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Rose	Jul-16-01, 05:37 PM (CMT)
"Survey for my doctor......."
Hi all! Just got back from my doctor appt. and I have a question - How many of you are smokers and coffee drinkers? 2 months ago he told me that if I quit smoking and drinking coffee I would never have another headache! I quit caffiene and am down to half a pack of cigarettes a day and he's still not happy with me!!!!! Of course, I asked him why, since I didn't start smoking til age 17 did my headaches start at age 6 when I obviuosly was not a smoker or coffee drinker then? He is very adamant that it is the nicotine causing these daily migraines - I think he's full of @*&$! I like this guy but I feel like I need to make a point, so please, if you will take a minute to answer these questions I would appreciate it very much. Thank you, Rose
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RE: Survey for my doctor......., leebones, Jul-16-01, (1) RE: Survey for my doctor......., VickiG, Jul-16-01, (2) Hi Rose,, hpilgrim, Jul-16-01, (3) RE: Hi Rose,, Christa, Jul-16-01, (4) RE: Hi Rose,, Shari, Jul-16-01, (5) RE: Hi Rose,, totweet1064, Jul-16-01, (6) RE: Hi Rose,, basketcase, Jul-16-01, (7) RE: Hi Rose,, Steve B , Jul-16-01, (8) RE: Hi Rose,, Leslie, Jul-16-01, (9) RE: Hi Rose,, leebones, Jul-17-01, (12) RE: Hi Rose,, sestewart, Jul-18-01, (25) RE: Survey for my doctor......., cboden1, Jul-16-01, (10) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Kritten, Jul-17-01, (11) RE: Survey for my doctor......., cheri, Jul-25-01, (37) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Morgan, Jul-17-01, (13) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Bookworm, Jul-17-01, (14) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Lulubel, Jul-17-01, (15) RE: Survey for my doctor......., heavyhead, Jul-17-01, (16) Oops....., heavyhead, Jul-17-01, (17) RE: Survey for my doctor......., jules, Jul-17-01, (18) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Steve B , Jul-17-01, (19) RE: Survey for my doctor......., totweet1064, Jul-17-01, (20) RE: Survey for my doctor......., imlea, Jul-17-01, (21) RE: Survey for my doctor......., kathy, Jul-17-01, (22) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Arden, Jul-17-01, (23) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Richard, Jul-18-01, (24) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Melonie, Jul-18-01, (26) RE: Survey for my doctor......., gincal, Jul-18-01, (27) RE: Survey for my doctor......., gmigraineur, Jul-19-01, (28) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Shari, Jul-19-01, (29) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Norma, Jul-19-01, (30) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Painfree, Jul-19-01, (31) RE: Survey for my doctor......., Charlene, Jul-19-01, (32) Type A personality, VickiG, Jul-19-01, (33) oxygen** you need it, di, Jul-19-01, (34) RE: Survey for my doctor......., ejvill, Jul-19-01, (35) RE: Survey for my doctor......., totweet1064, Jul-19-01, (36)

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Messages in this topic

leebones	Jul-16-01, 05:41 PM (CMT)
1. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
rose I am a smoker and coffee drinker. but I to have had migs since age 2 so that is not the prob. When I have a mig, sometimes the only thing that helps is a smoke. ok I know it is in my head but I need one when I have a mig. keeps me calm. wendy
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	VickiG	Jul-16-01, 05:54 PM (CMT)
	2. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	I'm neither, and I still have daily migraines, so here is one person whose pain must be caused from something else.
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hpilgrim	Jul-16-01, 05:59 PM (CMT)
3. "Hi Rose,"
I don't smoke or drink coffee. I do drink Diet Coke, and was convinced at one time that it was the Nutrasweet that was my problem. But I quit Coke for months, and had no change in my headaches. I think these people who say "it this, or that" are thinking too simplisticly. How's your mom? Holly
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	Christa	Jul-16-01, 06:50 PM (CMT)
	4. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	Your Dr. is full of it, LOL. I don't smoke at all, quit coffee a few months ago. Don't use artificial sweeteners, I work out for at least 45 minutes a day (when I feel decent)... I did not notice a bit of difference in my mig frequency after quitting coffee. I have a friend who smokes Camels (unfiltered) and drinks about a pot of coffee a day and finishes her night off with six pack of Guiness beer and has never had a headache in her life, go figure.
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	Shari	Jul-16-01, 07:28 PM (CMT)
	5. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	Hi! I do think that Doctors will sometimes grasp for ANYTHING that they can get a hold of. They will first think they have a diagnosis. If that doesn't pan out, then they will blame it on the patient and tell you what you are doing "wrong". I have found this true anyway. If he can't fix it, it has to be the persons fault. :\ I smoke and drink caffeine. I asked my doctor if I could get on the patch or whatever. He said for the first time in his 25 years of being a Doctor, he has to refuse me to stop at this time. He feels it would be harsher at this point in time for me to stop than it would be to continue...at least until we can get things under control a little bit more. Oh, and I get caffeine pills a lot of the time from Doctors. Some say migs need it, some say migs don't need it. Grasping I tell ya. LOL Good Luck! If you haven't seen any improvement with your cut downs at this point...my GUESS is that it has nothing to do with your migs. Shari
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	totweet1064	Jul-16-01, 07:43 PM (CMT)
	6. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	I smoke, do not drink coffee or caffiene of any kind other than what is in the fiornal w/codiene. I quit smoking for 7 years and during this time my migraines did not quit. So I don't think that if I was to quit again that it would help now either. I just love how some Dr.s' that is the first thing that they put the blame on. I couldn't count how many times the first thing an ER doc, or a new doc, or a nurse asks me do you smoke or drink, yes I smoke, no I do not drink, then they say , Now you know that smoking is one of the very worst things that you could do for migraines. Well, I am sorry, no that is not the worst thing that I could do for my migraine, the first thing that comes to mind are dr.s as was said in an earlier post, if they can't find whats wrong then it must be something that you are doing. Patty
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	basketcase	Jul-16-01, 08:37 PM (CMT)
	7. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	me too. coffee(one a day). used to smoke a pack and a half a day now maybe i'll have one cigarette. still have migraines. but i always encourage cutting back/quitting either way!
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	Steve B	Jul-16-01, 09:22 PM (CMT)
	8. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	Sorry but I just have to go against the flow on this one. Coffee IS a big trigger for me simply because it effects my blood sugar in an immediate way. Big rise than CRASH! Back when I was newly on the hypo diet I was still drinking 1/2 cup caffinated coffee in the morning. Had a blood sugar crash about 1-1/2 hours after b-fast about 4 times a week. Lots of TN and 2 migs later I decided to heed the advise and go coffee free. IMMEDIATE relief of symptoms. Because coffee and sugar cause the same flucuations in blood sugar I had to eliminate BOTH to achieve success in mig control. Eliminating one and replacing it with the other is just plain self defeating. Been there, done that, won't ever do it again! Steve
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	Leslie	Jul-16-01, 10:01 PM (CMT)
	9. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	I'm weird. I don't drink anything but water. Nothing at all. Not even milk. And I don't smoke either. I think your doctor is just grabbing at straws.
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	leebones	Jul-17-01, 01:34 AM (CMT)
	12. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	patty you quit smoking for 7 years and started again. Oh my god that is awful. I have tried to quit a million times, Now I think what is the point. Starting again after all those years. That is sad. Gives me more reason the ever not to quit.lol. but really, why did you start again. you dont have to tell me, I am just wondering it is so hard to quit and then to quit for that long and start agian. holy smokesssssssss. wendy
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	sestewart	Jul-18-01, 01:00 PM (CMT)
	25. "RE: Hi Rose,"
	Nope- Don't smoke and don't drink coffee- never have- however I've had migraines for 10 years now. Your doctor is seeking a solution that is too simplistic. Migraines are caused by biological phenomena- they can be made worse by some of our choices- ie what we eat- however migraines are a condition tht are in us forever. To say that your headaches will go away if you quit smoking and drinking coffee is just ridiculous. Diabetes and arthritis don't just go away with lifestyle changes. Unfortunately neither will migraines.
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cboden1	Jul-16-01, 11:24 PM (CMT)
10. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
I have suffered from migraines for over 40 years, sorry went through menopause 6 years ago and actually saw an increase. I have listened to people tell me what I should just give up to be cured of my migraines for years and being desperate, I tried all the reasonable ones and even some crazy ones. I finally gave up all caffeine (I am very careful about ingredients)and artificial sweetener about 6 months ago- still no change in migraines, only water to drink. Then 2 months ago I went to a Healing Intuitive who suggested I give up all wheat and corn- in all forms. I drive myself crazy reading labels (corn comes in many, many forms) but I am noticing a definite decrease in the frequency of my migraines- from 3-4 a week to at least 7 days between them- or at least until they are bad enough to take any medication to abort. I also took myself off all preventatives. The only other thing she suggested was for me to eat a small amount of red meat twice a week and seaweed five times a week. Who knows? Bottom line - there is no one answer for everyone- but we just keep plugging away. People who don't suffer from migraines really just don't get it, but some of us are lucky enough to have people in our lives who at least try. Connie
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Kritten	Jul-17-01, 00:39 AM (CMT)
11. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
I smoke about 8 cigs/day and drink Mountain Dew daily (about 4-10 cans). Heh. I had these worse before I started smoking (but smoking WILL make them worse if it's already at a 9 or so) and I gave up caffene for 9 months, and I sure didn't notice a difference. You might have some trouble with caffene withdrawl. My grandma gets horrible migs if she doesn't have her coffee, but ONLY then. Hope this helps!
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	cheri	Jul-25-01, 00:41 AM (CMT)
	37. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	My neuro. told me just to cut dowm on the coffee because of the withdrawl effects. So I have and I think it does seem to help. But I still get a ton of migraines anyway. I do not smoke. I used to and those caused me to get more frequent migranes so I had to smoke. So maybe they are causing more frequent migraines for you, but it is absolutely false that it is the cause. In my opinion.
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Morgan	Jul-17-01, 05:03 AM (CMT)
13. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
I don't smoke or drink. I used to, though. But quitting did not seem to help with the migs at the time. However, second-hand cig smoke is a big trigger for me now. I can't hang out in rooms where it hangs out! I drink coffee (one cup of half decaf, half reg in the mornings). In the past, I've tried cutting out coffee entirely, but it did not help. However, if I go really nuts with the caffeine--let's say I drink a cup of reg coffee after dinner (in addition to having had the morning half cup)--then it seems to encourage a mig. IMHO, your doc's barking up the wrong tree, probably.--Morgan
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	Bookworm	Jul-17-01, 07:51 AM (CMT)
	14. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	I smoke and drink coffee. My doctor also told me if I quit both I wouldn't get any more migraines. He also tried to tell me that I am having withdrawl syptoms while I'm sleeping and that is why I wake up with the killer migraines. I say Bullsh*t! If that was the case then I would have that killer headache every morning when I wake up. I have in the past year cut back on both with no real difference being noticed. When I have a bad headache I can't stand the smell of cigs but hot coffee will sometimes help. It has to be hot coffee or tea because a Coke or Pepsi won't do the same thing. If caffeine is so bad then why is Midrin usually the first med they want to try on someone? Just thought I share my opinion. Wendy
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	Lulubel	Jul-17-01, 07:59 AM (CMT)
	15. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	Hi! I'm a coffee drinker AM and again during the day usually during those mid-day slumps and a light smoker...less than 1/2 pack a day. I have had migraines since I was 13, way before I was a caffiene fiend and smoker. I could see, though, where too much caffiene and maybe an allergy to cigerette smoke could cause a migraine. Lynda
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	heavyhead	Jul-17-01, 09:14 AM (CMT)
	16. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	Yup and yup! I am also a big fan of rock and roll and rebellious lifestyles. Anyway..... I tried cutting back on coffee about 3 years ago. I figured it was causing my migraines and the dark circles under my eyes. I do NOT drink soda at all, so coffee was my only source of caffeine. After over 6 months of being caffenie free, the circles under my eyes went away a bit....there was no change in my migraines. So I started drinking it again. As for smoking...I had my 1st migraine before the age of 3. And I did not smoke back then *lol* Perhaps it does dehydrate me and aid in the migraine, but other than that I dont see them being related. ns
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	heavyhead	Jul-17-01, 09:18 AM (CMT)
	17. "Oops....."
	I forgot *lol* As for the caffeine, it does at times really help me when I am having a migraine. If I take my medicine and wash it down with a warn cup of coffee, it can really do the trick. My doctor told me this years ago. I think it is better to do it this way then have it in the medication, because if you have to take another dose...you wind up with a lot of caffeine in the system. What it does is speed up the process of getting the medicine into the bloodstream. i think this is due to the natural effect caffeine has on the body and the metabolism. Having it warm also speeds up the disolving of the pill. hh
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jules	Jul-17-01, 09:37 AM (CMT)
18. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
I don't drink much caffeine, just the occassional soda or tea, but that's because I just cut way down on my caffeine intake. I used to wake up in the morning with a Coke but I was getting a headache every morning due to caffeine withdrawals until I got that Coke in my system. So now I mostly drink water. As for cigarettes, I used to smoke almost 2 packs a day but I quit in '95 when I was in a car accident that punctured my lung (never really realized how much I used those things until I suddenly couldn't get one of them to inflate!). All my friends, including my boyfriend who spends 99.5% of his time with me, smoke. When I have a headache, I do not, will not, can not tolerate smoke around me. It makes the headache worse and often leads directly to nauseau. I tend to agree with most of the other posters that if you haven't noticed an improvement in your migs, you probably won't. But I suggest you give it a 100% effort for one month and see what happens. No cigs, no caffeine for one full month. It may not help your migraines, but I'll guarantee the rest of your body will appreciate it. And just a side note - one apple in the morning is more of a pick-me-up than one cup of coffee and it's much better for your health (and your breath!!). Julie
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	Steve B	Jul-17-01, 09:53 AM (CMT)
	19. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	Jules- You've just about got your trigger figured out! You're hitting all the fixes, but just haven't yet got the background info to put it all together. KEEP TRYING!! The thing about the morning headache and needing a coke: It probably is not just the caffiene but rather the sugar that was helping you. The apple does the same thing only better as you have noticed. To get the final pieces of the puzzel you'll need to get a glucometer and measure your blood sugar levels and do some more reading. Are you ready to slay the monster that lives in your head? Steve
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	totweet1064	Jul-17-01, 09:55 AM (CMT)
	20. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	Hi Wendy, I quit smoking because I got saved, and then after 7 years I backslid on the Lord and the first thing that I wante after that was my cigarettes that I had given up. I know that we all here have different beliefs but I wanted to be truthful. I also heard one time that on a news program that they recommended 1/2 cup of coffee every morning for migrainers. So for about a year I started drinking it, but it didn't help and I was not a huge coffee drinker so I stopped. Anyway I just wanted to answer your question about the smoking. Patty
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imlea	Jul-17-01, 05:33 PM (CMT)
21. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
Hi Rose, I used to smoke as a teen.I quit after one year, I had my migraines before and after.I'm 33 now. So I don't believe smoking had anything to do with it. But, I have horrible reactions to second-hand smoke. Especially the last five years. if anybody within a 100 yards is smoking I literally run away. If I've inhaled to much smoke I get a mig that lasts for two to three days. I've had to leave several restaurants because of it. So, It may be something to think about. As for caffeine, I stopped drinking caffeine three years ago for a diet and decided to stay off of it because of the other medical problems it could cause. I've figured why get hooked again when I could live without it. Unfortunatly, my mig are just as bad as ever. I hope this helps.
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	kathy	Jul-17-01, 06:30 PM (CMT)
	22. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	I quit smoking 5 years ago and didn't drink any caffeine at the time....it didn't help much. Kathy
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Arden	Jul-17-01, 06:33 PM (CMT)
23. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
I don't smoke or use caffeine (except in pain medicines) and my migraines and cluster headaches are still going strong.
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	Richard	Jul-18-01, 06:38 AM (CMT)
	24. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	Tell you doctor that I am proof that he is right, I am afraid. Smoke too much, drink too much coffee every morning. Sorry. Richard
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	Melonie	Jul-18-01, 10:39 PM (CMT)
	26. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	Don't smoke as of almost 6 yrs and if I don't have at least one cup of coffee a day, I'm sure to end up with a headache. Mel
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	gincal	Jul-18-01, 11:16 PM (CMT)
	27. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	I have never smoked and I don't drink coffee. But I do drink one or two cokes a day.
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gmigraineur	Jul-19-01, 07:22 AM (CMT)
28. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
I haven't smoked in twelve years and my migraines have progressively worsened, and I gave up coffee for a year with no improvement, so I'm back to a couple of cups in the morning. I've given up meat, I've given up dairy, I've given up beans and cheese, pickles and hot dogs....the list does go on doesn't it...oh, yes, and chocolate! And yet, the migraines continue.
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Shari	Jul-19-01, 08:09 AM (CMT)
29. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
(sorry to interupt this survey but...) It always kind of "gets" me when I hear doctors saying the cause is smoking and drinking caf or something. There are millions of people who do, and they don't all suffer. Sometimes the logic does not add up for me. :\ Shari
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Norma	Jul-19-01, 09:40 AM (CMT)
30. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
Something I was reading about migraines--I think it was a Dr. Andrew Weil thing, said that cigarette smoke is a trigger for a significant number of people with migraines, but not something doctors needed to advise them on, because the ones who have that trigger have intense pain immediately on exposure to smoke (I do), and wouldn't dream of picking up a cigarette. If it doesn't make you hurt, then it is not a trigger for you. I don't know about any long term or cumulative effect. I think the same is probably true of caffeine, which does not bother me. I can, however get a rebound HA if I start using alot of caffeine and then don't get any for awhile. Don't know if cigarettes might do the same thing. Both are vasoconstictors, which means they can help a HA in the short term. Norma
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	Painfree	Jul-19-01, 11:48 AM (CMT)
	31. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	I have often heard that if you DO NOT consume caffeine that having some will help to get rid of a headache. I have known many people which this is true for. My doctor has also told me that quitting smoking is likely to help lessen the headaches both in number and degree. I notice that if I smoke too much I can start to get a headache. I notice there are a lot of us who either smoke or have smoked. There is often a personality trait in smokers which I feel is likely to increase our chances of getting more headaches. Smokers are often more tense wound up people that will generally fit into a type A category. These are people who are more likely to get headaches and/or intestinal problems. For many of us stress is a huge trigger. While under stress we are also likely to smoke more and consume more caffiene. Obviously quitting smoking and/or caffiene is not the answer if you are a type A personality. Relieving the stress from our lives and the way that we internalize issues is the only cure. How do I just decide to be less stressed? Much of the trigger is internal not external. I am certainly not saying that there is not a medical issue. I'm saying that we may be able to help control the issue somewhat if we lived in a bubble with no other issues to stress us.
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	Charlene	Jul-19-01, 01:17 PM (CMT)
	32. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	Sorry to say I do both,smoke and drink coffe,against my cardiologist protests.Two daughters,neither one drink coffee or smoke.Not much help.Mine started at 10 and I did niether of those things at 10.
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	VickiG	Jul-19-01, 02:34 PM (CMT)
	33. "Type A personality"
	That's an interesting comment about the people who are more likely to smoke being the people who are more likely to get migraines. So what you're saying is that they are not a cause and effect, but perhaps both being "caused" by something else. Interesting. I have noticed that I don't feel any better when I have less stress in my life (such as this summer, when I'm working only 6 hours a week, if that much, tutoring, and doing nothing else but rest from this migraine). I remember the semester after I graduated from undergrad. I took it off and just taught one class two days a week. Yet I continued to get worse. The doctor told me that I am a Type A personality, and am probably stressing about the fact that I didn't have stress in my life. He said that he's the same way, and we really can't say to decrease the stress to feel better because we will just create stress for ourselves if we do.
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di	Jul-19-01, 03:59 PM (CMT)
34. "oxygen** you need it"
oxygen! carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in your blood, and an anoxic brain is a VERY unhappy one. I know it sucks to quit, but do it! I lost my mother, uncle, and grandmother in 2 years to smoking complications. You will feel better in so many ways, I promise!! I am rooting for you- keep us posted! Di
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ejvill	Jul-19-01, 04:17 PM (CMT)
35. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
I dont smoke or drink caffine nor alcohol not that I dont wish to have a drink from time to time but I dont. I find myself on a very strict diet no wheat no corn no processed sugars so everything I eat I make from scratch. I make my own juice and I drink only distilled water. I still fight the dailey battle. But I do have a question about smoking being it is so addicting? Please dont take it offensive, but being nicotine is a drug and so addicting have you all quit long enough to know if it is a trigger? I would think that would be about 3-6 months to unsaturate your liver not including you lungs.
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	totweet1064	Jul-19-01, 05:16 PM (CMT)
	36. "RE: Survey for my doctor......."
	I don't take what you said as offensive at all, but I did go for 7 -8 years (can't remember right now) without smoking with no change. Patty
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