Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Jennifer:
Yes 5 days today...who would have thunk it?
Thanks to you for your support. I'm hoping oncotype test has low #. I'm tired of all these decisions
Jan
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Dutchy,
Once again saying a prayer tonight for your quick recovery and hoping that your pain has been manageable!
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Good morning all:
It's the weekend - woke up this morning wanting a cigarette YIKES!!!! BUT...I didn't. I'm on day 6 and I guess I must be getting better from surgery since I'm starting to crave the cigarettes. But I have to say the craving does pass quickly. I'm on day 6 and very proud of myself.
I'm also very proud of all of you for going through this journey with determination, humor and love.
Have a great day~
Jan
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7 days and counting...0
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Jan,
You have reached 1 WEEK!!! That is something to be VERY proud of! That first week is the worst week and it only gets easier from here on out.
If your experience is similar to mine, you should now be done with the actual physical withdrawal and start to see some pretty rapid improvement in the number and intensity of the psychological cravings. Somewhere between week 2 and week 3 I saw a big improvement in that they didn't come all day long, just a few here and there, and they passed very quickly!
Have you started a quit meter to track your progress? I found that to be very encouraging because, believe it or not, you do lose track of how long it's been after awhile. Although, thinking back on it, I would have called anyone who said that to me in the beginning a liar
Hang in there! You are doing GREAT!
I am very proud of you.
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It's been pretty quiet here lately!
How's everyone else doing? Good, I hope!
We have been enjoying a really great streak of weather here in the northeast. Sunny days, cooler temperatures and the leaves have started to change color. They are beautiful this year!
Hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!
Jennifer
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Jennifer:
Thanks for the encouragement! I just haven't wanted to smoke since my surgery. I think about it from time to time because my DH smokes (outside) but that's about it.
Yes, it has been quiet this weekend - everyone out enjoying themselves.
I'm still recovering from surgery but I get to see all the doctors on Tuesday. Hoping to get these drains out..YUK!
Jan
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Hi ladies! I just wanted to pop in here to cheer you all on. You can do this!! I smoked for 20 years and was up to 2 packs a day when I quit. Quitting smoking was one of the hardest things I ever did, and there were times when I thought there was no way I'd ever succeed. Or that I'd succeed but would always miss it. But I did succeed, and the best part is I don't miss it one bit! I've been a non-smoker for over 12 years now.
Every day, every week, every month you go without smoking, it will keep getting easier and easier. So stick it out through the rough spots -- you'll eventually be very glad you did.
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Ladies I am home and recovering as of 1pm this afternoon and just resting. Congratulations to all the new comers. I will let ya all know how everything went when I am feeling stronger but actually am doing quite well just not up to typing. Hugs and kisses. Evelyn
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DUTCHY!!!
I am so glad to see your post! I was just thinking about you and wondering how long you would be in the hospital!
Glad you are doing well!! You take all the time you need to rest up and heal! When you're ready, can't wait to hear how everything went!
Hugs and kisses right back at ya!
Jennifer
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carolsue63
Thanks for stopping in with support! I know I really appreciate the people who have already quit giving all of us in the early, or somewhat early, stages of quitting encouragement!
I haven't smoked in over 8 months but still have times when I do miss it (nothing terrible though).. Good to hear someone further down the way say that the desire to smoke does eventually go away!
I agree that quitting was one of the hardest things I have ever done but also, one of the most rewarding!
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Dutchy:
Take it easy and welcome home. I hope your healing is smooth and easy.
Jan
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I rested most of today and feel like I should of been up more. I am trying to listen to my body but I do not want to get lazy either. I think I could walk my cul da sac but I am afraid that I would be doing to much to soon. Any thoughts on walking?
So to tell you ladies about the surgery as best as I can remember. My surgery was on Sept 21 and it lasted approx imately 10 hours so I was in my private room at 6:30pm. My flap was checked hourly and around 2am it was discovered that the color, touch and sound from the doppler was not correct and appeared that the flap was failing. I was taken back in and the blood vessel was switched out to another blood vessel that had been disected earlier and left as a spare in case anything went wrong. I do not remember what time I was brought back from surgery but from then on for the next 2 days they checked the sound of my blood supply with all my other vital. No water for 2 days...just those mouth swabs. I was on the pain pump until the 26th and monitored very closely by my wonderful team at UCLA. I am so grateful that they caught the flap when it was failing and sent me back into surgery. There is no specific reason for the first one failing but it is nice to know that the doctors disect a second vessel in case of failure. My girls look beautiful and my stomach is flat...did believe it could look so good. Lots of love and hugs to all of you.
If any of you are quitting for surgery breast reconstruction let me tell you it is well worth it. My surgery was the DIEP.
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Wow Dutchy! You had some pretty terrific surgeons and nurses watching over you that first night! I am thrilled that you are already so pleased with stage 1 results. It was a hard and long fight but you did it - got the surgery YOU wanted and QUIT smoking too!!!!
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((((HUGS)))))) for you dutchy!
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Hey guys, an update on my quit meter. 16 weeks and $1,013.00 saved. Wow. It is really adding up.
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Congrats Barbara. I got an email this morning and mine was 48 days and $171.
Dutchy, hang in there. Sorry I can't help you with the exercise. I was walking soon after my surgery, but it was a BMX with TEs, not the DIEP which is much more extensive. Just call your doc and ask them how much you should be doing. Don't overdo it!
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Hi Evelyn--I had the same surgery (and same surgeon--and I agree--they are just wonderful at UCLA). I'm a few days ahead of you and I wouldn't push it. When I got home, I had the same feeling of wanting to get up and --goand do etc--and I paid for it. I still get really tired if I do too much. At my one week post-op, Dr. Festekjian said to walk as much as I wanted--it's at most 20 minutes a day with an afternoon nap needed afterwards. (could be the heat too--too hot to walk very far).
Tomorrow is 2 weeks for me, I still have one drain that is still going strong, had hoped to have it taken out today. I know it's hard but your body really needs the rest at first. I found the more I did, the more pain I had. It's hard to be a slug but that is the best thing to heal with. I'm really happy with my twins too and a flat tummy--whoo hoo!!!! Have a joyous day, VJ
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Oh my gosh, Dutchy!!
Thank God you were monitored so closely and that the doctor had the foresight to obtain an extra vessel during your original surgery!! That REALLY underscores the importance of going to someplace that specializes in this very complex surgery!
So glad to hear that you are happy with 'the new you'!! Wish I could say the same about my tummy right now! I seem to have picked up some weight since quitting smoking but, have FINALLY started walking again for real!! So HOPEFULLY those pounds will disappear. Funny, I think I posted quite a few months back that I was going to start again but never did. This time for real! I hope..... lol
Sounds like you and VJ have a lot in common and can really provide a lot of support for each other! I know that you really want to get up and about right now but, please DO take the time to allow yourself to heal! Besides, sometimes it's fun to just kind of be lazy for a bit!
My daughter is coming home from college tonight so I may not be able to be here too much for the next few days. Will check in when I can!
Glad to hear you are doing well!
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Barbara, LadyinBama, Jan508, O2B and VJ,
Sounds like you all are doing well!!!
Barbara, You have topped the $1,000 dollar mark! Isn't that CRAZY??!!
Bama, Well on your way to 2 months and over $150.00 more in YOUR pocket!!! You GO!!!!
Jan508, you've started your second week of being smoke free!!! Take a moment to congratulate yourself because you have finished your HARDEST week and you SO deserve it!
O2B, Hope all is well with you tonight!! Harvested the last of my tomatoes from my garden yesterday and have frozen 7 quart bags of spaghetti sauce using tomatoes from my garden this year! Who would have thought?! Guess my brown thumb turned a bit green this year..lol!!
VJ, Glad to hear that your surgery went well! Hope you get that last drain out soon!
Have a great night ladies!
Jennifer
Hope everyone has a good night tonight!
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Hello Ladies:
I hope all is well with y'all.
Today is Wednesday which makes 10 days for me as a non-smoker! I did find that every 3rd day I have a struggle. I remember reading the '3's' are bad...3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months...etc.
Yesterday, day 9 was really full of temptations. Today - not so bad!
I tried so very hard to quit before surgery and I did cut down alot but when it came time for surgery I never gave it a thought. Quit cold turkey...I can't believe it. I have to thank y'all here for the encouragement and support and VJ thanks for the workbook. Honestly, I glanced at it but did not delve into it as much as I would have liked to. I did print it out though in case I need it for future reference.
Thanks to all....have a good day!
Jan
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Jan: 10 days, that is great! The worst of the physical stuff is behind you. I found that it was the mental battles which were hardest. I'd find my mind drifting to smoking and I'd think 'this is crazy, you haven't smoked in weeks and there is no way your body is craving nicotine" but my mind was still telling me to smoke. Taking a walk or getting up and doing just about anything helped me to get my mind on other things. Also 3 deep breaths whenever a crazy craving hit.
Hang in there girl.
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Jan that is great that you have 10 days now. Just know it will get better and the cravings do eventually go away for most of the time. Evelyn
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Jan, you are doing so well - you have no idea (actually, you probably do) of what a milestone this is. The first two weeks were horrendous for me. You know what helped me the most? Something I read on a web site that said something like "the best reason to not start smoking again is so that you don't have to quit again." I found that actually savoring my misery at quitting gave me resolve to continue because I said "Never Again!!"
Yesterday marked my 17 month anniversary.
And so I came here to say hello to all of my sisters on this brave fight.
We are improving our chances in our fight against cancer if we are early stage, and improving our daily quality of live if we are anything else.
There are more studies coming out every day linking smoking with breast cancer. My interpretation is that I am optimistic that putting my body through the drastic change of not smoking will knock the bc DNA off its tracks. No nicotine receptors to fuel growth. I don't look back and say, "what if" because I don't know what actually caused the cancer.
Congratulations to all of us. It feels so empowering to be able to make this treatment choice all by ourselves. I consider my quit treatment, and that helped me.
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Lady in bama/dutchey and Athenia
Thank you for the words of encouragement. I wish I had quit prior to surgery but didn't. Surgery was my turning point and I will never look back.
Just as I move forward with my BC treatment and and end to this craziness, so I look forward to the end of my smoking addition.
Thanks again
Jan
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I am having one of those I want a cigarette moments but I am going to jump in a hot bath! I can do it!
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Barbara,
Hope you took that hot bath and didn't have that cigarette!
The weather report here is for torential rain tonight and into tomorrow. Think this storm is coming up from your neck of the woods!!! Hope everything is OK down your way and you didn't get too soaked! Other than that bath, of course...lol...
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Athena,
Welcome!
I, too, choose to never forget those first few days/weeks of quitting even though they were pretty bad! I even kept a kind of 'diary' where I wrote what I was feeling during those times. I had heard that the people who have the easiest time of quitting are the most likely to relapse due to the ' I can have just one and stop again. It was EASY the last time' thinking. I look back at my diary whenever I am having a weak moment and refresh my memory as to what it was REALLY like!! The word 'easy' doesn't come to mind when I re-read about those days BUT the words 'Glad I did' DO come to mind!
I have never heard quitting smoking referred to as a form of treatment before but you are SO right! It is probably the ONE form of treatment in which we are the ONLY ones who have a say. What an interesting way to look at it!
Thanks for posting!
Hope you stick around.
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12 days...whoo hooo....no desire0
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Jan: Great!! Keep doing whatever you are doing, it's working.0
