Stop Smoking Support Thread
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I quit smoking in Dec. 2017 and was doing very well. I've only smoked on and off for about half my life, but that's still a very long time.
I was diagnosed with Cancer in April and, guess what?! With the associated stress, I started smoking again. Duh!
I was honest and told my oncologist about this; she quickly turned her head to me and then we kinda chuckled together...because we know when most people are diagnosed with cancer the first thing they do is stop smoking.
Anyway, I'm trying to quit again. I used the Quit Smoking app, which I really found helpful and simple to use. No nag stuff like so many apps today. I don't know if I should start all over or tweak the starting date.
My best to all of you who are trying to quit!
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viewfinder - welcome. thanks for your post. Sorry that cancer caught up with you AFTER you'd quit smoking to get healthier. We understand the stress part. Good story about your doc chuckling. Obviously someone who understands the REAL world. Hope the app works. I believe VJ is still offering her book for free to anyone on this thread.
I actually quit 7/11/07 (or that's the last time I quit anyway). At the time I told everyone that if I were diagnosed with a life threatening disease, the first thing I would do is buy a pack of cigarettes IMMEDIATELY - as soon as I left the docs office. Funny when I was diagnosed with BC the first time in 2011, I forgot all about my plan. Then when I had recurrent BC in 2013 someone reminded me. I don't think I could have gotten through chemo & rads if I had been either smoking or trying to quit at that time so I just kept on trucking - as a self acknowledged smoker who is not smoking.
Never the less - it's sadly hilarious that I quit smoking, quit drinking cokes, started going to a gym 4 days a week, dropped junk food, ate more vegetables, walked up to 5 miles every day, retired from a stressful job to work at a fun part time vocation - healthier than I'd ever been in my entire life and 4 years later....boom. I told my oncologist that it was all the poisons in the cigarettes that had been killing the cancer cells all of my life and once I removed those poisons, the cancer cells went crazy. He thought it was mildly amusing.
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It is a great story Minus, ironic, but such is life too. I smoked my last cigarrette on August 6, so this is my 4th week without cigarrets, and so far the hardest, specially today the cravings are strong, but trying to think in something else, and so far no cigarrets today.
I should confess that I have been taking a puff or two every 3 or 4 days, as my doughter still smokes and sometimes I just cannot resist, however it tastes like crap, I suppose that is not just the chantix, it always did... she is now smoking outside and it helps.
My surgery is now scheduled for sept 11th, if all the insurance papers get ready before.. docs are happy with me for quitting, hope this post-op is better than the later.
Hugs and cheers for all the smokers who are not smoking and for the ones trying, too
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Hi , not a smoker but wanted to pop in and cheer you girls on. Happy smokefree life.
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Minus , yes I will be home recovering for about 3 weeks .. my surgery is scheduled Sept 17th ... very nervous but not smoking ... miss you all Hugs
xoxoxoxo
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie - my hysterectomy was the BEST thing imaginable. I had weird bleeding like you, and lots of pain from fibroids. I was around 45 when I had that surgery. I just can't imagine why in the world I waited & put if off for so long. It was soooooo wonderful after I recovered. No bleeding, no pain!!! Lots of energy.
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I quit smoking almost exactly 17 years ago -- right before 9/11! And I didn't even start again with the country in mourning and under threat. But it took me 15 years to quit -- no joke. I smoked two packs a day from age 14 until age 24, and then I tried to quit for the next fifteen years or so. On and off, I would chew nicotine gum like it was going out of style, start smoking again, quit again, OMG. But I can tell you I have had no interest in smoking in 17 years. When people say "how did you do it?" I say: "It's too hard to quit. Don't bother," and I'm only half-kidding. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, addicted in his life to cocaine and heroin, when asked what was the hardest drug to quit? Nicotine.
As I think of hints I might jump in just to offer them. One of the biggest for me was that you can't quit smoking and not COMPLETELY change your life. You have to COMPLETELY change it. Your house cannot smell like smoke, your clothes cannot smell like smoke, you car cannot smell like smoke. After just about two weeks you will smell something that used to seem "normal" to you and you will realize it REEKS and smells like an ashtray and you will hate it. Cigarettes dampen your sense of smell, so when you get that sense of smell back you suddenly realize how disgusting the smell is. It helps to keep you from smoking -- because you don't want your clean house, your clean clothes, and your clean car to smell like an ashtray.
Also, cigarettes have something in them that numbs the lungs. So you don't realize that your lungs are hurting until you stop. Part of the craving for me was wanting the numbing crap because my lungs were healing and letting me know how much pain they had been in.
Drink lots of water, and come up with a new drink that is not something you drank when you smoked. For me it was club soda or mineral water. I didn't drink that when I smoked. So I drank it all the time when I quit. Change your routine. Movies in movie theaters helped because who smokes in a movie theater? And then lying on the floor in a quiet room with music and just concentrating on your breathing. Acknowledge the craving feeling. It's there. It will go away.
Anyway, it's too hard to quit don't try. OK JUST KIDDING. It is so freaking hard good for you for trying! If you have a cigarette just start over and don't give up. You got this!
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ipsy - thanks for the tips. It is so important to change up your habit patterns. I even had to give up coffee in the morning, not to mention a cocktail hour. I waited a month to see if the last quitting was going to take and then either washed every single item of my clothes or took them to the cleaners. And I had a company come in and clean my carpets & upholstered furniture & drapes. Since it was expensive, no way was I going to smoke again.
I agree with steven Tyler - nicotine is the hardest. Congrats on your 17 years!!!
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Hello everyone. Glad to see you all. This forum makes me feel less alone in my struggle. I am a little over 70 days now without smoking cigs. I am still using my ecigs that either have 0 nicotine or the one is 1.8. It seems silly but it works for me. I was doing really good but now that my surgery is over and I am going to find out my treatment plan on Wednesday (9/5) I want to smoke so bad. I am pretty anxious about what my treatment plan is going to be so my head thinks like LisaMarie said, that smoking would help me calm myself and help me get through this rough time. I have a pack of smokes still sitting out in my three seasons room for 70+ days where it gets 100 degrees that I know would make me choke if I even tried one so that is why I haven't fired one up yet. That and I want to tell the oncologist on Wednesday that I quit 2 days after I saw him last. So for today thru Wednesday I will not smoke.
xo
Carol
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CarolAnnie - you go girl. 70 days is marvelous. More than two months!!! Of course we're tempted but what a great goal to be able to tell your MO what you've accomplished. Please do check back and tell us about your treatment plan after Wedesday.
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CarolAnnie -- 70 days is a long time. You're through the roughest part. Just imagine having to start over again at the beginning and go through all of those stages! Smoking will never "help" you with anything, even calming you (in actuality it is a stimulant, not a sedative, so it is impossible to calm you; all it calms is the withdrawal symptoms from lack of your stimulant).
One of my triggers for starting again used to be something really upsetting happening: a bad break up, a lost job, etc. etc. Suddenly I realized: so something bad happens in my life, and I want to destroy my body to make myself feel better? Smoking is destructive of every cell in your body; there is not a single thing good about it -- it is completely 100% destructive. So destroying my body makes me feel better? I might as well cut myself. Once I realized that, it helped with cravings: Oh I'm sad, let's stab myself with a fork; oh he doesn't love me, let me use sandpaper on my arm. I can be very dramatic in my analogies, but that is literally what I would say to myself to get myself to see the ridiculousness of wanting to smoke when I was sad or angry.
I didn't have to quit smoking when I got a diagnosis. I feel like I had it easy compared to you guys. So nothing I say should make you feel like I'm implying you're being weak or silly. Honestly, I don't know if I could've quit on a dime just because I got a diagnosis. So you guys are stronger than me. I just hope some of my tips might help!
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Minus and ispy thanks for the tips and encouragement. I laughed out loud reading about sticking myself with a fork or using sand paper on my arm. Haha. Makes perfect sense. That's the hard part in craving something that is so bad for you! I will keep plugging along. Being able to smell was the first thing I noticed, I figured after smoking for 40 years my sense of smell was long gone and never to be seen again. lol I also think my skin looks better already. Glad I stopped in here today. Tomorrow I will think about the sandpaper when I think I want to throw in the towel and purchase a pack.
LisaMarie, I had a hysterectomy in 2013. I was 54 years old and post menopause. They used the DaVinci robot on my abdomen it only took the surgeon 13 minutes to remove my uterus, cervix and both ovaries. The surgery and recovery was not bad at all. I took one week off work. When I did go back I only worked half day for the first week. I am the tech coordinator for a school district so I do a ton of walking and fair amount of lifting computers and such. I hope your experience is like mine and you recovery quickly. Good job on not smoking during such a stressful time.
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My appointment was postponed yesterday until the the 19th because they didn't order my oncotype test. Ugh. So we wait another two weeks for the treatment plan. This is the second time this has happened to me during this journey so far. There was a fair amount of disappointment with this revelation that came just as we were ready to walk out the door for the appointment. My cousin who is a PA was meeting us there and luckily hadn't left yet either so at least we saved our gas and time. Everything happens for a reason is what I keep telling myself. Good Lord, I am never going to get my treatments going at this rate though.
At least I didn't smoke. I figured out why I want to smoke so goll darn bad! School started! My job stress is over the top right now. I realized it today when my stomach was in knots there and I wanted to smoke so bad. I am going to fight my way through this one day at a time. Today I thought about actually buying some smokes. I visualized myself going in the store and doing it. I know if I did smoke I would beat myself up so bad. But then you have to ask yourself, is it worth coming undone over? If you feel yourself starting to unravel and you know that getting back into your old habits and routines would help you stabilize yourself to get through the tough stuff with the cancer treatments wouldn't you do it? I am hoping I don't have to make that decision but I have come pretty close in the past few days.
Hope you are all doing good. Enjoy the weekend. Hope your team wins if you are a football fan. We are going to the UofM game in Ann Arbor this weekend. GO BLUE.
Carol
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Carol
I would raise 57 kinds of hell with the Dr office, actually I have when things like that happen. . I know they are busy people but out lives depend on them doing there jobs. I would call them and demand they call the testing clinic to put a rush on your test . Im not usually a demanding person but there was so many screw up when I was going through treatment I got to the point where I requested copies of all my test result and keep them in a folder., my daughter recorded every apt and made notes at every clinic........It has saved me many time . Still to this day I have test results that my Dr office never manage to get and that is just unacceptable in my eyes.
good luck
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CarolAnnie that truly sucks. I am a planner, and I like to know what the plan is. How frustrating! Glad you didn't stab yourself with a fork to make yourself feel better
I'm dealing with severe back pain right now, and my MRI shows some pretty alarming changes in my spine and in my spinal cord that we're trying to get to the bottom of. Meanwhile I'm in excruciating pain. So I decided to diet. I was a skinny-minny and an exercise fiend in my 20's and 30's, but we all know you hit 40 and if you don't keep it up it just gets harder. I could lose 20 pounds, but I could really lose 80 pounds. So I decided on 80! So in the middle of all this pain, and confusion (oh I have skin cancer too now), I am STARVING. I'm eating 1400 calories of really good nutrition per day, but I am 5'11" and I weigh 260 pounds, so 1400 calories is really low for my body. But the only thing I can think to do to contribute to helping my body to get better is to lose weight. Being overweight isn't the cause of my problems, but it isn't helping. It's like making my back carry an 80 pound sack of flour up the stairs and around all day long -- my back would probably do better if I sat the 80 pound sack of flour down. So that is what I'm trying to do.
And when I found out I had skin cancer the other day I did not eat ice cream, but boy did I want to! So I do understand facing difficulty and not having the thing that gives you comfort. But it is also the thing we can do to help our bodies to get better. So don't you smoke, and I won't eat ice cream!
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Honey Beaw, I hear ya. I was not happy about it at all. I have been set back for a several weeks now due this crap. I want to get going with the treatments so I can put it behind me. I am keeping a binder and my cousin records the visits so we have that part covered. I guess if I have any more tests, I will need to double check with them to make sure everything was ordered.
I_Spy, I was able to avoid stabbing myself with a fork and so happy for it too. Friday looks a lot better then Wednesday did. I am so sorry to hear you are in pain with your back. There is nothing worse than being down in the back. Losing weight is something I have been considering too since hormones are tied to your body fat. However, I am not going to try too hard right now with everything else that is going on. Holy cats girl you are one strong woman! I love how you set your goal high and you are making changes to help yourself intuitively. You have a deal, you don't eat the ice cream and I will not smoke. Next week is going to be better. : )
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Hi all, I feel like crap- picked up a stomach bug from 1 of the grandsons
. I've been lucky over the years watching gkids not catching too much from them so I guess I shouldn't complain. Thanks I,spy and everyone for the tips and updates on how everyone is doing! I may not post but do read it all.
One of my issues in not smoking is I want to eat all the time, I do good til I first eat then look out!!!! Unless I am busy, I'm getting better at doing something after the gkids leave the past week to keep busy- mowing, laundry ( still trying to wash everything in house/closets) to get rid of smoke smell!
I decided in order to get my eating under control to order Nutrisystem, it helped me years ago to lose weight. I received a card giving me a discount so I can afford it for a couple months! So the money I saved from smoking will pay for it:) and I will have less stress about gaining weight
But the most important news is I threw away my pack of cigarettes in the freezer, it was just too tempting to smoke one!! So I removed the temptation. Today I choose not to smoke!
I hope everyone is having a great weekend, it is beautiful outside here, I'm stuck inside but am enjoying the breeze coming thru the windows and the sound of the wind chimes!
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Belle - good for you. The temptations is gone from the freezer. And I think the Nutrisystem idea is a good one. I joined Curves and went every day for awhile. Eventually graduated to Bally/LA Fitness. I still go at least 3x a week. Another of our BCO members joined weight watchers and has found that to be a good support.
One thing I really loved was all the extra money. It paid to have my carpets & drapes & upholstered furniture cleaned. And for all the clothes that couldn't go in the washing machine to go to the cleaners. Once those bills were paid - wow, I still had extra money - so for the first time in my life I started buying some clothes.
JUST FOR TODAY I WILL NOT SMOKE ... although last night at 3am when I couldn't sleep I seriously wished I could.
LisaMarie - one more week to wait. I hope you are spending some time setting up your place to make recovery easier (like frozen stuff in the freezer), and convincing your Mother that you won't be able to help her for a couple of weeks. Truly you will have to focus only on YOU for awhile. I'm assuming the job is understanding, since I know you are a valuable addition to their staff.
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MinusTwo: yay a deal! no ice cream for me no smokes for you! and that extra money must be a nice bonus.
Belleeast it is really hard not to eat when you quit smoking. To be honest, I felt like "As long as I don't smoke I can have anything else I want (except alcohol because that makes you want to smoke)." I had a great nutritionist, and after I hadn't smoked in years she said: "I know you only drink two cups of coffee a day, but I'd really like you to stop."
I said: "Oh, okay. I mean, I'll start smoking again but I'll quit the coffee."
She never asked me again (and now they've done studies and found coffee has some great qualities and I only drink two cups in the morning). But I was like: "I QUIT SMOKING. LEAVE ME ALONE."
Sometimes it helps to stock up on really healthy but tasty food: cashew butter, carrots, airpopped popcorn, celery, Trader Joe's seaweed snacks, and as long as you're eating NUTRITION (as opposed to junk), you can eat as much as you want. Until you get the smoking cravings to go away.
Everybody else you got this!
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I quit smoking (again!) on July 7, which also happened to be my 10 year original cancerversary. Then about 3 weeks ago I was at a social gathering, had a bit much to drink, and smoked 4 cigarettes. I paid for the drinks the next day when I realized that I really am too damn old to drink like that! But I’ve been paying for the smoking ever since. I want a cigarette!!!
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Oh Sheila - sorry for your lapse. We hear you girl.
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I'm here! I'm Here! Hello to all of the new members of this thread. I am still smoke free (at least for today) and at almost 5 1/2 years I am doing well.
LisaMarie, so good to see you posting. Minus, I missed you! Where is Bosum? Haven't seen her. I know I don't check in often enough. I am just so busy in my job but I do lurk occasionally! I just don't want to get caught on the website..LOL
Hugs to all of you. Where is Judi??? Gotta run, boss is in the office today. I promise will check in soon. Lisa Marie, prayers for a speedy recovery from your surgery.
XOXO to all!
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April, April, April !!! So glad to see you. 5-12 years - CONGRATS. When you get a chance, please update us either here, or on the dinner thread about your new job & I think you moved also? Bosum has a new name. I'll PM you. Judi is missing in action - but i wonder if she'd answer a PM?
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Hi all, April congrats on the 5 1/2 yrs! Sheila, I hear you! I quit June 6th then had a lapse and smoked 2 cigs a couple weeks ago. I still count June 6th as my quit date! It helps me stay on the straight and narrow!! Lol
My nutrisystem arrived the other day but haven't started it yet because of the stomach bug I still have
. I'm eating a bland diet! Good news I've lost 5lbs of the weight I have gained the last couple of months! I have to admit I have been tempted to smoke since I can't eat or drink much but have resisted! The bug is not as bad as it was thank goodness! Hope everyone is doing well! Just for today I choose not to smoke!
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oh, believe me, July 7 is still my quit date too!! Lo
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Hello Ladies , I am sorry I havent been around much .. hello to all the new ladies . lots of support here ,, I am still not smoking ... I cant believe that the stress of moving here to Vegas knocked me down for a bit ... but i know I was much happier not smoking .. It is true that you have to change a lot when you quit ... it can feel overwhelming giving up certain things, but well worth it .. I am so happy that i am not smoking ... I feel so much better .. as far as smell I can smell the nasty smell when someone smokes and i hate it n my clothes ... but as far as getting my taste and smell back ... it really never came back ... i have some taste and some smell to strong odor but other than that not much .... I am still happy that I dont smoke ... to pick up a smoke after 3 years without was devastating for me ... I felt like a failure .. but i dont know how long its been since i stopped ... I also know i didnt smoke long and knew i had to stop again.. I watch my mom struggle for breath every day and it kills me.. I cry a lot ...
Minus . yes getting ready for surgery .. get blood work today and hospital registration ... My doc said the surgery will be about 45 minutes ... and i can spend the night or not ..it's my decision he said . I think it may be best to stay the night ... as far as work he said 3 week recovery .. I have a very physical job .. so I need to heal ... i asked if my hot flashes would go away and he said they will most likley stay same .. I am so sad to hear that as they have been so bad and so many that i have been crying ... and so uncomfortable .. I hate them ... he put me on zoloft 25 mg he said that it helps the hot flashes .. so time will tell .. I just got it so I will start this morning ...
My boyfriend will be helping with my mom while I am recovering .. I am so grateful to have him in my life ...
I miss you all so much ... April good to see you ...
xoxoxoxoxo
Lisamarie
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Ooooo - LisaMarie - a new boyfriend? How exciting. Do tell!!! Where did you meet? Does he cook? And vacuum? Fantastic that he'll help with your Mom.
I agree - by all means spend the night if your doc will sign off on it. We need to allow ourselves to be taken care of sometimes. And (ahem) - not pointing fingers but we're not 25 anymore so healing takes a bit longer. Will you be in the hospital where you work?
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LisaMarie - I believe tomorrow is the big surgery day. As the BCO saying goes, we will be in your pocket. And we will certainly be sending good thoughts. Hope everything goes well. Let us know when you can.
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Hi everyone , I had surgery yesterday .. total hysterectomy .. came home a few hours after .. not much sleep since i been home , the pain is awful. I am taking pain meds every 4 hours as directed . and zofran for nausea. BF has been amazing . tending to me . i cant poop.. too much info i know .. but its so painful.. pee every 30 minutes ... thank you for being in my pocket during the surgery . I didnt have it at the hospital i work at , my surgeon works through a different one ...drinking lots of water , and i have a great appetite . so im eating well.. hope everyone is doing well .. lots of hugs
xoxoxo
Lisamarie
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LisaMarie - Glad that you're done and home. Sorry the pain meds aren't doing their job. Can you get your doc to switch to a different prescripton? Living in pain keeps your body tense and lengthens the healing process.
As for constipation, pain meds are a major contributor. Some anesthesias can also cause a problem. I'm surprised they didn't give you at least Colace in the hospital (stool softener). The only thing that worked for me was Senokot-S (a mild laxative with a stool softener). Both are over the counter and places like Target & Walmart have their own generic for the Senokot-S.
Don't let it go too long. (or rather don't go too long without 'going') It's possible to get severely impacted. And you sure don't want the consistency to be so solid it might 'pull' your stitches.
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