Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
-
Jancie,
Thanks for the update! I am so happy to hear that you are doing well today and look forward to any updates you may have later (but only if you are up to it). Hope your support group meeting goes well. Sometimes being around people who just get what you've been through so that you don't have to wear the 'happy' face feels really good!
MMMMMMM.... Potato soup sounds soooo good! I bet the cheese and bacon bits put it over the top (think I just drooled a bit... lol)! I am a big fan of soup and could eat it most days of the week if my family would let me get away with it!
Your living room sounds beautiful! Chocolate brown is such a nice rich color. We got new family room furniture while I was going through treatment and it is a chocolate brown leather. I love it! You mentioned tan and chocolate brown. Did you do an accent wall?
I have a little bit of a favor to ask you. I need some advice. I think a few of us are going to try to cook some meals for my friend's Mom and her husband so that she can have meals in the freezer for the times that she doesn't feel well during chemo. I didn't have chemo so want to make sure that we are not doing something that may not be well received or, god forbid, even offensive. Do you think that would have been something that you would have appreciated? Was there anything in particular that would have tasted good to you? I don't know, maybe it's too soon to be thinking about this. I just want to do SOMETHING.
Anyhow.... Hope your evening is going well.
Jennifer
0 -
Hi Ladies, I have been in a weird mood lately and have not felt like being online, thus my absence. I am also addicted to caffine and have been going without it due to shortage of funds. I am use to drinking 4 liters a day and have gone to zero. I am thinking I should continue to quit but I can not wait until payday, this Thursday
Jennifer, I did not go through Chemo either so I am not sure what would be appropriate for your friend. I have heard of friends cooking the meals for friends and to me it sounds great.
Jancie, Jennifer may have a good opinion on the Chantix causing you the depression. I know you think it has been a life saver, but you may want to check into it, especially since you have not gone through that depression before. I know how you feel and where the depression can take you and it is not a good place to be. I had the depression so bad that all I could think about was suicide and if I ended then I would not have to feel the pain I was feeling emotionally. My doctor finally got my medications correct and I no longer think that way. So be sure to follow up on it.
Evelyn
0 -
Jennifer - as far as meals for chemo - everyone reacts to chemo differently and there are so many types of chemo. I was told on Adriamycin/Cytoxin that I would get mouth sores and have a metal taste in my mouth so be sure to eat with plastic utinsels. Neither one of those happened to me but I did get so many other side effects.
You do lose your sense of taste. So what happens eventually is that everything like chicken or pork chops taste like cardboard. Seriously - no joke - it tastes as though you are eating cardboard.
Because you lose your sense of taste then you want more spice in your foods. And if you are the cook in the house (like me), that is not something that goes over well with the rest of the family. Remember, you are the one that can't taste so you are over spicing everything. I started craving Indian and Mexican food because those foods had spices that I could actually taste. Italian food is great, you can make a meat lasagna and then freeze it - it will even taste better when they are ready to thaw and heat up. Another great casserole dish is Tator Tot Casserole. If you have never heard of this, let me know and I will post the recipe - it is a winner!
Soups are great - such as Lentil soup made with bacon, onion, celery, carrots, thyme, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt.
There was a period of 3 weeks where I wanted to eat nothing but oranges and bananas. Nothing else tasted good to me. I think it was the acidity in the oranges that tasted so great.
Where I made a huge mistake was not being aware of the fact I should not be eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice during chemo and now Tamoxifen because it counter acts against the drugs and I was drinking at least 16 to 24 ounces of grapefruit juice all through chemo. Might explain why I had allergic reactions to nausea medication.
What you have to understand most is that you have to be flexible. What sounds great and tastes ok one week may not taste good at all the 2nd week. I LOVE CHOCOLATE. You have never dealt with a more irate person than when chocolate started tasting bad. I was so ticked off.
My congregation made dinner for us every Wednesday night (chemo nights) and the 2 nights (Fri and Sat) following chemo when I was at my worst and they did this for 4 months and we have a small congregation. One of the ladies was a sweetheart - she totally organized the meals and had a typed list of who was coming by on what date, etc. She reminded the members so they wouldn't forget. She put in so much effort and planning to help me through this.
Dutchy - you might be right about the Chantix. I am going to look into it. I also think it is a combination of the fact that I just can't handle any more crap on my plate. My plate is full now that cancer is on it and I just don't want to deal with the other bullcrap any longer.0 -
Hi Dutchy,
So glad to hear from you and glad that you didn't get 'earthquaked'! I was starting to wonder!
Giving up caffeine can be a tough one. Supposedly, from what I read, nicotine increases the rate of metabolism of caffeine so when you give up nicotine, caffeine affects you twice as much so in essence you only need half of what you did before. Now, have I actually seen that to be true? Not so much, but I have always been a bit hyper and never was a huge caffeine person to begin with.
I hope that you will go a little easy on yourself and not try to give up too many things at once! Think of all the money that you are saving by not buying cigarettes and maybe switch some of that money to allowing yourself some caffeine!
Last time you posted you were having your meeting with your surgeon at UCLA! What is your next step? Hopefully it is approval from your insurance company and a set date for your surgery! Let us know! Are you sleeping any better with the Ambien? I hope so.
I also thought the meal thing was a great idea but, I have known this woman (my friend's mom) since I was in 7th grade. She was a tough woman back then working at night (when a lot of women didn't) while her husband worked days so that someone would be home with the kids. I just don't want her to feel weird that some of us 'kids' (ha, i wish) are wanting to take care of her!
I may start another thread to get some ideas of what to do/not do. We'll see where the next few days take us.
Take care and know you are in my thoughts!
Jennifer
0 -
Hi Ladies,
Just wanted to drop a line to say I have 4 weeks and 5 days and doing well. I have been at the computer all day at work and not in the mood to be online now that I am at home. I hope you all are doing well.
Evelyn
0 -
Jancie,
Thanks for the ideas. I would never have thought to go the spicier route but that does make sense. Guess I was thinking keep it bland (shows how much I know)! I thought about italian food but she is a little old Italian woman (small but mighty!) I can just hear her saying 'Hmmmph, this is good but not what I would have made! And ya know what, she would be right! She is a great cook and I don't come close! BUT, if she can't taste, I may have a prayer... LOL
I think what I'm getting is that we shouldn't get too far ahead with cooking and freezing things until we see what may appeal to her. As with so many things with this illness, it seems like it is a very individual thing as to what may taste good week to week or even day to day! I think what we will do is go week to week, bring it fresh, and ask her what it is she may like at the beginning of the week. Then some of the things that go over well, we can make and freeze. Great advice and thanks!
I have never heard of Tator Tot Casserole but, would love the recipe, as well as the recipe for the lentil soup that you described. Soups are one of my favorite things and, from the ingredients, that one sounded great!
I hope that you have a FABULOUS time at your retreat this weekend! I will think of you with your personal chef and massages and want to hear all the details when you get back!
Dutchy,
WOW WOW WOW...... Congratulations on almost 5 weeks!!!! Did you ever think you would have come this far? I know I didn't think so when I first quit.
I completely understand that, when you are working, especially on the computer all day, that it wouldn't be your favorite thing to do at night! Do check in every so often to let us know how you are doing when you can. Especially when you get news on your reconstruction surgery or whenever you just need a little bit of support! We are here for you!
0 -
Hi Ladies! Congrat's on doing so well in your efforts to quit smoking...I will be celebrating 1 yr as a non-smoker on May 5th so it can be done...
0 -
Thank you o2bhealthy!!!
I am so happy for you and your soon to be 1 year anniversary of your quit smoking date! That is REALLY a milestone to CELEBRATE!!!
Love the new photo! You are looking great and, more importantly, I hope you are FEELING great as well!
I have just hit the 3 month mark and hope that I will continue to do well. There are still days that are hard but, overall, I am glad that I am done with smoking. I want to thank you for checking in from time to time on us "newbies" that are still in the early stages. It really does help to have someone who is a bit further down the path to help urge you on!
Monday is my first follow-up Mammogram/Ultrasound so I am a little nervous about that. I have felt the "I want a smoke" urge a bit more in the last couple of days but keep telling myself that smoking won't change anything. Just hope the news is good news on Monday and praying for strength to handle it if it's not.
0 -
Seasidememories, congratulations on your 3 months of not smoking. Hang in there and do not have that smoke because it will not change anything. I hope your follow up mammogram/Ultrasound turns out good. I will be praying for you.
O2bhealthy, congratulations on your upcoming birthday. I know you are feeling healthier and you are looking great in your new picture. I am actually starting to feel better and it is nice not to cough up the nasty flem in the morning with that smoker cough. I have walked 5 miles today and yesterday and also went to the gym. So things do get better without cigarettes. Take care everyone
0 -
Dutchy, Seaside, Jancie......congrats to all of you. Sounds like you are winning the fight and it is such a tough addiction. I made it three weeks....now am smoking like 1-3 cigarettes a day....all in the afternoon and evening when I get home from work. See my oncologist next week to see which one of us is going to have a stroke first...know I have to stop...can't get myself to give those three up. Tomorrow I'll try to stick to gum only all day. Sorry I am not a good example but you sound like you are hanging in there and toughing it out. Good for you, it takes a lot of work and effort to avoid those smokes.
0 -
GML - I will tag along with you! I did good until day 17 - had a smoke - then on day 55 had a smoke and this weekend I was a very bad girl! LOL
I was on a retreat with BC women in Park City and my roomate smoked and I had bought a pack for the weekend. Why? I can't explain it - I just did. I didn't know she smoked until she borrowed my jacket the next day and found my lighter and then told me that she did. We were the only two out of 12 women that smoked. However here it is Monday and Tuesday and I have been clean! So I am back to not smoking again. I just wish I didn't have this weakness here and there.
0 -
Tuesday night - at this time I would be dying for a smoke but tonight I seem to be doing ok. Tomorrow I have so much scheduled - in fact the next 4 weeks are going to be pretty tough on me as stage 1 of my home remodel completion date was to be this Friday and now it got pushed off until Monday. Then I have to start on another bedroom (one that we have never remodeled) and get it ready for FIL while my hubby is gone. I think I am going to sneak in some hardwood flooring in that room while my dh is gone. I have some materials left so it couldn't cost that much more right? It is only a 11'x10' room. If I get that room done that means the entire first floor will have been remodeled since we moved in 10 years ago. We haven't really touched the basement other than building out the new bedroom down there, everything else is pretty much existing.
I have to get that bedroom done in 4 weeks, new ceiling and wall texture, new paint, new blinds, new closet doors, new flooring. I will be pushing it since I will do 80% of the work myself..
0 -
Friday has rolled around and nobody is here. I am all alone in this thread
I have been behaving all week long. No side steps at all even though yesterday I was dying at one time but then worked through it.
Dutchy - Seaside - GML - -2bhealthy - and the others - where are you?
0 -
Jancie,
Haven't forgotten about you!! Just have had a lot going on this week. Had my first follow-up mammogram and U/S on Monday. Mammo seemed to go all right and got the all clear from the radiologist to come back in 1 year (although breast surgeon says 6 months but, radiologist dude doesn't know that).
Results of the ultrasound maybe(?) not as good. Wants to see me back in 6 months. No idea what was seen but I do know the tech took quite a few snapshots during the procedure. There were times that she was quite chatty during the U/S but then there were times when she became silent. I really don't know what to make of the whole thing. Maybe it's standard procedure after treatment?
I did call the breast center today and got a call back that the doctor (or one of the nurses) will call on Monday or Tuesday to go over the results. Crap!!!!!!!!! Back to the waiting game that I sooooooooooooooo loved the first time around! This SUCKS!!!
Anyhoooooo.... Still working to get some of the work around the yard done. All of the junk that I didn't have time for during my 'summer from hell' last year is still there to be done this year! I must say that the weather has really been co-operating this year and, even though I feel like I am behind, this is the earliest that this stuff has gotten done in a long time! And it does give me some alone time that I wouldn't normally get
My friend's Mom had her surgery last week and they found that the cancer (ovarian) has spread to her intestines and (possibly) lungs. Not a good situation!!!
Sorry to hear about your smoking weekend!! But, I do hope that the retreat was good and left you felling refreshed!! Glad to hear that this week has found you better able to deal with the not smoking!
I did a quit meter check on myself today and was surprised (and happy) to see that I have NOT spent $750.00 and have not smoked 1800 cigarettes (that was shocking to me) since I quit. If there was ever a week I wanted to smoke since I stopped, this would have been the one!
GML,
How'd your day go with the going back to the gum? Hopefully you're doing well! I used your line today when, talking to my husband about REALLY wanting a smoke, I said "how bad could a stroke really be?" He was NOT amused!...., I do OK day-to-day but, this waiting on results thing for the first time without smoking is Kiiiiiiiiiling me!
Dutchy,
Haven't heard from you lately! Hope everything is going well for you!!! Pop in when you can and let us know how you are doing!
Hope you are all having a good night!
Jennifer
0 -
Hi All: I stopped smoking a long, long time ago, but picked that habit back up while suffering pain and immobility (and brain fog - smoking helps me concentrate) from drug side effects. I'm not ready to quit quite yet, but plan to soon. I was pleasantly surprised to find this thread and find that I can get support for that here, too. Your posts have gotten me thinking about quitting sooner rather than later. I'll keep checking in for inspiration from you all.
0 -
Sorry Jancie....am back to work now and haven't had as much time to get on. Sorry you felt lonely on the thread! I don't know how you do all that work remodeling without smoking. Whenever I did work like that, smoking was my "treat" when I had a break. Seaside...thanks for asking....feel free to use my line anytime. I didn't do well. Still chewing the gum and not smoking at all until about 5 PM and then having 1-3 (although usually 3) cigarettes throughout the night. Oh well, I don't think the blood clot risk is THAT high...it's not like I'm sedentary or anything. I will tell the oncologist when I see her on Tuesday and see how that goes. Not well I suspect. Seaside I don't envy you at all....waiting on something like that would drive me mad for a cigarette. I'm hoping that you get good news...and keep us posted. Good for you that you are able to avoid smoking. Hang in there all!
GML
0 -
Hi ladies, I am finding it hard to get online because my son is always using his laptop and it was his laptop that I had been using. Plus after a day at the computer at work I find it difficult to get on line. I have to give you ladies credit for me still being smoke free because it was with all of your support that helped me to do it this far. This morning on the way to work I was thanking God for all of your help and just have to let you know how grateful I am.
Welcome SKRnVA, When I first found this site I was just thinking about quiting because I was going to be having breast reconstruction and that was one of the requirements. Thanks to these ladies, I did it and now have 5 weeks and 6 days. My cravings are not even that bad anymore. So keep coming back and when you are ready we will be here for you.
Seasidememories, My prayers are with you for a clean result. Try not to read into the radiologist quietness cuz you will drive yourself crazy. Keep up the good work with not smoking and know that I am here for you although it has been hard getting this computer away from my son since he is home with a broken leg. I liked it better when he was at work and I had the computer to myself. Now he is watching videos all of the time.
Jancie, glad to hear you are behaving. Me too. I should be around this weekend cuz my son is back working and the laptop will be mine, all mine.
GML, hang in there cuz it does get easier.
0 -
GML,
Thanks for the encouragement! I really thought I had things kind of 'together' and was TOTALLY unprepared for how frightened I was really going to be going into round 1 of post-treatment testing.
I did really well until I showed up for my appointment and then it was like everything was moving in slow motion (almost dream-like). I think it just kind of brought back all of the bad memories of the last time I was there and getting my 'bad news'.
Guess I was kind of hoping that it would be cut and dried. Good news or bad but delivered quickly! Didn't get that but, that has been my journey the whole way. Lots of grays but never a black or white. That's OK! Ya play the cards you're dealt and this too shall pass!
Still wanting to smoke but, cracked open a bottle of wine instead
. Feeling MUCH better!!Will let you all know how things are when I find out.
For me the evening/night cigarettes were the WORST to give up. When I had cut back right before quitting completely I would save the few I was still smoking for the night time. Late afternoons and evenings are still my hardest times. I did walk on the treadmill in the late afternoon/early evening to combat the cravings early on. It did work. After those cravings faded so did the treadmill workouts
. Gotta get back to that soon! Hopefully all goes well with your docotr visit on Tuesday! Let us know.
Jennifer
0 -
Seaside - I remember that first mammo/US after completing treatment (for me it was Jan 2010) and even though I took a couple of Lortab and a valium - it didn't help at all. The lortab did to some extent relieve the pain of having your boobies squished but the anxiety was about to kill me.
So they take pictures, put me in a room and say they need more pictures - well I lost it - just bawled. After that they wanted to do an US - I was still bawling - just waiting to hear the news that the cancer had come back but how could it - didn't I kill it with all that harsh chemo? My brain was going crazy.
Long story short - it is called scansiety - that is my made up word. I have talked to women 13 years out from diagnosis and they said the anxiety doesn't get any better even after all of that time. With all going on around my home I get a notice that I need to schedule another mammo for June. I am ignoring it for now - it is only April.
Sorry to hear about your friend's mom - I am sure that must have touched you quite deeply yourself.
SKR - we are all trying to quit - some do better than others but we don't beat each other up for failing and we are learning through this thread to not beat ourselves up if we have a lapse in judgement.
Be back later - dinner is ready
0 -
Dutchy!!!!
So glad to hear from you! I know what you mean about sharing a computer. I do the same thing with my 16 year old son. Sometimes it's a pain in the errrrrrrr..... neck! How did your son break his leg?
I am so glad that we have helped you! YOU have done the same for me! It is really a good thing to have someone to be accountable to (helps to keep us (me) honest). I find it to be really amazing that, even though none of us have met, we do care about each other and will be there to catch each other if we fall!
I, too, am praying for good news early next week. I just WISH that things didn't need to be this stressful for me or anyone else. There's GOT to be a better way!
Happy thoughts only!!!!
BTW.... I'm not sure that you ever told us how your appointment went at UCLA! If you did, I apologize and will look back through the thread.. If you didn't tell us, I'd love to know how it went if you are willing to share!
Hope you have a GREAT weekend.
Jennifer
0 -
SKRinVA,
Welcome!
When you are ready, you will find a lot of good support here!
0 -
GML - oh the nights - those are really the hardest for me. I got over the morning coffee/smoke habit so much easier than the smoke before bed habit. 3 a day is good! You will get there on your own time. There is no time limit or expectancy of you being able to quit. Heck I tried 12 times before I felt somewhat successful. Most of the times I couldn't make it past Day 6 - this time it was Day 17 and then none until Day 55. For me that is great! I was a 1/2 pack a day smoker for 30 years.
Dutchy - you are the mom - take that computer away from him anytime you want! Sorry to hear about his broken leg but I know what you mean - you are glad when they get back to school/work or whatever - nice to have the house to yourself during the day. At least it is for me but then my dh works out of his office and he was here ALL FREAKING DAY LONG DRIVING ME NUTS!!!
He is trying to get info from me as I went to the therapist today. Nope.....not going to happen. The painter is upstairs painting my master bath - GREAT....I can't watch TV until he leaves because my office TV is not hooked up properly at the moment because DH tried to splice the cable to add another TV to dish network and so my TV is not working. DH is going to have to get another box for that new TV. Until he mounts the new TV tomorrow - we won't know for sure what is going to happen to my office TV. Oh and get this.....the new guest bedroom that his brother will be using has the only flat panel TV in the entire house and we have 4 TV's throughout the house. Sure wished he would get a flat panel TV for our bedroom.
0 -
Jancie, I would take the computer if it was mine but it belongs to him.
0 -
Jancie,
It IS kind of odd how EVERYTHING they say or do during these follow-up appointments takes on a whole different perspective! Like I said, the fact that the U/S technician became quiet at some points during my exam made me think 'Awwww crap' MAY have been that she was just tired of talking! I LIKE the word scansiety!!! It sums up the feeling EXACTLY!
One thing that happened while i was there... There was an older woman (I would guess in her 80's) there when I was waiting for my U/S. She was also there for an U/S and you could tell that she was absolutely terrified. I talked to her a little while in the waiting room (I'm not usually one to talk to people in a waiting room) telling her that it really wasn't any big deal and that, if the tech would allow it, she could come in to the room when I was having my U/S to see that it really isn't anything big. She declined and I think may have been a bit mortified but, I did see by the expression on her face that she seemed more relaxed. Guess she was thinking 'If this total stranger was willing to let me in the room while they scanned her boobs, how bad could this be?' LOL
Little did she know that, by the time you are done with diagnosis and treatment, EVERYONE at the hospital, with the possible exception of the parking lot guy, has seen your boobs...
Oh well... Hope your dinner was a good one!
Jennifer
0 -
You lose all of your modesty when you have breast cancer. Especially during radiation if not before because you are having strangers look at your boobs 5 times a week.
My breast surgeon asked me about 3 months ago if I was doing SBE's and I said "why? between you and my oncologist feeling me up all of the time I didn't think it was necessary!"
0 -
HI to all!
I haven't been in here in awile..wanted to catch up with you all. I never had my hip surgery cause my PCP insisted I get another opinion and the new Dr said all it was was a tear. Well he ran all kinds different tests and I just found out 2 weeks ago..that it looks like I do need a hip replacement!! I am so furious..I could have had it done in Dec. Oh well, it was mewho listenedto the new Doc cause I didn't want to do it...and I still don't.
On another note...2 days ago...it was 1 year of no smoking!! I can't believe I did it this far. I would hope that o2behealthy is right behind me...Anyone else in a non-smoking mode ?? Let's do a roll call just for the fun of it!
hugs and prayers
0 -
Candie congratulations on your year. I just checked my quit meter and it says I have 6 weeks and a day. It also says I have saved $228.38.
0 -
Hi Candie - So sorry about the up coming hip replacement...ughhhhh! My your recovery be swift and pain free.
On a lighter note, I am chiming in to announce that May 5th will be my 1 YEAR non-smoker anniversary!!!!
Way to go Dutchy!! 6 weeks!!!
0 -
Candie, O2BHealthy and Dutchy,
Clap, Clap, Clap, Whiiiiiiiistle, Clap Clap Clap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to all of you! It is definitely a tough thing to kick but all of you are proof that it can be done!
Candie, great idea on the roll call! I have wondered, while posting on this thread, how many of the ladies who were in on the beginning of this thread were successful and how they are doing today! Hope to hear from some of the ladies from last year whether or not they stuck with it. There is much to be learned from BOTH those who quit and those who didn't!
Dutchy,
6 weeks and a day PLUS almost $230.00! That is fabulous! How long did your surgeon say that he/she would require you be smoke free before your reconstruction? I know the doc I saw was thinking 3 months. If that is also true for you then your are HALF WAY THERE!!!!!! If it was any time shorter than that, you are EVEN closer to your goal!!! Remember your saying!!
Jancie and GML,
Hope you are both are having a good night!
!
0 -
Seaside, my doctor told me I needed to be nicotine free for 6 weeks prior to the surgery so I am there. Now I just need the approval from the insurance and the doctor's assistant already sent in the request so it is in Primecare Medical Groups hands. Does anyone know how long it takes disability to kick in? I can not remember but I know they are not very quick. Monday I get to take a furlough day off...that is going to be good just not for the paycheck. I have been on a sweet binge since last night and just can not get enough sweets. Anyone else deal with sweet cravings and if so any suggestions to stop them? I have been walking and going to the gym but if I keep eating like this...it does not look too good. Hugs to everyone and have a great weekend.
Oh2bhealthy, congratulations on your year.
Evelyn
0
