CHANGES IN BODY CHEMISTRY, MOOD IMPROVEMENT

[bigbear1]

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I READ IT; BUT, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN A MESSAGE OR SOME OF THE LITERATURE THAT I READ OUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS FLUCTUATE WHEN WE QUIT SMOKING.  AS A DIABETIC, I CHECK MY BLOOD SUGAR AT LEAST 2 TIMES A DAY AND IT HAS BEEN LOWERING.  THIS MORNING IT WAS 75 (A LEVEL TOO LOW TO TAKE MY INSULIN AT)!  IS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCING THIS.

I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY APPETITE HAS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST 3 DAYS.  THIS WOULD EXPLAIN THE LOWERED BLOOD SUGAR; BUT, I HAD EXPECTED AN INCREASE IN APPETITE.

MY MOOD IS ELEVATED TODAY AND I FEEL QUITE GOOD, MOTIVATED AND PRODUCTIVE, YET DEFINITELY NOT IN A MANIC EPISODE, JUST REAL GOOD.  THIS IS ONLY DAY 5 SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE REST OF US OUT THERE?  ARE WE ALL HAPPY?

[Newfound_Joy]

Hi BigBear,  I don't know anything about diabetes so please "bear" with me.  Is that good that your blood sugar is low and you don't have to take your insulin?  If so, this could be a positive effect on your quitting smoking!

Lucky you!!  Your appetitie has decreased dramatically - WHOA!  Not for me in the early days.....I ate everything in site and told myself I would lose the weight later (which I did).  I am so happy you are feeling so good for only Day 5!!  YOU ROCK!!

I am feeling quite good today also.  No depression, slight anxiety, and the rest is all good.  I just got back from a 40 min hike outdoors in packed snow.  I looked like I was dressed for Antartica as it was only 10 degrees.  But the sunshine ALWAYS makes me feel so much better than being cooped up in this house.  I actually worked up a sweat in that frigid temperature.

I am making progress on PTSD treatment and intentionally pushing myself to meet every single week.  Sometimes the reactions for the next couple of days are quite intense, but I eventually release the fear associated with that particular experience.  I want to be ME and normal again!!

You continue on with your Day 5 and it's almost Day 6 to wake up to!  CONGRATS!!

[bigbear1]

HEY, I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENT.  NO IT'S NOT GOOD FOR A DIABETIC (OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER) TO HAVE LOW BLOOD SUGAR UNDER A CERTAIN LEVEL.  IT CAN ACTUALLY LEAD TO DEATH IF TOO SEVERE.  I PERSONALLY ENJOY THE FEELINGS ASSOCIATED WITTH EXTREMELY LOW BLOOD SUGAR.  THAT'S BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER PASSED OUT OR GONE INTO SEIZURES THANKS TO SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO WATH ME LIKE A HAWK.

IT'S ONLY 4* F HERE AND -12* F WINDCHILL AND WE AREN'T EVEN IN 'REAL MOUNTAINS' JUST THE FOOTHILLS; BUT, THE SUNSHINE IS BEAUTIFUL!  I HOPE BE ABLE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN IDAHO SOMEDAY.  I LOVE THE SNAKE RIVER DOWN IN WYOMING. 

ACTUALLY, I HAD PLANNED ON RELOCATING TO OR NEAR ONE OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATIONS AND OFFERING MY LIFE SKILLS WHILE I AM STILL ABLE.

I AM GLAD THAT YOU DIRECTLY  ADDRESS YOUR PTSD.  I AM WONDERING IF YOUR THERAPIST OR GROUP SEES ANY CONNECTION WITH THIS DISORDER AND SMOKING?  I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE IS A STRONG CONDITIONED REFLEXIVE CONNECTION. 

WELL THIS IS MY DAY 6 AND I REALLY FEEL GOOD.  NOT AS GOOD AS I'M GOING TO FEEL; BUT, GOOD!  I DIDN'T GET A GOOD SUGAR READING TODAY BECAUSE I FORGOT AND DRANK SOME ORANGE JUICE FIRST. 

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET SOME NEW MEMBERS AND FOR THE OTHERS TO JUMP IN WITH THEIR TOPICS; BUT, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE 2 OF US.  RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK BECAUSE THE GLARE OFF OF THE SNOW OUTSIDE HAS ME JUST ABOUT TOTALLY BLINDED.  OF COURSE I CANT SHUT THE BLIND BECAUSE THEN I CAN'T SEE THE BIRDS OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.

[kgalbreath]

I've been wondering how quitting smoking affects body chemistry. I've been having bad migraines since quitting, lots of headaches and my period was seriously late this month. 

[bigbear1]

FIRST, WELOME TO THE GROUP.  YOU ARE WELCOME AND I AM SURE ALL OF US ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.  WELL, I AM JUST GOING TO BE UPFRONT AND CONTRIBUTE THIS ON THE TARDY ISSUE.  I AM A MAN AND THOUGH THERE A FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE WHERE I SUFFERED THROUGH SOME SERIOUSLY LATE PERIODS, NICOTINE WITHDRAWAL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.  THE MIGRAINE ISSUE IS ANOTHER MEDICAL ISSUE AS WELL.

I AM HOPING SOME OF THE LADIES WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER YOU SOME REAL PRACTICAL ADVICE.  AT THIS POINT MOODY AND GUILIA HAVE BEEN OF GREAT HELP AS GAS MY BEST BUD GREEN THUMBS; BUT, GREEN THUMBS IS JUST ANOTHER MAN LIKE ME (EXCEPT HE HAS BEEN FREE OF NICOTINE A LOT LONGER THAN MY 6 DAYS)!  I'M AM NOT MAKING LIGHT OF YOUR ISSUES.  THE POINT IS THAT WE ALL WANT TO HELP AND SOME TIMES IN CASES LIKE THIS, US MEN CAN ONLY GIVE MORAL SUPPORT!  HANG IN THERE AND PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU ARE FEELING!

[constanceclum]

I want to join this group as I am Bipolar. My quit dat is 1/28. Connie