The Official August 2002 Great SDMB Smokeout thread

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
81

Well, I’m in…sort of. I live with another heavy smoker and I am moving out on August 31st. I am truly hoping that this will be the last day I ever smoke cigarettes. I’m even considering moving to a non-smoking place just for added incentive. I’m trying to really gear myself up for this and ensure that I am committed to doing this. I look around this apartment and see the yellow in everything that is supposed to be white from 3 years of this crap. Imagine what my lungs look like. Being a drummer and a singer, I know without a doubt that this is going to improve my performance and my life in general.

Another reason why I am waiting until then is because I think I would be better off living alone when I do this. In previous attempts, I have become extremely grumpy when I have tried to quit and I don’t really want to subject someone else to that if I can help it. I’m a pack a day smoker for about 20 years and I know that this won’t be easy.

I sure hope this thread is still going when my time to quit comes. In the meantime, I will check in often to see how you are all doing. Knowing that others are going through the same thing will be very encouraging, I think. I sincerely wish you all success in what you are trying to accomplish and hope that I can do the same.

Good Luck!

82

Okay, I’ve learned two things in the last two days. A) I get horribly nauseated when I don’t have nicotine; and B) I’m too weak to quit cold turkey. I lasted 27 hours. I am going to smoke lights and try tapering off when I next decide to quit. Nicotine replacement therapy might help also. I’ll see. Anyways, good luck to the rest of you.

83

Okay, okay, this will be a somewhat selfish post but first:

Congrats Hastur for making 5 days!!! I think you have made it past the worst of the worst when it comes to smoking. I was about 4 1/2 days last time then I caved in.

VDarlin Hang in there, it’s only 5:30 my time so if you have some smokes you still have time if you live in the States.

masonite Good to see you here! Join at any time you want, it that’s putting out your last smoke at 11:59 tonight, that’s fine. If you already stopped, then HEY, more power to you.

musicguy Would it be possibly to ask your heavy smoker room mate to smoke only outside or in his/her bedroom and not in common areas? Is that feasible? It is both your health at risk and if you want to stop, this will be one of the best ways (outside of your heavy smoker friend stopping with you.)

Anyhow folks, I have exactly three cigarettes left. I drank all my beer last night (to my painful head right now) so I wouldn’t be tempted to go anywhere to buy smokes today. I have exactly three.

This is kind of scary. I want to smoke one right now but I want to save it for later. I am extremelly torn. I really, really, really want one but I really, really, really want to wait till later. UGH people should not have to make this decision. WTF did we start to begin with? GRRRRRR

So yeah, I am terribly hung over today, three smokes and in a mood. But I am still stopping tonight.

I am going to feel really funky tomorrow. I will feel like I went on a rapid ascent up Pikes Peak. Almost like I feel now but without nicotene in my bloodstream.

Huh.

I gotta go and lay down for a while…

84

I guess tomorrow is the big day for you guys. I would offer to pray for God to lend you strength, but I’m an athiest. How about I just play a game of Diablo or The Sims in you honor or something?
I’m still smoke free and chewing on Nicorette. My gf (TheCrazedOne) went without a smoke all day yesterday. I’m hoping she can go for 72 hrs without one. Since she’s not using the patch or the gum, if she makes it that far, she’s home free.

Good luck guys and gals. And to those that quit early, Good Job.

85

I couldn’t contain my extreme annoyance over my last three smokes. I opened up a thread in the Pit so we can bitch and flame life and not violate MPSIMS rules folks.

So if you really gotta bitch, moan and flame someone’s ass, please go there.

Here’s a handy link for you:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=129101

86

I got very little sleep last night, still have just over 2 packs of camel lights from the last Carton I bought. I doubt if I’ll finish them off unless I stay up all night & smoke just so I can have them gone before I get up tomorrow. I reckon I can give them away.

techchick68, your lungs will heal to some extent starting soon after you put down the cancer sticks, as will all our lungs.

I have already informed my roommate that I will stop smoking tomorrow & asked him to smoke outdoors for a while.

As I have been clean & sober via the 12-step programs for a while now, I’m just going to include tobacco in my addiction.

I know this will improve my circulation, I will breathe more easily, have more stamina, I will smell better, I will feel and look better, and let’s not forget those erections!

I want everyone to remember that we are doing this to feel better in the long run.

87

Ok, ok, ok.

I’m in.
Since yesterday when I’ve smoked it’s been on the balcony of the new place because I didn’t want to stink up the new apartment. And I was thinking that if I think it stinks when I smoke inside what must my clothes and hair and stuff smell like - and I definitely don’t want to still be smoking when winter sets in and I have to convince myself to step out on the balcony.

So I’ve been smoking less the last couple of days, because of the balcony thing, and that hasn’t been so bad. But here goes. Woohoo!

I’ll start up the silkquit meter in the morning.

88

I started early. I ran out of smokes Thursday night and never bought more.
Friday/Saturday, thank god I was off work. I was the crankiest, straw-chawing biyatch on the planet. No, really :smiley:
Today was a test. First day back to work without smoking. Altoids are my friends.
It sucks, but I think I’m through the worst part. I hope so.
I miss my ashtray :frowning:

89

Ya know, I could do that. The thing is that this living arrangement has become a source of stress which is why we are going our separate ways in a few weeks. It just seems that since I’ve smoked for 20 years, three weeks more is not so significant that I want to make this any more stressful than it is already. I’m handling things pretty well right now but if I stopped smoking AND had to deal with this situation at the same time, I might say a lot of things I would later regret and just make the situation worse.

I also know that I really need to psych myself up for this and less than 24 hours is probably not enough time:)

But I AM determined to do this…

90

I stopped at 7:09 pm. Smoked the last smoke. Dragged on that stained filter for the last time.

Alright hardy! way to go girl!

Lsura right on!

jack@ss heck if I can do it, anyone can. I am a big wuss when it comes to change.

3 hours, 4 minutes and 52 seconds. 5 cigarettes not smoked, saving $0.64. Life saved: 25 minutes.

See I have already saved 25 minutes.

91

Not only did I stop smoking today, I started my damn period. the next few days should be interesting.

I wish that was another thing I never started again.

:mad:

92

Good luck and Godspeed to all of you. I am full of admiration for the process you are going through. As the son of a three pack a day smoker, I spent several years in the habit. This will not be the same for all of you, but for me, quitting was MUCH easier than I thought. A couple of days of pain, then a while of resisting a habit, but after a couple of weeks, nothing.

Again, some will have different experiences, but I want to offer some hope here. Some of you may find this much easier than you think it to be.

93

If I wore a hat, it would be off to you guys! Especially Hastur for getting through a negative emotional moment without lighting up. You will be the stronger for that.

Another thing… if you’re at work you may be used to having a smoke with a cup of tea or coffee outside the office. This is one of the hard ones to give up. You think you’ll never enjoy a coffee again at first, but trust me - you will. It sucks at first, but you do get used to the change. These days I look forward to my morning coffee with the exact same relish I used to look forward to my morning cigarette (plus coffee).

So don’t try to give up coffee (or tea) at the same time. Keep taking the coffee as you did before, and eventually you’ll get the same pleasure from it as you did when it was accompanied by a cigarette.

94

Yeah I’m due this week too. What a delight. Hasn’t started yet though - maybe it’ll skip this month.

95

Tekchick.

Is it too late for me to join? It’s the 5th where I’m at and I’ve only got a few of the death-sticks left. Tonight, after my workout I’ll have the last one and that’l be IT!
I too wake up with a nasty horrible phlegmy cough and am starting to have pains on the left side of my chest. God knows what that is but I’m damn sure the tobacco isn’t helping. It frankly scares the crap out of me as well as making me feel like a fool for smoking so long. (Over 20 years now.) Anyway, if it ain’t too late I want to join in the great August smokeout.

Testy.

96

Big, hearty CONGRATS to all of you for taking this huge step! :smiley:

BrattiAtti: I quit by using the patch. I smoked for over half my life and don’t think I could have done it without the transition that the patch afforded. I followed the directions exactly and weaned myself off the smokes.

Tapering off until you don’t smoke anymore is a tough game. You are still addicted and acting on that addiction. The tendency might be to focus too much on the few cigarettes because they are so precious now.

Cold turkey is not for everybody (although I never tried it). I feel like the patch let me quit sanely and with good focus on what I was doing and why. It was less overwhelming and took the edge off. Yes, I got cravings, but they were very mild and (relatively) easily fought. I was able to deal with the psychological part without the physical withdrawal/freaking out aspect, which “force” some people right back to smoking. I did all my freaking out the two weeks before I quit . . .

It has been about 1 year and 1 month for me. My cravings are few, and the best part is that I have no doubt they will pass. Haven’t even had a smoking dream in a couple of weeks now!

I hope you’ll try again soon. You are not too weak to quit. You just have to find a way that works for you.

97

Join in Testy, join in!

It’s only too late if you end up in a hospital because smoking has caused you serious illness.

Please join in!

I woke up and grabbed the 12 pack of Nicorettes I have and that’s been about a half hour…not a need for nicorettes.

13 hours, 42 minutes and 36 seconds. 22 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2.85. Life saved: 1 hour, 50 minutes.

98

Good Morning Non-Smokers!

I just wanted to check in and send good vibes to all that need them. I had my last cig last night. Put on a patch (11 mg) this morning. **

The cravings have been pretty easy to ignore (as I am able to tell myself I am getting nicotine, I am just missing the hand-to-mouth) Sometimes I go stand outside and breathe, and remind myself this is a good decision. I have been eating a lot of sugar snap peas-and they are delicious-any excuse for eating a pound of sugar snap peas is okay with me. The worst craving was when I smelled my coffee brewing. I was like Pavlov’s (sp?) dog!

Anyway~! Check in people…I hope everyone is doing well.

***Many people have suggested NOT using a patch, as it continues giving you nicotine after you have made the decsion to quit. I decided to use the patch because the last time I quit smoking it was relatively painless. I realized one morning that I hadn’t put on the patch the previous day. For me, I think this is a good choice. Better for me than gum, because you don’t fiddle with the patch, or think much about it. Plus, you realize that you cannot have a smoke with the patch on…or remove the patch and have one. Having to wait (if you were to quit quitting) is also a motivation not to quit quitting.

99

Day one is here! Yay!

You want to hear a real kicker? My Department allows smoking in your office if you can close your door. Thank God I never smoked once in the office because then I’d really be nuts. As it is, I’m used to not smoking at all throughout that day and only smoking in the evening. What’s sad is that I could still go through almost a full pack a day.

Lately, the taste of cigarettes and the smell had really made me feel ill.

Every time I want a cigarette, I think of this tv show (bet you will?) where this guy rode a stationary bike for 30 minutes in a heavy sweatshirt material outfit outside in July. Then they wrung out his sweatsuit and paid him to drink the sweat they squeezed out. I just think, "You can have a cigarette if you’d be willing to drink that man’s sweat."

No fookin way.

Tibs.

100

I made it through the morning without a smoke. Sat through the longest one hour AA meeting in the world (a smoking meeting), and now it’s off to work. Still clean of tobacco.

What we can’t do alone, we are doing together.