Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Kickass BosumBlues!
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Hi Ladies ,,, Thursday ... not much to do today .. just stopping in to say hello ... xxooo
Lisamarie
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Hi LisaMarie! I'm the same as you .... not much to do today. Just finished my 1/2 walk as I didn't go to exercise today. Decided against it as I'm a little sore from yesterday. Yesterday was a biggie for me. I lifted 2 8 lb. weights in 3 sets of different exercises - total of 20 per set. The side where they removed the sentinel lymph node is sore. I'm hoping that when I go for my mamo next Thursday I won't even feel it!
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Afternoon ladies!
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Good evening JudiH! Good post - smart snake.
Day 10 and still smoke free. So many close calls, but haven't caved and have no intention to.
Thank you all for your continued support!
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SVGsurvive that is awesome!! You got this! So proud of you😊 It does get slightly easier as the days pass. I like to say I will always be a smoker. But I am a smoker that chooses not to smoke. Tricks my brain into thinking I'm in control.
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About time for me to join this thread.. I have smoked since 18, light smoking (avg 3 a day). I quit with ease upon my dx in June, and days would pass and I won't even remember craving for a cig!
We'll fast forward to 3 weeks ago, when there were some really strong triggers and my mental health spiraled down, and first thing I did was to buy that pack of cigs. Smoking is my way of coping with stress. I've been limiting myself to 3 a day this week. My psych says while smoking isn't good, stressing about quitting it shouldn't be at the top of my priorities now. I plan to quit by Nov though.
I just had my chemo yesterday, so I'm trying to not smoke within 24 hrs of it. Not sure if it will actually benefit me? Just makes me believe that I'm adding no toxins to the chemo that's trying to run its course in my body..
Also, I started to have issues with blood draw and iv yesterday. I was wondering if it could be the smoking that's making my veins smaller? Or is it my imagination?
Anyone has any ideas? I feel guilty about smoking, but I'm sure I'm not alone here.. Sigh.
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Welcome 27heart! Yes, don't stress about quitting. Maybe now is not the time. You seem to have a handle on quitting smoking so maybe just work towards that and let the cards fall where they fall. You have a lot going on right now.
Yay SVGsurvive! Day 10 is a milestone and you haven't craved. You are doing this. Remember, those stupid cravings are strong but you are getting through them. Cbwitt1970, isn't it sad that we are all smokers who choose not to smoke. Yesterday, I thought about how I would like one but if I ever lit up now then I would be wearing the big L on my forehead. I'm almost 5 years quit.
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Welcome 27heart , wow I don't remember ever having a 3 a day habit for me it was always a pack a day and maybe more if i was drinking .. that in itself is amazing .. it's almost as if your smoking is like a pleasure or social more than addiction.. but everyone is different .. I am not sure about the blood draws but I do know smoking x=constricts cappilaries ,, I have trouble with them because I am alloud one arm and the viens are not happy and im a hard stick now ... good luck and don't beat yourself up ... xoxoxo
SVG .. 10 days that is great keep on keeping on ... and how lucky you are to have no cravings .. xoxoxo
Cbwitt ... I think that is what Judi says she is a snoker but does not smoke ... if that helps you thats also amazing ,... I never really thought to train myself to think that way ...
I say Just for today I will not smoke ... and get through each day best I can ..Judi .. I love the snake ... xoxoxoxo
Bososm ... you will be okay , I have faith in you ... as long as you continue to try and do the best that you can ... thats what matters ... xoxoxoxo
Lisamarie
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Welcome 27heart! I know that I have read that as you take in the chemo drugs, your veins do take a beating and it gets harder to stick you. Perhaps getting a cath put in would work better? I hear that this makes it much easier for each session. I too have never been happy with less than a pack or so a day unfortunately. You will quit when you are ready.
SVG!! 10 days is a lifetime in the quitting smoking world. Good job! Keep it up...we know how hard this is.
CBwitt, I like that..."makes me feel in control"
Judi, that snake is great! LOL
Lisamarie, you are such a sweetie, always here to cheer everyone on. I knew one day you would be there and I remember when you didn't think it would ever be you being the cheerleader. You made it! One day at a time lady....xoxoxo
Bosum, you are going to get there! I just know it. You still come back here and you keep trying. That is all you can ask of yourself. One day you will just know that you are done and will work it until you are done. Hugs my friend!
Ok, I am thinking that MT will be back soon and we will all be cheering on the newbies and the oldbies. Hugs to all! Happy Weekend!!
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Ladies, you are all unique whether you are in the throes of quitting and have quit. This is my Thanksgiving so Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends!
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Bosum, who are you wishing Happy Thanksgiving too. April is American!
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Yes, smoking constricts the blood vessels. I am working with a heart surgeon right now (doing a training for her staff) and she said she can always tell a smoker by the size of their veins. She says she has to give them a dose nitrous oxide to open them up for her to proceed.
Nicotine reduces the efficacy of some medications that why they don't want you to smoke before chemo. This is a partial list:
Partial List of Interactions Between Medications and Smoking*
Smoking can interfere with many different medications. Coordinate with your doctor since your dosages may need to be adjusted after you quit smoking. Your pharmacist is a good resource regarding any potential interactions.
Benzodiazepines: Smokers may have less sedation and drowsiness compared to non-smokers, which may be due to the stimulation that nicotine gives to the central nervous system.
Beta-blockers: Smoking makes the medication less effective. Smokers may need a higher dose.
Birth-Control Pills (Oral Contraceptives): There is an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and embolism. The risk increases with age (over 35 years old) and the amount smoked (15 or more cigarettes per day).
Caffeine: The level of caffeine in the blood system can double after stopping smoking.
Camptosar (Irinotecan): Smokers may need a higher dosage than a non-smoker because of the reduction in efficacy.
Clozaril (Clozapine): Smoking reduces blood levels by about 20 percent. A reduction in dosage may be needed after cessation to avoid toxicity.
Cognex (Tacrine): Blood levels in a smoker can be three times lower than in a non-smoker. Smokers will require a higher dosage.
Corticosteriods (inhaled): Smokers with asthma may have a lower response than non-smokers.
Haldol (Halperidol): Blood levels in smokers are 70 percent less than in non-smokers.
Heparin: The medication leaves the body faster in a smoker than in a non-smoker. Smokers may need a higher dosage.
Inderal (Propranolol): Medication leaves the smoker's body faster than in a non-smoker.
Insulin: Smokers may need a higher dose because the absorption of the insulin may be decreased due to the constrictive effect nicotine has on the blood vessels. Smoking may contribute to insulin resistance.
Mexitil (Mexiletine): The medicine leaves the body faster and by a greater amount in a smoker than in a non-smoker.
Luvox (Fluvoxamine): Smokers may require higher dosages than non-smokers.
Opioids: Higher doses may be required in smokers.
Requip (Ropinirole): Smokers may need a higher dosage.
Tambocor (Flecainide): Smokers require higher dosages than non-smokers.
Tarceva (Erlotinib): Smoking increases clearance from the body and decreases blood levels.
Treanda (Bendamustine): Smoking decreases levels of this medication and increases concentrations of its two active metabolites.
Theophylline: Maintenance doses are higher in smokers. A patient needs to be monitored if they either start or stop smoking. Both smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can affect how fast the medication leaves the body.
Thorazine (Chlorpromazine): Smokers may need higher levels than non-smokers, may experience less sedation and have low blood pressure.
Tricyclic Antidepressants: There may be a possible interaction but the importance of clinical levels has not been established.
Xanax (Alprazolam): Smoking interferes with the absorption and can reduce blood levels by 50 percent.
Zyprexa (Olanzapine): Smokers may need a higher dosage because the medication is metabolized faster in a smoker.
*Adapted from: Smoking Cessation Leadership Center/Rx for Change.
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Bosum, it was Judi that is having Thanksgiving on Monday, not me..I am American, Judi is Canadian but I appreciate it.
Happy Thanksgiving Judi! xo
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Wow - love the activity. 10 days w/no electronic connection, and everyone's jumped in. More when I get settled in. SVG - keep it up. Bosum - sending hugs. LisaMarie - I'm constantly amazed by your strength. I won't try to go back but you are all in my thoughts.
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Thanks April. My Swanson turkey dinner should be good tonight. Asked my sister to make me dressing and put it into her suitcase for me when I see her tomorrow. So looking forward to it. But overall a great Thanksgiving weekend. Colours are out in full force, weather is warm, and I spent it with great friends! DH is in Florida!
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This is my post to my Canadian friends for Thanksgiving!
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BosumBlues, I hear ya! It never seemed to end. Any time anything was off even a little bit, the doctors always wanted to be sure it wasn't cancer coming back. I got so sick and tired of hearing that and having more tests, biopsies and after 23 years, I just blew up when I got called back for a repeat mammogram. I was just sure it was a new radiologist who was looking at it and was just seeing old scar tissue. But he wasn't and I had a recurrence after 23 years. I'm sorry to say, sometimes it just never seems to end. So come here and bitch all you want, we understand. Some how I have learned to live without the fear anymore, so it can get better.
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Bosum - you are in my thoughts. I've been reading about all the 'pink S*#T' and am so discouraged that funds are spent on awareness and not on cures or vaccines for prevention. It's exhausting to be continually bombarded by fears that our cancers have returned from lurking. We can be NED (no evidence of disease) but we are not "cured". VJ is absolutely right. Although it doesn't end, we somehow have to learn how to live w/o fear as much as possible so we can enjoy our lives again. It's a very difficult place between bouncing along unconcerned as we were before and sliding off into depression. Wishing you strength to find that place. Please keep us updated.
Judi - Happy Thanksgiving. Funny I can remember discussing this w/you last year. You mentioned your DH is already in FL. When do you leave? Although it's not your neck of the woods, I found the people in St. Johns NB and Halifax NS Canada to be very nice. I loved visiting the lighthouses and the old churches and tiny fishing villages and of course eating lobster & clam chowder & fish.
One thing about where I was in Canada, it seems like lots of people still smoke. I wasn't tempted since I was doing too much walking to even try. But I was tempted at one pub. However, just for today (again) I will not smoke.
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Hi ladies. Bosum, so sorry to hear of your situation. It is crappy. It also scares the crap out of me as I'm at my 5 year mark and go for my mammo this coming Thursday. I'm hoping that I've reached the pinnacle.
MT, glad you enjoyed your trip and Canada. In Canada we are known to be nice. I'm surprised at the number of people who you saw smoking. Maybe it's an "East Coast thing" because in Toronto, if you smoked, you be in a minority. It's hard not to smoke when the temptation is there but you did good!
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Judi - of course you know it's me in Canada and your fingers betrayed you. Anyhow, maybe smoking is an East Coast thing. Or just a 'coast' thing, since we were in cities right on the water.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you Thursday Judi. I sure hope you'll get a sympathetic tech to impart some results and you won't have to wait a week for doc. I think that waiting is worse than the anticipation - and that's awful.
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Oh MT, I'm so sorry on my goof up. I meant to type your type but was thinking of Bosum. You are a gem to be so kind. Thanks for the fingers to be crossed. Had annual check up with family doc and nothing found. Yes, it would be nice if I had a sympathetic tech since I don't see my oncologist until February 2016. Weird eh? Mammo in October and doctor in February. I'm hoping I'm done with these pills!
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MT, I edited my post so now no errors!
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Hi ladies , Judi ... Happy Thanksgiving .. I hope it was great .. xoxoxoox
Minus .. welcome back ... cant wait to hear ..
Bosom , I am always praying for you and hoping no more damm C issues for you ... xoxoxoxo
Hi April ..
And I must agree that the money raised should be giving us more hope and more vaccines and more improved meds and earlier detection and soo on .. as this Month is Breast Cancer awareness month ..
I will be on a plane soon to see my Mom soooo excited ladies .. Vegas Here I come . but very sad to see the shape my mom is in...xoxoxox
Love you all like my family ..
xoxoxoxooxox
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie - I'm soooooo glad you're going to see your Mom. Hope you'll be able to stay awhile. Will you have computer access? When do you leave? Anyway, have a safe trip.
My vacation was great. Had 3 days in Boston and met a couple of BCO friends from another thread for dinner. What fun!!! I'd never met anybody in person before. We really lucked out with the cruise. Beat the storm swells every day and only one excursion in a small boat was cancelled due to 6 ft swells. We didn't have one drop of rain during the days and crew said there was rain all 7 days the previous week. Portland, ME was interesting. Loved Bar Harbor, ME. I mentioned the Canadian stops earlier. For those of you who haven't been on a cruise yet, you have to hurry up & eat breakfast so you can started on lunch, then afternoon tea, then pre-dinner appetizers, then dinner, then dessert, then drinks, then late night candy... Yup, I gained 10 lbs that I'll have to work off somehow.
SVG - how are you doing?
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Hey MinusTwo - welcome back - how cool that you met some of the BCO ladies in person!
I'm still smoke-free. I swear every day that passes without a cig feels like another mini-miracle. Today I got through my 1st day working without smoking. Whew! Another trigger bites the dust. My DH said once I make it to the 1 month mark that he will quit. I can't wait for a smoke-free home environment!
Thank you ladies for being my cheerleaders through this.
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LisaMarie, yahoo for going to see your mom. Regardless of the "shape" that she may be in, you are seeing her. That's the most important. Put a quarter into a slot and maybe you "win big". Regardless, you win big every day.
SVGsurvive, many congrats on your "first working day without a smoke". See it's doable. When your idle hands are busy you don't think about it. Yesterday, I met my sister and we were sitting at "Tim Hortons" (our national coffee chain) and I was getting bored. I said to her that I wished I had a smoke. She looked at me like I was crazy (she was a former smoker as well). As quickly as I thought of it, poof it was gone. There will be many thoughts of "smoking" but I think that will always be with us.
MT, how are your sea legs now? Hope you are adjusting and you'll just start walking again to burn off those pounds. Probably burn off itself as you won't have those fab meals!
April, hope your doing great and have slowed down for a while.
Thought just came to me ladies. I get to have American Thanksgiving as well as I will be in the States for your holiday. Whoooo, looking forward to this.
Bosum, hope all is well.
Anyone else I missed, hope you are doing well!
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Yesterday marked 1 month smoke free! Woo hoo ladies! So happy to hear everybody's success stories! There have been some hard days as my DH is still smoking😕 But at least he is not smoking around me so that helps. With winter coming I'm hoping he will lay them down. He hates the cold & smoking outside won't be near as enjoyable. Happy Humpday ladies! WE WIIL NOT SMOKE TODAY😃😁😀
Catherine
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