thanks for the great inspiration everyone.. and the support!!
Hi Babs, this is the best present you could give yourself. I'm very happy to hear that your RD pointed out smoking/RA connections and facts. Smoking has an affect on our bones and healing processes also. Good luck, you have a great incentive to succeed. Lindy I smoke....can't say it's helped my any; but there's no reason your doctor should beat it into you like that. I've been in remission a couple times. I think "You'll NEVER acheive remission" is stretching it a bit.
I've tried to quit multiple times and have yet to be succesful; but I continue to keep trying. My father's side of the family have lung problems.....all due to smoking. My father himself was just dx'ed with COPD and his sister died of Lung cancer and Their brother had emphazema (K~No idea how to spell that) Those are the things that have me shook up enough to quit. I did pretty good with the lozengers but they gave me really bad sores on my gums. The gum is too hard.....but I might be trying the gum again. I'm a little afraid of the pills. A guy I work with got some sort of shot behind his ears and woke up the next day not wanting one and hasn't smoked in close to two years now. It's pricey but sounds like the ticket to me.
I think more than anything you just have to make your mind up that "I'm done!" and that's when you can finally do it. Until you're 100% there it won't work. Sadly
Good luck with quitting.. I'm proud of you.
as far as braces, oh yeah I have an entire drawer in my bedside table (a BIG drawer) full of assorted braces. my night splint, my wrist braces, elbow wraps, knee and ankle braces and wraps. finger splints.. I have 2 wrist braces in the car and several just laying around in various rooms. I agree that having a brace on gives a little more "authority" to the illness.. "oh you're wearing metal you probably hurt..."
So happy to hear of your decision to quit! It will be so much easier to do it with your husband. My husband quit with me six years ago. I had to quit, because they were talking about fusing my neck and smokers bones don't fuse well. My Sweetie will do anything to help me feel better.
I quit just like Andrea (former Mermaid). I told my doctor of my decision and he rx'd Wellbutrin for me. It made it so much easier, I couldn't believe it. My husband tried the Wellbutrin, too, but didn't really need it. I took the Wellbutrin for a long time. It became my regular anti=depressant for a while.
I had smoked approx. 1-1/2 packs a day for 35 years. My dad had lung cancer and died of lung disease when he was 52, I was 19 at the time. My Mom died 12 years ago of emphysema. Believe it or not, even seeing her die so horribly didn't even make me quit. It's strange how the mind works. I couldn't do it til I was ready.
I wish you great success, and your husband, too. Someone said to sign on here if you need some support. It sounds like a great idea. After all, that is what we are here for...to help each other in any way we can.
Gentle hugs, Nini
Way to go Babs! I never smoked but my parents did, so I am wondering about secondhand smoke. Oh well that's all behind me now.
Best of Luck to you and hubby.
I wish everyone that is/will be quitting success. On October 7th I have my first year smoke-free after 35 yrs! Hillhoney posted something this time last year that helped make up my mind.
I don't smoke, but friends say the medical help drug regime is a snap.
I have done OT for my hands and wrists, do exercises every day, and recently bought from North Coast Medical two sets of splints to slow down the ulnar drift. I had to buy them because my OT/PT facility declined because they didn't have the catalogues, and the local hospital I went to, script in hand, wouldn't order them because they wouldn't get their full money back - I don't blame them.
Babs, the night splits are fantastic. You can relax, they are not threatening, and your forearm, wrist and fingers rested during sleep. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
And good luck with quitting the smoking. Wearing the splints will make it hard to hold a cig and light it :) Take care and huggles ~~ Cathy
Congrats on your decision to quit smoking Babs. You CAN do it!
I quit 4 years ago and you could not pay me to go back. Aside from the RA, I feel great and I never really knew how much me and everything I owned stank until I quit.
Helpful hints that worked for me are exercise, and nicotine patches. I stayed on the patch longer than the box recommended. Basically, unless I was mentally prepared I did not reduce the dose, which usually resulted in my staying on a dose 1-2 weeks longer than prescribed on the box. Of course you whould talk with your doc about using them.
As for braces, I use a wrist brace more often than not on my left wrist. Even when nothing else is flaring, my left wrist is always slightly flared or at least weak. I suspect I have significant joint damage. The compression and support from the splints really do help my wrist stay useful. The best one I've found is a grey & white colored one that I found at Meijer. It does not have exposed velcro like most of the others which collect lint and hair.
Good luck with quitting smoking. Sounds like a GOOD move.
Had the PT session... nice warm paraffin bath.... that's to die for!! I'm thinking of getting my own.. LOVED it.. therapist gave me several exercises... told me to get some PlayDoh and work that in my hands... softer than other putties and a stress ball.. which would stress my joints.. the exercises should be easy.. but they aren't!! unbelieveable!!
Cathy - JSNM
do you have to have a script to get the braces? no one has said that I should except the RD alluded to it... but if it would be better for me.. I'm game!!
I don't have a problem w/ my RD being hard nosed about the smoking... I know it's because he wants to see me succeed... and if this helps.. we'll both be happier!!
and great for you Bonny and Diane and everyone else who have been successful!! I will hope to write a page in that book soon!!
[QUOTE=babs10]
do you have to have a script to get the braces? no one has said that I should except the RD alluded to it... but if it would be better for me.. I'm game!!
[/QUOTE]
I wear "Pil-o-splint" braces at night when my hands/wrists act up. They cushion the joints and prevent me from curling up my hands and wrists underneath me while I sleep. They're available at most stores with a healthcare section. I highly suggest going to the store and trying on a few different types to see what works for you. Once you find one that works, you can always re-order it from a cheaper store online.
Here is some information on smoking from the UK. I'm sure it is not much different here in the US.
Lung cancer. About 30,000 people in the UK die from lung cancer each year. More than 8 in 10 cases are directly related to smoking.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). About 25,000 people in the UK die each year from this serious lung disease. More than 8 in 10 of these deaths are directly linked to smoking. People who die of COPD are usually quite unwell for several years before they die.
Heart disease is the biggest killer illness in the UK. About 120,000 people in the UK die each year from heart disease. About 1 in 7 of these deaths are due to smoking.
Other cancers - of the mouth, nose, throat, larynx, gullet (oesophagus), pancreas, bladder, cervix, blood (leukaemia), and kidney are all more common in smokers.
Circulation. The chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of the blood vessels and affect the level of lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. This increases the risk of atheroma forming (sometimes called 'hardening' of the arteries). Atheroma is the main cause of heart disease. It is also the main cause of strokes, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation of the legs), and aneurysms (swollen arteries which can burst causing internal bleeding). All of these atheroma-related diseases are more common in smokers.
Sexual problems. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to become impotent or have difficulty in maintaining an erection in middle life. This is thought to be due to smoking-related damage of the the blood vessels to the penis.
Ageing. Smokers tend to develop more 'lines' on their face at an earlier age than non-smokers. This often makes smokers look older than they really are.
Fertility is reduced in smokers (both male and female).
Menopause. On average, women who smoke have a menopause nearly two years earlier than non-smokers.
Other conditions where smoking often causes worse symptoms include: asthma, colds, flu, chest infections, tuberculosis, chronic rhinitis, diabetic retinopathy, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and Crohn's disease.
Smoking increases the risk of developing various other conditions including: optic neuropathy, cataract, macular degeneration, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, psoriasis, gum disease, tooth loss, osteoporosis and Raynaud's phenomenon.
Best of luck in your attempt to quit smoking. I quit over 3 years ago. I tried the Wellbutrin and had to stop because the med affected me in a bad way emotionally. My mother sent me to a hypnotist as a birthday present. That helped me. I don't think I could go back to smoking. If I ever get the urge I'll think of my mom. She has non smokers lung cancer.
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