Migraine

Louisa,

Thanks for your comments. Hopefully, Tiffany will stick around and get to know us better.

quote:

Originally posted by Louisa:
Tiffany,

Whoa, Nellie! I don't mean to be unfriendly, but don't you think it takes a lotta nerve to speak to someone like that, especially your first time out the gate here?

How about:
"Hi! I'm Tiffany, and I have migraines?"

Geeze, woman. What a way to influence people and NOT make friends. If you're for real, and you stick around a while, you'll see that people here don't usually talk to each other that way.

Do you know Myth? Do you know if she's tried to quit? Maybe she's tried, and tried, and tried again. Do you know that an addiction to tobacco is as strong and hard to break as an addiction to heroin?

I do hope you stick around, get to know people, and get as much from this forum as I have, even though I read a lot more than I post. There's no better place to learn and get support. But, really, I think you owe Myth an apology.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiffany:
You have Asthma and you smoke???? I can't believe it as this is a sure enough way to take many years of your life and ruin the little quality you have physically. I know it is hard, my brother is asthmatic and he used to smoke but he decided that he prefer to breath. there are sites that are there for the purpose of motivating each other to overcome this habit, it seems as if your body really asks for change

quote:

Originally posted by Tiffany:
You have Asthma and you smoke???? I can't believe it as this is a sure enough way to take many years of your life and ruin the little quality you have physically. I know it is hard, my brother is asthmatic and he used to smoke but he decided that he prefer to breath. there are sites that are there for the purpose of motivating each other to overcome this habit, it seems as if your body really asks for change

Ahh, Tiffany, you wound me! I already feel guilt over the smoking thing, and am looking into one of the new drugs to help me quit. I have this tricky smoking habit that is hard to break... I smoke more or crave smokes more when I am in pain... like an FMS flare or a mgraine... gives me someting to do, even when I cannot do anything. So it has been difficult. But no supposrt for quitting would be able to give me a good reason to break that habit, cause when I am in that kind of pain my thinking is just not the same. And I rather like breathing as well, but if I were not, then I suppose I would not mind that either. In otherwords, migraines have been daily lately and it is not fun, losing ten years of my life or more, is something I am a little indifferent about. Nevertheless, I am compelled to quit smoking, and have been decreasing slowly.

Myth,

I know what a struggle it's been for you and the smoking. We've talked about it before, at length in other posts/threads and shareposts.

It is one of the hardest habits on the world to break. I feel ya girl! I've been back and forth, and back again with it for many, many years.

We know that there is more behind why it's harder to quit at some points then at others (stress, family issues etc...)

You will do it when YOU are ready and when it will work for YOU.

If there is one thing I've learned, quitting for someone else, will just make you go back faster.

If you need support on this we are here for you - Yeah the asthma on top of it all really stinks, but it's not like just giving up, I don't know, potatos! You only eat potatos once a week, you smoke every day.

We get it. We are here to support you!!!

Much love girl~!!

Yeah, nothing like working with a migraine to make me want to smoke. Although, truthfully, migraines totally warp my thinking at the best of times, all good intentions out the window, expecially when I am already trying to get through work and suffer through the pain. Plus the asthma is compeltely under control with the Symbicort, as long as I am not on a triptan like Amerge (don't even need the inhaler now, usually), and I suspect it would be easier to avoid the desire to smoke when you can't breath... well, in theory anyway. Probly a little self destructive or defiant on my part, which really does not help motivate me. The only thing that actually worked for me was this new medication, worked quite well, but could not stay on it as I was going onto a new preventative, and they clashed, and within days started smoking again. But since I am currently not on a preventative, and a little wary of them right now, might try that again. It is unfortunately, not at the top of my list, as really I am trying just to maintain going to work and whatever migraine med gets me through that.

I hear ya girl!

When I started Topamax, that seemed to make me not want to smoke as much. I am still not half as bad as I used to be, but when I had my shoulder accident last summer, I guess the comination of being on vicodin all day and being bored, lead me right back to it.

One day at a time is all you can do. You will do it when you are ready.

quote:

Originally posted by Myth:
Yeah, nothing like working with a migraine to make me want to smoke. Although, truthfully, migraines totally warp my thinking at the best of times, all good intentions out the window, expecially when I am already trying to get through work and suffer through the pain. Plus the asthma is compeltely under control with the Symbicort, as long as I am not on a triptan like Amerge (don't even need the inhaler now, usually), and I suspect it would be easier to avoid the desire to smoke when you can't breath... well, in theory anyway. Probly a little self destructive or defiant on my part, which really does not help motivate me. The only thing that actually worked for me was this new medication, worked quite well, but could not stay on it as I was going onto a new preventative, and they clashed, and within days started smoking again. But since I am currently not on a preventative, and a little wary of them right now, might try that again. It is unfortunately, not at the top of my list, as really I am trying just to maintain going to work and whatever migraine med gets me through that.

Nicotine helps me relieve stress, so I smoke during the school year. I need to get a new Chantix prescription, as mine has expired. I'll quit for the summer, & try to not start back when school starts back in August. It all depends on what sorts of students I get & what sorts of teachers I have to work with.

Rebecca

Nicotine addiction is super hard to break! While I don't smoke, my parents did, and so do many of my aunts/uncles.

I've watched them struggle to quit many, many times. It is NOT easy! My father finally managed a few years back after his heart attack. He hasn't had a cigarette since, but he really craves them. My mother has also tried (and tried wellbutrin to help, etc. The wellbutrin made her migraines HORRIBLE though ) and hasn't been able to quit.

Changing the subject to asthma:

Symbicort is an inhaler, but not a rescue inhaler. It contains a steroid, budesonide (160mcg) and a long-acting bronchodilator (i.e. like serevent, but a different LABA). I was switched to it a few months back (right after it became available) and take 2 puffs morning and evening, and mid-day I take a couple puffs of pulmicort (same steroid, budesonide, but no bronchodilator) because I need an additional dose of steroids to control my asthma, but the bronchodilator in symbicort lasts 12 hours, so I can't up the dose on that.

Don't forget to take the Symbicort, and it can take a few months to really feel the effects of the budesonide, but it is a very effective steroid.

Oh, and make sure to rinse out your mouth after using the Symbicort (swish, gargle and spit. Water is fine.) It'll reduce the likelihood of getting thrush.

There are two main rescue inhalers, Albuterol (Proventil) and Levabuterol (Xopenex). They are closely related, but sometimes one works better for someone than the other. I don't find any difference in the performance of the two, though the Levabuterol is more likely to spike my heart rate and blood pressure.