Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: kazy68 on January 28, 2018, 04:53:27 PM
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Hi all, well after 30 years of smoking I have decided to quit, mainly due to having a better quality of life and another reason is my mum, we recently found out she has copd and she is suffering with her breathing a lot, she is a social smoker and some days doesn't have any, but seeing her struggle to catch her breath sometimes has really scared me,.
So on Friday evening I decided enough was enough, i feel I am a heavy smoker 20 sometimes more a day and i feel its getting out of hand.
So got up yesterday morning and 2 hours late had a cigarette :-\ few hours later another :'( and at 4pm another, BUT as of 4pm today I have done my first 24 hous without 1.
I know it's early days and 24 hours is nothing in the big scheme of things but I feel so proud of myself and hubby keeps telling me I am doing great in am using a vape at the minute so I'm not feeling to bad, here's hoping that I can stick to it.
Wish me luck ; :)
Karen
Xxx
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I do wish you luck. If all else fails, get help from the NHS? Don't deny yourself initially, if you want a drag ........ also, some people find that changing their habits as to when they would light up, helpful: i.e. after a meal, in the Pub..
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Kazy68 - it's the best thing you can do for your future quality of life.
Why not put all the money you would normally spend on cigarettes in a box and then treat yourself to something special.
Good luck. DGx
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Thank you for replies ladies,
CLKD I won't deny myself I have 5 ciggies in a box in a cupboard along with all clean ashtrays, if I really feel the need to light up believe me I will lol, I do need to change habits after meal times is hard atm but I know I will get there, i think it's different when you want to do something.
DG I know it will be better for me health wise sounds daft but I feel I am already breathing better, as for the money I will save oh my days £310 per month at nearly £10 per pack I will have a healthy body and a healthy purse lol.
Thank you for replies and encouragement ladies.
Karen
Xxx
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Also - get your clothes cleaned. Because smoke clings to fabrics ;-). Perhaps keep a 'kit' for when you want a ciggie>? to change into B4 your have a puff. Eventually the effort of getting changed/back may well help you smoke less and less ;)
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Well done kazy
I've been stopped a year and it's all down to my faithful vape x
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Well done ! I stopped suddenly 5.5 years ago not long after I started feeling dreadful with meno symptoms. I stopped cold turkey from 20+ a day to zero (never done it before on willpower alone)
I nearly caved in after 8 months at a bbq with alcohol but a friend gave me her ecig instead of a real one and I've used them ever since. It's rare I get coughs since stopping x
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Try putting your finished tab ends in a jar with a lid, and when you feel like a cigarette ,take the lid off the jar and have a good sniff.........bet you won't want that cigarette then.
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Good idea, also you will see exactly how many you smoke ;-). Also, remember how much Tax you pay to the Government of the day - my FinL began smoking whilst a Prisoner of War in order to stave off hunger, he developed a cough 20 years later and stopped! This was a man who turned the drawers out looking for 'tabs' when he was out of smokes.
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Thank you so much for replies and encouragement ladies, some great advice too, so far so good, not touched a fag, the thought of having the woozy head if I have one is putting me off on it's own lol, don't like the feeling of being spaced out, got the vape to hand as and when I need it, had a bit of a wobbly last night but got through it, I feel determined to do this never tried quitting before so wasn't expecting to go through different phases of how I feel.
Onwards and upwards nearly 48 hours smoke free.
Karen
Xxx
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Hi kazy68 I used to say if I could do without a fag for even half a day especially that morning one I'd stop.well that was 34 years ago and like you after my first few hours without I was adamant I wouldn't go down that road again and never did and I was a pretty heavy smoker.My first year I had lots of coughs and sinus but that was probably my system having a clean out lol.youve beaten the first trial of that half day without so keep on,you'll smash it and never look back.well done you xx
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Thank you daisydot and a massive well done and congrats to you :tulips:
I'm just getting over a chest infection so I've been coughing a lot,, today I have been coughing a bit more but I know it is down to no fags I will battle through.
Karen
Xxx
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Reflex cough?
Little steps.
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Day 6 still no ciggies can't believe how well it's going, I make cakes and have had a few to do this week it has helped but the odd times when I sit back after doing some things like covering cakes with fondant, decorating them, making flowers ECT are the times I normally go out for a fag but I haven't, I feel like the craving for one is fading, like CLKD said changing habits has worked well for me :) :) one happy bunny here.
Karen
Xxx
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Well done you've done great don't let it beat you now.xx
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Mind set is positive :peace:
R U saving what you would have spent in a jar? ;). Do you have a holiday destination you would like to visit ........ we have a holiday thread here somewhere ::)
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Well done kazy68 - keep it up. IF you are feeling good now - think how great you will feel in 4-6 weeks?
Do plan a treat for yourself at the end of 4 -6 weeks - £300 is a weekend away somewhere nice? DG x
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Thank you ladies CLKD were planning a cruse next year for our 25th anniversary so the first 300 is half the deposit for that lol.
DG can't believe how good I feel, look after grandaughter every afternoon she is 14 months old, this week I'm sitting or should I say rolling round the floor with her playing with her and loving it.
Karen
Xxx
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Oh a cruise: Silver Service ;-). It's years since we had our 25th ;D ........
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Keep focused on that lovely cruise ( green with envy) . I doubt that their are many places onboard where anyone is allowed to smoke ( if any). I remember when we last cruised a few years ago, seeing little groups of people stood outside smoking, and feeling really glad that I had quit.....
My best friend died because she smoked.......So keep up the good work, you CAN do it 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
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Do we have a thread on cruises? Off to have a look-see ;-)
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Well done Kazy68.
I have been seriously thinking of giving up myself as I am just getting over a really nasty chest infection.
Keep focused on the cruise.
Lanzalover
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Well done Kazy, keep it up! My Dad was a chest consultant. His youngest patient started picking up fag ends at 5 years old and died from lung cancer aged 12. Needless to say I have never smoked.
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I bumped the cruise thread ;)
A Consultant I worked with many years ago said that a person wasn't addicted unless they woke in the night for a ciggie ;)
It's not a vice I picked up. Fortunately as I have a tendency to obsessions ..........
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Really can't wait for the cruise never been abroad won't fly lol extremely claustrophobic and once they shut that door I can't escape lol. The few we have seen go from and back to Southampton so not to bad.
I'm off to check out the cruise thread :)
Karen
Xxx
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I can't be shut in which is why we don't fly. Now if John Travolta offered up his Lear Jet ;)
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Just an update,
4 weeks yesterday and still ciggie free, :spin:, feel like I could do cartwheels lol, no craving anymore either I feel I am past the " oh I need one " phase.
Helping my sister with quitting at the moment, she had a second heart atack last saturday, her stent was blocked and she had to have it replaced and a second one put in too, she is doing ok now getting there and doing so well cutting out the fags but not totaly off them as yet but she will get there im sure, scared the life out of me again as I found her the first time 4 years ago now and she is only 52.
So glad I decided to quit before all this happened I'm sure I would be smoking more and my anxiety would be through the roof.
She was 48 with her 1st attack and as I was coming up to 48 oh boy I was making myself ill thinking I was going to have one like she did, i won't be the same when I get to 52 big changes ahead,
1, already on it quit smoking
2, eat healthy
3, exercise more
4, full lifestyle change
Onward and upwards, we will both get there.
Karen
Xxx
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Well done you so proud of you for meeting your challenges head on like this,I lost my beautiful big sister also in her 50s to lung cancer due entirely to her heavy smoking,I would say she was a stress smoker so it was really much harder for someone like her to stop whereas I had no stress in my life by comparison so found it easier to stop.
Keep doing what your doing it's a lifestyle change but it's so worth it 💐🥇xx
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:congrats: Keep it up, you are over the worst part........
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I am surprised that chest units don't provide 'after care', in order to help patients/families/friends to quit ::)
Well done. You are saving money ......... did you watch Jane MacDonald on the cruise in Viet Nam the other night?
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So sorry to hear about your sister daisydot, can't imagine what you have been through, we are in the same situation, she is defiantly a stress smoker and has way more stress in her life than I do, we all as a family try to help as much as we can but she is stubborn and won't except help when offered.
Thank you Ellie I really feel I have overcome the worst part.
She has been to gp got to go to clinic on Thursday see where they can help.
Nope I flipping missed it this week, will be watching it on catchup this week tho.
Karen
Xxx
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Hi Kazy68 Well done for giving up the cigs. I smoke around 12 a day and really want to stop, the e cigs you use, have they got nicotine in? There are so many to choose from! And I'm not sure if a non nicotine one would help me. Any help would be appreciated thanks :)
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Maybe think about when you like a ciggie Jules? and decide if there is something you could do instead, to put off the lighting up for a longer time each day?
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So sorry for late reply been a rough few weeks, my sister back in hospital with pancreas trouble, my granddaughter been in all this week had to have her appendix removed Friday (finally), and my aunt got taken In Thursday with pneumonia, been like a family reunion in hospital, thankfully all well on the way to recovery.
Jules55 at the moment there is 6mg nicotine in my liquids, this month tho I'm ordering 3mg as I don't feel I need much if any, after the few weeks i've had i thought I would go straight for the packet but didn't 6 weeks yesterday.
Karen
Xxx
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Hi Karen
Thank you for the advice. I think you have done really well considering what's happened with your family members. I think I would have caved in. Glad to hear they are all recovering.
I've ordered an e cigarette and 6mg nicotine refills, so will keep you posted.
Many thanks Julie
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Keep it up ladies your doing fantastic it's not easy but over 30 years ago I never thought I'd do it and now with all the health issues I've had I'm so grateful that smoking was something I never had to factor in so anyway ive never regretted stopping and neither will you.well done xx
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Hopefully all relatives will make good recoveries!
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Hello ladies.
This post reminds me of a story I've told before but worth a repeat I think.
My mother in law told me that when here own mother was in her late forties and ' having trouble with her nerves ' their family doctor advised her to take up smoking! This would have been in the 1930s when everyone smoked including the doctor himself. My MIL's mum did buy a packet of cigarettes and gave it a go, she was following doctor's orders after all, but decided it wasn't for her so stopped after two weeks.
Perhaps an e cigarette would have been the answer if they had existed at that time as presumably it was the calming effect of nicotine that the doctor had in mind.
Take care ladies.
K.
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Hi all,
Hope you are all well, just an update on the quitting, well it's been 14 weeks, yes 1114444 weeks lol and still no ciggies, feeling great lost nearly 1 and 1/2 stone, exercising every day, not going mad just walking everywhere, got more energy than ever, sure I would feel better if it wasn't for meno symptoms popping in to see me every few weeks, but still going strong 😁.
Karen
Xxx
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kazy68 - :congrats: :ola: :clapping:
Keep going. A real success story and inspiration for others.
Do consider HRT if the meno symptoms get too troublesome. DG x
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Maybe keep a diary of symptoms? Then decide which you would like to ease first ;-)
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Can't believe it was May since I last posted, won't make it along one lol,
Just popped in to say 120 days ciggy free and loving it, weight loss not so great so joined ww (weight watchers) last week 4lb loss first week woop woop, brought treadmill and exercise bike yesterday, hope they will motivate me to get of my butt and do something, on the whole feeling good (well great for not smoking lol) meno symptoms keep rising and then falling just take 1 day at a time.
Go me 120 days can't believe it.
Karen
Xxx
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:ola: :ola: :ola: :ola: :ola: :ola: :ola: DG x
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:medal:
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BIG MISTAKE IT'S 210 DAYS lol been saying 120 all day IT'S 210 definitely go me lol.
Karen
Xxx
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BIG MISTAKE IT'S 210 DAYS lol been saying 120 all day IT'S 210 definitely go me lol.
Karen
Xxx
:) Well done! Keep it up!
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So it isn't bothering you. How are you filling your days?
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It doesn't bother me at all CLKD, I honestly am surprised myself, I do my normal routine every day, do my housework, have granddaughter every afternoon from 1 till 5.30, so she keeps me busy, but I have had her from 4 months old and she will be 2 in November, but I don't miss smoking at all and I for one never thought I would give up a 30 a day habit.
Karen
Xxx
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Wow!!! That is a FANTASTIC achievement, Karen! :congrats: :bouncing: :congrats: xxxx
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I have been vaping for a little over two years now and found it to be the best thing for me to stop smoking. Started off on 18mg of nic and now down to 3mg. I did try the patches but kept having strange dreams,then tried the gum and that made me throw up! So now it's just been vaping and no stinkies at all.
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Be careful, some are becoming addicted to the vape as well as turning to cigarettes :-\ and there is no research about vaping that holds up.
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Be careful, some are becoming addicted to the vape as well as turning to cigarettes :-\ and there is no research about vaping that holds up.
Is that research done by big tobacco companies? ::) You'll be telling me next how vaping causes popcorn lung next! ;D
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I'm still a vaper, smoke free for 6 years now and don't intend to give up my cherry vape
Dr and dentist both know I vape and have never frowned at me for it, plus during my last anaphylaxis paramedic asked if I smoked and I said only vape, she said it doesn't count
At the end of the day it gives me pleasure, and like with hrt, it's quality of life over quantity x
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Is there any research that points to any dangers, my friend is a Pharmacist and has read all the current 'research' ........ it does depend on how Funds that Research, whether it is Peer Reviewed etc.. We thought that smoking was OK initially so do take care.
Vaping was introduced in order to wean people off ciggies .......... so should be for short-term use, i.e. not longer than 4 12 months ;-)
I would be concerned if any medical professional didn't have up-2-date info but it seems that they really aren't bothered to delve deeply.
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Well done to everyone that have been able to give up smoking cigarettes.
The fact that some have chosen to vape should also be applauded. It is less harmful, it doesn't smell & it gives pleasure.
Cazikins - ex smoker of 20+ roll ups a day. Last one smoked 8 years + 1 month after developing a polyp on larynx & BB being diagnosed with throat cancer & still with us thankfully. :) :)
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Well done Cazikins nice to see you aboard.
Vaping certainly does smell. I followed a woman yesterday in a street and it reeked ....... blew right back into my face! Like ciggies, they should be used sensibly!
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I have thus far in the last 6-7 weeks walked down streets in towns across the UK and smelt from vapes - in no particular order ;D
vanilla is the most common
peaches :-\
cannabis ? .........
more vanilla ........... like following an ice cream ::)
burnt walnuts
Now of course it might have been after shave ;D or a badly hung over-coat ???
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I have thus far in the last 6-7 weeks walked down streets in towns across the UK and smelt from vapes - in no particular order ;D
vanilla is the most common
peaches :-\
cannabis ? .........
more vanilla ........... like following an ice cream ::)
burnt walnuts
Now of course it might have been after shave ;D or a badly hung over-coat ???
Sounds like aftershave to me then CLKD, unless you could see them vaping that is... ;)
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I've never smelt anyone's vape before, but I vape cherry flavour so hopefully it'd be nice for someone if they did smell it
Kind of related but me and hubby were babysitting the grandchildren yesterday and we walked them all to the country play Park and in walked (fenced and gated area) a dad with his kid and the dad was smoking cannabis! It stunk ! X
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Yeah, when I walk the dog I smell their weed everywhere.
Cars that drive past, cars parked up, ie, at the pub, in the park car park.
There's loads of it around here.
Young lads park up, and stand in the entrance of the park smoking it, it has a very high hedge, and only people actually going into the park can see you. So they think they're safe there.
It really does stink, your right Annie0710.
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Well 12 months ago today I posted that I was quitting ........
I am chuffed to say I'm still ciggie free,its been an amazing 12 months been able to do more with grandchildren, taking them out on day trips even just walks to the park have been fun, I still use a vape but now nicotine free liquid.
Still going to weight watchers and lost a further 2 stone (quitting smoking was easier for me lol) not coming off very fast but still losing, to celebrate the 12 month victory we (myself and hubby) joined the gym ;D ;D not the ideal way to celebrate but it works for us had our first swim this morning at 6.30am :o lol.
Just found out we a going to have a new addition son and dil expecting 2nd baby this year too.
2019 going to be amazing.
Hope everyone doing well
Karen
Xxxxx
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:medal: do you mean that there are two babies expected? :-\
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Lol hope not CLKD unless its twins which is possible but until scan they are expecting 2nd child already got 1 girl, hope we haven't jinxed it now lol two in one go would be lovely but I will be having them when it's time to go back to work plus Ruby and then get other two from school don't think I'm up to having 5 :o will be hard enough with 4 lol x
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Congratulation kazy68
Lanzaloverx
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17 months non smoker 8)
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What do you miss if anything? :medal: