Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Bosum - just read an article the other day about how the new mammo equipment & techniques are finding things that may have always been there but undisclosed - at least on film. I knew I always had dense, fibercystic breasts from my first mammogram at late 20's when the 'picture' that came out was a xerox on shiny white paper w/blue lines. And most of the time for the last 20 years before BC I was always called back for a 'screening mammogram' and often an ultrasound. Many years the reports talked about scars they saw from previous biopsies or surgeries - although I never had either of those. So when one of the radiologist finally said the cancer word, I laughed & told her it was the same every darn year & it was never cancer. Anyway - sorry for the TMI.
I think it's absolutely horrible that docs don't understand we're already stressed and need reports & calls in a timely fashion. But then I think my time is as valuable as their time and I shouldn't have to wait an hour in a waiting room when I have a set appointment. Sigh. Anyway, WTH - don't they notice your previous diagnosis & all you've been through? Can't remember - did you have lumpectomy only or BMX or are you a uni? The extra testing is precautionary so I hope the results are negative.
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Oh but I do get pissy. In fact my BFF was commenting just the other day about how much less patience I have since cancer. (I though it was age - LOL). Just ask my son!!! Luckily for him he lives in another state & doesn't have to deal often. Our best visits are limited to 3 or 4 days. But he has been a great "nurse" through all of this. And even though he HATES smoking, when I was dealing w/my aging parents (who never saw me smoke & never acknowledged that I smoked for over 40 years) and he knew I was super stressed he would stop his car after he picked me up so I could step out & smoke.
I do agree tho Bosum. We make our decisions based on the info we "get" from the experts and there's often not enough discussion of options or 'down the road' consequences.
I read in the paper today about a "new" stop smoking drug that will supposedly attempt to give Chantix a run for the money. Supposedly Tabex has none of the side effects and will be much less expensive. It's made from a plant (tree?) in Bulgaria but any studies are really small so no definitive proof of the effectiveness or potential problems. I'm sure there will be lots of hoops with the FDA, although I believe it's been available in Eastern Europe for awhile. VJ - any thoughts about this?
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"I read in the paper today about a "new" stop smoking drug that will supposedly attempt to give Chantix a run for the money. Supposedly Tabex has none of the side effects and will be much less expensive. It's made from a plant (tree?) in Bulgaria but any studies are really small so no definitive proof of the effectiveness or potential problems. I'm sure there will be lots of hoops with the FDA, although I believe it's been available in Eastern Europe for awhile. VJ - any thoughts about this?"
Cytisine has been used in Eastern Europe for a long time and appears to help with cessation. If my memory is correct--it works similar to Chantix (and Chantix was manufactured to act like Cytisine--since it was around before chantix). Tabex is new here, so I don't know anything about it but I will post on ATTUD and see what the experts say.
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From NY: Tabex (Cytisine) has been available by mail order from at least one Bulgarian company for quite some time. I do not believe FDA ever considered the product illegal and (while I am not positive I believe) since it derives from a plant product it is generally exempt from FDA as a "Nutriceutical".
From Seattle: Since it makes a health/disease treatment claim I believe it is subject to FDA oversight. That said I would love to see Tabex widely available without FDA interference.
Both of the people who responded to my request for info on Tabex are well known in the cessation field.
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This article from the Washington Post is pretty similar to the one I read in our paper. Sounds like some of the trials done but 3-5 years for FDA approval.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/pil...
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Judi - fingers crossed for good colonoscopy results tomorrow.
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Thanks Mt! I let you know the results.
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Bosum, last time I had a colonoscopy was 10 years ago and they found 1 polyp which was non-cancerous. That's why I did another 1 10 years later. I found that they gave me a pamphlet explaining things and said call the office. One of the check boxes requested a return the next day. Really don't know what that means. But I think there are pre-cancerous polyps and non-cancerous polyps.
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Bosum I just had my colonoscopy in April I had 1 polyp removed. Path showed pre cancer I have to return in 5 years. This is the guideline I was given by my doctor.
I hope this helps.
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Bosum - I've been on a 3 year recall for 3 times due to polyps. I thought all polyps were "risky" and that's why they snipped them. Last time I finally had NO polyps so I get to go 5 years w/o drinking the yucky stuff. I think that's a result of all the BC chemo drugs, but we shall see next time.
Judi - so did they give you the "all clear"?
Saw my GYN today for the last time. Bittersweet appointment since she's retiring. I'm happy for her to have more time w/her 92 yr old mother & her her two grands, but I will surely miss her. She's been my "primary" doc for 25 years and we discussesd books & recipes & families in addition to all the medical necessities. She couldn't believe it will be 8 years in July since I quit smoking. Neither can I - LOL.
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Well MT, congrats on your 8 year no-smoking tour. We are all so proud of you and are such an inspiration to all. Sorry to hear about the GYN retiring. That sucks doesn't it. I know when my last 2 doctors retired, I was like "what now". But I have a great GP and I'll be seeing her tomorrow. MT, I think you are right about all polyps being risky but some more then hours. I will you on the crap you have to drink - ugh! Tomorrow will get all my results and the last of the gum surgery. Also, finished my last medication to rid my body of a parasite. Yipee! Tomorrow, breakfast at Denny's and an evening tequila shot. Thank God!
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Hi ladies,
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Husband is still in the hospital. He will be having surgery on Thursday for something called a "pleural empyema" which is a result of a bacterial pneumonia. It is an infection around the wall and the pleural lining of the lung. It is a serious surgery in that it has a high mortality rate but it is improving all of the time.
]They will be doing a VATS which is a laparoscopic procedure to cut away the "wall" that is built up from stiffening of the lining. It is also known as "stuck lung" syndrome and used to carry a mortality rate of 40-60%! Much better now - 11-20% but still not crazy about those odds either. It is not usually the surgery that is a problem but the aftermath can be dangerous. Sepsis is a problem and other possible things that can happen. He will be in ICU for several days following the surgery and I pray that this will solve his issues.
They feel this was the problem the entire time...he had pneumonia but did not realize it! Coupled with his then mild anemia, it tanked his levels (they gave him some blood the other day and he feels much better in terms of his overall health) and caused weight loss and severe lowering of his hemoglobin and hematocrit. His levels went dangerously low which is why they transfused him on Saturday. It is not something they do lightly which is why they waited until it was in a critical number area.
Because Yale is 60 miles round trip from home and I am working in between this madness, I am drained physically and mentally as well as emotionally. I have a diabetic cat so have to run home in time to give him his evening shot and feed him so leaving the hospital before I want to leave really sucks. But, I am a "cat mom" and have an obligation to my baby since the day we took him from the shelter and he counts on me.
Enough about the madness. Just wanted to check in and thank you all for your good wishes and caring. Love to all and sorry can't read everything and do individual shout outs.
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April - thanks for the update. Another thing I'd never heard of. We sure do have your husband in our thoughts prayers and will be holding your close on Thursday. Let us know. Sounds like you are running ragged. Hope you are at least getting some sleep. Check in when you can.
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April, my thoughts and prayers with you and your husband during this stressful time. When you are sooooo busy with surgery and worry plus all the running around can leave you ragged and tired. Make sure you take time for you dh as he will need your strength in his recovery. I'll be in your pockets on Thursday so make sure your shirt is big enough to carry all of us.
MT and Bosum, saw dr. today and got results from my colonoscopy. All three polyps were benign so no colonoscopy for another 10 years. Hopefully by then they will have an improved method of doing this test. No gum surgery today due to healing of my gums still in progress. If dental surgeon was to perform he would have to take tissue from the other side of my mouth and then I wouldn't be able to eat. I agreed with his as I just finished my "bland diet" and want to enjoy my food!
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Judi - congrats on the GREAT news. 10 years!!! We'll be having my 80 year old smoke by then. Edited to say - OMG that sounds old!!! I still mostly feel younger than 60.
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MT. you make me laugh! Thanks for the congrats and trust me we'll be having that smoke at 80. I don't think I'm that much younger then you (maybe a few years). Imagine that date!
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Yes April!! We'll all be holding you & DH in our thoughts.
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Bosum - an interesting article about dense breasts at the Breaking Research Thread. http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/not-all-...
April - Hope the surgery is finished and the results are good. let us know when you can.
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Hi ladies,
Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers and pocket company. DH is in Surgical ICU for a day or two and then on to a regular room. He has two drains (or three?) and they will be in for a week or so. He is in some pain but that is taken care of with IV morphine. It was a loooooong day but I am hoping he can begin healing and get healthy from here. His surgery ended up taking twice as long as they thought due to having a hard time tubing him even though he passed the barium swallow test ..sigh. It was a harrowing 3.5 hours.
Working until 2 today and then to the hospital as it has been for the last 9 days. Will be so happy when he comes home!
Will let you know when I know more. So far, no sign of anything like cancer so that is good but until pathology says so, we can't be sure of course.
Love to all and thanks for your good wishes. xoxo
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April , I am here praying for you . I am so sorry I have not been on .. very busy ... xoxoxoxo
Judi ... glad that your test reslts are ok ... happy dance ..
Minus sorry have not read much and cant keep up .. I will try to relax and catch up soon.. xoxoxo
Bosom .. Love you.. Hope all is well.
I just got news my mom is in Hospital In Vegas with a blocked small intestine ,, so im waiting to see if I need to fly there or not.. besides that work all the time ..xoxoxoxo Hugs
Lisameire
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LisaMarie, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom. Hope she is o.k. and pulls through. Nice to visit her but not under these conditions. April, happy news re dh. I too hope that his recovery is swift and home soon. It is so draining on someone to go through these pressures. Been there, done that and it is not a great thing to have happen. Take care of yourself as well - go out and have a mani/pedi!
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April - so glad this first step is done and all is well so far. We'll keep you both in our thoughts & prayers. Hope you're getting some sleep sometime.
LisaMarie - hey girl, never apologize about having time to read here. If I had something urgent to say I would send a PM. Sorry to hear about your Mom. Hope it's something minor.
Going to play Chickenfoot (dominoes) this afternoon. I remember when my son was little we used to have a group of ladies in the neighborhood who played bridge one night a month & left the kids w/the husbands. We usually had 3 tables of four. At least two out of every four smoked. We had special little ashtrays for each place the card table. Some of those ashtrays were lovely - Wedgewood or Royal Doulton or Waterford Crystal. They're useless for much else, except as my Grandma used to say "holding pins".
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If the insurance companies denies it, appeal. Often they will do this because no one follows up. Send a letter to the insurance commissioner for your state. In other words--BITCH about it to the people who can change that denial.
My insurance company denied my last stage of reconstruction--I appealed, sent letters to everyone--senators, the president, insurance commissioner ete. What I found out was that since I had an individual insurance policy and not a group policy--the insurance company was under no obligation to cover a mastectomy. When that law (the women's health and cancer rights act of 1998) was written, individual private policy were excluded. So I had to pay for it myself but at least I made a lot of noise. With the ACA, those rules have changed.
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7 months old and on the right, she is on her first camping trip (pig tails at 7 months! )
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Oh April - how cute. Do they live close to you? How is your DH doing today?
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April, your granddaughter is absolutely beautiful! Love the pig tails. How are you and dh doing?
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The kids live about 15 miles from me so I get to see them a bit but not enough since everyone is so busy.
DH is doing ok considering what he has been through. He is antsy to come home but they have large drains hanging off of him that are draining fluid from his lungs and keeping them inflated so if they pull them too soon, his lung could collapse. He is walking a little and eating a little but he needs to listen and eat more. He drinks Ensure so he can build back up since he lost so much weight. Dr. Said when he comes home, he will have to be on a very high calorie diet with lots of red meat. I cannot even imagine hearing those words! EAT a lot and eat a lot of red meat...LOL
Thanks for asking. All in all, he is doing pretty well.
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Great news April on dh's road to recovery. I love red meat. Have always eaten in but never in huge amounts. Lucky man!
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Well crap - just lost a post.
April - glad to hear your DH is walking around some. But it can't be, you can't mean he isn't listening? Not like the much of the species "m-a-n"? Hopefully the doc will have more influence.
Here's a possible meat solution. My BFF's husband had esophageal & pancreatic cancer so couldn't swallow much. MD Anderson recommended Beneprotein - instant protein powder from Nestles - to supplement his tube feeding. There really is no taste & it dissolves instantly in anything. He added it to juice, cereal, applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, iced tea, etc. I used it during chemo with Carnation Instant Breakfast since I couldn't eat anything for most of 9 months. I think you can get it thru Amazon but she ordered directly from Nestles.
jbDayton - sorry I somehow missed the colonoscopy chart you sent. That's a great reference. Thanks for forwarding. I looked back a little but I'm not sure if we ever welcomed you. Are you totally finished with treatment? Or maybe still taking ALs
Bosum - any new news on the dating game?
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