FReeper Needs Help/Advice/Support to Quit Smoking -Vanity

7-20-05 | Woman who WILL be going crazy on caroline street

[Woman on Caroline Street]

I'm basically looking for advice, support, for my attempt at quitting the habit.

[Woman on Caroline Street]

Good Day, FReepers. Being my FIRST Vanity post, I think this is a good way to start. I know, I can hear the critics, "There's this thing called the Internet? And if you do go this website called Google...." But I figured if there was one place I could go to get a lot of great advice, support and truly gross links to disintegrated lung tissue.

So here's the story. I went to my dentist today and she told me (with a tremendous amount of concern in her face, which is why I am taking this so seriously) that for the sake of my dental health, I NEED to quit smoking. Now, this is a "new" dentist, in that my old one, WHOM I ADORE!!!, moved to Florida and she took over the practice. So this is only the second time I went to see her. Albeit, the old dentist harped on me about it, as well. However, my guardian angels gave me a silver lining to this story...

She struck me up a bargain. If I quit smoking for THREE MONTHS (and if I go that far, I'll be done with it), she will whiten my teeth, gratis. Oh, and I also gotta cut it back to 2 cups a joe a day. And brush at noon. And no more Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies at night, in bed. No, wait, that was my husband!

Now, I'm not quitting just for my teeth, because I'm vain about my looks (well, who isn't?), but also because we want to start a family within the next two years. And because I'm tired of being enslaved by a habit.

I'd also like to use this vanity thread as a way to improve my non-existant HTML skills. In other words. I have no HTML skills. So if I put it out here that I'm trying to quit this dirty, nasty, dirty, nasty, did I mention dirty, nasty habit, I'll have to be a trooper and stick to my word. Because NOW, I'll have you guys all yelling at me (in ALL CAPS!), and it will make me want to prove a point. So maybe I'm sticking my head on the railroad tracks here, but I'll be honest about my progress, since I'm always rockin the F5, and checking posts.

Let me give a little info, so you all know where I'm at with this habit. I'll answer questions at a later date, if they should arise.

Am 34 years old and have been smoking since I was about 23 (a late starter...with a couple at the bar with gal pals, then only in the bar or the car, and then I just started suckin' filters watchin tv).

I smoke about 12-14 a day, maybe a little more if we're with friends or out on the town (which isn't often. I'm pretty boring these days and have been trying to keep under the radar).

I roll my own using a cigarette maker. It's a lot cheaper and there's less additives (I know, not healthier, but at least they're not camels or kools). My husband will be hiding my rolling stuff on me (he knows he can't throw it out...I'm prone to a bad day once in a while, and if I start foaming at the mouth, he knows to give in).

I do have some nicotine patches that I used when traveling during my wedding (5 hours in a plane sucks, especially when you throw in all the TSA screening time beforehand).

My QUIT DAY is Monday, July 25, 2005. (4 days from this post date)

I'm sure there's lots of stuff I left out, but I want to post this and start living up to my word. So if this Woman on Caroline Street REALLY starts "going crazy" (Parrotheads will know what that means), you'll know why.

I thank everyone in advance for their support on this. And if I did anything "wrong" by posting this, please Freepmail me. I'm giving up smokes, and cutting back on coffee. If the doc said sex, I may have had to get a second opinion.

And if this post goes well, and if I am successful in quitting, I will be sure to post (with my then acquired HTML skills) before and after pics of my beautiful smile, once I get my pearlies white again.

[Petronski]

I'm not a regular smoker, but I always wondered what would happen if a smoker said "I smoke X cigarettes a day" and then every other day subtracted one from X...weening off. In your case, it would take a month.

I dunno if it would work, but it strikes me as an interesting idea.

[dakine]

Patch works...another hint, wear a rubber band on wrist and snap it when you get the urge....

[red-dawg]

My husband will be hiding my rolling stuff on me (he knows he can't throw it out...I'm prone to a bad day once in a while, and if I start foaming at the mouth, he knows to give in).

You will not be successful if you have this attitude. I quit Sept. '04 and you MUST go completely COLD TURKEY.
You have to WANT to QUIT!!

If you allow yourself to backslide , you will.
Good luck.

[Woman on Caroline Street]

Wow. That was quick. Yes, I've thought about doing that. I don't expect to quit cold turkey. I think I'll have some relapses. It is hard as well having a boss at work who smokes at his desk. I have always taken the paper up to the kitchen and had my smoke there.

Tomorrow, I will attempt to cut it back to two at work, and my morning smoke while watching the news. I will try to cut out the "morning ride" smoke on the way to work.

I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the advice!

[afnamvet]

I used the nicotine patch. It worked! A contributing help was the COST of buying the damn things.

[Woman on Caroline Street]

Yes, cost was my concern a year ago, then I got turned on to rolling my own. I only spend about 20 a month on it. Not as bad as the 20 every five or six days.

[Mr. K]

whatever you do dont quit them both at the same time unless you are a masochist.

cold turkey is the best way- if you can do it you are a winp.

Quit coffee first- drink only decaf- I promise in one week you will be sleeping better and waking better and feeling refreshed

then the same for cigs- in one week you will be over the worst of it- get some chewing gum - cinnamon seems to be the best because the taste does nto mis well with cigs and so you dont seem to want one..

but remember this- you can have SO MUCH AS ONE CUP (coffee) OR CIG for the ENTIRE FIRST WEEK (not ONE~!)

You will be surprised how easy it is after one whole week - trust me on this

[diverteach]

First switch to a cigarette that you don't like. In my case since I didn't smoke menthols, that's what I switched to(Taste nasty). This'll get you into not liking it and you'll smoke less cause you won't enjoy it anymore. At the same time you're weaning off. Then just quit. Cold Turkey. Then what I did was evrytime I wanted a smoke after that I had a plentifull suplly of regular, uncandified Hall's coughdrops. They were a pleasant kind of contiuation of the menthol cigarette and focused on the habitual oral fixation part of the addiction.
Worked for me! Good Luck

[Woman on Caroline Street]

Congratulations on your success! I hope I can say JULY 05 in the near future!

My husband can be pretty stubborn and will know a "weak" moment when he sees it. He promises his support as well. Heck, he's the one who got me the patches for Valentine's Day (awww...how romantic. BULL! Those suckers are expensive!)

Note to all: I am surprised at the speed of comments I'm getting on this! I'm really touched and "wow-ed" by it! I hope to say in the (near?) future that you all had a hand in helping me quit! But a friend JUST walked in the door, so I probably won't be checking comments til tomorrow. BUT i will catch up tomorrow, and will also give everyone a progress report!

Thanks AGAIN Freepers!

[FreedomFarmer]

I found that recovering from surgery following my third heart attack worked marvelously to help me quit.

Your mileage may vary.

[politicalwit]

#1 Purchase smokes by the pack, not carton.

#2 Substitute raw veggies for that oral fixation. (Keep carrot sticks handy.)

#3 Avoid foods with high acid content. (Tomatoes are a prime offender.)

#4 Go for a walk or exercise after meals even if it's only ten minutes.

[HarleyLady27]

First of all, you have to WANT to quit, for YOU and for no other reason....I had a heart attack, that was enough for me.

I went on the patch with Willbuton pills, talk to your doctor about that, the willbuton pills takes the edge off.

I found its not only the nicotine, its the habit...you have to completely change everything you do from what you did...

I used to love to sit and have a cup of coffee and cig after a meal...

I used to love to have coffee and a cig while chatting on the computor, phone, etc.

Its hard, its not easy, but if you don't do it because YOU want to, it won't work...


Good luck..I have been smoke free for 3 years this Nov. It can be done....

[jjmcgo]

Don't do Welbutrin. The withdrawal can make you psychotic for a few days. It really isn't the easiest way to do it. And, it doesn't work for most people. No reason to take powerful mental-health drugs for a questionable outcome.
Pick a day when you can be really busy, like a Saturday. Carry no cigarettes, stay busy, go to sleep early. That's Day One. Same thing Sunday. Monday will be easier. Fourth day for some reason is a bugger. Downhill from there.
I've never tried this but I bet it works: Douse cigarettes in tumbler of water until you have about 20 cigarettes in there. Drink the water. Puke. You'll never smoke again, so they say.

[TomGuy]

I quit just over 2.5 years ago, after 35 years of puffing.

You have to prepare yourself and understand the habit, and then 'interrupt' it as best you can. You are more addicted to the pattern of smoking (psychological addiction) than to the nicotine itself.

You have one step ahead already: You roll your own. That is good because most name-brands fill their products with sweateners and flavorings. And, yep, those are psychologically addictive. Where you have been using roll-your-own, you have been subjected to less of those addictive additives. I used Native American (tobacco store was about 1 mile from me) cigarettes because they had no additives.

The 'fear of not smoking' can be big. As you think about quitting, you actually fear what might happen. What if you develop a craving and don't have a cig handy. What will you do with your hands. How will you occupy your relax time without the cig between your fingers.

I used cigs to measure -- x number of cigs to drive from point A to point B. y number of cigs before lunch time. etc.

When you finally reach the point, cold turkey is the way to go. Yes you will have cravings.

Cravings: I found that I had only 3 severe cravings a day. One around 9 a.m., around 2 p.m. and around 7 p.m. The rest of the time, I hardly even thought of smoking. I noticed that the cravings would only last about 10 seconds. When they were over, they were over for several hours. 10 seconds? Yeh. I could handle that.

Over time, the 3 major cravings got less and less and subsided almost completely. About 5 months later, they did return, fairly strongly. I resisted and within a week, they has subsided almost completely.

Periodically, I would think of a cig, especially when I saw someone on TV. It wasn't a craving, but just a memory of how relaxing that puffing was. But I'd laugh it off and tell myself I didn't need to start again. I contemplated maybe trying a cig just to 'remember'. But didn't.

2.5 year, no cravings, and no desire to light up.

You can do it --- when you make that internal decision to quit.

[carlr]

I smoked 1-2 packs a day.It took quite a while to finally do it but I said on Monday that I was going to quit that weekend.On Friday.March 7^th 2003 it dawned on me that the week was over.
I smoked a couple about 9:00 and then threw the rest of the pack in the furnace.
I started Saturday without a pack and the first hurdle was to not buy any.I made it through that day without any great difficulty.
At that point I knew if I could go one day I could go the rest of my life.If I knew it would be that easy I would have quit years before.
In fairness I admit that I could start again in a heartbeat if I let myself and still sometimes would like to have a smoke but it is not close to an overpowering wish and can be dispelled quickly.

[Diego1618]

You have had some good advice...and some bad. The answer is just quit. Don't set a timetable, a date or any type of withdrawal schedule. Just get mad at yourself and do it. Take any and everything related to your habit and pitch it. Now!

I smoked from the time I was 15 to 47....16 years ago now. Was doing 4 packs a day....got mad at myself for being so stupid and crumbled up my remaining smokes in my pocket(7 or 8). I threw them in the garbage and stuck a toothpick in my mouth to suck on.(A pacifier would be a better description).
I still use toothpicks from time to time, but the last time I bought a pack of smokes they cost about a buck and a half.

For you math majors that come out to about 23000 packs of cigarettes I've not bought. My lungs are clear and according to my doctor.... look good. What are smokes now??? 5 or 6 bucks a pack???

[ken5050]

Just wondering...not criticizing, mind you..but it siunds to me like your real reason for wanting to quit is that youre' concerned about not having a pretty white smile, and you want to take advantage of a free bleaching job from your dentist..

While it's a start, you'll need a much better motivation to stop AND stay off cigarettes...It's got to come from within...

Two other points..all those who said don't try and quit TWO vices at the same time are 100% correct. Stop smoking first, then cut back on the coffee...

Best way to stop smoking is cold turkey..Just wake up and stop tomorrow morning...or righjt now, after you read this....and BTEW..if you won't let your hubby toss out your rolling stuff, you aren't serious about quitting. What you need to do is for YOU to get up and toss it in the garbage now YOURSELF...

One more thing...the best substitute for the oral gratification of smoking is chewing gum...You'll probably loosen a few fillings the next few months..or even a crown..so see if your dentist will toss in that work as well..if you stay off the stuff for a year..work out a deal with her..she seeems to be in your corner..

[Happygal]

No offence. But if you are THAT vain about your looks, you'll just quit cold turkey without the vanity. :-)

[Young Werther]

I became expert at quitting.

I was told that nicotine addiction will vanish in 4-6 day. So I quit cold turkey several times. The chewing gum ploy works as does the carrot and celery sticks to cope with the oral fixation!!

Aug 14th will mark my 29th anniversary of being smoke free. This last time took. Aug 14, 1976 was my wedding day and I asked my wife-to=be what "little gift" she might want. We'd dated for three years and I had smoked all that time. She asked me to quit "because I would be healthier". I did, I am, and our anniversary is very special because this was a gift that keeps on giving!!!

Good Luck!!! By Aug 1 you should be over the hardest part. My honey moon helped with the oral fixation too. Mind you, I'm not suggesting marriage but a six day sexual debauch might do the trick, (pardon the pun!)