We all know that HRT and smoking are not compatible it has to be one or the other. My doctor told me that half of her MTF patient's that were smokers could not quit and chose to remain in their previous lives. Instead of a possible new life that offers hope and unleashing your inner identity to be set free and achieve things that were once thought unachievable without any dysphoria.
I'm mainly writing this for friend of mine who is wrestling with this concept but I'm sure there are many others that are in the same boat, that could benefit from anyone's experience.

Could anyone offer advice, if this is worthwhile to do and how they did it would be most appreciated by many.
I personally have never smoked so must rely on all of you that have.
  love Tatiana

My endo said that the patch is recommended for smokers. I have plans to quit once I begin hormones cold turkey.

Thanks Ginger
Best wishes for you quitting but cold turkey is pretty abrupt I hope you can do it but little by little is okay too as long as you achieve your goal.
Thanks for your reply love Tatiana

I tried all kinds of methods for quitting smoking in the past. Nothing worked but going cold turkey. I started smoking again about 3 years ago after coming out when my life imploded.

Thanks Ginger,
Your experience is highly valued I myself can't quite relate to it having never smoked but I can appreciate what you said.
Cigarettes are made to be the most addictive possible it's a way to ensure repeat business and it's probably the hardest substance to get off of. But because you beat it once cold turkey I believe you can do it again, but it is so common to hear your statement that when things go bad it's so easy to go back to smoking.
I most sincerely wish you the best and never quitting trying to quit.

Love Tatiana

When I started HRT in 1996, I was using tablets and I was told in no uncertain terms, smoking is a NO!!!  So I quit and endured the beginnings of puberty sans nicotine.  It was pretty brutal for a month or so as I also quit drinking at the same time.  Never discussed it with anyone, but they certainly figured it out in a hurry.

That time around lasted 7 months and even after I chose to stop HRT, I decided to leave those vices alone going forward and I honestly feel it has been a positive in my life.  I am not a T-Totaller, my choice to stop was for medical reasons.  As the healthy side started to become apparent, it made sense to me to just leave it alone.

When I started HRT again, my endo asked me about my habits and when I told her I had quit decades ago as I began HRT.  She asked if I was willing to quit again and when I explained I never started again, she BEAMED!

Anything that can reduce our risk factors seems like a positive step.

Thanks Kaitylynn
Your story is so very positive for many that are out here. I'm certain it's going to be very inspirational to all that read it. I'm so glad that you found it within you to leave that part of your former life behind you because it's only contrary to where you want to be in a healthy lifestyle.
  I'm so glad you didn't pick it up again along with all the health risks just think of all the money that you could use for much cooler stuff.
  Thanks again for your very inspirational response I hope it touches many others here as I'm sure it will.

Love Tatiana

I told my dr I quit smoking and asked about vaping she said it was ok. Anyone hear otherwise?


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Tatiana..One of the greatest decisions I ever made was to quit smoking. I quit cold turkey 30 years ago and the birth of my son. I didn't smoke that much but I did spend 4 1/2 hours on the LA freeways. Ninety nine miles driveway to driveway. I had my heart problems a few years later. Most people with cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure don't last five years. I have lasted at least twenty five. I think this is the number one reason.

Yup! Smoking is a no no if one expects to survive and maintain health through transitioning with HRT. They always say, "The easiest way to quit smoking is to replace the smoking with something better". For me, that is transitioning on HRT. It has been over a year since I quit smoking and I will admit, I still think the smell of cigarette smoke is like filet migono, or the best damn burger I've ever had. It's hard at first but it gets easer over time. I almost never think about it anymore. I do however think about the money I'm saving all the time. Another plus for the replacement of smoking with something better. Tell your friend that because of the savings, I have a lot of nice dresses, skirts and cute tops. And don't get me going on shoes  . Hope this helps.

Hugs,
Donica.

Hello Dawn and Donica,
Thank you both very much for your experienced responses.

To Dawn
Yes I agree quitting smoking must be one of life's pivotal moments.
Thank you for your experienced advice it seems that quitting cold turkey seems to be the way to go to be the preferred method.
It must have been difficult with all that drive time staying away from cigarettes but I'm so glad you had it within you to persevere from this Vice which certainly attributed far overcoming your doctor's expectations and I believe you will persevere far into the future because we all need you here for inspiration to the rest of us. And of course generally wish for your well-being.

To Donica
Thank you for sharing your life experience with everyone to show how you conquered this unneeded and expensive and a complete roadblock to HRT. I can't quite relate with you with what it's like to give up smoking but I do know what you mean about replacing it with something that's better. I personally no longer feel it's necessary to try and mask the symptoms with other things.
  I'm sure there's Temptation in the smell of cigarettes around you but by now I believe you realize this is far less of a priority in your life and would only be a roadblock into realizing your true freeness in being who you want.

Thank you both very much for your highly personal responses I'm sure they will make a difference in lives of members and lurkers here reading them.
Love Tatiana

I'm a smoker and just started hrt, while my doctor says it's good to quit and there's an increased risk of blood clots, it doesn't mean I would be denied my medicine. Though I do live in a state with informed consent. That being said, after seeing some images of blood clots online, that stuff is pretty freaky, and I'm definitely considering quitting now. I had quit once before for about a year or so and hated it, the nicotine part can suck but I think is the easiest part to get over, its the actual habit of just smoking itself that's hard to overcome, it becomes a means of killing time and measuring your day.

If anyone needs motivation to quit or staying quit, just look at my avatar.

I breathe through a hole in my neck after throat cancer surgery.

Giving up cigarettes might be a bit hard, giving up a larynx is a hell of a lot harder.

The last two times I quit, I found acupuncture to be tremendously helpful with the detox part. After that, all bets are off - this is where you have to replace/modify/remake/remodel the fabric of space and time, and this is where things went south.
I freely admit the perceived efficacy of this treatment may have been a placebo effect. Also, I got it for free. Still it may be worth a shot, especially if you befriend a generous acupuncturist.

Thank you StealthStilettos and Cindy

To StealthStilettos
I wish you well my friend to beat this habit and addiction as you clearly stated.
I think at some point you're going to have to choose between the two regardless if your doctor got you started. My GP that I'm receiving treatment from said she wouldn't even consider starting anyone that smoked it would have to be one or the other and she also told me about half of her MTF patients cannot quit smoking and choose to live in there smoking lives attempting to mask the dysphoria with alcohol and other substances that are clearly not the best choice, it's far better to address the core issue that's causing these symptoms.
I think you would find far more satisfaction in living your life freely and not depending on something that could halt your dreams in a hurry.
All the best to you for deciding which path is better for you whatever it is.

And to Cindy
Thank you very much for sharing your story and I'm so very sorry it had to end that way but it's very nice of you to offer yourself as a bit of Hardcore reality for those risking smoking cigarettes.
If the immediate reality of your situation doesn't sway a few people from smoking I don't know what would.
Thank you very much Cindy for sharing this with everyone I myself was completely unaware.

Best of health, happiness and love to you both.
     Tatiana

Tatiana, over a few years prior to actually quitting I had tried to ween myself away.  Unsuccessful, when it came time...I went cold turkey.  I will say that no-one wanted to be near me for a while, but in the end I think it actually made it easier.  Every time I thought of smoking, I would look back at that short slice of hell and it was enough that I did not want to go through it again!  LOL, I know that sounds sort of simplistic...but it worked!

We smoke for different reasons.  Some do it to relax away stress, like taking a five minute breather in the midst of things.  I found once it was no longer there to provide that, I did have to find something to replace it.  I would get up from my desk and walk a few laps in the hall of the building and then go back to work.  This covered the habit that was the break smoking allowed for me.  The withdrawals...and that is certainly what they were had to sort themselves out through time.

You got this!  Just know that.  YOU have the power here to let it go when you are ready and you will know that moment.  There are plenty of aids to help, gum, patches, spinners and such.  I have watched them work for others very effectively.  For me though, I was on a crash course with transition and that was one of the big initial bumps...thought it best to hit it head on

Thank you Lavish Staircase.             
For sharing your knowledge with everyone regarding what worked for you might also work for someone else.
      thanks for your reply.
Love Tatiana

Hello Kaitlynn
Thanks for your story it seems to ring a familiar tune I've been hearing that it's easy to quit but far harder to to make it stick forever.
  I know you would never go back, thank you for being such an inspiration for all that need it out here.

And yes we're all imperfect humans just trying to get by by any means we can, I myself never smoked but was always cracking my Knuckles and being fidgety and tapping my hands and feet always because I've always been a drummer and seeked my release there I guess.
Though I know this is hardly what you're talking about.
Because I think quitting smoking permanently would have to rank among your greatest achievements in your life.

Hats off to you dear achieving this and showing all that this can truly be done.
All the best love,Tatiana

Quote from: DawnOday on August 31, 2018, 04:23:16 PMI did spend 4 1/2 hours on the LA freeways. Ninety nine miles driveway to driveway.

        Now that officially 'retired' find I smoke much less. 10 to 12 hrs/day 5/6 days/week driving in/out city traffic was the absolute pits! Not to mention all the granite dust from quarries and 30yrs of commuting to get my dose of noise pollution & jet exhaust! Back in mid 50's, when first 'misborn', seems everybody smoked and now it's all designer "anti-depressant"  pharmaceuticals unconvinced what's worse!

Oh and then there's the cost! At $5 a pack why can't my "med of choice" be applied toward "annual deductible"? Nicotine is a highly toxic poison yet they say that's not what kills us?

I quit every night when asleep suppose cold-turkey would be best approach do it for "the grand-kids" number 3, a boy, "in-the oven"? 

Smoking doesn't preclude someone from HRT (estrogen, specifically). But I've read that it DOUBLES your chances of developing DVT and PE. The risk is higher with oral estrogen. Safer is injectable. Even safer, patches. Safest is supposed to be pellets. I've smoked for 26 years now. I went with the pellets.

On the other side of things, surgeons want you to quit for improved post-operative healing. I've found a surgeon to do an orchiectomy and have the funds to pay for it, but I'm having a hard time quiting smoking. Their policy is that you have to be smoke free for at least 30 days.

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