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love vintage · 07-04-2008, 06:03 PM

OK guys, I really need some help.

Diagnosed in May with benign brain tumour...appointment with specialist in September. Done mucho research, indicating surgery and family doc says same. How does one quit smoking, when forced to do so for health reasons?

I know this sounds insane, but I find my smoking has increased, even though I know I have to quit!!!

HELP

love vintage · 07-04-2008, 07:51 PM

P.S. In regards to above, I intend to be a member of this site FOREVER!
Minor inconvenience, such is life.

53flyingcloud · 07-04-2008, 09:33 PM

Let see, I quit "cold turkey" just this past Feb, 2008.
I also gave up: drinking, sex and, good ole "hot dogs"..don't ask why..

Thank GAWD I still have my Airstream~!!

clancy_boy · 07-05-2008, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53flyingcloud

Let see, I quit "cold turkey" just this past Feb, 2008.
I also gave up: drinking, sex and, good ole "hot dogs"..don't ask why..

Thank GAWD I still have my Airstream~!!

3 out of 4 are not so bad to give up but the health benifits of one are well documented..........

digger bear · 07-05-2008, 07:18 AM

Love vintage

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis – some times life throws you hard curves. You are smoking more because you are stressed – no doubt.

I hope this is not too personal, we have never met but this is my best advice. Take free advice for what you paid for it.

You quit the same everyone else does. For a reason – health, expense, quality of life, whatever. To do that you have to make a real commitment to yourself. Not to your doctor or friends. Yourself.

Even though you are looking at a benign tumor, you must be thinking of how mortal you are. The unknown raises your stress level. My best advice here (and hopefully getting to the root of the question) : look to the rest of your life. Whether it is one year or 50 – its still the rest of your life and none of us can call the time. How do you want live it?

safari57 · 07-05-2008, 12:29 PM

Love Vintage

I speak from experience, benign is far better than malignant. I've been fortunate that even when it's malignant it doesn't mean terminal. Coming up on 18 years and enjoying every bit of my life.

BUT - last night I had the opportunity to phone a friend back in the old home town. He's just moved into palliative care. 61, lovely wife, twin daughters. Vintage cars in his shop, one of those people who has never made an enemy and couldn't even if he had tried he's just so amiable and pragmatic about life. He said last night "this is it for me buddy. I'm drowning, I just can't get enough air. They are keeping me drugged enough that I'm comfortable, but I'm scared and I just don't understand why at 40 when I thought I should quit smoking I didn't. It was just easier to light the next one than to quit and now look where I am. I'm sorry to you and to my other friends, but mostly my family. My lousy habit is hurting them terribly." All I could say was that we loved him, he's in our prayers, and what's done is done and God speed.

I'm really going to miss Rick. Sometime very soon he'll no longer be with us. It hurts to see and to know that there's a chance had he quit when he thought he should he may still be with us.

Take a look at your life. You have wonderful things all around you and people who love you deeply and will be hurt if you don't survive your current situation. Get the tumor out and then spend every day and every moment with the thought that this is a one time deal and you either live it and love it to the fullest or you lose.

Good luck with your operation. Once you are through the other side you will know of what I speak. Getting there isn't that difficult, and once you are there I look forward to reading your posts for a long long time.

Take care,
Barry

streamer23 · 07-05-2008, 03:24 PM

I think that whenever someone needs some encouragement or support to kick the habit,reading this thread will provide the added boost to get through the rough times.There are many posters here who understand and have walked down the road of quitting.Some successful,some still trying.

love vintage · 07-05-2008, 04:14 PM

Love you guys, your advice and generosity of spirit, has affected me deeply.

Those of you who have unfortunately experienced, either personally or a loved one, in this situation will understand the medical stuff. I have an acoustic nueroma, only 1 cm. pressing on cranial nerve no. 8- affects only my balance. I'm trying to see this diagonsis in a positve manner, have been advised "If you're gonna have one, this is the best one to have".

It's the having one at all, that I can't quite seem to wrap my brain around. Have to admit mortality has been an issue in my family. My Dad died at 52 from a brain aneurysm and his father died suddenly at age 51 (early 1940's). Thought I had beat the curse, I'm 55 and female.......quite a shock when you find out.. you didn't!

So happy I have our Argosy, (Hot Topic: Custom cutains from Ambruso 150%.) and our '61 Impala, and we live in the Maritimes. Life can't get any better than this.

I intend to enjoy life, decades beyond this year......like I told Hubby "You can't get rid of me that easy, who else would put up with you"? His response was "I'd be lost".

Love 'ya babe.

digger bear · 07-15-2008, 12:46 PM

Hope you guys are still on the wagon!

Hang tough. It should be getting easier about now.

53flyingcloud · 07-15-2008, 02:35 PM

I was not thinking abt it,....
till you mention it..

Jim & Susan · 07-15-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53flyingcloud

I was not thinking abt it,....
till you mention it..

Four weeks and counting.....a walk in the park-NOT!

Jim

love vintage · 07-15-2008, 04:21 PM

I applaud all who are able to do "cold turkey". Obviously, you have made a personal decision to do so.

Have been smoking for decades and have never tried to quit. Now I am forced to, not my decision. Friends and family have used the patch etc. to help them.

Any comments on the marketed products, would be greatly appreciated. Pros and Cons.

I know, I know, still in denial....I'm working on it!

streamer23 · 07-15-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by love vintage

I applaud all who are able to do "cold turkey". Obviously, you have made a personal decision to do so.

Have been smoking for decades and have never tried to quit. Now I am forced to, not my decision. Friends and family have used the patch etc. to help them.

Any comments on the marketed products, would be greatly appreciated. Pros and Cons.

I know, I know, still in denial....I'm working on it!

I tried the patch and found it much easier to quit.The biggest obstacle to overcome is in your head.You have to want to quit.Without conquering that,it doesn't matter what you try.

Good luck to you.Hope you succeed.

53flyingcloud · 07-15-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Four weeks and counting.....a walk in the park-NOT!

Jim

Jim,
No, you're right..it's not an easy thing..But 4 weeks is fantastic~!
I walk every day..Anywhere from 4 to 11 miles (today's walk was the longest).
Yesterday, I went nearly 9.6 miles and, when I got back home..Took my heart beat pulse reading..64~!! That's not too bad..Elevation went from 265ft to 526ft the first 1.5 miles..lol
Good luck to you and, enjoy~!!
53FC

clancy_boy · 07-15-2008, 08:06 PM

Keep at it - wishing you all the best and much strength.

I know that you will never look back - it's a tough road but one that leads to much happiness.

Jim & Susan · 07-15-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53flyingcloud

Jim,
No, you're right..it's not an easy thing..But 4 weeks is fantastic~!
I walk every day..Anywhere from 4 to 11 miles (today's walk was the longest).
Yesterday, I went nearly 9.6 miles and, when I got back home..Took my heart beat pulse reading..64~!! That's not too bad..Elevation went from 265ft to 526ft the first 1.5 miles..lol
Good luck to you and, enjoy~!!
53FC

Thanks for encouragment. I intend to get into some type of exercise like that soon. I'd like to take up jogging again, but I don't think my joints and back could take that anymore. Walking may the best idea for me as well.

But first, I have to get thru the "munchies" stage. I can take a beer out of the fridge and grab a handfull of Fritos (love the chili-cheese) and kill my urge for a smoke. It helps greatly, except around the waist.

I've gained about 5 lbs, not too bad, I s'ppose.

JIm

Bambi_Bandit · 07-15-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi_Bandit

Just wrapping up my 13th week...Feels fine. Cravings still there, but no biggie.

Guy in my office just got diagnoced with cancer (not lung) but is a smoker...

Now all the smokers in the office are on the bandwagon too...

Now over 3 years... Still want 'em, specially after eating, with drinks, or stressed, but haven't touched one...

clancy_boy · 01-03-2009, 07:55 AM

2009 It's a new year - GREAT time to stop smoking for the rest of you life.

How is everyone doing, thought I would revive this old thread and check on you all.

53flyingcloud · 01-03-2009, 08:12 AM

Great Idea~!!
2009 aka, 2K9 is gonna be the best year ever~
It's time for a reality check ..I'm still walking like a crazed man.
Speaking for myself, I have not had the urge to relapses... not once!
Since Aug 20th, when I started to keep a running record of my efforts, I have logged over 2 million steps and, again over a 1,000 miles..The best mileage..

ts8501 · 01-03-2009, 08:15 AM

33 months quit today (April 3rd, 2006). I smoked for 27 years. I am now to the point that I can't stand the smell. For someone that used to smoke a pack sometimes two packs a day, it's hard for me to believe that I could/would get to this point. There is no way I will ever smoke again.