Smoking risks following Stg1A NSC 4 wks post surgery HELP!

I can’t take narcotics or gabapentin either. Nasty stuff.
Look only you can find the willpower to quit. I smoked 40 years, quit 6 years ago and then got the non smoker’s lung cancer. God has a sense of humor I guess. But if your cancer wasn’t a wakeup call, only you know what will be.

For me six years ago - gum and ice water. One or both every time I wanted one. And after 4 days it’s not your body craving it - nicotine has flushed by then. It’s just that seductive siren saying “you know you want one”. In fact, You know you got this and should quit. Call one of the quit smoking numbers and they will talk you off the ledge. Get busy - take your walk. But don’t give me that stuff about ‘I just couldn’t resist’. resist. Of course you can. You have to decide to.

I’m pulling for you!

Thank you & you're right. Resist! I did it for 2 weeks, now I just start it again. Two a day is not necessary for what it would cost me in the end.

Amen

Some of us have worse addictions than others. There is evidence to suggest that differences in brain function and structure may influence susceptibility to various forms of addiction. Therefore, each person’s quit can be different, easier or harder. They’ve found differences in brain receptors(or whatever?) when comparing different smokers. Researchers are beginning to believe that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine. By the way, nicotine is still in your bloodstream for up to 10 days. Withdrawal can last from weeks to months.

I quit the first time only because I needed hip replacement surgery & the surgeon refused to do it till I quit. The pain became so unbearable, I couldn’t sit, walk, or lie down, and he was the best surgeon to have. I used chantix, patches, and a nicotrol inhaler, being careful not to overlap the nicotine amounts. I would suggest to start with the chantix & low dose patch patches. I think it helps keep you from the high/lows, and more at an even keel. Then when you go off the patch, use the inhaler for peak cravings or dire emotional need. I’m not a doctor, but that’s how my first quit worked. I wasn’t smoking after the surgery either because the Dr impressed upon me how hard it was for smokers to heal. As long as I wasn’t smoking, I decided it was past time to go along with the same Dr & replace my knee too. After that, I started out with just 1 or2/ day and ended a 1 year quit & was back to a 1/2 pk/day+. Normally, I was 1pk/day. The main problem with my quit routine was my physical cravings came back when my Chantix was no longer renewable. Now I’ve gone through my first round of chemo, and am scheduled for a triple whammy next month. 2 radiations & 1 chemotherapy/day for first 3 days, then cont. 2/ rad/day for another 12 days. Worst of all, I too want to ask my Dr if it could really hurt that much to have just 2/day (that’s what I’m down to now again)

Don’t beat yourself up or think you’re weak, it's really HARD for some of us. Best advice, if you quit, don’t let yourself have even one, or 1 to 2/day. It never ends well, I’ve done it twice. Finally🥱 try some Voltaren for the pain. You can buy it over-the-counter now. Mayo formulated it, I think. I really hope both concerns get better for you!

Finally! Good advice without the finger shaking “you’re weak” sermon! I too continue the struggle! I had my LUL Segmentectomy coming up on a year ago, and I have slipped a couple of times during that time. I KNOW. I’m addicted! Started smoking at 16, now 59. I have tried to quit several times during my life, but that horrid monster comes back and pulls me in! I thought the medcines like Chantix were making me intolerable to be around, but it was actually the withdrawals. I get crazy mad at stupid petty things and I don't even like myself! I make it 4 or 5 months and then slip, I feel really guilty, wear the patches for another 5 months, etc. It is a really vicious cycle but I am realizing that I actually feel better when I’m not smoking. I have used the 1-800-quitnow and that was good. You get a coach and you can pick your first round of nicotine replacement for free. After that you have to buy it. However, its only gum, lozenges or patches, but its still a real nice program. It is true, only YOU will be able to do it, and yes, it IS much better than our other option. I wish you and the rest of US, that are struggling with this addiction, The BEST of Luck! God Bless Everyone!

You are correct that some of us seem to suffer withdrawal more than some others. My understanding is that some people have more receptor sites for a byproduct of nicotine than others. And when the receptors are accustomed to being filled and then become empty, they scream to be filled again.

I’m one of those. A 50+ year smoker - tho inexplicably I stopped for each pregnancy without trouble until I delivered. But ultimately I said ‘enough’ - Not for a noble reason but because I was tired of being fussed at by everyone and tired of my clothes and car stinking and tired of my skin looking 10 years older than I am. So I put on my big girl panties, stocked up on sugar free gum, had my car detailed, and began. I Drank a glass of ice water every time I wanted a cigarette, and really after a few days it’s not your body screaming for nicotine - it’s your brain saying “but you always smoke with your coffee”.

You can beat your own brain if you want to badly enough. The tools are yours for the taking and they do help.

I wish everyone on that journey Success!!

I know how hard it is to quit. I finally did it 22 years ago. I tried a couple of times. One has to find the "trick" that works
Cheating is very dangerous. And one is never free of the urge and temptation then. It takes time but the urge goes away and then one can't stand the smell of cigarettes.
But not only does smoking increase the likelihood of returning cancer or new cancer, but it does other damage to your lungs which further reduces your lung capacity and function. For example, Pulmonary Fibrosis can also kill you. I know, I have lung cancer and other lung problems.
And if you need dental implants, they do not like it if you smoke.
And cigarettes are really a waste of money!!!!

Amen to all your experiences!

The urge is gone but I still love the smell. On the street I walk behind anyone smoking to catch their exhale 🙂

I happily have no urge and don't like the smell. And I wouldn't let anyone smoke in my home nor in my car. Actually, none of my friends smoke now.
But I remember the little holes in my clothes from smoking!
And here in Minnesota cigarettes cost well over $8/pack - who wants to spend that??? So many better things to do with that money! Vacation, fancy restaurants, new car...