smoking addiction

My husband had quit cigarettes for 3 months. I thought he had quit for good, but guess what?? I found a cigarette lighter on the bed under the sheets when I got in bed the other night. I was upset that he didn't tell me, but he thought NOT telling me would be better cause I guess he figured I would never find out being he has enough control not to smoke around me in the house. He didn't want to upset me by telling me he went back to smoking, but I told him that by lying to me and saying he quit is more upsetting than hearing he is still smoking.


His parents both had cancer - mouth/ throat and both due to smoking. His father died from it and thank God his mother was cured. So thats why for the last 20 years I have been hoping he would quit and up until now, I thought he did.

Did anyone have a real hard time giving up cigarettes and knew that they needed extra help. If you did get extra help, and were able to quit, how did you do it? He'll try anything but hypnosis. He even thinks he needs to talk to a psychiatrist cause he just can't believe how he keeps going back to it - even after 3 months of not smoking. He thinks he has a harder time than anyone and I can't convince him that all ex-smokers had a hard time and you just have to resist.


I had given it up years ago on my own without using anything, so I am unable to suggest anything to him.

Any suggestions or maybe someone has gone through the same thing and took some pill or something. I remember reading a while back that there is a pill to help a person stop smoking but I forgot the name of it and I don't know if it has sx. I am upset that he lied to me, but I won't harp on that because he thought he was protecting me from added stress - thats how different men are from women,,,I would have wanted to know and hear the truth so I could help him.

well if you have any ideas please let me know. Thanks, MO

[charm27]

I am a determined stubborn person. I believe if you want to stop eating so much keep your mouth closed. I beieve if you want to stop smoking bad enough you just stop cold turkey. If you want it bad enough you will do anything. Its a habit yes and it takes time to  get thru yes, but thats the only way for me. I stopped smoking 11/23/07 the day I started tx and never looked back.

But again thats me, I feel with anything the only way to do something is to do it.
Not easy I know.
But thats me.

[sldb]

My boyfriend stopped smoking by having that Laser tx done, it worked (he was ready to quit which helped), He had 1 relapsed and they retreated him for free, now 1 yr. post tx he is COS, (cessation of smoking). I do test him for signs and symptoms of relapse: smelling for residual smoke in his hair and clothing,  the  presence of lighters in his truck, and the telltale foil wrapping, but he is UND. SO FAR LOL!!!!!  

[FlGuy]

Maybe he did quit and the lighter wasn't his

[kimmypoo2]

I TRIED CHANTIX......I ONLY TOOK IT FOR A MONTH  ITS BEST TO USE IT FOR 3 MTHS   IM STILL SMOKE FREE... BUT SOMETIMES ALL THE STUFF WE GO THROUGH FROM DAY 2 DAY AND TX ON TOP OF IT ....ITS TRULY A WORK IN PROGRESS...LOL

[Myown]

Thanks guys.

charm, I am like you. I made up my mind and quit, but it wasn't as easy maybe for me as it was you....if I knew I had liver disease (if in fact I did at the time) that probably would have helped me quit, I think so at least. He is very strong in all areas, except smoking for some reasons. Congratulations on quitting btw.

sldb, laser tx? What do you mean? I never heard of that. So you smell his hair and all that? lol I wouldn't be able to do that cause he would get mad because he expects trust in a relationship:)  So, this time I will cut him slack because he has cut me slack when I do things that get on his nerves. He has one more chance to make it right otherwise he can go live with his mother until he quits. Let her worry about it. But let me know about the laser tx okay?

FlGuy! HAHA,,,,Nah, I don't think so. -  I know, you must be a "Nanny Cam" salesman and you are trying to make a sale!

Kimmy,,,,Thank you.I just got off the phone with one of the forum members and told me about this Chantix so I am definitely going to tell him. If it doesn't work this time, I give up. If he wants to be that foolish and continue smoking, there is nothing I can do.

Thanks to all.

[sldb]

You dont tell them what you are doing, give him a peck when he walks in the door and SNIFF lol.... Ill tell him what ive done when iam sure he has stopped. I live in New Orleans and there is a place called Laser Center of LA. , they laser certain parts of your body, I forgot which, instruct you to drink plenty of h2o for a week, and the nicotine cravings leave.  They do follow up txs if needed, it really works , but he has to want to quit.  

[Forseegood]

feel sick today so I haven't read this entire thread...has he tried hypnosis, along with some other things like the patch or gum, etc etc...all at the same time? sometimes addictions are so strong that you need to throw everything at them...but hypnosis is very good for addictions, I heard Robin Williams say he had tried everything to quit smoking, and hypnosis is the one that did it for him...here's a really good site, just like 8 bucks for downloads, and they are very good at what they do...they also have excellent anti-anxiety downloads, they have a download to address just about everything...

hypnosis downloads dot com   spelled all together....best of luck, I've heard junkies say heroin is easier to kick than cigs....

[Forseegood]

forgot to add, like the old saying goes, anything worth getting is worth working hard for it, and you rarely get anything worth getting without working hard for it...lol...you have to do due diligence when your listening to these hypnosis tapes, and concentrate...sometimes I've suggested them to people and they say they didn't work...I ask them how many times they listened to them and they'll say, oh,maybe 3 or 4 times...in order for them to work, at least listen to them once or twice a day, for many days...they've worked for me for a number of issues, but when I slack off they don't..you have to re-wire your thinking process and that takes time..

.just wanted to add that...best of luck!!!!!

[Lady Lauri]

I am glad you still have a husband after all these weeks tx :)...kidding!!!!

As I sit here eating my organic dinner, making organic tea and am back to Yoga after mths. not while on tx...... I am than going to light a *&%$#@# cig!
   I've battled nicotine for years! Never addicted to ANYTHING I ever tried, also stubborn, strong and so on, but these things are hell to quit :(  :(  
Being an otherwise 'health nut' most of my life! I do believe some have habit addiction, some nicotine addiction and some both. I am both and it sucks!! I will try ANYTHING that'll work. I don't even care if I get fat!

Remember that I found out I had Hep C thru an acupunturist I was sent to TO quit smoking!! Went into tx and didn't do that yet. I have a friend that said he'll even send me to Baltimore to the guy that he went to for hypnosis years ago (he quit) and/or pay for anything I'll try to quit. Guess it's time to use that!

Tell hubby keep trying :(

LL

[Lady Lauri]

Curious on the laser thing too ??
Can't they just knock us out and wake us in 2 weeks :(   ?????

LL

[FloridaMouse]

I quit with the use of Chantix.  I took chantix toward  the tail end  of m y first r ound of treatment.  by the time treatment was finished so were  the smokes.

I was smoke free within 3 weeks of starting  Chantix and took it for just over 2 months.  I was smoke free for a year on March 4.

Mouse

[Myown]

You dont tell them what you are doing, give him a peck when he walks in the door and SNIFF lol.... Ill tell him what ive done when iam sure he has stopped. I live in New Orleans and there is a place called Laser Center of LA. , they laser certain parts of your body, I forgot which, instruct you to drink plenty of h2o for a week, and the nicotine cravings leave.  They do follow up txs if needed, it really works , but he has to want to quit.
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LOL, ohhhh, so ya do the ole Inspecter Cluso,,yeah I can do that. I'll have the theme of the "Pink Panther" playing as he walks thru the door too.

Too tell you the truth, I give up. I have said as much as I could possibly have said over the years and for those that know me, the interpertation of that, is that I ran it into the ground. Now if he wants to smoke a pack of Marlboro's right in front of me while juggling 2 lit cigars in the air - go for it. I don't care. He's a neat freak and the only thing I will do is remind him he smells if I happen to smell smoke on him,that will annoy him and maybe help him give it up, but I won't ask him if he had a cigarette ever again, I'm tired of it. I'll tell him about the laser, I forgot to. I see that they do that here- over NYC. I'm just very disgusted at this point that he is smoking again but he's a big boy and if that's what he wants to do go ahead do it.

Thanks for letting me know about the laser.. MO

[Myown]

4 C "has he tried hypnosis, along with some other things like the patch or gum, etc etc...all at the same time? sometimes addictions are so strong that you need to throw everything at them...but hypnosis is very good for addictions, I heard Robin Williams say he had tried everything to quit smoking, and hypnosis
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Thanks but the hypnosis is not something that I would want him to do. From a spiritual prespective it goes against things I believe in. The patch, I know what your saying, but its weird cause he DOES get beyond the 'physcial addiction' point on his own and after 3 months something will happen and he lites up - not that I was aware though,. I know its hard, hes worried about me, his mother is dying, my mother lives with us and has b/c and bone cancer so he has all this sad stuff around him and I am sure it must take its toll at times - though he is cool hand luke, I'm sure thats just the exterior and maybe he is nervous underneath. You know how guys are, they hate to show us any weakness in themselves, meantime at this age, as a female, things that were once important have changed. I like to see a man show his weak side, and if he cries it shows he's sensitive and I think most woman like men that are senstitive- well I do, I shouldn't speak for all women, some like the John Wayne type. I tell him that all the time - don't hold things in if something is bothering you and he always says he's fine ---Yeah sure,he's smokey the bear - things are fine:)

Thanks sweety, MO

LL....Yeah, you should really try to give it up. It goes against everything you believe in,being you eat organic and all of that. I would try with that Accupuncturist again. She is amazing that she told you that there was something wrong with your liver. My Neurologist rolled his eyes at me when I told him that your Accurpuncturist dx you had liver problems. I liked that doc but I told him "see this is exactly why we don't have cures to lots of diseases yet - "the conventional doctors are always rolling eyes' at anything that has not been 'taught to them in med school.'' I said the girl DID wind up having liver disease - hep c, so how can you not believe and roll your eyes at me??? Well the conversation went on and on, I do like this doc and he said he found me 'interesting,' whatever that means, so at least he was open to discussion about altenative med, even though he doesn't believe in any way, he did find the conversation interesting. But I will continue to tell all my doctors that are conventional any and all of the progress that alternative medicine is making when I read things on the forum or studies cause they are not even giving it 2 seconds of their time. I remember reading that HR was at a convention and he said in talking to several known hep docs, none of them knew about a study that was done with PPC - that I find just absolutely amazing or sad I should say..And I go to a leading hep doc and he has not mentioned adding PPC to my tx, but I will bring this up next appointment. Thanks MO

FlMouse......thanks I told him about the Chantix and first thing he asked is "well what about sx?" I said "I didn't read about the sx yet, but do you think the sx of Chantix will be worse than the sx of cigarette smoking?" Geesh. Thanks MO

[Lady Lauri]

   How cool you told that Dr. that :) You can add this.....I went to this same Dr. office over 10 yrs, they never found it. At least 6 high LFT's labs are in my records, dating back to 2000! In 03 they ran a Hep test...ONLY for A & B! On that report it is written 'tell patient she is neg. for Hep" !!
  In 04, there is a lab report saying "high LFT's, patient needs to follow up with Dr. something"...never told me that! In last 7-10 visits there my complaints were the same, fatigue, muscle pain a LOT, really itchy skin area's, feeling sickly, feeling 'foggy'. When I went back and said.."acupuncturist say's check my liver, the new Dr. in office says, reading thru my charts..."why has no one ever checked your liver?" !!
  I would not be tx'd and UND today if not for her. No other explaination.
They also just came out with a study, conclusion that acupuncture is superior for back pain over pain meds and pain management!

And you are interesting.....that's a good thing :)

LL

[nygirl7]

I am addicted to cigarettes.  I have no intention of quitting at this point in my life.   To say otherwise would be a lie.

I've quit drugs, abusive relationships, drinking, cancer and most recently tx. Had a husband commit suicide last summer, broke my back in '93, almost died in childbirth in 88, been evicted, been in ****** houses, cried at night wondering where the next money would come for the electric bill to keep my kids warm...worked crappy jobs for ****** perverts and finally turned all that around to good at 40 years of age.

Still - I'm still smoking.

Please do NOT ever say it's just a mind over matter issue.  For some of us - it's a physical and mental dependence that isn't just "oh i won't have one now".  

I don't mean to be rude but the chocolate cake and fried chicken is gonna kill you just as fast - if the hep doesnt.  It's always something in life.  Non-smoking preachy preachers who have their own vices **** me off more than any other bigots in life.

Just my humble opinon but now I'm going outside to have a smoke.

[jdwithhcv]

We're talking about a grown man here, presumably.  So try to keep sight of the fact that this is HIS decision.  Staying on his back about it will not help him quit, but it will damage your relationship.

[ladywhy]

You are so blessed to have that husband of yours! He really is a doll...and I know because of both his parents having had cancer directly due to smoking it is even more upsetting for both of you. I'll pray that he tries the chantix and that it works for him. He is also blessed to have such a caring loving wife.

Uhoh...I feel a lil green..........with envy.
y

[ladywhy]

Ahhhh the shame....I too am a smoker.......
After tx....I'm gonna try chantix AND accupuncture.

Hope one day soon to be a
Nonsmoker...once again.

right now...i don't see how i can do it.....it's my pacifier....pitiful....

[moahunter]

It is a bit like booze, and alcholics though. Once you are addicted, it never leaves you. I haven't had a cigarette for over 10 years, but I still want one sometimes, sometimes I catch a whiff and really want one. Not everyone is like this, but if you were heavily addicted, I don't think it ever goes. What stops me from smoking is that I don't want to anymore, not because I wouldn't like it, but because I have made the decision it is not worth it. Until you make that decision, just like an alcholic with booze, or the treatments are pretty meaningless IMO.

[moahunter]

Anothe way of puting it, you have to realize, that quiting smoking, will cost you a pleasure. A treatment might ease the tranisition, give you some alternative pleasure, or numb its absence, but at some point, you just have to face up to that, and decide if the cost (pleasure loss) is worth the benefits (financial, health, etc.).

[nygirl7]

Nobody of age WANTS to smoke anymore - it was something we were all tricked into when we were little to be "cool" like the big people.  I've never really found anybody who had any other reason for smoking. It sucks. That's why it aggravates me SO MUCH when I hear mind over matter - I'm a pretty damn tough cookie when I know my life is at risk..........but I CANNOT defy this addiction both physically and mentally.

Maybe someday again but right now, no.  

[ladywhy]

One time in my life I quit for almost 3 years. I was advised to daily (these exact words) to pray for the willingness and the desire (fake it 'til you make it) I also was having accpuncture done at the same time...these 2 things worked for me....I barely had any withdrawal and had been smoking just about my entire life...oh the insanity of starting again....
I try to remember and believe ..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."...especially through difficult times.....

I am a work in progress.....and I know the day will come that I will surrender these killers. Crazy but true... I loved being a nonsmoker.
enough of this....i know i'm being a hyprocrite and it hurts my soul.

[Forseegood]

not wanting to argue this, but just for the sake of argument lol.....hypnosis has nothing to do with spirituality, religion, nothing...it makes no mention of these either way and has no stand on these things because it doesn't have anything to do with them....it's just about dealing with subconscious desires that are about stress management...the subconscious is very stressed and wants to protect you by many times unhealthy forms of stress management....like oral fixations like smoking, drinking, etc etc etc....so it doesn't go against any religion, belief system, anything that anyone believes....

I should think that anyone believing in any kind of higher power, whomever or whatever that is, would want to help themselves with these very dangerous but very hard to treat embedded habits...course My Own, you're free to do or not do whatever you feel is right...but I just wanted to clarify this for the sake of anyone else reading this thread...respectfully...hope youre doing well and having a good day!!!!!

[mikesimon]

You just have to find a hypnotherapist who isn't into the occult and doesn't practice the dark arts. You know where she is coming from, don't you? it's not a reasonable reaction and especially if you think it might help. I know it can help but I never had any religious reservations. I am unafraid of the dark arts but, smoking - well, that's a different matter entirely. Smoking is very scary. I quit last Thursday so I should know. Mike

[ladywhy]

ms: Congratulations on quitting!!

4c:I believe in meditation....and like the the guy from SNL..(Jack Handy) lol....lookin in the mirror..I like myself....I am a non-smoker......(I'm so pretty and witty and wise ;)
but seriously, positive affirmations are good. I am well aware of the negative subconscious tapes that we can play...total self defeating stuff. I read elsewhere you weren't feeling so good....I hope a bit better now?

[Forseegood]

occults? dark side? it's all positive affirmations so you can overplay the negative motivations that go around in a loop in all our heads, these thoughts are so primary and pervasive, that we don't even know we're doing it's so commonplace within us...they happen especially while we are sleeping, or doing something else....

Useless worry, stress, oh, if I do that, what will happen? I'm no good at that, why am I even trying? oh, if he goes there, someone might hurt him, oh that person doesn't like me....oh, I'm going to get fired cause she gave me a dirty look, I'm going to die of this disease....those types of thoughts......so you cut those thoughts short by replacing them with positives to change that negative hardwiring that can then cause fight or flight stress responses like smoking, over drinking, over eating, etc......

but your sense of humor is so dry, that sometimes I don't know when you're joking or not...anyway best of luck on quitting, that'll be great for you....

[Forseegood]

Hi, yeah, I had a bad, bad earache and I just hope it's gone...I forgot how painful they are cause I haven't had one since I was a kid...when most people watched black and white television, lol....I took a zithropack? course and I'm just hoping it's done the trick...cause I got another infection in the you know where from taking antibiotics...too much information I know....hope youre well too!!!!

[mikesimon]

Yes, I was joking - in a sense anyway. But, I really did quit. I only smoked in the evenings and on weekends so it wasn't an all encompassing addiction. Yet, it's never easy. If you Google "hypnosis spiritual religion" you'll see possible reasons for my's problem with hypnosis - it's there alright. I just don't buy it. And, I was hypnotized many years back and that will likely only add support to my's objections to that approach. Mike

[Forseegood]

well, just like there are many ways to health, there are many types of hypnosis I guess, I've never even looked into that other type youre speaking about, never googled it...I don't use a hypnotherapist, too expensive and I can do it on my own pretty well with my downloads, so I don't feel I'm in need of one...

what I do is I listen to tapes or downloads...there is nothing underneath it, no subliminal stuff.....you listen to what someone has recorded, the better the "script" the better the download...the hypnotherapist reminds you that many of your round and around thoughts are useless worrying thoughts that only cause us stress, if you want to make a plan, make the plan and execute it.....but to just worry and worry and worry is useless and crazymaking...

and to calm down and relax...visualizations of being in the sunlight next to a beautiful lake with faint lake sounds, or a beach....or any nice soothing, relaxing setting...and his/her voice is so calming and soothing, in 3 minutes I've calmed down considerably...that's all it is...

there are no black arts, or any of that nonsense...once you've listened to it, which takes maybe 15 minutes, you feel like you've taken a nice rest, but you haven't gone anywhere...you're fully conscious and aware of all that's being said, no one "makes" you do anything that is not of your own accord, and it's only positive....

I have insomnia so there are "drop off to sleep" recordings that really help...and I sometimes wake up with my ipod still attached  - so I set it on the dresser drawer and go back to sleep...

there is nothing more positive and relaxing you could listen to...and I found, that after doing this every night or during the day, I'm considerably more relaxed and positive...and I've gotten rid of a few phobias I've had...and I don't need anything to "cope" with stress, no drugs, no alcohol, nada....with yoga and these types of things, even though I'm naturally a anxiety ridden person (both my parents are obsessives, anxiety ridden people) I'd be much, much worse without these natural coping skills...This is a type of meditation, not a black art...

and people can do this *alongside* of anything else they want to do, like prayer, or whatever they do, whether they are religious or not...this can be an adjunct to anything like that, it doesn't contradict their religion in any way....anyhow, probably said enough about it, I just know tons of people who've been able to help their chronic pain, phobias of all kinds, bad habits like smoking, and on and on and on....

[mikesimon]

I have been doing transcendental meditation for 12 or 13 years. I studied it when I learned I was sick in 1995. You know I am very hip, don't you? You don't need to be on the West Coast to be hip. Mike

[Forseegood]

lol...whatever gets you through the night...no, I wasn't aware that you meditate on a continual basis...you're probably more dedicated then I am at it...and no, I don't hold it against you that you have to live on the East coast...lol....

[Myown]

I had a long day so I will answer this some other time. I have to bring some cookies and milk to FlGuy. He is inside installing something for me.

See ya later.
MO

[Forseegood]

Sweetie..you don't have to answer this, I just wanted to clarify my position so no one would get the wrong idea...maybe it's a semantical thing, once again...I probably should of used the words, "guided meditation" cause maybe it gives a better impression...course, anyone here can do, or not do, whatever it is they feel like doing...just wanted to explain and once again I probably was too overblown with my clarifications...

[Myown]

You know where she is coming from, don't you? it's not a reasonable reaction and especially if you think it might help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't remember saying it would help.

my, I mean MO

[mikesimon]

I exaggerated or maybe flat out lied - I'm thinking Hillary but I cannot say that I merely misspoke. Gee, I hate admitting that. I really did study meditation when I was diagnosed and did practice it at least two times a day for many years. I gradually cut down on my time meditating and now that I write this I realize how stupid I was. Now I use it when I am stressed which is probably more often than I care to ponder. But, I no longer incorporate meditation into my daily regimen and I suggested that I do. So, I am really not that hip after all.  Mike

[Myown]

You are so blessed to have that husband of yours! He really is a doll...and I know because of both his parents having had cancer directly due to smoking it is even more upsetting for both of you. I'll pray that he tries the chantix and that it works for him. He is also blessed to have such a caring loving wife.

Uhoh...I feel a lil green..........with envy.
y
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Thanks Ladywhy. Yeah everyone that meets him says that to me. He IS a doll. He is definitely having it hard right now watching his mother barely hold on, my mother who is like a 2nd mother to him and then me with the virus. I'm surprised he didn't run away yet. But that would never happen. So anyway he told me this morning he felt bad that he didn't tell me that he went back, cause he has told me the other times when he said he just can't quit. He finally realizes that after being smoke free for 3 months, it is no longer a physical addiction, but a weakness. I told him yes thats exactly what it is and we ALL have weaknesses and how he helps me with mine - impatient etc,etc etc,etc lol, I am here for him, to help strengthen him. He said he knows that. So all is well. We have a rule in our house, we never go to bed upset or mad at each other and you know where we get that from "don't let the sun go down on your wrath."

Thanks for your prayers btw, they help. I told my husband you were praying for his addiction and he told me to tell you that he appreciates that very much.
MO

[FlGuy]

Installation is going to be delayed a few more days. The Hi-Def equipment is on back order. Apparently, the manuafacturer was flooded with orders from the various govenors' mansions.  New Jersey alone took the entire supply east of the Mississippi.

[Myown]

LOL!!

[nygirl7]

What Mikey meant was that some Christians believe that if you go under hypnosis or meditate that evil spirits can get into you and it is basically a gateway for the occult. Silly things like that. I knew a woman who made her husband stop watching Sanford and son at night so he could read the bible outloud and "chase away the evil spirits", now how absurd is that, I mean it wasn't like even porn he was watching an old 70s sitcom LOL.

I grew up a Christian and believe me.......there are some people who believe wild wild wild insane stuff because they take things out of context.

Truthfully I wish I could afford hypnosis to get rid of smoking - coming up with the money beforehand is the killer. Why doesn't insurance pay for this - might save a bundle in the long run?

Oh yeah - duh - they don't care how did I forget!!!!!!! ;)

[D977]

Hello,
Yes i quit many times trying all sorts of things, gum,cold turkey you name it. Finally i read a an article about addiction that made total sense to me. Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs taking only seven seconds to reach the brain. Worse than heroin Like most habbits it takes time to create them and it will take time to get rid of them. From my research it takes anywhere from 20 30 days to create an addiction to something.  so 20-30 days to knock it out .Heres the clue and i hope it helps him. The cravings last for about 3 minutes and if you can wait it out it will dissapate then it will return later. again wait 3 minutes doing deep breathing this really works. gradually over time the cravings will get further apart like throwing a pebble into a still lake the rings spread further as they go out. so each time you make it it will take longer for the next and so on and so on. Then about  1 - 2 months out you will get hit with a real serious urge to smoke. If you can get by this one you will be on your way. TRY THE DEEP BREATHING REALLY HELPS
Good luck
Dan

[Myown]

Thanks for your suggestions. So far so good, he has not had another but he said he does think of it now and then, but the good thing that came out of this is that he said that maybe he needs to start going to church 'once in a while.' So I said that's great, 'once in a while,' is better than nothing and so  now I see the scripture come to life again.."And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28  

So if his weakness in trying to give it up on his own made him realize that God needs to get in the picture, its all good. I have a song that I sing and when I practice it, he always likes to sit and listen to me sing it. Its right from scripture the song says " His strength is perfect in my weakness," so I am glad the words to that got down into his heart - my singing was not in vain.

Thanks alot Dan.
MO

[ladywhy]

Within these words rest the basics for the Christian Life, the Christian walk, and the Christian stand during troubles and trials. Sometimes we think the basics are "too basic" to be important. But until we learn and master the basics - the "advanced" never fits right. And we will always have to use these fundamentals, because they are 'basic' to our spiritual battle. Believe me, that everything is related to the spirit world

Eph 6:10- 2 says:  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The Armor of God
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Stand firm therefore,HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me
in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak
boldly, as I ought to speak.


Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

I have been reading the continuous attacks on a member of the "Body of Christ."....and I am appalled.
Deb, what has MyOwn done to you that you are so obviously attacking her? Why did GrandmaA leave this forum?....specifically because of your never ending attacks on her, (a perfectly nice lady) who had a different opinion than you. Are we not all here for support...i can look back at your continuous attacks fin MO's posts. She is of course, is hurt and offended....and she has just started her 2nd round of tx....leave her be!

nyg:..."meant was that some Christians believe that if you go under hypnosis or meditate that evil spirits can get into you and it is basically a gateway for the occult."

You have your opinion...others differ.... for me..I learned that my opinion doesn't have any weight...but that God's Word is the absolute last word.
.... in your other post today regarding the "screaming" and horrors of the paxil withdrawal possibly in conjunction with the narcotics...similiar to Methadone which I think you use for back pain?...the interaction could have caused this. Maybe....or could it be a demonic spiritual battle going on here? After spending time in prayer today and meditating on His Word, i don't doubt....that is exactly what is happening....
I copied the above Gospel tract, and Epesians 6:10-24...because again my opinion, holds no weight...but for those  who are 'believer's" it is Eternal Salvation.
I prayed for you today Deb...I pray now that you all who proclaim Christ as Lord have 'ears to hear'.

I very much wanted to avoid this thread....I am not into controversy...or fighting...other than fighting this disease.
I, Yvonne am merely a beggar pointing out to another beggar where he/she may find bread,,,,the bread of life.Though in my flesh I have continuously failed , (a work in progress),...the Holy Spirit prompted me to stand up for what is right and what is good.

Romans 1:16-17    

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

So 'nough said....
we all come from different walks...have differing ideas.....and some of us only have hepC in common. When I came here...it was, for me, truly a place of support, kindness and advice...I don't see that now and I would like to see it again. Allowance of others to say what is in their hearts, to vent...to cry...TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER...and if you don't like what someone says...bypass.
One more thing: To all who Proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord:
You have authority and power over the enemy. God wants you to trust Him. He desires for signs and wonders to be the norm: sick people healed, the lost saved, and the bound set free. Amen.
Isn't that WONDERFUL!

In Him,
y

[nygirl7]

"Deb, what has MyOwn done to you that you are so obviously attacking her?"

I am not talking about MyOwn in any way nature or sense in this post so that is really a pretty bizarre comment.  Someone said something about "occult" and another person thought they were talking about "occult virus" and so I shed some light on the difference between the two occults. End of story. You know that their are whole religions that believe in the "snake bite" sect - certainly you do not believe in that at all, do you? Or the people that "laugh at the devil" or any of those fads right? THAT is the point I am making here. People can take things way out of context and that is what has been done. People who are NOT of the Christian denomination do NOT know anything of any of these "fads" which we are specificically warned against in the bible, right?

"to Methadone which I think you use for back pain"
No, I don't take anything for back pain at all - the horrors of Paxill are enough right now - that was no fun.


But no - this has nothing to do with MyOwn as you can see now I admire you for defending her but - no.

[mikesimon]

You said: "Allowance of others to say what is in their hearts, to vent...to cry...TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER...and if you don't like what someone says...bypass."  
But then, you didn't bypass, did you? Maybe you simply couldn't.  I find that interesting.
Mike

[Deb_c430]

Deb, what has MyOwn done to you that you are so obviously attacking her? Why did GrandmaA leave this forum?....specifically because of your never ending attacks on her, (a perfectly nice lady) who had a different opinion than you. Are we not all here for support...i can look back at your continuous attacks fin MO's posts. She is of course, is hurt and offended....and she has just started her 2nd round of tx....leave her be!

I am sorry, I have not posted anything on this thread,  So have no idea what you are talking about! Secondly I have no idea who Grandma is,  The only Grandma I remember was  some very rude woman talking about hollistic meds.

I  think also the way you attacked Deb on such a obviously fragile day and you quoted it and then slighted her. Shows who and what is behind all this!  

All I can say is your in my prayers and thank God,  my faith is one that teaches love. Not snarls it like a pit bull.

[jdwithhcv]

Where do you see an attack on MyOwn?  She puts her business on a public forum, so input (even that with which you disagree) is fair comment.

On the other hand, you should be completely ashamed of yourself - mounting an unprovoked attack on a NYGirl when you are aware she is in a fragile state.  And doing it under the guise of your "faith" is DISGUSTING.

[Forseegood]

let's all be like Rodney King "can't we all just get along? lol...I didn't mean to start a dust up here...me and MO will always be alright, no matter if we agree disagree, and I hope I can say the same for every little last one of y'all on this thread!!! Or, as my good friend says for our little code (you know who you are you Fldude) How about them Yankees? Or Mets? Or Dolphins...whatever we can jam in here! lol....

NYgirl: kiddo...you don't need a lot of money for these guided meditations...they are downloads you can put on your puter and listen to them there if you want...they cost about 8 bucks a piece...and they work if you do them religiously (oops) !!! there are downloads on stopping smoking, liking your boss better and getting along with him better, every darn problem anyone could come up with!  Fear of dogs...Fear of elevators, "White Coat Phobia"..fear of docs and hospitals (I did that one) you name it...it's just someone talking - saying positive stuff ...if you had your Aunt Bee saying the same things to you over and over and over again it would work too, but infinitely more annoying, lol.....hypnosis downloads dot com (spelled all together)  

[Lady Lauri]

Whoa! I'm too tired to read all of this! I don't see where NYgirl was disrespectful to MO? And do believe she was just posting on what it's REALLY like to have this addiction.

Nygirl....I'm with you on the post 'for all the smokers'!  Sometimes it is NOT mind over matter. Without dragging into all of it.....I am a very strong person, been thru quite a life (as many), came thru it well, never addicted to anything and tried about everything when young-never got addicted to other stuff! I also started to 'be cool' and after a couple years, have hated every dam cig I light! (while loving them). When someone is trying to stop heroin or alcohol, they get "you need help, meetings, oh...you can do it", we get..."just put them down"!!!! Nicotine is compared to heroin, than add all the other cr*p they put in them. Just as drugs or alcohol, which I never had any issue with...some can and some can not 'put it down, stop' without going thru hell. The ONLY thing I want to change in my life is smoking! (per bad things).
I admire those that have just 'put them down' and hope that hits me (soon) as it hit them at a certain time.
  For any that don't know what it's really like to be a true nic addict....google nicotine withdrawals.  While I do believe you can use your mind to help quit, it just isn't that simple, easy. A little understanding please :)

MIKE......GREAT you quit. Keep it up and than you can coach us on later!

MO.....HOPE your husband beats cigs. You can see it's a hard thing to do and your concern for him is very understood. Keep the faith, he'll get there.

LL

[Lady Lauri]

Now I do need a smoke!

J/K...throwing humor back into the mix :) ??

LL

[nygirl7]

I bought in an extra pack today..........just in case I needed it ;)

J/k back to you.  Even though I hate them more than anything.  Prayed and prayed and prayed for this last major addiction to be taken away but still it lasted last time for 8 months and then I had "one" one night when I was upset and said "wow see how easy that I was it didn't do anything I can have ONE MORE.." that was it again.

[MrsOckert]

I started smoking when I was 13.  I tried quitting off and on since my late 20's.  Was told to quit during TX, but couldn't.  

Met my husband 6 years ago and got married 5.  He thought I quit smoking.  I didn't.  I tried.  FINALLY, got down to 4 or 5 per day (monday - friday) from 1 pack a day.  Didn't smoke at home nights or weekends.  But just could not give it up during work, no matter how hard I tried.  And I did try.

Ended TX Sept 06 - two weeks later DX with a lump in my lungs.  Scared the living cr*p out of me - so bad I haven't had a cigarette since.  The first month had no cravings or desire at all.  The third month was the hardest, but as long as I battled the instant craving it would only last a minute or two and then go away.

I have never been more grateful for anything in my life.  Mind over matter - I don't know.  
Some people have a much harder time quitting cigarettes than cocaine or heroin.  But it certainly isn't up to us to judge how hard or easy it is for someone else to quit something.

Personally, I'd rather have a husband than had a problem with smoking than one that had a problem with cheating.  Oh!  My tumor wasn't lung cancer and I've never had another cigarette since that day.  I do believe that deep down you have to want to quit.  I said several times I wanted to quit, knowing full well that only half of me wanted to, the other half didn't.

I wish good luck to those trying and I wish good luck to those who don't want to quit.

[Trish77]

MyOwn .. I read this article online today and immediately thought of your husband's situation and others.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080402.wsmokegene0402/BNStory/Science/home

Considering the history of his parents as you have stated, it might explain why he has a harder time quitting than you might wish he did .. and why he might want to REALLY go all out at this in any way he can find.

The article indicates that there is scientific backing for the idea that there is genetic predisposition to both the level of the addiction and to lung cancer as a result of smoking.

I hope this actually helps him by giving him some serious incentive.  I have never smoked but have been in relationships and friendships with those that do and I consider it one of the hardest addictions to kick only from what I've observed.  

Good luck to your husband.. to you in supporting him .. and to anyone else who would really like to kick this.

Trish

[Trish77]

I'll get back to you when i can "tiny" that....

[Trish77]

put a /Science/home after /BNstory and you have your article.

Regards,

Trish

[Jacob43]

My wife and I are talking about quitting smoking.  Guess from wht Im reading it can compound the HCV tx.  Has anyone else heard that?

[MrsOckert]

I'm not sure what you mean by compound the HCV tx?  I smoked during tx and was UND week 12 thru end of tx, but relapsed by 6 months.

I never felt that smoking had much of an impact on my tx'ing.  Others might think differently, tho.

[ladybug52]

I didn't start smoking till I was 50 yrs old. Pretty darn stupid right??
I tried several times to quit, smoke during tx even though I could hardly breathe walking from the car to the bldg I worked in.
You DO have to want to quit. I wanted to stop, but I enjoyed it too much to try very hard. I stopped for 3 weeks a few months back when I was sick with a respiratory virus. I thought I'd just have an occasional cigarette when I had my first one, but quickly got hooked again.
I thought Everett Koop said it was a pediatric disease and hard to hook folks over 21??
Well, I'm on day 5 of quitting again, and though it's hard I know what I need to do. Just don't light up, just don't think "I'll just have one" because for me it will never work that way again.
I'm so proud of myself for making it through this last week at work, even though I have no friends left, and my co-workers all hate me!
Good luck to all that want to quit!
Bug

[Jacob43]

MsOckert, just know it can't be good for us.  My wife's been wanting to quit too. It would blow your mind to know how many nurses light up.  It's bad... really bad.  I WANT to quit... I just hope my wife's serious, it would be hard to do on my own. Addictions *****.  If I can kick it, it wouldn't be the first thing I've overcome but it might be the hardest.

LadyBug... yep, I want to. Congrats on day FIVE!

[ladybug52]

I love your name so much, I named a son that 23 yrs ago.

I work in health care, trying to rehab people who have had a hip fracture or stroke or pneumonia, have been hospitalized and want to regain their strength to go home.

It's easy to spot the smokers, whether they've quit or are still addicted.
They have a harder recovery, not much lung power to build endurance on, and have many more wrinkles than the non-smoker.

I bet you  could care less about wrinkles, but statistically, smokers have a higher incidence of stroke, osteoporosis which causes those hip fractures, and a much harder time healing due to the decreased circulation.

Why did I ever start? I will say this--and it's really a stupid thing to say--(that's never stopped me before) the ex smokers are usually more fun! They're usually more social and more likely to laugh at their situation...
But it's not a recommendation to continue smoking! I hope you go through with it and conquer the addiction. You'll feel better about yourself, your skin and teeth will look better, and those lungs will thank you for the rest of your days!
Good luck,
Bug

[Jacob43]

Thanks.  I know its got to be done. Almost hesitate to say but haven't lit up since my last comment above.  Don't hold me to it.. but Good Luck to you too

[jmjm530]

This is what worked for me. Cant recommend the program enough. No gimmicks. Works because it deals with why you smoke.
http://www.smokenders.com/

[Fl_Gator]

I quit 10 years ago...when I was having trouble breathing...It took me 5 years to recover but I am much better now.

FYI...My grandmother is a long time smoker...she is 88 and has lung cancer, emphysema and macular degeneration...all of which has been linked to smoking. Two weeks ago she was hospitalized with a collapsed lung. This is no way to spend your last days...I believe that she would have lived to be 100 or more if she hadn't started smoking as there is longevity in her family...before the cancer she was very active...ran her own home drove herself everywhere...cut her own grass...funny how we don't learn from our elders how to take care of ourselves.

Please quit ASAP...not only is lung cancer a horrible death...it's torturous for your loved ones to watch as someone you love will have to take care of you at some point. My mother is caring for my grandmother right now. She puts up a good front but I can see the strain in her eyes as she watches her mother slip away no matter what she does.

[ram921]

Well, I THINK that these are the true "Words of Spiritualness" that make ME better than YOU! And I'm smarter and prettier too!
Armaments, chapter two, verses nine through twenty-one.
Cleric: [reading] And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, "O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy." And the Lord did grin. And the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths, and carp and anchovies, and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit-bats and large chu...
Brother Maynard: Skip a bit, Brother...
Cleric: And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Brother Maynard: Amen.
All: Amen.

[Jacob43]

jmjm530 - Thanks for the site

Fl_Gator - Thank you for sharing your grandmother's story.  Another day down, and still not smoking.  

[ladybug52]

I'm so happy for you and proud of your success! I am pleased to report that I am still not smoking and think of it less each day.
It was really hard  all last week, and I may have lost a few friends:), but overall, I have this pride and commitment to continue.
Just don't give in, one day at a time, you CAN do this. My "sinus" problem has disappeared and my voice already sounds better (to me, but that's all that counts!)
Good Luck!!!
Bug

[Jacob43]

still clean...

[ladybug52]

Awesome! Me too. This isn't so bad, right??
Bug

[Jacob43]

ladybug52... well over a week now and still clean!  Hope you're doing well too!  No, not so bad.  We've always smoked on the terrace (wife's a clean freak around the house) even in the winter, so not having to deal with her secondhand smoke .  She works at the hospital and always breaks with her smoking buds.  This is going to be real real difficult for her to quit.  

jmjm530 - Getting the kit for the wife. She's five years younger than me and the idea of putting wrinkles on her face is her biggest motivator .. lol.  She sees from some of the older smoking nurses there what it does to the skin.  

[jmjm530]

Jacob: Getting the kit for the wife.
------------------------------
I guess Smoke Enders has changed some from back in the day. Twenty or so years ago, it was a weekly course of around ten weeks if I remember correctly. There were about 20 in my class plus a leader. If they still offer this option, I highly recommend it for the group interraction, and that's not coming from someone very big on these group meeting things. If they don't, hopefully the kit consolidates some of the core ideas covered in the course I took.

Congratulations yourself on being clean for a week! If you can make it clean for six weeks you'll be significantly free from the physical addition (actually you'll be mostly there in another week or 2) but remember, it's the psychological addition that brings most back so don't get complacent and start patting yourself on the back. Always be vigilant and never take "just one" because that surely will bring you back 100% -- maybe not that day, but soon enough. I have a feeling you have the motivation to make it work yourself, but if not, follow your wife's example and try the "The Kit".

Brave couple, both stopping at the same time, but hopefully it means you both will be able to support and understand what the other is going through.

-- Jim

-- Jim

[ladybug52]

I like your wife's motivation! Really, it was something I thought about a lot too. I can always recognize an ex-smoker by the voice, the decreased lung power, (always more difficult for smokers to build up endurance as they're battling shortness of breath)
and the tell tale wrinkles on the face, especially the mouth.

And if smoking can make the outside deterioate, imagine what the inside looks like!

Hey, I'm really beginning to sound like an ex-smoker! Nothing worse than a convert to a new philosophy. I'm starting to preach about the things I already knew when I smoked:)

Have a great week, good luck to both of you.

Bug

[l-horn]

Maybe he's taken up crack. Did you ever think of that ? Huh huh...?

[Myown]

nooooooope, no crack:)  

[Jacob43]

Bug - you're my mentor!!! Words of encouragement are welcome and appreciated! lol.  The wife is pretty motivated and seems to be proud of me ... so let's say that boosted my ego a few knotches :0)... I like being on her good side.  Actually started smoking after I started dating her and she's always felt a little guilty about that - she shouldn't.  I was older (clearing throat) and more experienced in life afterall ;)  We all make our choices.  Like now, we're going to kick this. Congrats... to you - we'll do it, won't we?

jmjm530 - There is more to it then the kit, there's courses as you mentioned- I just need to look at it more.  She has.  She doesn't want to be left behind on this.  Anyway, appreciate it.  One of the reasons in waiting on treatment other than the hep dr says I shouldn't be in a hurry, we've decided to get pregnant and I've said Let's wait 'til we kick smoking.  A good motivation, I'd say.

[jmjm530]

Congratulations on deciding to get pregnant!  Of course you cannot conceive while treating or for six months after because of the ribavirin. But I believe you also will have to wait a certain amount of time after conceiving before you can take the drugs, but better research this one out cause I'm not entirely sure here. Speaking of getting pregnant --  BTW nicotone withdrawal sex is pretty good if I remember correctly, and especially if two are withdrawing at the same time. Did I mention SmokeEnders was both a medical and social interaction  for me :)

[Jacob43]

"..nicotine withdrawal sex is pretty good.."

Can't think of a better incentive!  

Addiction isn't something new to me.  My wife stood by me a few years back and after that, so I know we can get through this together.  I think it is going to be rougher on her because her two best friends smoke, and a couple of her family members.  I come from a family where no one smokes.

[Bobby1952]

"..nicotine withdrawal sex is pretty good.."

    Is that anything like makeup sex. After you have a good fight ?  

Bobby

[jmjm530]

Good analogy!

[Jacob43]

19 days clean... seems to be getting easier and feeling well.
Wife's last cigarette was Sept 21.

Hope everyone is doing okay around here.

[RetiredDude]

Remember when you were a kid, and the cigarettes tasted really good when you had to sneak them. Im guessin thats how your husband feels, they probably taste a lot better if he has to sneak them lol. Tell him (I know you are smokin so u dont have to hide it) and he will probably quit. They wont taste as good. Put a pic of a human lung full of cancer on the fridge that might help.Or you can fill the ashtrays up with a little water, (gross). good luck