Ok. I just started hormones and the doc says I have to quit smoking. I want to quit but that is tantamount to cutting of a limb. Smoking is about the only thing that keeps me sane. Every time I try the nicotine withdrawal stresses me out to the point of panic attacks. Help me out girls. Please...
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Smoking seriously decreases the effectiveness of HRT and increases your chance of deep vein thrombosis. Quit smoking. it ruins your skin and gives you cancer. Try Champix/Chantix. Its a miracle drug. You don't even have to stop when you take it, you keep smoking for the first two weeks you're on it but, it works by blocking the nicotine receptors in your brain. By the end of the two weeks, the cigarettes just make you feel ill. Yes it has some side effects, and not everyone can take it but, its better than cancer. You can give up smoking, you can't give up cancer.
(yes, I realise my avatar is a cartoon lady smoking a cigarette, the irony isn't lost on me but..... lets just ignore that :)
Also, here's some research, so you know I'm not blowing smoke up your ass.... see what I did there?
QuoteBased on the preponderance of evidence, smokers are likely to require higher doses of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to achieve comparable clinical effect to that observed in nonsmokers. However, uptitrating the dose of HRT in smokers to achieve a desired systemic level or clinical response may simultaneously increase risk for adverse effects that are primarily driven by hepatic rather than systemic exposure.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15638743
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14973414
The health problems that can arise from smoking can be exacerbated by HRT (and vice versa). Clotting is common (in which case you could could potentially lose a limb for real) so please consider finding a way to quit.
When I was still working for the adult mental health service I used to smoke like a chimney so I know how hard it can be to give up. The advice I used to give clients was that trying to give up smoking when going through a stressful situation was likely to be doomed to failure, so I would talk to them about harm reduction by trying to cut down on the number of cigarettes they smoked in a day. A simple but effective method is to tell yourself, 'In a minute,' whenever you get the urge to smoke. Because you're not telling yourself, 'No', you're mentally able to accept the idea of waiting for a little while. Keeping occupied with something to do while telling yourself, 'In a minute', helps a lot too. Over time you'll find that you'll be able to manage for an increasingly longer period of time without smoking.
I will still sometimes smoke a cigarette, but at least I'm not smoking 30 or so a day like I used to. I tried nicotine patches, but found them too good in that I felt I was likely to change over to being addicted to patches instead of smoking so I flagged them away.
Check with your doctor before using anything like Champix though because it can interfere with other medications and it doesn't suit everyone depending on what other medical conditions you might have.
it's hard, very hard to quit. I quit before my surgery and then a few weeks later I picked it back up again *sigh*. Maybe try a vaporizer and slowly decrease the nicotine level of the e-juice over time. That's what I did the first 3 times I quit and it did help. I think what makes it harder for me is that I have family members living with me that smoke. So they are easily available for me to grab.
Chantix was a prescription I was given a few years ago by my old doctor. I ended up never taking it because I heard horror stories about it making you go completely nuts and causing you to have a short temper with everything. I was not ready for that considering I already have anxiety and get moody as it is. Check out Vaporfi they have different options for vaporizers and they have some pretty delicious flavors. They also have tobacco flavors when you need to feel like you are getting a fix from a cigarette. I personally enjoy fruity flavors :P.
Vaporizers are definitely not healthier for you but they are a better option than real cigarettes.
I used Chantix and degreased the nicotine (regular to light to ultra light). I had vivid dreams (not good) and I felt sicker and sicker as time went. I finally just stopped. That was 7 years ago.
My PA-C made me promise I would not smoke, drink or take drugs in order to be on the dose of E I am on.
I am so glad I stopped smoking. I am up to 28 flights of stairs (7 flights at 0500 and 21 flights at 0900) Monday through Friday. My time is 7 minutes 34 seconds for the 21 flights. My goal is 21 flights twice a day this coming week. Think I could do that smoking?
Mine said quit and I'll give you hormones, but that's not very helpful.
Do you take something for the panic attacks?
From what I recall quitting smoking was only horrible for about 48 hours then it tapered off and things were fine. I haven't smoked for 13 years. I do miss it though.
My neighbor smokes but only outside. Because of the voice surgery, when she lights up I have to move out of range for healing and coughing reasons. Right now, second hand smoke is enough to cause me problems. She was debating getting a smart phone which would add $20/month to her phone plan so I did the math and found she was going through $100/month in cigarettes. I still can't get her to quit but she knows the numbers.
My quit day will be Thursday. My day off. Going to the doc tomorrow to get some ativan to help with panic attacks. Just enough for the 48 hours. Also going to get a vaporizor with 0 nicotine content to suck on for the oral fixation. I'm going to do this. Tired of being broke, smelling like an ashtray and being a slave to this addiction. I thanks, ladies :)
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I started smoking when I was 8. When I was 12, a friend of my older brother noticed that I wasn't inhaling. He taught me how to inhale. That was in 1959. Have tried to quit a few times with no success. Have never smoked more than a pack a day, but that was when I used alcohol & you could smoke everywhere. I have cut back to about 1/2 pack a day. And I know that I have to quit. (especially because of the hormone therapy). Even after smoking for 55 yrs. I don't think that I am addicted so much to the nicotine because I have stopped several times for about a week without any problems. I think my biggest problem is the habit. One or two in the morning with coffee, when I get into the car, before and after I go into a restaurant or a meeting. I'm going to have to quit B4 my surgery, I know that. I'm going to try to gradually reduce over the next few months.
Also, you can't get FFS, SRS, or any other feminization surgery if you smoke.
Quote from: Joi on August 09, 2015, 02:24:43 PM
I started smoking when I was 8. When I was 12, a friend of my older brother noticed that I wasn't inhaling. He taught me how to inhale. That was in 1959. Have tried to quit a few times with no success. Have never smoked more than a pack a day, but that was when I used alcohol & you could smoke everywhere. I have cut back to about 1/2 pack a day. And I know that I have to quit. (especially because of the hormone therapy). Even after smoking for 55 yrs. I don't think that I am addicted so much to the nicotine because I have stopped several times for about a week without any problems. I think my biggest problem is the habit. One or two in the morning with coffee, when I get into the car, before and after I go into a restaurant or a meeting. I'm going to have to quit B4 my surgery, I know that. I'm going to try to gradually reduce over the next few months.
I was the same way. I was never addicted to nicotine, I was just addicted to my habits because I had a rough time. I stopped several times for weeks or more without a problem, but I still wanted to smoke.
I ultimately stopped smoking early this year because I didn't need that habit as much, I hated smelling smoked and I refused to taste like an ashtray to my boyfriend - though he wouldn't have minded either way.
I don't know when I quit, I just stopped smoking.
My tip is to find something that occupies your time; and your hands! Do something creative or cook etc., discover a new hobby :)
Rose: Thx for your post. Yep! It's all about diversion away from the triggers: as in after meals, before bed, etc. & willpower. Fortunately, I haven't had any health issues associated with smoking "yet" ! If I am going to enjoy my new life (for long) after GRS I better get my ->-bleeped-<- together.
Hugz,
Joi
I am stubborn as anything and well 100% Irish so I am the sort that has to prove a point when challenged. Two year ago the doctor said drop weight, quit smoking o do not ask me again for a referral. I walked out threw them in the bin. It has been two years and I have not lit up once.
It is all will power and refusing to be controlled by anyone or anything no matter what!!
<See very stubborn heh>
I am a light smoker, about 4 a day.. smoking was a habit I picked up during my transition. To me to see a woman smoke looked extremely sexy, I dunno why.. Then when I began transitioning and started becoming a woman, I wanted to try. My roommate smokes so getting smokes was not an issue.
I don't think my light smoking affected my transition.
My 4 a day.. one with my morning coffee, when I get home from work, after dinner and maybe before i go to bed. I rarely smoke at work.. I don't get craving to smoke at work, properly because I am busy. I am not like the smokers at work that run for a smoke every hour.
I think I am addicted, as I do get cravings if I don't have my morning smoke for example.
I used to smoke but gave up 30 years ago...
My kids harassed me, thank god, but having said that I tried many times... best thing I ever did... but was hard yards, missed smoking when driving and indulging in alcoholic beverages... or so I thought....
I agree with many here, I am glad that I stopped for health, social and later HRT reasons ;D
However I smoked for 15 ~ years, lines above and below lips as a bad reminder...
Katy xx
I have 2 friends, one of which is transgender, that have switched to e-cigarettes. I believe the girl that is trans did it for this very reason. I have no idea if they are trying to quit, but they aren't nearly as bad. One of them told me it took time to get used to it and was nothing like smoking a cigarette but in the end is a suitable replacement and a lot cheaper. She could tell the difference though. It also doesn't bother me. I hate cigarettes because they smell so nasty. E-cigs aren't that bad. My other friend vapes during PFLAG meetings which is in a small room and its never bothered me at all.
Quote from: Sarah leah on August 10, 2015, 05:30:44 AM
I am stubborn as anything and well 100% Irish so I am the sort that has to prove a point when challenged. Two year ago the doctor said drop weight, quit smoking o do not ask me again for a referral. I walked out threw them in the bin. It has been two years and I have not lit up once.
It is all will power and refusing to be controlled by anyone or anything no matter what!!
<See very stubborn heh>
Your post set me thinking Sarah and helped me to make up my mind to quit completely. So thank you :icon_bunch:
I smoke due to high volumes of stress. Once I am able to get my life in order, I will have no reason to smoke, though I do get cravings especially when I stop for a day or two.
I had a visitor decide to "vape" in my hospital room. I told her that there should be no smoking of any kind in my room. She told me this was vaping and therefore safe and I said I did not care - my room, my rules. She looked really offended and huffed for the rest of the visit
The simple fact is that we all know of overwhelming proof that smoking damages you. Never mind cancer, damage to skin veins and circulation is known beyond any level of doubt.
Thise of us who are MTF depend on good skin to help us look more feminine. Both MTF anf FTM depend on good circulation to get hormones round our bodies and we need efficient blood supply to help us recover from surgery.
I know it is addictive and incredibly hard to give up but smoking is not your friend. All it will do is reduce the money for surgery because you burn that money every time you light up.
I was lucky. I grew up in a family of smokers and I was so fed up coughing, wheezing and stinking of ciggies that I swore I would never start.
When my therapist warned me that I wouldn't get HRT prescribed if I was a smoker, I quit. It was harder than quitting my previous amphetamine addiction, but I did it the same way - cold turkey.
I think at the end of the day it is a choice of do I want this bad enough or will I allow one thing to control the rest of my life. It is hard to quit honestly I was rude, grumpy and honestly a total bitch to everyone for a week.
When I woke the first thing I did for a month straight was read these two laminated sheets of paper I had on my bedside cupboard then picture those who said I would fail.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.sodahead.com%2Fprofiles%2F0%2F0%2F2%2F1%2F0%2F5%2F8%2F4%2F5%2FNever-Surrender-25179345044.jpeg&hash=71fa4cb7c88b20abb76468270bd8778698502a94)
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/07/42/d0/0742d088a513b9119ab1ac78f1f236d6.jpg)
They now sit above my table at work and now serve to remind me when I think of who of I was and my past regrets, they remind me who I will one day become! They teach me to defy the odds and help me inspire the kids I work with to do the same.
I think we sometime forget to challenge who we are and in doing so become lost.
However vaping is less disturbing and less harmful. Ideally no you shouldn't smoke or vape. But its a huge improvement.
Quote from: vcjhyt on August 10, 2015, 05:39:47 PM
I had a visitor decide to "vape" in my hospital room. I told her that there should be no smoking of any kind in my room. She told me this was vaping and therefore safe and I said I did not care - my room, my rules. She looked really offended and huffed for the rest of the visit
The simple fact is that we all know of overwhelming proof that smoking damages you. Never mind cancer, damage to skin veins and circulation is known beyond any level of doubt.
Thise of us who are MTF depend on good skin to help us look more feminine. Both MTF anf FTM depend on good circulation to get hormones round our bodies and we need efficient blood supply to help us recover from surgery.
I know it is addictive and incredibly hard to give up but smoking is not your friend. All it will do is reduce the money for surgery because you burn that money every time you light up.
I was lucky. I grew up in a family of smokers and I was so fed up coughing, wheezing and stinking of ciggies that I swore I would never start.