Stop Smoking
Welcome to Spine-health’s Stop Smoking patient community. You can also read doctor approved Stop Smoking Articles and watch the Stop Smoking Video.
Mon, 08/11/2008 - 04:20
"Have you quit smoking?"
When does a smoker become an ex-smoker? It has been 48 days since I last smoked a cigarette. Why is it that when someone asks me if I have quit smoking, I still say “I’m trying"? At what point will I say “Yes, I quit smoking”? It's almost like I'm giving myself an out in case I relapse.
_____________
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
User login
advertisement
New forum topics
Top Clinical Trials
Quick Find
Who's online
There are currently 14 users and 1138 guests online.
If you've made it 48 days, then I think its safe to say that you are now an ex-smoker. However, you will always be a nicotine addict. As long as you never forget that, and never let the drug back into your system, then you'll remain an ex-smoker.
8/5/08 C5/C6 ACDF with Titanium Plate
No brace
Cyclobenzaprine & Toradol as needed
For me, it's actually very easy to quit smoking. The hard part is to quit for more than an hour. So, I'd say you are now an ex-smoker! And my hero! Congratulations!
Jeaux
JEAUX
I am not a medical professional. BUT, I DID stay in a Holiday Inn last week...
Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.
Suicide Help Resources
SUICIDE HOTLINE:
USA: 1-800-784-2433
UK : 08457 90 90 90
ROI: 1850 60 90 90
Here is my 5 cents on that.
Ex-smoker? Not when someone tells you X days of non-smoking. Do you feel like you are an ex-smoker yet Yvonne? I do. I'm 275 days in. Never really thought of which day I decided that.
Quit. Stop. I have stopped smoking. Not sure I quit though. I'm a drug addict and my drug of choice is nicotine. 1 cigarette and I'm done in. Every day I make an effort not to smoke. That is 1 more day that is a good thing.
Call yourself whatever you want. Use terms like ex-smoker, stop, and quit how you see fit. Just keep on doing what you are doing and leave the cigarettes alone. That is all that counts.
Good luck you ex-smokers who stopped and want to quit
AxiaLIF at L5/S1. Click ID for Medical History.
Thanks guys for your responses. I really appreciate the support.
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
Bellisima!!!
I am very proud of you
When us SH girls take our cruise, you'll have enough dough to get the deluxe suite with a veranda !!
Any work great.
I'm trying isn't QUIT. I'm a non-smoker, but I'm feeling much better now!
1 year 2 months. Damn sounds like I'm a non-smoker now....
Just don't ask where the money has gone then I'll freak out and fall off the Camel wondering where its hiding
L4-S1 Laminectomy/Discectomy 6/06(failed)
C6-C7 ATIF 11/07(success)
L4-L5 TLIF 03-09(recovering)
DISCLAIMER-COMMENTS ARE BY EXPIERENCE ONLY! I'm NOT a Physician or an Expert,(NOR PAID BY ONE)!
PM me or my wife for Details, Names, or Recommendations;
dwdarling or(darlingshell)
Daniel W Darling
Trying or cutting back never worked for me. I just had to quit buying the darn cigarettes. I was a stress smoker and now I found something else to replace smoking as a stress reliever. Exercise.
So today is 300 days. Not too shabby.
Somewhere about day 290 or so I had a relapse. Really bad day. Drank a lot. Not a good mix. Had a couple of cigarettes. Honestly they tasted like crap and it was rather uninteresting. So much for the dessert idea... Haven't thought about doing it again. Just one of those days.
AxiaLIF at L5/S1. Click ID for Medical History.
I had a dream last night I smoked an ENTIRE cigarette!!!! But I remember feeling so guilty. Go figure.
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
Both my wife and I quit on the same day, doesn't seem like that long ago, but it's been over 6 years now! I'll never forget the date: July 27, 2002. Woo Hoo!
We signed up for hypnosis and I was a huge skeptic. I don't know how much of an effect it actually had, but both of us haven't touched a cigarette since. It was a group setting and at a break the hypnotist told everyone to smoke if they want because it will be the last. So we did -- smoked our last cigarette during the break & tossed our half-full packs on the way back inside! Ha! In all seriousness, I can say that we were both just "done" with smoking and I think that mindset had the biggest influence on us. Also, I'm pretty sure if both of us didn't quit at the same time we'd have failed.
Good luck to all, it can be done!!!
Jay
For help in posting pictures on Spine-Health, see the following posts on using Photobucket and Flickr:
http://www.spine-health.com/forum/water-cooler/photo-installment-1
http://www.spine-health.com/forum/water-cooler/photo-installment-2
Sorry, had to take the email off my signature because of the spam (bob@mypharmajobs.com this means you and I hope every spider and bot causes you to get spammed until your email is smoking!), so if you need additional help with photos I will not hesitate to provide it though via PM.
Also, please do not ask for assistance reading your MRI report, I am NOT a doctor!
===
C3-C4-C5-C6 bulging with stenosis, L5-S1 annular tear and bulge, L3-L4-L5-S1 facet joint syndrome, OA: nothing severe enough to cause problems. Multiple MRIs, EMG & NCS tests, lumbar ESI's, facet injections, medial branch block injections, RF rhizotomy L3-L4-L5, discogram. Scheduled for LP mid October.
Now be a good boy and swallow all these pretty pills..... Ibuprofen, Valium, Baclofen, Avinza. Vicodin & Tramadol for BT pain.
My personal feeling on when you become an ex-smoker is when you dont feel the need to smoke. In my experience and from friends experience the cravings never fully go away. My father in law quit smoking 40 years ago roughly. He still gets cravings once in a while. When you get the place where you dont think about smoking and dont feel like you HAVE to HAVE a cigarette and you only have the occasional craving, and you still dont smoke. Then I would call you an ex-smoker.
There are some good resources out there. One I came across recently was on a lot of topics related to better living with hypnosis. You can sure give it a try.
EDITED
Standards agreement and posting rules
Please note that Spine-Health reserves the right to edit any messages posted or submitted or e-mailed to the Company and use them for content on the website or in other company materials. No e-mail solicitation or advertising of other companies, products, services, or web sites is permitted in the Spine-Health.com forums.
Edited by moderator JEAUX
I quit cold turkey. I started when I was 12 and smoked on and off until I was 18, where I would smoke a pack a day. I quit again and then would smoke on and off. Now it's been 3 years and it's the best decision I ever made. The smell of cigarettes makes me sick now!
Zyban has helped smokers to stop, even those who have smoked 20 years or more. Zyban is the first nicotine-free pill that, as part of a comprehensive program from your healthcare professional, can help you stop smoking. Zyban is prescription medicine available for smokers 18 and older
EDITED
Standards agreement and posting rules
Please note that Spine-Health reserves the right to edit any messages posted or submitted or e-mailed to the Company and use them for content on the website or in other company materials. No e-mail solicitation or advertising of other companies, products, services, or web sites is permitted in the Spine-Health.com forums.
Edited by moderator JEAUX
I spent a week in the hospital with influenza and pneumonia last year. I never had the desire to pick up another cigarette when I got out. I was so sick during the bad withdrawls that I didn’t even know I was having a nic fit. I didn’t smoke for about six months and then out of the blue one day I just went to the store and got some Marlboros. I still would like to kick my own ass for ever starting to smoke again.
So, best of luck to you! I hope you find something to help you cope.
I also had vivid dreams of smoking. They were so real, I had to actually look through my house to see if I had actually been smoking the night before.
Well, it's been more than a year so I've offically quit smoking.
Best of luck to everyone trying!!!!!
$2381.85 spent on other stuff instead of smokes.
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
Way to go Sistah... you are definetly a non-smoker, and sweet smelling, more money winner!!
Long time no talk to...(**)just about every evening 7 ish
would love to chat it up with ya!
Lots of other buds from here you'd remember are there too!
see ya later...miss ya
drea
(*** EDITED
Standards agreement and posting rules
Please note that Spine-Health reserves the right to edit any messages posted or submitted or e-mailed to the Company and use them for content on the website or in other company materials. No e-mail solicitation or advertising of other companies, products, services, or web sites is permitted in the Spine-Health.com forums.
Edited by moderator JEAUX)
It all depends on your will power.I was a chain smoker about 6 months ago.Now i have quitted smoking without taking any drugs or any medicines.Its all depend on your will power and i ma a big example for you guys.
EDITED
Standards agreement and posting rules
Please note that Spine-Health reserves the right to edit any messages posted or submitted or e-mailed to the Company and use them for content on the website or in other company materials. No e-mail solicitation or advertising of other companies, products, services, or web sites is permitted in the Spine-Health.com forums.
Edited by moderator JEAUX
job well done yvonne...takes a lot of willpower and mind determination...Although I'm not a smoker myself It would be like for me having to quit chocolate.....grrrrr impossible I think...come in chat sometime and bring us to date on whats going on
I've tried to give up smoking for 2 years. But finally quit smoking with a help of the smoking patches.
Standards agreement and posting rules
Please note that Spine-Health reserves the right to edit any messages posted or submitted or e-mailed to the Company and use them for content on the website or in other company materials. No e-mail solicitation or advertising of other companies, products, services, or web sites is permitted in the Spine-Health.com forums.
Edited by moderator paulgla
With the help of patches, nicotrol and a crazy, severe infection that put me in the hospital for 4 days... I stopped smoking Feb 24th this year, so coming up on 8 months!.
I think a big part of it iss Why you are quitting... for me, two things decided it for me... my 6 year old nephew decided that I'm one of his favorite people in the world and he likes to spend every moment he can with me... and, having been a carton buyer for years, I wasn't prepared for the (new increased) price of a pack earlier this year... $7. a pack??? That's crazy money... NY loves to tax the poop out of it's citizens, but it really hits the smokers harder than anyone... other than drivers maybe ;p Of course if they taxed booze the way they tax smokes, we'd probably have a lot less drunk driving issues... but that's for another rant
Anyway, decide Why YOU want to quit, think about whether it is worth it...TO YOU to do so... then goo ahead and give it a try... even stopping for a day or two is a day or two less smoking, right? and that's a good thing all around
Good Luck!!
mri 9/30/09
1. lumbar levoscoliosis
2. moderate degree of discogenic disease, spondylosis and diffuse posterior disc bulges from T11-T12 through L1-L2 and a severe degree at L2-L3 and a moderate degree from L3-L4 through L5-S1.
3. At L3-L4, there is exuberant endplate osteitis secondary to chronic discovertebrall trauma and there is a markedly hypertrophied right facet joint impressing on the right lateral aspect of the thecal sac and the right L4 nerve root as it exits the thecal sac. There is a severe degree of right anterior recess stenosis and a moderate degree of right neural foraminal stenosis.
4. At L2-L3, there is a moderate degree of central canal spinal stenosis and a mild degree of right anterior recess stenosis.
5. At L1-L2, there is a right lateral HNP with surrounding osteophyte. There is a moderate defree of right anterior recess stenosis.
6. At L4-L5, there is a moderate defree of central canal spinal stenosis.
Diagnosed with epiphysitis of the vertebrae and osteochondriris (knees) at 7. Knees already determined to need replacing.
Partial tear Rotator cuff
...and a partridge in a pear tree
Now I try to give up smoking by lowering the amount of cigarettes. Only a week ago I smoke 1 pack a day. Now I smoke about half of pack. Soon I hope I'll quit smiking if will power won't let me down.
I did the same thing. I smoked 1 pack/day for a long long time. Then I cut down to 15 cigs/day then 10/day. At 1/2 pack I stayed there for a while. Then I started cutting 1 out here and there. Needed help getting over the hump to completely kick it.
So every one you don't smoke is good.
AxiaLIF at L5/S1. Click ID for Medical History.
I never thought I could do it but now I'm one of those that says "If I could, anyone can".
I started at 13 and was immediately hooked. Chantix saved my life to a degree.
I know Chantix can have a lot of side effects for some people but honestly, if you time the doses carefully (not too close to bedtime if it's nightmare problems) and are really serious about quitting, it can work.
I actually only used the first months pack and never needed the rest.
Funny thing is, till seeing this post, I probably have not even thought about smoking in weeks and when I do, the thought is usually gone within a minute and I'm so very happy to be rid of the cigarettes.
37 yr old- problems started at 33.
DDD thoughout cervical & lumbar. Foraminal narrowing in numerous areas, some tears and bulging. All of that is post 4 surgeries....
11/2005 - 2 level cervical disc replacement with donor graft for C5-C7.
Pain continued but less severe after surgery.
8/2008 - Severe, sudden neck pain while lifting 10 lb box led to realization that C5-C7 never fused.
Posterior fusion, laminectomy and wiring done again on C5-C7. Fused this time.
11/2008 - Peristent hip, leg and foot pain led to MRI showing foraminal narrowing and some bulging. Had a 2 level lumbar laminectomy.
Felt great for about 6 months, got up to walking 5 miles per day, pain suddenly started increasing till it was the same as pre-surgery
04/2009 - Removal of wiring and re-attachment of displaced muscle to C5-C7 due to constant pain.
Present - Severe, debilitating chronic pain began again in 10/09 from head to toe, all on left side. MRIs show DDD through cervical and lumbar areas plus a handful of bulging discs.
Current meds: Flexeril, Soma, Valium, Lyrica, Celebrex, Vicodin and/or Ultram.
Update 11/02 - Saw an excellent neurologist who has tentatively suggested myofascial pain syndrome treatment and am hopeful once again.
EMG scheduled for 11/10, starting Lidocaine injections 11/11
Hi all,
Good Luck to all who are quiting! 
I never thought about smoking until i saw this, its been 4 weeks yesterday since i had one 
. I cut down before i stopped, i had no choice i was smoking 25-30 a day 
. But i take champix to help me they are good 
, these tablets work on the brain, but until i saw this i hadnt thought about it 
. i have tried before and been unsuccessful 
. The thing i have done different this time is 
, i say to my self, "you can have one if you want one! 
" then i think, my body dont need it 
, so why bother 
. Last time i said to myself "thats it im never having one again"and sarted smoking again 
. So never say never, and go get some "CHAMPIX" off the doctor 
they really do help you along 
.
Angie xx
"ALL ADVICE GIVEN IS BASED ON OUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES"
"WE ARE NOT MEDICALLY TRAINED IN THIS FIELD"
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL AND GOOD HEALTH FOR 2009 XXXX
My name is angie, i live in birmingham england.my back problems started in 1998.2001 had cartlidge removed in my right knee. when i was recovering from that i had a car accident, this caused my discs to prolapse.x-rays , MRI scan. 2002 epidural. 2003 had discs removed and 1 shaved.This has left me in pain and i have a protruding buldge to the right of my scar. 2004 PT. 2005 facet joint injections. 2006 more PT, MRI scan. 2007 referred to Pain Management.Now i have to take lots of medication. 2008 im waiting To have epidural and facet joint injections. I also suffer fibromyalgia this diagnosis was confirmed in october 2008.November 28th facet Joint Injections. After being examined by the GP he has concerns, so waiting for referral to orthopedic surgeon and for MRI scan, should recieve these in 2009 as he wants me seen ASAP. Appointment for orthopedic surgeon is dated the 27th january 2009. Not very well with my back at the moment, and been ill all over christmas, its so painful to walk now . Well i went to see the spinal surgeon, he said my spine is crumbling and he also said i have arthritus in my spine but the middle of my back, he said theres nothing he can do, until it gets worse. I have to continue with pain management, and the tablets, and he said i need to strenghten my muscles around the spine,and then he discharged me. But i am scared of doing more damage, i have lost faith in doctors, i feel so poorly at the moment, i havnt got any more energy. I cant stop crying, since i got back. The doctor knew about my spine crumbling in 2006, and still sent me to physio areobics.
Nice job, quitters.
Yesterday was great. First, I had a HUGE "omg I'm so glad I don't smoke" moment when the temp here dropped in the 40's and rain! So glad I wasn't standing outside in that with the other smokers from my office. And then last night I went to a 4 hour concert and had another "yay me!" moment. I was so, so, so glad I didn't have to leave the concert to go smoke like other's did. What a different world we live in - remember when EVERYBODY smoked at concerts? And now you are not allowed!