This sounds like a good time for you to seriously quit, when you know they won't taste good. It's been 23 years since I quit, but many, many times that I tried before that! Wishing you well in this, and in your recovery.

Phyllis

Thanks Phyllis. My sister quit, cold-turkey about 25 years ago. She told me that she still has urges because she actually like to smoke. But she is also very aware of the health risks so she is truly anti-smoking. She doesn't throw out smokers; she just promotes a healthier lifestyle all the way around, which does of course, include no smoking.

BTW, I may need that umbrella - LOL!

Glad you are healing and hang in there with the quitting!

Loven' those frogs Barb. I have a bunch of frog ornaments in my yard. Thanks for the encouragements. I'll have a good reminder when I see my froggies outside.

Keep up the good work and hope you heal soon.

Sue

Hi gneegirl,

Then there's the time that it takes to walk out to the place outside the building where it's legit to smoke ...

... and the walk back, after the smoke's through.

And doesn't it take bout 5 min. to smoke?

I've often thought that if the non-smokers just lay back in their seat, closed their eyes and relaxed for the time that the smokers take to indulge their habit, for that many periods in a day ... it seems to me that a foreperson/office manager or whoever was in charge of ensuring that people kept working would soon be getting rather upset ... and letting the subject know of their displeasure!

If you are cocerned that you have so much spare time ... just think - soon you'll find some things to fill that time - paid for by the money that you'll be saving.

If you are interested now on the extra time that turns out to be available ...

... soon you'll notice quite a lot more money on hand than you've been used to.

However ... better save and invest some of it ...

... to finance that extended retirement ... with the energy to want to do more things (and the extra health to go with it).

If you're looking for a support group of the arm's length kind, many people have found that the understanding, support, advice, friendship and general good fellowship that they've found in the forums at www.quitnet.org gave them enough extra incentive to have success in their quit, according to their judgement.

Good wishes for improved health - and finding something interesting and worthwhile to do to make use of all of those extra hours!

ole joyful

That is great news...I so wish Brian could stop smoking.....he even went and got hyptomized and it didn't help....but I think he is going to try again Sydney wants to go also to try and help her with some of her fears and anxietys she still battles with....need to make their appt. soon before she has to go to college...
I am so proud of you for quitting....I was watching something on tv about smoking and they said it is as addicting as heroin....so I never get mad at people who can't stop just wish they could...
Good luck and continued good health...Stacy

wow im proud of you! (sorry about your surgery though. i even posted here about smoking, and got so much good advice, it was overwhelming, and i did good for a while but then, used it as a crutch,,anti stress reliever...i ADMIRE anyone who can quit or even smoke only 5 a day..id be happy with that, anyway congradulations..i found when i was really trying i needed to keep my hands busy..always..but as soon as i sat down to do nothing forget it...i guess it part pattern, familarity (sp), and every thing else similar. but yes...you should be gosh darned proud of yourself!!!!

I wish with all my heart I would have never smoked my first cigarette. An awful habit started at the age of 13.

Trin

Ole Joyful - THANK YOU!!! To everyone else too. The encouragement is very much needed. I think I'm so far ahead of the game right now because of the surgery. As I mentioned, I'm having so much trouble breathing that I'm thinking about getting a temp handicapped sticker. My Dr. agreed. So, as much trouble as it has been, it is good that I can't smoke - I can't even inhale enough to enjoy it. Another thing that is helping - I had an abnormal chest xray but don't know why yet. It was done in the hospital but the Dr. there never told me about the results. The discharge papers said that I needed to check with my PC to follow up on the abnormal CXR. I signed to have them fax the results to my PC. But she was on VAC, and apparently the results were never sent to her. She called to get the results but was out of the office when they came in. Her nurse told me that she had seen the results but hadn't done anything with it. I learned Friday that I have to have a repeat test this week, but the first one didn't show much of anything. My PC thinks that what they saw was a result of surgery. Plus it's bilateral. Usually for CA, it's one side; not both. So, that's another reason for me to stop NOW. Also my neighbor just lost her Mom and Dad (same month) Mom, because of smoking, and when Mom passed, found out another relative may have it too. Soooooo, everyone, please stop smoking. I lot my best friend and love of my life because of it. My Dad smoked since 8yrs old and is now 85. No CA, but COPD. His Dad smoked cigars but no CA. So yes, you can smoke and not get CA. BUT, I'm on a soapbox while I have the nerves of steel to conquer it. So smokers, please stop. It is pretty scary to have someone tell you that you are going to die in 3 mos, and mean it.

That said, all smoker's rally, rally, rally - take my hand. We'll all hold hands until the urge is gone. I promise, I'll never let go. For all the kids - teens and 20s, put out those butts, please. It takes sometime 30 -40 years to feel the affects of smoking. You may not get CA but smoking does diminish lung capacity and a whole lot of stuff you don't feel until you are in your 50s and 60s.

OK - nuf said. I'll sit down for now. But seriously folks, if you can, please try to stop. If you see young folks smoking - especially the teens, please discourage them. I too wish I had never started smoking. They will too when they get to be my age.

Here's to a quick and complete healing,both from surgery and smoking.

My DH quit cold turkey 10 years ago after suffering from a stroke.The dr told him quite simply,either give up smoking,or give up living,the choice is yours!! He's sooooooooooooo proud of himself for following thru with it and i'm proud of him as well.
Kathi

I lost my husband to lung cancer a year ago this month. He had quit smoking about ten years ago when he got COPD, but it was too late to prevent the cancer, which can take many years to develop. He had smoked for many years. I still worry about myself, and I quit 20 years ago. I'm not preaching because I know how difficult it is to stop. Just know that, with determination, it can be done. Good luck.
Veta

Gneegirl, so glad to see you posting. I have been thinking about you and hoping that you are healing and getting stronger. I know how difficult it is to quit smoking. I smoked over 2 packs a day for a long long time but quit cold turkey when my husband (also a smoker) had a heart attack at age 35 and was told he absolutely had to quit smoking. I knew there was no way he could quit if I continued so that was my incentive. It was very difficult as I actually had withdrawl symptons-gi problems, shaking etc. My point is that you can do it even if you are physically addicted. I know you can do it and you have a great start. The first few weeks are the hardest and you are past that point. Hang in there-we are all pulling for you. Satine