I QUIT! (long but no one else is posting so...)

Well folks, tomorrow is the day...my official quit date. I have struggled with cigarettes for 35 years. I have tried every gimmick out there; the patch, the gum, Zyban, cold turkey, changing brands, etc ad nauseum. Even after being in the hospital numerous times and not being able to smoke there, I still started back up when I got out. It's not just the physical addiction to nicotine, that's pretty much gone after 3 or 4 days of not smoking. It's the mental addiction. The "situational" addiction. My cardio prescribed the new nicotine receptor blocking pill called Chantix. Of course, it's $120 for a month's supply so I called the Delaware Quitline. Someone called me back and fortunately, they cover this medication as long as you comply with the support program. For me, a counselor from the Cancer Society calls periodically to talk to me, and I can also have face-to-face sessions. A local church charity pays for the pills. I started on them March 13, and set my quit date for March 20. I am so hopeful that it works because I have done everything else to prolong my life, including the major lifestyle changes that come with WLS. Stopping smoking will be the best thing I could ever do for myself. Wish me luck with this! I also did some experimenting with my diet, became a scientist, if you will, with myself as a test subject. Here are my findings: After weeks of painful gas and bloating with associated abdominal pain, I started analyzing my food intake. Dairy was a lifesaver post-op but had become a major staple. It's basically all I was eating outside of lean meat and chicken. Cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, and milk. All day. Every day. DING DONG! Lactose intolerance. Both Erica and Alex had it when they were little. I had to get Lactaid milk and pills for them. My symptoms were exactly the same things they had. I cut out the dairy for 3 days and VOILA! No gas, bloating, pain....all gone. Then I had 4 ounces of milk and 2 ounces of SF chocolate pudding made with milk. The proof was in the pudding, literally. That night and throughout the next day, I stayed in my room. I didn't want to be responsible for the asphyxiation of my family. So I bought some of those lactase enzyme pills. Problem solved. I love milk and dairy and WILL NOT stop eating it, so if the pills work, I will eat them right along with my yogurt! I have also started dumping on sugar. Up until now, I could tolerate small amounts. I mean, I could eat a couple of small vanilla wafers, or a piece of hard candy, but recently I have become really ill feeling if I take sugar . Barbecue sauce did it one day. I was down for the count with the sweats, nausea, the works. The tiniest amount sends me reeling now. That's a good thing, a blessing in disguise. Even natural sugars, like in a whole banana...I can only eat a couple of bites. I give the rest to my grandson and my bird. It's weird how our bodies change and that some foods that never bothered us before can suddenly make us want to die! KathyG

The proof is in the pudding...lolol Good luck on quitting those ciggs!!! Dumping sounds awful! Good detective work..lactose intolerent huh?.... I quit 2 years ago may.. I had smoked on and off since i was 14 so about hmmmm 22 years on and off... I finally had enough called the delaware quit line too... I breathed deep and slow very controlled breathing everytime I wanted a cigg until the craveing went away.... I got pretty light headed at times.... :) Well blessings to you during your trying times with those ciggs... Marcie.

Good Luck on your quitting smoking. About 15 years ago I went to one of those "stop smoking, lose weight" seminars. The stop smoking part worked but the lose weight didn't Sending you lots of lucky huggs for support. As far as dumping I try to keep my sugar under 9gm and have been pretty lucky. When I have too many carbs I get super tired and have to lay down. Now if I can figure out how many is too many ? Still working on that. Sandy

Congratulations ! I'm on Week 45 No Still miss it, but just gone too far this time to turn back around. Keep up the good work. Dianne