Why did I ever start again?

I quit smoking to have my WLS and was doing great. But then my son got very ill and almost died and I picked up that nasty habit again (WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!) Now I am on the path to being smoke free again and today is my first day and everyone in my family will tell you they are steering clear of me today as I am in high BIT**Y mode! I am crying at the drop of a hat, as well as being short tempered at everyone who so much as looks at me.....I hate this monster I am today. Please say some prayers for me that I make it through these next few days without any set-backs. If I can just get through the first 3 days, I pretty much will have it licked. BTW I am using the patch to try and help but the anxiety is just making my skin crawl. I gotta do this before I even consider going forward with my TT as I don't want any complications with that and plus I wanna live a really long time so I can enjoy my new self!

Hi Tracy, I am not a smoker, but have had family members who have stopped cold turkey,then have started again because of stress. I used to always turn to food(bad idea). I know it is tough, but think of all you have done with your weight loss, your son is now on the road to recovery and you want to live your life to the fullest. It would be a shame to get everywhere you wanted with your weight, and then have a nasty rolled up piece of paper with some dried weeds in it ruin all you have done. I know you know the health risks,we are all bombarded with them. My mother who smoked all her life, quit 18 years ago and was diagnosed with lung cancer 3 years ago-- Luckily, thanks be to God it was operable. My mother in law, quit 2 years ago when her best friend was diagnosed with lung cancer.. My mother in law was diagnosed with severe stage lung(small cell), which is not responding well. There are so many positives we can do that don't hurt us- convincing ourselves that they are as good as the negative/easy fixes choices is not so easy-- but, I guess nothing in life worth having is that easy.. You can do this Tracy-- I am not normally a cheerleader- keep pretty quiet since my road hasn't been a positive one-- Keep the faith--- AmyH

I wish you good luck on quitting. I know I had to try three times before I finally got it right.

I WAS a smoker, I quit 9 years ago and havent wanted to start again ever. you can do this. Once you get past the first few days......... just dont look back. good luck to you.

I smoked for 15 years and have been smoke free for 6 years now. I saw my FIL pouring Ensure through a feeding tube in his stomach because the radiation to his throat for cancer had made him unable to swallow. The 1/3 of each lung he had removed from lung cancer was also an eye opener. I am have an addictive personality to the core. If I can quit, anyone can.

I wanted to tell you that a co-worker is quitting using the new prescription called Chantix. It blocks the nicotine receptor sites in the brain. She is really happy with it (it's been 3 weeks). Good luck to you! Shawn

Unfortunately, smoking is often a lifetime "monkey" on your back that you just need to battle anew every time it threatens to jump back on. I had stopped smoking for well over 10 years, but then I started again when my late-husband became very ill. Stupid, you say?? Yep. I quit again prior to my WLS surgery (quit on March 1, 06) and it's been okay so far. Praying and relying on that divine intervention has helped me, but I'm not trying to preach to you. Whatever works for you - go with it! I will be sending along all the positive and reinforcing thoughts I can muster directly your way! Kick this monkey's butt - hard and seriously. Bonnie