Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Helen, I used to smoke too, and tried everything to quit, but the stress was always stronger than my desire to stop. Then my DH read on the Internet somewhere that oxygen helps people quit smoking, along with brain rehab after a stroke or injury, and other things. He used 2 Liters of oxygen himself at the time, so I went Cold Turkey. Every time I had a craving, I used his oxygen, and I conked right to sleep. It took 2 weeks of doing this periodically, and I never had any more cravings, I was free of nicotine! I know I can never pick up another cigarette, like a dry alcoholic can never have another drink. DH had a "pulse oximeter" he put on my finger, and monitored my oxygen saturation, and it stayed the same, 97, regardless of whether I had on the oxygen, or I did not. So no harm was done, only good. But check with your doc. Ours ok-ed it, as long as it was monitored and he was kept advised, we did.Previous tries were a Rx tranquilizer, no, an anti-depressant used to stop smoking: Buproprion/Wellbutrin Rx (gave me migraines) no, patches, no, gum, no, they were horrible. Nothing helped except the oxygen, it was a miracle. My DH did not and has not ever smoked, so he put up with it for years.I wasn't highly motivated, either. It just worked! A hint for you to consider and discuss with your doc. It is Rx. But temporary! Rather unusual, I'll admit.I must agree with B, I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, perfume or perfumed soap or deodorant or any scent people use in the doctor's office, will set me off. A good time to try to quit again. I smoked for 25 years, after a huge tornado blew away my dream house and 5 cars -- but family okay, had to go back to teaching one week after! Had to go next day to buy clothes. That's when I started, figured I couldn't teach drunk, so smoking was my choice. HA HA. Cannot tell you how traumatic that experience was.It is VERY TOXIC, Helen, but you know that. Good luck with your appointment. Keep us posted as to what you did, and what happened, etc. I feel for you.Vicki KAs far as the smoking, you should really shower and put on clean clothes after you smoke and before you come to the appt. And, I would recommend you keep the clothes you might wear to the appt in a plastic bag after you take them out of the dryer since you smoke in your home. I am one of Dr. Spurlock's patients and I am very sensitive to third hand smoke - it can trigger an asthma attack for some of us. I also know that I am not as sensitive as some of the other EHC patients, so while my recommendations might seem overboard, I know that there are many of the patients that will appreciate it. B. Thanks for the info. I guess I got lucky because I called just as they had a cancellation for the following week. Guess I can call Monday and set up a followup appt. and then keep calling back to try to find a cancellation close to when my labs should be ready.My main goal at this point is to be sure it's my hormones and not thyroid and/or adrenals that is causing my jitteriness. However, the longer I'm off the bioidentical hormones, the better I feel. One thing I'm concerned about is the "no scent" policy. I can always buy unscented soap, etc. But I am a smoker and I'm still going to smell like smoke when I walk in as I smoke in my house and my car. Not the nicest of habits I know. Quitting was on my "to do" list until all heck broke with my health last summer.Helen> >> > I take it it's hard to get a followup appt. with Dr. Spurlock in a> timely manner so you can find out what your lab results are? How do you> guys handle that? I know from experience, waiting for lab results can be> really hard!> >> > Helen> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Okay, what is DH? There's no way I can not smoke before I go in. Guess I can drive to Dallas with the windows down. Then I'll smell like sweat in this heat! Interesting about the oxygen. Have never heard about that. Really want to stay away from the drugs, except for possibly trying the gum. I have the desire to quit and have cut back some (not enough), just want the jitters to go away first before I make a concerted effort. Helen > > > > > > I take it it's hard to get a followup appt. with Dr. Spurlock in a > > timely manner so you can find out what your lab results are? How do you > > guys handle that? I know from experience, waiting for lab results can be > > really hard! > > > > > > Helen > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Helen, DH is computer=speak for "Dear Hubby". DD is "Darling Daughter" . SIL is "Sister In Law", it's just relationship initials. I was wondering about driving with the windows down and chewing strong regular gum (Eclipse, Dentine) before you go in, or use a mouth spray. Or use those and just admit you smoke, it's a question on that paper the docs usually give new patients anyway! I got a lecture every time, but I am so nervous and anxious (have been all my life), smoking calmed me down so much, I could cope with my life so much better, and I did not want to quit, is what I told the doctor very gently.My major illnesses started after I quit, so I wonder if smoking kept the stress at bay, hence the major illnesses could not jump on me through a lowered immune system due to stress if I didn't smoke. I think about that a lot. Cigarettes are cheaper than all these meds I take and deductibles. Price is why I quit in the first place, however.Ask your doc "What do you think about trying some oxygen for awhile, I heard that helped a friend, I don't want to use any drugs," esp if he/she wants you to quit big time. Or maybe this new doc will after you get to know them. ??I tried the "quit 1 cigarette per week" method once, until I got down to 5 per day, and I could NOT give those 5 up, no matter how hard I tried, and I wanted more constantly, it was torture. I read somewhere if you smoke less than 10 per day, your body can get rid of the toxins. But I don't know for sure.Vicki KOkay, what is DH?There's no way I can not smoke before I go in. Guess I can drive to Dallas with the windows down. Then I'll smell like sweat in this heat! Interesting about the oxygen. Have never heard about that. Really want to stay away from the drugs, except for possibly trying the gum. I have the desire to quit and have cut back some (not enough), just want the jitters to go away first before I make a concerted effort. Helen------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Just an idea, but to help out the other patients who might be in the waiting room who are very sensitive, you might go early and take a change of clothes, a washcloth, towel, and unscented soap. You could stop by the ladies room and wash your exposed skin such as arms, hands, neck, legs, if you are in shorts, etc. to get rid of the smoke smell. (Better if you use unscented soaps and no perfumes or hair sprays before you leave home). Maybe take a scarf or some kind of hair covering to put on before you walk in the office. Cigarette smoke really clings to hair. It might cut down a lot of the smell. The waiting area is like a " clean room, " and not that big, so all that you can do to reduce toxic scents would really help. When I was more ill, and my husband would come home from playing golf, he would walk past me in the den and the cloud of tobacco smoke and sweat would make me nearly retch. It is powerful when you don't feel well, let alone have extreme sensitivities. Sara DH = Dear Husband > > There's no way I can not smoke before I go in. Guess I can drive to Dallas with the windows down. Then I'll smell like sweat in this heat! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Dr Spurlock’s office has an outside waiting area near the elevators, which I prefer. It’s quieter. I find his waiting room to be annoying with the echoes and the high pitched beeping of his doors. Not to to mention that the waiting area is very unfriendly looking. I check in and tell them I’m just outside the door in the hallway. I prefer it that way. And I keep my cell phone on until I go inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 DH sounds like Dear Husband . BettyTo: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2011 9:28 PMSubject: Re: Dr. Spurlock/smokingOkay, what is DH?There's no way I can not smoke before I go in. Guess I can drive to Dallas with the windows down. Then I'll smell like sweat in this heat! Interesting about the oxygen. Have never heard about that. Really want to stay away from the drugs, except for possibly trying the gum. I have the desire to quit and have cut back some (not enough), just want the jitters to go away first before I make a concerted effort. Helen> > >> > > I take it it's hard to get a followup appt. with Dr. Spurlock in a> > timely manner so you can find out what your lab results are? How do you> > guys handle that? I know from experience, waiting for lab results can be> > really hard!> > >> > > Helen> > >> >>------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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