Forum

Quitting smoking

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
#1

So having a potential MS diagnosis is obviously making me reconsider a few life choices…I feel like minimizing emotional stress and quitting smoking are probably the most important.

But my god, I’m truly an addict. Quitting smoking is HARD at the best of times, but when life has gone all uncertain and even more stressful, I found instead of doing the best for my health, I’ve been reaching for the cigarettes and wine a bit more.

Is there anyone here who quit when they found out? How did you do it? I know it seems silly like, of course with this potential diagnosis or bad health quitting smoking should be a no brainer and I’ve been told if I was that worried I’d be able to just drop it.

I’ve tried patches, vaping, gum, cold turkey, meditating, all kinds of tricks. I’ve even tried professional help and that hasn’t worked. I can’t take any smoking cessation medications because of the psychiatric effects.

#2

hi anon

i’m having trouble with my own smoking habit.

it is a big deal with ms.

i go for hyperbarric oxygen treatment but have a fag in the car afterwards.

now i have a heavy cold and a mega cough, sound like an old tramp.

you’re right, it is hard!

carole x

#3

The way I gave up smoking (6 years ago now), was I planned it out in advance and stuck to my plans. I didn’t want to be forced to stop through health or finance reasons.

I knew giving up in the Summer would be hell (and btw, if I were worried about a potential MS or any other diagnosis, I’d have been smoking like a steam train!). So I made the decision one year that I would give up on the day the clocks went back in October. That way, I smoked my way happily through the spring and summer (I had been only smoking outdoors for about 6 years by then anyway - a good thing because I was constantly dropping the blighters).

Then, when September came, I started cutting down. To begin with I restricted the number I smoked each day by one every few days. So I was down to about 13 per day by October. Then I was more ruthless, by the last week I was down to 6 per day and I cut down by one per day every day that week. On the Saturday before the clocks went back I smoked one.

And I didn’t smoke again. Just as well really, I had a massive relapse a few months later and would have been forced to stop because I spent 2 weeks in hospital then another 6 in a rehab unit.

By that time I’d been smoking for about 30 years. I was the last hold out amongst my friends. Obviously, this doesn’t help a person who wants to give up now. Then again, I suspect giving up for Christmas is a bad idea because of all the parties and drinking. And New Year’s Day always seemed like a bad idea. What do you do if you’re out for New Year? Not smoke after midnight?

I still hover around anyone smoking in order that I can get a bit of passive smoke into my lungs!

Sue

#4

ah sue,

a passive smoker!

in a way it’s worth the agony of quitting just so that we can enjoy other people’s smoke without paying a penny!

this is really helping my determination to quit in the near future but i’m scared of naming the day!

thanks

carole x

#5

Do you think for now vaping would be a better alternative. I feel like that may be the best I can manage until after the new year lol too many parties like you say.

#6

I love passive smoking. There aren’t enough proper fag smokers around to enjoy it properly!! And Mr S won’t walk slowly behind a smoker (pushing my wheelchair) because he dislikes smoking! (Yes I know, it’s the only bad quality he has, other than that he’s a paragon!) § x

#7

I’ve never tried, so I don’t know whether it really is the equivalent. Plus, if you switch to vaping, don’t you remove the urge to quit? You can tell yourself ‘oh I just vape, I don’t smoke!’

But, I’d maybe give it a go. It might be almost as good as smoking. Only might be though!

Sue

#8

I have tried it and it is pretty good, but I still wanted a cigarette lol I think I did it wrong.

#9

Giving up is a bugger - no two ways about it. The stress of dx etc doesn’t help any, but then there is no such thing as an opportunity to give up in perfect tranquillity because life just doesn’t do that.

Besides, I thought my MS misfortune meant that a DESERVED to be allowed to smoke. Cruel fate owed me at least that compensatory pleasure, surely? :slight_smile:

The thing that worked for me, and has kept on working for the past 15 years or so, was just not having the next cigarette. I didn’t give up formally - the thought would have been too depressing and would have sent me scrabbling for the lighter - I just kept on not having the next one. I’m not saying it was a fun time, although it got easier as time went on - much easier. I’m just saying it worked and keeps on working. And it is a good moment when you know for sure that you are no longer at the mercy of the cravings and are free.

Good luck.

Alison.

#10

with apologies for sounding smug - I had no trouble stopping smoking - hardly any craving. I made sure I had some cigarettes in the house and they remained untouched. …wish I found other ‘temptations’ as easy to give up!

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#11

One more thing, Anon, if I may. I don’t usually reckon much to the chances of health/smoking stories helping anyone quit - if we were concerned about the health impact of smoking, none of us would have started in the first place, would we? But for a person who has MS, or is at high risk of developing MS and would rather not do so, the effects of smoking do loom rather large. You might like to have a read at this link to the usually excellent and reliable Bart’s Blog:

By the way, I didn’t know any of this back in the distant past when I was at high risk myself and then actually dx with MS. If i had done, I might have managed to quit a little sooner. Or maybe not. But it might just have helped stiffen my resolve a little.

Alison

#12

blimey krak we’re all wondering what all these other temptations are! anon111 - my sister gave up by vaping. she cut the strength of the oil until she was using zero nicotine and then she threw away her e-cig. i have 2 e-cigs going but they are never on my person, still in the house but… i’m just looking for excuses. i will start by reducing the number i smoke each day.

#13

I have desided to try giving up in the new year, I don’t want to ruin my Xmas & new year by trying now. Aron, I am really glad you have started this thread. I don’t enjoy smoking, I have tried so many times before and stopped for a few months and then start again.

i am really not looking forward to it, but excited that by this time next year I could be an ex smoker. Not sure how it will be as if anything I have smoked more since Dignoses

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#14

I think it is all about getting your head in the right place. If you don’t really want to quit you will fail-I failed many times!

Then one day I lost my cigarettes on a night out.All the shops had shut,the fag machine ate my money but didn’t deliver and I knew I would have to do without until 11am the next day! I was so stressed and had a total meltdown,shouting at my husband but during it it was like a light bulb came on! I realised how addicted I was and I didn’t like the fact! I realised that I didn’t smoke because I wanted to or liked it BUT because cigarettes controlled me and made smoke them to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms! I was horrified by the realisation but absolutely determined to quit, We were going on holiday a few days later and I was not going to ruin the holiday for us so I told my husband that I would continue to smoke on holiday but i wouldn’t buy any duty free and would quit the day we got home!

I don’t think he believed that I would do it but I did (after smoking 20 a day for 19 years I wasn’t convinced either!) but I did and that was 9 years ago! I went cold turkey and I am not saying it was easy but I just kept thinking that there was no way I was going to let anyone tell me what to do,including and especially cigarettes! So pure stubbornness was my secret weapon!

Get your head in the right place first. Decide that you really want to quit,not because you think you should or that it will be better for your health but because you WANT to and then you will be successful!

Good luck,you can do it!

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