Anyone STRUGGLING to stay quit smoking? I SURE AM!

HairSprayMom
HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Anyone STRUGGLING to stay quit smoking? I SURE AM!
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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    Well, I have been quit for a few months now and I am still struggling to stay quit! So far I have only cheated once when me and hubby had a few drinks...well OK more than a few! LOL I only smoked 1/2 of a cig, but damn it was delicious. I still have Nipple Recon to do, so I have to stay quit. Just wondered if I was the only one struggling daily with the cravings and mental need.

    HELP!

    Regina

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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited February 2010

    Regina~ I had quit before bi-lat, then went back during chemo.  I just became a NON SMOKER again on Monday!  You are a NON SMOKER!  That helps me, thought it might help you. 

    Great thread to keep active for all of us who are braving through.  I am struggling, but I just remind myself, the urge will pass whether I smoke or not, so might as well NOT.  

    Keep going STRONG!

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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    YEA! Thanks! I need some kick ass encouragement. I smoked through my bilateral and all the way through 5 months of dense dose chemo. I never even attempted to quit until I started my delayed recon. I quit before I had my TE's placed and started back when I had to keep my expanders for 15 months. Quit again when I was gearing up for my exchange to squishys. Had my exchange done on 1-27-10 and am really trying to stay quit. My hubby and older daughter  still smoke and that sometimes makes it hard, but they really try not to smoke around me.

    Keeping Strong 1 day at a time!

    XO,

    Regina

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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited February 2010

    Keep going Regina!  You are stronger than a cigarette!  All it is, is a bunch of sticks wrapped up in paper with some Cotton.  Nothing to get yourself all worked up with.  Just a stupid piece of paper with sticks that cost way too much money to make you smell bad Tongue out

    I am on day 5 now!  Woo HOO we WILL stay NON SMOKERS!

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  • Dutchy
    Dutchy Member Posts: 432
    edited February 2010

    I have not quit yet as I am in the process of getting a referral to get the DIEP reconstruction but I know I have to quit for a lot of reasons.  But the number one reason that is going to help me become a non smoker is the reconstruction.  I have joined a site called Become an Ex and it has a lot of good suggestions on it and now I just need to put them into action.  I have to be 2-3 months clean for when I get the surgery.   My son lives with me and he is also a smoker and that does make it hard.  I know I need to set my date for when I will quit but I just want to get through with all the referrals and know that the insurance will let me go out of network since there are not any surgeons who provide the DIEP in network.  My other reason is the doctor is worried about my high blood pressure and wants to put me on medicine.  I know if I quit it will get lower.  This is just the topic I need so keep on with the support cuz I need you gal's help here.

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  • Julia257
    Julia257 Member Posts: 284
    edited February 2010

    Regina, Dutchy, Dutchy's son, all who MUST quit smoking...this is how I did it:

    I made a deal with a nurse friend of mine and we agreed to be absolutely on the honor system.  The arrangement was if we had a cigarette, we would owe the other $10.  The outcome...she stopped right there and then without paying me.  I gave her $10 for that last cigarette and I never smoked again.  It might be more incentive and work even better if you give someone you're not too crazy about some predetermined amount if you have that smoke.  Good luck, good health!

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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited February 2010

    Dutchy~ Good Luck!  We are here for you when you are ready. 

    Julia~  I love that, good for you.  

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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    Thanks Ladies,

    I am still holding strong, but it is a daily struggle. I just keep on saying I WANT NIPPLES! LOL

    XOXO,

    Regina

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  • Gayleebug
    Gayleebug Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2010

    Regina 

    Keep focusing on those nips!  I quit with Chantix in Sep 08.  Went about 4-5 months with NO cigs, then when i finished chemo & surgery I started with just a couple (2) a day if I was drinking.  Stayed on the Chantix continuously, though.  In August 09, decided on plastic surgery in October and HAD to quit, so my last cigarette was the 6th of Sep.  I stopped the Chantix the day of my stage 1 surgery (Oct 30th).  I'm still quit, as I'm having my stage 2 DIEP in 2 days.  YOU CAN DO IT!  NIPS! NIPS!  Keep your goal in mind.

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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    I quit with Chantix too. I actually snuck one yesterday and had 2 drags and you know what...it really sucked. I just through it out the window. I wanted it to be good sooo bad, but it just wasn't satisfying at all! So maybe that is what I needed, to just know they really are not all that you think they are! Thanks for all of the support! I am headed out to Atlanta to the Young Survivors BC Convention in the AM! I am so excited!

    XO,

    Regina

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  • 2z54
    2z54 Member Posts: 261
    edited February 2010

    HairsprayMom,

    So glad to see you used Chantix.  I did it a few months ago and it really works.  Now when I fall off the wagon, I'm fully aware of it and I can handle it.  For example, last weekend I went to Atlantic City.  I gave myself permission to have a few while playing video poker. Now I'm done again, and consider myself an almost non-smoker.  In fact, I don't even take the chantix anymore, but don't usually crave the cigarrette).  I started the Chantix because I was going to have Stage 2 revisions to my DIEP. They're done now, and healed beautifully, so I enourage those of you who still smoke and are considering DIEP, to listen to your surgeons and really do quit smoking first. Try Chantix, it really works! 

    Good luck!

    Sue  

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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    I agree...I could never have done it without Chantix! All of you guys who are or did quit without help are freaking amazing! Packing my bag and midnight munchies, I'm outa here at 5:30 AM and on my way to PARTY with all of my Young Survivor Coalition Sisters for the weekend in ATL!

    XO,

    Regina

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  • jlsmith
    jlsmith Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2010

    I start chemo on March the 28th. I am a smoker,How does this affect you?

    I know I need to stop and I have cut back alot. Being scared does not help

    this.any advise?

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  • twosparrowsflew2
    twosparrowsflew2 Member Posts: 23
    edited February 2010

    Oh Man you guys are amazing!  I had chemo No 2 on friday 19/2/10.  I have been a smoker since I was about 15/16 yrs of age and over that time have never ever tried or wanted to quit.....Except for once!  In January 2006 I had a fairly horrific car accident - fractured sternum etc etc.  To cut a long story short I was put in an induced coma for 2 weeks, tracheotomy, bilateral pneumonia blah blah.  At the time there was no guarantee apparently that I would make it.  After a month in ICU and then on the ward for a while etc etc etc I was discharged.  Having not smoked all that time I would presume that my withdrawals etc were dealt with while in this vegie state. I didn't smoke again for months.....then went on hols - couple here, none for a couple of weeks, couple there, none for a week or two.....then Bingo!  Was back to fully fledged smokin Joe!  Now after all this time and my diagnoses last December I am angry & reluctant to even consider quitting!  What to do?  My anger over this just makes me want to smoke more to shove it up the ........whoever!!!!  Struggling big time mentally over the issue more than physically as I know I can give up as I have done it before.  With my diagnosis now after all this I am just pissed off and feel like I just don't care cos my survival no matter what I do - I cannot control.  So...........I just keep smoking!!!!  I am sure that this will make no sense to anyone other than smokers. .... So now what??  Help!

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  • 1marmalade1
    1marmalade1 Member Posts: 308
    edited February 2010

    I understand completely!  I had asked my family doc almost a year ago to helpl me out on the "quit smoking" issue - she said we'd discuss it at my yearly app't.  BAM!!  BC entered the pic at that time, and the smoking didn't become #1 issue obviously.  When I told my Onc about smoking, he said "you can't quit  now - you're under too much stress to succeed - we'll look after that a little later".  At least he wasn't all "QUIT NOW!!!"  - he was being realistic.   It's funny how people look at you and say, "what - you're still SMOKING???"  I feel like saying "What could happen - I'll  get cancer?"

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  • tamlyn110
    tamlyn110 Member Posts: 195
    edited February 2010

    I quit a week before my BLM but I did have one the night before. Surgery was 8/5/09. I still have cravings almost daily. It was really bad last week because I went back to work and walking through all those smokers....... It was really stinky but I still thought I want one. I wll NOT have one though because then I will just start again. We CAN do this!

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  • Gayleebug
    Gayleebug Member Posts: 166
    edited March 2010

    The cravings are getting easier over time (I quit for good 9-6-09) but man, I really wanted one today.  I'm at the house by myself recuperating from stage 2 DIEP and the back porch just looked like the perfect place to sit in the sun and drink some coffee and have a cig.  Didn't do it, though.  Undecided

    Yes, we CAN do this.

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  • 1marmalade1
    1marmalade1 Member Posts: 308
    edited March 2010

    Some of the ladies have mentioned Chantix (sp?) for a stop-smoking aid.  Can anyone tell me if it is available in Canada?  do you need  a prescription for it in the U.S.?

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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited March 2010

    Yep you have to have a prescription inthe US. Not sure about Canada. I sent you a PM. I quit with Chantix for my recon, but it is still a struggle dang it!

     XO,

    Regina

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  • echosalvaje
    echosalvaje Member Posts: 191
    edited March 2010

    Good for all you ladies that have braved the "I QUIT" dilemma. I have been an on/off smoker since my teen years. I can do fine with out cigs for years, then sneak one with a friend or mooch one from somebody at a party when drinking. The next thing I know I am rooting thru the outside ashtray my husband uses looking for long butts to get a couple of hits off of. I am always so disgusted with myself when I do that, but there you go.

    Now that you are all here supporting each other, I want to join in and get past this nastiness. There was a time that I had been quit for close to 5 years and I felt sooooo good! I never thought I'd start again. I just want to get back to that feeling.

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  • Julia257
    Julia257 Member Posts: 284
    edited March 2010

    Hi Echosalvaje, I can tell you reeeeeeally want to quit and I'm here to tell you that I reeeeeeally want to support that effort.  I posted earlier in this topic, on 2/20 and I'd like to suggest that you try this.  Seriously, it sounds crazy but let's say you dislike the Rifle Assoc. or a nasty person in your neighborhood.  Make a contract with yourself....if you have that cigarette and any cigarette after that, you will pay that person or organization that you dislike very much $50. or whatever amount for each one.  CAN YOU IMAGINE how much this will irritate you and cause you to totally regret picking up that smoke.  Therein lies the motivation.  I bet you could do it, I also bet it won't cost you anything.  My best wishes to you.  Julia

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  • twosparrowsflew2
    twosparrowsflew2 Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2010

    Hey Julia257 - With my will power I would end up on the street or living with that person!!!  Does anyone know what chantrix might be called in Aussie Land.

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  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited March 2010

    I would Google chantix and see what it says.  It is a prescription in the USA.

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  • HairSprayMom
    HairSprayMom Member Posts: 251
    edited March 2010

    Me too ladies...I'm a back slider. Started out with a puff and now I am sneakin around for a few a day. SUCK!!!!

    Regina

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