Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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But, I can tell you this with absolute certainty! It raises the carbon monoxide level in your blood big time! Mine was 28ppm (parts per million) when I was smoking. Normal is 0-3ppm for a baseline. When I first started going to my smoking cessation, they had me blow into the cm measurement thing and it was 28. Second time, I had cut back some and it was down to 16ppm. I was thrilled. When I quit and I blew into it, it was 1ppm!
Carbon monoxide wreaks havoc with all systems, especially our brains! Thinking clearly is harder when you have high levels. http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/freedom-smoking/carbon-monoxide-cigarette-smoke
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Hi ladies .. still a few smokes a day trying to just stop... going back to my meetings in the afternoon to keep my mind busy .. and keep from drinking ... and back to doc today ... trying me on lexapro this time .. I keep wondering if any of these meds will help ... Nicotine is a nasty addicition... well as with anything else one day at a time ...
Minus thanks for the hugs .. I love them .. I am working on a better life ...
Love you all to pieces ..
xoxoxoxo
lisamarie
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Bosum - right on!! I'm so glad you haven't left us and you understand we will NEVER judge. Everything in your own time.
LisaMarie - sounds like your week is getting better. We'll keep on with the hugs and hope to hear an update when your more settled.
It will be interesting if I ever discover what my worst damage from smoking turns out to be. Certainly wasn't my clotting factor or skin healing, since I was always great at that. Lungs seem to be OK, so... Some mystery in my future I'm sure.
The restaurant we went to yesterday is in an unincorporated enclave & still allows smoking in the bar and a few tables up at the front. Hits you like a wave when you walk in the door in spite of all the special filtration devices. Torn between how stale it smelled and the nostalgia.
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Bosum - I smoked for 43 years. And loved it. My base was 1 pack a day but often more when I was stressed or drinking or playing cards or.... I quit when I was diagnosed with osteopenia since smoking is a major contributor. I didn't want to take the drugs for bone loss or break a hip & end up as an old lady in a nursing home. Actually I quit drinking cokes at the same time for the same reason - carbonated drinks & bones. Since I was drinking 6-8 cokes a day that was another major habit to break.
So I got healthy. Started walking. Joined Curves. Moved on to a major gym and was working out 5 days a week and walking 5 miles a day. Took a new, interesting, low key, part time, after retirement job w/very little stress. Three years later - surprise - breast cancer. Like many on these boards say - shit happens and there's no blame attached.
Now I'm 7 years and 2 months smoke free and not likely to go back. It was still the hardest thing I have ever done in my life so I'm right behind every one of you who has quit, is working on quitting or just thinking about it.
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Bosum - your day will come. Don't give up the thoughts & plans.
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Hello ladies .... how is everyone's day. Beautiful day in Ontario and I'm almost finished my housework then off to gardening. LisaMarie and Bosum .... hope you are doing well ... you go girls!
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Bosum ... you are not alone. I thought smoking was cool when I was a teenager, in my 20's, 30's and even 40's. When I got to my 50's I knew it was time to quit but couldn't do it. My skin had wrinkles and my tongue was dark brown. When you quit, it starts to reverse ... I'm like Benjamin Buttons. You need to look at your skin care regimen as your skins changes so much every year and season to season. I find now that I'm sticking to one product and not doing the beauty counter circuit. I'm on Clairns face wash/face cream and works for me. I just bought the very expensive MIA 2 that Oprah loves. I found the Sheishdo brush did the same thing. Anyways I didn't pay for it as I used my points (I really did to get the points) but I can return it as it as a 90 day guarantee. Anyways, start small - no more then three new products for your face - go to the large department store (Macy's ?????) and persuse the counters, then ask for free samples. They will try and suck you in so the samples are the way to go. Give you skin time to adjust. I'm sure you are beautiful but we all go through periods of time that we beat ourselves up. I'm now stopping and trying to go with the flow. I'm probably older then you (59) so I have a few more changes but I know what you mean with all the cancer treatment/menopause. Hang in there, it will get better!
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Bosum .... absolutely! You must remember that I quit smoking when I got my cancer diagnosis so maybe my skin improving was due to the fact that I was not "sick" and not "smoking". But I was more excited that I didn't have that dark brown tongue .... tongue should be pink and it took about a month but it looked great. Seriously, I have always taken care of my skin but stress can wreak havoc on your skin. You have been through a lot so it is hard to get great skin right away. Right now my skin is looking good but that is due to me washing my make-up off at night. I was so bad that for 30+ years I didn't do it ... maybe for a few weeks or a few nights. My skin is very sensitive but I think I have found what works for me. In all honesty, the best investment I made was buying the "Sheishdo brush" to wash my face with. It works wonder - better then the MIA 2 which I'm sitting on the fence to return. I think I will just use the brush for a week and that will be my determination. Bosum, take some time for yourself and lurk the Department store counters. I know money is tight for you but you don't need to spend big bucks .... drug stores have good products as well. Once I used Oil of Olay skin care products and my skin looked good. I'm just too scared to go back to it as I hate the break outs when I switch products. Girls, can you give Bosum some skin care advice????
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Judi - looked your brush up and found it on Amazon for $10.00. I've been showering in the morning for many years now so I don't often wash my face at night. Wonder if I'd remember if I have a brush? I know CeraVe has a good face wash, but I usually forget to use it. Their lotion & cream is recommended by my dermatologist & amazing. It's not greasy. You can wash your hands 4 or 5 times and the protection is still there. It was especially useful during radiation.
Sorry Bosum, I've never worn make up except a little eye shadow and mascara so my advice isn't worth much. I know I'm supposed to put something on my face every day to protect against more skin cancers, but I usually forget that too. Sometimes I use the CeraVe or I have Johnson & Johnson "Purpose", which is a moisture lotion with SPF 15. It's oil-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance free and won't clog pores. Both of those are available at the drug stores.
Hope someone else can chime in with some exciting tips.
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Ok .. Good Morning ladies .... It's Monday ... I am down to one smoke a day .. ugh ... I am still taking my Chantix. I do know that the 3 months I did have quit , I noticed my tounge got pink again and my face was a lot better too.. I cant wait for that again . My fav time is coming Halloween I just love it ... I am a little sad that I cant go purchase my hay bale and corn stalks and pumpkins.. but I did put my scarecrows out . I don't know why I am hanging on to the morning smoke .. It tastes bad .. I am trying to use my not drinking stuff with the non smoking stuff and it helps a bit .. still going to meetings , I feel I need that support .. I love all of you ladies so much .. xoxoxoxoxo
Lisamarie
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Bosom, I am still at same place . I have been working with the counselor and making plans . I do not have cash to do anything . I am taking this time to focus on me and my health . she says maybe this is what I needed was a break from work and time to really figure out who I am and whay I relly want . It's a shame that I am 45 and still have no clue ... xoxoxoxox
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie, hugs to you! You are really trying and that is the most important thing. I hadn't even gotten to your stage so I admire you. Your counsellor is probably right .... get to know you and what you what. Remember, you are most important. Don't worry about the halloween stuff you can't put out .... enjoy other people's decorations and think of the money you saved. I don't even bother with it now .... I take the money and dh and I go to dinner. The last time I did halloween, I had enough candy to give each kid 5 pieces and I had so few of them that dh had to take it all to work. So, I said "that's all" and haven't looked back. I know you are nostalgic as I am for Christmas and other holidays but I learning to let it go!
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LisaMarie - down to one!! great job. It's wonderful that you're working with a counselor you like. You all know how OLD I am and I'm still not sure what I want to do when I grow up. It's a process & a journey for me, not a destination. So glad to hear about your progress.
Judi - Me too with the decorations. I HATE not putting out all the stuff but my kiddo doesn't live in the same state and there are no grandchildren. I just kind of leave a little from every holiday on the bookshelf in my computer room and move the current items to the front.
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Hi Ladies yes .. I love all the holidays ... I love the decorations .. I bought some candy last year for the trick or treaters ... my bf said we will get only a few .. OMG I ran out of candy ..loved seeing the kids ... that is fun.. Mom sent me 100 to go shopping for my dughters baby shower . that should be fun.. I feel like I need to do more ... still no unemployment 5 weeks into this ... UGH !!! I am ok still at that one dumb smoke in the morning .. I know if I can stop that one . Im done .. but I am a work in progress here .. lol the meetings and all of it is making a huge difference . I seem to be doing okay on the lexapro so far .. but its like day 3 ..
My son will be 26 tomorrow .. I need to at least get a card out to him ... He is a Heroin addict and its so hard to see . He gets clean then goes back out .. addiction is such a horrible disease . I have not seen him or heard from him in 3 months . I sure hope he is sober .. anyway .. hugs to you all hope you have a great day
xoxoxoxo
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie - Several people have told me it truly does take at least 2 weeks for lexapro to start working correctly so you have time yet to get rid of that one last cancer stick. (how long since any of you have heard that term??) Sorry about your son. I think all of us who are somewhere on the smoking or not smoking curve can appreciate addictions.
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Bosum - My BFF's husband is on it for major panic attacks in addition to depression. He is 4+ years out from pancreatic AND esophageal cancer, has no stomach and his lungs are shot from barium aspiration. He's on a feeding tube 12 hours a day & oxygen much of the time. He's been on lexapro around 3 weeks and finally is able to take a shower again or go outside to pick up the paper or not hide when anyone came to the house. My BFF said the only downside seems to be that he doesn't seem to much "care about things", but I can understand that "things" are not & will never be the same again. Hearing about him keeps me from whining too much about my own struggles w/cancer.
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Oh Minustwo, I am so very sorry for your friend. That is awful!
Lisamarie, we are rooting for you and you too Bosum! This is very very difficult and I know just how hard it is. I swear that without my e-cig, I could NOT have quit. I credit that little sucker with allowing me to quit cigs. When I got to the 0 nicotine ones, then I knew I was there and now I just keep it around for stressfilled days (which have been a lot more recently!
MinusTwo, I just read your diagnosis line and saw that you had either a second cancer or recurrence just two years after your DCIS diagnosis. Was it a recurrence? If so, you went from stage 0 to 3B? OMG? Did you initially have micro-mets or anything upgraded to IDC during your surgery or did your diagnosis stay DCIS until the 2013 BC diagnosis? It just makes me realize that even with my DCIS, I still have a long way to go before I can relax about this if ever (probably NEVER!) but so very sorry you had to go through this awful thing twice in two short years. HUGS!!
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Hi everyone , Yes still on that one smoke a day ...it will come because this morning I really did not want it .. but did it anyway .. so this is progress.. I am eating everything lol... and as for the lexapro I don't feel anything yet .. I am giving it time ..
Minus I am so sorry after hearing that story of your BFF husband my problems are nill compared to that . I need to be grateful for every breath.
Bososm I will let you know as soon as I feel different ..
I got a sponsor at my meeting yesterday .. she has 28 years and I found a lot of me in her .. so hoping its a great start to a new friendship...
My son is 25 today ..
I just love all of you so much and I need to say thanks for all the support all the time .. I do not know what I would do without you ..xoxoxox
Lisamarie
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Ahhh ladies, our lives never seem to be totally on an even keel, do they? Money issues plague me as well. My husband lost his wonderful job of over 20 years when the economy tanked in 2009. We had just built our brand new dream home. It is on a lovely pond overlooking a mountain (or a big hill really..lol) and has everything I ever wanted in a home. Floor to ceiling fireplace in the family room. granite counter tops, loads of kitchen cabinets, hard wood floors, stainless appliances, central air, jacuzzi tub in the master bath, huge walk in closets, a formal dining room...well, you get the picture.
Ten months after moving in, my husband was laid off. We have had a hard time ever since. We have blown through all of our 401K money foolishly thinking we had to keep this stupid house at all costs and that it was only a matter of time until hubby found another good job. WRONG! He is working - two part time jobs, one for 25 hours aweek at one third of his old salary and the other one 7 hours on Saturday for just above minimum wage.
Just when I thought it could not get worse, my Mom died unexpectedly, leaving my brother and I to care for my Dad who is 89 and has dementia. Also, I of course was diagnosed with this stupid BC bullshit. Soooo, just hang in there my friends. Life throws us a whole lot of curve balls. We had planned to retire at 62 (we are the same age) but now it looks like I will be working until I drop dead, whichever comes first. We both did everything right. We both have college degrees and work hard...but, it is not about that. It is about luck. And right lately, we don't seem to have much of that.
Hugs to all who are struggling. I totally feel ya! xoxo
Happy Birthday to your son and may God bless and keep you both Lisamarie. Sobriety is a wonderful place to be. My husband has been sober for 25 years going on 26. He used to drink tequila for breakfast he tells me (second marriage, did not know him then) and my brother is in recovery in a methadone program for heroin addiction. I get it chica...totally!
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Wow, the stories we all have. LisaMarie, like the others wishing your son a happy birthday and hope that he can overcome this addiction. Bosum, hang in there .... once we are down and the only other way is up. Yes, I was just talking to someone today about life's troubles and then there is always someone else is has it worse. Ladies, I wish you all a stress free life and one day we will all reach it. My troubles seem so small when I read the struggles of others. Keep a smiling face!
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April, your home sounds amazing , peaceful, and beautiful. As I was reading I was almost picturing myself there .. lol our minds huh .. I am sorry that you have so much on your plate as well. I know life isn't easy and we never plan for shit to happen , it just happens ... I feel like a total whiner these days and much of my days .. I am just trying to keep it real , one day at a time ...
Bosom , thanks for always being here , I think we help each other ...xoxo hugs
Judi . I know the stories and the support make me feel so wanted and loved here .. will try to keep smiling .. here is a pink Pumpkin for everyone ..
xoxoxox
LIsamarie
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LisaMarie .... love the pink pumpkin.
Now, I going to trying to see if I had add something!
Can't do it! I will try it again later!0 -
Hi Happy Friday everyone ... I am doing less than one smoke in morning now... yipppeee.. I still do not know why I feel I need to even puff it .. anyway I am gonna try not to do that tomorrow ... One day at a time ... I Hope everyone has a sweet weekend ...xoxoxo love you all bunches ..
Lisamarie
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Yay Lisamarie...soon, you will be done! xo
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Interesting dinner discussion w/my visiting 44 yr old son. He feels (rightly) that having BC mentally changes your whole life (not to mention physically). He thinks I need to go get counseling to deal w/stress, anger, etc. - which I don't particularly feel at this point. After he went on for awhile I said YES, there is something I know I could do to deal w/the stress. Hmmm. You guessed it. He didn't think it was funny. Wonder if he thought I was serious? Sadly we don't see each other often enough to even talk the same language, so... But he's been great to fly in every time I was back in the hospital for the last 3-1/2 years.
Just for today I will not smoke.
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Cool story minus ... lol... Happy Saturday to all. it's 5pm my time now and I waited all day to say .. I have not smoked today ...I just had one cup of coffee this am , usually 2 or 3 with smoke... then I decided to make french toast and oj for breakfast ... took my medicine .. It's a rainy day so I stayed snuggled all day watching movies .. Today I am feeling grateful ....
Just for today , I WILL NOT SMOKE..
xoxoxoxox Hugs and Love to all
Lisamarie
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LISAMARIE - How exciting. CONGRATS!!!! Just for today.... (((HUGS)))
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Yay LisaMarie ... you go girl! Now that you have achieved this, how do you feel? Nice to snuggle up all day .... wish I had done that!
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Hi ladies , Still hanging tough .. no smokes ... yippeee ... I pray everyday for the strength to keep it up... So it's Monday again.. I swear the days all run together when you are not working .. I think I am going to join my group today and pick up a commitment .. this way at least I will be looking forward to doing something ... Hoping everyone is okay
Bosom ..... where are you ....xoxooxoxoxo
xoxoxoxo
Lisamarie
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High Five!!
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