Solid plan is needed to prevent relapse
By Terry Rindfleisch of the Tribune staff
Pat Coates really enjoyed smoking cigarettes.
She smoked more than a pack of cigarettes for 35 years, and never tried, or wanted, to quit.
“I raised five kids by myself, and I had a lot of stres sin my life,” Coates said. “Smoking was relaxing.”
But Coates was scared into quitting for good. She had a heart attack almost 10 years ago.
She had shooting pain behind her shoulder for a day and thought it was just the aches and pains of getting old. The next day she felt pressure in her chest while at work and decided to see a doctor.
Coates had angina or the chest pain associated with a heart attack. She was hospitalized and six days later she had triple bypass heart surgery.
She hasn't smoked since her heart attack on Jan. 25, 1995.
“I traded my cigarettes in for a bottle of nitroglycerin," said the 69-year-old Coates.
Coates said she never craved a cigarette after her heart attack. She said she was highly motivated to never smoke again.
She said her focus on her health was enough to keep on her track.
“I never got over the fear of a heart attack,” Coates said. “The heart attack flashes through my mind constantly.
“It’s too bad I had to be scared into quitting,” she said. “My kids smoke and I pray my grandchildren don’t smoke.”
She said she talks to grandchildren all the time about the dangers of smoking. “Your grandchildren should be a good reason for quitting,” she said. “If that isn’t, and your health isn’t, then what’s life worth?
Preventing relapse can be challenging, but Coates suggests people think about the reasons for quitting and find positive things to do in their lives.
“Find something to occupy your time,” Coates said. “Do something positive with the time you used to spend smoking, and do something for others.”
Reward yourself for not smoking, she said. Coates said she plans to buy herself something special to celebrate 10 years without cigarettes.
“Life is so much better without cigarettes,” she said. “I feel so much better.”
Staying on track can be difficult, but new nonsmokers need to have a solid plan on how to deal with the urge to smoke and prevent relapse, said Susan Lundsten, Gundersen Lutheran wellness education specialist who facilitates the medical center's Journey to Freedom nicotine cessation clinic.
“You need a plan in place, and you need look back at how far you have come,” Lundsten said. “Don’t feel too confident and keep your guard up. You cannot have thoughts that you can have just one cigarette.”
Doris Doherty, a Franciscan Skemp Healthcare smoking cessation specialist who provides one-on-one counseling, said new nonsmokers can see the health gains when they stop smoking.
“They should think about how much better they breathe and how well they feel,” Doherty said.
New nonsmokers should not even think about having one cigarette, she said. “They’re so addicted that one cigarette would lead them to a pack a day,” Doherty said.
Sharon Schulz, co-coordinator of the Mayo Nicotine Research Program at Franciscan Skemp, said new nonsmokers should watch for negative emotions and conflicts with people or at work that can lead to relapse.
Schulz said they should think about their most likely relapse situations and have an action plan.
Alicia Elsing, co-coordinator of the Mayo Nicotine Research Program, said determination, a good plan and social support can help prevent relapse. “Go back over the reasons you quit,” she said. “Maybe a major reason is avoiding lung cancer.”
Schulz added, “Your children and grandchildren often are good reasons to stay on track.”
Harold Doweiko, a Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center psychologist and addictions specialist, said new nonsmokers who relapse often quit for someone else rather than themselves.
“You have to have a personal commitment to maintain the abstinence,” Doweiko said. “Deep down, you really have to want it for yourself.”
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
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