Topic: Stop Smoking Support Thread

Nov 7, 2018 11:27AM CarolAnnieLumpLump wrote:

Vslush, I have both 0 nicotine and one that is 1.8 nic. I have been using the 1.8 more lately but do not have nicotine withdrawal symptoms anymore. I read the 1.8 is like the same amount of nic as one cig. I get my zeros from "A Clean Cigarette" they have many nice flavors. I like their coffee, blueberry and mint flavors best. I find I prefer the ecig style over the vapes. I would like to quit all together. I switch up my flavors often so I don't notice feeling sick. I have 3 batteries and a variety of cartridges so I have more than one flavor at a time. My lungs feel so much better and my sense of smell is a wonder! Not to mention that I am not so self conscious all the time about how I smell. I don't miss that constant battle of not smelling like a big ol' cigarette as my dh would say. I love that I was able to quit. I do still miss it some but the urge continues to fade. I have a friend that says when she is 90 she is going to start smoking again. I might join her. lol

Wishing you all the best with your upcoming surgery.

Nov 7, 2018 04:23PM - edited Nov 7, 2018 04:24PM by ctmbsikia

  I am still smoking 2-4 a day.  It's been almost 2 weeks since I purchased a pack.  If you recall I found myself a little triggered over having to get back into a little caregiving for my mother in law after the death of her spouse.  She is really not a problem, she's doing OK so I was able to get back to step 1-STOP buying them!!  It works, if you don't have 'em you can't smoke 'em!   Husband still smokes so that's where I fail.  I don't want any pills, nicotine, replacement vices (like ecigs or vaping), maybe some regular gum.  Having a lung scan 7-Dec so hoping to keep stepping down to nothing by then, maybe, no guarantees...…..

Best wishes to all for a smoke free day!

Nov 16, 2018 11:17PM CarolAnnieLumpLump wrote:

Lisamarie-glad you are doing better after your surgery! Being a caregiver is such a difficult thing to do. Sending you good vibes. Don't forget to do something nice for yourself often.

27/28 whole breast rads for me today. One more whole breast and 6 boosts and I am done! yay. On to arimidex next. Hoping the side effects tolerable. Had a dream I smoke to 2 cigs the other night. lol Not gonna lie, I enjoyed them both.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Nov 21, 2018 12:55AM belleeast wrote:

Hey all, hanging in there with not smoking! Not gonna lie, it has been rough the last couple weeks!! Why, I have no idea, Dec 6 will be 6 months!

Plus my nutrisystem idea to control my eating hasn't work :( I have gained back almost all the weight I had lost prior to quitting smoking, very discouraging:(

Feeling overwhelmed with it all! For those who have been successful with quitting please tell me if this is normal, did you gain weight? I am substituting food/eating for smoking! I don't know if I can quit smoking and lose the weight at the same time!

I am hoping this gets easier and I can get it under control! Today I choose not to smoke! I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Nov 21, 2018 03:36PM MinusTwo wrote:

Edwards - sounds like you're succeeding with changing habits. That's a major gain. Gradual works for some of us.

Belle - congratulations on 6 months. That's FANTASTIC!!!

Yes, I did gain weight - around 20 lbs. I ended up exchanging exercise for smoking and became a real fanatic about exercising 1-2 hours a day. It's obvious that something in my personality needs to be addicted to something but it was obnoxious for my friends & family since I put that before anything else. I started going to Curves every day. Then graduated to a regular gym that was closer & had an indoor track. I walked/trotted 5 miles EVERY day - 7 days a week - and did some other work out routines. Unfortunately they closed the indoor track, but I did lose the weight.

Now I go to Silver Sneakers twice a week and try walk a couple of miles on the treadmill at least one other day. In the summer I go to water aerobics 3 evenings a week. I can maintain ONLY if I basically give up bread. Of course I prefer bread to desserts, so it's a real struggle. I just don't keep it in the house. Only a small 4 pack of Hawaiian rolls in case I freak out & need an emergency fix. And I do better if I eat only two meals a day - mid morning and late afternoon before 5pm. Somehow it helps if I don't go to bed with a full stomach.

Thought you all might enjoy this bit of humor before we all stuff ourselves tomorrow:

"Losing weight is a misnomer. It always knows it's way back."

And yes, JUST FOR TODAY, I WILL NOT SMOKE.

Nov 22, 2018 08:43PM CarolAnnieLumpLump wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Belle, I gained 10 pounds immediately. I am not going to worry about it too much especially today since I ate a ton of good food and pie. lol 6 months is amazing! Good for you girl.

Edwards, you are making great progress! My oncologist suggested giving up one regular smoke time a day to start out. You have already cut out quite a few. You are doing awesome.

After rads I am going to work on giving up my e cigs. I already know I don't have the cravings like when I smoked real cigs. Hoping I don't gain more weight. I am going to have to switch to something healthy like water bottles.

Just for today I will not smoke!

Nov 23, 2018 11:41AM MinusTwo wrote:

Alice - wow, good for you. Quitting two pack w/o changing any other habits or surroundings is amazing. Thanks for sharing. Sorry about the multiple cancers. Are you still in rads? Hope that is going well.

It crossed my mind driving the hour home from a big meal at my BFF's yesterday that a smoke would sure be nice. For the weird column - last night I dreamed that I was checking out at someplace like a Walgreens that was packed with people and lines. (must have been black friday LOL). Among other purchases, I was buying six 12 packs of coke and 3 cartons of Benson & Hedges cigarettes. I had to trust my luck & left some stuff on the counter while I made the first trip to my car, but you can believe those smokes were tucked under my arm.

Twice as funny since I quit both cokes & smokes at the same time due to thinning bones. (both contribute to osteoporosis). I went back to the cokes during chemo due to dehydration issues when I couldn't get any other liquid down - but I ration myself to 3 a day. Thankfully I've managed to keep my resolve regarding smoking. JUST FOR TODAY - I will not smoke.

Dec 13, 2018 07:36PM MinusTwo wrote:

On no - the last post was November 23rd? That's way too far away for a post. So HI all you ladies & gents who have this on your favorites. And welcome to all of you who are still trying to quit - or contemplating quitting. The holidays are coming with lots of joy but also lots of stress. The best way to go is one day at a time. JUST for today, I will not smoke.

LisaMarie - how are you doing? Heard from Bosum and she's looking forward to Christmas w/her boys. VJ - are you still lurking? April - how is your new house & new job? I actually just found Judi's personal email address, so I'm going to send her a note that we miss her.

And everyone else? How are you doing? Are you frustrated? Happy? Still trying? Please do check in.

Dec 14, 2018 09:21AM CarolAnnieLumpLump wrote:

Hi Minus. Vickki, and all of you. The holidays are upon us, my gosh this year flew by! I finished radiation treatments November 29 and started the arimidex on the 30th. It's been two weeks, I wish I had lots of positives to say about my experience but right now I am just pooped. Not sure if it's the rads or the pills or likely a combo of both. On a happy note, I just turned 60 on the 11th and am so proud of myself that I am not smoking cigarettes. It will be 6 months on the 21st! I am still using my ecig but am cutting back on that now.

Vickki, don't be too hard on yourself, we are all going through so much as it is let alone trying to quit smoking. I gets easier as time goes by once you lay them down for good. I still catch myself digging in my purse for my pack sometimes while driving.

Dec 15, 2018 02:19AM Vslush wrote:

Thanks for the words of encouragement CarolAnnie and MinusTwo. Your both are so reassuring and inspiring to me.

CarolAnnie, congrats on not smoking for so long! Sorry you are feeling so fatigued from the meds. As Minus said, hopefully that'll be the only SE you have.

MinusTwo, the idea of stopping after Christmas dinner is terrific! Hadn't thought of using that as the starting point, but it makes perfect sense.

Hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and that 2019 will be filled with joy and good health for all!

Vickki

Dec 20, 2018 02:04PM VJSL8 wrote:

Minus-- I haven't been around, just caught up with posts since October. 2018 has not been a good year for me. I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr Virus, spent almost 4 months in bed from fatigue during the summer, good news is that I dropped over 50 pounds. First time I've been a "normal" BMI since the first time I had cancer in 1987. Breast cancer screwed up my body both times and EBV gave it back to me.

I'm just now getting my life back. My viral load is still really high and my doctor doesn't know why I'm doing as well as I am. I think it's because I'm doing all the "right" things. My diet is limited now (EBV makes you sensitive to different proteins-- so I can't eat dairy, eggs, gluten and nightshades). so I mostly eat organic fruit and veggies, no processed food. I take a ton of supplements -- my doctor tested and I was low in everything -- even when I was taking 4,000 mg of Vitamin C, I wasn't absorbing it. I'm now taking 20,000 mg a day and I'm in the low normal range. None of which are paid for by my insurance. Because of all this, I look the best I have in probably 20 years, but I've had cancer twice, both times it was localized, and not metastatic, so I'm only speaking from my experience but EVB kicked my butt more than cancer. In some ways it is worse. I don't wish either on anyone but if I had to choose -- I'd choose localized BC over this. The current theory is that EBV may be a cause in MS, lupus and fibromyalgia. It is also linked to a couple of rare cancers.

I see there are some new people here, good luck in your journey to become smoke-free. I wrote a book on how to quit, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you a free PDF copy.

Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a healthy new year.

Dec 25, 2018 12:59AM belleeast wrote:

Merry Christmas, everyone! Wishing you all Happy Holidays with family and friends!

Jan 4, 2019 11:55PM - edited Jan 4, 2019 11:55PM by bethiemb

I quit smoking in August of 2017 just before having a full hysterectomy to reduce the estrogen in my body and have not had one since. Probably the hardest thing I did in 2017! I had been smoking for over 30 years and couldn't be prouder. Best of luck to anyone that is trying.

Beth

Jan 20, 2019 08:39AM CarolAnnieLumpLump wrote:

Thought of you this morning! 7 months on the 21st since I smoked last😃

Jan 20, 2019 03:21PM AliceBastable wrote:

I have check-ups with all my docs this month, what fun. At the MO's office Friday, when I mentioned that I still hadn't smoked since quitting in September, the nurse changed my classification to "former smoker." 🎆🍾🎇

I'm still not tempted. There are occasional times when a smoke would feel like the natural thing to do, but a few deliberate deep breaths gets rid of that feeling. I used to joke that if I didn't smoke, I'd forget to breathe. It's kind of true - so sometimes those smoking craves might be a reminder that we need to inhale a little more deeply. The best part is having more energy. Even though I've gained some weight (next thing to tackle!), I don't get winded when I'm walking.