posted on March 2, 2001 05:05:06 PM
Hello everyone, hope you are all feeling a bit better today. If not I hope a hug will help. {{{{{lots and lots of hugs}}}}}
Mybid, wow what a wonderful husband you have, hang on to him tight.
I think that must be one of the most thoughtful and loving gifts I have ever heard of, give hubby a big smooooooch from all of us.
Rocker, boots, chepi,, and anyone else I have left out. Keep up the good work.
posted on March 2, 2001 06:53:45 PMMybid Your husbands birthday gift to
you has made me all teary eyed...what a
wonderful, thoughtful man you have and you
definitely deserve him. Reminds me of why
my marriage has lasted so long...it is the
wonderful caring things they do when you
least expect it.
You will be waking up to smell the flowers!!
Well dear friends, this thread and the previous one on quitting were absolutely the
best anyone could have thought of...I am so
proud of all your efforts. I am truly sending positive thoughts to you all, this
day is well under way and you are all coping
and you are all cared about deeply.
{{{{to all the brave babes}}}}
[ edited by zilvy on Mar 2, 2001 06:58 PM ]
posted on March 2, 2001 08:11:59 PM
Hi Nettak & ZilvyYep, he's a doll. The dumb thing is that I was so upset with him over his insisting I needed to get out of the house that I was having a big ole pity party and was very close to giving up. We've been together since we were 16 years old and NOBODY in this world knows me like he does... so it really broke my heart when I thought he didn't understand what I was going through.
Tonight I had the ultimate test of how well the hypnosis took. My aunt Flossie called. You know the aunt Flossie that EVERYONE has in the family. The hypocondriac. LOL She called to tell me happy b'day but the woman went on and on and on about every ailment she's ever had or ever thought she had. The whole time she's whining in my ear all I can think of is "wow, I'm talkin on the phone with Aunt Flossie and I don't want a cigarette??? It's a miracle!"
Btw, before I forget to mention it I'm sure they're all different prices but the hypnotherapist I saw ran $150.00 - which in a way sounds steep but is actually about what I spent every month on cigarettes. Also, if I have to go back within the first 18 months there's no additional charge. But, they're all different and her session ran a full two hours so you might find a better $$ deal.
The neat thing is that she told me that it's very common for hypnosis institutes to give free sessions if you're willing to come in while they're training their students. She has personal knowledge of the Dallas Hypnosis Institute doing that regularly but I'm sure others are the same.
She also said that some of the self-hypnosis tapes that you buy in the stores will help but if you get a chance to do a personal session it's even better because it's totally personalized to your situation. Whichever way you go she recommended listening to the tape at least twice a day in the beginning. It takes 14 to 30 days to learn a new habit, so you should listen to the tapes for at least that long but longer if necessary.
It looks like a lot of the therapist ideas and info are already posted here so I'll try to not duplicate. She suggests that during the first week you're not smoking that you eat at least two oranges a day. The pulp retains the nicotine and helps it to ease out of your system much slower than it normally would. That helps the nicotine withdrawal to not be such a jolt. Avoid juices or alcoholic beverages during the first week. Take a good vitamin like Stress tabs. Also, I can't remember why but she said that when you're feeling a strong withdrawal to put a pinch of baking soda on your tongue. The baking soda counteracts something - I'm sorry I can't remember that one.
She suggested that you write your most important reason you would not want to return to smoking on a card and keep it anywhere that you might normally keep your cigarettes. Also decide ahead how you will react if you have a crisis that might otherwise cause you to smoke. She said a lot of going back to smoking is caused because people don't plan ahead about how to handle events that they usually "smoke through." Select a crisis companion. Seek new activities to break old habits. The rest are mostly a lot of the same ideas that everyone has been posting here all week.
This was great. I don't know if it would work for everyone but I'm completely shocked at the difference I feel after only one session. I'm sorry this post is so long but I really wanted to recommend the hypnosis to anyone who's having a tough time of it.
posted on March 2, 2001 08:59:57 PM
Before hitting the sack, I just wanted to pop in and wish mybiddness a very Happy Birthday. I know, from your posts, that today hasn't been the best birthday you've ever had. (To say the least.) Hang in there.
To all who have made the decision to quit I wish you success. The support you are receiving on this thread is absolutely wonderful. Great ideas, hints, suggestions, encouragement, etc. coming from many who have been there and know what you're going through. It's truly heartwarming to see so many who care and want to see you be successful. I do too.
posted on March 2, 2001 09:39:07 PM
Thanks a million Linda_K Actually, other than the fact that I keep getting knocked off-line tonight - it ended up being my absolutely best birthday ever! BTW, have you ever seen what a cake looks like with 44 candles burning on it... it looks like my house is on fire! BAHHHH!
posted on March 2, 2001 09:46:18 PM
Thank you Linda
Hi everyone
MyBiddness - WHAT A GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT!! Wow that is so perfect!! I think I will look around for one too cos I am really having a hard time. But I'm still hanging in there. I now have 1 day, 20 hours, and 44 minutes off cigarettes. And one good thing happened tonight - I realized there was actually a thirty to forty minute time period I was busy walking someone's dog - that I did not think about a cig! That is the longest I have gone so far without obsessing. I hope those non-obsessive periods of time will become longer and will come more often. I think they will... right?? I am feeling kinda down and mostly angry but I am determined to screw Phillip Morris. LOL!!
posted on March 2, 2001 09:50:22 PM
MyBiddness - I forgot to tell ya, my "Aunt Flossie" was named aunt Aggie. (Short for Agnes.) My oldest sister used to say to her "Hi Aunt Aggie, I'd ask you how you are but I don't have all day." ROF LMAO! My sister is a HOOT!! My aunt would laugh, but she would always keep right on whining anyway. LOL!
Rocker
posted on March 2, 2001 10:28:37 PM
Here's hoping that you get to the point soon where you realize that it has been a full day or more!
(I used to do that same kind of thing in Grad School -"Humm - have I eaten today?" Nutspec would say with that dim confused look on his face - "Nope - guess not - rekin' that's why I'm so danged hungry"
posted on March 2, 2001 10:36:52 PM
Sigh.... where is enchanted ? Doesn't she realize I desperately need a neck to bite?
Chepi Where are youuuuu.... I hope your itchies have started to go away!!
I have not been doing the sweating thing,
I have noticed a very different effect of quitting smoking... LOL.... hmmm shall I tell or not? Well uuhhh - let's just say toxins start leaving your body.
Nettak - may I please borrow your two little smilies in which one passes out - to illustrate my point here? Or shall I just invite TigerLady in with her lighter? LMAO!!
It's not a pretty picture.
Rocker
edited to add: BEH!!!!!!! nutspec
[ edited by nycrocker on Mar 2, 2001 10:38 PM ]
posted on March 2, 2001 10:53:50 PMMybid how right you are about the aunt thing. LOL
Rocker, I have an aunt called Agie, she is a right pain in the @$$. But the best one is Aunty Rita, cause she loved to were the same black lace dress to everything, wedding, funerals, birthdays, christenings ect. I think you get my drift.
LOL She also had a neck brace that was bought out for these special occasions.
She just could not leave home without the black lace dress and the neck brace.
Anyway back to you guys', I think you are doing a wonderful job. It is not an easy thing to do and for you to give up smokes in a public forum such as this, and to have every Tom, Dick and Jenny (that one is for Rocker) giving you advise on what you should or should not do is a very brave thing for you to do.
Okay I know that you need the support, but I bet some of the comments we say, make you want to hit us. Hahaha Yes I do know, been there, done that, just not quite so publicly.
posted on March 2, 2001 11:05:20 PM
WOW!!! By chance I found this post! This is really great!
I just quit smoking because I just found out I have asthma and have to use inhalers. My doctor told me that I could probably reverse the asthma if I quit smoking. That was enough for me.
I also lost my mom back in 1995. She had lung cancer, bronchitis and emphyzema. She smoked for years. She never even knew she was sick. She had to go the the hospital for a pre-admission physical for cateract surgery and told her doctor about a small swelling on her collarbone. They did a chest X-ray and saw the mass on her lungs. Within 1 month she had died. It was so far progressed and such an aggressive form of cancer she didn't have a chance anyway.
Smoking SUCKS. Its a awful habit and the tobacco companies make sure we are totally addicted to make it EXTREMELY difficult to quit. I am going through god awful withdrawal THANKS TO the tobacco companies and all of the wonderful additives they put in there to make sure my body goes through hell when trying to quit.
This is a two fold post:
First to say that I found out I now have asthma and have to use inhalers because of smoking.....and am trying to quit. (I am only 36 years old) For those of you who do not have health problems yet and are trying to quit......give it everything you got! (I have found some solice in reading all of your posts! Thank you!)
The second thing is: to all of the friggin tobacco companies.....I know you could give a damn about our health. I know smoking is a choice.....but when things are done to the cigarette making process that allows people to become easily addicted...and even MORE SO because of what is done during the process.......I personally feel that all you money hungry mongrels should get the electric chair. Why not? You sure as heck dont give a crap about us! But before they flip the switch.....I would hope they fill your mouth with a full pack of cigarettes (preferably non-filters) and make you smoke all 20 at once right down to the butt. Then after your done we can watch you gag and cough. Just when you start to feel better because you coughed all of the smoke out of your lungs....get your attention and let you watch as they flip the switch to fry your brains out. Hmmmmmmmmm....I dont sound too hostile do I?
Anyways...to all of you who are trying to quit.....hang in there and thanks for all the great posts!
posted on March 3, 2001 01:13:37 AM Nettak!!!!! ROF LMAO LOL!!! Yes that is exactly what I was after...I knew I could count on you mate
Your Aunt Agie in the black dress was a HOOT - PLEASE elaborate on the neck brace, for instance, WHY did she say she needed to wear it?? This is too funny.
Yadda - Don't hold back... let us know how you really feel GO GIRL express yourself! Congrats on quitting! I'm glad you found our thread too.
Well guys it is exactly TWO DAYS RIGHT NOW. (I quit March 1 at 4 a.m.) I hope tomorrow will get easier. Ya know what, tonight I took some deep breaths and I could actually breathe NICE AND DEEP for a change. ALREADY Used to be I was short of breath all the time. I would try to breathe deep but I didn't feel like my lungs were really getting filled enough, know what I mean? Tonight I could really breathe without that heavy feeling in my chest. This is good news already. The craving sucks though. It is sooooo hard not to go smoke ONE. (I keep trying not to only cos last time I smoked one, I smoked one more and... you know the rest.)
Ya know, Zyban has given a whole new meaning to the word INSOMNIA. LOL!! I have ALWAYS been a vampire and insomniac, but, this is ridiculous! I have survived on about three or four hours sleep a night! I can't fall asleep and when finally I do, I can't stay asleep. Someone else said that here too, I'm sorry I can't rememnber who right now. But I guess it is a Zyban thing huh. I don't mind really. I'm getting a LOT done.
Nettak - I keep thinking of how your husband couldn't stop cleaning the house when he quit. LOL! I keep finding more and more things to do. I got nothing done when I smoked all the time. Cos it was always "Oh right after this cigarette...." I always ONE-MORE-CIGARETTED myself into getting nothing done.
Just the rantings of an insomniac vampire at 4 a.m.
posted on March 3, 2001 03:25:32 AMRocker, glad you are able to laugh.
My aunt was to say the least a real pain.
I think she was in a car bumper to bumper or something like that. It was not anything bad.. She could take the brace off any old time she wanted, but she liked everyone to feel sorry for her and I suppose in the beginning they did, but let's face it you can only feel sorry for so long and then it is old hat and out the window.
I think it was an attention getting thing. She wanted to be noticed. But what she didn't realise is that all of us kids' made fun of her because of the dress and the brace. Imagine how her own kids' must have felt. If it was my mother I would have burnt the dress. LOL
Yadda you go, just let it all out.
That is what this thread is all about. Express yourself. Hahaha
Hey Rocker, Tigerlady is in the Who's up the Latest. I told her to come and visit over here. LOL
posted on March 3, 2001 03:56:01 AM
Hi Yadda! Sorry about your Mom. I know how it is - I lost mine in '99 under almost the exact same circumstances. About 2 weeks before Christmas of '98 she started acting very strangely - we thought maybe she had a stroke of something. (memory was shot and she was having problems with the left side of her body) We brought her in to get a cat scan and they found a brain tumor. Turns out it had spread from her lungs. When they found all of this out they gave her 4-6 weeks without treatment, or 4-6 months with. Well, they had actually gotten rid of the one in her brain using radiation, when she came down with pneumonia. The only problem was the tumor in her lung had spread and was blocking the antibiotics from doing any good. She didn't want life support so she didn't last very long. By the end of January '99 she was gone. That was the hardest thing I've ever gone through. I can STILL hear her gasping for air. Sorry if this is a little graphic, but with the pneumonia, she basically drowned - very slowly.
I quit as soon as they said "lung cancer" and my hubby followed a couple of weeks later. That was the best Christmas present I could've gotten!
posted on March 3, 2001 04:08:18 AM{{{{{Tigerlady}}}}}, I am almost crying along with you.
My mother in law was told she has a brain tumor not so long ago, and she is going down hill fast. We are used to her being a very active lady and all of a sudden she is in a wheelchair, and needs constant attention, she wets herself and has to wear diapers.
This is the most horrible thing I think. She has never been a smoker, but I believe all the years on the farm with all the chemicals ect. have caused this cancer.
Major companies, whether they be cigarette companies or chemical companies should be held accountable to everyone. They put products out there and do not stop to think of the damage they are doing, not only to the victum but to the victums family as well.
posted on March 3, 2001 04:14:41 AM
Sorry! I really didn't want to bring everyone down - it just kind of came out. I guess I've been needing to get it out for a while, now. And I know what you mean about the chemicals - my hubby works in a dry-cleaner and that's something that's always in the back of my mind. Did I show you all my pheonix tattoo? I probably did, I just can't remember. I got it for my Ma'. The kanji means "mother". This way she'll ALWAYS be at the back of my mind!
posted on March 3, 2001 04:17:22 AM
See, there goes my mind again... So sorry to hear about your MIL - it is such a hard thing to watch them decline so quickly. Of course that's also one thing I'm GRATEFUL for. I REALLY didn't want it to drag on for a long time.
posted on March 3, 2001 04:20:04 AM
I had seen your tattoo before, but did not know what it meant.
What a beautiful tribute to your mother.
Don't worry about bringing anyone down, you can say and do whatever takes your fancy. We will still love you even if you yell at us.
All of us have to let off steam from time to time and that is what we do with our friends here at AW. I have come to realise that I can tell my new friends just about anything.
This is a rare thing to be able to do, especially with people you hardly know.
posted on March 3, 2001 04:28:04 AM
Yes it is - and it's MUCH appreciated! I've been about to the boiling point lately - especially after the little valentines day fiasco with the hubby!
(in case you missed that - the short version is we got in a BIG fight and he left his ring by the computer... for our 7th anniversary) Did I say
I was so pissed I bought a pack of cloves and smoked one.
posted on March 3, 2001 07:26:11 AM
Hi Non-Smokers! My cable went out so I won't be here much today unless they get it fixed but I wanted to pop in and say I'm glad to see everyone hanging in there. Rocker I understand what you mean about trying to go 30 minutes without thinking about it. Before I had the hypnosis I was obsessing big time. Another thing you might try is to go to a bookstore and get a tape on relaxation methods - meditation or deep breathing - something along those lines. That might help you get more sleep also.
Today I do have moments of wanting a cigarette but it's still been very easy to distract myself. I've listened to the tapes twice again since the session but if I have to listen to them 20 times a day to stay on track I will. Hang in there pal and I'll try to get to a computer later today to check in ... mayber they'll get mine fixed.
posted on March 3, 2001 03:43:35 PM
Hi Rocker how long is that @#%@$&* List for Philip Morris, Tobacco creeps ?
We can get together and make water balloons
next and bombard their headquarters. For
every one of them that smokes we'll help put
out the fire. No artificial respiration, either. YOU ARE THE BOSSA YOU...NOT THE WEED!! Congratulations, do the kitties have any nails left at this time?? What have
you been up to today? Any good ideas to share? HUGE{{{{group hug}}}}
posted on March 3, 2001 03:46:07 PM
I am fairly new to posting on the boards, but find myself thinking about y'all that are trying to quit alot during the day. My prayers are with you and I know that if I (with the most pathetic will power ever) can quit - you can do it too! And don't forget if you quit, you are LITERALLY taking money out of Mr. Morris' pocket!
rocker - you know what JUST one leads to......hang in there
You will be waking up to smell the flowers!!
I am feeling kinda down and mostly angry but I am determined to screw Phillip Morris. LOL!!
Well uuhhh - let's just say toxins start leaving your body.
