Arthritis Foundation Forum
Home   
Search
Welcome Guest ( Login | Register )
  
Recent Posts
   
Popular Topics

Home » RA Connect » Rheumatoid Arthritis - (RA Connect) » Smoking

Smoking Expand / Collapse
Rate Topic
Display Mode
Topic Options
Author
Message
Meridith
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 4:50 AM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Friday, November 13, 2009 11:39 PM
Posts: 36, Visits: 88
Ok I know smoking is not good for anyone. I am a smoker and have been one for many many years. My Rheumy has encouraged me to stop. I have tried that many times and failed. I heard about a new med you can take. But with all the other stuff I'm on. I wonder if I can take something for that too. Ugh! I don't know what to do. I am wondering there are others on here that are smokers or have recently stopped or whom ever that has some advice. Just wondering
Post #4256600
Top
Aimee (Aims)
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 7:06 AM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 9:57 AM
Posts: 210, Visits: 570
I also smoke and know I should quit. Somedays it is the only thing that calms me down when the pain is so bad. I just don't feel like I can go through the stress of trying to quit right now. So for now I smoke. I tried Chantex and had bad results so I never tried it again. I wish you the best of luck in trying to quit and hope you are successful.

Sent with warm hugs and Love,
Aims

.8cc mtx, Humira, folic acid, prednisone, trazadone, ultrum 300, lortab 10, cymbalta, lasix, hctz and cal w/ vit-d
Post #4256623
Top
Great Granny
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 8:59 AM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 8:56 PM
Posts: 253, Visits: 578
Hi Meredith.

I understand how you feel. I smoked for nearly 30 years. During that time, I tried the gum two or three times and the patches twice. What I discovered is that I needed a change of mind, not a change of product.

My beautiful grand daughter was born in 2004. I now live with my daughter and refused to smoke around the baby. I'd go to the garage or on the deck and stay out there for a few minutes after I finished to air out my clothes. Then I'd come in, brush my theeth and scrub my face and hands before I'd go near my sweetie pie. This got real old, real quick, especially when there was eight or ten inches of snow on the ground! (I've NEVER liked snow, not even as a child.)

I started thinking one day that soon, she's going to be old enough to know what I was doing. I thought, "Do I want this precious child to imitate my behavior?" Then my mind travelled into the future and I saw this beautiful little girl with a cigarette. That day, I decided that when my current pack was empty, I was NOT going to buy another one. I haven't. That was in 2005. It was easier than I thought. Do I still want to smoke sometimes? Absolutely. Will I? Absolutely not. With all the meds I'm taking now, and with all the problems I have, I don't need to add anything else to the mix.

What you're trying to do is very difficult. When you decide that it's really time, you'll quit. Some people need to set increments for themselves; i.e., "I won't smoke for four hours", or "I won't smoke until after lunch." The increments become longer and longer until you no longer think about it; you just don't smoke. Some people quick cold turkey. Some people need gum or patches. The bottom line is, you need to decide that you really want to quit and that you're going to be successful.

I'm praying for you.
Post #4256699
Top
Gramma
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:38 AM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 1:43 PM
Posts: 2,190, Visits: 2,957
Hi Meridith,

You need friends and motivation to quit. The gums and patches can't do it alone. And several people have said that Chantex has strange side effects. I think it's a kind of anti-depressant?

Anyway, I quit back in the 80s after smoking for 30+ years. Nicorette was all that was available, and to me it was like chewing my cigarettes. I went out to Colorado Springs for my son's wedding and the thin dry air just about knocked me out. I've lived in the South most of my life, and we like to "see our air." On the way home my husband had to take me to the emergency room in Albuquerque since I could barely breathe. A smart alecky young doctor asked me if I smoked, and I replied, "I'm cutting back." He looked at me strangely and said that I wouldn't live to see my first grandchild if I didn't cut it out! It still took me another 6 months to finally get up the courage to go cold turkey. It helped that I had another teacher friend who wanted to quit too, and we would cheer each other on.

Yes, I gained weight, but I'm still here and I have 4 precious grandchildren.

Good Luck to you. You can quit, you just have to take the first step.

Hugs,
Gramma Ellie
Post #4256721
Top
Polly Sue
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:03 AM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:43 PM
Posts: 189, Visits: 259
Meridith,

I am also quitting...I actually have quit sucessfully twice before in my life, once when I took up running not a realistic option for those of us with RA that lasted about 24mo, and once because I had just grown sick and tired of it, that lasted 3 years or more. I can go several days without smoking and then I just have to have one. I am really trying to stay away from them.

If you need support I am your girl, maybe we can help each other.

Good luck!

Susan (pollysue)
Post #4256743
Top
CaptRon
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 12:07 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:59 AM
Posts: 50, Visits: 13
Hey Meridith,

I smoked for 44 years and had tried to quit to many times to count. I was smoking around 3 packs a day and my wife was smoking 2 packs a day. I woke up at 0530 one morning 7 years ago and could hardly breath. I told my wife that was it and we both quit that morning and did it cold turkey. My wife and I are believers in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and whenever we would get the urge, we would just hand it over to Him in prayer. That's it, will be seven years on 11/22/09 and was not hard to do. We thank Him for that as I know what it was like doing it without Him.

Anyway, I wish you well and will say a prayer for you


Capt
Post #4256872
Top
Barbara Schwefel
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 12:29 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 1:45 PM
Posts: 109, Visits: 202
Meridith,
I know what you're talking about.I quit April 6th of this year.I was getting sick of the coughing and with the price of them I finally realized I needed to quit.Our local paper had a huge ad for this guy coming to town doing a hypnosis seminar.OK I bit.I went and bought my last carton the week before we had this huge tax spike on smokes.I said to myself,Barb,as soon as these are done you're done.April 6th came and I went to the seminar.It cost 49.95 with a complete money back guarantee.WHETHER OR NOT i GOT HYPNOTIZED IS STILL QUESTIONABLE BUT i HAVE NOT HAD A cigarette since.Don't want one,doesn't bother me to be around it other than smell it.My wonderful husband gave me this advice...Don't think of it as a life long commitment take it one day at a time.Get up in the morning and say to yourself :today, I'm not going to smoke.Tomorrow I might But for today I'm not going to.You'll be surprised at how this helps.It's been seven months and there has only been one day where I would have killed for one.Now they're a thing of the past.This my friend has been the biggest and happiest thing I've ever done.My Mom would be so proud of me.Try it and see how it works or try hypnosis.I think in the end it's all up to you,RIGHT?

A SMILE IS THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW OF YOUR FACE...IT LETS PEOPLE KNOW YOU'RE HOME.

Author unknown



Diagnosed 08/09 Am currently on Methotrexate,Folic Acid,Nebumetone,And Hydrocodone for pain.
Post #4256895
Top
Grandpavan
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 1:42 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 4:59 PM
Posts: 4,499, Visits: 3,618
I smoked for 57 years but when I got RA I decided that I didn't need the problems that smoking was likely to cause in addition to the ones coming from RA so I quit cold turkey. (Maybe if I could quit RA cold turkey I'd go back to smoking.) Anyway it wasn't easy and I sure did use a lot of sugarless chewing gum to replace the smoking habit. For some time I sought second-hand smoke and breathed it in deeply. That was 8 years ago and now I seldom have any desire for a smoke but sometimes I do wish I had one. I hope you are able to kick the habit also. God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.
Post #4256980
Top
Liz M
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 4:52 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 1:45 PM
Posts: 624, Visits: 750
Looking back, my autoimmune symptoms started to appear the year I started smoking a pack a day ! I only smoked for 5 years, but it was the hardest thing I ever had to give up.

I had tried to quit several times and I agree with the other poster who mentioned that is was more of a change of mind. What worked for me was writing out all of the reasons I wanted to quit and posting little notes all over the place (some examples were: my future husband and children, my health, my God, my smelly clothes, etc.). I used the gum for a few days, but it was mostly cold turkey.

That was almost 12 years ago this month! I actually quit on National Smoke Out Day back in 1997. It was the best thing I ever did for myself and those around me. I craved it for years afterward and there are even times now that I wish I stilled smoked b/c it did calm me better than anything else (my body doesn't deal with stress very well). I still would not go back.

You can do it! It will be hard, but everything good in life takes some effort! Finds good things to replace it with. Imagine the money you will save!!

(((HUGS)))

Liz
Post #4257139
Top
Katavistic
Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 7:04 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 4:39 PM
Posts: 138, Visits: 291
Hi Meredith,

I was just at a conference last week on addiction and was pleasantly surprised by how much time was spent on nicotine. It's near the addiction rate of heroin. Any way, for long term and/or heavy smokers, the nasal sprays that are now available were recommended. You may need a prescription, but I'm not sure. The patches are apparently best for light smokers, unless you want to start out by putting on about 10 of them. The speaker also mentioned that in order to use the gum effectively, you really have to chew about 30 pieces a day.

Best of luck to you! I quit 7 years ago and know from experience how difficult it can be, especially in the first month. Please just do your best and don't beat yourself up if it takes some time.

36, diagnosed 3/09
Meds: 20 mg Methotrexate, 1 mg Folic Acid, 5 mg Prednisone and fading
Supplements: Milk Thistle, Salba seed oil, "Nature's Basket" Organic Greens and Organic Reds with Flax (usually in a morning fruit smoothie for breakfast), Iron, Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar, probiotics, B-complex, calcium, vitamin D, a cupboard full of herbal teas, the unconditional love of a furbaby named Jack, a vegan and mostly organic diet, and as much of a positive attitude as I can possibly have every single day I'm alive!
Post #4257274
Top
MaryFran
Posted Friday, November 06, 2009 2:12 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 4:50 PM
Posts: 226, Visits: 354
Hi Meredith - I've been where you are but before RA. On 11/4/06, I was admitted to the hospital with bleeding ulcers. By the time I was discharged five days later, I was a non-smoker after 48 years of being a smoker. I used the patch and Prozac and lived through it! I feel so free now! No more worrying about running out, having enough money to buy the next carton, packing enough on a trip, standing out in the rain while friends are enjoying a party, etc. I absolutely love it! I hope you can get to the same euphoria!

Mary H.



Plaquenil, Medrol, soon to be Orencia, Folic Acid, Vit. D, B12, Calcium, + others unrelated to RA
Post #4257814
Top
« Prev Topic | Next Topic »


All times are GMT -5:00, Time now is 5:56pm


Execution: 3.619. 83 queries. Compression Disabled.
[  HOME |  MyPROFILE |  MyNEWS |  COMMUNITY |  RA CONNECT |  GROUPS |  FORUMS |  TAGS |  PHOTO GALLERY |  EVENTS |  INVITE |  FIND OTHERS  ]
© 2008 Arthritis Foundation.