Smoking abstinence

Have you read Change Anything by Kerry Patterson?

This post is not meant to be a scaremongering tactic, but I recently buried my parents. Both died from smoking related disease. Both suffered greatly before they died. My mother died of COPD and after a year and a half on oxygen, having stents fitted in her lungs and being pumped with steroids, she effectively slowly suffocated as her bronchials died. My father got first oesophageal cancer and then another primary small cell lung carcinoma. He was stage 4 at diagnosis and there was nothing anyone could do. Chemo was palliative, not curative, just to buy him time. The oesophageal tumour was inoperable so he had to have a wire mesh tube inserted into his oesophagus to stop the tumour from crushing his windpipe. He was no longer able to eat normally and ended up with a Peg-feed (a tube in the stomach through which you put liquid food via a drip). At the end he weighed 55kg at 6 feet tall. I was there until the end for both of them and watched them take their last breaths. Neither of their deaths could be described as peaceful, despite palliative care nurses doing their very best with morphine and CPAP. They took their last breaths about 20 years before their actual life expectancy. Mum was barely 66, dad didn't see 68.

Now, you're only 26, so you think 66 is old and a million miles away from now. My mum always thought if she ever had any problems she would give up then. She was devastated when she was told she was stage 4 COPD and there was no cure, just "management" of her remaining lung function which would also dwindle. My dad was also relatively healthy until he suddenly developed a massive and inoperable aggressive tumour.

I wish I could share my memories with you and show you what I saw. Please try anything that's available. There are so many things you can try now, e-cigarettes, nicotine patches etc. You're so young you can turn this around now and walk away with perfect health. In 20 years this may not be the case. All I can say is, don't make your kids watch what I had to witness. xxx

I wish you all the staying power in the world.

Have you tried Zyban? They say it's a fancy name for Wellbutrin but it did work for me the first time I quit.

Hi Rob! I quite on January 1, 2014 and I now consider myself a former smoker. I had smoked at least 2 packs a day for 35 years. I quit because I was hospitalized with a partially collapsed lung and a diagnosis of Stage 3 COPD. I was in the hospital 10 days, and by the time I was released I had pretty much gone through the physical withdrawal (with nicotine patches) and just had to deal with the psychological cravings. I got myself an e-cigarette and when I wanted to smoke (almost always after dinner and coffee) I promised myself that if I still wanted to smoke in 30 minutes I could use the e-cigarette. I never had to do so.

I took the money I saved on cigarettes and about 3 weeks after I got home (after I was released by the physical therapist) I hired a personal trainer and joined MFP. So far I've lost 120 pounds. I found an old pack of cigarettes in a desk drawer today and had no problem tossing it in the trash.

Why was I suddenly able to stop? I don't know, but coming home from the hospital at age 58 with an oxygen tank was INCREDIBLY depressing and I just didn't want to be that person anymore.

I don't know what will be the key to your success in stopping, but I believe you will find it. But don't think you will always crave them--I don't anymore.

Good luck.

P.S. I am no longer Stage 3 COPD. In fact, my pulmonologist has taken me off ANY medication/inhalers since my last breathing test was 100% normal. He doesn't know if I was misdiagnosed, or if the weight loss and exercise and stopping smoking has strengthened me so that I have COPD that can be controlled with exercise. Frankly, I don't care--I'm just thrilled to have a second chance.

I quit September 8,2010. Cold Turkey. I'd paid $10 for a pack the day before but I was just done. I had to quit for my tummy tuck anyway, so the timing was perfect, and I didn't gain weight, and once I had the surgery I didn't miss it at all. At over 5 years in I can say I HATE the smell of others smoking and in even the most stressful times, including a divorce, moving, dad having cancer...I have not even considered smoking. The first 3 days are the worst but if you can get through that you'll be fine. Your body will thank you.

I quit 10 years ago after smoking many years. Here is the one tip I used that worked the best. Realizing that quitting smoking might not be easy but it is WAY easier than going to chemo, getting radiation, fighting cancer, surgery etc. I just imagined how hard I would fight for my life if I were diagnosed with cancer or heart disease. I used that strength to avoid smoking.
Withdrawal symptoms are a million times easier than dying of cancer and the cravings do go away. Even now occasionally I think of smoking but it literally lasts 15 seconds.
Good luck!

robs_ready wrote: »

Really appreciate all the responses guys, all have been incredible helpful.

It's 9:30am here in the UK, I've managed to go 12 hours now without lighting up, it makes perfect sense to continue this trend as the nicotine is technically already out of my system.

At the end of the day cravings won't kill me, so I guess I just carry on not doing it?

I'm going to go to the gym now and sweat it out.

Bravo, Rob! You got this!

I quite using Wellbutrin, plus patches, plus gum. Speak to your doctor, you could get nicotine replacement therapy at prescription price. Quieting smoking is similar to loosing weight. You have to remember what your motivation is, so you stay motivates, plus a good support system helps. Their is a web site i love for support, https://quitnet.meyouhealth.com/#/pledges/new. I have been off the tobacco for 2 years next month. If any one needs support staying tobacco free, feel free to add me as a friend. And yes I have bad days whee i have to stop myself from going out and buying more cancer sticks.