Current non smoking thread...

[Broken_Hero]

Hello all...:) Been a smoker since November of 1997, and currently I'm on a 10 day non-smoking spree. I feel pretty good now, the first five days was okay, which is weird, usualy the first five days is absolute murder on me. But, the craving/anger/short temper hit me this past saturday big time. Anything, everything set me off, but it was over by mid sunday afternoon thank god.

My past accomplishments

1. Last June 7th, until mid-late march, I was smoke free. I had a few slip ups, but throwing the towel in on one cigarette in a five month period, seemed dumb to start my recount over. Within that time period I had 4 cigarettes...

2. I have had two other non-smoking binges, where I went 5 months smoke free, before starting up again.

I know for a fact, that I will smoke again...I like smoking way to much to say, I will never ever smoke again. But, I do need to put the smoking down to a very small minimum. My father in law, smokes like every 3 months or so, and I consider, a path like that for myself. He smokes pipe tobaccoo, and I would like to be on that path, but my litmus test is to be smoke free for at least 5yrs before going down that path...

Its hard to stop smoking I swear...I have been a drug user of other substances, and only found 1 drug in particular hard to stop...but stopping cigs is WAAAAAYYY rougher...

Thank you for your time...petersond...

[bigwillq]

1. I think cigarettes is the most addicting drug

I have ever done.

You're not in this alone.

:hug:

[Maine-ah]

2. I'll second that.

I smoked since I was 15, I'm 32 now and have been smoke free since last Feb when I found out I was pregnant. It was the only thing to get me to stop. Currently, the smell makes me sick to my stomach, but I still get that feeling in my chest and throat that says "go have a smoke!". ARGH! It's a total mind fuck.

You can do it. When ever you have the urge, remember that will pass in a couple of minutes or less.

Good luck!

[Broken_Hero]

3. Its been over three weeks

this past monday, was week three...:) Doing a whole lot better actually. My wife is still struggling, she smoked this past weekend, much to my dismay, but to each their own.

[unhappycamper]

4. .

I really need to quit (again.)

[Broken_Hero]

6. man, its hard

the first 7-10 days is usually the worst for me, and after that, I'm good unless I'm around it...and worse when I'm drinking and around it...:) Its been over a month now...its a pain, I do miss it, but I do like being able to get up, and walk to the door without breathing heavy...:)

[Broken_Hero]

5. 4 weeks down....:)

every monday is another week of being smoke free...I haven't craved really bad for two weeks at least. I do get a little fiendish when I'm around others who smoke, or if its around me...lucky for me, I haven't been around much. My wife is still smoking off and on, and "that" is a test...

[Broken_Hero]

7. today is 5 weeks...:)

It was rough this friday, but I overcame...:)

[Broken_Hero]

8. Today is 6 weeks...

still going strong...:)

[swimboy]

9. Many multiple congratulations to you!

:applause:

I really feel like I'm out of the woods, although I still stay on my guard when going out or to a party. I don't want to trip and fall.

[yellerpup]

10. Today is six months for me.

I have no explanation on why I was able to walk away this time except I decided before hand that I would not smoke anymore and that I would not make anyone else's life miserable because of it. Nicotine is the hardest addiction. I have failed at smoking cessation programs, cold turkey, patches, gum, etc. many times over many years but this time was different. I don't know why it let go, but am so happy to be free.

[Broken_Hero]

11. Congrats...

when I first tried to stop smoking...hmm, about 7 yrs ago, I barely lasted a couple hours, and that was my running theme each time I tried to quit...than in summer of 03, I had two blod clots, one in my left calf, one in my left lung...and I was in the hosptial for 5 days...and my doctor jumped my ass to stop smoking...so, when I got out of the hospital, I had no major yearnings, and I quit smoking for just over 5 months before getting back on the wagon.

Since then, I have had good success in quiting for good chunks of time, but I always come back...its a big circle. My main MO, is fiend starting the 3rd day, plus withdrawls...my withdrawls are usually pretty, mean/angry...any little thing pisses the living day lights out of me...and that usually last a couple of days...

This time around, the withdrawls didn't hit until day five...and after that, its been easy to deal with...what I hate, is when my mind cannot let the "thought of smoking" go away...I dwell on it and can't let it go...but that urge usually goes away after my first week, to 10 days...and usually comes back when someone around me is smoking...

My wife hasn't quit like I have, and she continues to smoke around me, but she limits that activity, but its still effing hard to ignore it...its not so bad, when i'm not around it, but when I smell that sweet...succulent smoke, i'm like...damn!...:)

[yellerpup]

13. Your struggle is familiar territory to me.

I've quit for hours at a time many times before, too. I've quite for a year before and fell right back into it when my ex was killed. I doubt I could have done at all it if my hubby smoked, too. Plus, I've head to learn how to cook all over again--seems I've used cigarettes to hone my timing over the decades--but I do hope you catch whatever I caught this time when I decided to quit. I have had some tense moments, sure, but nothing I couldn't wait out. How are you doing with the blood clots, by the way? Are your arteries occluded? My doctor told me I can get fifteen minutes added back to my life for every day I don't smoke. Cipherin' is not my forte, but I've put almost TWO DAYS back on since I quit. I was a much braver person with a cigarette in my hand. :hippie:

[Broken_Hero]

14. the blood clots were caused because of

http://www.fvleiden.org/

its a family trait, from my mothers side(so they say). I'm on a regime of warfarin(blood thinner) to keep it in check.

[Sparkly]

38. What you and yellerpup said...

I quit for about 10 years -- motivated by wanting a baby and raising her.

Then when I got with Husb, since he smokes, I started again, too! And quit, and started, and quit, and started... It's amazing how the addiction comes right back.

I'm on my 10th day this time around. I'm doing two things differently: going to a gym to work up my aerobic stamina as motivation (and reward), and not drinking ANY alcohol at all, since I think that lowers inhibitions and makes cravings worse.

So far so good! Hang in there! :hi:

[Broken_Hero]

12. 7 weeks...almost two months...

this weekend was REALLY REALLY hard...my wife and I had a little seminar to put on saturday, and we also served food...with all that stress, I all ready had the urge, and then the wife started bumming smokes from her aunt, and I was hard...very hard pressed to NOT smoke...but I did...god, it sucks.

I tell you this, whatever scientist, comes up with a cigarette which doesn't cause cancer, or hurt you "that" bad after years of use...well get one HUGE hug from me...

[Broken_Hero]

15. 8 weeks...

this past week was really, really hard...my bud from Alaska came down, and we were drinking, heavily almost every night...I tend to get anxious with the cigs, when I'm drinking...

[swimboy]

16. Way to go, man!

I'm very glad to hear you're staying the course.

[Broken_Hero]

17. 9 weeks...

9 weeks, smoke free...this week, I had no urge's really...my wife is still smoking, and thats a hard test...so, I lie, I have urges whenever I see her light up, its frustrating, but I'm dealing with it...

[swimboy]

18. I was just in London and Amsterdam

and when I saw people lighting up in restaurants I got VERY VERY nostalgic. But I did NOT smoke. It felt a lot like self-denial but I know it was actually life-affirming.

Congratulations to you, man!

[Broken_Hero]

19. And congrats to you...:)

Man, I know its hard when you see others light up, I feel really, really tempted whenever my wife lights up, its aggravating...at times, I just want to crush her pack and flush it down the toilet....or light the whole pack on fire, and inhale as much as I can!...:)

[Broken_Hero]

20. Today, is ten weeks...70 days smoke free...

Not bad...still urging from time to time...my BIG test is this weekend, a good friend of mine who smokes about two packs a day will be here for a visit...I will do my best! :hi:

[yellerpup]

22. 10 Weeks is Awesome!

Ten weeks is an amazing accomplishment. Congratulations and hang in there. :bounce: :bounce: :woohoo: :applause: :applause:

[HamdenRice]

21. Day 4

I'm a stranger to this forum, but just wanted to mention it. Major cravings are over, and the main thing is for me not to choose to start again.

[yellerpup]

23. Excellent news HamdenRice!

It helped me in the beginning to remind myself that smoking was something I used to do, not something that I do now. One day at a time, one step at a time and you will continue to succeed. Congratulations on four days of being a non-smoker. :thumbsup: :hi:

[Jeanette in FL]

24. Hey I am on day 5, good for you.

This time was pretty easy for me. Now, just like you, I have to make the decision not to start again.

I quit according to the Farmers Almanac on the best days to quit smoking. So I didn't have any major cravings. Also I wanted to do this again. I quit all the time, I just relapse all the time too.

I don't come here too often, but I think I will stop in at least once a day to get the boost I need.

Good for all of you who have done this. I am so sick of being a smoker.

[Broken_Hero]

25. Well...fell off the wagon...

smoked two cigs saturday night...back on the wagon today, smoked zilch...two days short of 11 weeks...but, I'm keeping up the good fight...

btw, they were fantastic...whew, sorry folks, I'm weak....

[swimboy]

26. Just don't let the wheels fall off the wagon!

You just have to say no to the next one. I keep telling myself I can smoke again on my birthday in order to keep myself from smoking now. The secret plan is not to smoke on my birthday either, but it has to remain a secret or the plan won't work. :dilemma:

[Broken_Hero]

27. The wheels are back on

Saturday night was good though...had a lot of brew's, good company/friends, a nice chilly night...a little fire...:) Ah, it was just fitting...I didnt' feel quilty about it until sunday, when I woke up...

[Broken_Hero]

28. well

this past saturday, the 28th...was another week of being smoke free, I forgot to post in here....I had a bit of trial this weekend, my wife got two packs of cigs, and oh man...but, I fought it off...good thing I wasn't drinking either, I think this past weekend, marks a week of being alcohol free...which, is a bad thing dammit!...:)

[swimboy]

29. I'm real glad to hear it!

I have found that one indulgence can lead to another. But it would be terrible to have to give up everything.

[Broken_Hero]

30. another week down

and then some, I forgot to post in her this past satuday, over two full weeks being smoke free again...:) But, I did fiend yesterday!...:) A celebration smoke so to speak, due to the Dems kicking ass, and taking names...:hi:

[Broken_Hero]

31. another week down...

I was tested this past week...bleh, a good friend of mine came down for a week, and he is a strong 2 pack a day smoker...it was rough, but not that bad...:) I still miss it, but...I don't miss breathing heavy, doing simple tasks/jobs...

[Broken_Hero]

32. well, my first day of

being smoke free again, is in the books...but, on the bright side, I got strep throat, so it was pretty easy to not fiend for it....

[swimboy]

33. I'm coming up on a full year

(I finished the pack I had for the New Year's party so it was a couple days into the 2006). It is a lot easier MORE of the time, now.

Best of luck to you, with your resolution and with the sore throat. :thumbsup:

[Broken_Hero]

34. Day four for me, :)

Been doing pretty good actually...my wife has all ready caved in, she made it about half a day on Monday, but at least she is trying to cut back. My bud Tom just left today, and he smokes 2 packs a day, so I was around temptation for a 4 days, and didn't succomb....although, he was trying to tempt me! :D

[Broken_Hero]

35. Day five...

and oh man, the headaches are starting to come upon me today...So far, I haven't had the short temper yet, but last time I quit, I think it took until day 5/6 before I noticed I was getting pissed at everything, for no good reason.....I just downed some ibuprofen, and hopefully this nagging headache will go away...

Day five, is about half over....whew...:D

[Broken_Hero]

36. tonight is the end of day 7

1/7/07....Its been a pretty easy week actually...keep up the good work folks....:hi: Now, its time to start working out tomorrow! yay....:D

[Broken_Hero]

37. Day 10 is in the books...

Doing very good...even with my wife smoking, I am not tempted(much). This time around, I missed out on my short fuse/anger withdrawl...thank goodness on that aspect, because I become an irritable ball of rage...RAGE, I tell ya....:D

[Sparkly]

39. How are you feeling?

I'm just a day behind you! :hi:

[rinsd]

40. I am approaching my 1 year anniversary.

Keep strong!

[lizerdbits]

41. I'm quitting tomorrow (again), hopefully for real this time

I posted in the Chantix thread too (which I started taking last Monday) but the story is I went to the doc for something else and she could tell I was a smoker just by listening to my lungs for the first time. I'm 33 (started at 14) and all my previous appointments I've been told lungs sound fine even though I know it's horrible for you and have been told so since I was 5. I think I was just waiting for that real incentive, I knew it was going to happen eventually if I didn't stop. So apparently being told that it's noticeable in me is a bigger kick in the ass since having one grandmother on oxygen and one with emphysema from decades of smoking doesn't quite do it. I hope actually having audible effects will be a bigger kick in the ass than just knowing it's bad for you.

Plus I will feel like such a dumbass if I get lung cancer since I could have prevented it (I still will if it happens someday). A coworker made me feel better about that because she's in a public health program. She said "Addiction trumps common sense. Heroin addicts know they can get HIV and hepatitis by using that needle that's been in 5 other arms but they're addicted so they shoot it in their arm anyway. Stop giving yourself a hard time since you aren't one of those 'you asked for it with your behavior and you don't deserve care' people."

I actually didn't smoke as much yesterday or today as I normally would so I think it might be working (I didn't notice any effects before that). When I had one at lunch today (my only one during work!) I felt really light headed for about half an hour. So hopefully the doc findings and the meds will help this time. Like most quitters I don't think I can count the times I've tried.

Late edit: How long until smokers cough kicks in? I got a cold/sinus infection that traveled to upper respiratory last week and it's getting better slowly (another reason to quit- they used to resolve pretty fast). I'm afraid I'll go straight from this cough to smokers cough. It is going away so I don't need to see the doc at this point (an if it's viral it's kind of pointless anyway).

[yellerpup]

42. I never did develop smokers cough.

I have no idea why. I started smoking at 17 (after my dad came home after a fruitless job search and started crying and wondering aloud if we all (our family) wouldn't be better off dead) and I smoked an average of a pack a day for 40 years. I was told to expect to cough up ugly stuff, but it never started. I quit 16 months ago and am looking and feeling better than I have in years. Good luck, lizardbits. It can be done!

[lizerdbits]

43. It's been almost 4 weeks and no hacking

just a couple glops here and there, I guess I got lucky. I did (and still do) exercise a lot so maybe that helped? :shrug: But I could notice a difference in my cardio in just 3 days of not smoking.

I feel so much better other than missing it.

[Lindsey]

44. I started Chantix on Wed. which is one week before my quit date

on Aug. 1st. So far I haven't had any nausea. I'm tapering off gradually so Wed. (Aug. 1st) won't be such a shock. I've been a non-smoker since 1992 and started up again two months ago. My Dr. said that Chantix has excellent results. Good luck to us all!!!!!!!!

[yellerpup]

45. Good point about the exercise.

I exercise a lot, too, but it never occurred to me that that's why I had no major smoker's cough. Glad to hear your cardio is improved. Not smoking & drinking pomegranite juice has all but wiped out the claudication in my legs. Amazing. Congratulations, lizerdbits, on not smoking for four weeks! That's big! Keep it up.