Monday, May 18, 2009

I'm Smokin -- NOT!


Okay, this is the 9th day of another attempt to quit smoking. I was going to wait until I was further along in the process before telling anyone, because I have tried so many times before, and obviously failed. But I need some encouragement, a little help from my friends, if you will.
I have tried to quit many times, using methods including patches, inhalers, group hypnosis, lozenges, Chantex, and nicotine gum. Last year I tried the Chantex and had a few months success with it. However, it made me feel weird and nauseous. The nausea kept getting worse so I stopped taking it and started smoking again. On May 10th I started using the cinnamon gum, and it is a BIG improvement over the awful tasting one that they had before.
I have been a smoker for at least 45 years. It is probably too late for any beneficial health reasons, but I REALLY want to quit! I would appreciate any advice you may have to aide me in my endeavor.
Wish me luck!!

14 comments:

Beth said...

[jumping into the air] YAY CHAR!!!!

You CAN do this. I smoked for 20+ years, Ken for 30+, and we both quit. I enjoyed it very much, but it was causing some major health problems for me (the beginning of emphysema, when I was 42 years old), and it was time to stop. We did it together by cutting down gradually, and knowing that this was going to be it...failure was NOT an option.

I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel. My cough is gone, my wheeze is gone, if I get a cold, it doesn't linger for a month or more...there's no way in hell I'd ever go back to smoking.

If you ever need moral support or encouragement, don't hesitate to email me at Luvrte66@aol.com. I will be happy to do whatever I can to help you. And don't kid yourself. It's never too late to quit!

I had a doc tell me once that he prescribed Valium to one of his patients to help him quit. He said the risk of becoming dependent on Valium was less than the risk of continuing to smoke, so that might be a temporary option for you, too. Whatever it takes, you can do this!

Hugs, Beth

Anonymous said...

Char its never too late for health benefits! I smoked for 15 years and my hubby for 20. I quit first. The way I did it was by only allowing myself to smoke at certain times and places. At home I could ONLY smoke outside in the backyard...standing...and I could not do anything else at the same time, no reading drinking coffee etc. Then I went to only at night and then only 3 at night, then only 2 then 1...etc.
Still I had MAJOR withdrawal symptoms when I gave up that one a day. I would smell smoke and start sweating and shaking..up to two years later! But it was not every time and it was manageable.

And once you get to the point where you can give up the nicotine gum...just cut it in half...then fourths!

My hubby quit a couple of years after me and it was hard to be around him and not be able to smoke myself but not impossible, as he also went outside, but still I was forever glaring at him and announcing, "you smell like smoke, go away!" Eventually he quit too, but it too him much longer. He did it with the patches and was very gradual. He was on step one patch for SIX MONTHS, then step two for about 4 months, then step 3 for about 2 months...then gum...

Gradual is good. In the long run its the least difficult on you, and you end up with less withdrawal symptoms once you finally step down off of it.

The oral habit, that you will have to figure out on your own, gum can be good and I did that....but I also pulled two fillings out of my teeth during this time! And yes both me and hubby gaines a little weight during quitting, but its ok, we are working at getting it off.

I've heard that certain foods will lessen the withdrawal symptoms, including orange juice and oatmeal. I dont know how effective this is, but my hubby swore by orange juice.

Good luck to you Char you can do it.

Rikkij said...

Char-Ismoked for 15 years and damn if I didn't like it! this won't be much help, Lord forgive me, but I like the image I have in my mind of a cig hangin from your lips while you type. Ouch!! those stones hurt. I better retreat!
~rick

Sandcastle Momma said...

Good luck to you Char!
Hubby and I are trying to quit as well and it's damn hard but I know we can do it.
We're cutting down gradually because cold turkey just didn't work for us.
Valium helps and alcohol doesn't is all I can tell you.

Miss Ginger Grant said...

Char- you can do it!
and it's never too late!
My family had a history of cancer and lung disease so I have see the devastation it causes! My oldest brother passed away at 52 from esophogeal cancer, caused by smoking, and it was hideous, disfiguring, and miserable!
How's that for motivation?
I tought I wasn't going to be able to lose weight, but I am on my way!! Somes days are good and some days are bad, but every day without cigarettes today could be another day (or longer!) tacked on to the end of your life! Thinkof it that way!
Good luck honey, we're rooting for you!

Sage Ravenwood said...

I have all the confidence in the world you can do this. Trust me I wish I had quit a few years sooner, it might of saved me from Emphysema. Don't let anyone kid you breathing is all they say it is. I have days I still want a cigarette believe it or not, however the desire to keep breathing however much I can is stronger. (Hugs)Indigo

MyMaracas said...

I applaud your gumption, girl! It's a tough habit to break, no matter how you try. Good luck!

Char said...

Beth - Were you a cheerleader? Thanks so much for your encouragement. This is day 10 and counting.

Nancy - Thanks for coming by to comment. I know it is not going to easy, but so far it has been easier on me than before. I've never had any luck with gradually cutting back.

Rikkij - Clunk! There's another stone for ya! Trust me, I never let one hang outta my mouth! I am gonna put an image on my blog for you!

SC Mamma - I can't function taking Valium...makes me walk around like a zombie.

Ms G. - That's some motivational speach. Tough love as they say. I know you are right & I might just be stubborn enough to make it.

Indi - I know I've been lucky so far to not have had problems. But this past year I kept getting colds repeatedly. Thanks for your support.

MyM - Yep, tough it is. But I'm vowing to be tougher.

Woman in a Window said...

My step-father is the orneriest man you will ever meet. Doesn't want to change anything. I think my mom is lucky to get him to change his underwear. He quit smoking two years ago after smoking forever and a half because he wanted to. He chews toothpicks now. Still ornery as oh hell, but a non-smoker now. (By now way do I endorse being ornery!)

Vodka Mom said...

GOOD LUCK!

I wish I had good advice- I am TERRIBLE with that kind of stuff. I just say------BE STRONG and only look one day at a time.

one. day. at. a. time.

Anonymous said...

Char I had to come back and add to my comment. In the middle of quitting I had surgery and developed blood clots in my lungs as a result...beleive me, not being able to breathe was my biggest motivator. I suddenly realized what my lungs were actually for! But I still remember being on osygen in the ICU knowing I'd be there a while and panicking that I couldnt have ANOTHER CIGARETTE EVER.. I believe I cried about it, and the nurses were all in a dither, running around trying to do things for me to cheer me up. That was sweet of them.

It IS easier to quit when you KNOW you cannot go back because of illness like mine, but I know its possible to do while perfectly healthy since my hubby did it too.
What slowed my hubby down at first is that he would fool himself into thinking he could just have one. Then he would be back smoking. But eventually I would catch him saying to himself, NO I CANNOT HAVE EVEN ONE. He still does this sometimes.
I'd say a big part of it is just relearning what to do with yourself, with your hands etc during the times you used to smoke. For the longest time I was forever twiddling a pen, and tapping it because of this, but I think it helped. There are some smoking aides and groups out there, I'd go find them and utilize them.
Good luck to you woman!

Rikkij said...

Ouch! Char! that was a big one. could you just do a pic with a candy cig for me? How about smokeless with a brass spittoon on the floor? I'm so kidding, Char. Please please forgive my silliness. I know it's a bitch to quit them suckers. Wish I had a good answer. _true story here: when I quit, I prayed to quit. didn't know what else to do. On a tue morning at five o'clock am, with two backs at the ready and a bad day ahead, I heard a voice say, "throw em out. right now" no sh&t. I did and haven't had one since. It was probably Rush Limbaugh on the radio talking about the Clintons. ~rick

beachmom15 said...

Char!! Way to go. I know it's hard, I've been smoke free for almost 4 years now.

I went to hypnosis, not a group one though, cause that didn't work for me the first time, but several people here at work quit smoking and I asked them how, they sent me to their guy. It was $200.00 but worth every penny, I went in a smoker and 1 hour later, walked out a non-smoker.

My hubby did it the way you are doing it. cold turkey. I know that was not a way that I could do it, but gotta love him, he quit when I did and we have been smoke free every since. My kids are very proud of us! Take care and good luck. I'm rooting for you!!!

Lisa (lisita15)
http://beachmom15.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Hi Char, I'm trying through prayer but it's not going well. I'm down to about 4 a day (not packs) and then I managed a couple of weeks with nothing and then its back to a few a day again. I live alone so no one to push me, but if you manage I will take inspiration from that and try to match it!