Disregard "Almost There"

Awww Lassieluv! I'm so very sorry. Maybe there is a reason for the delay that us mortals don't understand. Have a good cry...it always helps me. Take this time to heal the infection and regain your strength and know that your doctor has delayed this in your best interest.

Keep us posted,
Chutz

ps...jump into a chat room and visit with folks today. Any room where people are is fair game. doesn't have to be the CP room at all.

Lassie,
In a way, I'm sorry for the delay, but if it makes you quit smoking maybe that is the reason! i mean that's a huge thing. I used to smoke 3 packs a day, but fortunately quit back in 1990. And I was terrified i'd never be able to; it took several tries, but finally it's way behind me. Good thing as I've got enough health problems - as do all of us! So yes, have a good cry, see if you can get into the chat room if you think that will help, then recommit to using this time to getting even healthier so your trial has a good chance of success. Wouldn't you hate the trial to turn into a mess because of an infection? It also may give you more time to make your plans for your future life. Hey, if there's quite a bit of time before the next available date, you could really start making some of those changes in your life to get yourself free of an abusive relationship.

But for now, lick your wounds for a day or two. Maybe go onto the lung association's website for help with quitting. There's a site - I think it's called www.iquit.com but I'm not sure - that you can use for support as you quit at home. So you could get info. and support and not leave the house.

Oh - getting into the chat room here is fairly easy. There's a list of options on the right side of your screen on the page where the threads are listed (by the forurm rules, etc.) and just click on the chat room link and it will instruct you.

Hugs to you,
PaLady

Lassie - I just saw Chutzie started a thread with more detailed instructions for the chats. Definitely follow her advice!

Post Edited (PAlady) : 4/23/2008 2:56:39 PM (GMT-6)

Yeah, I saw her thread right after I asked about it. I went there but there but there were no chatters online.

I have tried everything to quit smoking, I mean EVERYTHING. But when it comes to walking again or keep smoking there is the great incentive I maybe have been needing. God does work in mysterious ways.

I am not so down in the dumps now for the delay in surgery. Maybe I do need some more time to reflect on the things I want to change in my life. And yes, I am gaining more strength to get myself out of this relationship. I have been hinting and out right saying to him to get off my back; even though I am not physically the person I want to get back to, I still have feelings and I don't need his extra baggage to drag me down. Mentally I am slowly coming around to changing my life for the better. And it's people on this forum that give me the extra push I need.

I am so glad you had good luck in finally losing the habit of smoking. I'm sure it has made a big change in you life and those around you.

Thanks for your support!

lassieluv, so sorry to hear of the delay :(  It's my personal beliefs that all things happen  for a reason and that it's in  God's time, not ours. It's s good thing that the infection was caught and that u didn't have the surgery, u could have had a heap of trouble. Hang tough, kiddo....the time will come soon (((((((((((((Hug)))))))))))))))

Lassie,
I just want to add nicotene is a very potent drug. Some studies suggest as potent or more than morphine, so that's why it's so tough to quit. When I quit in 1990 I tried the gum, but hated it. There weren't patches and other aids available back then, but I'd strongly suggest you use some of those aids to help with withdrawal. Then there's the psychological addiction, and overall habits. They're tough but you're right, maybe now your motivation is strong. I think some online support - in addition to this forum - that could help you as you quit would be great. I actually went to some 12 step meetings and used a 12 step process to help me quit because I had to see myself as a nicotene addict before I was able to quit for good.

I'll be cheering you on!

PaLady

Post Edited (PAlady) : 4/23/2008 9:10:59 PM (GMT-6)

painKILLER - thanks for your response. No, I'm not having a steroid injection or anything like that - I have had many in the past though with short term pain relief. By the way, mine is a respiratory infection too. The procedure I was scheduled for was a Spinal Cord Stimulator implant. If you read my thread on this site it will explain what that involves. Sounds pretty good to me. But now I face the LONG days of waiting again.

No, I have very few meds to fall back on. My pc dr doesn't much believe in prescribing anything very strong. He says it is because of my history of respiratory problems. However, I have gone through many surgeries with much stronger pain meds that haven't bothered my breathing at all.

Thanks for your kindness & yes, the devastation is over and I have cheered up as much as I can. But it sure was tough yesterday.

Good luck with that kiddo!  I'll lift u up in prayer for sucess.

Good luck - and Congratulations on the decision to quit! Just remember that cravings come but cravings go. The trick is to get through them. And sometimes it will be very hard, but you can do it. And if you slip you just get back on the wagon and keep trying. It is a darned tough thing to do....one of the toughtest things I ever did in my life, but one of the best for my health and my pocketbook! I don't even know how people afford to smoke these days!

Check out the American Lung Association and I'm sure they have good info. and links to credible online programs.

Here's one tip I learned - when it gets really bad, close your eyes and imagine you're taking a drag off a cigarette, but just do NOT light one up or put one in your mouth! When I did that it would take the edge off, and also made me realize that some of the relaxation we feel from smoking comes from doing deep breathing! You learned hyponosis, so you can use that as part of your program. I used every trick I could find. Kept cinammon candies in my pocket for a couple of months, as it helped wake up my taste buds.

It's hard but you can do it! You go girl!

PaLady

Oh, thank you PAlady. The cinammon candies sounds like they would be a good help. I am getting some cabbage and grapefruit today and will add that to my list.

I just smoked a cigarette, forgetting I had the patch on, and man, what a headache. I do think the patches are going to help this time.

Speaking of the cost, I can't even imagine all the money I will be saving. Probably enough to pay the taxes on my house.lol

Thanks for your support!

Lassie,
Was thinking about you today and wondered how you're doing. One caution: don't smoke while you're using the patch. You'll get even more nicotene in your system. If you find you've still been smoking a fair amount today, maybe it'd would be best to plan your quitting strategy and resources first and then start the patches.

I had to throw out all my cigarettes, ash trays, lighters, etc. with the trash the night before I quit. I used to have cigarette packs all over the house, in the car, in my office, etc. and after I'd thrown everything out I found an unopened pack in my briefcase. So I put it way in the back of a drawer and made up some story in my head that I'd be one of these people who would look at that unopened pack in years to come and be proud I never opened it. HA! I knew I'd be thinking about that pack with every craving, and that I'd never last, so I took the pack out to the garbage (good thing garbage pick up was the next morning) and tore up all the cigarettes so I couldn't even dig them out and light them up. And I took it one day at a time. But when I got through the first 24 hours - something I hadn't been able to do in 9 years - without a cigarette I started playing a game with myself to see if I could do another 24 hours. And I haven't smoked since. But it was not easy. Even after almost 18 years I will get a thought for a cigarette out of nowhere about once a year and jolt myself back to reality. You really have to ask yourself what you want - what you truly want deep down. Think about your health. That implant trial. Your future. Get a good picture in your mind and begin to see how cigarettes are keeping you from that. But I can't say enough how potent the physical addiction to nicotene is; I underestimated it for many years. I had quit smoking for 3 years and then when my father was dying started bumming cigarettes from my mother telling myself I'd quit as soon as everything with my father came to an end. It took 9 years for me to finally quit. So I really learned that I can't have "just one" - just like an alcoholic. I also followed something I read somewhere, which was to save the butts from my last few days of cigarettes in a jar. I still have it! And the deal with myself is that if I ever really WANT a cigarette (not the same as a craving, which is my body's decision not my head and heart) I had to open up that jar and stick my nose in. Well, I haven't done that in many years but I did it few times and it was so gross...took away the thought of a cigarette immediately!!

I don't know if any of this helps, but thought I'd share it with you. It's tough, but it's doable. It just will feel impossible for awhile, but don't believe those feelings.


A note to Lakeside: Yes, we've been having some great weather. A little chilly still along the lakeshore, but fine with me in the 60's. My crabapple tree still hasn't bloomed - maybe it knows what's coming? I did see that "mixed precipitation" thing on the weather last night for Mon./Tues. I knew better than to put my shovel away!

Hi PAlady - So nice of you to be thinking about me. I'm going to do better today than yesterday. I did slip up yesterday till about 3:00pm (before my "caretaker" got home from work). I got all my cigarettes together and gave them to a friend, got all my ash trays & lighters out of site, put on a patch at 7:00am and am now ready for my first day as a non-smoker.

I did look on the ALA and got some good info and good tips for when the craving gets rough. It is said to take a walk, take a drive, shop, mainly just get out of the house to take your mind of the cravings. Not so easy since I am in a wheelchair with limited space to get around in. That's one reason I am so glad I have this forum to keep my thoughts on others problems with CP. I could kick myself in the butt for not quitting sooner. Thanks to my COPD aggravated by my smoking, I didn't get the surgery I was so looking forward to. But then again - it's not a cancellation, just a delay. I wonder how long it will take me to get back on the OR list though.

Thanks for the cinammon candy idea. I have one in my mouth as we speak. And I am still so proud of your quitting even after set backs. I'll get there too!

Hope you have a great day and that today you will be relatively pain free!

Lassieluv,
You go girl! Your first day as a non-smoker - now that's the way to think! It will be hard, but you will do it!

Instead of kicking yourself in the butt, look at your cancellation as a way to Kick OUT the Butt!!

i'm cheering for you!

Hugs,
PaLady

p.s. Yes, I think you have special challenges because you can't get up and out and do a lot of the things suggested as distractions. So you've got to be more creative and find as many online resources as you can. Also, is there something you haven't done in awhile - like read a book, listen to inspirational audio material, or a hobb/craft - you could learn or take up again? That could help replace the smoking. And if you're typing on the computer you can't have one in your hand now, can you?!

Post Edited (PAlady) : 4/25/2008 1:33:10 PM (GMT-6)