I quit smoking Monday.

I'm using the patch. So far, it's not too bad. It's weird: in the past, I've psyched myself up for it and made a big deal of it. This time, it just felt like time. It felt totally right. I know it will get worse later - despite what everyone says, the first few days are NOT the hardest. But I feel prepared. Bring it on, addiction!

Bonus: I can smell EVERYTHING.

:D

I'm about to do the same myself, I just need to go buy some patches.

Hang in there Janesez. :yourock:

Do it! Then we can freak out together. :D

:D

When I quit, I curled up into a ball and cried alot.
:rofl:

Fortunately, it's gotten much better.

I know it gets bad at the 2-week and again at the 6-week mark for me. Don't know why. :shrug: But I feel readier for it than I ever have been before. And my hair smells fantastic! :D

There goes your singing career. :P

I know, because it was really taking off. :eyes: :D

I caught you at Ortlieb's. :thumbsup:

I quit with the same mindset about three months ago. I used the patches for awhile but then one day I just forgot and didn't notice until that evening. I haven't put one on since. :toast:

I plan to use the patches however long I want/need to. I don't give a crap, I'll use them for the rest of my life if I need to. They are about as bad for you as a cup of coffee - and since I don't drink, do drugs, drink caffiene, or now smoke, they can be my vice!

But yeah, hopefully, it'll wean me off the way it's supposed to.

I spent a couple weeks in Hawaii in December. It's pretty easy to forget about things like cigarettes over there. I'm of the same opinion though, wear em' forever if necessary.

I am envious! I've never been there. What island did you go to? How's the food? How was the weather?

We do a lot of business so I've been quite a few times, mostly Oahu. This time I was in Maui. It's gotten very crowded since my first visit about 8 years ago. How's the food? You mean how's the sushi? Excellent! :9 We lucked out on the weather. A couple light showers and some trade winds but that was it.

I tried the patch once a few years ago - it didn't take, but I wasn't as determined as I am now. My lungs ache like hell and I'm way too young to get winded as quickly as I do.

I walk a mile uphill home from work, and I live on the 3rd floor. I've always bragged that even though I smoke, I'm in good cardiovascular shape. Well, I'm 34 now, and I can DEFINITELY feel it in my lungs when I'm trekking home! Time to stop now. Join us *beckons evilly*! Come to the daaaark side... :D

I work on the eighth floor, and today I was so winded that I stopped at six and took the elevator up the final two floors. Granted, I'm coming down with a cold, but that's pathetic.

I will join you guys on Monday. Since I have a party to attend this weekend and beer will be served, it just isn't realistic to assume I'll make any progress until the next day. See, in my case I won't just be giving up cigarettes, I'll have to give up coffee and beer as well. Either beverage triples my desire to smoke.

I did that first. Beer (and all alcohol) three+ years ago, and caffeine about 10 months ago. Yes, I'm becoming a fucking Puritan. :D Luckily, I still swear like a sailor and love sex. Heh.

the beer doesn't bother me so much. Giving up coffee - and probably cola as well - is likely to be tougher for me than giving up cigarettes will..

I swear like a sailor and love sex too, though. I'll never fucking give up either goddamned one. :hi:

I thought I would never drink coffee again but I've managed to start drinking it again and still not smoking. Alcohol on the other hand, the urge is instantaneous. I didn't drink all that much before I quit but now I hardly drink at all.

a tenth of that or less when I'm drinking coffee. I can't even keep myself from smoking when I get a whiff of coffee grounds.

:toast:

:D

thats next on my list, i'm thinking about joining the smoking cessation group at Kaiser, i guess the patches are almost 100% covered by them, i really need to just call and do it.

The ones I've found that I like the best are the generic CVS patches - they don't leave a mark on me, and the adhesive doesn't stick to me. The Target ones used to be good, but sadly they changed theirs so now they leave the black adhesive all over you!

Anyway, it's way cheaper than cigs, even if it's not covered. Best of luck!

I quit 24 years ago.

Just wait, pretty soon you'll be one of those obnious people like me who can't STAND to be around cig smoke.

}(

When I catch a whiff on the street right now, it still smells good to me, but I know that will change. As for stale smoke, it's already getting to me. I need to dry-clean all my coats!

Luckily, Philly is nonsmoking everywhere, including restaurants and bars, so it's a good place to be!

Of course, here in Tobacco Central, there are still smoking sections in most restaurants and smoke-filled bars as well.
Luckily, Chapel Hill is smoke-free in that respect, but when we eat out in Durham or Raleigh you can smell the smoke
and it's pretty icky.

UNC Hospital, where I work, is about to go smoke free on the whole grounds as well as inside. I expect it will be pretty ugly.
We already have problems with people smoking in the bathrooms sometimes...the NC smokers are HARD CORE lifetime
smokers for the most part. They are NOT HAPPY without their cigs. It will be time to dawn the flame suit at work...
:scared:

I know just what you mean. Southern smokers are unapologetic and rigid in their habits. Being from the Northeast, I never minded smoking restrictions in establishments, but those Virginia smokers were hard-core!

:D

I hope it takes, my fingers are crossed for you. :thumbsup:

:D

Cold turkey -- no patch. When I felt an urge I would get really angry at the tobacco companys. I mean, REALLY ANGRY. It helped me tremendously.

The tobacco companies give to GOP candidates. By smoking, I was putting money directly into the coffers of the people I hate the most!

I hope you have someone to call and yell at if/when you need to do that.

:hug:

Good luck!

Well, I have all my employees...just kidding. I have two close friends who quit a week ago using the Commit lozenges, and we've all been supporting each other and venting to each other. So that's good!

Thanks. :D

Think of it this way. The desire lasts only about 30 seconds. Then your brain fades out waiting for a hit. In a while the brain will try again to get your attention. so, if you can hang on 30 seconds, you win each time.
If you need some help PM me. I do Stop Smoking programs. Glad to help a DUer become free of the evil cigarette lobby.

I'm sort of laughing at my cravings right now. My brain goes, "Ooh! I have a great idea! Let's have a nice ciggie right now!" And my heart LEAPS. Then I go, "No. We're not doing that anymore. Calm down." And my heart FALLS. Heh. It's amazing.

I've been a sober alcoholic for over 3 years now, so I do know a little bit about fighting cravings. But I will take all the help I can get! Thanks. :D

A bit Pavlovian but it works. Put an elastic around your wrist. When you have the urge to smoke snap the elastic. Your brain will eventually interrupt the desire to smoke with pain. Oh ya, you don't have to really hurt yourself. just a little snap.
Alcohol is a bit different. But, the only way you succeed is to not drink or not smoke. Best of Luck and don't give up!

As was cocaine, years ago. This is by far the hardest addiction for me.

I will try the elastic, thanks! :hi:

Nicotine is as hard as most opiates but booze meant a total life change for me. Thankfully, it's been many years for most addictions. Sugar is the hardest now.

:hi:

Thank you so much! That is so sweet of you. :loveya:

My 4th attempt and each one I lasted over a year!

It really is day by day. I know you can do it. It's so worth it.

It's the same with alcohol (although this is much harder). I am always sober just for today. So I suppose I will always be smober (HA!) just for today, too.

In the meantime, I smell really good. :D

I'm in the process, too. I'm using Chantix (Rx) a pill that does not contain any nicotine. It works on the reptilian ;) part of the brain. Just kidding. However, it does work on brain impulse or desire - I'm just glad it eliminates the desire to smoke and I don't have any physical symptoms associated with quitting (edgy, cranky, etc.) I'm that way normally.

Insurance doesn't cover it and it's $90.00 a month. But, it's cheaper than buying cigarettes. I've been taking it since December. Maybe another month and I think I'll have a good shot and not smoking again. The withdrawal was always hard for me, with Chantix it's been extremely easy. I know, I know.. I'm a wuss. :cry: But, why suffer is you don't have to.

She's been quit for over 2 months now, and her fiance went through a very scary medical problem during that time, and she didn't smoke. So it must work!

If I start having trouble with the patch, I will definitely be asking my doctor about it!

my wife just gave it up, no notice, no nothing 8 years ago for my birthday. Hasn't had one since.

She must really love you, or something. ;-)

:rofl:

Don't psych yourself out thinking it will be hard. You made your decision because you were ready to quit. That's what it takes. Keep focused on the positive aspects of not smoking. When my Mom quit, she put what she would have spent on smokes away in a jar and that was her "mad money". That was a long time ago. At today's prices you could have enough for a really nice vacation within a year. Keep up the good work!

It tells me how long it's been, how many cigs I would have smoked, and how much money I've saved (Calculated by how much they cost in Philly - about $4.50 to $5 a pack). It updates automatically. It's awesome!

Thanks for the encouragement! :hi:

I guess I do not feel that way because I have 3 dogs that come in from the rain. Hmmmm, maybe I should start smoking. Except what does a pack a day cost, about $1,000 a year. Air freshener's gotta be cheaper.

Very good for you :applause:

Not always, in the city. :D But I meant more like food and stuff. Opening a jar of peanut butter is like an orgasmic experience. It's so...PEANUT BUTTERY. Heh.

He used the nicotine gum to do it, but whatever works! Best of luck to you!

And they're supposedly much less gross than the gum. The patch has been working well so far, but if I get into trouble, I'll try anything before I give up!

Thanks. :hi:

....I would go batshit crazy...as I have a keen sense o'smell eventhough I smoke...GAHHHH the thought of it bein' even MORE sensitive scares meh! :hi:

People always told me my sense of smell and taste would get better, and previous times of quitting, I didn't notice it, but this time, I definitely do!

it'll be a year on the 9th.

The first week is the hardest - if you've made it this far, your prospects are very very good.

I just kept telling myself, with each additional day that went by, that it wouldn't be worth it after going 7 days, 10 days, 14 days... it worked.

I used the patch too, for about 3 weeks and then I stopped using it.

Happy pre-anniversary! And thanks. :hi:

I quit 11 days ago. I'm using Nicorette. The first 4 days were pretty hellish for me but it is getting easier every day.

Good luck and here's to life as non-smokers!:woohoo:

Congrats to you too. I hated the gum when I tried it years ago, but I hear it tastes a lot better these days. And I hear good things about the Commit Lozenge, too. It's good to know if the patch stops working for me, I have other viable options. :)

WE ROCK!! :hi:

and yes we do, WE ROCK!! :bounce: :thumbsup:

after 18 years of smoking. Trust me - it IS possible!

and the best decision you'll ever make. Congratulations!

I'm hacking up all kinds of crap out of my lungs already - it is so cool! (if a little disgusting, heh.) My body is already purging itself.

Cravings are bad today, but I am willing to suffer through 30-second intervals to save myself dying of lung cancer. Yes I am!

:hi:

:hi: :loveya:

:hug:

The one thing I know for sure about you, Ms jane, is that you can do this.

My best thoughts and wishes are with you, as you get over the twin humps of the physical and mental letting-go...

If you need a venue in which to kick and scream and yell and swear, just please feel free to PM me -- I'm used to women interacting with me like that. :P


:loveya:

Kicking, screaming, yelling, and swearing...sounds like a typical day. ;-)J/K!

Thanks for the support, babe. I need all I can get! :loveya: :loveya:

good for you!!!!!

I haven't so far! Not even when the cravings REALLY suck. :D

I understand how difficult it is, I'll be 1 year at the end of this month. My little girl saved my life, when I found out I was pregnant with her.

Congratulations! I'm just trying to get to one week, ya know? ;-)

That's awesome that you quit for your daughter. The recidivism rate after giving birth is quite high, so you are to be commended for not going back to it!! You're no Britney, that's all I can say. :D

Thanks. :D

I still have no sense of smell.

The first three days are the worse from a hands stand point. Once you get to 10 days just keep telling yourself no to "give back those days" once you are in double digits you should have it down. The real trip-up points are at a year as you might think that since you quite once you can do it again.

Trust me in 3 months you will laugh at how smokes used to rule your life

I am going to _____ I need to make _____ accomodations to my smoking I should smoke __ cigarettes before going in or ask if there is a smoking area which I will hover around just in case I need one.

It was a bizarre way to live a life.

Good for you. Such think what spring and summer will be like!

I figured you would show up on this thread eventually, as you are one of the success stories I think of when I think of people who've quit. Your little angel is definitely worth it. (NEW PICS GODDAMMIT HINT HINT)

Last time I quit, I had trouble at the 2-week and the 6-week mark. The first few days weren't that bad. It's once everyone stops congratulating you and you get into the day-in day-out drudgery of not smoking that I start to go crazy.

I've gained 2 pounds. AARGH! Pisses me off. Of course, I've been eating like crazy. I'm thinking of taking a kickboxing class.

I love not having to find room for my cigs and lighter in my coat pockets. My hair smells really nice. I can wear wool sweaters more than once before I need to wash them. Good stuff!