Need support...

[toesmom]

Me again...

I have had a tough month. My uncle just died after a long battle waiting for a liver transplant. Apparently he was top of the list, just couldn't make it any longer.

On another note, regarding the getting healthy trend, I have to quit smoking - DR'S ORDERS!!

I have been having many health issues the last two years. To make a long story short, I have just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, recently developed asthma due to severe allergies, and the results of my lung function test showed beginning changes to my lungs due to emphysyma. Due to smoking of course. I also need to go for chest xray which doc thinks it will be normal. I hope so.

I did quit for about six years but have been smoking again for about 4 yrs now. And I have tried to quit so many times. It is much harder this time.

Smoking is my stress relief which I know that is really all in my head, but I am fine until DS and I argue or I get upset. Then I just want to smoke. And now that I am in school I smoke more because of the social aspect.

So bottom line I need to quit, need to get more rest, need to eat better. My homework is not done as I have not been able to focus all week. I have been worried about the results, now I have them and I am glad to know now before it got worse.

The fibro thing, I am having a hard time with this as this means there is no real reason for all my pain and other symptoms, which I have 99% of them. Am glad for a diagnosis but I am the kind of person that needs to know WHY. So this is difficult for me. It also means it will never go away. And I don't know if my pain etc will stay the same or get worse.

Another thing, I do not have Life Insurance, and now fear that I won't be able to get it. I know stupid me, but really before the last two years or so it was not an option that I could afford.

And just when I am starting to turn my life around, Had a good job, but not great, no benefits no future, just making enough to afford the necessities. So I decide to go to colllege for 3 years to hopefully get a better job, but don't know exactly if I will make more $$ or not. So why now? And I am young (39) but am now suddenly feeling old and questioning everything.

Anyways, I need to quit smoking, so the plan is tomorrow I am having a few coolers with my friend and having my last smokes. I very rarely drink but am feeling the need for a few right now. Then to wake up Saturday morning and not smoke. I have said this so many times before and it doesn't work so I know this will be hard but I will keep trying until it sticks.

Stephanie

Read a book called "The Only Way to Stop Smoking Permanently" by Allen Carr (Penguin Publishers). If you really do want to stop, read this book. Also type in nicotine effects in google and you will scare yourself into quitting.

The google idea completely freaked me out when I saw all the chemicals in the grey smoke that I exhaled everytime I would smoke. Then I bought some patches to see how they would work... and they did work, hard to believe they broke my habit. Then I found the book that changed my life.

8 years later I don't miss smoking at all. In fact when I see people smoking I feel really bad for them, because they are controlled by the cigarette. Allen Carr's book can help if you really do want to stop. BTW Allen Carr died in November 2007 after a fight with lung cancer. He had stopped smoking for 10 years (wrote the book to tell about his aha moment that helped him stop). But the cigarettes had done too much damage by that point. But his book changed my life forever, hopefully I stopped in time, who knows.

hope it helps you

no drugs, just a really interesting read.

 

[toesmom]

Well I think I will go today to get the Champix filled and start it Monday. Next Monday I am off school so I think that will be my quit day. Then I have a pretty easy week of school then off for one week. So that will be good in case I am suffering withdrawals.

I am still going to cut down my daily intake though I have only had one today and will wait until at least noon to have another. I think I will try to only have 4 today and see how that goes.




Thanks guys.

Stephanie

Allen Carr explains really clearly in his book how cutting down actually is worse for stopping. I understood it like this... because you only allow yourself 2 a day... well you really really enjoy those 2. That makes smoking even harder to really stop. If you really want to stop, smoke so much that you get grossed out by it. does that make sense?

If you only have 2, you will really enjoy those. But after 8 in a row, you will actually start to feel sick and not enjoy them.

So that is how the cutting back idea is not really all that useful in stopping. This is of course based on my own experience as well. I remember not smoking at all during the day at work, but hey when I came home, I really enjoyed that first one. So cutting back sort of makes you like smoking more in a way. If the pills don't work, try this book.

 

[brighteyes]

Thanks guys, I have heard about the book. You know the frustrating this is when I quit a long time ago (quit for 6 years) back smoking for at least 4 now, I thought it was sooo hard then, and it was easier.

I will probably try a few different ways before it sticks but I am excited to try the Champix tomorrow. I know I have to, I know it's not good but it's really such a bad HABIT. Before I had the withdrawl symptoms, now it seems its the habit to get over.

At school it might be easier I just won't go outside with the rest of the group then I can't have one inside.

Another thought, I quit around this exact time last time I quit. Maybe that is a good thing.

A worse thought, I did a research project for school on addictions and my part was smoking. You would have thought THAT would have made me quit but nope.

Tomorrow morning I start my first pill. I will still cut down a little during my day tomorrow to change up my habits a bit.

TTYL

Stephanie

 

[Rubbertops]

Good luck to you. Don't beat yourself up about it. It is a very difficult addiction to break. I quit smoking 9 years ago. I still miss it and sometimes I dream that I smoke. (Though that probably means something else )

 

[brighteyes]

well went to school all day today had two on the way to school. We had a fire drill and had a half one, lunch had one and not another till 5:30. Usually at school we have one every hour. So that was better.

Started the Champix today although it was only the small dose one I did not feel sick Just hope it stays that way..

So one week is my quit date or sooner if I feel like I can do it.

Stephanie