Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Thanks Evelyn,
that was a long time ago and there was some heat who should be here or not, quite a few ladies left, some came back on. I have tried to quit for many months and kept failing. Tried the patch, cold turkey, chantix and the gum. When I felt like with the comments just about directed to me, it broke my heart because I really do want to quit, and gave up after leaving this room as I knew I wasn't helping things and was being self centered.
But I lost a part of myself and the will went out the door. I want to find it again.My life is messed up and the stress is so high that at times I feel sick and just want to quit.
LadyinBama - I am thinking about accupunture, tried about everything else.BarbaraA I am also interested in your quit smoking plan too.
SeasideMemories - Sorry about your dog. Mine fullfill me in so many ways, I could not live without her.
o2bhealthy - So you good to see you here. I hear you have been keepin it up and nice to know that we have those who have succeded to help that rest of us. Miss you bunchess!! Ever hear from Fifish? Evelnyn, Nadine?
Malleme, so gald to hear you are here!!! Mis you so much!
msc209 lost - Sorru to hear about your job lost. Wish I could do something to help. I can't find a job but hopefully it will pick up soon.
I miss some of the gals that were here before and I look forward to new friends. O2Bhealthy is right, you are an awesome bunch.
With love,
Janet
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Janet - Nad's just had her one year f/u's and all came back CLEAR!!! I peak in on both Ellen's (Flfish and REKoz) on facebook and looks like they are doing pretty good. Denise had a bit of a scare with her f/u mammo but it was a false alarm...that's all can remember for now. I am sorry you have been having computer trouble and hope you can get it fixed and please tell Nancy Pat I love her hair!!!
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Thanks O2bhealthy. I have been talking with Denise, so happy for her. Will tell Nancy, we are doing great together, been stressful times though.
I really hate smoking!!!! I am planning on a quit date next year, have too much on my plate. I won't be posting too much but will check in and see if I can cut down and renew my efforts again.
I hope you all are doing well, great to see so many who have quit. Will send you all my hugs and love.
Janet
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Today is a week for me without a cig. I'm doing patches (14 mg and am going down to 7mg tomorrow), Wellbutrin and I also have listened to the Max Karstin thing several times. I hope I can keep it up. Good luck to everybody in their efforts.
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LadyinBama - Congratulations on 1 FULL WEEK under your belt!!!!!!! Way to go!
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LadynBama, sounds like you and I have the same amount of time under our belt. My first week of trying was not a total success but this past week I have not had any cigarettes. I have gone cold turkey and do take Wellbutrin all of the time anyway so I do not believe that it is helping me quit although it does help many others, like you. For me the first week of trying was hell and I was still having one or two cigarettes a day but now it is good. I know I do not have the option to pick up a cigarette if I want my breast reconstruction and plan to keep my quit after I have my surgery. But for now everything is one day at a time and I just keep thinking about the big picture for me. Ladies can you please share with all of us what is your motivation for stopping and how you are doing it for today,
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Janzin, how are your doing and I want you to believe me when I say that as far as I am concerned this thread is for those who have a desire to quit, have quit or are even just thinking about it. If it wasn't well it is now. I don't think any of us are in a place to judge anyone who smokes...we have all (except for those who are just supportive of us) been smokers at one time or we would not be here. It is wonderful for those to have quit but to become a stomp out those who still smoke are not being helpful to those who are still trying, although my hat does go off to them that are succeeding. I want you to know that I have found nothing but support here even when I failed the first and second time. So just keep coming back and the desire will eventually be your strength and I believe you have a quit date in the near future. This disease is doing a number on many of us and quitting smoking may just have to be on the back burner for awhile, but I believe if we provide each other with the support, love and hugs... we all can succeed at our own time.
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Seaside and O2Bhealthy, how are you two wonderful ladies? It is early in the morning and I can not sleep but it does not bother me too much because I am happy and getting excited as my surgery date is coming closer. My Plastic Surgeons coordinator had me do a nicotine blood level test yesterday for my surgery but not sure how that will turn out as I only really had a week of clean time cuz my first week I had a cigarette or two a day as cold turkey was just so hard but it has gotten much better now. Seaside my heart continues to go out to you for your loss and hopefully it is getting a little easier when you have to come home although you will never stop missing and loving your beloved pet. Take care and continue to stay smoke free cuz you are my motivators.
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Dutchy - yeah for you for a full week as well! I hope your blood tests come back showing how much effort you have made.
I am going for my 'you have finished tx now here is what is next...' appointment this afternoon. My last Herceptin was July 21st...now to decide about removing my port and see if there will be any post tx scans...prayers would be appreciated.
On the brighter side I am having a consult for 3D nipple tat's today too
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Wow,
Was away for a few days moving my daughter back to college and then a quick visit at my sister's house before heading home this morning. Seems like our thread has had some activity!
LadyinBama,
Congrats on a week! I quit cold turkey and for me that first week was the worst! It got steadily better for the next couple of weeks and then dramatically better at around 3-4 weeks. I started smoking when I was a teenager and smoked over a 1-1/2 packs per day before quitting 7 months ago today at the age of 48. It can be done! Hang in there and stop in often for support. Look forward to hearing from you! PS.... Love the puppies in your avatar! Oh.. also, the quitmeter i use is www.quitmeter.com. I like that one because it did not require me to downlaod anything onto my computer. There are lots of others. Just google quit smoking meter. It'[s fun to check in every so often to see how fast the cigarettes not smoked and money add up. Sometimes gives me a boost to keep going when I need one!
Dutchy,
Thanks for the kind words! Things are still kind of sad around here but, are gradually getting better.
Great for you on your 1 week clean! You and LadyinBama are on a similar timeline and I hope that you can be a great source of strength and support for each other! Glad to hear that things are getting easier for you. You have proven to yourself that you can do it. Now you just have to do it again. Hope everything turns out well with your test.
You so deserve your reconstruction after all you have been through! Let that guide you and, you are right, take it one day at a time.
I will be cheering you on!
Janzin,
A date for next year is great! I was supposed to be a January 1st "quitter" but decided that because I had too much going on, my chances of being successful would be small. Postponed it to January 18th. Doesn't matter if your date is today, next week or next year. Hope you will stick around. You sound like a really caring person! Someone that everyone here could benefit from!
O2B,
Of course I will add you to my prayers!
I hope your appointment went well today. We were diagnosed within 1 week of each other but, I chose not to do chemo and did not require Herceptin. I know my radiology oncology nurse warned that many people experience a "Thank goodness that it over" high right after treatment followed by a "What the heck do I do now that treatment is over" low. I thought she was nuts but it proved to be true for me. I kind of went into a bit of a funk after treatment was over. Hoping that it is not the same for you!
3D nipple tats!!!! It is really so great what they can do now! I truly wish there was not a need but, until a cure is found, it is miraculous what can be done! I hope that appointment went well, too!
I have my first post-treatment MRI scheduled for early September and can already feel my anxiety heightening. I think it's just going to be how it is for me for awhile. Jancie called it scanxiety and I thought that fit well.
Praying for peace and strength for you!
Have a good night all!
Jennifer
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Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. Here is the post tx f/u schedule: appointment with onc every 6 months with basic labs (CBC, Metabolic Panel) and physical exam. MRI every two years. Nothing else unless symptomatic... kind of a bit of a let down after the last 14 months of craziness.
Feeling that let down...
As far as nipple tat's...why is everything so complicated? My PS is 200 miles away, the tat guy that works out of PS office only works there 2 days/month. When I asked if he had website with previous work, I was advised that all pic's are property of Doc's he works with so he has no portfolio. I cannot take a day off to go look at pictures and discuss shading, just to turn around and take another day off for tattoo's (if he can do the type of tat's I want and based on our phone conversation it dose not seem like he has any idea of what I want as far as 3D tat's). Went to a local cosmetic tat artist and she was absolutely sweet and willing to learn but completely honest about her abilities and not willing to use me as a Guinea pig (love her!!!) then went to local tat place (best in town) and the guys there say they can do the tat's however not sure if they know how to work with implants and how much iron oxide there is in there ink (which can interfere with MRI/Scans). Not sure what to do now...maybe I'll email the guy in MD that I like and see if he is going to be in AZ any time in the next century...
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Oh2Bhealthy-My prays go out to you and I hope all goes well at you appoinment. Glad to hear about the tatoos. Let me know how that goes okay?
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Hello all and thanks again for the support. Having a bad night, feel like I attratched every dirt bag that is close enogh to say hi.I HATE SMOKING!!!!! I HATE BEING BROKE!!!
O2Bhealthy, I can 't help wonder how my nipple would of turned out if I did not smoke. I have a flat tire and still have one headlight. Next step will be to inject fat into my nipple. I can't even afford the deductibe. Good luck with your new add on! I think you are going to be fine!
Ductchy, thanks for the welcome. It is a large beast for me to squash, been at it over a year now. Even cutting down is huge! You sound like you are on the right path.
Seaside Memories- Hope you are doing well and pulling positive energy from this site and from myself!!
Hugs to all,
Janet
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O2B,
Hopefully you are feeling a bit better this morning!
I can totally relate to what you are saying. That post-treatment let down would been something I never saw coming if it wasn't for that one nurse mentioning it and even then, I didn't think it would apply to me because I was so happy that radiation was over. I was very wrong! My husband and I had approached each step in this crappy journey as "don't look too far ahead. just get through the next thing" otherwise it would be overwhelming. Got so focused on just getting to the "next thing" that when there wasn't a "next thing", I was a bit lost.
This was the time also where I began to process what had really happened and it felt like it had happened to someone else. Everyone said you will find your new normal. Problem is, I LIKED my old normal! I felt like (and still do at times) someone who looked like me and acted like me but wasn't me. Wasn't really sure who I was anymore. Still working on that!
My follow-up schedule is appointment with onc for basic labs to make sure Tamoxifen isn't wrecking me. Appointment with breast surgeon every 6 months for 3 years (or was that 5? hmmm).. Mammo w/ ultrasound alternating with an MRI at those 6 month appointments. Follow-up with Radiation Oncology after 1 year. No scans/ other testing unless symptomatic. Sounds similar to yours. The reason for all the ultrasound/MRI stuff is that I have ILC and it really didn't show up well at all on mammo.
I ony had a lumpectomy so can't really help at all on the tattoo's other than to tell you that I really wish it didn't have to be so difficult for you. Maybe some of the ladies on the reconstruction board can help with a name or even what to look for.
Sending you positive thoughts that everything will fall into place and that you will find just the right person to do your tattoos.
Hang in there!
Jennifer
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Janzin,
Sorry to hear that you are having a rough night!
As a small bit of encouragement, I started by cutting down over the span of 4 months or so before I quit and it was hard each time I dropped down by a few more cigarettes. Then it leveled off as my body adjusted to the new amount I was smoking. By reducing the number of cigarettes I smoked, I also reduced lots of the emotional triggers (like having one while talking on the phone, in the car, etc). When it finally came time to quit, I do think it made it easier in that I wasn't trying to quit my usual 1 1/2 (sometimes 2) packs a day. It was more like 1/2 pack.
Cutting down is hard but it is great first step!
Never second guess yourself and what might have been if you didn't smoke! That's water under the bridge and can't be changed. I started to do that when I saw that the likelihood of lung cancer goes up if a person smokes during radiation. Course I read that after I was done with radiation! Can't change it, don't waste energy worrying about it!
Hope today is a better one for you!
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Dutchy,
How are you doing today? Great I hope!
How many days without smoking now? Your surgery is just a bit over 1 month away! You must be getting excited!
Thinking of you and pulling for you!
Jennifer
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Finally figured out how to put my picture on here. Horay!!!!!
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Ladies, what worked for me is auricular stimulation. They use a machine similar to a TENS unit and apply stimulation to various areas on each ear. They say this clears nerve passages that are clogged due to nicotine. BTW, acupuncturists can do this as well but tis way really worked for me. They told me after the treatment (took 5 minutes) I would have no physical addiction to nicotine. For me, the addiction was the hardest part. Not being able to concentrate, feeling like I am in a fog, etc. Anyway, I walked out and had no craving for a cigarette. Sure, I had my situation cravings: coffee and I wanted a cig, beer and I wanted a cig. But to not have to deal with the addiction freed me up to concentrate on my habit patterns.
2 months and three weeks. I still can't believe it.
Google auricular stimulation and go for it. It cost me 100.00 and any time in the first 30 days I could go back for a recharge. Did that once and am fine.
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Great looking picture Dutchy!
It's nice to put a face together with the posts! I will have to see if my husband (or son... lol) can help me do it since, I am pretty computer illiterate. Only the basics for me!
Hey, just noticed, you need to update your biography! You are no longer looking forward to your DIEP referral on April 1st. You WON and are having it done Sept 21. Waaaahoooooo!
BarbaraA,
2 months and 3 weeks is AWESOME!
That auricular stimulation is very interesting. $100 isn't really bad either for something that seems to work so well! The other stop smoking aids cost quite bit too! You would have spent that money in no time on cigarettes.
Have a great day ladies!
Jennifer
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Another smoker signing up:(
Five years out and meaning to quit but have'nt yet! I did ,some years back with the help of Alan Carr's book and managed a year off but foolishly started again at a family funeral. , I do need to make another effort
Tricia x
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Welcome AliciaK!
Sorry that you started smoking again after a whole year! I haven't made it quite that far yet but, I know that I still have days when I would really like to light up but nothing like in the beginning. Wonder if it ever goes away 100%?
Funny that you should mention Alan Carr's book. When I had cut back quite a bit and was really starting to think I may give quitting a try, it was reading his book that got me to see cigarettes for what they really were. Not a friend that I was losing but, a controling addiction (and boy did I ever HATE when people said that to me) that was keeping me from doing the things I wanted to do, although, since he said you do not have to stop smoking until the end of the book, i know I read reeeeaaaaally slowly at first... lol. Not sure if everyone would like that book but, for me, I was really ready to quit and it put me in the right frame of mind.
Dutchy and LadyInBama are in the early weeks of quitting and hopefully will be along soon. I know having others going through it at the same time as I was helped me tremendously! Also people who had already quit and assured me that whatever I was feeling at the moment would not last forever saved me on more than one occasion!
Hope to hear more from you soon!
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Hi Jennifer, I am doing well and surprisingly the desire to smoke is not that strong this time around. I have a head cold and not sure if that is helping to not cigarettes. I checked the quitmeter and I have already saved $99.00. It is nice not to have to come up with that money just to burn it away. I remember the last time I got sick the very first days I had quit and was in bed for three days. Thanks for the compliment on my picture. It took me forever to figure out how to find my pictures, but I did it and finally was able to post it. I have to go for a PET Scan on Tuesday. It is really starting to feel like the surgery is actually going to happen. I am getting excited and scared at the same time. Not sure if I can get all my work taken care of while having to get all of these test and xrays. Well hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Evelyn
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Hello Ladies:
I'm newly diagnosed with ILC hormone positive, HER negative.
I'm going to schedule my dmx with implant surgery this week. I smoke so I cannot do tram or diep.
I've stopped buying smokes but my DH still smokes so I'm down to abou 4 or 5 a day. I'm making the effort, believe me.
If anyone has the same diagnosis as me what were your treatments and how long did the entire process take? I'm just looking for some information and hoping for some no smoking support.
Thanks
Jan508~
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TriciaK,
Just noticed that I called you AliciaK in a previous post. Not sure where that came from! So sorry for the mixup! Sometimes my brain is a bit slow...lol.
Jennifer
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Hi Jan508 from a "fellow ILC'er"!
So sorry that you have to join our group but, happy that you found breastcancer.org. Great bunch of people here that can answer just about any question you have!
There is a thread here specifically for ladies with ILC. I don't post over there but, I do read the posts. They are very knowledgable and will have a lot of helpful information for you.
My own story.
Diagnosed 5/8/2009 after finding a lump in early April (shows how long it took to get a biopsy scheduled). Went for a second opinion to Johns Hopkins in late May. Decided on a lumpectomy with close surveillance with the option that if the test stress became too much I could do a MX or BMX at a later date (although implants would now be out due to radiation). Surgery was 6/17/2009 with clean margins and no lymph node involvement. Tumor size as estimated on MRI was 1.5 cm actual size wound up being 2.5 cm. Met with Oncologist in late July. He ordered the Oncotype Dx test. My result was a 14 (9% risk of distant recurrance) which is in the low risk of recurrance range. Best estimate is that chemo would help reduce my risk by 1-2%. For me, not worth the risk but I know there are many that would do it. Just not me. Began 28 radiation treatments plus 7 boosts on August 13. Finished Oct 2. Tamoxifen for the next 5 years then one of the aromatase inhibitors after that. Diagnosis to end of radiation, around 5 months.
Cutting back on smoking is a great first step! Don't be too hard on yourself about quitting right away (although that would be good too). You are in a ridiculously stressful part of treatment right now. Once things start moving along, you will be surprised how fast the time goes by!
Stop by anytime for information, support or just to chit chat! We will be here!
Hope all goes well for you.
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Hi all: I'm on day 12 with no cigs.
Jan: I was diagnosed with IDC in May via a routine mammogram, no lump. After much study, I elected for a bmx with tissue expanders, implants to come later (after chemo). I had a drain that stuck around for 6 weeks, so I'm just now going to get to start chemo. i had a port put in last Thurs. I'm doing 6 treatments, he said I'll finish in 18 to 20 weeks. No radiation needed. Mine was one 1.8 cm tumor in left breast and 1/14 nodes. So far, so good on the surgery front. Hope this helps.Hang in there on the quitting smoking. I quit 3 weeks before surgery (scared of the effects of anesthesia since I smoked), then smoked again when I came home, mostly from boredom, but I'm trying again.
What is the Alan Carr book?
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Evelyn,
Glad to hear that things are going a little easier for you this time around!
Yep. I do remember last time you were sick in the first few days that you quit. Like I said, I can remember the strangest things but can't remember what the heck I did yesterday! I do know I slept alot and it helped in those first few days because I didn't crave a cigarette when I was sleeping.
$99.00 saved is GREAT!!! I think you will be really surprised at how fast that money adds up! I hope that you will use at least a small portion of it to buy or do something nice for yourself! That's what I did. Didn't have to be anything extravagent but just little treat and an incentive to keep going!
In case I don't get back to you before-hand, good luck to you on Tuesday with your PET scan. I will be thinking of you!
Hope you will post when it's over to let us know all is fine!
I know it is a big surgery that you are facing but, the results will be worth it! You are going to a well respected facility to have the DIEP done and I know they will do a good job!
Thinking of you,
Jennifer
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Hi LadyinBama!
12 days without cigarettes is great! I do remember the first 3-5 days were very hard (i quit cold turkey). Then things gradually got better for the next couple of weeks and got dramatically better around 3 weeks out . You are over half way there to the three week mark!!!
The book that TriciaK and I have talked about is The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Alan Carr. Although, I would question the title a bit in that quitting smoking really isn't "easy" no matter what the heck method you use, it did have a lot of interesting information that hit home with me.
You can take a peak at some of the contents and read some reviews of the book here http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-Smoking-Non-smokers/dp/1402771630/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282520833&sr=8-1 and see if it's something that may work for you!
Wishing for continued success for you!
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Hey Dutchy,
Just wanted to let you know that I will be thinking of you tomorrow when you are having your PET scan. One step closer to your long awaited surgery!!!!
Let us know that everything went well!
Jennifer
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Hi decided since I am going for the PET Scan that I just as well get my other blood work out of the way Tuesday morning also. Got to start fasting at 12 PM and then get there early in the morning. I having a wide range of emotions all the way from excited to fearful. I am excited that I will finally be getting my breasts back but fearful of the pain and if there will be any complications. I have to get myself back to just dealing with life a second at a time so I do not stress. I am not craving cigarettes and barely think about them even though almost everyone in this house smokes. I am very grateful for that. Well I gotta go outside for awhile to enjoy that full moon that we have tonight. Evelyn
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