[Trying & Caring]

But I quit smoking after my 1st child was born 2 1/2 mos. premature due to my smoking while pregnant. I couldn't quit for myself but the guilt of inflicting that on her spurred me on to quit. Not easy, though. At work some guy was a jerk--so I bought a pack of cigarettes (& some booze--another problem I had) & went home & indulged & felt sorry for myself & then GOT MAD! This jerk was not going to make me addicted to smoking again. I was already really mad about the cigarettes having such control over me.

So I quit for about 15 YEARS & then fell into a deep depression & STARTED SMOKING AGAIN! The doc couldn't believe it, but he didn't know how bad depressions are. So smoked (guiltily & w/lots of shame & tried to hide it from my kids) for another 7 yrs. or so & THEN I got on Lithium after finally being dxed w/bipolar (though my mother was bipolar & that should have been a clue but didn't get dxed until I changed to an IM doc--right away she said--bipolar mixed episode--right on the money.

And as soon as the Lithium kicked in I couldn't believe how good I felt & decided to make GOOD decisions for myself--like quit smoking). I did quite smoking but ther Lithium has causded kidney damage so off that...

[Gabi925]

Thanks for sharing. How you feel now that you have started to talk?

[Christina86]

Quitting smoking is HARD FREAKING WORK. So congratulations that you've managed to control it in the past - that takes a lot of effort.

Have you thought about getting medical help and support to continue to be smoke free?

[Navygrrl]

I hope your pdoc can find a medication for you that won't damage your liver. It sucks that a lot of the medicines we have to take to keep us functioning are so detrimental in their side effects.

I've only been quit for 4 weeks, but right now what helps me is that my husband quit as well, so we are there to support each other when we're feeling antsy. So support is definitely a wonderful thing. I also try to remind myself about the progress I've made, and how I don't want to waste all that hard work. I haven't had a major depressive episode since when I first started smoking, so I don't know how I'll deal with that.

Congratulations on quitting smoking (again). I did the same exact thing: quit and after 15 years stupidly started again for 7 years. Just quit again last summer, about 5 months ago.

Quitting sure doesn't get any easier, does it? Kicking the habit this time was a lot harder than the first time. But it's great to not be smoking and to be taking care of myself (somewhat) again!

Glad you made it too! Mike PS Good luck with your liver; it's one of the major self-healing organs, and not having to filter out all the pesticides and poisons in cigarettes will help a lot, I bet --

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks for sharing