Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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VJ & Bosum - HOORAY - So glad you weren't tossed aside. Someone actually thought about the problem. I just saw that the Republicans pulled their health care bill. Maybe now "those people" that we elected up there to represent us will actually sit down & try to find/draft a bi-partisan solution. We're talking about people's lives - not the color of their politics.
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JB - great news that your recovery is going so well this time. I didn't know that you & your Mom did biopsies together. Alzheimer's is such a heart breaker. My belated sympathy on your Mother's death.
On a positive note - if you haven't seen Sandra's update, she reports that Mike has actually cooked a meal - including slicing all the veggies by himself. Just unbelievable.
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Bosom , I know you can do this .. I am always here in the background routing for you .. Coffee was my downfall as other things .. but eventually i pushed through and you can too ... Hugs Girl xoxoxox
Minus .. I picked St Cloud because I lived in central Florida for 10 years before comong back to NY due to my oldest having a baby .. now its time to move on again and be Happy .. It seems you had an amazing vacation .. I am so Happy for you ...
JB , I def understand he Alzheimers as I work in a nursing home .. god bless you for all you do.
Well just stopping by ladies as you know work .. work .. work .. but I do however have a doctor appt this am .. I had a sleep study done and I have sleep apnea and need a machine .. no wonder I walk around like a zombie most of the day everyday ..
Hugs to you all ...
wishing everyone much success
Lisa Marie
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Hi all. I see that some of you were looking for me a few pages back and I apologize for disappearing. I don't know what happened; I must have hit the remove from my favorites link my accident at some point. I haven't been posting much on the site the last bit. Been working through everything, as we all do.
I'm very disappointed in myself. I was off the smokes and doing ok with it through the beginning of chemo...then some things happened that upset me greatly and I started again. Since then, I've gone a week or so here and there without, then I buy a pack, then go a few days, buy another one...I just don't seem to be able to get back off all together. At the end of each pack I say that's it! Then I go buy another one. It's frustrating. My inner fight with myself is stupid...I want to be off, I feel I can, then I feel I can't but if I have them, I smoke them. It sucks.
Chemo is done, in the middle of rads now. Will be done mid April with herceptin until the end of the year and tamoxifen going into the future. I hope I can get rid of the smokes soon for good; I know I need to but I seem to have lost my willpower to fight it along with everything else. Other than that I'm doing pretty good. Looking forward to returning to work and getting my life back. Hope all fo you are doing well.
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Bosum - hang in there girl. I can remember snuffing them out & re-using. I can remember scrounging for butts in the ash trays after a late night when I couldn't get to the store. Thinking of you.
kbt & Honey - how are you both doing?
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LisaMarie - another piece of the puzzle. Glad you have an answer about the sleep apnea. Hopefully you'll have restful nights now. With everything else you're doing, you sure need your sleep.
Leslie - sorry to hear the smokes are still dogging you. Don't give up trying. Perhaps once the rads are done you can make a concerted attack. At least you're not buying by the carton.
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Good Morning all .. Spring is finally here .. feeling so Grateful for the warm ... hope everyone is well .. love and miss you all ..
xoxoxoxxo
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie - I'm so glad you continue to check in even with your heavy work load. What's happened with the sleep study?
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Hi Minus , the sleep study said I stop breathing 13 times per hour and i snore really bad .. so I have to go to a pulmonologist and get a cpap machine .. hopeflly I will feel better .. thanks for asking ... xoxoxo
yes work work work , I am on a 13 day stretch no day off now ..
Hope everyone is doing well ... never give up
Lisa marie
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Bosum , Leslie..........Im right there with you , I do good for a few day and then fall off the wagon, I get so mad at myself and think what a weak loser I have become through this entire process.....then get mad at being so hard on myself. I so admire people that can quit cold turkey. My father did and he was a super heavy smoke, he keeps telling me its the only way to do it . Its a week of hell and its over..........Im starting to think hes right .
Went to visit new grandbaby today, got 3 now all under 2. You would think that would be the motivation I needed to quit, why is this so hard?
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Bosum - so sorry to hear about your Mother. I hope she's feeling better soon. I think those people were horribly rude. But I agree, I never used to understand how much the smell would cling to me. No wonder my Mother always knew.
Honey - I've read several articles about the difference between men & women trying to quit smoking. Your Dad did it the 'guys way'. Apparently guys don't have the emotional involvement and stress equalizer that women get from smoking. What have you tried so far? Not to beat my own drum, but I NEVER could have quit without Chantix. And the last time was the 5th or 6th time I'd quit - once for over a year. Glad to know you aren't beating yourself up. Congrats on the new grandbaby.
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Bosum. Sorry to hear that it's serious. It's very hard to make those aging decisions for one's parents. Somehow we just can't make everything right for them again.
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Bosom, I am praying for your mom ... xoxo big hugs to you..
I too never knew how much the smell stuck to me when smoking .. but even now I take care of a lady all morning before i go to nursing home and she smokes like crazy .. it makes me nuts .. then I have to hurry and change my clothes into my uniform to go to the nursing home and for some reason i stll smell it in my way to work .. must be in my hair .. anyway I would never had said such rude stuff to anyone ..some people are just downright rude ,, Hugs
On the other hand with my many attempts to stop .. I could nevr had gone cold turkey .. when I was diagnosed with my cancer and had to have mastectomy and recon . I quit with only 2 weeks on patch, but i think i did that because i had too .. then after recon i was back at it in no time at all as most know .. but i stayed here and with the help of these women ... I did however slip a bunch and get depressed , stressed and beat myself up big time ... but eventually along with the chantix ... i am no longer smoking and ts almost going to be 3 years .. I cannot get over it myself ... I tell everyone who will listen that chantix was the magic pill for me ... never a craving ... its so amazing how it works ..I also know each person is different ...
Good Luck Ladies ,. this is the best place to be ..
I am now certified to work in 3 states NC, NY, And FL
Miss you all Minus , April, Judi, VJ, Bosom ....
Loys of love and Hugs
SPRING IS HERE ... Warmer weather on its way
LisaMarie
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Happy Easter - Happy Spring. I've spent the last two weeks trying to make some order out of things I've neglected too long - flower beds full of weeds, bushes growing out into walkways, carpets not vacuumed, windows not washed in several years. Since I don't know how stop half way, I've managed to provoke an LE flare, but I think I have it under control. Interesting that it was the vacuuming that did it and not the heavy digging. Oh well, I won't do that again for a good while.
How are all of you doing - those trying & those taking a hiatus & those who have made it to the other side for now. You can always use our old motto - Just for today I will not smoke. One of us will be here if you need to rant or scream through the process. I miss everyone too. Maybe all will check in for a spring update.
LisaMarie - thanks for your long post. Hope your double jobs get easier when you don't have to contend with cold & snow.
Bosum - I think about your Mother every day and hope you are both OK0 -
Hope all had a nice Easter or Passover.. yes warm weather 70's .. but ive been working .. tomorrow im off . I was going to pick up extra hours but i work so much... I need to spring clean myself .. ive been neglecting it..
Hugs to you all..
Xoxoxo
Lisamarie
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VJ - are you off at Cochella this year? Who are you rating as the best group?
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I've never been to Coachella, too young of a crowd for me. I went to Desert Trip--more my age. I only time I regretted not going was to see Paul McCartney--but I had friends who waited several hours in his tent waiting for his show. The show ends at 12 and they didn't make it home until 3 and we live about 5 miles away. (Traffic sucks during Coachella). I figured I'm just too old to have to stand for hours to see someone and then 3 is way past my bedtime.
Yesterday was only the 2nd time in almost 30 years that I had to cancel a cessation class. The class was in Riverside at 6 last night, which takes me an hour and 20 minutes. I left at 3:15 and at 5, I was still no where close to arriving at the clinic. My GPS said that I would arrive at 7. This was due to all the traffic leaving the desert due to Coachella -- it was crazy. Next Monday, I'll leave at 1 for the class at 6.
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VJ - I don't blame you. I agree - we're past being screaming groupies - but boy was it fun. Years ago when I was REALLY grown up (maybe 20) I went to see the Beach Boys with an older man (maybe 25). I swore i was not going to jump & and yell when they started "Help Me Rhonda", but oops, I jumped up & yelled anyway. It didn't seem to upset my date too much that I was acting like a junior high kid.
Now I usually avoid rush hours what ever time of day they happen. And more frequently I schedule my trips for daylight hours.
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Bosum - thinking about you and hoping your Mother is stabilized & recovering.
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Hi Ladies!
Just a quick pop in to say hey. Hope you are doing well! xo
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And another voice chiming in. We're here to support anyone who's decided to quit or is trying to quit or isn't able to concentrate on quitting right now. We've all been there and KNOW how hard it is.
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Good Morning Ladies.... just stopping by as well to see how everyone is doing ?? boy I miss this group .. although it was a bit more active back then .. still going strong one day at a time ...
Hugs to all that are out there struggling not to light up .. and Hugs to those who are smoke free .
Thinking of you Beckers ..Judi
Hi VJ, April. Bosom, and Minus ..
xoxoxoxo
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie: Even if most of us have gotten very busy in our daily lives, we do have a bond. It's so nice when someone checks in. I need to PM Judi and see if she's still out there. And Beckers. Do you have a time line for Florida?
I have this thread on my favorites so I always know if someone posts. Occasional posts will keep the thread active so if someone is trying to quit, we're here with help, advise or commisseration.
I'll likely check in to BCO several times a week for the indeterminate future unless I'm on vacation. I continue to learn new tips & tricks in the LE and neuropathy threads, and I wouldn't miss the kitchen table or the reading club!!!
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Patch back on. I hate this.
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Hey Leslie - so glad you're checking in. So you're giving it another go? How many old ladies have you punched out so far? (lol).
Looks like you're probably finished with RADS? So down to hormone treatment only starting this weekend? Sorry, I know better to say "only". For some hormone treatments are a breeze, but I know they can have side effects and those are no fun. And of course probably the Herceptin for awhile longer. Are you enough past the chemo SEs that you're able to do some fun things just for you? To distract you from smoking of course. Check in and RANT anytime.
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Well I fell off the wagon again but getting back up on it this weekend, its a never ending battle with me and it just pisses me off..........
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Honey - thanks to you as well as Leslie for having the grit to check in. NO guilts given here EVER. We've all been there so we won't tell you you're doing wrong. We will only sympathize and support. It's just a royal bitch!!! I forgot, were you using any of the 'quit' aides?
So many of us quit over & over & over. And then one day, it will click and you will somehow make it to the other side. And we've all agreed about the other side too. We will always be smokers, just smokers who are NOT smoking. I can never take even one puff again. For years it was 'just for today I will not smoke'.
LisaMarie's story is so great. She lived with a smoker who smoked IN THE HOUSE and blew smoke in her face if I remember correctly. She managed to get down to one cigarette a day and for the longest time couldn't give that one up. Then one day she said - why? And that was it.
It doesn't mean we don't all have residual memory and want to smoke at times. I will be 10 years out this July. I don't think of smoking all the time anymore, but I still do have flashes every couple of months or so that I'd sure like a cigarette. The only good thing is those flashes are gone in an instant or two and they don't make me grit my teeth so I don't head to the store for smokes. (like I surely had do to in the beginning). Note - 10 years ago was only the LAST time I quit. I had quit many times before - even for 2 years once. Those prior times were practice until I could finally make it.
Hats off to you ladies for trying again.
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Good Morning everyone ..
I know minus .. a lot has changed .. this is also on my fav list and I am trying to check in more..
So good to see you ladies checking in.. Dont Give up .. you moment will come .. you may not think so but it will.. and if you just keep coming here for support it's the best .. I am almost 3 years away from my last smoke .. I cannot still understand how I did it .. I smoked a pack a day since I was 16 maybe more at times ... and I just hated it at the end and I said why did I pick up these damm things ever .. I will never be able to stop .. and I would beat myself up .. and whenever I got upset or one thing went wrong Id buy a pack .. One day at a time I am still learning how to cope withput the smoke . I have been in a bad relationship , I have lost my son . , I have been homeless, jobless, and felt hopeless . But somehow I mamaged to get through all that life was throwing at me . I ahd lots of support here // especially from minus and Judi . and Bosom .... no matter how many times I would smoke one and feel down , they lifted me up .. and I just kept trying .. One day I just said why am i still smoking this one cigarette .. and just put it down .. Now I am free ..
I do however have my days as well . I say wow I just want to smoke .. and for no reason at all .. but it quikly passes and I think off all the time I have and say no way am i going back to being a slave to that nasty smoke ...
Anyway I gotta run .. work both jobs today .. got my plane ticket yesterday to visit mom in vegas .. end of may ... Florida is end of September ..
So Just For Today .. I will Not Smoke ..
Oh and one more thing I swear that chantix was what really helped me out .. and I tought I heard that yo can smoke a little longer on it .. I am sure that is probably true because I hung on to that morning smoke forever ..
Hang in there ladies ...
LOve you all Minus , Judi, April , Bosom .... and Beckers and VJ
please excuse my bad typing but I am rushing .. have a great day all
XOXOXOXO
LIsamarie
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Hello. I am 47 yrs old and cant quit smoking. I was diagnosed 5 years ago and had chemo rads and surgeries. I have now progressed to stage 4 with several small bone mets. I have started faslodex and should begin ibrance and xgeva. I am still fighting this nic demon. Ive trued chantix before but it didnt help. Im thankful for this thread and any support
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Mel - Welcome. Sorry to hear about your Stage IV diagnosis but glad you found us.
I too was finally able to quit with Chantix. I understand that Chantix has a revised program. Maybe look again if the that's compatible with your other meds? Quitting was w/o a doubt the hardest thing I have EVER done. I quit before I was diagnosed so maybe it was easier? Nope - just not easy at all. This last time (the time that took) I first quit smoking in my house. 2 weeks later I quit smoking in my car. Then 2 weeks later I started Chantix. So I was relegated to the front porch before I started Chantix. Every time I wanted a smoke, I headed off walking down the block. By half way around w/no smokes in sight, I had not choice but to march it back.
For months i didn't go anywhere there was smoking - good bye "local". I had to stop drinking coffee for quite a while, and cut out my glass of wine. It's important to change your habits. I started sitting in a different chair so the familiar table w/the ashtray wasn't at my side. And I didn't drive anywhere more than 15 minutes if I could help it. In fact the only time I cheated was once sitting in the car stuck in traffic. For over a year I kept 1/4 of a pack in the freezer - some horrible brand but my emergency fall back. I was finally able to throw them away unused - but it took a year before I was sure.
It was critical for me to have hand to mouth action so I ate a ton of sunflower seeds in the shell. Arm up, pop in seed, arm down, crack seed, arm up, remove seed. Repeat.
VJ offers a quit smoking book free to everyone on this BCO thread. I'm sure she'll check in soon.
Please feel free to rant & rave & scream. We're here to support you as best we can.
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