Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Oh LisaMarie - so sorry it's a sad day in a depressing situation. I know the winter weather doesn't make it any easier. Is there a chance you could stay with your daughter for a week or two just to take a break? Although the weather is probably worse there.
Bosum's right about the blond/white hairs. Laser doesn't work. I had electrolysis once a month for several years. They say that at least 50% of the hairs will grow back the first time. Some are stubborn enough to need three treatments. And then there are all the other new hairs. I truly had everything under control until BC & chemo & rads. Now I have chin hairs again. It so hard not to pluck, but of course to do that you have to see the buggers under the chin amid all the wrinkles. I have one friend who is grateful that her daughter tells her about those straggling chin hairs. I think I'm glad I don't have a daughter for that one. It's been 5 years since I had a treatment but I'll let you know what I end up paying Wednesday.
But look at it this way, we can pay for it with the money we're saving by not smoking!!!
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LisaMarie, think twice before you move! It's always the same old "crap" but just a different day. There are good days and bad days so please reflect on the "good days". Yes, the smoke can kill you but remove yourself by going for a coffee/walk or join a group like the library, etc. As I've always said, take the time to "regroup"!
Ladies, I'm going to toot my own horn but I'm on the countdown now for the Letrozole meds. I see the oncologist on Feb. 23rd and I'm hoping I hear the words "your done, no more meds"!
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Judi I hope you get the ok to be done. Xo
In the meantime I am trying not to go back. I am not close to civilization so I am limited to what ia can do here . Without a car its insane. I try to breathe .I am wondering why I cant just step back and relax. I guess im used to working and doing things my way .
Xoxoxo
Lisamarie
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That's a story always worth sharing. Beautiful.
lisamarie68, you've taken step 1 of your path to improving your life. I can't wait to hear your story of step 2 - be it with BosumBlues or another way. I would hate to see you step backward.
JudiH, I'm setting my phone to remind me on Feb. 23 to check in here in the hope of your med-free announcement.
I got the news today that there's no trace of cancer in me anymore. Chemo worked. I'm still in shock and feel so blessed.
xoxo to all.
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Bosum, thanks for sharing that wonderful story. I know what you meant that you felt violated but understood someone was opening their heart and purse for you. It's called pay it forward and you too do it every day. You always open your heart and home to LisaMarie ... what a wonderful person you are.
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Bosum - wonderful story. I know I have a hard time accepting things from others, but I too like the pay it forward plan.
SVG - wow - Fantastic news that there's no trace. Congrats. Will you still do rads?
LisaMarie - always sending hugs.
Judi - hooray for the countdown. We will definitely celebrate if the doc approves stopping.
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Ok, this is a three Kleenex thread we have going here.
Lisamarie, you are a VERY strong lady. I know that you will make the right choice for yourself. I also know that if you go back to the same old situation, it might be good for a little while and then you are back to square one. Moving forward is always hard...trust me. I left a marriage of almost 30 years and it was the hardest thing I have ever done but also it was the right move, as hard as it was. There is life after pain...trust me on this. Hugs and whatever you decide to do, you know we always support and love you.
Judi, I will keep EVERYTHING crossed that you can kick the AI to the curb at that appointment.
Bosum, you are a very special person and that story was lovely. I have seen this type of behavior from you as well...offering your home and whatever you have to Lisamarie shows that you are very loving and caring. The only thing I would love to see is for you to Love YOURSELF more...sometimes you are too critical of yourself and we all know that you are a wonderful person...we worry when you are not around for a while too. You are always cheering everyone on and we know your heart.
Minus, you are the "Mother Earth" around here. And I mean that in a 60's hippie, peace, love kind of way. You are the "keeper of this thread/group" in a lot of ways. After all of the years being smoke free, you still come here to cheer others on and to check on everyone. You are the best.
The same with you VJ...always checking in here even though you quit smoking years ago and offering your free E-Book to the ladies who come here desperate to give up the habit...you too are a wonderful lady!
SVG, I promise that you did not cause the nipple rejecting by having a few smokes. PS like to scare women who just had surgery and eventually, the smokes will damage skin that has been surgically altered, but not this fast I suspect. No beating yourself up over this. Cigarettes are harder to quit than heroin for pete's sake! xo
Ok, gotta run as always. Am at work.
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April - your posts to everyone are right on target. BTW - I always thought I wanted to run away & live on a commune in the 60s - just never had the nerve.
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O.K. my turn for the two cents worth. April, you too are a very strong, wise, and supportive woman. We need you in this group. Smart advice to LisaMarie and Bosum. SVG, MANY CONGRATS TO YOU that no trace of cancer is seen in you and the chemo worked. Words we love to hear. MT, "60's commune", eh? I would love to see that. I'm so into the 21st century that I cannot do without a lot of things that are not offered on a commune. Yikes, my mom would have $2 at the beginning of the week and at the end, still have that $2. Sign of the times. Ladies, went to new family physician today and he is "young". Just graduated a year to two ago. Love that he is young and up-to-date on his info. What I found interesting is that he is the only doctor who is sending me for a CAT scan on my lungs due to the number of years smoking and the amount smoked. He wants to make sure that there are no lesions in the lungs. God, you would have thought the other doctors would have thought of this. Will keep you posted on this update!
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Judi - glad you're getting that low dose CT scan. It's now recommended by the American Cancer Society. Summary below. Of course they found some damage in my lungs since I smoked for more than 40 years. A pack year = 20 cigarettes per day for a year. (you can google a pack-year calculator). I love the thought that after 15 years, what??? No more damage? (well duh) Damage gone away?? (no such luck) Damage mitigated by my age (so I'll die of something else first)? So...I'm over 1/2 way to that 15 year mark - whatever it means.
The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 55 to 80 years who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Screening should be discontinued once a person has not smoked for 15 years or develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery.
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There is still a controversy about CT scans for detecting lung cancer---the controversy is that not all medical facilities have a LOW-DOSE CT scanner which are newer machines. A lot of radiation is given off during a CT scan, which is why many older doctors aren't recommending it if their patients don't have access to a new machine.
Compared to a conventional CT, the low-dose CT scan for lung cancer uses approximately 5 times less radiation. Depending on the size of the patient, a low-dose CT scan will typically deliver 1-4 millisieverts of radiation exposure. A conventional CT scan typically delivers between 5-20 millisieverts [4, 5]. Radiation exposure is always something to consider when going in for a procedure like a low-dose CT scan. Though the radiation exposure from a low-dose CT scan is higher than a typical X-ray, the benefits of receiving such a screening dramatically outweigh the risks of not having the screening, especially if lung cancer is detected. The amount of radiation patients are exposed to during a low-dose CT scan is approximately equivalent to each of the following [4, 5]:
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Well ladies, thanks for your thoughts. Here I thought it was a great idea because he was the only one who recommended it. Before my reexcision, I had to have a lung (chest) x-ray and I was good. I'm a little nervous but after reading VJ's post, I'm going to ask my oncologist when I see her about it. Thanks again, info is good!
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VJ - thanks for adding the details.
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I still think that most long term smokers should have the new CT scan but I think the recommendation to have it every year is a bit much. I think as time goes on, instead of doing it annually that maybe every 5 years or so. Just my opinion.
I always recommend to all the smokers I work with to talk to their doctor about it. I know several people who found their lung cancer very early by having a CT scan. They had surgery to remove the tumor and that was it. The downside is false positives, so they do a biospy and it is nothing.
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VJ - Personally, for me, I agree that once a year is too much even w/the low dose. I had a base line scan after chemo. I probably won't have another for 5 years. I truly wouldn't like to die not being able to breathe, but I would have to think long & hard about more surgery &/or chemo.
Reporting on electrolysis - 15 min-$30; 30 min-$45; 45min-$60. This is in a ritzy part of town but is a person recommended by my derm MD several years ago who used to work at one of the hospitals. Learned some other interesting things. Every square inch of skin has 5000 (yup, five thousand) hair follicles. OMG! All are at different stages of growth & reproduction. As I mentioned, I had gone through several years of treatment before chemo & I have been through menopause. She thinks there may be a few random dark hairs around & under chin occasionally, but that once the stress of chemo/rads/surgery, etc is really all out of my body, I won't have a big problem. She doesn't think I'll get dark mustache hairs again. I have very long blond hairs on my lower arms. She of course said don't pluck but I can cut. She believes these will eventually cycle & fall out and the new hair won't be so long. Well at least I didn't need my eyebrows shaped. a) they're still slowly growing back, and b) just in case they really take off, didn't I see that heavy brows are in fashion? (ha,ha) Oh, and she doesn't think Biotin will cause more facial hair.
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Morning ladies!
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Bosum - good luck tomorrow.
LisaMarie - are you OK?
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hi ladies, just caught up on the reading . Thanks Bosom fir the offer. I appreciate it . My daughter who is having baby was upset that I wanted to leave. She gave me the guilt trip . So ho hum guess I will keep trying to make the best of it. I called tge AA line here and got a ride to a meeting last night , Got some women's numbers. Still waiting in my background chevk fir the job. I wish I ciukd fill out more apps but no car . I know rome wasmt built in a day . I hate the fact that I get so restless. I have been gaving breathing problems. I get so out of breath doing the smallest activities, and find myself puffing the inhaler much more . Thats depressing me and scaring me . I think im having capsular contracture again in the implants . Sucks no insurance and all. Well I think of you all often . Love u all.... xoxo
Lisamarie
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Lisamarie, why don't you have insurance? The affordable care act has lots of subsidies if you can't afford to pay on your own and your out of pocket could be really tiny or even 0. Please go on the website before Jan. 31st and find out what to do so you can get health insurance!
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LisaMarie, DO WHAT APRIL SAYS .... VISIT THE WEBSITE!
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Also, please call infoline - 211 They might be able to help you with services you might not have even thought of.
http://www.211us.org/status.htm
Here is the one for NC.
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Unfortunately North Carolina did not expand their medicaid coverage, so they have a doughnut hole in medical coverage. Since Lisamarie is not working she might fall into that gap. And too many states, the requirements to get on medicaid are so low that almost no one qualifies.
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VJ, I don't understand ... if the requirements to get on medicaid are so low then how come almost no one qualifies? I don't understand this system!
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Judi - some states have opted not to join in trying to insure health care for everyone. The one I'm in particularly wants to thwart the Federal Gov't no matter what the issue is. So we have the most uninsured population in the entire US. North Carolina's uninsured rate is 38 out of 51 (includes DC) Texas is 51. That's from Wiki, not a political site. Both of those states did NOT expand their state programs to take advantage of the full federal Medicaid benefits. Thanks heavens I paid my dues & I'm old enough to be on Medicare.
But LisaMarie - Bosum was able to get on Medicaid. If you don't have a job or income or own a house or even a car - it doesn't make sense to me either.
Edited to add - no trying to be political. All of us who have been through BC surely know what medical care costs & what insurance costs and the benefits of coverage.
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Trying to get ready for my trip to see my BFF's son in Hawaii. She died in 2005 and he sort of became my second son since his Mom was all he had. With all the BC mess, I haven't been to see him since they got married in 2008. So I have reason to be glad I don't smoke. I remember the agony of long plane rides when I was still smoking. And airports where you had to go out through security to smoke on the curb & then go back through again. Just for today I will not smoke.
LisaMarie - hugs!!!
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MT and Bosum, this is one time I'm glad I live in Canada. Even reading your posts, I get so confused on the medial system you have. Here, I have health care and I don't pay. Yes, I pay for drugs but because dh has a very good plan, I only pay $1.49 for my Letrozole. The drug costs almost $450 for a month's supply and that's all I pay. Yes, some doctor's services are not covered under OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) but I've rarely needed them. In fact, I had to pay for my back to work form after being off with cancer and I pay for my eye doctor exams but then got reimbursed back through my health spending account at work. Now, I'll have to pay for them as well as for some of my eye glasses. I've decided I'm going to keep my frames but it's not the frames that so expensive, it's the coke glasses that I wear. Like you MT, when I reach a certain age (I think it is 65) then it's all paid for.
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hi ladies , I have no clue how medicaid wirks here in NC . I heard my backgriund check came back. I am praying I get the call Monday for drug test. But even working I will humble myself, and make 7.50 per hour .. but I guess when you have nothing, something is better. I cant even apply to medicaid . I have no way there. I hate thst im so down and out. You ladies are all the best . If I were smoking id really be nuts not being able to get them. So for today, I am happy I am still smoke free. And with all my stress I have no idea how but I am.. hugs
Xoxo
Lisamarie
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Each state is different. In California the cost for my policy under ACA is very affordable especially when compared to the private policy I had before. It is probably because California is a big state with many people signed onto it. Where if you are in a smaller state where less people are signing up, a smaller pool, the cost is higher. Same with medical, each state has different requirements and many red states didn't sign up for the medical expansion--California did--so in Cali, no matter what you make you can get insurance.
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All the ACA did was to fix the most egregious acts of the insurance companies such as denying coverage for preexisting conditions.
I had a girlfriend who had insurance (this was before ACA) and when she found out she had ovarian cancer, the insurance company denied all claims. There was a loophole in the policy that said it didn't cover cancer. She and her husband spend $100,000 on treatment. When she had a recurrence, ACA was open only to those without insurance for 6 months, so she canceled her policy and waited the six months. During that 6 months she worked with her doctors to do the cheapest possible treatment. One week before her coverage was to start she was very ill and they wanted to do exploratory surgery. She got them to wait one week until she had insurance. She died a few months later. I always wonder that if she had more aggressive treatment right a way, if she might have survived. Or it could be that it wouldn't have made a difference. but it was shameful that her treatment was dictated by her lack of insurance rather than what was medically neecessary.
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Ladies, these stories are unbelievable ... this should never happen in today's age. I honestly would be in the same boat as many US citizens because I don't think I could afford the coverage. I like what I have now .... never is a worry nor do I have to consider waiting. I can't believe that this happens! VJ, I just read a posting that 39 of the 51 types of flavoured e-cigarettes tested by Harvard researchers contained the chemical diacetyle which has been associated with a form of bronchitis nicknamed "Popcorn Lung". Is this for real?
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