Advice and help needed from FReepers who've managed to quit smoking

me ^ | 4OVT11 | self

[Marie]

In January, I'm planning on having a major surgery and I cannot have this operation until I quit smoking.

I've been trying to quit for the last 17 years and I haven't been able to make it for more than a month.

I can get past the immediate horror of it all. I'm using Chantix to help me with that. (Chantix was the easiest way to quit that I've found so far.)

But what always gets me are the 'crazies that don't go away. Even after the habit is broken - after the cravings are gone - I find myself in a constant low-level anxiety. Grumpy. Pissy. Snapping.

The closest thing that I can relate it to is a state of constant PMS. Only it doesn't go away after 2 or 3 days. Noises are grating and too loud. everyone is getting on my nerves. I'm nervous and anxious all the time.

The thing that gets me, where I fall, is that I don't know how long this will last. How long I have to endure. I end up picking up a cigarette just to put an end this crap - and it's usually an act of mercy for my family. It really is a form of insanity.

I know that I'm not the only smoker that's gone through this. How long does this last? (I know that it's more than a month because I've made it for a month before.) What medications have worked for you? Are there any herbs or vitamins that I should try?

When will I be calm and happy again?

I've already had my dr put in a referral for a mental health professional, but it's going to take two months to get an appointment.

Please. ANY advice or insight would be helpful.

[Marie]

And one more thing - weight gain. How much weight did you gain and how long was it before things stabilized?

I'm already planning on surrounding myself with foods that I can pig out on without gaining, so I hope that helps.

I just last 60 pounds in preparation for this surgery and my doctor told me that I could gain up to 15 back without it being a problem.

Thank you all in advance.

[humblegunner]

I cannot have this operation until I quit smoking

Says who? Why?

Medical folks will try all kinds of BS to get you to quit smoking.

I had pleurisy and pneumonia, they said it was from smoking.

I called BS, asked them if they imagined I had smoked an infected cigarette.

No answer, just propaganda.

[TexasCajun]

My brother quit with Chatix and did not go postal.

Not smoked for 3 years now. ..put on about 20 lbs.

Good Luck.

[DallasDeb]

I’ve never smoked, but I have had to overcome some “addictions.” The number one thing that helped me is praying to God that he take my craving away. Keep praying for it and believe in it. Eventually, it will happen.

[joe fonebone]

I tried everything. Hypnosis worked well ( until 3 years later I thought I could have just one ).... The nicotine patches work good too ( do not try to wein yourself off too fast, or you will fail, like I did ) with the hypnosis i gained no weight at all....on the patches I gained about 15 pounds, and lost it all before I failed.... with the chantix, i had hallucinations, and gained about 25 pounds...if you have not been hypnotized before, give it a try...

[JoeDetweiler]

“....constant low-level anxiety. Grumpy. Pissy. Snapping....”

Sounds like me all the time and I haven’t quit. Welcome to old age :)

Seriously, Good Luck to ya.

[Doogle]

...as far as exercise Walk walk walk.......do a mile in the morning, and one in the afternoon DAILY! find a friend TO WALK WITH..(encourage each other)
DIET...chicken,tuna,greens,salads,some beef (lean of course)
...whole grains...soups worked for me...

[Jim from C-Town]

Expect to gain back the 15 pounds, at least.

I stopped by using Wellbutrin, a milder antidepressant than Chantix. My wife and I scheduled a vacation while over her birthday almost five years ago. I started the drug and smoked until the day we left two weeks later. It was ruff for a few days, but the trip and being in a nonsmoking hotel helped.

Once home it went relatively smooth and I stopped taking the drugs after a few months.

I also have decided that I am only suspending smoking. When I turn Eighty I fully intend to start smoking again. So, I have that to look forward to.

[ozark hilljilly]

I’ve been clean for about 2 years. I’d gladly light up one or two or a pack if I could. But I can’t. And I won’t. The desire never goes away. It fades with time and you find ways to compensate but it’s always there. Once you accept that you can move on and focus on staying clean.

It sounds lame, but finding things to do with your hands and mind really helps! Mine was crochet. Some gals take up knitting. Anything to keep you busy. You don’t have to be good at it-Just do something! : )

You will gain weight. At first,I packed in about 30 pounds!! YIKES!!! But keep active. Even a walk around the block is a start. It’ll more difficult to lose the weight if you’re older as I’m finding out, but I’m not getting discouraged and neither should you.

Good Luck, sis. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do! But the best thing for ya.

[jospehm20]

Swedish Snus helped me but I am still doing that.

[Melissa 24]

I stopped cold turkey (spur of the moment) on August 5, 2005 and swore I would never be a slave to cigarettes again.
I did gain 25 pounds but have lost it since then.
I'm a stubborn gal, once I set my mind to something, that's it for me.
I wish you the best - good health and happiness. You can do it!
:)

[Chickensoup]

Stopped over 25 years ago after being a two pack a day smoker for 15 years.

I went away to a friend’s camp, listened to stop smoking tapes, had recently been hypnotized, and took 25 valium five mg tabs with me, that I took when the cravings were overwhelming.

one plus year I avoided all restaurants,bars, coffee and friends that smoked. I dropped my club. I gained ten lbs and lost it the next year.

best thing I ever did.

[VictoryGal]

Hi Marie. Congrats on your decision to get healthier, and your weight loss so far. God bless!

I quit a little over 20 years ago. I still remember the withdrawal spikes. What your body wants is some kind of solace or reward that cigarettes used to fill.

What will work is replacing it with something, NOT food (that’s how you gain weight).

Ideas:
- A brisk walk, or other exercise session, get those endorphins going
- A relaxing shower or bath, or session in a hot tub
- Manicure, pedicure or massage
- Singing (in the car, this is great!)
- Meditation or prayer session with relaxing music
- A treat “read” that you’ve set aside just for times like this

Good luck!!!! HUG!

[VictoryGal]

Hi Marie. Congrats on your decision to get healthier, and your weight loss so far. God bless!

I quit a little over 20 years ago. I still remember the withdrawal spikes. What your body wants is some kind of solace or reward that cigarettes used to fill.

What will work is replacing it with something, NOT food (that’s how you gain weight).

Ideas:
- A brisk walk, or other exercise session, get those endorphins going
- A relaxing shower or bath, or session in a hot tub
- Manicure, pedicure or massage
- Singing (in the car, this is great!)
- Meditation or prayer session with relaxing music
- A treat “read” that you’ve set aside just for times like this

Good luck!!!! HUG!

[oncebitten]

Forget the Chantix - just go cold turkey. My wife and I both quit over a year ago. Think of the money you will save and plan a nice vacation a year out for motivation. We figure we saved over $6000 and just returned from two weeks in Italy and France.

I gained a bout 10 pounds and my wife gained 8.

[wolfman23601]

I have quit several times for as long as a year and I always go back. Now I am a pack a day smoker and I run 30 miles a week... just did a half marathon in 2 hours (the irony). My body tells me when it is time to step back. I would like to quit entirely, but it is very difficult when everyone around me (family, work, etc.) smoke. I’ve never tried a pill, but from what I understand, it is super expensive and you have to slowly ween off it... like an antipsychotic. It scares me as I don’t personally believe in them.

[Marie]

I understand what you’re saying and I appreciate it. I really do.

But there is NO surgeon who will perform this surgery on a smoker. It’s already very dangerous and everything must be done to get me in the best shape possible to go through it.

I’m having my entire spine (minus the neck) fused into one long bone. One part of the surgery (I’m still not sure if he’s even going to have to do it) consists of collapsing one of my lungs to access the spine from the front. Healthy young people have severe complications from this maneuver.

Before, I wasn’t a candidate because I was overweight, smoking and in a state of general ill health. I’ve spent the last year losing weight and addressing my nutritional deficiencies. My only obstacle now is the smoking.

[red-dawg]

First of all, good luck to you and we will be praying for you.

I quit 7 years ago and I gained about 30 lbs. My sense of taste returned and food tasted SOOOOOO GOOD, so I pigged out.
As far as cravings went, I used, at separate times, the nicotine patch and nicotine gum. I think what helped was that I made up my mind that I would NEVER smoke again. EVER.
YOU HAVE TO TELL YOURSELF THAT THIS IS PERMANENT.

My brother used chantix a few years ago and is still smoke free. What works for some people won't work for others.
My only other crutch was a pickup load of sugarless gum to keep my mouth busy.

[jdub]

I quit with welbutrin almost 15 years ago. I got great advice from my doctor, who said ignore the pharmacist who will tell you that you have to stop smoking within 2 weeks. the reason wellbutrin is prescribed is that one of the side effects noticed by those prescribed the drug for depression was a decreased interest in smoking. Just start cutting out one of your habit cigs a day, like the one right after eating, the one you light when you get in the car, etc... either eliminate or put them off, then eliminate. after a month or so I was down from a pack and a half a day to just a couple. dropping the last few was relatively easy

[Lorianne]

I have never smoked by I know at 2 people who were able to quit relatively easily using Wellbutrin (bupropion).

This is an anti-depressant but is used to help smoking cessaton. It is not like other anti-depression medication, it is NOT a serontonin re-uptake inhibitor like most anti-depressants.

You could ask your doctor about it

Good luck