Ex-Smokers: Post how you were able to quit.

[Le Taz Hot]

It seems there are a lot of smoking threads lately on DU and a lot of smokers are saying things like "I wish I could quit." Well, ex-smokers, now might be a good time to post what finally worked for you. No preachies as we all know that doesn't work. I'll start:

I smoked for 35 years and after trying to quit probably 20 or more times, what finally worked for me was illness combined with the patch. I had a horrible upper respiratory infection after going outside to smoke in inclimate weather for 3 days and was still trying to smoke (coughing violently after every drag). Anyway, I ran out of cigarettes and instead of buying more, I just bought the patch (I couldn't smoke anyway, so what the hell). I bought the band-aid-colored ones which seemed to work for me. I cut a straw the size of a cigarette and "smoked" the straw whenever I got the hand-to-mouth urge. Six months down the road I started having horrible cravings and my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin which worked like a charm.

Next.