I meet with my surgeon today and his number one thing for me to do is quit smoking. I was already planning to anyway but geeesh its do hard. Just wanted to open up to invite people too share their stories, offer encouragement and find others looking for the same support

Ok this is coming from my nursing brain. Smoking can delay healing and reduces blood flow. So when having surgery it is a good idea to stop because it can make you susceptible to delayed healing or even bleeding out during surgery. Now from my patient brain yes it is hard as hell to stop but the benefits outweigh the risks. I have smoked for 15 yrs off and on stopped with every pregnancy and a number of other times. Last time I took chantix but couldn't afford it after a while. I am back on it now and I love it no side effects and no problems but I also take an antidepressant so my doctor thinks that may be keeping me from having crazy side effects. Last time I took it I had really vivid dreams but that was it. If you can quit do it regardless if its required or not.

Jan 28th. Idk why it posted the cool man face. Lol

I smoked over two packs a day for 15 years. I used the patch to help me quit along with sugar-free gum, mints, candy, my toothbrush, dental floss, knitting, and crocheting. Anything to keep my hands busy. I've been smoke free for six years now. good luck--you can do this!!

So hard to quit you are right helps to keep hands busy. Don't be to hard on your self and drop little habits. Also in NY the health insurance people have quit smoking insensitives that pay you cash if you quit you may want to look Into that or we also have a quit line that give people free patches and other stop smoking tools. Best of luck all you will love the new you way more than your smokes

I highly recommend Chantix. It can be expensive but if you check online you can find coupons. My favorite part was the daily one calls and emails. That was two years ago.

I used to be a smoking cessation counselor and one of the things I would tell people is to carry a toothbrush and toothpaste around. When you're going to get into your car, since you said you smoke in the car a lot, brush your teeth right before. Whenever you crave a cigarette brush your teeth. It's subtle but the freshness in your mouth helps fight the urge to smoke and dirty it all up again. If you smoke with coffee in the morning, change where or how you drink your coffee. . put it in a to go cup and walk around the block for example. Most smokers have habitual behaviors that go along with the smoking, you have to change those and it will make fighting the cravings easier. Also try to tell yourself how many new clothes you'll be able to buy with all of that money you aren't spending on smokes!!!!!

I used to be a smoking cessation counselor and one of the things I would tell people is to carry a toothbrush and toothpaste around. When you're going to get into your car' date=' since you said you smoke in the car a lot, brush your teeth right before. Whenever you crave a cigarette brush your teeth. It's subtle but the freshness in your mouth helps fight the urge to smoke and dirty it all up again. If you smoke with coffee in the morning, change where or how you drink your coffee. . put it in a to go cup and walk around the block for example. Most smokers have habitual behaviors that go along with the smoking, you have to change those and it will make fighting the cravings easier. Also try to tell yourself how many new clothes you'll be able to buy with all of that money you aren't spending on smokes!!!!![/quote']

Lol thanks that's great advice. I am using the ecig and i have had one smoke in three and a half days. The one i had was an accident, didn't realize i did it till after... Opps

Chantix did it for me!! Miracle pill.