A smoker for maybe 30 years, I had never had much interest in quitting. Physical condition was good, lung funtion was fine, and still able to win a few USTA tennis matches.
About half way through tx I figured that since I was feeling so bad, quitting could not make me feel much worse. It worked. May have been the only way I was going to quit. It should be promoted as a positive added benefit of tx :-)
If I could have quit during treatment I surely would have...but I'm weak and during treatment was even weaker.
You know (as we smokers do) it's just extra toxins for your liver to try and clear...it's the last thing in the world your health needs in addition to all the poisonous meds that we injest during treatment.
I don't want to seem hypocritical cause I didn't quit but I surely surely wound't START!
DONT YOU DARE DO IT! DONT DONT DONT EVEN CONSIDER IT!
Remember just how hard it will be to quit AGAIN if you can ever succeed again in the future!
Good luck.
SFgirl quit smoking during her treatment. It can be done. I understand cigarettes are much more addictive today than way back when I smoked in the late 50's and early 60's. I could never smoke when I was pregnant.
Hey;
It's not so much that I lust for their young, nubile flesh; it's just that I figure due to their innocence they might not notice I look like Shrek.
Thanks for the kind words as well, Bug. BTW, the term used for the action involving charitable redistribution of pharma's is "Transfer of Custody". I think I heard it used in an article by Doctors Without Borders, or a similar enterprise. Although I doubt the term itself helps with legality, it lends a favorable psychology to it. If you feel ambitious, you might try contacting Doctors Without Borders, and let them know what you're trying to accomplish; they might be a resource for you... Ya know, been-there,-done-it knowledge?
Take care, bugless beauty--
Bill
If you need some incentive to stop smoking, rent the movie "Thank You for Smoking"
Not only will you laugh your butt off, it may help you to stop.
wyntre
Thanks, that's the best compliment I've heard in a long time. Self-deprecation is a great term, I'm glad you're familar with it.
Now here's the truth from Bug to Bill: Those girls are looking down because they are pretty young if they're wearing sneakers. It's awkward if you're 13 and a man is smiling at you....
Ha! I started to say: Those girls are looking down because they feel awkward around a mature self-confident male, but that was not as funny!
Take care, thanks for making my day!
bug
Sunny- way to do it! Get *p!ssed at those things! The longer you go without, the more quietly the smoking bell rings. Good luck to you,
Bill
Bug- Speaking of painting a pretty picture; when I stop to smile at a pretty gal, I can
I have to thank you all for your responses I KNOW you are all right and I am going to quit...anyone else joining me in being bitchy? thats right I can blame it on the tx :) I am going to not put another one in my mouth....i'll keep you posted
LOL. Yup, that fetching vision of the pits permanently tipped the scale to the good side didn't it? I'm telling these girls, they shuld publish a fund raising calendar.....
I paint a pretty attractive picture son't I? Can't say I blame you, you're only human! I have that effect on men~!
Beautiful and Bugless
If you land up taking neupogen, your lungs will be very glad if you have quit smoking. I still walk up the ridge for my exercise. I can barely make it a few feet after my neup.
My husband has tried to quit many times. Now he chews that nicotine gum all day, and still smokes occassionally. You could try accupuncture; it'll get you used to being stuck while you quit! Good luck.
hypnosis HELPED me quit...when i really wanted to...good luck
BTW, most people lose weight during tx. I stayed about the same but managed to clog my arteries pretty well with all the fat I ate.
Bug
That's me! Everytime I decide to quit I have an excuse about a bad day at work. There is a great new drug out, Chantex I think you mean. It is not covered by a lot of ins and cost about 120 for a month's supply. I kept saying I'll start taking it after tx, I didn't want another drug in my body, blah, blah, blah.This drug has helped a lot of long term smokers I know.
I need to really want to quit. I could if it weren't for the "triggers". Work, driving, and talking on the phone outside. I never smoke in the house.
Have a great day!
Hugs,
Bug
Sunny- I understand how tough it is to get rid of the smokes. I was a 3-pack-a-day puffer for almost 30 years, quit about 4 years ago (still love the smell, though!). There is nothing about those things that are good for you. By now, we all know enough about the effects that smoking has on us that I shouldn
I didn't smoke till late in life. (a few yrs ago) I'm a moron and wish I would have quit during tx. I kept thinking I'll quit after tx. I've been finished for about 7 weeks and I'm still planning on quitting. Here's the support you need:
Stop smoking! You already have a damaged liver, do you want to ruin your lungs and circulatory system too? Tx is hard enough without the added stress of cigarette smoke. With the chronic fatigue that goes with this tx and shortness of breath, what the h#ll are you thinking? Come on, be strong! If you're strong enough to tx, you're strong enough to stop!
Hope this helps. Will someone give me a stern talking to now?
Bug
when the trx drugs start kicking yur butt's.?.. it is a great time to quit smoking!....and gotta help w/ the hmg too.i am longtime -30 yrs-smoker and i missed a "Golden Opportunity".....to: finally kick this incredibly bad habit..LUCK and All strength...
From a virologic point of view, it appears smoking may decrease the chance of SVR in geno 2's and 3's, but not geno 1's. At least according to here:
http://news.med.cornell.edu/nyp/nyp_2006/05_24_06.shtml That said, I thought I read some time ago that it may affect all genotypes, but really not sure. Quit if you can but as an ex-smoker I know how hard that can sometimes be. If so motivated, check out Smokenders http://www.smokenders.com/ It's a wonderful program, you meet some great people with all sorts of reasons for wanting to stop, plus it really works for a lot of folks, including myself.
-- Jim
well, personally i like your decision. your gonna need all the support you can get from your family - sounds like smoking or sneaking a smoke might upset them. besides food and kissing so much better w/o them.
before i quit for good, i stopped and started 3x, quiting that last time,each time i smoked fewer than previous, the last attempt was the hardest. i swear they kept increasing the nicotine content.
Sunny,
I have smoked since I was 22. I am not a hardcore smoker but tx makes me feel like cigarettes don't taste as good and it has been hard but I have only had a few puffs in the last 5 weeks.
I hate the stress tx causes and it is hard not to smoke because that was my crutch in the past.
Good luck if you try to quit and I hope it works out for you,
Sandra
Thanks for your input!! I guess I already know in my heart that smoking is bad for you no matter what and my husband and son would be so disappointed in me if they found out...I think I am feeling so anxious about this treatment I have stressed myself out....as for financially,....I can;t think of a bigger waste of money really :) I just want to be healthy and and hate that this demon has crept back in my life.....especially now....when I need all of my healthy cells :)
I do appreciate your advice ...I have so appreciated everyones advice and stories.
i am an ex smoker of the worst kind. (can't stand the smell, can smell it half mile away...(lol).
sounds like you are considering whether you should continue to smoke a few cigarettes a day or should you stop.
you have to make that decision your self, but i can relate if the cigarette somehow makes you "feel better", maybe it wouldn't hurt.
when i was on tx. smells bothered me, esp. food, musty mold, cigarettes, in fact i was hypersensitive to any smell and it might make you feel poorly while on meds. but i don't know how these things effect you so you decide,
weigh the pro vs. the con
would the comfort derived outweigh the the physical/financial cost?