Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Hello again, My name is Pat and it has been 5 days and 11 hours since I quit cold turkey. This is my umpteenth time to quit using nicotine. I smoked for 15 years and switched to "snuff" to help quit smoking almost 12 years ago. I wouldn't recommend using snuff to quit smoking.
I find that Icebreakers is really the ticket for me. The coolness and hardness really satisfies when I am "Jonesing" for "pinch".
Ishie(Di) really thought it was cool that I made it through the weekend. 5 hour drive(one-way) 2 pre-teen boys, and a weekend with her family in a rehab home where her father is recovering from a massive stroke.
BTW- Seaside Memories. I quit on april 3rd at 10:07 am CDT. I will not use nicotine tomorrow(sorry-it doesn't make sense to say I will not smoke and I doubt that there is a stop chewing thread on the BCO.)
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Congrats to all of you on your continuing successes. I am a former smoker, one who never thought she would be able to sucessfully quit. I tried everything over a period of decades. In 2007, I finally did quit with the help of Chantix. I am still amazed that I did it and know that if I ever started again, I would likely not be able to quit again. I was hard core additicted to the drug, not the ritual.
I no longer have cravings and the ones I had for the first year were really not that bad and were infrequent. No small feat since my husband smoked and still does. Everytime I craved a cigarette, I craved being a non-smoker even more.
I did it and I know you can, too. I am rooting for you!
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purple32,
Thank you so much for your post! A diagnosis of COPD or any smoking related illness is enough to make you really take a hard look at whether or not it is worth it... I agree... quitting was the hardest thing I have ever done, including going back to college after being layed off at age 40! Dang those kids are smart!
I quit smoking and, once I was through the early period, have never looked back wishing I had continued to smoke... My wish is that all who desire to quit find the support they need, be it here or elsewhere, and the strength within to succeed....0 -
loverhertons,
My brother was into 'chew' and quit at the same time I did.... I must say before that I was totally unaware that chewing tobacco was every bit as addictive as smoking! Little did I know! He struggled every bit as hard as I did....
Welcome... I also think it is cool that you made it through the weekend! I will, with your permission, add your quit date to our roll call! Please feel free to hang out here... I would think the issues are similar when trying to quit any tobacco product!
Tampa,
Thanks for the support!!! Congrats on quitting and staying quit while living with someone who smokes... That is really hard! I have to agree that, knowing if I even have one I'd be done, has kept me on the straight and narrow0 -
my doctor told me I had COPD at age 40 as well and I guess that did not scare me enough . and everyone in my family smoke and all have emphysema and COPD , some are on 02 and continue to smoke . I don't know why that does not scare me at all . and cervical cancer last year and now the damm BC at 43 that is what got me to stop . I guess it all takes different situations for each person . now my quit smoking app says ..I am 6 weeks 19 hours and 29 min free of cigarettes ... i saved 428.13 by not smoking 856 cigs .. wow , each day I feel better .. but I still struggle at times of upset and depression , but it's not worth the damm withdrawl to go back .. I did 2 weeks on patch then just went cold turkey ..
Welcome and congrats to all the new ladies ... lots of support and great friends here ...
Love you all xoxoxo
Just for today I will not smoke
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lisamarie - My father had COPD and emphysema and was on O2 but that did not stop me either. Like you, when I got a cancer dx, that is what made me quit.
Just for today I will not smoke!!
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lisamarie, 6 WEEKS - YAY for you gal, you are going to town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Karen
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Thanks Karen ,,,
My thoughts COPD .. my doctor that diagnosed me did not even do any breathing test that is why i think i didnt stop he just told me I had it ... still I do not think i have it . just glad to be free of smoking .. for today anyway
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Karen I just took a peek at roll call .. my quit date is Feb 26th 2012 if u do another . hugs
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I'm baaack! I quit for 4 months, I started up again, quit for another few months, started again, etc ad nauseam. When I woke up from my mastectomy surgery - during a non-smoking phase, no less - the first thing I asked for was an ash tray. Obviously had no cigs in my hosital johnny, but clear what was the first thing on my mind (though I have no recollection of this, the nurses had a good laugh).
My father passed away two weeks ago, my grandmother passed away a week ago, my cousin who cared for me during chemo is in the middle of a 12-hour emergency surgery to remove a malignant abdominal tumor, my small business is closing, and those are just the big things - there are so many more little ones. How on EARTH do I quit now? Stress is definitely my trigger.
I have tried acupuncture, the patch, the pills, the works. I despise myself for continuing this nasty habit, but there is so little that gives me any comfort these days, and the cigs do.
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I have never smoked but you all are my heroes for quitting! YOU can do it. Sometimes I hear BC ladies who are smokers minimize the effects of smoking as not a very important risk factor. Don't listen-- QUIT, Keep Calm and Carry On.
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Bluecowgirl, I know that feeling . everytime I quit and id start again and i would say its useless , i can never stop .. its too hard .. I dont know why we continue to thchase habit . anyway I am finding it easier this this time
so sorry for all ur losses and troubles HUGS to u keep strong and think just for this moment I will not smoke ...and maybe the moments will lead u back to hours and days 0 -
lisamarie, I don't do the roll call, Seaside takes care of that, just send her a PM for the updating of the list, I know she mentioned doing an update soon. take care, Karen
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oops yeah sorry my mistake she did mention it .. lol
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Seaside: You're so sweet, thank you.
Karen: The Masters was a good showing for the state of Alabama. Jason Dufner, who was the leader on Friday, went to Auburn (woo hoo, War Eagle!!) and Bubba Watson, who won, played college golf at Faulkner State University, which is in Bay Minette, down on our coastline. Our Alabama boys can do more than play football
All you newbies hang in there, it is hard, but you can do it. And all our Veteran Butt Kickers (VBKs) keep on keeping on!
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Hey Bama, always good to see your posting, even if your avatar is blooming flowers, oh salt in the wound. Your boys sure did do well, I'm getting so I enjoy watching golf, I think Bubba's reaction was so tender, good to see a man get emotional. Today it is 52 but with a wind gusting to 35, had to wear my winter coat to go get my taxes done!!
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Karen - I hate to tell you this but I am going to do it anyway. It is sunny and 86 degrees here. I have my shorts and flip flops on. Sorry just had to do that.
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Oh Jo, more salt!!!!!! Someday soon, say July maybe August I too will wear flip flops and shorts.
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Karen - We skipped Spring and went right into Summer. I sure hope we are not in for a long hot summer. This is not always a good thing.
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I'm okay at coming off this. VA recommends taking it for an entire six months. After being on it for three months, I'd like to get back to sleeping without dreams every single night. Will though order a zero nicotine e-cig for the just-in-case plan.
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Great idea Galsal, it always helps to have a back-up. The dreams and sleep disturbances got to me the first week, the first couple days when I tried it a few years ago. You're doing a superb job!!! Karen
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GalSal: I never ramped up to full dose on Chantix - just kept chugging along at 1/2. Since that gave me extra, I stopped smoking before I had to renew the Rx. I think VJ's post is really on target.
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I too think VJs post is on point. Will let you all know how it goes! I'm hoping that maybe the blues will lighten up a tad also, coming off this.
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Vivid dreams is a side effect for both Chantix and The Patch-if applied at night. You might want to try just going to one pill a day in the morning or take the evening one very early in the evening. It is the timing of the doseage that is casuing that problem. The efficacy for taking 1 pill instead of 2 a day was not a huge difference--just a few % points.
Have a joyous day.
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i kinda miss my dreams from the patch
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Hello, my first time here. I took my first Chantix this morning, I have tried the patch, the gum, the lozenges, and cold turky. I have failed at every attempt. The longest I ever lasted was two months. Which was spent wishing for a smoke all day every day. Maybe if I reach out for support, and believe me, I am usually not the type to admit that I need help, I will finally get rid of this horrible addiction. Did I mention that my Dad had lung cancer, and my Grandfaterh had throat cancer? Both caused from smoking. Thanks for listening, and wish me sucess. 0
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babsbrink - Welcome to the best bunch of nonsmokers you could find. These ladies are so supportive. Others will be along to also welcome you. We have a motto here - Just for today I will not smoke.
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LisaMarie68--I've used the Patch--and I liked the dreams too-always bright technocolor and mine are always pleasant. It seems like instead of sleeping thru the night, I watched a long playing movie and I would usually remember them for a while.
Babsbrink--There is no failure until you stop trying--you've just had a few "practice" runs.
For everyone here--My offer is still open--I'll send you a free PDF copy of my "Tip" book to become smoke-free. I just need a regular email address.
Smokers are often hard on themselves about relapsing--but it's normal. Can you think of anything that you do as much as smoking? I smoked a pack a day for 21 years, (20 cigs x 365 days x 21 years = 153,300 cigarettes and at 10 puffs per cigarette that is 1,533,000 lifetime puffs I've taken). Nicotine has hard-wired the "need" or craving for nicotine into the survival part of our brain. And the repetition from the hand to mouth to brain creates many interesting connections between smoking and our habits--which can be different for every smoker.
Being successful requires that the desire to be smoke-free is more important than the pleasures derived from smoking or the ritual, AND it has to be worth going through the aggravation of figuring out what method(s) will work for you as an individual--sometimes that is a long trial and error process. My book has lots of tips--but it is really about the process--how do you figure out what is going to work for you? How do you make the next time you quit, the last time too.
Becoming smoke-free can be one of the hardest things you ever do but it can also be the most rewarding.
Have a joyous day, VJ
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Dear babshrink, you've come to the best support group you could find, we even have a new quiter support group within our full group, We have woman in their first days to month+ to yr. to ten years. I smoked for over 30 yrs. and thought I could never quit and I am now at almost 15 mos. It isn't easy but it is do-able, and we will all be around to help you. Post often for the support or to vent or just to read. Mark your calender as your quit date and we will go on from there. Are you going to use any nicotine aid, just read back and see you are on Chantix, Jo and I used the e cig, read back a few pages to discover what others have found helpful and we also have a cessation teacher who will e-mail you her booklet which is filled with tips and plans, - just send a PM to VJ. Others will be checking in to introduce themselves and welcome you. So glad to have you, Karen oops, VJ beat me
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Babsbrink: Welcome. Hang in there. I didn't have BC when I quit so didn't know about this site, but I did read posts at several other sites. It really helped.
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