Hi Sue,
Honestly, I am ashamed to say that I haven't quit smoking yet. It's a thought that haunts me every day. I've tried Chantix, and it didn't even phase me. I tried taking Wellbutrin (because of it's anti-smoking side effect (which was working)) but I went through more other side effects than I could handle. At that time I was smoking one every 8 hours maximum. Then later came the news about my surgeries, then both the nervousness and excitement set in. One surgery down 2 more to go. The next surgery probably won't happen until the beginning of next year. I'm back up to about 6 cigarettes a day now (twice as much, which still isn't alot to most people). As soon as I'm able to enjoy the outdoors again, and stay out there, which won't be long, I am going to tackle this problem again. I do so much better outdoors at cessation. I have alot of things working against me too, such as dependency to a med, living with a smoker, panic disorder etc. Sometimes it all seems like a bunch of excuses, even to me, but I know deep down I need to work on some things in order to accomplish something else. I'm off most meds now so that's going to help me (except Toprol, Tambocor, and the one I'm dependent on (lorazepam)), and getting cleared from my back surgery will allow me to be able to do more things, which will help too. sometimes I need to take 1/4th of a tylenol#3 to get through migrains and some milder pain, but that's it. To sum things up, things have been stressful more or less. I'm still going to keep my promise though.
I also put myself on a walking exercise program, since my surgery. Each day I walk from the living room to the bedroom and back. Yesterday I got as far as seven times. I decided that each week I am going to increase it a lap. Today I even vacuumed the floors I haven't been able to do that in years. How cool is that??? I'm a little too nervous about walking outdoors right now because the sidewalk out front isn't flat... I'm afraid I might bump or jar my back the wrong way. I'd much rather be outdoors though, soaking up more sun, instead of walking around in circles lol. Maybe I will give that a trial run in the morning, and see how I do.
I'm glad you are doing something about the triglycerides by walking. 5 days already... cool, keep it going. I'm proud of you.
All this talk about walking makes me want to get started on that so...
take care,
James.
