Hey girl, I really hope that you get to feeling better - and soon. Good luck with finding the brace...I'm ganna search online for you too.
As for smoking, well bet you didn't know this but
I quit. Yup. Cold turkey.
I have never been so happy or so proud of myself. I have zero desire to smoke and it really wasn't too hard. I've been off for months now and will never pick it back up.
That would be insane. I can now smell smoke on me from being in a bar for just 30 mins or so. ugh. I grew up in a family FULL of smokers...I never - EVER - smelled smoke on someone...especially myself. It was awful the first time I did. Makes me never want to do it again!
You know I've smoked since I was 18 and it was a full blown habit...not social. I'm a better person for sticking to it....I'm getting over streph right now too. When I got the exact same cold last year it took me weeks to recover...Only a few days this time. I'm psyched!
Good luck to you and if you need any moral support you know I'm here!!