Well Day - 3 sure does suck!

[Mr. Cope]

I was cleaning out my truck this morning. Found an un-opened can dated April 7 2015. I wish I could say if it was still fresh but I will never know as I didn't even open it rather just tossed it into the trash. Feeling good about that decision. 'oh yeah'

[Nomore1959]

Day 55

No excuses here just facts. I have no excuse for not posting roll the past week.

I have been having a numbness feeling in my right arm for some time now and an awful pain in my neck and upper back on the right side so I decided to go to the doctor to see what the issue may be.
Doctor advised I needed to see a neurosurgeon to get my nerves tested (which I did) and the neurosurgeon said I needed an MRI. I met again with my doctor to start a bunch of blood tests and to get the MRI scheduled. I get the results of the blood tests next Tuesday and the MRI is scheduled for the 29th of June.

All that being said, I have been somewhat freaking out and I have to admit I did consider stopping and grabbing a can of Cope. I have NOT thankfully and continue to stay strong in my quit. I am nervous and scared shitless about what they may find but that is probably more in my head than in reality.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Basshaug and Lumberjack Tim for not giving up on me and for continuously pinging my phone until I replied.
We all have our battles and we all fight those battles in different ways, for what it is worth I apologize to my fellow bad ass motherfucking quitters if my disappearing act caused any bad thoughts and/or feelings.


Still quit like FUCK – Mr. Cope

Hey August Brother -

I replied to your post in the August thread and I know those can get lost pretty easily. Anyways ... I don't know if this will help whatsoever, or give you some hope, but this is what I wrote ... ********************

I certainly ain't no doctor (although I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express once), but I had the same symptoms you mentioned about a couple years ago. After the MRI, they found severe stenosis on a couple of levels in my upper back (C-5  C-6) I believe. I also have significant lower back issues ... a whole other story. Anyways, intense physical therapy relieved the pain in my upper back/neck and returned feeling to all but my fingertips in my right hand. Still can fully function though.

The reason I mention this, however, is there was one CONSTANT message I heard from all types of doctors. This is consistent whether it is a recommendation to have lower back surgery to physical therapy for stenosis to recovery of and prior to minor surgery to remove potentially cancerous skin cells.

That message was DO NOT USE NICOTINE as it is harmful to the healing and recovery process whether it is blood related or bone related.

****************************

Having the symptoms you described are not easy to go through without knowledge of what may be occurring. Point is ... nicotine will not help. I noticed you didn't post roll again today. I sent you a PM and am asking you to reach out if I can be of any assistance. Stay strong!!!!

Day 77 today.

Sure as fuck thought I would feel better by now. Not going to lie, I have thought about my old friend more and more lately.

Have had my MRI scheduled 3 times and all three times it has been rescheduled. Although this last time is all my fault as I actually was put into the machine and guess what! I am fucking claustrophobic apparently. No I have to go back under a sedative.

I am starting to think all this shit is just in my head and I am just fine. Well except for the fact I still have numbness and pain in my right arm and my neck hurts like hell.

Still quit but seems the dip dreams have come roaring back, and with a vengeance! I can not begin to express how real it all seems only to wake up in the AM and realize it wasn't real at all. Really FUCKS with my head!

One day I can look back at these post I am writing and laugh. At least that is my hope.

Take care and stay quit!

70's and 80's have a bad funk sometimes, I know I had NIC rages in that time frame. But you are quit as fuck, so no worries man.

I second that. My hardest time quitting was in the 70's. Had a bad funk. Bad thoughts a lot. You have to just put one foot in front of the other so-to-speak. Do what you did that first week...minute-by-minute. You will get through it. It's frustrating but not half as frustrating as starting at another day one. This is one of the hardest addictions to quit for a reason.

Yeah brother, sounds like a bit of life stress helping the nic bitch out.

On the neck thing -- I have similar symptoms although left arm  shoulder (own set of scary right there). Pinched nerve was mentioned as a possibility and a new pillow helped a shitload. I can only hope your issue is as easily fixed.

Stay quit, PM me some digits if you need, get through this.

[TLOC81]

Day 55

No excuses here just facts. I have no excuse for not posting roll the past week.

I have been having a numbness feeling in my right arm for some time now and an awful pain in my neck and upper back on the right side so I decided to go to the doctor to see what the issue may be.
Doctor advised I needed to see a neurosurgeon to get my nerves tested (which I did) and the neurosurgeon said I needed an MRI. I met again with my doctor to start a bunch of blood tests and to get the MRI scheduled. I get the results of the blood tests next Tuesday and the MRI is scheduled for the 29th of June.

All that being said, I have been somewhat freaking out and I have to admit I did consider stopping and grabbing a can of Cope. I have NOT thankfully and continue to stay strong in my quit. I am nervous and scared shitless about what they may find but that is probably more in my head than in reality.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Basshaug and Lumberjack Tim for not giving up on me and for continuously pinging my phone until I replied.
We all have our battles and we all fight those battles in different ways, for what it is worth I apologize to my fellow bad ass motherfucking quitters if my disappearing act caused any bad thoughts and/or feelings.


Still quit like FUCK – Mr. Cope

Hey August Brother -

I replied to your post in the August thread and I know those can get lost pretty easily. Anyways ... I don't know if this will help whatsoever, or give you some hope, but this is what I wrote ... ********************

I certainly ain't no doctor (although I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express once), but I had the same symptoms you mentioned about a couple years ago. After the MRI, they found severe stenosis on a couple of levels in my upper back (C-5  C-6) I believe. I also have significant lower back issues ... a whole other story. Anyways, intense physical therapy relieved the pain in my upper back/neck and returned feeling to all but my fingertips in my right hand. Still can fully function though.

The reason I mention this, however, is there was one CONSTANT message I heard from all types of doctors. This is consistent whether it is a recommendation to have lower back surgery to physical therapy for stenosis to recovery of and prior to minor surgery to remove potentially cancerous skin cells.

That message was DO NOT USE NICOTINE as it is harmful to the healing and recovery process whether it is blood related or bone related.

****************************

Having the symptoms you described are not easy to go through without knowledge of what may be occurring. Point is ... nicotine will not help. I noticed you didn't post roll again today. I sent you a PM and am asking you to reach out if I can be of any assistance. Stay strong!!!!

Day 77 today.

Sure as fuck thought I would feel better by now. Not going to lie, I have thought about my old friend more and more lately.

Have had my MRI scheduled 3 times and all three times it has been rescheduled. Although this last time is all my fault as I actually was put into the machine and guess what! I am fucking claustrophobic apparently. No I have to go back under a sedative.

I am starting to think all this shit is just in my head and I am just fine. Well except for the fact I still have numbness and pain in my right arm and my neck hurts like hell.

Still quit but seems the dip dreams have come roaring back, and with a vengeance! I can not begin to express how real it all seems only to wake up in the AM and realize it wasn't real at all. Really FUCKS with my head!

One day I can look back at these post I am writing and laugh. At least that is my hope.

Take care and stay quit!

70's and 80's have a bad funk sometimes, I know I had NIC rages in that time frame. But you are quit as fuck, so no worries man.

I second that. My hardest time quitting was in the 70's. Had a bad funk. Bad thoughts a lot. You have to just put one foot in front of the other so-to-speak. Do what you did that first week...minute-by-minute. You will get through it. It's frustrating but not half as frustrating as starting at another day one. This is one of the hardest addictions to quit for a reason.

[Thumblewort]

Day 55

No excuses here just facts. I have no excuse for not posting roll the past week.

I have been having a numbness feeling in my right arm for some time now and an awful pain in my neck and upper back on the right side so I decided to go to the doctor to see what the issue may be.
Doctor advised I needed to see a neurosurgeon to get my nerves tested (which I did) and the neurosurgeon said I needed an MRI. I met again with my doctor to start a bunch of blood tests and to get the MRI scheduled. I get the results of the blood tests next Tuesday and the MRI is scheduled for the 29th of June.

All that being said, I have been somewhat freaking out and I have to admit I did consider stopping and grabbing a can of Cope. I have NOT thankfully and continue to stay strong in my quit. I am nervous and scared shitless about what they may find but that is probably more in my head than in reality.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Basshaug and Lumberjack Tim for not giving up on me and for continuously pinging my phone until I replied.
We all have our battles and we all fight those battles in different ways, for what it is worth I apologize to my fellow bad ass motherfucking quitters if my disappearing act caused any bad thoughts and/or feelings.


Still quit like FUCK – Mr. Cope

Hey August Brother -

I replied to your post in the August thread and I know those can get lost pretty easily. Anyways ... I don't know if this will help whatsoever, or give you some hope, but this is what I wrote ... ********************

I certainly ain't no doctor (although I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express once), but I had the same symptoms you mentioned about a couple years ago. After the MRI, they found severe stenosis on a couple of levels in my upper back (C-5  C-6) I believe. I also have significant lower back issues ... a whole other story. Anyways, intense physical therapy relieved the pain in my upper back/neck and returned feeling to all but my fingertips in my right hand. Still can fully function though.

The reason I mention this, however, is there was one CONSTANT message I heard from all types of doctors. This is consistent whether it is a recommendation to have lower back surgery to physical therapy for stenosis to recovery of and prior to minor surgery to remove potentially cancerous skin cells.

That message was DO NOT USE NICOTINE as it is harmful to the healing and recovery process whether it is blood related or bone related.

****************************

Having the symptoms you described are not easy to go through without knowledge of what may be occurring. Point is ... nicotine will not help. I noticed you didn't post roll again today. I sent you a PM and am asking you to reach out if I can be of any assistance. Stay strong!!!!

Day 77 today.

Sure as fuck thought I would feel better by now. Not going to lie, I have thought about my old friend more and more lately.

Have had my MRI scheduled 3 times and all three times it has been rescheduled. Although this last time is all my fault as I actually was put into the machine and guess what! I am fucking claustrophobic apparently. No I have to go back under a sedative.

I am starting to think all this shit is just in my head and I am just fine. Well except for the fact I still have numbness and pain in my right arm and my neck hurts like hell.

Still quit but seems the dip dreams have come roaring back, and with a vengeance! I can not begin to express how real it all seems only to wake up in the AM and realize it wasn't real at all. Really FUCKS with my head!

One day I can look back at these post I am writing and laugh. At least that is my hope.

Take care and stay quit!

70's and 80's have a bad funk sometimes, I know I had NIC rages in that time frame. But you are quit as fuck, so no worries man.

[Mr. Cope]

Day 55

No excuses here just facts. I have no excuse for not posting roll the past week.

I have been having a numbness feeling in my right arm for some time now and an awful pain in my neck and upper back on the right side so I decided to go to the doctor to see what the issue may be.
Doctor advised I needed to see a neurosurgeon to get my nerves tested (which I did) and the neurosurgeon said I needed an MRI. I met again with my doctor to start a bunch of blood tests and to get the MRI scheduled. I get the results of the blood tests next Tuesday and the MRI is scheduled for the 29th of June.

All that being said, I have been somewhat freaking out and I have to admit I did consider stopping and grabbing a can of Cope. I have NOT thankfully and continue to stay strong in my quit. I am nervous and scared shitless about what they may find but that is probably more in my head than in reality.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Basshaug and Lumberjack Tim for not giving up on me and for continuously pinging my phone until I replied.
We all have our battles and we all fight those battles in different ways, for what it is worth I apologize to my fellow bad ass motherfucking quitters if my disappearing act caused any bad thoughts and/or feelings.


Still quit like FUCK – Mr. Cope

Hey August Brother -

I replied to your post in the August thread and I know those can get lost pretty easily. Anyways ... I don't know if this will help whatsoever, or give you some hope, but this is what I wrote ... ********************

I certainly ain't no doctor (although I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express once), but I had the same symptoms you mentioned about a couple years ago. After the MRI, they found severe stenosis on a couple of levels in my upper back (C-5  C-6) I believe. I also have significant lower back issues ... a whole other story. Anyways, intense physical therapy relieved the pain in my upper back/neck and returned feeling to all but my fingertips in my right hand. Still can fully function though.

The reason I mention this, however, is there was one CONSTANT message I heard from all types of doctors. This is consistent whether it is a recommendation to have lower back surgery to physical therapy for stenosis to recovery of and prior to minor surgery to remove potentially cancerous skin cells.

That message was DO NOT USE NICOTINE as it is harmful to the healing and recovery process whether it is blood related or bone related.

****************************

Having the symptoms you described are not easy to go through without knowledge of what may be occurring. Point is ... nicotine will not help. I noticed you didn't post roll again today. I sent you a PM and am asking you to reach out if I can be of any assistance. Stay strong!!!!

Day 77 today.

Sure as fuck thought I would feel better by now. Not going to lie, I have thought about my old friend more and more lately.

Have had my MRI scheduled 3 times and all three times it has been rescheduled. Although this last time is all my fault as I actually was put into the machine and guess what! I am fucking claustrophobic apparently. No I have to go back under a sedative.

I am starting to think all this shit is just in my head and I am just fine. Well except for the fact I still have numbness and pain in my right arm and my neck hurts like hell.

Still quit but seems the dip dreams have come roaring back, and with a vengeance! I can not begin to express how real it all seems only to wake up in the AM and realize it wasn't real at all. Really FUCKS with my head!

One day I can look back at these post I am writing and laugh. At least that is my hope.

Take care and stay quit!

[Bucky]

Day 55

No excuses here just facts. I have no excuse for not posting roll the past week.

I have been having a numbness feeling in my right arm for some time now and an awful pain in my neck and upper back on the right side so I decided to go to the doctor to see what the issue may be.
Doctor advised I needed to see a neurosurgeon to get my nerves tested (which I did) and the neurosurgeon said I needed an MRI. I met again with my doctor to start a bunch of blood tests and to get the MRI scheduled. I get the results of the blood tests next Tuesday and the MRI is scheduled for the 29th of June.

All that being said, I have been somewhat freaking out and I have to admit I did consider stopping and grabbing a can of Cope. I have NOT thankfully and continue to stay strong in my quit. I am nervous and scared shitless about what they may find but that is probably more in my head than in reality.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Basshaug and Lumberjack Tim for not giving up on me and for continuously pinging my phone until I replied.
We all have our battles and we all fight those battles in different ways, for what it is worth I apologize to my fellow bad ass motherfucking quitters if my disappearing act caused any bad thoughts and/or feelings.


Still quit like FUCK – Mr. Cope

Hey August Brother -

I replied to your post in the August thread and I know those can get lost pretty easily. Anyways ... I don't know if this will help whatsoever, or give you some hope, but this is what I wrote ... ********************

I certainly ain't no doctor (although I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express once), but I had the same symptoms you mentioned about a couple years ago. After the MRI, they found severe stenosis on a couple of levels in my upper back (C-5  C-6) I believe. I also have significant lower back issues ... a whole other story. Anyways, intense physical therapy relieved the pain in my upper back/neck and returned feeling to all but my fingertips in my right hand. Still can fully function though.

The reason I mention this, however, is there was one CONSTANT message I heard from all types of doctors. This is consistent whether it is a recommendation to have lower back surgery to physical therapy for stenosis to recovery of and prior to minor surgery to remove potentially cancerous skin cells.

That message was DO NOT USE NICOTINE as it is harmful to the healing and recovery process whether it is blood related or bone related.

****************************

Having the symptoms you described are not easy to go through without knowledge of what may be occurring. Point is ... nicotine will not help. I noticed you didn't post roll again today. I sent you a PM and am asking you to reach out if I can be of any assistance. Stay strong!!!!

[Bram]

Mr. Cope,
Hey anything with the neck/back and numbness can be scary. Just remember cope will not fix your pain. It will not heal your neck, and it will not make the results of your MRI BETTER! On the prognosis the good news is all your symptoms are all on one side which means it is more likely nerve root impingement than spinal cord issue. Most of the issues that you could have will only require physical therapy but it doesn't change the frustration you can have not knowing what is going on or waiting for results/treatment. I have worked in sports medicine my whole career and have seen symptoms like this numerous times. Unless you were in and accident or have osteoporosis the outlook is good. I hope the tests go well and you get good news after the MRI. You have over come a lot in your personal journey, do not let it be in vain,Stay quit! From the glorious recommendations of Van Wilder just remember worrying is like a rocking chair, it might give you something to do but you won't get anywhere. I quit with you today!

[Mr. Cope]

Day 55

No excuses here just facts. I have no excuse for not posting roll the past week.

I have been having a numbness feeling in my right arm for some time now and an awful pain in my neck and upper back on the right side so I decided to go to the doctor to see what the issue may be.
Doctor advised I needed to see a neurosurgeon to get my nerves tested (which I did) and the neurosurgeon said I needed an MRI. I met again with my doctor to start a bunch of blood tests and to get the MRI scheduled. I get the results of the blood tests next Tuesday and the MRI is scheduled for the 29th of June.

All that being said, I have been somewhat freaking out and I have to admit I did consider stopping and grabbing a can of Cope. I have NOT thankfully and continue to stay strong in my quit. I am nervous and scared shitless about what they may find but that is probably more in my head than in reality.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Basshaug and Lumberjack Tim for not giving up on me and for continuously pinging my phone until I replied.
We all have our battles and we all fight those battles in different ways, for what it is worth I apologize to my fellow bad ass motherfucking quitters if my disappearing act caused any bad thoughts and/or feelings.


Still quit like FUCK – Mr. Cope

[Bean]

Day - 42 of my quit. Some interesting facts:

1. I feel pretty good most all the time.
2. I am not sleeping very well at all.
3. I have gain, of I don't know, 30 fucking pounds.
4. I do not even care to have a dip. I have been around a few friends and they are dipping and it is actually disgusting.
5. Food is tasting amazingly better than I ever remember it tasting.

The only real issue I am having is the lack of sleep. I would have thought by now I would be sleeping normally but I can tell you all I do is toss and turn. I may get 4, maybe 5 hours a night. Starting to wear on me.

Rock on fellow Quitters. I am quit today with each and every one of you.

Sleeplessness was probably the worst thing for me after the first few days early on.

About the time somebody told me to "embrace it." I didn't really understand what that meant at first. I thought I did. But now I really did. Turn the tables on the Nic Bitch. Rejoice in your withdrawal symptoms. It all goes back to your attitude. I would lay awake and get frustrated about laying awake being frustrated. Focusing on negative shit just breeds more negative shit. So...what can you do?

Embrace it. Take note of your success. Choose to see every nic free moment of every day/night as cause for celebration. Yes, sleeplessness sucks, but jaw removal, chemo and feeding tubes probably suck worse. Turn something that sucks (sleeplessness) into a reminder that things are GREAT! FOCUS on the positives, instead of the frustration. Make yourself think, I GET to feel this shitty because I CHOSE to be free. And I am going the WELCOME all the shit the Nic Bitch can come up with because that's the price of FREEDOM.


I recommend that you actually get out of bed and walk around. I used to creep into my kids rooms and watch/listen to them sleep. I also knew what time our paper was delivered. I'd make coffee and enjoy my quiet time in the house while my family slept. And I would remind myself what I was doing.

You will return to normal sleep. I can't recall how long it took. I sucked until it didn't. But that sucky feeling was actually the best thing in the world. The sleeplessness was just time I had to appreciate all of the great shit I was doing. I was FREE for the first time in years!!!

[Mr. Cope]

Day - 42 of my quit. Some interesting facts:

1. I feel pretty good most all the time.
2. I am not sleeping very well at all.
3. I have gain, of I don't know, 30 fucking pounds.
4. I do not even care to have a dip. I have been around a few friends and they are dipping and it is actually disgusting.
5. Food is tasting amazingly better than I ever remember it tasting.

The only real issue I am having is the lack of sleep. I would have thought by now I would be sleeping normally but I can tell you all I do is toss and turn. I may get 4, maybe 5 hours a night. Starting to wear on me.

Rock on fellow Quitters. I am quit today with each and every one of you.

[Old Dog New Tricks]

Well done Mr. Cope. You're making my Quit hard by example. I'm 38 year dipper on Day 5. About a month behind you. Thanks for paving the trail.

[basshaug]

Day 38.... Feeling good.

Keep killing it every day Mr.C.

[Mr. Cope]

Day 38.... Feeling good.

[Mr. Cope]

Day 34... Dip dream last night, WTF????? Woke up almost in tears bro! I quit today.. ODAAT

[pab1964]

DAY - 32 - That's right you Bad Ass! You made it through, over, under and around somehow for 30+ days of quit!

Thanks to all the other quitters here who have stayed strong and supported me though it all.

'dance'

Mr. Cope remember the good day's! There will be a lot more if you keep posting edd! There also gonna be bad one's, just manage them day by day, second by second, just get it done! Damn proud to be quit with you today my brother!