heartbeat will slow down and your blood
pressure will drop.Coughing, wheezing, respiratory infections,
bronchitis, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath – all decrease.The small hair like cilia that clean out your
lungs become more active, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean lungs, and
reduces infection.Your body’s overall energy level and stamina
increases.At one year, your risk of heart disease is
reduced by one half.After 5 years:
The 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.Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat,
esophagus, pancreas and bladder drop by one half.Your risk of cancer of the larynx (voice-box)
drops to that of a non-smoker.Your 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 to 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
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Thanks VJ... I did not know that.. it's funny you said you can piggy back on another dr .. I asked the gyno for a RX he stated no because the primary alreadt gave it to me ... crazy huh.. it's not like im asking for a controlled substance ... ill keep trying ... xoxoxo
lisamarie
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Nerve endings---smoking causes the constriction of small blood vessels--especially the ones in your hands and feet. The nerve endings here don't get the nutrients they need and they can become damaged. Once you stop smoking your circulation improves, the nerve endings get a better blood supply and start regrowing.
This is also why smoking impairs healing and they want you to stop before surgery--the wound doesn't get the oxygen supply it needs to heal. Also smoking impairs lung function and poses a risk when you under go anesthesia.
LisaMarie--YES crazy, you would think that every doctor would want to help you quit but I have met a few that are really ignorant. I should say that I am on the speaker's bureau for Chantix for Pfizer. One of the programs I do is for doctors to educate them on counseling smokers. So I do have a bias for Chantix.
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