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Smoking? Be a Quitter!

Smoking? Be a Quitter!

Date : 07-16-2003 - 06:37 PM - Readers : 2282

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Hello Ladies!

Well after being a pack a day smoker for 28 years, I am finally doing something to assist me in my dream of becoming a non smoker.

My doctor has perscribed Zyban for me and I am starting it next week, Oct. 8th. Its pretty scary, as I can hardly remember my life without cigarettes at all, and I wonder what it will be like. My dad always used to say that if I ever quit smoking I wouldn't know how to drive, as he had never seen me in the car without a cigarette in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.

Having had ovarian cancer last year followed by 3 months of a very hard chemo regime, I feel I owe it to myself and my doctors to give this nasty habit up. I know I will feel much better for it, not to mention the money I will save. I have cut down a great deal since January, but its time to be off of them completely.

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who has quit this way, and to know if the cravings really do ever go away for good! Other than using the patch for 2 weeks earlier this year, this is my first real attempt at quitting. The patches worked fine during the day at work, but I found it very hard in the evening. I am hopeful the Zyban will work better for me!
I appreciate any words of wisdom and tips from anyone who has been through this!
Hugs,
Maria
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Maria,

I quit smoking on April 4, 2000. I used Wellbutrin. It was great!

I also used some behavior modification techniques such as only smoking outside for the month prior to quitting. But, I feel that the thing that helped me the most was the realization that I was gaining nothing from smoking. Nothing. It didn't help me in any way, and was probably going to kill me. So, on the morning of the 4th, I told myself that I was no longer a smoker.

It wasn't easy, but the Wellbutrin really helped. I don't have a cough now, my clothes don't smell of smoke, and smoking isn't the first thing I think of in the morning. I have gained 30 pounds, but I will lose it. I had also had many failed attempts, but knock on wood, the Wellbutrin worked for me. I quit taking it about a month after I quit.

I wish you luck. It's not easy. I loved smoking. Quitting is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but also one of the most rewarding.

Marquetta

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Hi,

I've had no experience with Zyban (don't even know what it is), but I'm sitting here with a cigarette going in the ashtray.

After many years of smoking I quit in '97 when I had a heart attack. It was very easy, because I was scared. I became a real pain in the neck trying to get everyone I know to stop. Then, 3 yrs later the cancer scare started and I started smoking .Stupid, huh! I'm having out-patient surgery on Friday and have been told not to smoke for 24 hours. I'm wondering if I can even manage that, but I'm hoping to make today as my last day as a smoker. But....if it doesn't work, I'll ask for some kind of meds.

I'll be interested in what others have to say on this thread.
Em

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I love it when this subject comes up!
I smoked for 21 years. I loved it like ya'll. I smoked around my children but never my parents. I didnt want them to know I smoked. Like they didnt know by how I smelled and by my voice and by my cough. Who was I fooling?

I was fooling me!

After really thinking about my kids health, I started to think about mine and how much of me I could give them if I suffered the consequences of smoking. Then I began to think that cigs were controlling my every breath and wondered what it would be like if they did not control me. By the time I quit I was rolling my own. I found a company in Santa Fe NM that made a pure product. No added chemicals.

I found the most healthy papers to roll my tobacco in. I learned that the papers carry numerous chemicals to aid them in even burning and are very harmful to the human body.

So I was thinking I was doing great by smoking healthy cigarettes.

HAH! what was I thinking? Well that is just it... I wasn't. Soon I decided not to let anything control my life and I quit. That was 8 years ago this November. I smoked one time after that and wondered why I ever smoked to begin with.

I did it cold turkey. I realize this is not the way for everyone. I believe that you must get over the first initial hump and addiction no matter how you do it. JUST DO IT!!!Do anything you can to quit.

I love not being a smoker! I smell good, I am healthy, rarely get sick, I am in control!

By the way I tried the gum and hypnosis prior to my success. And I did quit at one time for just under 2 years and then I started up again. DUH! What was that about? Well, I started hanging with the wrong people.

I just wanted to add that I stopped smoking in my car. That cut me back a lot. Then I confined it to a certain room in the house. I would tell the kids they had to leave the room when I smoked. Then I thought of differnt things that triggered my smoking desire and started eliminating those things.
Remember to take it one day at a time. Celebrate each day with a personal praise like YAY I did it and I can do it again tomorrow. after a month then go by the week before you know it you will be at a year. Remember it takes 21 days to break a habit. allow a bit more for smoking.

My prayers and best wishes for all of you quitting this nasty habit.

YOU GO GIRLS!!!
Blessings<><
Fitbug
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I have to say that I am very impressed with people who can quit smoking. I personally never really got started at it - as a teenager I tried to be a smoker but it didn't agree with me and I never did get over the nauseous, dizzy feeling when I tried to smoke. For this I am truly grateful now. However, I really wanted to be one of the cool people in high school and they all smoked!! My parents both smoked, as did my siblings and my children all took it up as well. I have seen all of them quit again and again and watched them suffer. My parents and my daughter and my sister have now all stopped. However my Mom, who hasn't smoked in 15 years still gets the "urge" but doesn't give in to it. I don't think that I am a strong enough person to be able to kick an addiction of any kind - especially one that is legal and heavily promoted. I had a tough enough time stopping biting my nails for pete's sake! So, kudos to all of you who are quitting or even trying to quit. And just remember, if you fall off the wagon, there is always tomorrow!! Good luck!! I am really impressed with all of you!!!

patti

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You GO GIRL!!!!

Maria,
Congratulations!!!! And I wish you the best of luck! I know its hard, because I have been there many times myself!!!!! Still smoking today, and trying to cut down before next wednesday when I go to the castle, but what a time ha????? I hope to be falling right behind you myself, once I get rid of all this GARBAGE inside me, and hopefully start a whole new life, a non-smoker as well!!!! I know you can do it!!!! Email me anytime you want!

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Dear Ladies,

Thank you all for the encouragement, success stories and tips. I really think I can do this, and I know there have been many before who have tried quitting this way without success, but there have been many success stories as well. I realize its not simply a matter of taking a pill, and its still going to take will power on my part, but I have lots of incentive on my side.
Thanks again and I will be keeping you all posted as I go. I start taking the Zyban on Monday!!
Hugs,
Maria

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Maria,

Breaking up is hard to do. It can be done. Feb 13, 1989 I smoked my last one after smoking for 22 years. (cold turkey) The last day I smoked 2 1/2 packs. I was a slave to them. For the past twelve years I have enjoyed my life much more. Feel better, breath with less effort, food taste better, less squinting, no coughing, more energy.

Yes, I did gain 25 pounds, but in less that one year that dropped off without much effort. But a big old fibroid took over and added some weight. That is gone since surgery too.
Think of all the pluses. Feeling better, smelling better, No yellow stains on fingers or lips. Your house will smell and look cleaner too.
A friend of mine was afraid she would gain weight while quitting so she started sucking on ice chips. Helped her, but now she has a new addition. But a safe healthy one.
Best wishes to you and all other quitters. I'm with you all the way. email me any time.

Lolubu

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Go Maria Go!!!

You can do it!! Woooooooooo!!!

Trish

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Maria,

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking. I don't think you'll regret it. I hope you find the Zyban as big a help as I do. Zyban, patches and www.quitnet.com are what keep me quit -- just a little over 6 months now after 30 plus years as a severely addicted smoker.

Janine

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You guys are the best!!!

Lolubu 12 years!! Congrats on that girl! I pray for that day to come for me, but I realize I have to go from day to day then week to week etc.....
Yeppers.....I start tomorrow. I was soooo excited today. I dropped off my perscription yesterday and picked it up today. Got out the ole debit card....and she rang it in. $3. and I said...uhm....I thought that wasn't covered by my health plan? She said...no it looks like it is!!! Yay!!!!! It would have been $60. otherwise. I just love when something like that happens.
So....I have it right here.....have read all the literature with it, and am ready to start in the morning. It says I smoke as usual for the first week. Then next week I throw out all my ashtrays, and make sure that I have absolutely no cigarettes around me. The Pharmacist was wonderful. They are such helpful professionals.

So thank you all again for the wonderful encouraging posts. I hope others will join up here as well because you all have posted some wonderful words of encourgement and great tips!!
Talk to ya soon!!
Hugs,
Maria

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Sending you good thoughts Maria. This is the hardest thing you'll ever do --- and the best!

I quit 16 years ago for the last time. I quite before that for 3 years but started again after my brother was killed in a car accident. It so happened some friends left cigarettes at our house the night before. Very ironic.
Anyway, the only help available when I quit was Nicorette gum and it really helped alot. In fact, it saved me alot of times.

I quit because I'd just lost that nagging 20 lbs I'd carried around most of my adult life and was feeling so good about myself. Irony again -- I gained a whole bunch of weight almost instantly. I'm not typical, so don't let this scare you. I have a very addictive personality. I became addicted to sunflower seeds (which I think caused alot of my weight gain) and had to quit them cold turkey. I'm now basically addicted to gum. I get that nervous feeling if I run out.

It's sooooo nice when you quit and don't have to worry about where you can smoke and when you can have that next cigarette. Even 16 years ago, it was getting hard to find places to smoke without offending someone.

I wish you the very best of luck!

Nita

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Maria,
Good for you. I started smoking when I was 15 (like many kids, to be cool). When my husband and I starting dating he was not a smoker, in fact being around me when I was smoking caused nose bleeds for him. Well, that was the incentive I needed.

I tried to just toss them out and quit cold turkey. I lasted for about half a day. I have never felt so sick in all my life. I said to myself "I can't stand this feeling" and went outside and smoked three cigs back to back. Boy did I feel better after that.

Well, I decided I was gonna need some help with quitting so I found at a drug store a kit called "kick the habit". I don't know if they even sell it any more as that was 11 years ago. This kit had filters in it. (3 different sets). I can't remember exactly how it worked, but by the time you were on the last set you got virtually know nicotine at all. Actually it felt like smoking "clean air". At this point it was only the habit, not the nicotine that was the problem.

I decided in order to be strong I was gonna have to change some things, I stopped going around my friends and family who smoked until I knew I could handle it. I tried to go to places where there was no smoking, so I wouldn't be tempted. I bought lots of things to keep my hands busy when I was watching TV. My coloring skills really improved during this time. I had lots of hard candy to suck on. I even used a filter (without a cigarette) and just went through the motions of smoking. This sounds really strange, but it really does work, when the temptation is overwhelming take deep breaths, like you are smoking. It's amazing how much that helps.

That kit had a phone number on it that you could call when you got down to the last filters to buy more if you needed them. I didn't. I have to tell you though that a lot of my strength came from my husband. He was understanding when I got crabby. It was funny to find out just how well he knows me. I remember there at the beginning when I tried to quit cold turkey. I was gonna sneak a cigarette on the way to work. Well I pulled out my ashtray and my lighter was gone. I was very annoyed. Then a smile came over my face because I realized how much my DH loved me.

I hope you stay strong and can quit smoking. Now that I am an ex-smoker, being around others who smoke really bothers me. NO, it doesn't make me want to light up again, it's exactly the opposite. It really stinks. The only thing that comes to mind is "I'm glad I don't have to ride in a car with them".

Best of Luck to you. I know you can do it!!!

Ronda
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Posted by Maria951 on 10-09-2001 02:29 PM:

Hi Ladies,
Thanks again for all the great wonderful support and excellent tips!! You are all great!

Nita so sorry for the loss of your brother. I understand the stress of losing a loved one. Its very hard to deal with.
Nita....I know this probably will be the hardest thing I ever do but it can't be too much worse than 28 days of chemo over a 70 day period which I did last year.....that was pretty hard to do as I was very ill with it! In fact, it was exactly one year ago tomorrow the 10th that I started my chemo.

I have never tried the Nicorette gum. I chew regular gum constantly though. I did try the patches earlier this year and they worked great at work. Then when I got home off came the patch.
Ronda I remember those kits around years ago with the filters. I didn't try them but knew people who did and were not as successful as you were. That was great!!

I'm on day 2 of the Zyban...and since I am still able and even suppose to smoke for this week, all is good. No side effects that I am aware of so far. I take one more tomorrow then Thursday I start one in the morning and one at night.
So....am determined to do this. And I am hopeful to do it in one month and not require a refill on this.
My main concern is eating to replace it, as I have already gained 25 lbs. since January when I finished chemo, and I am not thrilled, but I guess its a fair trade for my health back.

You all with your success stories are a wonderful incentive for me, and I am sure for others wanting to kick the habit. I hope they come along and read this great thread as well. You are all proof it can be done and I appreciate your stories more than you know!!
Will check in with you all at the end of the week!!
Hugs to all,
Maria

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Dear Maria,

One thing that also helped me when I quit is that the psycologist used hypnotism (as I told you on an earlier thread) but he also told me to take a glass jar (maybe 2-liter size), add about 1 or 2 inches of water at the bottom, and for the last week that I was a smoker, I was to put every butt into the jar. Believe me, by the end of that week, that jar was disgusting. Smelly, too. Since this is your last week as a smoker, you might do that, so help you later on to recall how nasty cigarettes are.

Congratulations on your one year anniversary of the chemo treatments. That must have been a very rough time for you. You'll do this, too.

I'll be anxious to hear how it goes next week. Good Luck!!
Karen

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Hi Maria -- it looks we are about at the same stage (you are a little bit ahead of me though). I just started taking Wellbutrin to help me quit smoking today (Zyban not covered on my insurance, but Wellbutrin is). My doc said to wait 2-3 weeks before quitting. I've picked my quit date to be October 29 (Monday).

I started smoking at age 17 and am now 42. I've had short-term quits and have tried to quit many times. I am sick and tired of being a slave to my cigarettes!

I am so glad I found your post and am taking advantage of all the wonderful advice that has been given here. I plan on checking in often. This site helped me immensely with my hyst. , isn't it cool we can come here for support on stopping smoking too.

Just think -- one month from now we will both be non-smokers!

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