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[Dennylou48]

Hi I'm really struggling with this issue while going through this horrible hormone stuff, I feel if I give up I will turn to alcohol or something cos I can't cope with out them, I smoke roll ups and between 5-8 a day, have terrible panic and anxiety since it started 3 years ago. I have seen no period for 3 months and just hoping I'm am coming to the end cos along with all the other symptoms I get, it seems to me to be getting worse, I am on no medication for this except lansoprazole for acid reflux which only happened with menopause too. Does anyone else still smoke on here or am I the only one.

[CLKD]

If smoking calms you right now, then stick with it!  It's a bit like dieting - deny yourself and cravings will start.

I think you will find ladies here who do, it's not something I ever tried after someone warned me that I might be  so why bother 

Have you spoken to your GP about your anxiety?  Mine has prescribed beta-blockas to take daily and an emergency pill if panic attacks take over.  Without which ………..    - so it can be managed.  Some ladies use yoga/pilates, swim, brisk walks …….. my periods came and went over 2-3 years from 1999 (I think). 

Acid reflux is common at peri- - as oestrogen levels drop, apparently muscles become lax which includes the diaphragm, i.e. those inside in the digestive tract which then leads to reflux .  I have to take my evening medication well B4 going to bed, certain foods I can eat early in the day but not in the evening ……. maybe have a look at your diet to see if an adjustment would ease symptoms?  Rennies R my go-to remedy, it might take 3/4 within an hour but they do the trick: the drug you have been prescribed can in fact, make matters worse  .

I think that smoking can aggravate reflux  . 

Now: call me old fashioned but a Chest Consultant I worked with many years ago always asked smokers whether they woke in the night for a fag.  He maintained and it seemed 'right' at the time, that if a person is truly addicted, the body would wake them several times during the night.  I know that some people leap out of bed and the first thing they do is light up, but those people got out at what I would call a reasonable time, i.e. 7.00 a.m. or later.

Browse round. 

[Hurdity]

However.....giving up smoking ( over a period of time of course) is probably the best thing you can do in terms of your future health.

Have a look at what it say about diet and lifestyle, including smoking on this site:

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/diet.php

I realise if you have been smoking for a long time giving up will be very difficult but it would be better to try to work on giving up smoking and perhaps consider HRT or even this combined with an AD (if HRT alone doesn't work) - than to use smoking as a way of alleviating anxiety.

I did not get any real menopausal symptoms that I was aware of - or that bothered me (despite crying a lot and getting bad headaches!) until my periods has stopped for several months (and several others have reported this too), so this could explain why your symptoms are beginning to get worse now. When flushes and sweats got really bad - and didn't respond to what I thought had been working (herbal treatments and diet) - I then started HRT and have never looked back.

I am sure there are groups that you could join, and maybe get medical help to start you off. Do have a serious think about this and try one step at a time ....

Hurdity x

[Tempest]

I gave up the ciggies 3 years ago, and now vape instead. It was the less of 2 evils, but without SOMETHING I would have lost it big style by now! I'm now on 11mg liquid which is pretty darned low, so I'm hoping to step off completely at some point. Maybe go and get yourself a wee vape pen and give it a go? I can give you advice on how to switch from the fags to vaping so that you don't get 'vapers throat'. It happens to all of us smokers when we try to switch, and there is a knack to it!😉

[Annie0710]

I was a heavy smoker and gave up cold turkey at the time they told me I was peri

I nearly caved in about 8 months later at a BBQ but a friend lent me her brand new E cig and I've been vaping since

8 a day isn't heavy smoking and roll ups I've heard are much better than tailor made, do you use a filter ?

I've been cigarette free since sept 2012

Annie x

[Lizab]

I do. I don't think I will very much longer though. I smoke anywhere from 3 to 15 per day, depending on....I dont know what it depends on, I just know it varies and even smoking seems tied to my cycle. I guess a normal day is about 5-6. I only smoke outside when I'm home,  so if the weather is bad or I'm out and about, I don't smoke and I really don't miss it. As soon as it feels right, I plan to drop them, but right now it's my only vice. I don't take alcohol, caffeine, drugs, or anything so I don't feel terribly guilty over the smoking. But it's undeniable that it ages people faster, so that's my main motivation for dropping cigs all together.

[Ju Ju]

I have a friend who really, really wanted to give up smoking, but found it incredibly difficult. He went to a hypnotherapist. I don't know how many sessions he needed, but not only was it successful, he discovered in the process he wanted to write, which he did. Eventually, he wrote as a full time job, following considerable success. Some of his work has been televised. You can't be made to give up smoking through hypnotherapy, if you are half hearted and I'm not suggesting you will discover you want to write..............well you might find something you want to do. Worth a thought?

[Peroxideblader]

I know how you feel I am a smoker and it's my emotional crutch too...since I've got bad insomnia I sadly smoke more as I'm all alone in the back room til 3 or 4 am very lonely and upset and without a ciggy I'd lose the plot..I don't drink but doctors don't give you credit for never drinking even though the health risks are massive..I've just posted about if to start on a patch or pill hrt because of being a smoker and one is safer..so less guilt right now you've enough to cope with...when life improves you might be in a better frame of mind to try to cut down I hope I will but for now no way...x

[Mary G]

Dennylou48, you are definitely not what anyone would call a heavy smoker so I would not give yourself any added stress at a time like this.  I think it would be much worse and far more dangerous to your health if you were a heavy drinker. 

If I were you, I would look at the transdermal route for HRT because it is much more effective and hopefully will help with your anxiety. 

Good luck!

[Cazikins]

Hi Dennylou48,

I gave up ciggies in September 2010. I smoked about 20+ rolls up a day (with filters). I was on HRT & the same time & the 2 combined, was my crutch. I never thought I could give up for good but I managed it.

I started a thread at the time about the plusses & minuses as I saw it, have a look at the link below & it may help you.

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8252.0.html


Don't beat yourself up over a few roll ups a day but if you did kick the habit you will feel so much better - & what an achievement.

Good luck.

Cazi xx

[CLKD]

Some people decide when they want a ciggie the most, i.e. after a meal and find that if they alter that particular habit, they can give up that particular fag.  It is what suits the person in order to enable ;-).

[Dennylou48]

Thank you for all your advise, I'm in such a dilemma, with hrt, as I got some saying no don't do it and others saying it's the best thing ever. I am rubbish at making decisions 😩 I do use a filter and very rarely smoke in the evenings, I only smoke in the garden not in my house.  I hate feeling so shit everyday and aching all the time. Hormone drop is giving me real bad fuzzy head feelings which is so scared. I worry about everything I wish I could go back to the bubbly happy person I was before. I do have a vase which gave me a sore throat so was put off that. Let me know what the knack is. Thank you xx

[CLKD]

Making decisions can become difficult as we age.  Meno fuggggg   

Don't try to do everything at the same time.  As a smoker then maybe try to ease any meno symptoms first.  That way you can focus on 1 thing at a time 

[Cazikins]

Take HRT if you are offered it.

Don't focus too much on giving up the fags at the moment, you are dealing with enough at the moment so don't add more problems to the pile.

Take one day at a time, it is not a race & be kind to yourself. Keep posting & we will try to help you through it.

Cazi xx

[RedFraggle]

I smoke, also roll-ups with a filter and A rated papers which drop the nicotine and tar a bit.
The GP would prefer me to stop now I'm on HRT but I told her I have too much stress in my life right now and she was ok with that. My BP is fine. I smoke about 15 to 20 a day which is way too much, I need to half that really.