Quitting Smoking

[mrsalvo]

Hey Guys!
It's officially 2006 now and at 12:00 midnight I threw away my pack of cigarettes. We'll see how long this will last. cold turkey. I've smoked for 20 years, I'm 46 and I think I've had enough. My doctor put me on an inhaler last month due to a bad chest cold, a few weeks earlier put me on medication for high
cholestrol. I'd love to get off of the medications, I'm hoping this will help.
Has anyone on this board sucessfully quit? Any smokers here?
I'd love to get my health back, to be able to get my breath.
This really isn't a New Years Resolution, just going to see what happens.

 

[hoover1060]

I quit...6 months smoke free here

I quit last June, I came down with a cold that turned into Pneumonia and was I ever sick!!
I'd never ever in my life been so sick I couldn't smoke, so I put them down for a few days, and by the time I felt better, it had been a week.
The week is grown to be 6 months.
I don't know that I feel better, but I can say I have saved a ton of $$$!!
I still have my moments, but I have vowed to never smoke again.

The road ahead of you is rough, but you can do it. Get rid of the ciggys and be strong, you'll make it!!

 

[appnut]

Barry congratulations. I"m pullin for ya!!!

 

[DADoES]

My boss quit a couple years ago, after more than 40 years of going at it VERY heavy. He had no choice. Chronic health problems piled atop one another after all the years of abuse. He had to be on continuous oxygen for many months, but has eased off it somewhat now. Incredible how much money he has burned up, plus the cost of medical care now.

All the people at my office smoke (except me). It used to be allowed right in the office, when the boss was still able to spend active time there. (I remember even my underwear and socks reeking of the odor.) Then he got too sick, and the other building tenant banished it to the back hallway. One of the coworkers, her husband did as well until he had some serious medical problems, including a triple by-pass ... she refuses to quit, how's that for spousal support, LOL! I had to laugh at another one a few days ago, complaining about her throat being raw from coughing, while heading to the back hallway...

Anyways, Barry, you go guy! Keep the picture of my boss in your mind, tied to an O2 tank, too weak to get into his car and drive to the office.

 

[whirlcool]

There s a free service on the Internet....

There is a free service on the Internet that is "remote group therapy" to quit smoking. Our neighbor used it last year and was sucessful. There are about 10 people in your group with a moderator who is a person who has been smoke free for at least one year. It is required that you post something about your progress or lack thereof every single day for 8 weeks. The moderator sends out tips for quitting and you are "encouraged" by your group to quit. You can still be smoking when you join the group, but after 4 weeks or so you are required to quit. At the end of the 8 weeks there is an "aftercare" group that you can join to help you stay a non-smoker. You get to choose your own quitting method
This neighbor said it was very effective. I will ask him today what the URL is for this program and post it here.

 

[petek]

Well best of luck on your quitting,I've done it many times. I've smoked for 35 years out of which I quit once for about 4 years, I never had so many colds, flu's, you name it as I did during those 4 years so I'm back at er full steam ahead till the next time.

 

[foraloysius]

I quit smoking in 1997, it was the second attempt. I'm a little asthmatic so it was a good thing to do. In the beginning I still liked the smell of cigarette smoke, but now I can't stand it anymore. Good luck!

 

[mattywashboy]

i started smoking heavily two years ago, about six months ago my housemate decided he wanted to quit, so we both quit together, but on the odd occasion such as at parties and such i will have the occasional one but thats not very often so its not too bad. Good luck

 

[angus]

Good luck - I know it will be hard, but it will be worth it in the long run. I never smoked, but I came from a family where everyone smoked. My sister smoked heavily for 20 years until asthma forced her to quit. The attack that sent her to the hospital 17 years ago frightened her so that she never touched another one and whenever she had the desire, her memory of that event won over desire.

My mother smoked for 60 years and finally decided to stop when diagnosed with early stage emphysema. Again, her rationale was that she was scared enough that any desire was outweighed by her desire to continue an active life. Unfortunately, she succumbed to undiagnosed heart disease a month later.

My point is that for some people, the desire to quit was spurred by a significant health event that they never forgot even when weighed against the desire to smoke.

I give you a lot of credit for taking on the challenge. I hope it won't be too tough for you.

 

[Cybrvanr]

The best way to quit smoking is to think about whatever else that $2.50 or more a day blown on a pack can be spent on. One of my neighbors said that one of the best things to help quit was get a check-card to pay for gas with. That meant he didn't need to go into a convenience store to pay for the gas, and the temptation to buy a pack was minimized. The biggest problem he said was hanging out with friends and family members that smoke. With the smell of the secondhand smoke, and any of them willing to bum off of, the temptation was it's biggest.

Good luck with quitting smoking! I know one thing you can use with the extra money...get a gym membership! Not only will quitting smoking and joining a gym help your health, but it will be a great natural way to burn off the extra stress that the nicotine previously relieved. Good luck dude, it will definitely be worth it!

 

[mrsalvo]

I'm here and I've reread all the posts several times, keep them coming. Am a basket case.

 

[bosch2460]

I am in the same situation. I vowed when 2006 rolled around, that I would quit smoking. I have been smoking since I was 17, for a total of 9 years. Not nearly as long as some people, but its long enough for me. I have just had enough of "having to have" a cigarette whenever I get stressed or whenever I eat. I am going to have to find something else to fill the void of smoking. So, here it goes........12 hours in, and not hacking up a lung yet....... Good luck to anyone else in the same situation.

 

[rickr]

Hi Mr. Salvo!
Good for you that you are going to "kick" the habit. I gave it up many years ago,and recall the first morning that I woke up without the nasty tobacco taste in my mouth. So much better without the cigs. I kept lemon drops in my pocket for when I wanted a "smoke". Also ate popcicles,and still enjoy them year round as a "reward" instead of reaching for a smoke.
I also urge you to use the nicotine patch system,or other self help remedy and follow the directions to the "tee". There are no reasons to go through the misery of "cold turkey" these days,when we have so many affordable choices to keep the withdraw effects at bay.

Good luck to you! You CAN do it!
Rick

 

[whirlcool]

Here it is...

the info for the group support site for quitting smoking
Click on the link below, then on the left side of the screen under "Special Groups" click on "SmokeNoMore". You will then be taken to a page that describes the program. Complete the application form and someone from the group will contact you within a day or so.
I think that if you have a few people who want to quit together you can all register for the same group.
My neighbor says that once you are assigned a "group" you have to make up a e-mail distribution list and use this list to send your e-mails. This way everyone in the group can "see" you.
My neighbor said the nice part of this group is that you can compare quitting methods with others, get a LOT of support from the moderators. You aren't told what to do, they just encourage you to find out what works best for you. And the group is worldwide, you will be quitting with people from all four corners of the globe.
And the best part, all of this is totally free!

COPD Online Support Mailing List Home Page

 

[mrsalvo]

Thank-you Allen, I will check it out.
Just had lunch, and of course you know what I would like to
follow that up with. Yeah, the gym thing is going to have to be a reality I think. At the rate I ate my lunch, I'll be tipping the scales before next week. I feel like I am going to have to "regear" my whole life, I've just got to get a hold of it. I feel like I'm not in control, if that makes any sense.

 

[sudsmaster]

Good luck.

Years ago I picked up smoking. How I got started was for a strange reason. I was restoring an old car, and had managed to get a 6 volt cigarette lighter to install in the blank spot on the chromed dash. Of course I had to try it out... and it was fairly nostalgic driving along, smoking, just like my parents used to do. Over the course of a year, I gradually progressed from one cigarette in the evening to the point where I woke up craving a cigarette. It was at that point that I decided to just quit cold turkey. I didn't make a big deal of it... I still had cigarettes in the house, I just didn't smoke them. Chewing gum and crunchy foods (raw carrots, celery, popcorn) seemed to help, as well as drinking lots of water.

The hardest part was getting with friends who still smoked. As soon as I saw someone light up, I was really tempted to ask for one also. So I told my friends, that, no matter how much I pleaded, not to give me a cigarette. It mostly worked

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Barry it makes perfect sense

I just added the site to my faves. Thanks whirlcoolallen.

If you have never tried before, or even if you have, remember
tomorrow when you wake up and haven't smoked a cig for 20 hours +; you did it. The first time I quit smoking was at the beginning of my significant others serious time of medical decline. I was highly motivated to show him that I could do it. I used acupuncture and I was absoulutely stunned that I could go a whole day with out smoking. I managed too not smoke
for about three months, before Jimmy was so ill that he needed attention 24/7. After he died in the middle of June,
I went back to the acupuncturist in August and managed to not smoke for 10 months. The point is that we smokers have the ability to decide we don't wish to continue. And no, it is not a piece of cake, but it is doable. If you like to swim
get member ship in a Y or other facility with a pool and swim at least every other day. Don't trip on weight gain, you can deal with that after the first year or year and a half. You can do it. Try to minimize time around smokers to the max.
Good luck!!!!

 

[rayjay]

Quitting Smoking

Barry, I quit in 1993. Have not went back either. My dad was dying of lung cancer during the holidays, so my two brothers gave me a paid membership to Smoke-enders. It was a great help. I believe it is a national chain. You will have to check this out to see if it is in your area. I smoked 2-3 packs a day for 27 years. Smoke-enders really helped. I know it is hard to do. But I did it. Good luck. If you need to talk to someone, please e-mail me from my-email address in my profile. I can explain a little about the program.

Ray

 

[whirlcool]

Here are a few tips...

Try to drink a lot of water, this helps the nicotine flush out of your system.

Try not to drink coffee in the morning, coffee and cigarettes just go together. My wife quit about 10 years ago and she switched to green tea in the morning and she said this helped her tremendously.

Exercise is important. My neighbor took up bicycling, which helped a lot.

And finally, think about where you smoke. Avoid those places. Smoking is triggered by situations. If you would smoke in your favourite chair, sit on the sofa instead.
If you smoke menthol, switch to a non-menthol or the other way around. My neighbor said that he was such a heavy smoker he had to switch from normal cigarettes to ultra lights for a few weeks and then start the quitting process. He used the one less cigarette a day routine until he got to 4 a day and then went to the patches.
One last word, you probably will have some breathing problems for a few weeks after you quit. Smoking masks a lot of respiratory problems. This will last for only a few weeks and then you'll be able to breathe like never before!

And lastly, your house will start to stink. It probably always has but you never noticed it before. You will notice this now. Time to wash it down from top to bottom. My neighbor said that even though he never smoked in his walk in closet, it reeked of cigarette smoke from the clothing in there. He had to wash every last item before the smell would go away.

And finally, I wish you the best of luck!