Becoming Nicotine Free

[Alex2507]

I had to put the angry face up there as a goof.

I'm on day 4 of being smoke free. I'm on the 14 mg dose of the 'patch'. I plan to do the 14 mg dose for a couple of weeks and then the 7 mg dose for another two weeks before going completely nicotine free.

Any suggestions, insights and related links to the subject matter would be appreciated.

TIA,
Alex

 

[Adam]

Congrats, man! Of course, I say that only because nicotine doesn't happen to be one of my vices. I think that it is much healthier for you, and I'm happy to read that you're breaking the chain.

Now, if they'd only make an Audioholics (bacock!...what the heck was that?) patch, I'd be able to get out of the house from time to time...

 

[Adam]

Oh, yeah. Advice. Hmmmm. More alcohol? That would be my approach, but I'm just throwing it out there.

 

[Alex2507]

Shakes head in dismay.

 

[Cpt.America]

My Aunt ( a famous one at that...) died from smoking induced lung and brain cancer at the age of 38. THIRTY EIGHT!!!.... By the time she felt even her FIRST symptom ("not feeling well... might go to the doctor"), it was too late. She was in a wheelchair 3 months after that, and dead after another 3 months.

Even if quitting is the hardest thing you have ever done, it very well could be the one thing you do that saves your life.

My one piece of advice to those trying to quit... just don't BUY them. I imagine its hard not to smoke, but it certainly is easy to NOT go to the store, NOT get them off the shelf, and NOT give the lady behind the counter some money.

Good luck to you!

 

[Tomorrow]

Hey HUGE props and congrats to you, Alex. It is one of the most difficult addictions to break.

Think of the money you can save now for audio gear!! 125 packs buys a pretty nice subwoofer.

That was the carrot...here comes the stick. I smoked ~2.5 packs/day. I managed to quit by having a tobacco-caused massive coronary at the unripe and otherwise healthy age of 44. (I was anoxic for over 5 minutes which explains my goofiness/nonsense here on the forum.) Being in a coma for a couple of days, intubated, in ICU for 5 days, and then on oxygen for 10 days...gave me a head start to quitting. Before this nice jolt of motivation, I had tried to quit a number of times (pre-patch days, tho').

DO IT, Alex. My best advice is to replace the habit of smoking with other (preferrably healthy) habits. Chew gum. Eat broccoli. Troll for babes. (You'll smell better to 'em now. ) Anything. Just quit...make up your mind to do it and you will.

Happy 2009!!

 

[jamie2112]

Nice job buddy good for you. I need to quit as well darnit.........

 

[speakerman39]

My Aunt ( a famous one at that...) died from smoking induced lung and brain cancer at the age of 38. THIRTY EIGHT!!!.... By the time she felt even her FIRST symptom ("not feeling well... might go to the doctor"), it was too late. She was in a wheelchair 3 months after that, and dead after another 3 months.

Even if quitting is the hardest thing you have ever done, it very well could be the one thing you do that saves your life.

My one piece of advice to those trying to quit... just don't BUY them. I imagine its hard not to smoke, but it certainly is easy to NOT go to the store, NOT get them off the shelf, and NOT give the lady behind the counter some money.

Good luck to you!

Very well spoken here. My Mom has cancer of the lung due to her smoking. To be honest, it is ripping me apart as I truly am a Momma's boy. I am scared to death for her! Sadly, she is smoking again after quitting for nearly an entire year. Alex, I do wish you all the best in breaking such a highly addictive habit. This, of course, also goes out to anyone out there doing the same.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[croseiv]

Good for you! Your plan sounds solid, and I think you have made an excellent decision for better health.

 

[billy p]

I had to put the angry face up there as a goof.

I'm on day 4 of being smoke free. I'm on the 14 mg dose of the 'patch'. I plan to do the 14 mg dose for a couple of weeks and then the 7 mg dose for another two weeks before going completely nicotine free.

Any suggestions, insights and related links to the subject matter would be appreciated.

TIA,
Alex

Alex, what worked for me was keeping myself busy(okay my 2 children made sure of that)and I chewed a lot of gum. The hardest part IMO is breaking yourself of the habit! For me that was driving to work and my early morning coffee. Once I got past that, it simply became mind over matter for me, even with those long lingering craving they became a lot easier.
FWIW, it does get easier with each passing day, now if I could only break my wife of the habit, I'll be a happy man.

Good luck, Bill

 

[duffy0401]

I've been smoke free for 9 weeks now. I went the patch route as well. It's been hard some days but it does get easier. I was really pissed all the time but what can you do?

Keep busy and chew lots of gum if you can. I stayed away from drinking as well since that was a huge trigger for me. Beer 5 smokes beer 5 smokes beer 5 smokes beer 5 smokes....crap did I just smoke a whole pack in the last hour?

Stay strong it will be worth it. you will get urges but they go away pretty fast for me now.

Chris

 

[10010011]

I am going on 10 years of Nicotine withdrawal.

I went the cold turkey route. It was tough, probably toughest on my wife but eventually it got better.

I will have to say the recent rash of no smoking laws have made in enjoyable to go out to clubs again.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Good for you Alex! Get that monkey....uh....Good for you Alex!


Seriously, Be strong and know that it will be hard and you'll be grumpy and miserable at times and just deal with it. You have to want to do it. I have not ever picked that addiction up but many in my family have. The one thing that always fools them into smoking again is thinking "I can just have one". After that they are back to smoking a little more at a time and then back to where they started.


Good luck,
Doug

 

[Alex2507]

now if I could only break my wife of the habit, I'll be a happy man.

My live in g/f and I are doing this together. I assured her that I would smoke her's if they were around. She's on the patch too.

I went the cold turkey route. It was tough, probably toughest on my wife

They deserve what they get.

I was really pissed all the time

We managed about 45 days cold turkey a couple of years ago and let me tell ya, it was tense. Working in construction makes offering to beat people senseless okay, actually doing so is grounds for a promotion but me and the girl going round and round like cats and dogs was nobody's bargain. I'm positive that if she could take me, I would be a victim of spousal abuse. She sometimes acts like I should fear her.

Breaking the smoking habit and then weening ourselves from nicotine might work better. Other people do it. We'll do it. It's doable.

I would just as soon not die from this.

 

[rnatalli]

DO IT, Alex. My best advice is to replace the habit of smoking with other (preferrably healthy) habits. Chew gum. Eat broccoli. Troll for babes. (You'll smell better to 'em now. ) Anything. Just quit...make up your mind to do it and you will.

This is great advice. Hang in there mate; it'll get easier going forward.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Congrats and hang in there. I highly recommend you get started on CHANTIX which will give you a much better chance of success. Also vary your rountine even as far as staying out of the store where you buy your packs. Just use the "pay at the pump" when you need gas.

 

[Alex2507]

I highly recommend you get started on CHANTIX

I have an aversion to pharmaceuticals. The side effects of the patch are creepy enough.

Thanks for all the tips. I'll ask my g/f if we can go trolling for babes together.
Being out of work is making this easier as I don't have to go out much. I may go out to a paint store for some wood putty today but I'll stay away from places where they sell smokes.

Day 5 starts. This is way easier than cold turkey.
My lungs already feel like those of a 50 year old.
I'm 43.

Edit: Actually my lungs feel and sound much better.

 

[adk highlander]

Hey Alex good for you. I quit many years ago but I can say it was one of the best things I have done. I wanted to keep up with my friends mountain biking and was tired of sucking wind.

Like an addiction one of the best ways to help is to change your routine. Don't go to the same stores you bought smokes and if you always had it with your coffee then change to tea.

Good luck man we are with you.

 

[mike c]

I had to put the angry face up there as a goof.

I'm on day 4 of being smoke free. I'm on the 14 mg dose of the 'patch'. I plan to do the 14 mg dose for a couple of weeks and then the 7 mg dose for another two weeks before going completely nicotine free.

Any suggestions, insights and related links to the subject matter would be appreciated.

TIA,
Alex

i've quit myself. cold turkey. no patch, no nothing. (no withdrawal symptoms too)

one word: wife.

you can't imagine the fight that broke out when she found out i was smoking before we got married now i simply have no chance to smoke.

 

[adk highlander]

one word: wife.

Yes it will save the lungs but kill the liver.