Need support

Discussion created by nonsgm on Jul 19, 2017
Latest reply on Jul 20, 2017 by donpauli

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Haven't been on here since May when I was so tired of fighting to not smoke after 5months But I'm happy to report I tried one and didn't like it it did nothing for me so I slapped a 7mg patch on Now going on the 7 month and the acid reflux is at its worst caused by allergies they say that cause the inflamation Meds not working, so hard to eat I never realized how much the brain and the stomach are related so causing a lot of panic and how did I deal with a panic feeling before ? With cigarettes !! Now fighting the urge for a month now all day everyday ! Any one else have this problem ? All help appreciated Thank you

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Mark Jul 19, 2017 3:03 PM
Welcome to the community. I'm sure several people will be along shortly to respond.

Mark
EX Community Manager
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nonsgm Jul 19, 2017 3:15 PM
Thank you Mark!
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jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 Jul 19, 2017 4:22 PM
Listen to Nancy, she'll be right along.
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- jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 on Jul 19, 2017 4:23 PM
  What meds are the giving you for the reflux?
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  - jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 on Jul 19, 2017 4:46 PM
    Eat your heaviest meal in the late morning when you will be upright and active.
    I get up at three so I usually have coffee at 3:30 after I've taken my Omeprazole and waited 30 minutes. A small croissant an hour later
    At 10 I take all my meds before having my heaviest meal. It could be a steak or whatever meat but make it your heavy meal of the day.
    2:30 I take my second Omeprazole
    3pm is usually my last meal of the day. That way I'm not laying down on a full stomach too early.
    Raise the head of your bed as much as possible with bricks or books or buy leg risers.
    If possible, sleep on your left side. The valve that lets the stomach acid back up into your esophagus is on the right side so when you sleep on your right side the acid is almost guaranteed to back up.
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  - nonsgm @ jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 on Jul 19, 2017 5:23 PM
    dexilant and a natural one called 360 acid reducer
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    - jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ nonsgm on Jul 19, 2017 5:35 PM
      I'm not personally familiar with either of those.
      I believe omeprazole is the generic for prilosec.
      The normal dose is 20mg a day.
      They have me taking 4x's that much a day.
      Ask them to adjust your meds?
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Chuck_Quit_2-20-2011 Jul 19, 2017 4:23 PM
First off, CONGRATULATIONS on five months of freedom!! That is indeed an accomplishment! For me, I knew that stress and anxiety was a trigger. It was something I worked on before my quit. The thing is that you're telling yourself that the cigarette is the only way to deal with stress. Often in a quit, we discover that the fight is not so much with addiction as it is a fight to accept change.

When the mind uses the same thing over and over again to create a given result, we can get kind of stuck. For me, I found visualization to be key to changing my thought patterns. I simply closed my eyes and created a scene with my mind, down to the most minute detail. When I'd open my eyes, I'd feel better.

It doesn't have to be that technique but the idea is to distract yourself from the crave. Lot's of people do deep breathing, or go for walks but your situation is kind of unique since your stress is coming from bodily discomfort, so in a way the trigger is always with you.

Eventually you will disassociate the stress from the trigger, simply by practice. The main thing is that you continue to do the incredible job you're doing and stay quit! Please come by often! We're here to help. And as Mark said, they'll be plenty of people along shortly to offer their own perspectives.

In the mean time, ti's a pleasure to meet you!

ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!

Chuck
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Youngatheart.7.4.12 Jul 19, 2017 4:25 PM
Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking! Perhaps you are thinking about smoking all the time because you have been trying to white knuckle through the quit. There are easier ways to do this ---- please do the reading so you understand what is going on. As far as the stomach issues, smoking DOES aid digestion and it will take a bit for your body to adjust to live without it. There are hints on how to eat to prevent the reflux. Others with better knowledge than I should address that.

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmokingonline.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.

You need to distract yourself through any craves. You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time. You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?" Then DO it. You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy
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maryfreecig Jul 19, 2017 4:29 PM
nonsgm, welcome. Going it alone is not the easiest way to come to terms with quitting. You were here in may, now back, facing the same struggle of wanting a smoke. Here at Ex you can relearn your life, but like other helping groups, it's about participation. Share your journey by blogging, go to and read the suggested links that others will offer up. Talk. Get stuff off your chest. Stick around, you will find folks with stories like yours, some not at all like yours but still with something to offer. Connect and stay connected.

You have an amazing desire to quit for you haven't smoke (though struggling) and you came here presumably because you want to stay quit and the struggle just isn't working anymore. Good decision. Work it. Yes you can get beyond the daily struggle.
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nonsgm Jul 19, 2017 5:39 PM
Thank you for all the suggestions I've always ate really healthly and I'm following everything on here that was mention except eating the steak! or the lemon LOL Really a very trying and confusing time right now up until 3 weeks ago I was doing well no problems or white knuckling it thought I had it !! I also knew I should (at least in the back of mind that I should be on here) but it was so overwelming at the time Not in a very good place right now caved today bad
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- jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ nonsgm on Jul 19, 2017 5:45 PM
  So Start Over?
  "You can't have a quit day in May if you smoked today."
  Stay Close.
  Remember, smoking weakens the valve between your stomach and esophagus.
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nonsgm Jul 19, 2017 5:50 PM
Then the allergies started and the stomach and then the panic all day and I also have low blood sugar so I need to eat and sleep can't do any of those things with my stomach the way it is despite doing everything right very flustraing and I know no justfying or excuses I have read Allen Carrs book at least 10times wanted to do his seminer in New York where my daughter lives but it is $450 dollars wow !
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- jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ nonsgm on Jul 19, 2017 5:55 PM
  Try some yoghurt. I find if I am still hungry before bed (I am diabetic too) yogurt does not make me push so much acid and make me reflux. I got an invite to go to my cousins Mexican restaurant tonight at 6. HA HA HA HA HA
  I would be up all night.
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  - nonsgm @ jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 on Jul 19, 2017 7:26 PM
    Yogurt would be great but unfortunately allergic to all dairy not good for acid reflux anyway so Mexican ? LOL I can totally relate ! Thank you everyone for ALL your help and lending an ear! You are the kindest, nicest people !
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    - jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ nonsgm on Jul 19, 2017 7:33 PM
      The Definitive Ranking of Non-Dairy Yogurt Brands
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    - elvan @ nonsgm on Jul 19, 2017 7:43 PM
      There you go, you're back on.
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- jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ nonsgm on Jul 19, 2017 5:58 PM
  You don't need to take Alan Carr's course. He has videos on youtube.
  
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elvan Jul 19, 2017 6:18 PM
nonsgm Wow, I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. There are all kinds of theories on the best diets and treatments for acid reflux. It really sounds to me like you need to see someone for another evaluation. Smoking is not only not the answer, it is a contributor to acid reflux. Sleeping with the head of the bed elevated is supposed to help, not eating after 8:00 at night is supposed to help, there are some theories that say it is best to avoid dairy products, they used to advise the opposite of that. I can tell you that quitting smoking is not something that is done well alone. You need support and education and you need day to day connections. I have not smoked in 3 1/2 years and if it wasn't for this site, I am certain that I would have fallen back on smoking. Smoking fixes NOTHING, it does all kinds of harm to your body and to your emotional and psychological well being. I came here every single morning and every evening at the beginning of my quit and I still do for the most part. This is a journey, it is not an event and it is not a journey you can take breaks from...you can't take a little vacation and go smoke and then come back and keep going. If you quit smoking and you are still smoking, you are doing it wrong. Everyone of us has been where you are in one way or another, some had different health problems, some had different issues with anxiety and life...we all learn that smoking is not the answer.

I believe that if you come here every day and read blogs, pledge not to smoke, ride the freedom train, blog about what is happening in your life, you will be stunned at the support you will get from people of all ages in all different parts of the world. We all want you to succeed, we do not want smoking to do more damage to you, we want you to experience freedom. Many of us have experienced serious health issues and scares...it has been through the support we got from each other that we got through. As a retired RN, if I was having issues with a medication, I would contact the prescribing physician and if I was not happy, I would tell him or her that I need a second opinion. There is nothing WRONG with asking for a second opinion or other diagnostic testing to determine exactly what is going on and why you are having so many problems.

We are here...please don't hesitate to let us know if you need us.
Ellen
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- nonsgm @ elvan on Jul 19, 2017 7:49 PM
  Thank you for sharing Ellen! All your words ring so true and are right on! I have another Drs appt . tomorrow I have had the same health issues from May- Sept before so we shall see but its been 4years since the last one and no allergy meds 6years since I've been sick with anything . If I've learned anything today it is that I need to take the time to connect with people who have been through the journey and understand it so well And you can never stop learning even tho you think you've read and seen it all!!
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Daniela-3-11-2016 Jul 19, 2017 10:43 PM
nonsgm, hi, I have acid reflux too, maybe lucky 20mg/day Omeprazole are taking care of it. But now I don't really know what to do: the former family Dr tells me Prilosec (generic is Omeprazole) is hard on the liver, the Naturopathic Dr tells me Xanax (which I take for sleep) is hard on the liver, and I have fatty liver and mild cirrhosis, and last week I went to see a Liver specialist who made a list of all the supplements the Naturopathic Dr prescribed as being toxic on the Liver This is no joke you guys, I have to make my own decisions, since they can't agree! I hope your appointment will go well and will bring you some relief, keep my fingers crossed, here is a smile!
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- jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 @ Daniela-3-11-2016 on Jul 19, 2017 10:50 PM
  I'm sorry there is a conflict with your healers. I heard that the Omeprazole causes problems with bones, like mainly the pelvis and hips if you take it for an extended period of time. I've been taking 4 times the normal dosage for 4 years and I mentioned it to my pharmacist and he said the reflux was being controlled and that was more important as a risk factor.
  I think everything has a side effect nowadays. :-(
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Christophina Jul 20, 2017 7:14 AM
Hello nonsgm
After a whole lot of suffering and a few packs of Omeprezole I changed my diet.
I concentrate on eating lots of alkaline foods. That way I can enjoy acid forming foods in moderation.
There is a ton of information about which foods are alkaline forming and which ones are acid forming on the net and in library books.
It means being very strict with yourself until you get the balance back in your tummy. This in turn will make your brain calmer, happier and more able to dismiss craves.
(These days if my tummy hints at acid reflux I mix a teaspoon of lemon juice in warm water and check what I have been eating. Lemon might be an acid fruit but it has an alkalising effect on stomach acid.)
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Thomas3.20.2010 Jul 20, 2017 7:30 AM
You certainly do need support! We have a large Community that can help you when you reach out so Thank You for reaching out! For Example I have GERD but it is mild compared to Dale. What I do know only too well is anxiety! It's absolutely petrifying! But what I have learned is that Smoking Cessation not only relieved my GERD it helped my Anxiety and Depression as well!
I use techniques like yoga breathing, muscle scans, Mindfulness Meditation, and even little tricks like popping a mint, tying a reminder around my wrist, and calling out (in my mind) 5 blue things, 4 sounds, 3 feelings, 2 smells, 1 taste. These are all things I heard about before I quit but never bothered - after all, I could go smoke instead!
.....until I was diagnosed with COPD - now, that caused stress!
My advice is no matter what find a way to quit and you'll be surprised how much better your GERD has become, you anxiety, and many other stressors in your life!
Smokers have a 70 per cent increased risk of anxiety and depression when compared to non-smokers.
Here's something to think about:
"Reasons" and Consequences
Don't make things worse by smoking, Please! Smoking isn't helping any of your problems! It's making them worse!
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- donpauli @ Thomas3.20.2010 on Jul 20, 2017 11:49 AM
  We've all had problems to one degree or another. I added a positive addiction; walking. I walk at least a half an hour a day and most days longer. Helps with heartburn for sure and effects last a long time. I'm also thinking about what route I want to take, if I should take the dog and fill my thoughts with positive things.
  Someone reminded me yesterday not to sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff in the grand scheme of things.
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