Hi to all, I was wondering how many of you here are/were smokers and how many of you succeeded to quit after SAH/intervention/detection. We all know smoking is a risk factor, I’d love to hear your experiences on this, as I’m struggling to quit myself
I was lucky that way…after 30 days in ICU I left smoke free and haven’t had a breakdown. After every thing I went through that was the 2nd good thing, the first was I SURVED.
Good luck and will keep you in my thoughts…
Someone wrote a discussion on this a couple of years ago...and wow...it got a lot of responses and hits...I smoked about 20 years...quit at the age of 38 years old...and my 2 brain aneurysm's found at the age of 46 years old...and I turn the big 50 next week...whoop whoop...~ wishing you a restful and healing weekend ~ Colleen
Hate to admit it but I am still smoking. I know it is the wrong thing to do, and I really need to quit. I just haven’t gotten there yet. I bought the e-cig, but have only used it when I can’t smoke (plane, work, car ride w kids…) now I have to get in the frame of mind to replace it. But then I think that really isn’t quitting it’s just replacing and is it any better??? Bottom line I need to quit… Smokers are now the outcast. Good luck to you !
At least if you can try to reduce the number of cigarettes it would already be beneficial. That’s what the doc said. He also told me that prior to surgery/intervention, it’sharder to quit. But we really should afterwards… It actually helps aneurysms grow… I’m trying to smoke just one every few days. So far it’s working - two weeks… I hope i’ll be able to quit entirely.
Good luck - I finally quit for good two years after my surgery (fortunately, for me, the annie was caught before it ruptured). I would quit for a few days, a week, then smoke again. At times I only smoked 2-3 a day, then back up to 6. During the winter months, I thought it would be easier to quit since I don't smoke inside the house, but no.....
I had tried the patch in the past, but that didn't help and I had a hard time with the patches not staying in place. I asked my doctor for special accommodation for the nicotine aerosol, but my insurance would only allow Nicotrol, which is a nose spray. That got me over the hump, although I used it for about 5 months before I quit it cold turkey (I thought I was then addicted to the spray). It only took me a few days to get over using Nicotrol. I think the 5 months really helped me to get over the habit of smoking, which, to me, was as hard as the nicotine addiction to quell. For anyone using Nicotrol for the first time, it really stings your nose at first. After a few days, you get used to it and it is no longer uncomfortable.
Good luck - I know how hard it is. I still want one on occasion, but I know I can't have JUST one...
I forgot to say, my doctor gave me a book that really helped also. It's written by a local doctor where I live called "Can't Quit? Bullsh*t! You Can Stop Smoking". It's really good and non-preachy with good advice. I also tried Chantrix - hated it and the side effects. I only lasted a few days with that - that was prior annie, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is not advisable for survivors.
Sherri
My last cigarette was while I was waiting for the ambulance. 16 days in the hospital, being sedated some of the time, seemed to get me past the withdrawal stage. When I returned home, my neighbor had graciously smoked all the cigs he could find in my house and car, removed all the ashtrays, and cleaned the carpets so there was NO clue that anybody had ever smoked in that house. I could not drive to go get my own, and had enough sense not to ask anybody to go for me. :) By the time I could drive, I was too intimidated to go get cigs and light up or have the smell in the house or car. It has been over 5 years, but not a day goes by that I don't want a cigarette. My neurosurgeon suggested that the aneurysms were a result of many years of smoking. THAT got my attention!
I was a smoker from 16 yrs old until my aneurysm ruptured 6 weeks ago(I am 40). When the doc told me in ICU "No more smoking!", I pleaded for ONE more, lol. I was in the hospital for 11 days, and when I came home I did fine for the first couple weeks as all I did was lay around and couldn't drive. The last few weeks though I have been thinking about it alot. It's been 6 weeks now. I will never pick up an actual cigarette again for the sake of my 7 yr old son and my second chance at life.
My doctor did say it was OK to use an Ecig with 0mg nicotine. I know it's not the same, but better than nothing. It's hard!!! I hear ya!!!
Hello Tania:
I used to smoke a lot - almost 3 packs a day sometimes, but I quit long before I was diagnosed with brain aneurysm. I stopped in 2002 just like that because I was coughing a lot and often got suffocated. But \I suspect my aneurysm was there on 2003 because they did a simple radiology on me and the doctor saw a small bump in my brain. She wanted me to have a follow up but I didn't do it, not understanding what she expected. In france, doctors, treat you like stupid children.
So what about you ? I am not sure I understood if you have aneurysm ? Good luck
Michele
I smoked 20 per day for 35 years before my aneurysm ruptured in June 2014. After having my aneurysm coiled and coming home from hospital I didn't smoke for the first 2 months then started 2 or 3 ultra light cigarettes per day for about a month before stopping for good (so far!). Unfortunately for me I loved smoking and really miss it, only the fear of having another rupture or bleed keeps me off them.
I know the feeling. Some of me loved smoking, while other parts hated it. I do not dare smoke a cigarette again because I know it could suck me back in to the habit. I actually like to occassionally smell smoke from someone else's cigarette. At first they think I am going to yell at them or bum one, then they smile when I say I only want to smell it.
I have a different reason now - because of being extremely short breathed after my coiling/stent, I have had massive tests over the past few years of my respiratory system. I was told that I was just starting the beginning stages of emphysema, though I did not have any symptoms besides being short of breathe.
Good luck on your continued abstinence from smoking - it was the toughest thing I have ever done.
Take care, Sherri
TTiger said:
I smoked 20 per day for 35 years before my aneurysm ruptured in June 2014. After having my aneurysm coiled and coming home from hospital I didn't smoke for the first 2 months then started 2 or 3 ultra light cigarettes per day for about a month before stopping for good (so far!). Unfortunately for me I loved smoking and really miss it, only the fear of having another rupture or bleed keeps me off them.
I too smoked heavily from the age of 16 to about 50 years old. Clipping of 10mm unruptured annie done 3 months ago when I was 56. Hardest thing I ever did was quite smoking but so worth it. I am so glad I didn't have to quit after finding out about needing brain surgery....that would make anyone nervous and make quitting ALOT harder! Smoking and high blood pressure are big No No's!!!!
I am also struggling very much with smoking and I know I should not be. There is a person in my life that smokes and i find that when I am bored or worried i smoke. I joined a group to help me and I know I need support as it is not good i have three unruptured aneruysms that are too small to coil or clip and I know what my Neurosurgeon said to Me. I know I need to get off these cigarettes and I can not take any of the pill medication to help quit. so the only option i have is to try the patch i am trying to reduce the amount i smoke and i need to try harder.
Hi Heather
Yes you should try your hardest to quit because the current thinking is that smoking makes aneurysms grow faster and more likely to rupture and you don't want that to happen as anyone who has survived a rupture will tell you! Try thinking of the money you save and buy yourself a treat at the end of each week or month. Keep trying and good luck!
heather said:
I am also struggling very much with smoking and I know I should not be. There is a person in my life that smokes and i find that when I am bored or worried i smoke. I joined a group to help me and I know I need support as it is not good i have three unruptured aneruysms that are too small to coil or clip and I know what my Neurosurgeon said to Me. I know I need to get off these cigarettes and I can not take any of the pill medication to help quit. so the only option i have is to try the patch i am trying to reduce the amount i smoke and i need to try harder.
Heather, I, too struggled really hard to quit for years, even after my two unruptured annies were fixed. Like you, I couldn't take the meds either because of side effects and the patches never really helped very much on me. My doctor tried to get me the nicotine inhaler through my drug insurance, but they would only approve Nicotrol NS - the nose spray. It worked really well. I would have occasional breakthroughs, but always stopped shortly. The nose spray is used in each nostril once an hour (sometimes I would use more!!). I used it for 4-5 months after I had quit smoking for good, scared that I might have a hard time stopping the spray, but I didn't. It does sting your nose for the first day or two, then that goes away completely. Prior authorization is needed, at least with my insurance, but it worked so well.
I would recommend if you can't get your insurance to approve Nicotrol NS to try to get a discount or free from Pfizer. Good luck, I know it is very hard!
heather said:
I am also struggling very much with smoking and I know I should not be. There is a person in my life that smokes and i find that when I am bored or worried i smoke. I joined a group to help me and I know I need support as it is not good i have three unruptured aneruysms that are too small to coil or clip and I know what my Neurosurgeon said to Me. I know I need to get off these cigarettes and I can not take any of the pill medication to help quit. so the only option i have is to try the patch i am trying to reduce the amount i smoke and i need to try harder.