Non-Smoker In Training, Daily Journal

my own personal Hell | 21OCT03 | King Prout

[King Prout]

A net-buddy of mine was recently diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer in the upper lobe of his right lung: stage 3a, locally metastatic, possibly operable, possibly terminal. His odds are not good. He is 53, married. He has been a 2-pack/day smoker for 30 years. I -and others- have begun sending him surplus cash to help him and his wife keep beans on the table and a roof overhead as he pursues treatment. Something about the situation struck me as beautifully symmetric: I smoke, spending about $30.00 every two weeks on cigarettes; I intend to send him at least that amount every two weeks. In order to do so, I have decided to cease purchasing cigarettes. De facto, this means I am quitting. I have smoked for some 12 years. This will be interesting. I'll be posting daily notes here as this goes on. Today is Day 4 of no cigarettes.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You are so right on the routine change. I liked to stop for a cold one or two after work but quit that, too. Vacuum out the car and try to get the cigarette smell out if you can. Remove ashtrays from the house and maybe shampoo carpet (you'd be surprised at how much tobacco is absorbed in your furniture, carpet, drapes, etc.
Prepare for weight gain. Food will begin to taste REALLY GOOD.

[Trampled by Lambs]

My wife quit smoking when she became pregnant with our son. The deal was that I would quit also. I've been trying ever since. Our son will be 18 next April.

I don't know why I can't seem to do this. Everyone I work with who smoked has quit. Most of my friends have done it.

Every night I go to sleep telling myself that tomorrow will be the day. Every morning I fire up a camel as soon as I'm on the road to work.

I've tried the patch, the gum, hypnotism, cold turkey... I don't know what its going to take.. Cancer diagnosis?

Good luck!

[January24th]

If you feed something, it will grow.
If you starve it, it will die.

Good luck!

[gtech]

Keep up the great work, it will be worth it. In just two short weeks, you'll notice how much easier it is to climb stairs. It's a great freeing feeling. I remember obsessivly thinking about that fact that I was quitting, constantly at first. You might dream that you smoke, it's normal. If you drink coffee or beer/alcohol, be extra vigilant, those are difficult combinations to break. Lastly, remind yourself that you are a NON-SMOKER and think and act like it to yourself and everyone else. Take the label and all that goes with it, you are now part of that group. Go to places where smoking is not allowed, and try to stay away from places where smoking is prevelant. Most of all, good luck and congratulations.

[Ben Chad]

cold turkey bump - i quit in 1977

[CO_dreamer]

Good for you. I'm approaching month 6 of my quit. Just hang in there. Remember, the urge will pass whether you smoke or not, but if you smoke, the urge will just return sooner. Every small quit I attempted over the years failed because I thought a cigarette would taste good or make me feel better. It never did. It was never as good as I hoped and always just made me feel stupid for failing.

You might wanna check out www.quitnet.com. It helps to focus on the quit with fellow quitters. Good luck.

[two23]

You're through the worst--the 3 day detox period.
Good going!
I may suggest you start a routine walking regime--it relieves stress, keeps the weight from creeping up and breathing in fresh air helps to reaffirm your convictions.
Quitting actually is the easy part--staying off them is the on-going challenge.
Cravings never last longer than 5 minutes so have an "out". (brushing teeth or something)
Wishing you the best.
Regards

[No Blue States]

As a smoker (pack a day for 25 yrs) ive bookmarked this thread and hope to gain inspiration to quit myself, and i already have just reading how others have overcame cigs.
Good luck to you and your friend.

[Publius6961]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
No comment.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I tried a half dozen times and told my friends I was trying. They peppered me "how's it going," every few hours so I began to realize this was a mistake.
The last time I made up my mind, I had coughed myself awake after a three day business trip in which my tobacco consumption went up drastically for some reason. Being awake at 2am, I went to the kitchen for a smoke and found the carton was empty. There were none in the car, either, but I found my last two Winstons in my shirt pocket pack. I decided at that moment I would smoke my next to the last right then and then smoke my very last one when I got up the next morning.
It may have been self-hypnosis because after the "last cigarette," I crumpled up the empty pack and never bought another.
This became my little secret and I became proud of myself as each day went by. A full three months into my program, someone finally noticed I'd quit and, by that time, I really had. The burden of quitting and the snikering about my chances of success were in the past.

[gtech]

Each craving eventually passed. The technique I used was to demonize a lit cigarette in my mind when I got cravings. I'd "act" afraid of it in my imagination, causing a slight jump in adrenaline. Then I'd get a drink of water or chew gum or yell at someone. Don't be fooled, one drag is usually enough to make you a smoker again, which means starting all over again (someday).

I forgot to mention that your friend and his family is in my prayers.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

See my post # 30. Make it your own self-improvement program and don't tell anybody. Your self-esteem will be off the chart when someone finally notices.

[Leisler]

I don't smoke, but against the Nanny State and for small buisness rights have supported smokers in bars and the likes. Anyways, good for you and hats off to supporting your friend.

Bump!

[reflecting]

I am cheering for you! You can do it! YOU CAN DO IT!

[Lance Romance]

Quit Smoking. Just remember, Quitters never Win and Winners never Quit.

[No Blue States]

thanks, Great advice Eric, its too easy not to try again once you tell someone and later prove a failure. It will be my secret and if i fail it wont be an embarrassment. Nicorete worked well for me in the past, and i will try it again. Only this time i wont get drunk with my smoking buddy after having virtually quit alcohol years ago. Ive got 2 daughters and want to live long while stinking less and blowing less $ on self poisoning.

King Prout, thanks for starting this thread. Ive got half a carton and instead of buying the next ill buy nicorette and give it another try, a good hard serious try. Keep us posted and hang tough.

[T Minus Four]

I quit over 6 years ago, and still dream that I'm smoking at least once a week.

I used Nicorettes and was completely addicted to it for almost six months. Big deal, I said, Nicorette won't kill me. But we were going broke, so I finally used the patch to quit the gum. Took two weeks.

Here's a tip for soon when the urges are annoying but not completely overpowering: transferal. I told myself that what I was really craving was a cup of decaff herbal tea. The routine of boiling the water and brewing the tea was comforting, and helped satisfy the physical habit.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I used to have a dreams about smoking menthol cigarettes after I quit smoking. I could actually taste the menthol in the dream. But I never liked Kools or Salems when I was a smoker-- ?

[Rabid Dog]

You can do it! I went cold turkey 22 years ago - chewed a lot of gum (non-nicotine). Have to say it was pretty painless because my mind was made up before I quit (had a pack a day habit for 12 years or so).

Just remind yourself that your mind is made up so don't waste time thinking about it.

[southernnorthcarolina]

I wish you and your friend all the best. There is nothing good about smoking. If it's any consolation, the wife of a friend of mine -- she's about the same age as your friend -- was given an almost identical diagnosis 18 months ago. Of course, she smoked like a furnace until the diagnosis. Radiation, chemo, and a significant bout with neuropathy (sp?) causing her to be unable to walk unassisted for months. Not pleasant at all, but she beat it. No sign of cancer; and the effects of the treatments are receding -- she can now walk without a walker or cane, and can drive again. An almost full recovery of motor skills is considered likely. Best of all (according to her), she's now smoke free. She says it was almost worth it (which I don't believe for a second, but which gives you an idea of how powerful the addiction is).

I won't be a great deal of help with quitting tips. I last smoked cigarettes in grad school (that's when you're supposed to be smart, right?) twenty years ago; my peak consumption was about ¾ of a pack of ultra-lights (Barclays) a day, and even at that modest level, quitting wasn't easy. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to rid oneself of a heavier habit. My modest tip, for what it's worth: apples. Two or three Granny Smiths a day were a big help to me. Why apples? Well, they give your mouth something to do; they're a low-cal solution to the return of your appetite (food will taste better); and they have fiber (too much information, perhaps, but cigarettes have a laxative effect, and if your body has acclimated itself to them, giving them up can result in constipation). Lots of water, and lots of walking, too. Good luck!