Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
-
Herceptin through December. Starting Tamoxifen on Monday (May 1st). Going back to work mid May.
I'm using the patch this time around. Did champix years ago. It did work for a while. Maybe one day. I'd rather not put more medications in my body right now if I can help it. I'm trying.
0 -
Leslie - I hear you about adding more meds. I am so relieved to be back to vitamins only. Hope the patch will work. Maybe going back to work will provide a diversion? Hopefully not more stress.
Have you checked the Tamox threads? I'm not ER/PR+ so didn't have hormone treatment.
0 -
Medications can increase your chance of success AND think of this this way --it is only 1 chemical instead of the 7,000 chemicals that are in smoke. Also nicotine interferes with the effectiveness of many other drugs (including caffeine--after quitting, even if you drink the same amount of coffee, your body will absorb twice as much caffeine as when you were smoking -- so often on top of withdrawal symptoms, many also have to deal with symptoms of excessive caffeine). Plus you don't get nearly the amount of nicotine from NRT that you do from smoking (which is often why people think they don't work-- because they don't get enough nicotine to subside the withdrawals-- too little NRT instead of too much is often the case.
0 -
VJ - interesting graph. Thanks for posting this info.
0 -
Thanks guys
I know I will kick this nasty little habit at some point cause I really cant stand smoking anymore .. Its crazy cant stand the smell of smoke any longer, don't really enjoy them except for that one with my morning coffee, still love that one. .
Its just so much habit and so many alarms set me off . I have quit smoking in the car which has been big for me. Totally quit smoking at work. I try not to smoke in the house but sometimes phone rings I light up. not even thinking , I have moved the smoke stash to the back porch so I at least have to walk out there in order to smoke.
I have not used anything to quit except for this fake cigarette I bought which actually helped me a lot from smoking in the car.
Im grateful for the support on this site and I feel like no one but you guys understand what is like. .
Thanks HB
0 -
Honey - oh yes, talking on the phone was one of my worst triggers. So I refused to take a portable home phone or a cell phone to the porch. For many months I didn't talk very long to anyone. Sort of like I didn't drive to see friends who were more than 20 minutes away.
Interesting about your one morning smoke with the coffee. That's the last one LisaMarie gave up. I quit coffee at home several years before due to dense, fibercycstic breasts (hmmmm) so that wasn't an issue for me. But I used to light one as soon as my eyes opened, before I got out of bed. Oh my....
Hang in there girl. As least it's spring so you can't come up with an excuse that it's too cold to go outside. Good strategy.
In early 2000s, I was going outside to smoke at my parents house. I bought a cheap red plastic, lined 'car coat' with a hood from WalMart that I kept in their garage (mind you this was in CA and I was traveling there from TX w/great regularity) After they both died, the jacket went to my son's house in CA. He keeps asking me if he can throw away the "smoking jacket". NO WAY. It no longer smells like smoke, but it means I don't have to take a mid weight jacket or rain gear with I visit. But since the name has stuck I should probably let it go.
0 -
welcome to you Mel.. there is lots of support here ..
xoxoxo
Lisamarie
0 -
Hello My lovely quiet ladies . I hope all is well .. I was in Hospital so I have not had time to write or check in... anyway I hope all is well with everyone .. I miss you all so much ..
To the new ladies sending you Hugs ..
Love ya all Bosom , Judy, Minus, Vj, April ..
xoxoxox
Lisamarie
0 -
Oh no LisaMarie. I hope it wasn't serious & you are on the road to recovery. Please do let us know, or send me a PM if you're not comfortable making a general post.
0 -
I quit smoking 12/21/2016. I had PFT and a chest CT prior to having lumpectomy. I had quit a week before surgery because I was afraid of being under anesthesia as a smoker. I need a follow-up CT scan in June and the PFT results were not good. I am really scared. I smoked for 48 years. Cold turkey was the way to go for me. In spite of everything, there are still times that I want one, but I won't. Fear works wonders.
0 -
Lisa, I hope all is well or much better then whatever had you in the hospital.
Huggs
0 -
Well as long as we are updating I have been doing terrible with the smoking. Im back at work and while I do not smoke at work, I still have not quit totally I think I have turned into the dreaded closet smoker . . Still at my 6-7 smokes a day some days more . I though going back to work would help but I find that my anxiety has actually went up and not sure as to why. I do have a good support system there although some people still avoid me ( they don't know what to say so they just avoid ). God forgive me if I ever did that to anyone.
I just wake up every morning praying today will be better then yesterday and grateful that I have another day to enjoy my kids and grandkids
0 -
Honey - sounds like you're moving ahead. It's OK if you're not quite ready yet. Cutting down to 6 or 7 smokes a day is a major accomplishment. I do understand about work being a major stressor. Are you through with all BC treatment now? Or is there more to go? Don't be too hard on yourself. Your body is still recovering from chemo. Your time will come.
0 -
Honey Beaw
Be Careful of work stress .. as I was just in the hospital 4 days and out for 9 total due to stress and anxiety from working too much and stress in workplace .. Had a cardiac cath .. most pain ive ever felt ... anyway 6=7 cigs are a great accomplishment .. I held on to one morning smoke forever .. the girls here will tell you ... I was so upset that I would never get rid of it .. But one day it happened .. so give yourself a break .. dont beat yourself up .. your day will come ... dont give up ...
Hugs
Lisamarie
0 -
I would love to say that I only smoke 6 a day. I lasted 2 days without and now i smike more than ever. I am starting all these crazy treatments for bone mets and i am stressed beyond belief. I hate myself for nit being able ti quit. Thanks for being here and listenin
0 -
Oh no Mel - what ever you do, don't hate yourself & don't beat yourself up. This is a REALLY hard thing. If your even still thinking about & planning to do something down the road, you're doing OK. So sorry about the bone mets. What drugs are you doing now?
Did you send a private message to VJ to ask for a copy of her book? She's often on this thread and had offered a free copy to any BCO members trying to quit.
We're here. Scream, yell, rant, throw your pillow. Probably best not to kick the computer LOL.
0 -
Hi MinusTwo. I have been doing faslodex injections. Today I started ibrance and thursday I should start xgeva. Thanks for askin
0 -
Hope the SEs are mild Mel.
0 -
Good Morning ladies ... just stopping by .. its quiet .. hope all is well with everyone .. I miss yo all.
xoxoxo
Lisamarie
0 -
LisaMarie - thanks for posting. Are you totally recovered from your hospital stay? Thinking of you.
And thinking of everyone else who has managed to quit, and all who are still trying, and those of you who are taking a break from trying right now. Drop in when you can.
Summer is certainly here. The last couple of days have been 97degrees with a heat index of 105 degrees. I've been pushing myself to determine just how far my "new normal" will allow me to go. That's hard to do when I also have to consider that I'm 6 years older since my cancer fun started. I'm doing a Silver Sneakers exercise class two mornings a week. It's given me a lot more balance and flexibility. About to start a water aerobics class three evenings a week. I'll need to keep the water up to my neck in order to do the exercises & use the pressure of the water to keep from aggravating my LE. If I only make it 2 days a week, I'll consider that an accomplishment.
Hope you all are spending a good holiday with your families & friends and remembering those who are the reason for Memorial Day.
0 -
Hello Minus ,
Yes I am doing good . I just got back from Las Vegas and visiting my mom and she is in worse health than I though by speaking to her on the phone .. sooo my plans for Florida are no longer ..it is funny how life changes day to day .. I am moving out of my little apartment and in with my daughter so I can save every penny i make to get me to Las Vegas to care for mom .. she is about 65 pounds , does not eat and her breathng is so bad .. that is due to copd and emphysema and she still smokes like crazy .. anyway I promised her always that i would be there for her .. so been researching jobs , and getting ,my car shipped and apartments close to her ..
Sounds Hot .. its chilly here stil .. it was warm now now so much it was 56 last noght .. brr and maybe in the low 70s for tomorrow ..keeep cool and enjoy your classes . miss everyone
wishing everyone good thoughts and Hugs to you all
lisamarie
0 -
LisaMarie - you are an amazing daughter. Hopefully you Mom's gotten rid of that nasty guy she was with? That made the situation worse - especially the smoking. I hope you don't have to work around him. I wish I had a couple of weeks free. I would fly back East and drive your car out with you. We wouldn't even have to worry about anyone smoking in the car LOL. Do you have a tentative departure time yet? 65 lbs is really not good. Did you talk to her docs to see what their prognosis is?
0 -
Lisamaria So sorry your mother is not doing well, I do hope things change once you get down there with her .
Huggs
0 -
(((LisaMarie))) Hugs! . Signing out for a bit. I will visit and lurk but not post much. I am losing my job at the end of this month (budget cuts) after 12 years with this agency and 20 years overall as a Case Manager/Senior Employment Specialist. I am devastated. My husband is on disability and I am too young for medicare by 3 years. Insurance is my main concern with this BC stuff and if That IDIOT in the white house has his way (and the other thugs on Capitol Hill) I will never be insured until old enough for Medicare. We have to sell our house.
I use a cane due to the AI and pre-existing bone on bone knees so that will go over like a lead balloon when I walk into any interview. I was going to have them replaced but never found the time as I always thought of my job and how it would impact my clients. Silly me....they were not thinking about my welfare one bit, just the bottom line. There are 4 of us in my office (out of 14) losing our jobs.
My position was not eliminated. They are just going with someone younger and cheaper and changing the title and some of the duties. They don't think I understand what is happening but I most certainly do. There is no way they can fool someone of my experience and they know it. They avoid looking at me.
So, anyway, just wanted to let you all know why I am not on much. I had a gut feeling this was coming but it was still a shock when they told me yesterday. We all had to reapply between two offices and there were 36 jobs for 55 employees. I am old and expensive and use the health insurance more than the young'uns....so not unexpected but still unfair as hell!
To all of you, stay strong. I have NEVER wanted to smoke more than I do right now. But, I won't...just for today....
0 -
Oh April - I am sooooo sorry. I'm going to send you a PM.
0 -
April , I am so very sorry to hear that . This whole world seems so unfair . Finding employment keeping health insurance and all the rest , my heart goes out to you Hugs ..
Minus .. I am thinking end of september .. same as for Florida .. unless something major happens .. Im calling everyday ect .. the neighbor lady at her house caught me outside one day and told me I needed to move there and care for mom .. and Yes that mean drunk is still there ... he is a mess ... he drinks from 8 am until he goes to bed .He is up on xygen 24 hours a day and cannpt breathe either he is also maybe 75 pounds ... he sits drinking beer and eating potato chips and pissing in a urinal and it is so gross ...one day he told me dont cook because im not going to eat and neither is your mother .. I was like oh really, you speak for my mom now ... im cooking .... and my mom came to me in the bedroom adn said im sorry for laying down but my feet hurt and are swollen and I cant breathe .. I said don't apologize mom if you dont feel good lay down ..but you were always strong and stood your ground .. Why do you let him controll you this way ... it makes me mad and sad .. she said I dont know .. I gotta lay down now dont be mad at me ... I had to go for a walk to the park because I just cried ...there is no way to get her away from him ... she wont leavce .. she is an RN and in her mond she needs to care for him .. in reality she cannot .. but that is her thought process ,I guess because theyhave been together fpr so long ... UGH !!!!! so I have to hang on day by day until I can get there .. and in order to get Medical records or information she would have to put me down as someone they can speak to because oif HIPPA they wont tell me anything ... and she wont put me on the papers .. she dont want me to know much ....I dont even know the doctors names .. he has her so nuts she cancelled whatever policy she had for funeral and signed up to be cremated no viweing ect in vegas because thats wgat he wants her to do .. Im so frustrated ... anyway im so sorry ...to vent ... hugs to everyone ..
Lisamarie
0 -
LisaMarie - vent as much as you want. As you know, this is a safe place to explode. Sorry that guy is still there. If you need to, maybe down the road, you can call Adult Social Services because he's emotionally abusing her. Or oops, maybe it's his house? Does you Mother know that you're planning to move? If she won't allow you to be notified of her medical conditions or talk to her docs, I do hope you're not setting yourself up for endless arguments & fights. Not sure what good you can do if you're not in the loop & fighting both of them every day. And the stress wouldn't be good for either of you. It might be good to make another trip out there & insist to see the docs before you ship your car.
0 -
Minus ,
My mom knows I am going there .. she understands .. and yes it is his house .. he wanted to put her name on the house years ago but she didnt want that .. she just pays half the bills ..shares all the bills I guess. I don't know about the doctors and how to go about getting info . I know I am going to be under stress , I already am .. but I do know one thing . I promised her i would take care of her and never let anything happen .. so I will stay true to my word .. the biggest fear is going there alone. I guess I must put on my big girl panties and do what needs to be done . I am in the process of getting the state of nevada nursing reciprocity .. funny I just got Florida .. I am also so depressed ..I have no desire to pick up a cigarette .. but i do feel like drinking sometimes but I dont ... neither a drink or a cigarette will make me feel better .. thats just life ... and it is coming up oin 2 years since my son passed away and ive just been an emotional mess ... thanks for listening ,,'
Hi Bosom, April, Judy , VJ .. and to all those out there still trying to fight the fight .. stay strong .. better days ahead ..
xoxoxoxox
Lisa Marie
0 -
Sending hugs LisaMarie. It is a hard time for you. And sending congrats. Two years w/o drinking & smoking. That's a real accomplishment.
I know you have to go, but am worried about him blocking your access to your Mom. I'm sure you don't plan to stay there. Maybe she'll agree to leave him & come live with you at some point - and pay half of your bills. Oh well, down the road. So sending even more hugs.
Judi has truly disappeared. I've sent a PM and no answer so far. A lady from a different thread thought she had her phone number, but no luck. Hopefully she's OK and is just in Florida for the summer. April is taking a break. We're thinking of you April. Bosum - how is your Mother & how are you doing? VJ - what's the excitement out in sunny CA? It's still on my bucket list to get to San Diego one day.
Actually LisaMarie, the son & DIL of a good friend of mine recently moved to Las Vegas. If you're still there in a couple of years, I will no doubt be making a trek out to see her.
0 -
Minus .. thank you for all the support .. hope judi is okay .. and I made a mistake its been almost 3 years with no smoke or drink...yeah me .. I stilll feel like it though times are getting o hard
0
