Diary of a quitting smoker

[robgruver]

Hi all. I am new to the board, and recently put up a post in GQ asking for ways to stop smoking. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/...threadid=52485) Also in that thread I had put in an idea of writing a diary of a quitting smoker for support and hopefully help others quit as well.

I don't want to sound like I am preaching, but in my life at this time it is right for me to quit. Last night I decided that today was the day for me to stop. I threw away my last pack of smokes, and grabbed a pack of patches from the drugstore. Told my wife and family what was up.

I will post at least once a day to let everyone know what is going, and hopefully get through this without killing anyone. So, here we go.

Day 1: Got up late (my work day starts at 3:30pm, so late for me is 2:30), and reached across my bed for my smokes out of habit and didn't find them. This was distressing for about 10 seconds, then I remembered what happened. I got up, had a shower and slapped on a patch. Already I was feeling funky, but I could feel the patch working it's magic.

The ride to work was tough. I normally smoke three to four smokes on the 30 minute ride to work. I jammed out to Limp Bizkit REALLY loud and sang at the top of my voice to forget it.

Once I got into work, it was a bit easier. Smoking is not allowed in the office (obviously), and the smoking area is wayyyyy off on the other side of the building, so I just have to dodge my other smoking buddies and I should be fine.

No one has gotten hit yet, but I do feel a little irritable and angry. I have been switched to doing Technical Support Email's instead of being on the phones due to this (I love my boss), so this is helping quite a bit.

I look forward to writing tommorow as day 2 of being a non-smoker.

[Moirai]

Congrats on one day without a homocide. My first day off smokes, it was a very near thing.

Hope you can sleep ok tonight, sometimes it's hard at first.

Good luck! And good luck to those around you...

[Zyada]

Yay! Congratulations! Feel free to lean on us anytime you need it.

We've had several people quit in MPSIMS and share their struggle with us. We're quite happy to give you support and encouragement.

[Shayna]

robgruver, I want to wish you the best of luck and also tell you that we Straight Dopers are one hell of a supportive group when it comes to efforts such as this.

If you want to read some really inspirational threads related to exactly this, check out:

The Great Straight Dope SMOKE-OUT Topic

and

The Great SD SMOKE-OUT Topic - Part 2

There are some great tips in those threads, and if you decide that you'd like to follow suit with our method, I'm sure you'll find many posters here willing to "sponsor" you.

You will find the first week the hardest to get through. Days 2 & 3 will be pure hell. The physical withdrawal is at its worst then, and you will have all kinds of weird reactions, like feeling light-headed, the inability to concentrate on anything, headaches and major irritability.

I'd post the current stats from my quit meter, but I don't have it installed on this machine. It's just over 8 months, with a couple of "cheating" weeks not too long ago, I'm not too proud to admit.

But believe me, the hell you're about to go through will be SO worth it when you're past it all. Once you realize that you don't stink anymore, that you can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee after a nice dinner out without rushing to get outside to grab a smoke afterwards, that you don't get out of breath going up one measly flight of stairs, that you don't have to avoid being around non-smokers, etc., you'll be extremely happy that you finally gave up this disgusting habit.

Best of luck, congratulations on getting through today, and let us know if/how we can help!

[Frannie]

Oh yes, three days of hell! I dunno how you're working! BEST of luck to you. On October 6, 2000 at 6:03 PM EST, I went from smoking two packs a day to smoking zero. As of this minute, I am still a nonsmoker. I'm sending good vibes. My best tip? Focus on the money saved -- there is so much more to blow on shoes and clothes now.

[robgruver]

Shayna Thanks for the threads. I am going to download the meter when I get home. I am having a hard time thinking clearly, and the patch is really irritating to my skin. I have taken it off, and decided not to use it, but like the single cigarette in my pocket, I keep it close.

I did have my first crisis moments ago. One of the other techies needed me to take a supervisor call, and I damn near killed the customer through the phone. (D.H. If you read the Straight Dope, I am sorry)

So that is now 2 homicides nearly commited. It's rough. If someone wants to sponser me and listen to me bitch and moan I would really like that. I would even pay the long distance charges if someone wants to listen to me cry. My Email is robgruver@hotmail.com .

Thanks everyone.

[robgruver]

Day 1, part 3: The pain is getting worse in my head, and the cravings are coming even faster. I am chewing gum right and left (12 sticks in the last hour)... If this is the hard part, I can only hope this gets better.

[Frannie]

It gets better! Honest!!! The physical part is most definitley the most excruciating, and you'll be through with that part soon. Just keep fighting. Think about all those rich tobacco lords... let's make 'em poor!

[TroubleAgain]

Originally posted by robgruver
If someone wants to sponser me and listen to me bitch and moan I would really like that. I would even pay the long distance charges if someone wants to listen to me cry. My Email is robgruver@hotmail.com .

robgruver, if you want to bitch and moan, I'm available to listen. I work evening shift tech support right now, too. I will email you my work email address. I'm here from 3:30 to 12:30 ET Mon-Fri (for now).

[nineiron]

Originally posted by Frannie
Think about all those rich tobacco lords...

MMM, rich tobacco...

[Frannie]

Human. Act human.

[robgruver]

Oy... There is always one in the crowed eh?

[Zyada]

Well, just think. They'll call it justifiable homicide!

[TroubleAgain]

Well, Rob, you've just about made it through your shift without killing anyone yet! Any tech support person who can avoid killing anyone under normal circumstances has to know how hard it is to do the same while stopping smoking! Techies everywhere are proud of you!

[Stoid]

I'm coming up on 4 months as of the 9th.

I smoked for 26 years.

2 Packs a day.

I feel fantastic. In NO danger of going back. Do NOT miss it (an occasional moment).

Never got cranky.

Didn't use the patch or gum.

Slept pretty hard for about a week, though.

I strongly, strongly suggest that you do NOT keep using the gum and patches. They are not really going to help you, they are just prolonging the addiction...the goal is to be free of the addiction, and you can do it in 3 days.

I have had an amazing experience this time, I have truly been set free. I read an amazing book that made all the difference. I had tried in the past and always failed. Completely fell apart, bought into the idea of misery and hell giving up my cigs, etc. But it really does NOT have to be that way. It really doesn't. You can be free without being crazy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...585703-7830042

I don't know where else to get it, Amazon US doesn't carry it. I found it on a remainder table and it completely changed and saved my life. I'm free. I'm whole. I'm happy. And I don't smoke.

Good luck.

Stoid

[nineiron]

Oh, for crying out loud, people, it was a joke. (You see, the connection between "rich tobacco lords" and "rich tobacco" was really quite a small step.)

Geez, so the person wants to quit smoking. I guess it's not "human" to ease the tension with a joke. OK, good luck quitting, then.

[Zyada]

nineiron - I realize that you won't understand this, but what you said was cruel. That you meant it as a joke doesn't make it less so, it just means you have a cruel sense of humor.

[nineiron]

Originally posted by Zyada
nineiron - I realize that you won't understand this, but what you said was cruel.

I won't understand? You're wrong. I quit a while ago too, in case you weren't aware. When I did, I found such jokes helpful because they eased the tension of a very tense process. ("Hey nineiron, the Sox really got smoked yesterday, huh? Oh, sorry..." "Wanna rent Smokey and the Bandit. Whoops...") Laughter, not offense, was the result and the intent.

Fine, robgruver is quitting smoking. This is good, if it's what he wants to do. Should we all now must forfeit our sense of humor? Let's be honest, there are FAR more earth-shatteringly serious topics than smoking in the world that you've made joking comments about in these MBs.

(Really, I'm not--nor was I before--trying to be antagonistic. My sense of humor is not cruel, despite what has been said. It was MERELY a pun on the two meanings of the word "rich." If it came off as cruel, sorry; it wasn't meant to be cruel.)

[Stoid]

oh Rooooooob? Where are ya, man?

If you decided to smoke today, don't beat yourself up over it. Just get that book, trust me. Look, just go read the reviews of it. They are all true. You can be free and NOT MISS IT!

I'm pulling for you!

stoid

[robgruver]

nineiron I am the same way friend. I like to make jokes as well, and I appreciate your sense of humor. Congrats on quitting smoking, and I wish you all the best. No one flame nineiron anymore I am cool with him.

Now then, my day so far. I woke up really early, about 10am (remember what I said above about my schedule). I am off today, so all I have to do is sit around and think about this stuff. I wasn't really craving as I got up, but I could feel it in the back of my head.

After about 20 minutes of emailing and chatting with a friend of mine on the West Coast, I decided I needed to get away from my computer, as that is one of the biggest places I smoke. I hopped on my bike (a drive was out of the question as I smoke a lot there) and just peddled.

By the end of the first mile, I was feeling good. I normally bike between 5-7 miles a day depending on a lot of factors. By mile 2 I was feeling a bit winded, as normal. By the 5th mile I could barely stand it anymore. I stopped at a convience store (I do street riding, not trail) and grabbed a Red Bull and a Gatorade. Walked up to the counter, and saw the holiest of holies. The Smokes. ::Insert Angelic music here::

It took everything not to say "And a pack of Marlboro Medium 100's in a box!!! STAT!", but I made it out. I sat down and slammed the Bull and sipped the Gatorade, and tried to stretch a bit.

I got home finally and had my shower. My wife had already gone to work, and my in-laws were not in (they are staying with us for the holidays). So I sat down to watch a movie.

Mistake. The cravings hit like a madman. Pain racked my face and neck. My chest felt like a weight was on it, and I could hardly breath. I curled up in a fetal position on my recliner and begged for sleep. I finally fell asleep, and woke up about 20 minutes ago.

The pain in my chest is still there, although my face and neck feel back to normal. I am coughing as well, thick black stuff that I won't even describe.

I know this stuff is normal, but dammit I hate it. This has got to be the worst I have ever felt... I pray to the Goddess for guidence through this, and I ask that all the dopers following me through this will send me their prayers/energy/good thoughts as I go through this.

I am going to a friend of mine this evening for a hypnotherapy session in the hopes that this helps. I also have an acupuncture session tommorow planned just in case.

I will write again soon.

[Moirai]

ROB! Get your ass in here!

nineiron, relax. There are some folks on the board who have no sense of humor. I found it funny, and I am neither cruel nor humor-impaired (I thought the White Sox comment was hilarious). Your friends must be the same people who came into my hospital room after I had my tonsils taken out and ate Doritos & drank orange juice in front of me. I quit smoking on Thanksgiving day in 1992, never had another since, after smoking 2+ packs a day. My friends found humor in my struggle, and it helped me relieve the tension.

Rob- how are you doing? Let us know.

PS- I agree with Stoidela (whoa, isn't there a pit thread about agreeing with Stoidela? ) about the patch & the gum. Just get it over with and you'll be ok.

[Spiritus Mundi]

I feel for ya, bro'. Take heart -- it does get easier. Faster than you think.

One thing that helped me: back in the olden days there was less sympathy for those trying to throw away the cancer sticks, especially among teh grunts I was stationed with. For a while, my "buddies" would take pleaseure in offering me a nail, dropping their pck down in front of me, etc. After a few iterations of this, I decided upon the strategy of uncompromising destruction. Yes, thank you. *Rip cigarette to shreds*. Is that for me? *Demolish pack with great relish*

Not only did it deter annoying GIs, it was a reat relief for tension and frustration. Later, when I would feel a strong urge, I would buy a pack on my own and purposefully destroy it. Hey -- it worked for me. *shrug*

[Moirai]

Hey, rob's post wasn't there before...

Damn computer making me look like an idiot again...

[Frannie]

Originally posted by Frannie
Human. Act human.

(I don't think I've ever quoted myself... This feels sorta... gosh, dare I say it? OK, "satisfying." It feels satisfying. Everybody may now laugh.)

Um, nobody found my "human" comment the least bit comical? Gosh

Oh, and I hope all is going well, Rob. My fingers remain crossed.

[Zyada]

Hey nineiron, sorry I jumped on your case. I really didn't mind the joke (my first post after that was really teasing) but the "I was just making a joke" statement pushes the wrong buttons on me. So if we ever meet at a dopefest you can spank me!

rob- glad to hear you made another day! I'm still behind you!

[robgruver]

I only have a short time today, as I am off to my friends for another round of hypnotherapy.

Speaking of that, I had my first hour session last night and it went well. After some initial misgivings (you know that whole cluck like a chicken while hypnotized) I finally relaxed and went under.

I awoke in what seemed like moments later, but was just over an hour that had past. I felt relaxed and calm. I didn't want a smoke which was great. I felt free, then I went to bed.

Upon waking today the cravings came back with a vengence. Worse than yesterday. It took me twenty minutes to get out of bed due to the pain in my chest... I almost ran to the store. My wife was there, and I yelled at her and threw my new book (John Grishoms newest) at her.

I feel horrible. I wept as I apologized, and she understood and forgave me, but I still can't get over the fact that she would much rather have me happy and smoking that pissed off like this.

More tommorow.

[TroubleAgain]

Hang in there, guy. Your wife is having a hard time now, which I personally have experienced, too. My hubby has tried to quit several times and sometimes it makes him a BEAR (to use a word that is acceptable in this forum.) Just remind her that you are doing this for her benefit, too, so that you can grow old together! I'm sure the book thing really hurt her, though. for both of you. I've never smoked, but like I said, been there, done that with hubby. I know it isn't easy for either of you. But we all want to be here for you, so use us for support, sounding board, or just a place to bitch about how hard it is and how crappy you feel! Email me, rant and rave, whatever it takes. Want my phone number? I'll give you that, too, if you email me for it. (Can even find a way around the long distance charges, too! )

[ruadh]

Keep at it Rob.

As you already know I strongly disagree with Stoid about the patch/gum/whatever. They do work for a lot of people. Of course, you have to use them as directed.

This is the longest I've been without a smoke in two years ... it feels great. You'll get there soon as well.

[TroubleAgain]

Rob?????

[absoul]

Uh, Ohh.