Hi Anne,

No I do not have lupus. I have been tested for that as well as any other blood disease such as sickle cell.


Thanks for the concern,

Steph

Steph, That's good to know but I did feel obligated to bring it up.

Annie, I'm glad you brought it up -- I think my sister might have it -- I've been talking about it for about a year. I've seen other Lupus sites -- but, never one that shows the symptoms as CLEARLY as this. Do you know a lot about Lupus? On the off-chance that you do, here are my sister's symptoms:

persistent headaches -- even though she is now on 200 mg of Topamax daily
pleurisy almost constantly since she was in college (she's now 40)
nose ulcers which turn into Staph infections (she's had over 18 infections in the past 10 years)
fever (she will run a temp one or two days a week -- 99° or 100°)
she works during the week, then rests/sleeps all weekend (profound fatigue)
somtimes her legs and ankles swell and we don't know why

Is it as hard to get dx'ed with Lupus as it is with MG? Could a GP run the blood test or does she need to go to specialist?

Hey Kendra,

First let me say I tried to quit cold turkey and i went right back to it. Because the cigs I smoked were the lowest in nicotine .1mg, on the market I bought the 21mg patch and cut it in half. Now a box lasted me twice as long. I also got a box of the 4mg Nicorette gum for the times I had a strong craving. Eventually I took a 21 patch and cut it into 3 strips and it cost much less than buy the 7mg box. I also went to the 2mg gum. I used the schedule they give you on the patch box. I did really well doing it this way. I no longer use the patch, but I still use the 2mg gum when I get strong urges and it helps a lot. It's been 12.5 weeks for me and I know I've got it beat! I will tell you my pcp wanted me to go cold turkey, but my cardio & neuro said use what ever I had to, to get through it. Kendra if you smoked a cig with high nicotine content, I would strongly suggest you start with the 21mg patch and work your way down. Then when it's time to go to the 7mg, you can buy the 14 and cut them in half and save a lot of money. I know the patches cost, but look what you are saving on cigs. Walmart is the cheapest for both the patches and gum. I'm sorry this has happened to you, but if it's from smoking you can do this. Belive me I know have difficult it is. I'm 57 and smoked 2 packs for as long as I can remember. I'm already seeing some benefits. I don't cough anymore or weez. It's great that I don't have to leave everyone and go outside to smoke. I do still feel like such a big part lf me is missing, but I have to keep telling myself it was a bad part and I don't want it back. Also, my sense of smell and taste are so much better. I now realize I'm not as good a cook as I thought I was all these years! Good luck and if I can be of any more help, just ask. Take care.

Big Hugs,
Pat

Hi Pat,
I was thinking you were the one who had recently quit smoking. Congratulations!!! I so admire you. I have cut way down and already feel so much better. I am not waking up coughing and don't get nearly as winded when walking dogs. I think I am going to need the patches to be able to give them up totally. It is crazy but as long as I know I can have 1 or 2 a day I can make it. It is the fear of never having one again that I am struggling with. I know it sounds ridiculous but I DO want to quit I just have to get my mind to accept that I am giving them up for good. I smoke ultra light 100's and was smoking 1 pack a day. I have a couple of 21 mg patches. I may try half of one tomorrow and see how that works. I will go to Wal Mart and get some gum too. Thanks so much for the info. I had to laugh about you saying you still feel like you are missing a part of yourself. I soooo understand that!!! I may email you for a pep talk if I hit a rough spot. Just knowing others have made it helps so much. I am feeling so much better. I don't know if it is the Pred or cutting down so much on the cigarettes but I feel today like it will be worth it. As much as I hate to admit this over the weekend i was asking myself why I was putting myself through the misery of giving the cigarettes up when I was so sick and not enjoying my life anyway. Today I KNOW it can only help and I have to do everything in my power to help my body stay strong so I can fight these health issues.
Thanks again
Kendra

I'm so excited to read all of your posts...I'm still smoking, but the seedlings of quitting are being thrown about by your encouraging posts, guys...I will definately quit smoking again...

Do you guys find that you get brain fog with quitting? That's the main thing I notice, but only during the first few days..It goes away after. Also, for Kendra, do you feel sick when you have a cigarette since you're smoking so few now? That would happen to me when I'd give up on quitting...It would be so silly...I'd be smoke-free for a while ( a few days, or a few weeks, or even months), then something would happen that I would give myself an excuse to start again for, and the cigarette would make me dizzy and nauseous...It makes you realize what we've gotten so used to! Also, sometimes, since getting this MG, I'll stop for a few days here and there...When I start again, my speech gets bad...It's like I'm having an immune reaction to the cigarettes! It's weird- but all the more reason to quit!

Cheers, guys!

Hi Kendra,

I want to be totally honest with you. I tried it the first time with just smoking a cig hear and there, but it was the worst thing for me. It may work for you. I had to throw out all ash trays and have no sign of any cig packs in the house. I cut a 21mg patch in half, giving me 10.5mg of nicotine around the clock and chewed as many as 10 4mg pieced of nicorette gum when I had strong urges. You'd be surprised how the gum can cut that urge right out. Then like I said I cut the 21 patch into 3 strips of 7mg each, saving a lot of money and went to the 2mg gum. Two or three weeks on the 7mg patch and I stopped that. Now I've just been using the 2mg when I have a horrible craving and one piece will do the trick. From the time I started all this after my last cig, I had very few withdrawal symptoms...nothing I couldn't handle. So now I'm still chewing the gum when I really feel I need it. If I have to do this for another 6 months to keep from smoking, so be it. It' only 2mg with none of the chemicals, cancer causing agents, tar and so on. Eventually I will stop using it. I only chew it for about 5 minutes because my jaw gets tired. It's nice we have each other for support. We can do this! The benefits are so rewarding. Some of them take a while, but look how long we smoked for!
Congrats to us both! It's one of the hardest things we'll ever have to do and the most rewarding!

Big Hugs,
Pat

Nicky,
I agree! It is amazing what support can do and knowing others have tackled it and won makes me know I can do it.
Yes I definitely get nauseous and dizzy! Today I really felt sick and thought to myself this is ridiculous. These cigarettes are total poison or I wouldn't feel that way. It is scary to think of how our bodies have gotten used to it. Nicky I too feel so much better. I know it is partly the pred but I have to believe my body is trying to heal itself from the poison I have put in it for all these years. I have so much more energy and my eye is almost totally open today. I do believe smoking has made my MG worse. I am hopeful that quitting 100% will make me feel even better!!! You are absolutely right...it is all the more reason to quit. We can do it!!!

Pat,
I am really encouraged to hear you haven't had any unbearable withdrawal symptoms since using the patch and gum. I am pumped and ready to make the leap to 100% smoke free!!! You are right, we can do this. You are absolutely my hero right now! Everytime I want to smoke I am going to remind myself that you smoked 2 packs a day and have kicked the habit. Thanks so much for the support!
Kendra

Yay Kendra & Nicky! Maybe we can have our own little support group right here since we do all have MG! We can all use all the support we can get. From who better than our fellow MG'ers and friends. Anyone have any questions for me, just send me a PM if you don't want to post here. But, we do have to make sure other's know that may want to join us. I'm excited and I hope you two are also.

Hugs,
Pat