This little nicotrol inhaler I got seems to be pretty cool. When ever the nic-fit gets too bad, I just suck on it and the craving lessens.( It does NOT go away) I can’t decide if I’m trading one addiction for another, but right now I just wanna stop smoking. I’ll worry about the rest later.
Wally, I just want to come over there and hug you!
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Wally}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
I got past that hour. And the next one. And another one. But I am barely hanging on by a thread. You had that voice in my head so dead on, it’s scary. Today is NOT a good day for me to be doing this. But then — there will always be something. At least with me anyway.
Jeannie, I’m as miserable as you are. My cheeks also hurt. What’s up with that?
Dave, how are you doing today, since this is your first day?
Chief Cruch, welcome aboard our nightmare ride. How was your first day?
Lissa, are you still hanging in there?
Missy, you ready to join us yet?
Delta, Eissclam, EvilBeth, Sassy, zyada & Grace - you all rock! Eissclam, I didn’t go for a walk this morning, but I’ve been walking a lot on breaks at work today instead of smoking. Thank you so much for all the cheering and encouragement. I absolutely know I could not be doing this without all of you helping me along.
I have been smoke free for: One day, 16 hours, 21 minutes and 24 seconds.
20 cigarettes not smoked
Money saved: $3.13.
Life saved: 1 hour, 40 minutes.
Shayna, thank God you’ve made it. I was about ready to give up. I thought, “If she’s had a cigarette today, I’ll have one too. Just to get me through the day.” I know I was looking for an excuse to smoke. I know it was wrong. I feel better because I know you made it.
I was reluctant to mention the thing about my cheeks hurting. I thought it was all in my head. It’s awful. I thought not smoking would feel so wonderful, but it doesn’t. I really want to smoke.
I went and picked up another herbal thing today. It’s called Kava. It’s for relaxation. I am only taking it in the evening though, since I’m told that it can be extremely relaxing for some people. I hope it can help. I still feel so irritable and fidgety.
My meter now reads:
I have been smoke free for: One day, 20 hours, 34 minutes and 39 seconds.
27 cigarettes not smoked,
Money saved: $5.57.
Life saved: 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Oh, and I keep forgetting to say thank you to Wally. Your words have made an impact on me.
And evilbeth…I got the virtual flowers. Thank you so much!
Jeannie, bless your heart. I keep thinking the same thing you do - if she gets through today, then so can I.
I know we’re not feeling better now, but we will. I did this many years ago (probably 12), and I remember how much farther I could power-walk, how much longer I could work out, how I didn’t get winded going up 3 flights of stairs. Too bad it only lasted 7 months until I started up again. 
It’s kindof like being an alcoholic who can never even touch one drop of liquor the rest of their lives. I can never have one drag off a cigarette or I’m right back off that wagon smoking half a pack or more a day. I know people who can smoke socially, once or twice a month. I hate those people. LOL
Cristi, I meant to include you in my reply above and I forgot. I’ll head over to the Pit when I get home. I’d LOVE someone to honk off at right about now! 
How’s the Zyban doing for you?
I’ve been smoke free for: One day, 17 hours, 6 minutes and 16 seconds.
20 cigarettes not smoked
Money saved: $3.19.
Life saved: 1 hour, 40 minutes.
Well, all you people quitting smoking, don’t give up quitting now! Do you really want to go through all this again? (I never realized the severity of the withdrawal symptoms.)
The Wellbutrin I’m taking isn’t doing diddly to make me not want to smoke. What it is doing, though, is making me feel a little better, which is why my doctor prescribed it in the first place.
I think I’m going to try this on Monday. My bowling banquet is this Friday, and if I quit right now, I will never make it through that without bumming one off somebody. And that will also give me two weeks to try & work the inevitable bitchiness out of my system before Chicago, and three weeks before I move in to my new house.
As for the cheeks hurting thing, I’m going to make a WAG–feel free to tell me I’m completely nuts on this, if you want. When you smoke, you pull in the smoke with your cheeks. Now you’re not doing that. Maybe it’s lack of excercise. Just a theory. :rolleyes:
And evilbeth? Thanks. 
Assholes. Next time someone tells you that, look at them and say “I bet I’ve gone longer without a cigarette than you can go without caffeine” (Just make sure they drink coffee or coke first 
) FTR, I’ve never smoked (well, one or two cigarettes in HS) but I was addicted to caffeine and had to quit. And I had to cheat to do that.
Jeannie - none of the pain is in your mind - nicotine is a demon that wants to keep you in it’s clutches. It uses the pain to drag you down with it. Think of withstanding the pain as a victory in your fight against the little ratfuck. Soon you will win.
BTW, if anyone hasn’t quit yet, I’ve heard that getting your tongue pierced is a good way to kick the habit. (From a friend of mine who did, and did, but started back up again after her tongue healed)
Please don’t be mad at me. I’m not proud of it. I am not as strong as I thought I would be. It is a lot harder than I thought.
I don’t think I was ready yet. I know that’s not an excuse. I decided to do this on a whim, and I was not geared up for it. That is also not an excuse.
I will continue to take my herbs. I will try again in a few days.
I will keep up with the thread. I will cut down in the meantime. I’ll keep you posted.
Everyone else, I am still rooting for you. I feel lousy about this. I swear I will try again.
Oh Jeannie, please don’t feel bad! You have no idea how close I am to having one myself right now. I haven’t stopped crying all day.
But you know, having one or even two or three doesn’t mean you aren’t quitting. Have that one or two to get you over the edge and then start fresh in the morning. But if you feel you need to wait a few days before trying again, I understand. I’ll just have to be in hell without you - LOL.
Thank you, Shayna. I tried to tell myself that having one or two didn’t count. I am still trying to quit. If it takes me all month, or even all year, I will do this.
But I won’t continue to use the meter until I am actually smoke-free. I was trying to quit cold turkey, even though it’s never worked before. I have to admit that I need to depend on something to get me through it. If I haven’t quit by Monday, I have a doctor’s appointment. I will talk to him then about quitting. If I need every patch in the world, I will do it.
Gals,
I would highly recommend getting some kind of palative, such as my inhaler. It gives you a shot when things get real bad, and helps you coast to the next one. Talk to your Dr. about it. One or two isn’t the end of the world, but now start over. See how long you lasted today, and tell yourself that no matter what, you’ll last an hour or two longer tomorrow. Shayna- keep it up. It’s tough, I know, but WE CAN DO THIS.
Shayna still thinking about you. Remember don’t smoke!
You can do it!!!
Thanks dave and aha. I’m trying. It’s sucking the life out of me. I’m a wreck. I’m sitting here eating red, seedless grapes. And still crying. And coming here for the support.
Whoever said Zyban works, lied.
I’ve been smoke free for One day, 21 hours, 34 minutes and 20 seconds.
22 cigarettes not smoked
Money saved: $3.53.
Life saved: 1 hour, 50 minutes.
I am so proud of all of you! (I hope that doesn’t sound condescending–I don’t mean it to)
You are all (yes, all) doing wonderfully.
I am in awe of the sheer willpower and strength you must have to do this wonderful thing. I know it feels anything but wonderful right now but just hang in there.
It will get easier!
Keep up the great work!
I’ll be back!!
It gets easier, but you have to keep on it. You can’t let your guard down, even more than a year after you quit.
My friend and his wife started smoking again after three months, so watch out.
At first, all you can think of is the fact that you deserve to have a cigarette. Life looks so bleak without smoking to look forward to. But it definitely gets better.
Now, for me, the cravings are over in a second or two, hardly enough time to go to the store and pick up a pack.
It is a goal worth reaching, but you are probably never fully quit.
One year, four months, one day, 9 hours, 32 minutes and 26 seconds. 17093 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,307.48. Life saved: 8 weeks, 3 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes.
Jeannie, don’t feel bad. It’s okay. You tried, and that’s more than a lot of smokers do.
Give yourself a bit of time, prepare yourself mentally, and try again. You’ll do it because you want to.
Shayna, this will sound corny, but I’m so proud of you for hanging in there last night. Everytime you fend off a craving, you take one brick away from this wall of addiction. A little while longer, and the whole thing will come crashing down. the craving will be reduced to an occassional minor annoyance, then to a fleeting twitch, and then to nothing.
That’s when you’ll try to answer the question: “Why the hell did I ever smoke in the first place?”
The rest of you guys: What gives? Time to check in.
Wally the Coach needs a progress report.
It has been 2 days, 9 hours, 33 minutes and 18 seconds of pure hell.
But I’m still doing it. At this point, probably the only reason is that I don’t want to let you guys down after all the incredible support you’ve shown me here.
I’m starting to feel my lungs draining. It tastes gross. I’d like to cover it up with the taste of a good, menthol cigarette.
But I realized today that I can breathe in deeper than I could before. And hold it longer. I’m sure in the long run it will have been worth all this agony.
Thank you again, everybody. I swear I would not still be doing this if it weren’t for you!
28 cigarettes not smoked
Money saved: $4.46.
Life saved: 2 hours, 20 minutes.
Shayna, you rock. I don’t smoke, but a few people that are dear to me (parents, among others) have quit and I have nothing but admiration for them. Keep it up!
Oh, and the rest of you that have quit also rock!
I just wanted to say congratulations too. I quit 10/94. I had the hardest time dealing with stress. Evidently I had smoked cigarettes instead of dealing with something that was bothering me. My emotions were very fragile and very much on the surface. I was hurting physically too. I kept telling myself that I would smoke later, and I never let later happen. I had to cut down on my coffee and soda intake because caffeine just made the cravings worse. I apologized to my smoking friends and told them that I wouldn’t be hanging around with them for awhile.
It does get better! I wish that I could help. If you smoke one, don’t think that you can’t quit just because you were backsliding. Resolve to stop again immediately. You can quit.
Shayna wrote:
[quote[But I’m still doing it. At this point, probably the only reason is that I don’t want to let you guys down after all the incredible support you’ve shown me here. [/quote]
We’ll take it any way we can get it.
You’ve shown a strength and courage you probably didn’t know you had. The Zyban is no help, and yet you continue. You’re suffering physically and emotionally, but you’re still hanging in.
If it means anything, you have my admiration. Hell, anyone who kicks this has my admiration.
I’m not one of those anti-smoking weirdos. I have a poker game in my basement two or three times during the winter months, and although my eyes turn red after a few hours, it’s a small price to pay for the companionship.
It might be better for you, Shayna, if you didn’t have any poker parties until you beat this thing.
Don’t smoke today, Shayna. Please.