I have 29 cigarettes left...

[wooÐs]

...and a brand new box of Nicorette. I don't know if it's going to happen, but I thought I'd post about it.

I normally skip over all the 'quitting smoking' threads on forums. Never cared to read any of them. Now I'm starting one. {mawds, please merge if necessary}

Friends and family would be thrilled if I quit, mainly my parents. They've been begging me for years. I know I need to do it for me though. I know I'd save money. I know I'll smell better. I guess 'ignorant' may be the word for me, as I'm not really concerned enough about my health to say this is the reason I'd like to quit. But cigarettes have been there for me for 18 years'ish. If I'm happy, light up. If I'm sad, light up. If I just woke up, light up. Going to bed, light up one more time. I can't imagine my life without them. But I think I'm ready to try.

If anyone has input, post it plz.

I'm actually tired of this thread already - the thought about attempting to quit again exhausts me.

[Cynthetiq]

good for you. I quit over 10 years ago. I don't even remember the date. I just remember quitting because the cost of cigarette in NYC rose again. I quit cold turkey.

A few years ago I picked up a pack, and smoked a pack a day for about a month. I quit again cold turkey. I have the last of that pack sitting in view from my desk.

good luck.

BTW cigarettes in NYC are almost $10 a pack.

[sapiens]

I quit smoking about 15 years ago. I had a bad cold. The cigarette tasted awful. I quit cold turkey as well. I still have a cigarette every now and then. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

BTW cigarettes in NYC are almost $10 a pack.

Wow! That's outrageous!

[wooÐs]

Thanks guys.

I would LOVE to just be a social smoker, indulging every now and then. But I don't think I'll be strong enough for that.

When I've attempted quitting in the past (twice,) I thought I was going to die. I'm not exaggerating. I was so damn anxious, I couldn't think straight. I'd start back up by hitting a few butts I stashed away 'just in case.' That was stupid I guess - and nasty lol. But maybe I'll be better with the gum? And I do have a script for xanax that I don't take often. Maybe this will help me as well.

Fuck that re: $10 / pack lol. I think they're around $4.00 here but I buy by the carton. Hopefully not anymore.

Thank you for the words of encouragement.

---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 PM ----------

Oh - and I've heard of people quitting because they were sick and it just tasted bad. When I'm sick, I actually force myself to smoke so I feel normal, regardless of taste. How messed up is that?

Just wanted to tack that on lol.

[m0rpheus]

I used the Nicorette Inhaler when I quit
NICORETTE® Inhaler ? Stop smoking with NICORETTE® nicotine inhaler
and it really really helped. The nice thing I found about the inhaler was it still gave me the hand to mouth action thats part of the addiction to cigarettes so instead of trying to break both habits I broke the one habit first then the other.
I actually stopped using the nicotine cartridges for the inhaler after about a week and just used the empty inhaler to get that hand to mouth action.
One word of warning though, the nicotine you inhale from the cartridge tastes like ass. I wish someone had warned me about this lol.

Good luck if you do try to quit. A couple other things. Get help. Believe me your non-smoking friends will probably gladly help you quit. Ask your smoking friends to not mention it/smoke around you for a little while.

**EDIT** One more thing, and I can't believe I forgot this. When you quit, if you slip up and let yourself have a cigarette DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP OVER IT. I'm sure you know quitting is hard, slipping doesn't mean failing. The important thing is if you slip and have one, don't have another.
Also remember for most people Day 3 is the hardest day of all. Focus on getting past day one, then day two, then past Day 3 and know that it starts to get easier after that.

[kramus]

Excuse the long post, but . . .

I see myself as a smoker who chooses not to smoke. For going on 5 years, last count. Before that I had quit sometime in my early 40's for a few years but picked the habit up again around the time of my separation. Probably spent close to 25 years smoking 15 - 20 cigarettes a day. More or less.

Smoking I see as a series of choices. Said this elsewhere a time or two. Every cigarette is a choice. What you do is become aware of and present to the choice each time you make it. Don't let the habit take control, you take control by choosing to either pull out a cigarette and light up, or to leave the pack in your pocket, in the car, or to not even buy it. That being said, the first time I quit I would have a social cigarette once every month or few, just to say yes I can. Because at the end of the day I enjoyed smoking. I never wanted to be one of those born-again asshats who ride smokers because they themselves once quit - and it is easy to avoid that attitude if you have a smoke now and again. But my Lady would find me smoking an occasional cigarette a deal breaker, so with no pain but the occasional urge to light up I have left them alone for going on 5 years now.

It is easier to make the choice not to smoke stronger than the smoking habit by changing your patterns. If you have a habit of lighting up before your first coffee - don't have a coffee. Have ice water and go for a walk around the block. Actually water helps flush some of the crap built up in your system, and eases the transition to nicotine-free a bit. Avoid social situations where cigarettes are part of the culture. I would take work breaks by myself for the first few weeks after I quit. Just make it easier, is all. Actually didn't have a coffee for about 3 or 4 weeks as well

Things I noticed - I had greasy sweat that I wanted to shower off 2 or 3 times a day for the first few days. Also I started to break wind almost continuously for a couple of days. So I would be sweating and greasy and windy and my chest was gurgling and my hands were on a mission to pick up a smoke all the time. I spent a lot of time thinking about not having a cigarette. Sometimes I was making the choice to not smoke every 30 seconds for hours on end.

Thing is, that passes. Time passes. Eventually you notice you don't smell. Your car and your house don't smell. You have more free cash in your pocket for the little things. You stop budgeting time for smokes, for buying and smoking and cleaning up and messing around with them. No worries about how long till the next smoke break, or will you run out before the next smoke run, or will the fellow beside you bum yet another one of your cigarettes. Smokes become something other people deal with.

Good luck

edit to add: Carry tissues. Carry them for about 4 months. It is amazing how long the lungs hang on to the crap you suck into them. I was coughing up tar stained muck for a long time after I quit. Big wads of gross, clotted, foamy, grey-brown goo. Having a tissue handy to catch and clean up and dispose of your excreta is a social plus for you and those around you. Sorry to be so explicit, but it is a consideration I felt ought to be shared.

[wooÐs]

Originally Posted by m0rpheus

I used the Nicorette Inhaler when I quit...then past Day 3 and know that it starts to get easier after that.

I have an Aunt who got lung cancer and she made the decision to quit after smoking for like, 86 years or some shit. Her issue was also the hand-to-mouth deal. She got a hold of some fake cigarettes. It's just a plastic cigarette, basically. She sent me one, swearing if she didn't have that, she'd still be smoking. I'll definitely try it out. I actually think I'm going to need it especially while I'm killing time on the internetz. I sometimes chain smoke when doing this. I feel 'weird' if I'm not smoking and on the computer at home.

Wow, I'm actually ashamed to admit this lol.

Thanks

Originally Posted by kramus

Excuse the long post, but . . .

...don't have a coffee.

Now that's just silly talk right there!

I know this is something I might have to give up for a little while. Or at least moderate. Coffee is just supposed to go with cigarettes in the morning lol. My routine - get up, feed dog, fix coffee, let dog out, wait for coffee with mug in hand, pour coffee, sit in front of computer and light up. Maybe instead of spending those couple hours online before taking a shower and what not, I'll shower first thing. Then walk the dog or something. I have no clue. I am worried though.

Things I noticed - I had greasy sweat that I wanted to shower off 2 or 3 times a day for the first few days. Also I started to break wind almost continuously for a couple of days. So I would be sweating and greasy and windy and my chest was gurgling and my hands were on a mission to pick up a smoke all the time. I spent a lot of time thinking about not having a cigarette. Sometimes I was making the choice to not smoke every 30 seconds for hours on end.

Thing is, that passes. Time passes. Eventually you notice you don't smell. Your car and your house don't smell. You have more free cash in your pocket for the little things. You stop budgeting time for smokes, for buying and smoking and cleaning up and messing around with them. No worries about how long till the next smoke break, or will you run out before the next smoke run, or will the fellow beside you bum yet another one of your cigarettes. Smokes become something other people deal with.

Good luck

edit to add: Carry tissues. Carry them for about 4 months. It is amazing how long the lungs hang on to the crap you suck into them. I was coughing up tar stained muck for a long time after I quit. Big wads of gross, clotted, foamy, grey-brown goo. Having a tissue handy to catch and clean up and dispose of your excreta is a social plus for you and those around you. Sorry to be so explicit, but it is a consideration I felt ought to be shared.

Greasy sweat huh? :/ I heard about the phlegm thing. Not looking forward to the whole detox part at all.

I have issues with addiction period. And funnily enough, cigarettes were with me through all of it lol. Now I'm giving them up. But shit, if so many other people can do it, why can't I? Most of my friends have actually quit smoking so that'll be a plus.

And I look forward to being smoke-free. No more midnight trips to the gas station. No more smelling like an ashtray (I hate it when I can actually smell it on myself.) Cleaner house, etc.

Thanks for the post. I appreciate it!

[ShaniFaye]

When I quit last year I went thru a program with the American Cancer Society (it was free thru work) Their way of doing things REALLY helped both me and Dave. The day I called to set up, they had me set a quit date at least 2 weeks out. During that two weeks this is what we had to do

(we were both two pack a dayers and between the time I got up at 430 til I got to work at 630 I'd already had 6)
Each day cut out one smoke, our goal was to be at 15 smokes a day on our quit day
changes brands to a generic, we went from Marlboro lights to Doral lights

we also had things we had to plan for..mental stuff, what would we do if we got stressed, what would we do while on the PC (that was my biggest thing at home). What did we plan to do about being more hungry? Make sure to wash and get rid of all ashtrays, matches and lighters AND cigs, dont stash any away. They sent us workbooks full of that kind of planning.

We didnt use nicroette, neither of use really enjoys gum. They provided us with 6 weeks of nicotine lozenges (each of us) for free. I can say that the biggest help we had was the first 2 things I said, Our quit day was Aug 15th of last year and we were both down to 10 smokes a day by then, and it was really easy to cut those 10 out cold turkey with the lozenges. We had both already cut out the first thing in the morning ones, and smoking in our cars.

Some people can do cold turkey...we knew we couldnt. Im one of those that smoked thru 3 bouts of double pneumonia lol

[World's King]

I'll quit smoking the day after I die.

[Vigilante]

I quit after 4 years. I wasn't even out of high school yet. Of course, cold turkey for me. That was 15 years ago.

[Xerxys]

I quit two years ago. I picked up the ciggarrette, took a long puff, then choked like hell!! Was my first and last time.

[Glory's Sun]

Originally Posted by Xerxys

I quit two years ago. I picked up the ciggarrette, took a long puff, then choked like hell!! Was my first and last time.

you're not tokin' unless you're chokin'

wait.. wrong smoke..

I'm with WK on this one.

best of luck to you though.

[jewels]

I can't imagine my life without them. But I think I'm ready to try.

Think? Can't imagine? C'mon now. You must know you're ready and be able to imagine being a nonsmoker. Convince yourself -- your brain is in complete control.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, I'm still smoking. But the one time I did quit for more than a week or two, my head was in that strong place where I knew I could and would do it.

Which brings me to my second point. Find a new stress response. I had quit for over three months and was feeling great. As an emotional response to a very trying situation, I just wanted a quick hit. So I must remind you (and me ) that smoking is akin to alcoholism. Don't touch another one once you've decided you're ready.

YOU CAN do this if you want it bad enough.

[wooÐs]

Originally Posted by ShaniFaye

When I quit last year I went thru a program with the American Cancer Society (it was free thru work) Their way of doing things REALLY helped both me and Dave. The day I called to set up, they had me set a quit date at least 2 weeks out. During that two weeks this is what we had to do

(we were both two pack a dayers and between the time I got up at 430 til I got to work at 630 I'd already had 6)
Each day cut out one smoke, our goal was to be at 15 smokes a day on our quit day
changes brands to a generic, we went from Marlboro lights to Doral lights

we also had things we had to plan for..mental stuff, what would we do if we got stressed, what would we do while on the PC (that was my biggest thing at home). What did we plan to do about being more hungry? Make sure to wash and get rid of all ashtrays, matches and lighters AND cigs, dont stash any away. They sent us workbooks full of that kind of planning.

We didnt use nicroette, neither of use really enjoys gum. They provided us with 6 weeks of nicotine lozenges (each of us) for free. I can say that the biggest help we had was the first 2 things I said, Our quit day was Aug 15th of last year and we were both down to 10 smokes a day by then, and it was really easy to cut those 10 out cold turkey with the lozenges. We had both already cut out the first thing in the morning ones, and smoking in our cars.

Some people can do cold turkey...we knew we couldnt. Im one of those that smoked thru 3 bouts of double pneumonia lol

I like all of this.
But I know there are plenty out there (including my father lol,) who'd say 'oh just quit ffs! Don't prolong it!'

Imma sleep on this.

Originally Posted by jewels

Think? Can't imagine? C'mon now. You must know you're ready and be able to imagine being a nonsmoker. Convince yourself -- your brain is in complete control.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, I'm still smoking. But the one time I did quit for more than a week or two, my head was in that strong place where I knew I could and would do it.

Which brings me to my second point. Find a new stress response. I had quit for over three months and was feeling great. As an emotional response to a very trying situation, I just wanted a quick hit. So I must remind you (and me ) that smoking is akin to alcoholism. Don't touch another one once you've decided you're ready.

YOU CAN do this if you want it bad enough.

NO!! Hug me, pet my head and tell me it'll be alright!!! Don't you pep talk me all soldier-like!

Yeah, I know. It's all in the mind. Needless to say, I have less than 29 now. And I'm already getting anxious :/.

Thanks everyone.

[canuckguy]

kramus, great post. Although I was only a casual smoker at best in my life, smoke free now for 7 years or so now I understand now what a smoker goes through and appreciate it more.

We have several people in my office who recently quit smoking and it was interesting to see the changes in them behavioral wise too, so much more happy. plus they no longer smelled...

[ShaniFaye]

Originally Posted by wooÐs

I like all of this.
But I know there are plenty out there (including my father lol,) who'd say 'oh just quit ffs! Don't prolong it!'

nicotine withdrawal isnt a pretty thing, or it wasnt for me when I tried to quit for a surgery I had in 2006. It was so bad all of my teeth hurt thru to the roots. Tapering off was WAY easier for me

[uncle phil]

if you really want to quit (and it's all in your head anyway) you don't need any aids or pills or such; just do it! i did it four years ago and never looked back, although i do puff on a cigar now and again...

[wooÐs]

Yeah that's the poopy part.

I love smoking. But I don't want to be an old hag with sharpei skin smoking thru her tracheotomy either. Plus I'm tired of the nagging from my parents lol. Not to mention the dirty looks in public. Smelling like an ashtray. Dumping out ashtrays. I want to stop...

But oh, that smooooth tobacco refreshment! lol

I'm leaning towards Shani's method. Which means I will be buying more later today. But it just seems to make the most sense to me instead of having to go through withdrawals. I'm not in a great place at work right now. So this is one of my biggest fears - my mouth is my enemy. And if I'm irritable, I have been known to tell my boss (at various jobs,) to go fuck herself / himself, more or less. For those of you who say 'it's all in your head,' you're right. And I think the weaning method seems less harsh to me so it will probably work better than cold turkey. I know... I'm so weak, etc. lol

Thanks again kiddos. Keep the advice coming if you have it!

[Fotzlid]

I quit cold turkey about 16 years ago. At one point, I was up to 3 packs a day but got down to a about 2 when I had enough. The cost was one factor, it just breached $1.25/pack at the time (when I was a teen, I got them 3/$1 at a local gas station). The major factor was I was tired of the coughing fits when I woke up in the morning.

I was chewing on plastic coffee stirrers for about 3 months till the taste of plastic started to gag me.

Her issue was also the hand-to-mouth deal. She got a hold of some fake cigarettes. It's just a plastic cigarette, basically. She sent me one, swearing if she didn't have that, she'd still be smoking.

I had the same problem only I substituted a pen (one with a cap, never a clicky pen). I still always have a pen nearby. Not so much the hand-to-mouth issue, but just something to do with my hands. When I smoked, I was always "playing" with the cigarette. Never bothered to try and stop doing that till recently as my co-workers like to rib me about it occasionally. Never noticed how bad it was till they started pointing it out to me.

Good luck with the quitting.

[wooÐs]

Interesting re: coffee stirrers and pens.

Yeah that's something I wish I had - the coughing up of junk. I know that leads a lot of people to quit. I just never had that though. I guess it's just all in a nice thick layer in mah lungs lol.

Here's another question - *sigh*...

I stare at the clock for when it's smoke break time. Anyone have suggestions for this for when I'm quitting?

Shani - what did you do to change your internet habits? I think you said you smoked a lot while online, like me.

...and thanks Fotzlid

[m0rpheus]

Do something, ANYTHING, else when it's smoke break time. I started reading books on my breaks at work just to try and get my mind off smoking.

BTW I personally didn't give up coffee when I quit. I make no bones about the fact that I'm a coffee addict and the idea of no coffee and no cigarettes was just too much.

[ShaniFaye]

Originally Posted by wooÐs

Shani - what did you do to change your internet habits? I think you said you smoked a lot while online, like me.

honestly...between the tapering down and using the lozenges I had little desire to have one while online. If I did want one, I used a lozenge and the thought went right out of my head

My worst thing was driving. Dave and I are known for just waking up on a Saturday morning, getting in the car and ending up god knows where and smoking and driving went hand and hand with me. That part was difficult, but after the first trip we managed without smoking (it was 3 hours each way) it wasnt hard anymore

I didnt give up coffee either, I just cut my intake down. Instead of 3 cups in the morning I went to one, and only during the week, none at home on the weekends.

[LordEden]

Originally Posted by Fotzlid

I was chewing on plastic coffee stirrers for about 3 months till the taste of plastic started to gag me.

Last time I quit I did this. For me, it's all about the oral fixation. I need something to have in my hands and put in my mouth. Stirry straws helped ALOT and after 2 weeks I didn't need them anymore. I've never felt that I was addicted to cigs (even when I got up to a pack and a half a day), more just smoking all together. Right now, I haven't smoked in almost a year, but I do smoke cigars when I drink. Sometimes that's everyday, but this weekend proved I was ok with that. I drank all weekend and never smoked one cigar.

Also, when I was at parties was the worst for quitting smoking. During a quitting period I went to a party with a sneak-a-toke. A one hit pipe (for the good stuff) that looked like a cig. I carried that around and when the need to smoke hit me really hard, I'll pack it up and take a toke. The placebo effect helped get me through the night.

Good Luck Woods, it's fucking hard to do.

[wooÐs]

Hm. Getting nervous. But I know I'm just thinking about it too hard. I'm a woman. I do this lol.

Thanks folks.

[Cynthetiq]

for smoke break time, just go outside and take in some fresh air.

[wooÐs]

That sounds great in text version, but the temperature here is over 90 degrees most of the time, not to mention the exhaust from traffic and noise of some construction going on across the parking lot. But when it gets cooler, that'd definitely work.

[Cynthetiq]

you would have gone outside for the cigarette, braving the heat, exhaust, construction, why not go out just because you aren't smoking?

[ShaniFaye]

Im pretty sure she meant it wouldnt be fresh air lol

[wooÐs]

Well I had said earlier, I'm an idiot as I'm not really that concerned about my health to make it a reason to quit. But yah, if I worked in an evergreen forest with a babbling brook nearby, I'd definitely take a break outside for some me-time lol.

But as of now, I suffer through the heat and exhaust for a smoke. It's not even enjoyable really, yet I still do it. Now THAT, is definitely a head thing.

The book idea is a possibility. I'll hide in the bathroom if I have to just so I can disconnect for 15 minutes. I need those breaks, I tell ya.

[jewels]

Cinnamon sticks! Real cinnamon sticks. A friend who had quit had told me about this. Kinda allows you to emulate the smoking thing and if you start feeling really stressed, you can chew on them.

[hunnychile]

My friend Steve made cinnamon toothpicks and that helped him kick. I used a few and kept some in my car when I quit, but eventually I too just had to "white knuckle it" and go cold turkey it took me over ayear to totally quit! It was the toughest thing I ever did but I'm SO GLAD I did kick it.

Even after 14 years, I still want to smoke esp. when I've been out with several smokers and we have a few drinks. The few times I've bummed a smoke, it didn't taste very good and I knew I wasn't going to go buy a pack and start again. I hated coming home and stinking after so many years of smelling good. Plus I do know too many people who have died from lung cancer. They always said it wouldn't kill them, but it did - and they died smelling dreadful and looking gray and so sick that they knew it was too late and they had regrets and said so.

Plus cigs are so expensive & in truth, I'd rather spend the money on nice perfumes and clothes. Not something that'll kill me.

[wooÐs]

Originally Posted by jewels

Cinnamon sticks! Real cinnamon sticks. A friend who had quit had told me about this. Kinda allows you to emulate the smoking thing and if you start feeling really stressed, you can chew on them.

Say wha?? Weird! I'd think it'd be too much of the spice?

Originally Posted by hunnychile

Plus I do know too many people who have died from lung cancer. They always said it wouldn't kill them, but it did - and they died smelling dreadful and looking gray and so sick that they knew it was too late and they had regrets and said so.

All of my grandparents died of cancer. And various Aunts and Uncles have had it - breast, lung, prostate, etc. It's rampant. Yet my dumbass still smokes.

Maybe if I had direct contact with them when they were at their worst, I'd have a different outlook on smoking and my health. It took my Dad's parents dying to make him quit cold turkey. Dunno.

[jewels]

Originally Posted by wooÐs

Say wha?? Weird! I'd think it'd be too much of the spice?

Nahhh. You'd have to be chomping all day to disintegrate one. I think I used maybe two or three in a week. Those suckers are tough.

[Cynthetiq]

so how many cigs are left?

Oh I had forgotten to mention, I didn't smoke my last one. I had always turned one over in my pack, it always ensured I had one saved and no one was ever interested in that cigarette.

But the last one, I kept in my pack, in my pocket for about 1 year. It was supposed to be the last one I smoked. That helped my head case alot since I kept thinking I'd be saving it for another day when I really really wanted it.

[wooÐs]

I'm about to start over again at 40. I bought 2 packs.

Not that this thread is useless!!! {and plz don't make me feel any more guilty than I already feel lol} I think I'm going to go with Shani's method. I have to work all day at the office this Sunday, so I think that might be a good day to start limiting what I smoke.

[dlish]

woods..you need to start a thread countdown..

i have 40 left
i have 39 left
i have 38 left....

until you get to zero. maybe that'd make you think about how many you are smoking?

dunno, but the way i see it, smokers dont heed attention to how many smokes they light up per day. those 29 didnt last long either.

[wooÐs]

That might just work out.

Not necessarily 40, 39, 38, 37, etc., as I can't be online constantly. But I can update once I get home from being out or what not.

Still shooting for Shani's method though lol. I can post like, 'today I'm only allowing myself 'x' amount of cigarettes,' etc. And at night, 'I have 'x' amount of cigarettes left' or what not.

hm...

[dlish]

if you have an iphone you could!

[hunnychile]

You'd be surprised how many of us want you to succeed!!!!

And we know that you CAN!

Be prepared to be a "bitch anna half" after you smoke the last or next to last one! And tell all your friends to be prepared too. My hub almost had to leave town on the next train - I was so nasty & upset when I knew I had smoked the last one. I cried like I had lost a friend. It was so weird and ugly.

Then every day it was less bad as I started to feel & smell better! Yeehaw! I felt a lot better after only a week off smokes. It really was noticeable. My skin looked better too.

[lostgirl]

Good luck wooÐs! We know you can do it.