Pulmo visit & frustration!!!
 

Hi everyone,
I went to see the Pulmonologist on Fri. She told me I have Interstitial Lung Disease. There are several things that can cause it but mine is either that it is related to the MG or that I am a smoker. She believes it is most likely from smoking. If that is the case then quitting will fix it. If it isn't then they will go in and do a lung biopsy in 8-12 weeks. She told me either quit smoking or you will end up on oxygen and die. I have known I needed to quit for a long time but something about hearing that come out of her mouth scared me to death. She put me on Prednisone and a preventative antibiotic for the next 3 months and I had labs done to rule out any other auto immune diseases. Don't know the results of those yet. We will then do a follow up CT scan in 8-12 weeks. If it was the smoking she said it will be significantly improved. I am determined to stop smoking and have only had 3 in the last 3 days. Although I realize everytime I have one the withdrawal starts all over. I am 42 years old and started smoking when I was 16 years old. Other than smoking I live a very healthy life style. I exercise regularly, eat and sleep right, take vitamins but yet the smoking defeats all of that. Ok I almost hate to even post this because I KNOW it is withdrawal talking and only those of you who were or still are smokers will understand this but I am asking myself if this is the best my life is going to be why am I giving the cigarettes up? I know that sounds pathetic and I am ashamed to even admit that but I swear I feel like I just keep getting blindsided with one thing after the next. Is this normal when you're first DXed to find out there are other things going on too? I am taking 40 mg of Pred every other day. I took it Fri. and again today. I do think my energy level is better but my darn eye is still soooo droopy! How long does it usually take for the Pred. to kick in? I was thinking it was fast acting but maybe they mean compared to the 3-6 months it takes for the Cellcept to kick in. I was thinking someone on here had recently quit smoking, Pat maybe? If so do you have any tips for getting through the first few days of nicotine withdrawal? I never dreamed the physical withdrawal would be so bad. I was so dizzy yesterday I felt like I could pass out! I am sorry for being such a downer. I know in my heart that giving up smoking is going to do nothing but make me feel better even if it doesn't help with the MG and lung disease but right now I am grieving for the life I used to have and want back so badly. I just needed a good rant today:mad: Thanks for listening.
Kendra

Kendra, does your NEURO know that you are trying to quit smoking? I know several MGers whose neuros have warned them NOT to do this -- that this could possibly put them INTO an exacerbation/crisis. (Yes, I KNOW that a doc saying "don't quit" sounds crazy -- but, anything to keep us from getting stressed, ya know??) I know that you NEED to do this for your lungs -- but, you are probably going to have to have help -- and have your neuro keep an EYE on you!

I can't help you with the Prednisone, sorry -- no experience.

Pulmo visit frustration!!!
 

Jana,
No my Neuro doesn't know about the smoking yet. I will call him tomorrow and see if he has any concerns about it. The Pulmo offered to write me a RX for Chantix but I was thinking that was something you couldn't use with MG. I have patches, maybe I need to use them for a week or so just to be on the safe side. Thanks Jana, I never thought of there being a problem even though I know the stress isn't good for me.
Kendra

Hey Kendra,

I know exactly how you feel...I smoke too...and I am so ashamed of it as well...I've been smoking since I was 13 (13-years now...so depressing), and I want to quit so badly...I have quit several times...But I get depressed, and then delude myself into starting again...

The first time I quit smoking, I was so irritable that I was a terror to be around...I only quit for a month and a half...I quit several times after that...Once for 4-months...It wasn't as bad as the first time I had quit, mainly because I realized that having ill-feelings about quitting was what was making me so irritable...The withdrawal from nicotine isn't as bad as it might feel, if that makes any sense...It's sorta mind over matter (and believe me, I hate it when people say that, but it really is when it comes to smoking). The hardest part is the psychological part...Think about it...We've been smoking for at least half of our lives...It's something that's always been there...We have to basically re-learn how to live life without these buggers...(If you haven't noticed, I'm in the quitting mode too...lol)...We have to re-learn how to cope with life's stresses on our own, without the help of our gross-tasting, stinky, expensive 'pals'...

I've found taht when I quit in the past, it helped to stop drinking anything caffeinated, because I associated these with smoking...Drinking tons of water helps too and brushing your teeth whenever you feel like smoking...You might even have to stop seeing people who smoke, at least for a little while, until you get a firm grip on your confidance in living a smoke-free life...

It's true that stress is bad for MG, but if you don't feel stressed in quitting, it will be good for your MG...Sometimes I don't smoke for a few days...My heart doesn't pound as quickly or as hard, in fact, I don't notice my heart symptoms as much, my hands and feet feel warmer, my skin tone is better, breathing is easier...That itch is there, though (the one that wants to be scratched by cigarettes)...The secret is to figure out how to relieve that itch with something else...re-learn a life without cigarettes...That's the secret...

-and you can do it! Don't be down! There are plenty of people who struggle with addiction, and it's not easy to overcome...Have faith that you can do it, and don't feel down about the past, when you started, it's the past- you can only control today (this is what I tell myself too)!

:hug:

I am sorry you are going through this as I too have lung problems and yes, am a smoker too, although a lot of the times I will just hold the cigarette, just holding it makes it easier than just "throwing them away"

I am like you in the fact I eat well, I exersize {well I did until recent setbacks won't allow for it} and I don't drink. So smoking was my only vice, I still have to take a drag now and then or I would lose my mind. I don't take Pred {due to allergy} but I can say pred makes you a bit "crazy" or it did me :rolleyes:

I am putting a post up about another lung issue you might want to look into.

And for all you other smokers, here is something to ponder.

My brother-in-law was a heavy drinker and smoker, when he was DXed with cancer he quit smoking and drinking and he got soooo sick that we all told him to stop quitting, that the stress on his body would kill him faster. I know I shouldn't say that but its the truth.

Hey Kendra,

I take prednisone and it makes me very dizzy...This could be the cause of yours, rather than the quitting...I never really felt dizzy after not smoking...If you're feeling really distressed about quitting, though, that might make you feel panicky and anxious...That happened to me...I have read that other people have felt dizzy after quitting...I think they thought that it was because blood flow increases to the brain and other parts of the body...Basically, your body is healing. :)

The main things I notice are brainfog, a bit of fatigue and the urge to smoke...

I've found that drinking lots and lots of water for the first few days gets the nicotine out of the blood stream faster...Rather than the typical 3-days it takes to get rid of the nicotine, you could be feeling better in a couple or less with lots of water...The faster you get rid of the nicotine, the closer you are to relieving the 'physical' urge to smoke...

I've done the patches in the past, during my first couple of quits...The patches were very strong and I found that it just prolonged the withdrawal, and was expensive...I also got palpitations from the patches (sometimes there is more nicotine in the patches than what you would normally smoke in a day, so it might be worse than smoking, in terms of nicotine).

hey Joan,

I know...The same thing happened to my uncle...He had been smoking since he was like 10 or something and got lung cancer when he was in his 60s...He could only go a day here and there without smoking, even after finding out about the cancer and the anguish he would go through during just one day was horrible to watch...He smoked until the day he died, after the cancer had spread to his brain...:(

Do you know what we all noticed, though? He would be okay, in terms of his memory and cognition (this is after the tumour had already spread to his brain), then he'd go outside for a cigarette, come back in, and he'd be different...He'd sorta stagger around the kitchen and he'd forget where he was and what was happening just prior to going out...I don't know if it was directly from the smoking of one cigarette, but it would happen every time he smoked...He had cut down a bit during the last couple of months before he died...

HI Kendra!

Sorry to hear what pulmy said. I was a 30 year smoker (have now been quit for 6 years! not easy, but doable)

When my neuro diagnosed me, I was asked if I smoke or if I had ever smoked. Then they immediately wanted to rule LEMS in or out - saying it was important to know before using steroids. I was sent for Cat scan and tons of blood tests and NCV and SFEMG and pulmonary tests. I was also advised that LEMS is quite rare - - more rare than MG!

But in smokers, sometimes LEMS can masquerade as MG. Anyway, my tests ruled out LEMS - leaving me with the dx of sero-neg MG.

Get your neuro on board with your latest info from pulmonary doc. Go over treatment plan. Then get neuro's input on how to go about quitting and whether or not to use a chemical modifier (Chantix, Welbutrin, etc.)

Yes, this can be scary - but you are your best advocate. And you are more than capable of taking an active roll in your treatment plan. Let us know how it goes with neuro.

Sue

I have never smoked and I think my place in heaven when I die, is secured by the amount of people who I have helped to stop smoking.

I can tell you, that cigarretes have something in them that makes them more addicting and it is much harder to stop smoking "cold turkey" then it was a few years ago.
and any abrupt change is not good for a person who is ill.

so, a few days ago, I discussed smoking with one of my patients. and in order to help her with it, I took a calender, that I use to chart down meds, and started writing the number of cigarretes she is allowed to smoke each day, with a gradual tapeing down.

and then when I looked at what I did, we both started lauging, as it appeared as if I was "perscribing" cigarretes for her. and I thought-wow, that's going to look great in court.

now, seriously, I am a great advocate of not smoking, but I think that the combination of taking pred. and stopping to smoke like that, can be overwhelming, and I would go slower with both.

I am not familiar with the medical details, but it doesn't sound like you are in imminent danger at this point. I do hope you do not have intersitital lung disease, but even if you do, it is not a matter of a few days.

also most neurologists would start pred. cautiously, as it can make things worse in some patients.

I think that going from doing nothing to "pouncing" on you like that, can in itself make you feel horrible.

so, I would just try to get them to slow down a bit, and hopefully communicate with each other.

after all you are the patient, so you should be the one in charge. :mf_swordfight:

Kendra,

I'm sorry to hear that. It was weird because like 2 days ago I was looking into my records and it said I have a very mild case of interstitial disease, although I have never smoked. They pushed it aside since I had bigger problems, but they never told me about it.

Anyways, I know this withdraw thing is a pain but if my grandfather stopped cold turkey, because of what his doctor told him, I am sure you can too. Just make sure you keep an eye on your MG.

I hope you feel better soon,

Stephanie

Sue,

Congratulations on quitting smoking...Smoking for 30-years, then being quit for 6-years- you're my hero! That gives me so much hope!

:hug:

Hey Cherry,

Remember when you mentioned that they had seen a shadow on your CT scan? Was that from the interstitial lung disease or have they still not figured out what the shadow was from?

It's weird...I've never heard of smoking causing interstitial lung problems...From everthing I've come across, it always seems to be autoimmune in terms of the cause...My dad has it too, but it's caused by dermatomyositis...He has never smoked either...

Hi Nicky,

I just found out 2 days ago by reading my medical records what they found. It says a possibly mild enlarged thymus and mild interstitial lung disease on the base of one of my lungs.

I am really angry that I had to find out about my ILD that way since its damage is irreversible and that test was done over 2 years ago!

That diagnosis explains a lot of what I am going through, but the doctor never told me nor had me follow up with a pulmonary doc to treat it.

So I made an appointment today to see if I can get some testing done and find out what I should have known 2 years ago.

Thanks for the consideration.

Stephanie

OMG...I would be really angry too! These 'errors' are really costly to us patients, and I think that the people responsible should be sorta reprimended...That means that your thymus showed that it was abnormal before you were even diagnosed with MG, right? You said that you've had MG it since 2008? That's really irritating....And yeah, it's really important to know if your lungs aren't working well! They're kinda needed!

I met a woman who was having random periods of really high BP, anxiety, sweating, etc...Her BP would skyrocket from like 120 to 200 everyday for no reason...She kept telling her doc...Anyway, the doc. ran a test which showed that her adrenal glands were releasing too much hormone due to a tumour, and he never told her! That test was run like 5-years ago! She had been treated for Fibromyalgia for years and years...She only found out recently that she has this tumour because her pharmacy gave her a printed list of conditions that her doctor had diagnosed her with...

Sometimes what seems like 'interstitial' lung problems can be actually be caused be an infection...It's kinda a long story, but I met a woman who was diagnosed with MG because of breathing problems...They removed her thymus and found a tumour in it, only it wasn't a typical tumour...It was a calcified cyst caused by histoplasmosis...She had tiny cysts throughout her lungs too...They also found some in her spleen...I'm not saying that this is what's happening to you, but there's so much variation and it's so important for the docs. to check out everything thoroughly...

Sorry you're going through this, Cherry! I hope that you get some answers and to feeling better soon! :hug:

Hi Nicky,

Yes I am really ticked that I had to figure it out, but I went to see a doctor today and she told me the ILD was probably from me being a lifelong asthmatic. So that is one weight off of my shoulders :)

I went because I am having problems breathing but she ordered a CT scan so I should get it by this week.

Yes, the test was done in Sept. 2007 and I wasn't diagnosed with MG until June 2008. That test was before the 3 hospitalzations, the 2nd heart catherization, and a 1400 mile trip to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. She was so focused on the heart and lungs that she didn't think about the muscles.

Thanks for the consideration and for allowing me to vent, LOL.

Steph

Kendra, I'm sorry you found out that you have interstitial lung disease. I know it's not a good diagnosis but you can do some things about it.

Remember that nicotine is a cholinesterase inhibitor, just like Mestinon. So when you withdraw from it, you may need a boost in your Mestinon. That's the #1 reason you need to discuss all this RIGHT AWAY with your neuro. You don't need to go into a crisis too.

Quiting smoking is very hard. And there are lots of other chemicals in those cigarettes other than nicotine. Makes me sick to think about it.

Steph, this is for you:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10958234

Thanks for putting your photo up there. I am going to assume that you are African American. The reason I'm bringing that up is that lupus is very common for African Americans, more than Caucasians. And you said you never smoked. So, I am wondering if you may have lupus. Do you have any other symptoms that may indicated that? Yes, it may be from asthma but you don't want to assume that. Have you seen a pulmonologist? If not, it is probably a very good thing to do. Do you take any asthma drugs like Advair?

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/weba...235&zoneid=523

And you better believe that doctors quickly cover their steps after they make a "mistake." Especially places like Mayo and Johns Hopkins. Steph, find yourself a good rheumatologist to make sure you don't have lupus. Pred, by the way, can make both MG and lupus "disappear."

Geez, you guys are making ME dizzy this week.

Kendra, I hope you can work all this out. Be careful though.

Annie

Pulmo visit & frustration!!!
 

Sorry I haven't responded sooner but my computer was down today.

Nicky,
Thanks so much for the tips on quitting. I do agree I am a bit overwhelmed with all the changes right now. I am having a hard time seperating the effects of the Pred from the effects of trying to give up smoking. Hmmm that is interesting that you never got dizzy when you quit, maybe it is the Pred. I can say I have had more energy yesterday and today than I have had in months!!! I haven't had to lay down during the day and actually cooked and cleaned some yesterday. I was so opposed to taking the pred but it is so worth it if it makes me feel more like my old self. I agree with you on the patches. I tried them once before and they made me feel kind of weird! I am only smoking 3 or 4 cigarettes a day now. That seems to keep me sane but I can already tell a difference in my breathing and it doesn't feel like my heart is racing like it was. Hopefully one of these days we can kick this nasty habit for good!!!

Joan Marie,
I will definitely check out your post on the lung issue.
I thought I was the only person in the world who lived a healthy life style but smoked!!!! So glad I'm not alone.

Pulmo visit & frustration!!!
 

Sue,
Congratulations for giving up smoking after 30 years! That gives me hope that it is doable!!!

I will make sure that all my Drs. are on the same page. Thanks for the info!
Kendra

Pulmo visit & frustration!!!
 

Alice,
I so appeciate the info on how you have helped patients stop smoking. Have you found that tapering down is effective with most of them?

I think you are right that we have gone from nothing but a low dose of Mestinon to adding Pred, an antibiotic and then throwing in the smoking issue and it is so much to deal with at once. I am feeling better though and hope it continues.
Kendra

Pulmo visit & frustration!!!
 

Stephanie,
I noticed that you said your Dr. thought your ILD is from asthma. The Pulmo told me there are several things that can cause ILD and asthma was one of them. She also mentioned exposure to chemicals like asbestos or mold, auto immune disease and of course smoking. I would be furious that they never gave you that information even though they felt you had bigger problems. The pulmo told me that there is scarring in the lungs that shows up white on the CT scan, almost looks like pieces of bone. She said if it is smoking related it should be significantly better in 2-3 months. If it is auto immune related it will not. I am hoping it is the smoking because I do NOT want to have a lung biopsy!!! I am fed up with tests.
Kendra

Pulmo visit & frustration!!!
 

Annie,
Good point about cigarettes working like Mestinon. I hadn't thought of that.
Kendra

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

Pulmo visit & frustration
 

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:hug:
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!:eek:
Congrats to us both!:D It's one of the hardest things we'll ever have to do and the most rewarding!;)

Big Hugs,
Pat
:hug:

Pulmo visit & frustration
 

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!!!

Pulmo visit & frustration
 

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.:D

Hugs,
Pat

I totally agree, Pat! That's an awesome idea! It'll help us to see if quitting improves our MG symptoms...If it does, which i'm pretty sure it will, other MGers who smoke will really want to hear about that!

Not only will we improve our MG symptoms, but we'll look better (I noticed major improvements in my skin tone, texture, firmness, hair was softer, not as dry- even my body seemed more toned, maybe from having more energy- after a few months when I had quit the last time), smell better, smell other things better (lol), taste food better...I also read that quitting will help if you have GERD, and will help us absorb nutrients better...I sometimes imagine quitting like watering an almost wilting flower, and it sprouting back to life...I remember once almost missing the bus, and being able to sprint so easilly to catch up with it...I was amazed that I wasn't gasping for air once I caught it...

Why I ever started again, I don't know...But we can do it for good!:grouphug:

Kendra, Pat, Nicky;

For what it's worth, I made a deal with myself. I could smoke whenever I wanted - - but if I smoked more than xx a day I had to quit - cold turkey. So, I kept track weekly by knowing how many packs I had gone through and dividing it out. Each week I lowered the number until I got to 6. I couldn't keep it at 6/day or less. So I had to STOP cold!!

In an odd sort of way, I did what Pat did - - gradually lessening the nicotine. And mentally, I told myself I wasn't quitting - - I didn't have to quit - - - as long as I could cut down and not exceed the number I allowed. Sounds silly, but mentally I avoided the stress of thinking I was quitting.

Then, when I wasn't able to keep my deal with myself, I had to quit. But even then I didn't think of it as 'quitting'. I was just keeping the deal I had made with myself.

Whatever works - each of us smoked (s) for different reasons and quits for different reasons. I found the mental part of quitting harder than the physical part. I could tell I physically felt better and better with every passing day, but my 'mind' still wanted one!!

Thankfully, that too passes with time.

Keep up the GREAT WORK Kendra and Pat!! And Nicky, you will know when it is the right time and how to best tackle it. I think you're just getting yourself mentally prepared which is very smart.

Sue

Kendra: I just wanted to add, the patches I bought were clear Nicoderm CQ. You wear it for 24 hours. I found this very useful for nights I couldn't sleep well or was up late reading or watching TV. It definatly helped with the urges and if they did get too strong I used a piece of gum. Also when I woke up in the morning I didn't have a strong urge to use a piece of gum for a while. Some patches you remove before going to bed. I tried that only once and when I woke up I was sweating, was dizzy.:eek: I couldn't put a half a patch on and a piece of gum in my mouth fast enough. Just something you might want to consider.

Nickey: I think you pretty much have your mind made up to quit, but when you are sure and ready to make the committment, we will be here for you...you can count on that.:D

Sue: Thank you for sharing your story with us. As you said we all do things a little differently, but we will all get the same great results! Congrats to you!;)

Big Hugs,
Pat

Pulmo visit & frustration
 

I would LOVE to have our own little support group of MGer's and former or trying to be former smokers!!! I am very excited!
Kendra


QUOTE=Pat 110;583348]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.:D

Hugs,
Pat[/QUOTE]

Pulmo visit & frustration
 

Sue,
I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you weren't quitting as long as you stayed below your allowed number daily. It truly is such a mental thing. I was telling Pat and Nicky earlier how I can get through the day as long as I know I can have 2 or 3 during the day. It amazes me how everyone comes up with their own little tricks to quitting. I love hearing everyone's success stories and the little tips.