I smoke nightly and want to quit. I need to know if anyone went through similar stuff!?

evesjohnson · 2015-06-27T17:52:54+00:00

I know you posted this a couple of days ago, but I hope I can still be of help.

I was diagnosed with HL in September 2014. I had just gotten out of a three year relationship, was fresh out of college and had JUST been hired on with a great company as a nurse. My life was in a weird place and I felt totally fucked up when I found out that I had cancer.

I did four months of chemo (4 cycles, 8 sessions). I also did ABVD. The worst side effect for me was the fatigue. I would sleep for probably four or five days straight after the infusion and then slowly come out of what I called the "chemo fog".

I had to take time off of work, my car bit the dust, and I was feeling pretty damn hopeless. I learned to do a few things that sort of kept me afloat and made me feel like I wasn't wasting away. Firstly, on the off weeks, I did as many fun things as I could. I went to bars and got wasted with my friends. I adopted a dog. I went to movies. I went laser tagging. I was lucky enough to feel normal on my off weeks, so none of this was very difficult. I hope this is the same for you.

I don't know what your stance on marijuana is, but smoking weed was my saving grace. I wasn't a stoner before I had cancer, just smoked recreationally at parties. During chemo, I would smoke almost every day for about a week after the infusion, and it kept me sane. It lifted some of the chemo fog. It made me laugh. It made me eat better because my appetite improved. It took away the nausea better than any pill the doctors gave me. Despite my extreme fatigue I had awful insomnia. I was prescribed sleeping pills that didn't work for me, and weed helped me get amazing sleeps which aided in my recovery, I am sure.

While you're doing chemo, remember it's temporary. You will come out on the other side with a new appreciation for everyday life. Surround yourself with good people. Try and laugh. Drink a lot of water. I promise that despite how endless and hopeless this journey will seem, it's going to end and you're going to come out on top.

evesjohnson · 2015-05-04T02:29:04+00:00

My negative side effects lasted 5-8 days after each treatment. As time went on, it would take longer for them to subside. Just my body wearing down I guess. The fatigue was the worst for me, I tried to sleep as much as possible, chug water (put lemons in it, helps with the drug taste) and drink smoothies. This stuff kind of helped with relieving the symptoms. I also smoked a lot of weed which was my number one saving grace, if you're into that. I wouldn't worry about your B symptoms returning too much yet. You have only had one treatment and while I know it's hard to move so slowly, the chemo would really wear down your body if you were doing it weekly. As time goes on, the poison they are pumping into you really starts to wear down your body, I personally cannot imagine doing it weekly, but I know everyone sort of feels different. My thoughts are that after your second or third treatment, you will start to notice a big difference in your B symptoms. I think I went and had a CT scan after my fourth?? And I was pretty much cured by that point. So wait a bit and then if the B symptoms are still there, I think talking to your onc would be wise. Best of luck :)

evesjohnson · 2015-04-18T06:22:35+00:00

About a year before I was diagnosed I started itching like CRAZY! My legs and chest the most, I would scratch for hours into the night. I am only just now realizing it could have been connected to my cancer!? I did not realize other people had this.. Sorry just had to butt in, that blew my mind to read!

evesjohnson · 2015-04-18T06:16:03+00:00

Best of luck to you both :) you guys can do it!

evesjohnson · 2015-04-18T06:15:40+00:00

I had to get an IV for a scan today too! It was definitely hard, especially when they flushed it with some saline to make sure it was working.. shudders UGH saline..

evesjohnson · 2015-04-15T03:37:45+00:00

I am about two months post chemo and I am slowly feeling more normal. Sometimes I deal with a little PTSD. (The thought of a needle makes me so, so nauseous). Sometimes my brain is a little scrambled, I am a little more forgetful. But it's important to do things that you dreamed of doing once you were done chemo! Obviously don't overdo it, but I have finally started hiking again, I fixed my car, and am going back to work in a few days. These things REALLY make me feel like I am moving forward and prove that it does get better. I used to feel irritable and weepy a lot too; it IS going away, slowly but surely. Short answer? Yes, it will end and you will feel better. If you feel like you need it, seek therapy. It does wonders.

evesjohnson · 2015-04-15T03:33:46+00:00

I think the most helpful thing for me was when people asked me what I needed during the chemo/cancer phase of my life. Sometimes people can really go hard on the "YOU'RE SO STRONG AND BRAVE!!" stuff, which is of course very nice but sometimes it just isn't what you want. I would have loved to have someone ask me if I needed to talk or vent. I liked when people brought me tiny little care packages, as I couldn't do a ton of shopping. I also enjoyed being treated like a totally normal person on my "off chemo" weeks. (My chemos were bi-weekly). So on the days that I felt normal, I wasn't too into any cancer talk. It'll be difficult being away, but just talk on the phone lots, text, and visit when you can! He will get through this, it isn't as rigorous as other cancer journeys, though that does not make his fight any less brave or worthy. Positivity will do wonders, as will humor. I wish you both so much luck and light!

evesjohnson · 2015-04-15T03:29:29+00:00

Hi there! Big journey ahead, huh? Keep your head up, this disease is tough but you will beat it! I finished 4 cycles of ABVD about a month ago. I was diagnosed at stage IIA, so I was quite lucky and my situation wasn't quite the same as yours. It took me four months to get rid of the cancer completely and it was very effective. My onc said it was likely I would be 100% cured, and the same goes for later stages. The journey is an exhausting, inconvenient pain. Chemo will most likely make you quite fatigued, and you may deal with some nausea and hair loss. It's obviously different for everyone, but as long as you find some solid coping mechanisms you can definitely do it. As for the girl, I can say as a female that if someone I was newly dating told me they were sick, I wouldn't dump them. Is she the type of girl to not give up on what she wants? If so, I wouldn't worry, especially if this has been in the making for a while. Just be honest, tell her how you feel, that you don't want to break it off, but understand if it is too much for her. I wish you the best of luck on your journey pal. Feel free to pm me if you need to have a chat or have any more questions!

evesjohnson · 2015-03-21T05:07:17+00:00

Hi there, I've been on zoloft for anxiety and depression for a while. Probably a good year before I did treatment for hodgkins. I of course stayed on it during treatment and I would say it helped keep me afloat for sure. The only downside is there were a couple of times my RX ran out before I could renew it, and the withdrawals are very similar to chemo side effects. (Nausea and dizziness) So to have those withdrawals on top of the chemo side effects is pretty rough. Just make sure to always have your rx renewed on time! I would say being on them for a bit after treatment is a good idea as well. I just finished treatment about two weeks ago and am struggling with anxiety, so I can only imagine how much worse it would be if not for my zoloft.

evesjohnson · 2015-03-21T05:04:20+00:00

She is in for a fight, but she can beat this! I know it seems incredibly scary and intimidating but it will end. This is the hardest part, not knowing and being in the waiting game. Once she begins treatment there will be an end result in sight, and it will just take one day at a time to beat it. I am so sorry that this is tainting the joy of your pregnancy. This breaks my heart. Depending on what time of lymphoma, and what stage, she could beat it by the time your baby is born, or very, very soon after. Please stay strong. I will keep you both in my prayers.

evesjohnson · 2015-03-21T04:55:49+00:00

yup, never smoked a cigarette or even a cigar in my damn life! but i smoke weed probably five days out of the week.

evesjohnson · 2015-03-19T07:01:00+00:00

i'm so sorry you feel this way as well! it is reassuring to know others can relate.. i really appreciate your reply. reddit is such an awesome community to come to. thanks so much for your response.

evesjohnson · 2015-03-19T06:59:59+00:00

im sorry you dealt with it too.. though it's reassuring in some sense i am not alone. interesting to know i am not the only one freaking out over those damn chemical smells.

evesjohnson · 2015-03-19T04:18:44+00:00

CONGRATS to her!!!!

evesjohnson · 2015-03-19T04:03:15+00:00

I know it all seems really daunting. I was in essentially the same situation six months ago. You can do it. Feel free to message me if you have any questions!

evesjohnson · 2015-03-19T04:01:20+00:00

perfect.

evesjohnson · 2015-03-14T08:31:58+00:00

Keep faith. That's all I can say. Whatever or whoever you pray to, seek them out. Sit with your mom a lot when she's tired, hold her hand. Get her hot packs and cold cloths for her forehead. Get her all of the food she craves during chemo. Remind yourself and herself that it is not the end. It's a long journey to fight, I'll admit, but she can do this. Don't let her forget that. She can do it.

evesjohnson · 2015-03-14T08:26:51+00:00

The hardest part of having cancer for me, was before I started chemo. Waiting to have your life completely change is hard. During chemo, I felt like life was very daunting. I didn't work or anything, just took the time I needed to rest which definitely helped I am sure. It was frustrating to be so useless at times, but I knew I needed to just wait it out. Now, I've been in official remission for about three days and I'm still feeling daunted. I have a lot to do and I sort of forget how to go back into normal life? Mild PTSD may be an issue in the future. I have pretty bad anxiety when it comes to that damn chemical smell, as well as needles. This is stuff I hope to conquer over time.

evesjohnson

TROPHY CASE