Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Thanks for the welcome back!
The TaTa reunion was a total blast. I am 2 days back home and I still haven't recovered. Of course staying up until 3 am each morning didn't help one bit - LOL
We didn't need a work out scheduled as we danced Friday night for at least 5 hours and then again Saturday night from 9 pm until 2:30 am. I think I have worked out enough for an entire week!
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Jennifer:
One drain out - 2 to go GRR....hopefully this coming week!
If it drops below 25CC in 24 hr period I can go get them out earlier than my appointment.
No Smoking going good so far. My biggest trigger is at home where DH smokes outside but I haven't had the urge too often. Not saying I haven't because when it hits BAM! But I've been getting through it.
Jan
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Jan508,
You are right in describing the urge as 'When it hits, BAM'... That is exactly how it feels and most times it seems to come out of no where! Do know that those get fewer and far between!
Your husband smoking outside (rather than inside) is a good thing but, I know it must make it harder for you! Both my brother and sister-in-law smoke as do my mother-in-law and father-in-law. I kind of laid low in the beginning because I was afraid that it would be too much but now it's no big deal.
My hat is off to ALL of you ladies who have quit DURING your treatment. That is a FAR more difficult scenario than I had to deal with! I didn't manage to do it until after all of my treatment was done.
Clap, Clap,Clap...... Whiiiiiistle!... Clap Clap Clap!
You all so deserve the applause!!!
Edited to add:
Sorry to hear that only 1 drain came out! Here's hoping that this week is the END of the drains for you!!
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Thanks Jennifer
Kudos to you for quitting also - no matter when it was!!!
You and I have the same dx so it seems, what kind of treatment did you have? I'm waiting for oncotype results to see if I need chemo.
Jan
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We are very similar in diagnosis!
I opted for lumpectomy with radiation. I have fairly large breasts so, even though my tumor was fairly large, the surgeon thought she could get clean margins with a decent cosmetic outcome. She did a GREAT job!
Oncologist recommended chemo based on size (2.5 cm) and my age (47 at the time). OncoType DX was fairly new at the time and I think I was one of the first few that he had sent. He expected the results to come back either intermediate or high. WELL, my results came back low risk (a 14, which is 9% distant recurrance rate). Chemo most likely would benefit me 0-2%. I decided that I would not do chemo and my onc was very comfortable with that decision. He could have gone either way on it and I know there are others that would do it for any percent decrease but, this was what felt right to ME.
So skipped chemo. Had 35 radiation treatments (last one Oct 2 of last year) and have now been on Tamoxifen for 1 year.
Hope your OncoType comes back low!!! Do you know when they expect the results? For some reason I seem to remember it took a couple weeks to get the results.
Jennifer
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I don't need radiation. I had DMX with tissue expanders. I think the oncotype takes about 10-14 days and they sent it out on 9/29 so I'm hoping for something next week. I do know I'm going on Tamoxifen for sure. I'll be 59 in Nov but I have osteoporosis in one hip so he's going with that first.
Once I pass that hurdle I can concentrate on the boobs..I still have 2 draings GRRRR but I'm hoping they come out next Wed when I go back to dr.
Thanks
Jan
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I don't need radiation. I had DMX with tissue expanders. I think the oncotype takes about 10-14 days and they sent it out on 9/29 so I'm hoping for something next week. I do know I'm going on Tamoxifen for sure. I'll be 59 in Nov but I have osteoporosis in one hip so he's going with that first.
Once I pass that hurdle I can concentrate on the boobs..I still have 2 drains GRRRR but I'm hoping they come out next Wed when I go back to dr.
Thanks
Jan
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Seaside: Just went for a walk around the block. It is such a beautiful day as we had lots of rain yesterday and all the smog was cleared out. One of my housemates asked me to take a walk and I jumped on that... to be able to walk the block and to have someone with me just in case something went wrong was awesome. I now know I can walk the block and did not have any trouble. I am getting more freedom everyday. Yesterday I drove to Stater Bros. twice and my son and I made dinner, Tacos, for everyone who has been helping out with my recovery. I am still not craving cigarettes and find it to be a miracle especially since I am taking vicadine for my pain (not that much anymore) and they usually make me want to smoke. I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for always being here for us.0
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Seaside: Just went for a walk around the block. It is such a beautiful day as we had lots of rain yesterday and all the smog was cleared out. One of my housemates asked me to take a walk and I jumped on that... to be able to walk the block and to have someone with me just in case something went wrong was awesome. I now know I can walk the block and did not have any trouble. I am getting more freedom everyday. Yesterday I drove to Stater Bros. twice and my son and I made dinner, Tacos, for everyone who has been helping out with my recovery. I am still not craving cigarettes and find it to be a miracle especially since I am taking vicadine for my pain (not that much anymore) and they usually make me want to smoke. I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for always being here for us.0
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Dutchy:
How wonderful! I also went for a walk today and my cravings are pretty well getting less and less. Isn't it great to be able to breathe the fresh air
You are healing wonderfully and I'm proud of you.
And, yes, seaside has really been great support to us all.
Jan508
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OK folks, today was my 6 month post surgery mammo and...I PASSED with flying colors! Thanks God and all my sisters!
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Well now! This has been a strange evening in that I have typed a few responses to have them disappear into thin air! Hope this last one makes it!
Dutchy,
So GLAD that you were able to get out and enjoy the fresh air! We have been having miserable weather (very cold and rainy) here in the Northeast. Today was the first day that it has been somewhat pleasant in the past few days and it felt MARVELOUS to be out! It is so funny how we now define a good day! I know I now appreciate the small things far more than I would have before my diagnosis!
I am SO in awe of how fast your recovery has been!! Keep doing what you're doing because it seems to be working for you!!!
So very HAPPY to hear how well you are doing!!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer
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Barbara,
Congrats on your all clear!!! I am SO SO HAPPY for you!!
When I went for my 6 months mammo//us I was totally not prepared for how scared I was going to be! I was fine until I got into the actual room and then I think it was just a flood of memories of last year coming back!
My mammo came back good and my US came back as BIRADS 3 (re-check in 6 months).... Damn. Well, I told myself, re-check in 6 months was the plan all along so no biggie! The things they noted all ended with blah blah blah blah blah... probably benign... Doctor doesn't seem to be worried but it still scares the cookies out of me!!!
I am going on Oct 21 for my 1 year out mammo/us on bad boob only. MRI of both will also be this month. I am getting somewhat (ok, very) anxious! Funny as soon as the calendar flipped to October my anxiety upped as well!
Wish none of us had to deal with this but, glad we have each other to help us through!!!!
Jennifer
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Oh, Jen. I so know where you are coming from. You are in my prayers every night until then. Big (((HUGS))).
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Barbara,
Thanks!! I will appreciate EVERY one of those prayers!
Looking forward to the day when I can post that I have the all clear for the next 6 months!!! I NEED to have FAITH that that is exactly what will happen!
Hope that things are going OK for you.
Jennifer
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Good morning:
Barbara: Congrats on a clean mammo!
Jennifer: Prayers still coming your way -
Feeling much stronger these days but have an arm issue in the lymph node removal arm - maybe just stiffness - no swelling. I'll check when I go back to dr.on Wed.
Have a great day all!
Jan
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Jan,
Thanks so much for the prayers! Lord knows I can use them all!
Glad to hear that your strength is increasing!!!
I do recall having some stiffness in my armpit and numbness down to my elbow in the early stages of healing after my surgery. That has since gone away, although, I do still have some pain in my shoulder (don't know if it's related to surgery or not).
DO mention it to your doctor when you go on Wednesday!
Got my insurance approval for my MRI in the mail this morning so that was good news that they will cover it! Now just have to get it scheduled!
Hope that, come this time next week, those last 2 drains are GONE!!!
Hope everyone is having a good night!!
Jennifer
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Thanks, Jan and all my sisters. What a stressful thing. I hope I start geting 'used' to this over time. YIKES!!
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Seaside: Glad to hear you will not have to pay for your MRI. Sorry to hear you have to go for tests again. My prayers are with you and lots of (((((HUGS))))).
I got my last drain out today and drove myself to and from the doctor. Went shopping for groceries and have lots of energy today. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Evelyn
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Dutchy,
So Glad to hear that you are now DRAIN-FREE!!!! That must feel SO good! Driving AND grocery shopping!!!! You GO! I am AMAZED at how quickly you have healed!! I am truely SO VERY happy for you!!!
I was glad to get the OK from the insurance for the MRI. I was getting kind of worried that they were going to deny it because they were taking sooooooo long to respond but it worked out OK. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I really want to have an MRI, BUT, my cancer didn't show well at all on my mammo. Showed well on ultrasound and REALLY well on MRI so a LARGE part of my deciding on a lumpectomy vs mastectomy was based on how well I thought I could be monitored and yearly MRI was a big part of that!!
I'm a bit worried as to what our health plan options will be for the coming year because I have heard rumblings that it isn't going to be pretty. Guess I'll see when we get the information for the upcoming plan year later this month. In the mean-time, I'll get my tests and hope for the best!
I hope you have a great weekend as well!!
Jennifer
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Seaside: I know what you mean about the health plan because at our open enrollement they told us that we are now required to pay $100.00 per day for any hospitalization up to $1500. I am so glad my surgery took place last month because our new insurance plan started October and that would have cost me $600.00 but luckily it was all covered at 100%.
I am really feeling lazy today and have yet to get dressed and it is almost 1pm. But I guess that is okay. Well talk with ya soon. Evelyn
To all my other sisters, I hope you have a wonderful and stressless weekend.
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Dutchy, it's OK to be lazy. You just had surgery plus it's the weekend!
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Barbara, Thanks... I know I need to be lazy and let the healing process happen on its own time but sometimes I just feel guilty and like there is more I should be doing. Like this morning I woke up full of energy and walked 2.5 miles. I feel great from the walk and no pain...although I did take a pain pill before I went on the walk. I am amazed too as to how well I am recovering from the DIEP flap surgery and know it would have never been this good if I had had the TRAM flap surgery like the insurance and other PS wanted me to have.
For some reason yesterday I was having some cravings and had to shrug them off....but they were the strongest I had had in a long time. Glad that they are few and far between each other.
Ladies: I hope you all are having a beautiful Sunday.
Evelyn
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Dutchy: Keep on fighting those cravings; not smoking will really help your healing. Today is 2 months for me.
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Wow Dutchy! 2.5 miles!!I have started walking again just a few times a week! I have managed to put on a bit of weight since I quit smoking. Nothing huge but enough where my clothes aren't fitting right (ok, dang it they're down-right tight) so am trying to work that off! BUT I'm only doing 2 miles and was huffin' and puffin' during that and I didn't JUST have surgery
.... I'm really gonna have to step it up... lol!!!I do find it is getting easier and I feel lots better on the days that I do walk. Just have to get back to where I was last year before breast cancer reared its ugly head!!
You beat those cravings back with a STICK, girl!!! You are doing so well!
Rest and heal!!!
Jennifer
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OK Ladies!!!
Really quiet here lately!!! Is everyone doing OK?
Congrats to you LadyinBama on your 2 months!! Is it getting any easier for you? Hope so!
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Hey Jennifer,
Did you get out there and walk today. I did and I feel great. Ya know I have not actually measured the walk but have guessed it is about 2.5 miles. I am not really going fast and today a lady pushing her child in their stroller passed me up and I was about to pick up pace until I remembered that I was not here to run a race it was just to get my walk on. And I was satisfied with that. I think as long as we get out there and move...that is what counts and makes us feel better. I have really been getting bored with sitting around and taking it easy but I know that is what I need to do so I do. I so want to wash my dirty car, vacumn the house and wash windows because they have all gotten so dirty and they really need it.
Jan and Jancee where are you? I hope you both are doing well.
Hugs
Evelyn
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Hey Jennifer,
Did you get out there and walk today. I did and I feel great. Ya know I have not actually measured the walk but have guessed it is about 2.5 miles. I am not really going fast and today a lady pushing her child in their stroller passed me up and I was about to pick up pace until I remembered that I was not here to run a race it was just to get my walk on. And I was satisfied with that. I think as long as we get out there and move...that is what counts and makes us feel better. I have really been getting bored with sitting around and taking it easy but I know that is what I need to do so I do. I so want to wash my dirty car, vacumn the house and wash windows because they have all gotten so dirty and they really need it.
Jan and Jancee where are you? I hope you both are doing well.
Hugs
Evelyn
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Dutchy:
Doing well, thanks. I'm very proud of you and your daily walks.
It's been 3 weeks for me non smoking and I still have 2 drains UGH...I'm hoping to get these out on Wednesday. Still waiting for my oncotype test and that is very stressful for me.
I'm going back to work next Monday but I work from home so no big deal.
Keep up the good work.
Jan508
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Jan and Dutchy - (((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))). You can do it!!!!
Girls, I just booked my bucket list cruise. Silverseas, all suite, $$$$ but F*(& it. I want to be pampered and this is my birthday cruise. We leave 1/22 - 29 (my real BDay is 1/31) but we will be celebrating my 59th for the entire cruise. BTW, this is the first 59th I will have and everyone hereafter will be 59 also.
Hee hee. Check out the Silver Cloud. We took the Royal suite. I can't wait.
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