Shameless help for quitting smoking

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

I backslid a bit. From my earlier post you see I qui–no, stopped smoking– July 10, using the nicotine inhaler thingy. Day before yesterday, I was in the health food store and they have these nicotine-free, “non-addictive” herbal cigarettes, and I got some. I haven’t been using the inhaler much more than 1 or 2 times a day. I smoked two of the herbal cigs that day and two or three yesterday. My husband saw the package and was a little upset with me that I was smoking again, even if they’re nicotine-free, and he’s right. I crunched up the rest of the box and threw them away this morning.

I had purchased, for a substantial amount of money, before quitt-- ceasing smoking, a tooth-whitening system, and started using it the first night I stopped, thinking this would help me not start back up because if you smoke while doing this, you’re wasting your time. I don’t know how I convinced myself that herbal cigs were OK. You can see by looking at the filter when you’ve smoked one, all brown and icky, that you’re still getting the bad effects of cigs, just not the nicotine. This goes just opposite of what I was trying to do, mentioned in an earlier post, to realize that there is no pupose in inhaling smoke, no advantage at all.

Well I’ve heard, when you fail and have a smoke, don’t think of it as failure, think of it as practice. I wonder if I have to change my “stopped date” to today and start counting all over again!

Another tip: have a plan for what you will do when the craving hits-- drink a glass of water, chew gum, take deep breaths, take a walk, whatever. Be specific about time and location.

42

Normally I buy 2 packs of smokes (yes I have been up to a 2 pack a day habit) but last night I only bought one.

Monday I will start on ultra lights. Ultra lights really suck because you don’t get that smoke feeling, it’s more like you are inhaling air through a filter. At least the need for nicotene will be less (I didn’t have a problem with the nicotene withdrawls last time) but I have to figure out how to drive and sit at the computer without lighting something up.

This is the part that scares me. Not the nicotene but the lack of that damn cancer stick sitting there lovingly burning down it’s cache. Then picking it up and with a deep inhale, hold, exhale.

This my friends is going to be the hardest part for me.

I don’t eat sweets so sucking on candy, even sugar free to replace my habit isn’t going to work. I drink a lot of water anyway.

Hmmm, replacing a habit with another habit but what could that new habit be?

43

Spell checking?
:slight_smile:

44

::Puts cigarette down so he can type a reply::

Well, I suppose this is as good a time as any for my first post. Been luking for over a year.

Count me in! I’ve been thinking about quitting for a long time.

45

******* A LITTLE SMOKING FUN FACT *******

The number of people who die each day because of smoking-related illnesses would be equivalent to three jumbo jets crashes every day.
That’s frightening! With those odds, I would probably never wanna fly!

46

Maybe that’s why they don’t let you smoke on a plane.

47

Spell checking?

HUH?

Hmmmm. Never been good with spelling on the SDMB. < shrug >

CArak

Welcome to the SDMB, if this is the only thread you participate in and you are successful in your quest to quit then I am all for it. After all this board is about stamping out ignorance. While we all know that smoking is bad, it would be cool if we could get one of our “newbies” to start this board and quit smoking with us.

August 1st, I will start a brand new thread, if that’s okay with the mods, that will be the Great August 2002 SDMB Smokeout. Every one that’s a former smoker or a stopper is welcome, and even those that have never smoked to join in the encouragement of our members to stop.

It’s not quitting (I repeat) it’s stopping and never starting again. I wanna shoot for 1/3 of the SDMBer’s here to put the smoking aside and move on to a healthier, stink-free, non-cloudy life. If you slip, you will not be looked down upon, only encouragement to get back on track. It’s not much different than changing other behavior, encouragement goes a long way.

Anyhow, I am about to go over and start a community on LJ to supplement this. A place were you can bitch, whine, moan, congratulate and encourage our fellow SDMB No-Smoking Tribe.

I need to think of a catchy community name, any thoughts?

This will supplement and not replace the efforts here. Sometimes the SDMB can be fickle and if you must get something out, it’s there for us all.

48

http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=2002_smokeout

This is for those on Live Journal, please post when you want. I want us all to be successful.

Regards to all my SDMB friends and those we may meet on the way,

Liz

49

TC, I hope you can kick this. My main problem was the habits, not the nicotine, too.

I’m here for support. I smoked for many years. Haven’t smoked now for many years, too. Y’all can do this. Be determined.

Shayna, darlin’, I think we got to know each other in a thread like this a few years ago. I hope you make it this time.

Cisco, don’t give up on that acount. I stopped smoking, umm, let’s see, 6 or 7 years ago after 30 years of smoking. I don’t even think about it. I’m around smokers and it never occurs to me to want one.

Jim

50

For your enjoyment.

Here’s a sample of the smokes you smoke every day. A 39 oz can of cigarette butts and ashes. I swear to you that is all that is in that large coffee can.

http://fff.fathom.org/pages/techchick68/smokes.jpg

I just wish I could recall how long it took me to fill it. I guarantee you, not much time. You empty your ashtray in little loads but try it if you aren’t convinced that you should quit. It will fill up a lot quicker than you think.

51

Some things I have in store for when I stop smoking.

Learning and playing hockey. Yep. I will be taking hockey lessons about Sept with my brother and my nephew. This will be an excellent opportunity to bond with my nephew and hang out with my big brother more.

I might actually be able to afford to go to Vegas and meet some crazy Dopers and also see Mr. Cynical and MissCreant in their nups.

Christmas presents for the children in my life will be more fun.

I can actually put some money into savings in case something happens with my car.

I will be able to get out of bed in the morning and not cough and cough till the goo is cleaned out.

There’s more, I will post later I am sure.

52

Yep - I am going do it and you people are going to help.
[sup]I hope[/sup] :wink:

I like your schedule Seven, thanks. I am going to use it. Except - I’ll have to be down to 2-3 cigs per day or less at the start of August.

But… I’m IN!

I thought the Health Canada site had some good tips and info.

And for the really bored and/or nicotine starved… here’s a page o’ links on quitting smoking.

And… Here’s something I posted in the previously mentioned “quit smoking thread”. I’ll post it here again if that’s ok…

From the Canadian Council of Smoking and Health and the University of California…

** The Butt-Out Benefits Checklist**

After 20 minutes without a cigarette: pulse drops to normal.

After 8 hours: carbon monoxide blood level returns to normal.

After one day: risk of heart attack decreases.

After two days: sense of taste and smell improves. Nerve endings start to adjust to the absence of nicotine.
After three days: bronchial tubes relax. Breathing is easier. Lung capacity increases.

From up to a month to up to nine months: exercising becomes easier, smokers cough decreases, energy is up and sleep quality improves.

After a year: risk of heart disease is cut in half.

After five years: significant reduction in risk of lung cancer. Death rate from heart disease drops to that of non-smokers.

After 10 years: risk of mouth and esophagus cancer decreases. Risk of lung cancer is almost the same as if you’d never smoked. Pre-cancerous cells are replaced.


I never joined in the last time a group of dopers tried to quit - but I am going to give it my best shot this time around.
Thanks Liz. (et al)  I'm going to get my counter now...
53

[sup]Sorry. That second “page o’ links” is the same as that first Health Canada link.[/sup]
:smack:

54

Well, it looks like I will be making it easier on myself.

Due to big financial concerns, I will have to cut my smoking dramtically, by 1/4 from now until then. Kind of a drag for the money thing but good for the decrease in the attachment to my brown and white sticks.

Thanks for the link meeks! Briefly looking through it, looks like a good source of information.

55

Just checking in to say I will be looking in on all of you with interest and to say good luck to all of you. I quit almost 5 months ago after smoking a pack a day for 7 years (started when I was 17). Don’t be afraid, it is not as scary as you think. I remember how terrified I was that for some reason life would not be as fun, that I would always feel deprived. Let me reassure you this is not the case, I feel like a whole person, and not dependant on cigarettes is a freeing feeling…just think, you don’t have to always wonder if you can smoke where you are going, you can get better seats in restaurants, not be itching to get out of a movie, don’t have to do that mental count of how many cig’s you have left and how long until you get more. Also, you will be free from the stink…and let me tell you, you will get your senses of smell and taste back pretty quickly, and realize that yes, you do stink! I am amazed how far away I can smell a smoker.

If you quit cold turkey (like I did) you will be free of the physical nicotine withdrawal in 72 hours. Some people find it easier to cut down or use a replacement therapy, but in my experience this just draws out the withdrawal (you don’t get as much nicotine as your body wants, so you still feel like crap, but you get enough to keep your addiction going). If you can get through those first crucial few days it starts to get easier. The mental addiction can be just as bad sometimes, but for me, just knowing it was “in my head” made me more determined to fight it.

The average crave for a cig lasts about five minutes, you can last five minutes, right? (Now, another crave may start 1 minute later, but as the days go by they get farther and farther apart). Then the day comes when you realize, “I haven’t thought about cigarettes in a long time.”

The thought that kept me off them during the first few weeks was knowing if I had one, I would have to go through those 3 days of withdrawal all over again. And after those 3 days, there is no point in having one b/c it won’t give you that release you’re looking for anyway…the only reason you get that feeling is because you’re replacing the nicotine your body needs. After the physical addiction is broken, your body doesn’t need it anymore.

Sorry this is going on, but I know how hard it is to quit. I also know how much better I feel now that I have done it…so good luck! And just keep reminding yourself, “It does get better. I will not always feel like this.”

You can do it!

56

Just checking in:

I’ve cut down from almost two packs a day to ten plus in order to get ready for August 5th. I’ve told my boss and co-workers. I’ve told my sweetie. I’ve tossed all the ashtrays.

I am thinking of making some sort of tee shirt. Something along the lines of “piss off. I’m quitting smoking” to alert the general public.

I am also a little nervous. Okay, very nervous.

I am thinking about getting the patch, but am not sure if I should just go cold turkey. I wish they had a pack o’ patches with ten or so patches, instead of the twenty five or thirty. Will you folks be using a patch/gum/inhaler? Or just quit on the fifth?

57

Trust me, go cold turkey. Re-read Velma’s wise words about dragging out the withdrawal. The first 3 to 5 days will be utter hell, but once it’s over, it’s over. Do you really want to drag that feeling out for 2, 3, 4 or more weeks, as opposed to days?

This is something I learned in the stop smoking clinic I took at the hospital a few years ago – the reason that smoking has a calming effect in spite of the fact that nicotine is actually a stimulant is the “deep breathing” we do when we puff on a cigarette. The fact that you’ll no longer be holding a cigarette in your hand should not stop you from continuing to practice deep breathing. When you feel a craving for a deep drag, DO IT – just not with a cancer stick in your mouth. Take a deep breath, hold it in, then blow it out. Hell, the first week I even mocked holding a pretend cigarette up to my mouth (fingers in a V, pressed to my lips, with nothing in them) to get the effect.

Another trick that worked for me was that I replaced the hand-to-mouth and need to suck something things with a bottle of water with a sport top. Drinking glasses of water didn’t help – it misses the whole need-to-suck-something thing. And to save on expense, I bought a 6-pak and just kept re-filling them from the tap.

StGermain, yes, Wally was extremely helpful to me the last time I quit – as were many others here on TSD. I was overwhelmed and touched by all the people who “sponsored” me every single day as incentive to keep going through the rough spots. In fact, I believe the whole “sponsorship” thing was Eve’s idea. Having someone I had to “answer to” if I smoked really, really helped. If anyone would like to try that method this time around, I’ll be happy to volunteer a day of sponsoring – just let me know.

BTW, the “smober” meter I use can be found at http://www.silkquit.org/.

Lord Jim, thanks for the words of encouragement. I’m confident I’ll make it this time – I have the best reason in the world – my wonderful new husband, with whom I want to have a long, long life.

It’s been 2 weeks, 5 days, 11 hours, 2 minutes and 25 seconds since my last cigarette. I’ve not smoked 389 cigarettes, saving $65.19, and adding 1 day, 8 hours, 25 minutes to my life to spend with Thomas.

58

I smoked for 28 years and recently celebrated my 1-year anniversary of being puffless (June 29th, 8:20 AM . . .) I chose the patch route, and it worked exactly as it was supposed to. I was no more irritable than usual and the weaning off of the nicotine really worked for me. I didn’t feel as though I dragged it out more than necessary–to me it was all necessary. I felt very level and focused the whole time. I noticed no transition between patches or between the last patch and no patch. YMMV (I have always wanted to use that acronym, and it is ever-so appropriate here).

Two weeks before I quit I started getting very edgy and upset, thinking “How the heck am I going to do this? I can’t even go 5 minutes without thinking of smoking.” But I answered “Now you are a smoker and thinking like a smoker. In two weeks you won’t be a smoker anymore.” I swear that worked for me. I just got so fed up with everything revolving around my habit. My life is so much easier now; I can concentrate on other things.

I still get cravings but I know they will pass in about 10 minutes. I don’t particularly feel physically better since quitting; I have gained 15 pounds. But mentally, I feel like a million bucks. The weight will come off. It has already leveled out.

To all of you who have decided to quit: It takes a lot to even voice that thought. In some ways, it is scarier to plan quitting than to actually do it. I wish you the best. Please keep posting.

(Quite a chatty first post, I know. But I feel so strongly about this and I have a lot of compassion for those who want to quit).

59

Please count me in.

If anyone would like to have an e-mail group, I’d be happy to start one so we can support each other. If you like, just e-mail me your addy or let me know you’re interested here on the board so I can start up the group. My e-mail is: TibsTanglewood@aol.com

You know, this is hard because I’m pissed off right now and that’s when I most crave a cigarette.

Tibs.

60

LOL Shayna, it’s like a child and her binky! That makes complete sense.

When I quit last time I had (and still have) Nicorettes. Over the course of the first two days, I used about 8 total. After that for the next few days I didn’t need any nicotene. Then I found a few in a pack, and then I said to myself “just one.” Then one led back into a two pack a day habit again.

BTW, Aglet Welcome to the SDMB and it cool to see someone’s first post about this subject. Mainly because there are so many of us that still smoke and we KNOW we shouldn’t but for some reason we continue. You on the other hand, have shown us that all of us with a commitment to ourselves can stop smoking and all of us can say to ourselves that if other people can do this, so can I!

Jorel congrats on the cutting back. This is the first step to being successful. You are reducing your dependance on the habit its self and the nictotene, this is a good thing!