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You need to be careful if you are considering taking valerian. Side effects of valerian include headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, excitability, uneasiness, heart disturbances, and even insomnia in some people. A few people feel drowsy in the morning after taking valerian, especially at higher doses. Some people experience dry mouth or vivid dreams.
 

GoodEnuff said:
Right. I avoid cocoa because of the sugar. A stiff drink, maybe; with the family history of alcoholism, it kind of scares me. An Rx maybe, but they seem to be tired of me asking for something. Herbal tea I will try; I have quite a collection of them.
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I almost forgot, take magnesium baths and tablets.
EDIT: and elderberry tea
 
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Poor GoodEnuff, I'm hearing so much pain in what you're going through right now, I wish I could bake you some cookies.

I read somewhere that women have more trouble quitting than men precisely because of what you're reporting, they get upset and say something mean to a friend or scream at the dog and then hate themselves for it and feel so bad about it they start smoking again. Where a man would say, "So I yelled at the dog, big whoop, he's already forgotten it." And it's true, he's already forgotten it which he will demonstrate tomorrow with more barking. You're going through a very difficult, one and done, special time, forgive yourself, these bad moments.
 

@stephenPE

Welcome! I am sort of a new member two. Best place on the 'net, as far as I am concerned.

Exercise here is difficult. Today, I noticed the usual dog walk was a little easier and less painful so we went a little further than usual. Some days are better than others. I am looking around for a treadmill, used to really like them at the gym some years back. It'll have to be smallish because this is a very small house and the biggest problem is where to place it. Anyway, I know that would help and am working on that.

Going to town today helped a lot. A little contact with others is something I need to do more. This is a very reclusive lifestyle I have chosen and normally it is fine. Anyway, this evening is better and the day is almost over, another step forward.

Hugs all around.
 
@GoodEnuff.....I volunteer at the local hospital. At any given time there's a likely chance of encountering patients who are struggling with COPD. Lung cancer patients also show up from time to time.
Do not surrender to your cigarette urges! The stresses you're coping with now are much preferable to dying slowly and horribly consumed with regret wishing you'd quit the habit years before.
 
Repondering said:
@GoodEnuff.....I volunteer at the local hospital. At any given time there's a likely chance of encountering patients who are struggling with COPD. Lung cancer patients also show up from time to time.
Do not surrender to your cigarette urges! The stresses you're coping with now are much preferable to dying slowly and horribly consumed with regret wishing you'd quit the habit years before.
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My late husband died from lung cancer. He smoked for decades and then quit cold turkey. Eight years later, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Quitting is no guarantee.
 
Quit Day 8:

Yesterday went pretty well which means I stayed in control of myself.

Today, it is back to town (30 miles) for the CT scan, assuming the blood work comes back as normal.

Will stop in at the meat market and pick up some beef. It's a little more expensive but it tastes much better and supposedly, the market is owned and supplied by five family owned and operated ranches. Their ground beef is markedly different and much better than what is available at grocery stores. The liver is ambrosia! Hope they have it. I usually get a package of cheaper cuts like stew meat or whatever for my dogs. If they have liver, I will stop at a grocer and get a sweet onion.

Yesterday, I went to WalMart and bought a yellow squash, which I steamed and had for supper. It was really good, no bitterness and kind of sweet*. There was no sticker label on it so I don't know where it originated but today I will get a couple more. Produce at the large markets is always a crap shoot, especially this time of year when everything is out of season and what is available is imported from who-knows-where and how it is grown.

*Before you say it tasted better because I have quit smoking, that's not the case. I have never noticed an improvement in food taste any time I was quit.

Maybe that's a good thing because food and I have always had a Forever War happening. I am ramping up the food defenses during this quit; gained two pounds in the past week and I know why. A soft-serve cone from DQ, a bowl of popcorn, a whole PBJ instead of half, too much cheese. Breaded fried chicken instead of naked baked. No more of that foolishness and back to normal. It was good while it lasted though.

I think focusing on food/diet helps reduce the focus on cigs. Success breeds success.

So far, so good. Hugs all around.
 
GoodEnuff said:
My late husband died from lung cancer. He smoked for decades and then quit cold turkey. Eight years later, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Quitting is no guarantee.
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That breaks my heart. My father died of small cell lung cancer. A nightmare. My own lung cancer, thankfully not the same type as my father's, came after years & years of being smoke free.

I hate that I'd love to smoke if I could.......

You're doing so well! Congrats!
 
Pepper said:
That breaks my heart. My father died of small cell lung cancer. A nightmare. My own lung cancer, thankfully not the same type as my father's, came after years & years of being smoke free.

I hate that I'd love to smoke if I could.......

You're doing so well! Congrats!
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Thank you! Yeah, my husband had non-small cell adenocarcinoma, which is considered a "non-smokers" cancer. You have been quit for years and still would love to have one? We can commiserate together.
 
GoodEnuff said:
My late husband died from lung cancer. He smoked for decades and then quit cold turkey. Eight years later, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Quitting is no guarantee.
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No, it isn't, but if you think about that old line about "Death and Taxes", I think it's true. There are no guarantees for much of anything.

However, I have noticed that a number of people that I either knew or knew of who got cancer 8 to 12 years after they quit smoking. I asked my Doctor up in Eureka about that and she said that smoking definitely increases your risk, specially the longer you smoke. But she has also had a few patients who smoked for 50 years that didn't get it. She believes that the overall risk for cancer starts at about 55%, then increases if you have any risk factors.

And of course, I learned the hard way that smoking does not just increase your risk for one type of cancer. I've had skin cancer six times, stomach cancer and colon cancer. Unfortunately, I have a bad feeling that I might get it again as I have some of the same symptoms as I did before the colon cancer, and my Doctor here thinks I'm crazy that I don't want to do all the required tests. He sent me an email to make the necessary appointments.

I emailed him back and said "In 2016 I was in the hospital for 10 days, told it would take about six months to recover, but I was sick every day for two years after the colon cancer surgery, and I don't want to go through that again. I've had a great life and if I die tomorrow, I'll die a content, if not happy man. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suicidal. I'm in absolutely no hurry to die, but by the same token, I'd prefer to not spend any of however much time I have left in my life camped out in the bathroom."

When I saw him the next time he tried to get me to change my mind. I said "No, according to the California Code of Regulations Title 15, Section 3999.210, I have the right to refuse any medical treatment. I am exercising that right. I have an Advanced Directive that clearly states that I decline any emergency life saving treatment, and Do Not Resuscitate, that was created with mental competency."

I hope I live long enough to see 75. That was the age of the oldest person in my family when they died, going back several generations. Long Live Retired Hippie Guitar Players! :giggle:
 
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Had the CT. No big deal. What was pretty cool, though, was in the waiting area they were playing the old country western songs, ones I had not heard in a long long time. I can still remember the lyrics. My foot began to tap and memories of dancing with my husband at the CW clubs had me smiling. We had some really good times together. Life is different now and that's okay but those were the days, oh yes those were the days.
🧑‍🎤
 
GoodEnuff said:
Had the CT. No big deal. What was pretty cool, though, was in the waiting area they were playing the old country western songs, ones I had not heard in a long long time. I can still remember the lyrics. My foot began to tap and memories of dancing with my husband at the CW clubs had me smiling. We had some really good times together. Life is different now and that's okay but those were the days, oh yes those were the days.
🧑‍🎤
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On line line dancing?
 
Quit Day 9:

Last night was a bit rough with frequent waking, crazy dreams and a screaming headache. Maybe the dye from the scan? I drank a lot of water yesterday to help kidneys do their filter thing. First cup of coffee almost down and headache is easing.

The dreams are really strange. I don't usually remember dreams but the last couple of nights they have been so crazy, it wakes me up. Always the plot is about some minor insignificant waking concern that the dream rewrites into a major concern. One was about the water line freezing (which is pretty unlikely as the lines are buried 3-4 feet deep and inside pipes are in heated spaces). I woke up and got out of bed to turn on the bathroom faucet to make sure it was okay. Of course it was. Sheesh.

I think today I will do laundry, change sheets, cook meat for the dogs (well, crock pot), maybe vacuum and mop. DO something. Sitting here Feeling Sorry For Myself just isn't working.
 
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