For all the smokers that want to be ex-smokers

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  • Jconner30
    Jconner30 Posts: 311
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    I posted this to one of my friends today...

    8 year and 6 days for me w/o a cigarette!!! My words of wisedom on this. If you find yourself smoking when you have a beer - stop drinking beer!!! If you find you have to have a cigarette with a cup of coffee - STOP DRINKING COFFEE! Take away the triggers! It will take you about 6 months to completely get them off your mind. Now, when I am around cigarette smoke, it makes me ill.

    Also, I have heard from multiple sources that its easier to quit herione than cigarettes! If you CANT QUIT then try those electronic cigarettes! My stepfather quit smoking cigarettes using one of those. He smoked for over 30 years!
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member
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    I was a roughly 14 year smoker and at my height was smoking 3 packs a day regularly, and on nights where I would go out drinking in my younger days sometimes up to 5 packs a day.

    My wife and I quit by using the perscription Chantix, and we didn't even need to complete the full month cycle. After 2 weeks we were smoke free and have been for about 4 years now. Chantix actually blocks the "pleasure" of smoking and after the first few days (you are allowed to smoke while taking the pills for the first week) when I would smoke I more often than not wouldn't finish it and found myself thinking "Hrm, this isn't that good, why am I even smoking this?"

    While I am generally very anti-perscription, I think that this one is a valid way of quitting smoking and getting back to normal without some of the pitfalls of going cold turkey.

    I admit there are times here and there that I feel like I would like a cigarette, but that feeling usually lasts for about 30 seconds and then the thought is gone.
  • adlwilmot
    adlwilmot Posts: 117
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    My reason to quit came as a result of having to interpret for a Spanish doctor and tell my grandmother (who lives in Spain) and cousin (who had flown over to Spain with me from the UK as soon as we heard she was in hospital) that my grandmother "has been a smoker all her life and her lungs are absolutely destroyed. She has a huge tumour in her right lung which has now attached itself to her ribcage. We tried to take a biopsy, but couldn't go deep enough with the endoscopy. We can go in from the side, but due to the emphesema she runs the risk of her lung collapsing and dying. Even if we do find out which type of cancer it is, the cancer specialist will probably refuse to treat her because the treatment will kill her before the cancer" All that with no warning and trying my hardest not to show any emotion on my face as the other two had no idea what was being said. That was at the beginning of Dec 2011.

    On Dec 22nd my grandfather collapsed and was rushed into hospital - I was in the air flying over to spend Xmas with the family in Spain. He too had been suffering from emphesema for years and only had about a third of one lung working. We took it in turns visiting him for the next few days to help him eat as he couldn't do this himself. On Xmas day my mother popped into the hospital to give him lunch whilst on her way to my aunt's house for the Xmas dinner (or as Xmas as it could get given the circs). She never made it to the rest of the family, as my grandad was so ill she insisted on staying with him the rest of the day and the night.

    Fast forward to the 27th of Dec. I had to visit him in hospital and say "good bye". And it really was "good bye", wasn't it. I would never see him again. I flew back to the UK that day.

    30th of Dec he died. 1st of Jan back on another plane to go to his funeral.

    I'm now on day 23 of not smoking. I'd wanted to quit for years but always failed. Having to sit there and interpret my grandmother's doctor's message really hit me deep down inside. I ordered some E-Lite electronic cigarrettes for my partner and I, with the intention of giving up on 1st of Jan. They arrived the morning of the 15th of Dec, AFTER I'd already had a couple of ciggies. I tried mine out as soon as they were delivered and haven't picked up a cigarrette since.

    I know they're a nicotine replacement so I haven't actually "given up", but I've definitely given up shoving toxins and C02 into my body. I will shortly start to ban myself from "vaping" inside, and will again go back outside if I want my hit. I will then start limiting myself to the number of drags I can have each time, and then the number of times I can use the electonic cigarrette full stop. Eventually I will wean myself off.

    But of one thing I'm sure, and that's that I never want any of my children or grandchildren to go through what I've been through this last month, all because of a dirty disgusting nicotine stick!!!
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
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    Today is my 6th day smoke free as well. Running my daily 6 miles is already much easier! I tried the patch but it made me sick so I am going "cold turkey" as they say!

    Day 4 here - patchin' it up!
  • emmyvera
    emmyvera Posts: 599 Member
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    Wonderful post! Thank you! I've totally cut back on my end. I've gone from 2 packs a week to only smoking when I go out to karaoke. :laugh: (Don't laugh.) I had one last night (the only day I smoked was New Year's Eve) for the past 2 weeks. And the one last night made me dislike smoking very much. I couldn't even finish it. I think I'm on to something. I slowly weened and now I feel great. :bigsmile:
  • Moin78
    Moin78 Posts: 41 Member
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    I just want to say one thing about Chantix. While I know for a fact that it works for some people, others (like me) have horrible interactions with this drug. I took it for almost a week, and while I was really enjoying the vivd dreams I was experiencing and the fact that I wasn't smoking as much by the end of that week, I became very suicidal.

    One night, I was secretly planning on taking a gun to my head .A friend of mine sensed something was wrong and he refused to leave my house that night. He made me keep my bedroom door open so that he could see into the room at all times. He waited until I was sleeping before he allowed himself to go to sleep on the couch (which has a straight shot into my bedroom). If he hadn't been there, I am sure I would have followed through with my insane decision to take my own life.

    This is just food for thought. If anyone decides to go this route, please, please keep an eye on yourself. If you feel off and are having any suicidal thoughts, stop taking it immediately! I was stupid enough at the time to not realize it was the Chantix and not me. If you know anyone using Chantix, keep your eye on them and look for weird behavior and signs and ask them how they are feeliing. Who knows? You may end up saving their life like my friend did mine.
  • mnishi
    mnishi Posts: 422 Member
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    I posted this to one of my friends today...

    8 year and 6 days for me w/o a cigarette!!! My words of wisedom on this. If you find yourself smoking when you have a beer - stop drinking beer!!! If you find you have to have a cigarette with a cup of coffee - STOP DRINKING COFFEE! Take away the triggers! It will take you about 6 months to completely get them off your mind. Now, when I am around cigarette smoke, it makes me ill.

    Also, I have heard from multiple sources that its easier to quit herione than cigarettes! If you CANT QUIT then try those electronic cigarettes! My stepfather quit smoking cigarettes using one of those. He smoked for over 30 years!

    I disagree with this, last night my boyfriend wanted to go to dinner with some friends, I was really hesitant because I know that with dinner comes drinks and with drinks comes the desire for cigarettes. Then I read somewhere on the internet that you can do everything you did before, you just have to learn how to do it without cigarettes. I went to dinner, had two margarita's, wanted a smoke, got over it, and then I felt really good because I realized that I really CAN do everything withour smoking.
    However, I did limit myself to 2, usually I'd probably have 3 or 4 on a night out. I didn't want to get drunk for fear of giving in, I will probably continue to limit how much I drink for a little while, but I won't deny myself any pleasures that I had before I quit (except smoking of course). I think it makes it harder to not be able to do things I used to enjoy.

    As far as the cutting down method, I tried this many times and it never worked for me, when I cut down, the anxiety I had about smoking got worse and I'd give in. If you really quit, it'll be really bad for a few days, but then it gets better.
  • amysj303
    amysj303 Posts: 5,086 Member
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    I posted this to one of my friends today...

    8 year and 6 days for me w/o a cigarette!!! My words of wisedom on this. If you find yourself smoking when you have a beer - stop drinking beer!!! If you find you have to have a cigarette with a cup of coffee - STOP DRINKING COFFEE! Take away the triggers! It will take you about 6 months to completely get them off your mind. Now, when I am around cigarette smoke, it makes me ill.

    Also, I have heard from multiple sources that its easier to quit herione than cigarettes! If you CANT QUIT then try those electronic cigarettes! My stepfather quit smoking cigarettes using one of those. He smoked for over 30 years!
    I did the opposite! I know it may sound crazy but you know, getting in my car after work was a trigger, everyday I got in the car, cracked the window and lit a cigarette. But when I quit I still had to get in my car everyday and one day, after just two weeks, I realized I got all the way home without even thinking about smoking. the brain forms new associations. So I kept drinking beer, and pretty soon, drinking beer didn't remind me of smoking. everyone is different but quitting smoking is hard enough without giving up coffee and beer:tongue:
  • Shishkeberry
    Shishkeberry Posts: 95 Member
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    I actually drink more coffee now than I did as a smoker! Only about 1-2 cups a day but I used to only drink 2-3 a week. After the first two weeks of quitting I only got cravings maybe once a week. It really does get better/easier.

    ETA: I did avoid some things at first that I knew would be triggers for me. I did the best I could to avoid long drives, I stopped going outside to the porch with my fiance when he was still smoking, and I threw away all of my lighters and smoking stuff. I can deal with just about anything now. Once you get through the usual triggers a few times (the first morning cigarette, after dinner cigarette, etc.) and the unusual ones (watching the first snow of the year cigarette, the cigarette after having a party and all of your guests have left and it's time to relax, etc.) it gets easier and easier every time.
  • mnishi
    mnishi Posts: 422 Member
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    My reason to quit came as a result of having to interpret for a Spanish doctor and tell my grandmother (who lives in Spain) and cousin (who had flown over to Spain with me from the UK as soon as we heard she was in hospital) that my grandmother "has been a smoker all her life and her lungs are absolutely destroyed. She has a huge tumour in her right lung which has now attached itself to her ribcage. We tried to take a biopsy, but couldn't go deep enough with the endoscopy. We can go in from the side, but due to the emphesema she runs the risk of her lung collapsing and dying. Even if we do find out which type of cancer it is, the cancer specialist will probably refuse to treat her because the treatment will kill her before the cancer" All that with no warning and trying my hardest not to show any emotion on my face as the other two had no idea what was being said. That was at the beginning of Dec 2011.

    On Dec 22nd my grandfather collapsed and was rushed into hospital - I was in the air flying over to spend Xmas with the family in Spain. He too had been suffering from emphesema for years and only had about a third of one lung working. We took it in turns visiting him for the next few days to help him eat as he couldn't do this himself. On Xmas day my mother popped into the hospital to give him lunch whilst on her way to my aunt's house for the Xmas dinner (or as Xmas as it could get given the circs). She never made it to the rest of the family, as my grandad was so ill she insisted on staying with him the rest of the day and the night.

    Fast forward to the 27th of Dec. I had to visit him in hospital and say "good bye". And it really was "good bye", wasn't it. I would never see him again. I flew back to the UK that day.

    30th of Dec he died. 1st of Jan back on another plane to go to his funeral.

    I'm now on day 23 of not smoking. I'd wanted to quit for years but always failed. Having to sit there and interpret my grandmother's doctor's message really hit me deep down inside. I ordered some E-Lite electronic cigarrettes for my partner and I, with the intention of giving up on 1st of Jan. They arrived the morning of the 15th of Dec, AFTER I'd already had a couple of ciggies. I tried mine out as soon as they were delivered and haven't picked up a cigarrette since.

    I know they're a nicotine replacement so I haven't actually "given up", but I've definitely given up shoving toxins and C02 into my body. I will shortly start to ban myself from "vaping" inside, and will again go back outside if I want my hit. I will then start limiting myself to the number of drags I can have each time, and then the number of times I can use the electonic cigarrette full stop. Eventually I will wean myself off.

    But of one thing I'm sure, and that's that I never want any of my children or grandchildren to go through what I've been through this last month, all because of a dirty disgusting nicotine stick!!!

    I'm so sorry about your grandfather, it's so hard to lose someone.
    It's funny that we all know how bad smoking is, but sometimes it takes looking death in the face to actually make us do something about it.
    I'm sure that if your grandfather knew that he paid the price for your longer, happier, healthier life, it would make him happy.
  • adlwilmot
    adlwilmot Posts: 117
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    I'm so sorry about your grandfather, it's so hard to lose someone.
    It's funny that we all know how bad smoking is, but sometimes it takes looking death in the face to actually make us do something about it.
    I'm sure that if your grandfather knew that he paid the price for your longer, happier, healthier life, it would make him happy.

    Thank you. It just came as such as shock, as all eyes had been on my grandmother and we had no idea Grandad was on his last few days. x
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
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    I just want to say one thing about Chantix. While I know for a fact that it works for some people, others (like me) have horrible interactions with this drug. I took it for almost a week, and while I was really enjoying the vivd dreams I was experiencing and the fact that I wasn't smoking as much by the end of that week, I became very suicidal.

    One night, I was secretly planning on taking a gun to my head .A friend of mine sensed something was wrong and he refused to leave my house that night. He made me keep my bedroom door open so that he could see into the room at all times. He waited until I was sleeping before he allowed himself to go to sleep on the couch (which has a straight shot into my bedroom). If he hadn't been there, I am sure I would have followed through with my insane decision to take my own life.

    This is just food for thought. If anyone decides to go this route, please, please keep an eye on yourself. If you feel off and are having any suicidal thoughts, stop taking it immediately! I was stupid enough at the time to not realize it was the Chantix and not me. If you know anyone using Chantix, keep your eye on them and look for weird behavior and signs and ask them how they are feeliing. Who knows? You may end up saving their life like my friend did mine.
    WOW...so glad your friend was there and listened to his intuition!
    I tried Chantix and while I didn't feel suicidal, I did have completely psychotic dreams. In one, I had killed and chopped up a random stranger, and it felt SO real that when I woke up, I was crying so hard that I was almost hyperventilating, and was ready to go turn myself in to the police and tell them what I did! It took a while to realize (and convince myself) that it hadn't really happened.
    Be VERY careful with Chantix! Some people have no issues with it, but its really powerful stuff.
  • kylee_marie
    kylee_marie Posts: 299 Member
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    I am on Day 5... cold turkey! i have tried to stop in the past, including using chantix and it just made me sick. i would have crazy dreams and then be naseous all day. cutting back method never worked for me because i would never make it down to 0! so far so good, even with this week being hell at work... so i am ready for a relaxing, smoke free weekend!
  • loriannmartin
    loriannmartin Posts: 209 Member
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    congrats keep it up... it is hard but it can be done... i am a former X smoker... bad one as well... despies the smell of it on people... my hubbys idea to quit but yet he didnt quit,,, the smell is a BIG TURNOFF.... good luck

    lori
  • Shishkeberry
    Shishkeberry Posts: 95 Member
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    Bump for the late night crowd.

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