I. Am. Trying. To. Quit. Smoking.

[WilliamPitt]

After. 20. Years.

I. Am. Officially. An. Insane. Person. Now.

Need. Lounge. Vibes. Desperately.

Must. Now. Go. Outside. And. Gnaw. Down. Trees. Like. A. Beaver.

Argh. Argh. Argh. Argh. Argh. Argh. Argh.

(and the weirdest part is that I'm coughing now more than I ever did when I smoked...and you don't want to know what I'm coughing up...bleh...)

(...sorry, TMI...)

(...bleh...)

[underpants]

1. Patch - cheap one at the grocery store

I have made two more attempts this month. This weekend I had 3 smokes from Thursday to this morning.

The patch works. You do have to get over the "Taking a break" aspect of smoking and the dreams you have if you wear it at night can be beyond VIVID.

I am having some today and then quitting tomorrow for good.

[Generic Brad]

2. It gets better

Drink a lot of water. If you fail, bone up and try again. Quitting is a process and it does get easier with practice and time.

[Lil Missy]

3. I quit smoking 1 year ago and still get cravings. But it gets better.

I started on Wellbutrin and also used the patch. Exercise helps.

Good luck.

[JanMichael]

4. There is always the substitution method. Exercise, heroin, crack...

...weed, shock therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture, bungee jumping, running, tabata, etcetera.

Plus remember nobody respects a quitter!

[WilliamPitt]

6. All at the same time?

I suppose acupuncture and heroin could go together if you get clever about it. The rest seems like a stretch.

[JanMichael]

16. If possible. Smoking would be far from your mind. Far far away.

Seriously though I did it cold-turkey however that doesn't work for most people. I also wasn't a heavy smoker to begin with.

I have heard that hypotherapy can be pretty helpful. Not so sure about the other meds.

[IcyPeas]

31. My Mom did it with acupuncture...

worth a try, especially since it harmless. Good Luck.

Dad was a long-time smoker - never even tried to quit because he liked smoking - period. He died of emphysema.

best of luck.

[lunatica]

5. I quit 15 years ago but I had help

I think it's called Chantix now. I was part of a double blind study with thousands of people way back in the early 1990s. It was with an antidepressant called Wellbutrin. It replaces the nicotine in your system so by the time you quit smoking which is usually a week after you start taking it, you're ready because the physical part of the nicotine habit is totally diminished.

I could never do it cold turkey. That extra help was vital to my success. As I said above it's been 15 years and not a day goes by that I'm not grateful I quit. I used to smoke two to three packs a day and I smoked for 30 years.

[WilliamPitt]

7. Chantrix scares me

My friend's brother is an airline pilot, and the FAA banned the stuff for any working pilots. If you have even a whiff of a psychological imbalance, that stuff has the potential to send you pinwheeling.

I have heard good things about Wellbutrin, tho. Might be the next step.

We'll see how far will power gets me.

[DebJ]

29. Wellbutrin is also an anti-depressant and so the same

warnings apply if there is any history of any psychological issues in the family.

[crazyjoe]

65. chantrix will help with the physical withdrawals ( can't sleep, anxiousness, ect)

but not with the mental part. You'll know what i mean by mental the first time you talk yourself into having "just one"

[blue neen]

48. The brand name for Wellbutrin, smoke cessation dose is Zyban.

It doesn't actually replace the nicotine in your body, but increases the dopamine concentrations in the brain. Nicotine, like heroin, feeds into your dopaminergic system. When you deprive your brain of nicotine, your brain gets really, really angry!

Chantix works by actually blocking the dopamine receptors. After you've been on it for a couple of weeks, smoking a cigarette gives your brain no pleasurable feeling...so you actually don't care if you have a cigarette or not.

They basically work in different ways. Both medications can have side effects...I've seen people quit while taking both.

You, however, did it the REALLY hard way and should be saluted! Fifteen years cigarette free! :)

:patriot:

[suninvited]

63. if it was a blind study

do you know if you were getting the drug, or a placebo?

[meow2u3]

68. I tried Wellbutrin--did not help me in any way

10 years ago, I was put on Wellbutrin, and not only did it not help me quit smoking, it also made me gain so much weight that one time, I ballooned up to 300 pounds! Granted, part of the reason for the weight gain was that I can't exercise without a buddy, and I had no buddy. I didn't overeat; it was the Wellbutrin that caused the weight gain, the opposite side effect of most people's experience with the meds.

[rbnyc]

8. You can do it!

You will cough up horrible stuff for many days, but you will get through.

When my dad quit drinking, he eventually ended up in AA and I went to some meetings with him. When I quit smoking 12 years ago, a lot of that stuff came back to me and was actually really helpful. It really is one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time.

I smoked 2 packs a day for over 10 years. After several attempts to quit, I found that the true secret is to not smoke any more cigarettes. You're doing it!

I'm so proud of you.

[madinmaryland]

9. Best of luck! You will thank yourself in 20 years when you are still

alive and breathing!

[old mark]

10. You have my sympathy and my support-All I can tell you, is that if you start again,

you will have to go through all this shit again and again till you finally stop.
Smoking is a terrible addiction, and every discomfort and misery you experience when you stop should be telling you how right you are in your efforts to quit - Tobbacco and especially cigarettes have no real good side to them adn the faster you gan stop using them the better for you.

Good luck - don't stop now - use every tool you possibly can!

mark

[old mark]

30. Added: I quit almost 21 years ago, and don't want to ever do it again...

I am still amazed to remember that I smoked at all. No problems with it after all this time.


mark

[xchrom]

11. good luck -- it's not easy but if you make it -- oy -- will you have

something to crow about. -- it's a big deal.

[lillypaddle]

12. I quit 8 years ago for 4 years ...

and like a FOOL, started up again. Beginning of September of this year, I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. Basically, I had to put them down or cough my guts up. After almost 3 months, the coughing has gotten better, but I don't think it will ever go away. Guess that's why they call it CHRONIC bronchitis. I'v had better luck with the gum than patches, because I can sort of use it like a cigarette, i.e., after a meal, with morning coffee, etc. Good luck to you. It's a nasty, disgusting habit, which would be one thing, if it didn't kill you. Hang in there.

[VioletLake]

13. I did it 6 years ago, cold turkey.

The thing that makes quitting possible is being convinced beyond the temptation. What did it for me was my nephew's birth and the thought that he would know me from day 1 as the one that smells like smoke. After that, all the other reasons (health, money, politics, etc...) kicked in and I had all the willpower I needed.

The first few days were difficult but it does get easier after that. After a month or so, you'll begin to stop associating specific things with having a cigarette (when you first wake up, driving, etc...). Six years into it, I still have a mild urge to smoke once in a long while, but it's insignificant next to what I have accomplished.

Here's to you and your mighty will, Will... :toast:

[Tikki]

24. Like VioletLake, I quit 7 years ago because I didn't want a..

(grand)child to know me as a smoker.
I used every trick in the books to trick my brain.
I set up a new routine, even got up in the morning at a slightly different
time, different furniture arrangement.
Cleaned all my clothes and linens and soft furnishings
to get rid of the smoking smell.
Found a group to AM walk with. Spent mucho time with nonsmokers.

Setting new habits can help replace old habits..


Congratulations...you are on your way..
Tikki

[blue neen]

49. It seems like changing your routine is a good idea.

I'll have to suggest that to my son the next time he tries to quit! :)

[Sweet Freedom]

14. I quit after 24 years.

Dec. 5 will be 5 1/2 years since my last cigarette, so I know how you feel.

Hang in there. It is so worth it. It really is nice to breathe easily. :)

[sarge43]

15. We know what you're coughing up - escargots.

Avoid the temptation to chew on your arm.

Drink lots of water, if you're a caffeine junkie, try to cut back as much as possible. Exercise helps a lot. Get the patch.

+1 what everyone has said about how it does get better.

:hug::hug::hug:

[2Design]

17. find a support group - 12 step if possible - someone who remembers

the pain of the first year - it is very difficult - the quitting part turns out to the be the easier part(doesn't feel like it) it is the days and weeks and months after that are out there to sabotage you

Just remember when you think you want one and the committee in your head is trying to talk you into it - you really want a whole cartoon

that thought alone was enough to get me to the next minute and that was when I could get a cartoon for $10

Count up your savings each week and put it in a savings account for something special you want

[Swampguana]

18. It takes time

It's good coughing that up, it's better than it staying inside you. When I quit I was coughing up nasty stuff too but that goes away. I used a bit of marijuana which helped me, you should find something that can distract your craving.

[superduperfarleft]

19. Try snus.

http://tobaccoproducts.org/index.php/Camel_Snus

It comes in little metal cases at tobacco shops or even convenience stores. You put it in your mouth against your gum, but you don't have to spit or anything like regular snuff or something.

I've used them when flying or when I am otherwise unable to smoke, and it's great. You don't even notice it's there, you can drink whatever with it in there, and it's the best I've found at holding off cravings (I've tried the patch, gum, the patch and gum at the same time, etc. and snus is the only thing that worked). I plan to use them for a while when I quit so I can get used to not having a cigarette in my hand before I try to wean off the nicotine.

[rurallib]

20. keep us posted - tons of us here are cheering for you

many of us have done it and we know it is hard but can be done!
BTW - A wondrous thrill awaits you when you start tasting food again.

[alphafemale]

21. Did that a few years back. Went through a couple packs of toothpicks a week for awhile

It gets easier every day, though.

Just remember that creepy crawly feeling you have like there's ants crawling under your skin is your capillaries already starting to heal themselves. So that's a good thing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. My dear Will...

You're doing this for you.........and your beautiful bride!

Second-hand smoke is a terrible killer too, and you don't want to add to her burdens...

Stopping smoking will help you stay virile...

You don't want ANY of the cancers that are caused by smoking!

And remember those tobacco companies are trying to take your money, and kill you...

I know you can do it, sweetie!

You're a strong, smart guy. I'm so proud of you!

:hug:

[Iggo]

23. I know what you're coughing up.

It's gross.

Your body gets pissed at you when you cease to maintain an addiction. Then it cleans house.

It'll pass.

[bluedigger]

25. Good luck!

I quit a two pack a day habit cold turkey 7 years ago after developing a heart condition that scared the crap out of me. I don't know that it had anything to do with it, as I still have the condition, but it was enough of a wake up call to flip the switch in my head. Everytime I wanted a smoke I just told myself, "You don't smoke." Seriesly!
It also helped that the women I worked with started buying bags of hard candy and feeding me every time I came around. (I guess I was a little crabby.):rofl:
Seven years later I still have the occasional craving, and I accidentally smoked a blunt once :smoke:, which gave me a headache for three days, but other than that, it's all good, especially the extra disposable income! :thumbsup:

[RushIsRot]

26. I managed to quit 25 years ago using acupressure. I had awful

bouts of depression while my brain chemistry recovered. I also had several instances of walking pneumonia while my lungs were healing. It comes with the territory, but you get past it eventually and it is such a wonderful feeling.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

27. I went cold turkey 8 years ago. I kept patches and gum handy but didn't use them.

By the way, after the first couple days clean there's kind of a fun, light headed euphoria that kicks in off and on for a while. Not unlike a nitrous buzz. I don't know how common that is but I definitely got it.

[LaurenG]

28. Chew nicotine gum and consider yourself a nonsmoker immediately

nicotine is my first love, ok my second love. It saw me through traumas of a lifetime but I am not a smoker anymore, just a nicotine fiend.

Chew the gum and stay away from your smoking friends, it'll get easier - soon.

[libodem]

32. Best of luck

the cough becomes worse as your microscopic hairs wake back up after being paralyzed from the smoke. They start the sweeping motion they were intend to perform and the mucus production seems worse. No shame in having some of that gum or a patch. Both helped me. Put $5.00 bucks away in a jar for every day you don't smoke as a visual of cash you'll be saving. (Damn, glad it's not me, been there done that 4 effing times)

[one_voice]

33. The last cigarette I had was...

Sept. 13, 2010, haven't had one since. I know, I know I'm a newbie, but I figured I'd tell you what helped me. Pretzel rods, straws to chew on when the cravings were bad, and lollipops. The first week was the hardest. Every now and again I think about it, but it's usually from habit not "need". I really don't miss it, and I've had quite a few stressful situations since I quit. Exactly one month after my husband had a heart attack, and smoking didn't even enter my mind. My sister quit a month after me, and she's still doing ok.

I quit once before but started again...the circumstances of why I quit were different. It wasn't because I wanted to, this time I wanted to.

I wish well and hope you are able to quit. Lean on people to get you through if you need to. Good luck and let us know how you're making out.

p.s. I'm now addicted to pretzel rods. Wonder if there's a 12 step program for that.

[DainBramaged]

34. Sir Honorable William

Having smoked from my teen years till 2005, I KNOW what you are going through. Anger, frustration, cravings but it's worth it.

Two weeks and you'll feel better. Believe me. And your taste, sense of smell, in 6 months you will truly feel better.


All my best,

DB

[Generic Other]

35. get the gum...it worked for me

On a side note, quitting pot is much easier, so maybe switch to that for awhile.

[Seedersandleechers]

36. I started taking Tamadol/Ultram

for a bad back and for some reason - cigarettes tasted so nasty when I took them that I didn't want to smoke. I since then found out that other people had the very same reaction to them. That's how I quit.

[elocs]

37. My goddaughter made it a day and a half until this afternoon before getting another pack.

She has nicotine gum as well as e-cigarettes, but the physical addiction to nicotine is only half the battle to quitting. The other half that can be harder is psychological. Everyone who smokes has triggers that, well, trigger them to have another cigarette. She needs to recognize her triggers and how to deal with them if she wants to successfully quit.

My goddaughter also has another problem in dealing with quitting smoking because she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and takes meds for it. Up to 90% of schizophrenics smoke so there is more going on than just an addiction to nicotine and entire books have been written on the subject. It is thought that smoking helps schizophrenics to think better and more normal, so they are in actuality self-medicating when they smoke.

Quitting smoking is hard (being a lifetime nonsmoker it is difficult for me to appreciate how hard it is) and the process is different for everyone as well as the success rate and how quickly that success is attained.

[CrawlingChaos]

47. so true about schizophrenics

My uncle was a schizophrenic and his psychiatrist told me he'd never seen a schizophrenic patient who didn't smoke and drink coffee, both of which help their symptoms. He actually discouraged us from withholding cigarettes, because it would have been too much for my uncle. Even though he ultimately died from COPD complications, the schizophrenia was always a much bigger issue. I can't even picture the poor guy without a cup of coffee and a smoke in his hand - it seemed to help him so much. Hopefully your goodaughter has a milder case and can conquer the demon cigs, but it's so true she'll have a bigger mountain to climb than the average smoker.

[LynneSin]

38. Will if it means anything, it will get better

but until then

:pals:

[marzipanni]

39. Your lungs will be indebted to you, and serve you to their utmost ability

because you allow them to! :hug:

I saw a display of lung models that looked like this - http://sdfs.ucps.k12.nc.us/images/Lungs.htm - at the Museum of Science, Boston, around 1959, when I was 8. That, and Really wanting my mom to quit, made me stay far away from tobacco.

Will, I send vibes to your will to stay strong and resist! :thumbsup:

[JonLP24]

40. E-Cigarettes work great for me

Though if you're trying to permanently quit nicotine, I wouldn't recommend it. Though you can get non-nicotine flavors for them.

[madinmaryland]

43. Wow.

Of anyone from the sports forum who smokes, I would not thought of you as a smoker.

:shrug:

[JonLP24]

44. LOL, really?

You'd probably be surprised the number of substances I either tried out or used recreationally in my lifetime. I quit nearly everything, except for caffeine, nicotine(E-cigs), THC, and alcohol(rarely).

[Lucian]

41. The best way to quit smoking is to drink copious amounts of alcohol.

A single malt should work the best.

Edit: Sorry, wrong vice.

[dogday]

42. 24 hour nicotine patch and some klonopin did the job for me...

I smoked for 30 years and had a heart attach because of it. stop now!!!

[kimi]

45. Sending vibes, absolutely

I'm another ex-smoker. Quit long ago, though, pregnancy did it for me, but I highly doubt that's an option in your case. :)

I have heard good things about both Chantix and the gum. I feel for ya, quitting any addiction is an exercise BEYOND self-control, IMO.

Please keep us posted, we're all pulling for ya.

[CrawlingChaos]

46. I was listening to a UCTV lecture the other day

The doctor said your cardiovascular system gets significantly healthier the very first day you quit smoking, and in just one smoke-free year, it's like you never smoked at all (as far as your heart and blood vessels are concerned - takes a little bit longer to undo the lung damage, but that happens too).

I hope people continue posting the helpful tips and suggestions. I'm going to pass this thread along to my brother who is (hopefully) getting ready to take another stab at quitting.

Good luck to you Mr. Pitt!

[GreenPartyVoter]

50. You got more vibes coming your way! *hugs*

[pacalo]

51. Tootsie Roll Pops -- good diversion treat that helps with the hand-to-mouth habit.

Good luck, Will.

[Taverner]

52. Do you want to really quit?

Use the gum

Buy that box of 100/4mg and leave the shit all over the house. Your desk. Your work. Your car. Your bike.

Every time you want a smoke, grab a piece of the Nic Gum

And it will be abated for a while

Keep doing this

Congratulations! You're now hooked on the gum!

[JackBeck]

53. Good luck, Will. Quit on Inauguration Day after 15 years of smoking.

Once you get past the 2 week anniversary it tends to be smooth sailing. Although, I still dream about smoking, which makes me think I've cheated after I wake-up.

[myrna minx]

62. I quit on January 25, 2010 and when I'm startled awake from a smoking dream,

I feel like I've cheated too! I'm always so relived that it was just a dream.

After making the dumbest decision of my life, starting smoking in HS, I quit cold turkey after 23 odd years. I nearly lost my mind during the first week, but after a few weeks the cravings do abate. I've saved about 2,500 since I quit. :woohoo:

[rurallib]

66. 35 years later, I still have that dream.

and I wake up in a cold sweat and feel ashamed i started again.

[Lucinda]

54. This too shall pass

or sumpin like that :)

[Skittles]

55. nicotine gum is your friend, William

actually, I recommend EQUATE nico lozenges, cherry flavor

[Waiting For Everyman]

56. Two words: electronic cigarette.

No tar=no problem. The tar and smoke from the burning IS the problem, not the nicotine (a lot like caffeine in its effects). E-cigs only produce vapor, nothing is burned.

I haven't smoked a real cigarette since I first got my e-cig, last July. No effort or angst involved whatsoever. If you want to quit nicotine too, it's simple to just reduce the level in the cartos used, without even noticing it.

I can't even tell the difference between my cartos with nicotine, and those without (I use both, and it's nice to have that choice and the control of it).

I love my e-cig!

Anyway, good luck with quitting!

[elocs]

60. E-cigarettes are healthier, but there is more to quitting smoking than just the nicotine addiction.

My 19 year old goddaughter tried to quit this weekend and made it about a day and a half. By Sunday afternoon she was going crazy for a cigarette even though she was using e-cigarettes and nicotine gum, so it was not the nicotine she was craving, it was psychological as well.

Ultimately she will likely have to have some form of nicotine for many years because for her it is more than just an addiction, it is self medicating.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

57. Try this electronic cigarette:

http://revolvercig.com/infiniti-ion-starter-kit-manual-batteries.html

This thing has worked wonders for me.

[HEyHEY]

58. the contract has been working for me

Pick a date to stop. Sign a contract with some friends as sponsors. For some reason, having something on paper worked wonders for my will power.

[Robbien]

59. I. Am.Trying.To.Quit.Smoking.Also . . . Coff.Coff.Coff

In-between the coughing there's Tense muscles, Short tempers and Sleepless nights

Quitting sucks

[Rambis]

61. Do, or do not.... there is no try- Master Yoda

Good luck!

[crazyjoe]

64. I quit a while back, and there is alot of coughing. It's your body clearing

out your lungs. Stick with it, the desire to smoke does go away although it seems like it never will. Once you decide you don't want to smoke anymore, it's not that hard, sometimes (like after a meal) the desire can be overwhelming, but it will pass.
It's also very satisfying after you quit to know that you did it, and you wonder why you ever smoked in the first place.
and remember, if you don't smoke for say 2 weeks, and you sneak just one, you are starting all over again and the 2 weeks of misery you just went through was all for nothing. The desire won't go away until you get all the nicotine out of your system.
The thing that helped me the most was to quit drinking at the same time. If you do cheat, i guarantee it will be while your enjoying a pint.
good luck. one day at a time.

[Kat45]

67. My boyfriend's doctor told him the coughing is worse when you first quit.

Apparently the cilia in the lungs get paralyzed by the smoke, then when you quit they start working again and start clearing the smoke out of your system.

[WilliamPitt]

69. Oh yah

I coughed up a few kitties this morning. Big gray kitties.

Bleh.

[IBEWVET]

70. Good Luck

Chantrix worked for me, had a few dreams a bit more vivid than normal, but no other trouble. What really helped me when a bad craving hit was to take a deep breath in though my nose and exhale like you are blowing through a straw. I would do that twice and the urge would be gone. Good Luck

[Wabbajack_]

71. You can do it man

Get over the hill and you'll be good.