want_an_angel
08-22-2005, 02:38 AM
I am new to this board and i am on day 20 non smoker using patches. Thanks for all the postings here its great to see how others coping and not so coping and especially those hat that have quit for a long time. I had a scare after a lung function test that the physician said to my GP (possible signs of emphysema) I have not been diagnosed nor treated or even suggested that i have tests for this.I spoke to my GP who said that i could reverse those effects by giving up at my age (35). I also have an anxiety and panic disorder which i focus a lot and worry a lot of my health i guess in one way by having the health anxiety(which is so horrible) it has edged me into quitting. I am suffering tho with more than the usual anxiety and panic attacks, as the smokes did help this at times does anyone else have this? Also is the nicitine thru the patches just as bad for you as the nicotine in the smokes? I also have noticed already that things tastes better, i have never been able to eat yoghurt and now i can and i cant beleive i have missed out on it all this time. I am going good with the patches only have occasional cravings try to deter this by doing something and am petrified of weight gain as i do have a tendency to put weight on easily. I am going to start walking and go back to the gym to help this but it can be hard with an anxiety and panic disorder.
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woodfaery
08-24-2005, 03:41 AM
Hi, thats wondeful you are not smoking. This is only my 4th day of not smoking. It is very hard for me. I did it cold turkey. You mentioned suffering from anxiety. I do too, and its so tricky and frustrating to work with at times...many times, but I am getting through. Yes the cigarrette seemed to help a little with the anxiety but at the same time I think it increased it as well. What I do now is work out every day for 30 minutes straight, on the treadmill and weight training. I have taken getting back into shape very seriousely and I believe it is helping very much manage the anxiety symptoms as well as mananging the wanting to have a cigarrette. For one, my lung capacity is coming back and I love it. I can feel it only after 4 days of no smoking. Let me know how its going for you. Did you know that just walking will make a huge difference. Its relaxing and its excellent exercise. I too dont like the idea of weight gain...so I am working hard at not letting myself gain the weight.
Hey congrats on not smoking!
WF
Hey congrats on not smoking!
WF
Newsome
08-25-2005, 04:17 PM
It's only been a few hours without a cig for me. But like you I also have severe anxiety and panic disorder and I smoke 7 cartons in 4 weeks as a rule. But now my stomach is hurting me all the time and I've cut out all my other bad things I was doing like 4 or 5 sodas a day on top of the cigs. I've also quit taking the tons of Advil I was taking (800mg 2 times a day). Cigs was the last thing I quit. I just can't take the pain anymore and want it to go away.
This stomach thing has scared me into reality. Last week I started feeling nauseated. Then it turned into a gnawing pain beneath my breast bone. It's constant. Feels pressure, it's worse when I bend down. Feels only slightly better with pepto or Maalox Max. No appetite (living on Ensure Plus atm). I'm on welfare because of my anxiety disorders so I cannot go to a doctor to get checked out. So I really need to start taking better care of myself and pray like heck it's not too late! I'm only 34.
Second scare...my step-sister (age 56) was just diagnosed with cancer on her lung. This is her second bout with cancer, the first was breast cancer. Last week she had the top right lobe removed. They found it in the lymphnodes as well. But they are saying it isn't lung cancer even though it was on the lung? Makes no sense. But I'm not a doctor. After she recovers from her surgery she faces chemo and radiation. That alone should be scary enough to get me to quit or at least TRY DANGIT!
I'm scared I'm not going to be able to keep this up. I'm afraid of how my body is going to rebel to the quitting (even though it's supposed to help in the long run) At the very least maybe I can cut WAY down and then stop. This is the longest I've gone without a cigarette in I don't know how many years. Earlier I found myself searching my bed frantically not even knowing why until it hit me...I was looking for my cigarettes! I stopped when I realized they weren't there and found myself even more freaked out that the habit is THAT subconcious and ingrained into me. How am I ever going to be able to do this. I'm kicking myself also because I KNEW BETTER when I started in my mid 20s. I thought, oh no big deal...I'll quit after four years. Then four years passed and five years and then I'd have a crisis and that was an excuse not to try and then my mom died and that was an excuse not to try....everything was an excuse not to try. And I became more and more addicted. Going from one carton a week to two, maybe even three. And I didn't even like it when I started, but my long time ex bf who smoked at the time, jerk that he was wanted me to become a smoker because he was one. Not blaming him. I could have just refused. But I was all insecure in wanting to keep him (so dumb).
Well, that's where I am. I hope this makes my stomach better :(
And good luck and continued success to you.
This stomach thing has scared me into reality. Last week I started feeling nauseated. Then it turned into a gnawing pain beneath my breast bone. It's constant. Feels pressure, it's worse when I bend down. Feels only slightly better with pepto or Maalox Max. No appetite (living on Ensure Plus atm). I'm on welfare because of my anxiety disorders so I cannot go to a doctor to get checked out. So I really need to start taking better care of myself and pray like heck it's not too late! I'm only 34.
Second scare...my step-sister (age 56) was just diagnosed with cancer on her lung. This is her second bout with cancer, the first was breast cancer. Last week she had the top right lobe removed. They found it in the lymphnodes as well. But they are saying it isn't lung cancer even though it was on the lung? Makes no sense. But I'm not a doctor. After she recovers from her surgery she faces chemo and radiation. That alone should be scary enough to get me to quit or at least TRY DANGIT!
I'm scared I'm not going to be able to keep this up. I'm afraid of how my body is going to rebel to the quitting (even though it's supposed to help in the long run) At the very least maybe I can cut WAY down and then stop. This is the longest I've gone without a cigarette in I don't know how many years. Earlier I found myself searching my bed frantically not even knowing why until it hit me...I was looking for my cigarettes! I stopped when I realized they weren't there and found myself even more freaked out that the habit is THAT subconcious and ingrained into me. How am I ever going to be able to do this. I'm kicking myself also because I KNEW BETTER when I started in my mid 20s. I thought, oh no big deal...I'll quit after four years. Then four years passed and five years and then I'd have a crisis and that was an excuse not to try and then my mom died and that was an excuse not to try....everything was an excuse not to try. And I became more and more addicted. Going from one carton a week to two, maybe even three. And I didn't even like it when I started, but my long time ex bf who smoked at the time, jerk that he was wanted me to become a smoker because he was one. Not blaming him. I could have just refused. But I was all insecure in wanting to keep him (so dumb).
Well, that's where I am. I hope this makes my stomach better :(
And good luck and continued success to you.
fluffytoes
08-25-2005, 10:12 PM
Newsome I just want to say the very best of luck to you.
I quit last Friday. If someone had told me on Thursday that I was going to quit spontaneously the next day, I'd have laughed at them.
I didn't plan a quit day, in fact when I actually said "that's it I quit" I didn't even mean it at the time, I was quite prepared to go and buy more but I didn't. I read and read about smoking and it's effects on the web instead.
Take the pressure off yourself, don't think too much about quitting day. Don't even make a quitting day if it means you're going to be fretting and smoking even more in the run up to it.
One thing I will say I have noticed in the past week, once my withdrawal symptoms were over I found myself feeling much less stress than I used to, I feel a much calmer person. It's great the little things that would upset me or see me flying into a rage just don't bother me now. It's hard to explain.
Fingers crossed for you all. Let us know how you get on. :D
I quit last Friday. If someone had told me on Thursday that I was going to quit spontaneously the next day, I'd have laughed at them.
I didn't plan a quit day, in fact when I actually said "that's it I quit" I didn't even mean it at the time, I was quite prepared to go and buy more but I didn't. I read and read about smoking and it's effects on the web instead.
Take the pressure off yourself, don't think too much about quitting day. Don't even make a quitting day if it means you're going to be fretting and smoking even more in the run up to it.
One thing I will say I have noticed in the past week, once my withdrawal symptoms were over I found myself feeling much less stress than I used to, I feel a much calmer person. It's great the little things that would upset me or see me flying into a rage just don't bother me now. It's hard to explain.
Fingers crossed for you all. Let us know how you get on. :D