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Having Surgery- Need Support!

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 537

Hello Kitty, Glad to hear your surgery went well! Sorry I didn't see your post earlier, I was recovering from my surgery when you first posted. Way to go on not smoking. You passed a very difficult test! N.O.P.E. Ron [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 110 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,870 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $742.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 5 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 962

Hi Kitty - I've been thinking about you and am thankful that your surgery was a success! Island Girl [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/21/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 129 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,294 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $258 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 15 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27

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$1,717,200.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 5684 Hours: 15

Minutes: 10 Seconds: 55

Life Gained
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45792

Smoke Free Days
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1,373,760

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 148

I am happy to say that I made it through my surgery without smoking. I'm still sore but I am getting better every day. Thank you all for your support! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/16/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 287 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,449 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1894.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 28 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 30

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

Kitty, We are glad that you are well and even prouder that you didn't smoke! Kudos to you, Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3368

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment works great on anxiety and many other conditions as well. I would strongly urge visiting and participating at the sister site Melanie recommended. Smoking will not cure anxiety. Don't believe the Nicodemon's lies. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 20 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 620 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44

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$54,950.40

Amount Saved
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Days: 6058 Hours: 4

Minutes: 49 Seconds: 41

Life Gained
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45792

Smoke Free Days
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137,376

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 148

Good evening all. I just wanted to thank you again for your support, and let you know that I have not lost my quit. These days are difficult but I will get through. I had a nice chat with my doc today and he made me feel some better. The IV anesthesia is what scares me. In my line of work, I see the bad outcomes, where people are put under and never wake up. I just need to get through this and experience one of the millions of good outcomes that happen every day. I am trying really hard to keep positive. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/16/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 263 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,167 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1735.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 148

Thank you everyone. You told me everything that I need to hear. My anxiety is more over this health problem and upcoming surgery rather than being a generalized issue. I think I would be more concerned about myself if I was not anxious about surgery. I do admit that I have let this one situational episode of anxiety get way out of control. I am not generally anxious about everything. I do, however, realize that in the past when confronted with anxiety-producing situations, I would snuggle myself up in a warm, hazy cloud of cigarette smoke. Somehow it gave me the strength to get through whatever the situation was that was concerning me. I think all those years of smoking prevented me from learning how to face my fears head on in a healthy manner. I so miss the calm that Nic brought, no matter how temporary that calm was. So far, I have been unable to find a suitable substitute. Maybe there isn't one? Maybe normal, non-nic addicts don't require a crutch for calm? Y up, 258 days and still learning. I will be discussing my anxiety with my docs at appointments on Monday and Tuesday. Once I am told what to expect, I'm sure I will feel some better. It's just going to be very difficult to keep Nic away until then. I really don't want to smoke. Today I choose not to smoke. I will take it one day at a time. I will post again if I feel I am about to lose it. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/16/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 258 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,104 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1702.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 50

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 148

It seems that all of the positive self-talk I have been doing of late is not helping me get through a very stressful time. I am facing some surgery (not serious) at the end of this month. In the past, such kinds of major stress would be calmed by a cigarette. I thought I had my coping under control but I don't. My anxiety is out of control. I am taking lots of herbal remedies, am eating very healthfully and am exercising most every day. I have given up coffee, soda, caffiene and refined sugar and am drinking lots of green tea and water. I don't want prescription drugs and I don't want to turn to alcohol to calm my nerves. I try to discuss my concerns with friends but I don't want to burden them. I keep getting anxiety attacks and have come so very close to losing my quit these last few days. I know that smoking won't help and it will only make me feel worse due to the guilt. I know it will only complicate the surgery and healing as well. I see my surgeon on Monday and am writing down a list of questions to take with me. I am trying to control every part of this situation that I can, but there is still the unknown. I have never had surgery under general anesthesia before. I so fear giving up control for the time that I am under. I also so hate having to depend on others for transportation etc. I know the best thing for me is to get this surgery behind me, but I so don't want to lose my quit before then. I have not yet had even one slip. I know one slip will bring me back to at least 1/2 pack per day. If anyone else has had to face surgery or a scary medical procedure for the first time since their quit, how did you cope? Thanks for any help you can give. :8o: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/16/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 258 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,102 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1702.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 563

Kitty, Since quitting I have not had to face a major stressful situation such as surgery, but anxiety is anxiety. It doesn't care if you smoke or not. The only difference is that a smoker will just smoke more thinking that they are calming themselves. Speak to your doctor about your anxitey. Whatever you do, DON'T SMOKE. Smoking won't help at all. As you mentioned, it will complicate the healing process not to mention make you feel guilty for losing your quit. Don't go there. Talking with your doctor is the best medicine in this case. Best wishes. [b][color=Purple]Be Strong. Be Smart. Be Quit[/color] [color=black]Joe[/color] [size=3][color=Blue]Knowledge Replaces Fear[/color][/size] [size=2][color=black]Illegitimus non carborundum est[/color][/size] [size=2][color=purple]Hoping for success without hard work is like trying to harvest without planting.[/color][/size][/b] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/15/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 382 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,564 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $935.9 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 66 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 41 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

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$36,633.60

Amount Saved
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Days: 9415 Hours: 8

Minutes: 34 Seconds: 21

Life Gained
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45792

Smoke Free Days
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366,336

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 344

Kitty, You already know that smoking will only aggravate the anxiety, one more thing to worry about in hospital - 'where can I get my next fix?'. Don't go there. You have got fantastic stats - 258 days! I am green with envy. As a fellow sufferer of anxiety attacks I recommend the breathing exercises, they DO work. I had some very minor surgery recently and I would have had anxiety attacks even if I had still been smoking. As Lizzie says, find out as much as you can about the surgery from reliable sources on the web. Forewarned etc etc. Good luck and best wishes, Linda [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 76 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,533 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �190 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39

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$535,766.40

Amount Saved
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Days: 5861 Hours: 11

Minutes: 42 Seconds: 27

Life Gained
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45792

Smoke Free Days
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1,190,592

Cigarettes Not Smoked

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Having Surgery- Need Support!