Have you tried to quit smoking while undergoing treatment?

@rchan - Congratulations on quitting smoking. I did it after 35 years. I only used a patch for a week. But it was extremely difficult for a while. "If you smoke you'll die" was my mantra. I'm not sure that it was my love of life or love for life..I didn't want to leave my world, my son, husband, sisters, house, trees in my yard, friends, etc. But the motivating factor was not wanting to die. It's an either or situation for sure.

@parus- Good for you! The mental picture of your neighbor smoking and on oxygen could also help! I certainly don't want to be trapped by tubes!

There was a time I was surrounded by smokers and did not start until I was 40. I learned that I blended better. Dumb reason to start. Yesterday was one of those dreadful days where I wanted something tangible for comfort and company. I had not thought of a cigarette in a long time. I wrestled with this thought for a while and realized my trigger was the neighbor above me going in and out her sliding door with others for a smoke. I am glad she smokes outside as she is on oxygen and lives most of her life tied to a home unit. We all need something at times and I chose to not need that as they now make me dreadfully ill as does anything in the Nightshade family. Also a reminder that it could as easily be me trapped by tubes because of smoking.

@margot69 It was so much more common then, both of my parents smoked too, and I did until I got pregnant. By the time I quit, I was beginning to feel self-conscious about smoking. I live in the northeast but I have heard that in the south smoking is more prevalent, perhaps that's true where you are too. I think social pressure really does help if not too many people around you also smoke.
I can totally understand having trouble quitting, especially after many years. I smoked for about 10 - 12 years, I am not sure of exactly when I started!
Good luck with it, I hope you can manage to quit, you really feel better if you do.
JK

@iaintnomensabut Being able to get a transplant certainly is a good incentive. It was my incentive to lose weight too. I knew if I could lose weight that my recovery would be easier, plus at that time I read that some transplant centers require a BMI under 30, which mine was not. My transplant center did not have that requirement but knowing that I might want to dual list at some point and not wanting my weight to be a problem, definitely helped me to lose weight.
JK

Break it down to do I want to live or die? You can do it if you love life enough.I smoked 45 years and I quit using Chantix.best move I ever made

@margot- I know that the idea of quitting smoking is intimidating. My mom smoked too. But she quit by cutting down- I have no idea how she did it! You know the health impact of smoking and know that it is best to quit, and I'm sure that you will when you are ready. Smoking can also cause osteoporosis. Are you feeling well?

Yes, both my parents and most all my aunts and uncles smoked. It's was common in that generation. My father quit cold turkey and an uncle quit. My mother quit after a hospital admit. She was in her 70's, which I am nearing. I just cannot wrap my head around quitting.

@contentanwell - I agree JK. Our mothers/grandmothers really had nothing they could do about osteoporosis. But I have a thought. Since they walked a lot more than we do, at least in my grandmother's years and early in my mom's (1916 when she was born) maybe they weren't as bothered. They actually exercised all the time with the things that they had to do. I'm not saying that this was the general rule. I do believe that bone structure is in part genetic so some of us have a more difficult time with it than others. I have an admission to make- I took Fosamax this AM to try it one more time. I am very afraid of another break so I'm going to try it this one last time. I have an endoscopy early next month to see if anything is going on. Maybe it isn't Fosamax.

I'm 56 years old Started smoking age 25 and smoked knowing I needed to quit.Finally quit 15 years later. One thing that helped was wife and my jobs were transferred to Atlanta. The old group of friends InBirmingham were largely smokers. The new friends we made in Atlanta were largely non-smokers. So surrounding urself with people that don't have the habit your trying to quit, whether it be smoking, drinking, drugging, went a long way in helping me quit. Changing environments to surround myself with non-using, positive role models and severing ties (at least until u'r sure u've quit) helps. Hard to do and not everyone can do that. Stayed quit for 10 years moved to a small town on coast of Alabama where it seems a lot of people smoke. A friend went outside restaurant to smoke and, famous last words, "I want one...I can just smoke one. So started back smoking for 5 years up until my hepatologist (I have cirrhosis) told me it was time to get on the liver transplant waiting list. So I guess it was sort of another "change of environment". The decision was made for me. Keep smoking (an absolute no-no when applying/on the wait list and have a chance at a new liver/lease on life. Or continue smoking, get rejected for transplant waiting list and die. So I won't call my self lucky, but this last time was much easier because it was truly life or death that I quit smoking.