Hour 36 of no cigarettes. Smoke free stream of conciousness...

[LanternWaste]

Hour 36 of no cigarettes. Smoke free stream of conciousness...

Things buzzing around in my head right now-- "what the f*ck did I do w/ my spare time before I smoked?" "Why in the hell can't I concentrate on one idea...?" "Why more curse words today than in the past twenty years combined?" "Why is she wearing *that*, it's just plain tacky... OMG, I'm turning into a girl!" To co-workers: "One more stupid question and I swear to God I'm going to punch you in the stomach! (remember-- this is in my head-- I wouldn't really tell her the green slacks look tacky...)

So if my figures are right, smoking app. one pack a day since 1984 puts the total at about $22,500. Holy crap... I've sucked down a brand new car into my lungs! Quitting will save me (this year) about $1,625. Or, just over three months of rent... or, 2 years of auto insurance... or (well, we get the idea).

Didn't quit because it's the right thing to do. I didn't quit because it's better for my health (or even yours). I didn't quit because it increases the members of the dating pool.

I quit because the great state of Texas put a brand-spanking new $1.00 tax on all packs, making a pack of ciggs cost app. $5.50 and that's a price I simply cannot afford.

Man, I am one seriously jumpy guy right now. Addiction withdrawal-- that must be what this is. My plan is just to hold on til I go to sleep tonight. Tomorrow's a new day and I'll deal with it again then. But for now, I just want to make it til the end of the day.

Prayers, best-wishes, good-thoughts, groovy-karma-- whatever you got, it'll help. Thanks.

[miss_american_pie]

1. Good luck

:hug:

[AwakeAtLast]

2. Good for you!

I have never smoked, so I don't know what you go through, but I am proud of you! It can't be easy.

FWIW, our lovely Governor (Daniels, IN, Repuke of course) has done the same thing here.

Maybe try posting on DU when you feel the need for a fix? :shrug:

[zanne]

3. Are you wearing a patch or using the gum?

I tried the gum but it didn't help much. The next time, I used the patch. What a difference. I quit after 30 yrs. of smoking. I recognize the symptoms you're having. Hang in there and in a few days you'll feel much better. Best of luck!

[LanternWaste]

6. No patch or gum.

No patch or gum. Much too expensive for me right now. Money's really tight these days, but if the opportunity presents itself, I'll be getting the patch.

Thanks for the support.

[evirus]

23. even if their addictive as well... least your not smoking

straght tobacco is much better then tobacco with several other chemicals created by burning

[Taverner]

4. Try St Johns wort

It might work

Can't hurt and it's cheap - helped me quit

[DainBramaged]

5. Did it Aug. 29 2005

First week was horrible. Second week I was horrible. Third week I gave up my beloved coffee because it changed.

I can breathe smell and taste again.

And my house only smells the way I want it to.

Good luck, this is huge. And I did one more thing. I put $11 a day in a jar. Made for a GREAT Christmas for my Daughter that year.

[Tikki]

11. January 12th 2005....here. My son quit a couple weeks...

before me. He handled it so well....I just had to join him (and millions of others)
as a person who no longer smokes.



Tikki

[LanternWaste]

25. Donchuu go casting asparagus on my black gold...

Please God... not coffee too.

I can handle giving up the smokes. I can deal with six years of a spoiled, frat-boy pres. I can even live with an immoral war with thousands of innocents wounded, crippled or killed.

But to think that I'd find coffee distasteful is, well... that's just crazy talk, mister!


Donchuu go casting asparagus on my black gold...

[Bunny]

7. Excellent! Keep at it - I've got nine years of smoke-freeness.

I did it cold turkey, tried the patch and it made me sick. The first couple of weeks were so hard - I was unfit for decent company. Then it became easier. Please keep up the good work. You will not regret it. :thumbsup:

[LanternWaste]

9. Luckily, I live alone and I can get as pissy as I want...

Luckily, I live alone and I can get as pissy as I want w/o sabotaging relations with co-workers, friends and neighbors. Thanks.

[Beausoir]

8. I am not as strong as you are. I am failing right now. I quit 12 years ago. Started again 3

months ago.

Can't get my head "ready" to quit.

I hate smoking.

[Lowell]

10. It takes about four days

for the nicotine to get out of your system. After that it gets easier. I quit after 40 years because I watched a friend die of lung cancer. Not a pretty sight. Drink lots of water, walk a lot and avoid alcohol and smokey places. Cold turkey works.

[Little Wing]

14. cool timeline

http://healthbolt.net/2006/07/19/what-happens-to-your-body-if-you-stop-smoking-right-now/

[LanternWaste]

17. Very cool! Thanks for that.

Very cool! Thanks for that. Seems that sometime tonight, there will be a zero amount of niccotine in my body for the forst time since July. 1984.

[Little Wing]

12. Hooray Texas!

[BarenakedLady]

13. Congratulations

And good luck. :hug:

[Bullwinkle925]

15. I quit cold turkey over 20 yrs. ago. It's the best thing you can do for yourself

health-wise. Hang in there. Keep yourself physically active - eventually the thoughts and pangs of wanting to smoke will lessen - just like foing through a period of 'grief' - it does get better on a daily basis. I even would have dreams that I smoked and then would wake up very angry with myself until I realized that it was only a dream.
Keep us posted on how you're doing.

[Broken_Hero]

16. Good luck

today is day two for me...I'm holding strong, but keep at it...it gets easier eventually...

My main withdrawl, is around day 4/5, then my anger gets the better of me...my fuse gets cut really damn short, and just about anything aggravates the living hell out of me.

[LoZoccolo]

18. Try and keep occupied with fun things.

When I quit I noticed the extra stimulation from withdrawal would turn somewhat into extra giddiness at fun things rather than extra stress at frustrating things.

[LanternWaste]

21. "Giddiness" is a good word...

"Giddiness" is a good word...

One minute I'm feeling silly about the most mundane things and the next, I'm pissed off at the world because I've got a drop of toothpaste on my shoe.

[LynneSin]

19. I had a customer that kept sugar-free candy in his shirt pocket

He was telling me how all the shirts he owned all had shirt-pockets where he'd keep is smoke. Since he didn't really want to replace his entire wardrobe, he bought a bag of sugarfree hard candy and kept 10-15 pieces in his shirt pocket. Everytime he went to 'grab a smoke' he'd reach in and have a piece of candy

[LanternWaste]

20. By Golly, I've never fresher breath

I've kinda got the same thing going on due to a 'tie & white oxford office' here. Today it's Cinammon Altoids. By Golly, I've never had fresher breath for a longer period of time!

[LynneSin]

22. Trust me, us non-smokers appreciate that very much thank you

:D

[applegrove]

24. Get thee to QUITNET..a free website for quitters. Really and truly they

will help you through the craves and tickle your funny bone if they can. Imagine a site filled with hundreds of quitters at one time. Best of luck.

[sarge43]

26. So, LanternWaste, kill anyone yet?

Seriously, hang in there. It's tough, but worth it.

[idgiehkt]

27. "I've sucked down a brand new car into my lungs!"

sigh.

wow do I identify with that. I've been an off and on smoker but I knows what you means.