For Moderator
Have been checking in here for the past 4mths, sometimes looking for support after freaking a bit with the repurcussions of this quit trip, & even though it seems that similar experiences are recycled again & again, there's no guidance given by moderators. It's very frustrating, especially as, if you go a certain amount of time without checking in, a 'check up' email (automated??) will arrive. The health of long time smokers takes a pretty heavy hit in the first (12?) mths of quitting, & there seems to be an incredible amount of ignorance about this in the medical world. A little more 'professional' assistance in this forum would be really appreciated.
Hi Robyn47 - yup I hear you. I don't think it is actually monitoered. I think they send off these auto-messages on 'x' day since your quit date. Nothing personal about it. It would have helped if somebody had explained my horrendous quitzits (still & getting worse). And also the constipation, not to mention the depression. The whole quit thing is hard enough without this. I thinka nasty lession that we all have to learn is that nobody really cares about your quit journey, or what you go through. Sure, your loved ones want you to give up and be healthy, but don't involve them in the journey - that is your problem. Just come out clean on the other side.
Robyn - I disagree with Leigh I have been on the site for one year now and I have found that people do care. I have received several maessages of support from moderators as well as the other users of the site. As for all of the possible downside effects of quitting one thing that I have discovered is that we all have differing symptoms. You will note that those using the chemical support products tend to do it a bit harder than those who go cold turkey - the one thing we all seem to suffer from though is increased appetite, so we all put on a few Kgs - still better than emphysema, lung cancer and gangrene from circulatory problems - zits and constipation can both be minimised by eating lots of fresh fruit.
Hang in there if I can come out the other side after over 50 years of smoking so can you.
Personally I think it is great that there aren't a swag of professionals on the site monitoring and only preaching their beliefs not their experiences.