After 43 Years, The Nicotine Habit Is Broken

The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register ^ | 5-1-07 | Fred Connors

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

In the early days of life without nicotine I am focusing on the positives associated with quitting.

The greatest thought is an incident that firmly planted the quit smoking seed into my mind. Even before my diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease surfaced, the wheels were put into motion by a most unlikely source.

It came out of the blue from my 9-year-old grandson.

As part of the Thanksgiving observance last year at his school, he noted what the holiday means to him. What he posted on the wall in his third grade classroom was priceless.

He wrote, “I am thankful for my family. Also, I hope my cousins will have a great Thanksgiving. I hope that God will help my grandfather to stop smoking. I hope that everyone stops doing bad things. I praise the Lord for everything.”

This simple, innocent message began ringing in my mind like one of those songs people get stuck on and can’t quit singing.

When push comes to shove and I feel weakness slipping in, I will revisit my grandson’s words.

I’ll also go to another uplifting reference.

The American Lung Association says when a smoker quits, within 20 minutes of smoking that last cigarette the body begins a series of changes.

- At 20 minutes after quitting: blood pressure decreases, pulse rate drops, body temperature of hands and feet increases.

- At eight hours: carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal, oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

- At 24 hours: chance of a heart attack decreases, ability to smell and taste is enhanced.

- At 72 hours: bronchial tubes relax making breathing easier, lung capacity increases.

- At two weeks to three months: circulation improves, walking becomes easier, lung function increases as much as 30 percent.

- At one to nine months: coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases.

- At one year: risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker.

Day One

The sun came up without incident. I sensed excitement in the air as opposed to secondhand smoke being exhaled from my poor lungs.

I realized about nine hours had passed since I destroyed my last half pack of cigarettes. That, according to the ALA, means my blood pressure decreased, my pulse rate dropped and the body temperature of my hands and feet increased. Also, the carbon monoxide level in my blood dropped to normal and my oxygen level rose to normal.

All this — and all I did was wake up and get out of bed.

It felt good walking into the newsroom alone rather than being accompanied by the stench of tobacco.

A few early birds, part of my ally brigade, acknowledged my quit day with well wishes. One thoughtful staffer went so far as to leave a beautiful, encouraging greeting card on my keyboard.

It was a rather routine news day for the paper but a great news day for me. I did not smoke. Truth is, I didn’t want to.

Quit day. It’s all good.

The next couple of days were surprisingly uneventful. I thought about cigarettes, but there was no real strong urge to light up. This may be attributed to my determination to use the medication and lozenges exactly as directed.

Referencing the ALA 72-hour milestone, it’s nice to know my lung capacity has increased, and I tend to think my bronchial tubes have relaxed because I am breathing easier.

A recurring thought tells me that lighting up now would undo the precious few health improvements I have gained.

Why go back to block one?

Here I am, one week into a way of life that seemed so out of reach. I’m convinced the excitement of this accomplishment by far overpowers whatever rush I might get by giving in to nicotine.

In conclusion, everything covered in this series contributed to my success in becoming nicotine free. The defining factor, however, was my mindset. When I honestly decided to end a 43-year addiction, the rest was doable.

Some studies say a person has truly quit if that person uses no form of tobacco for 30 days. Others suggest it could take six months.

That means the jury is still out on me. It might as well come back in.

I quit.

[Redcloak]

I’m glad that you quit, Mr. Conners, but please don’t turn into a smokenazi. Smokenazis stink worse than grimy, old ashtrays.

[TomServo]

Nope. No near death experience, light, tunnel or anything like that. Or I don’t remember.

Oh well...next trip, maybe...;-)

[Oystir]

Your story is almost exactly the same as mine. I actually picked May 1st as my day to stop cold turkey. I went about 4-6 weeks w/o smoking but then went away for a weekend with a friend who smoked. I did that weekend and got sick as *$#!. Never smoked again. I don’t know how many years it has been since - my relapse occurred while watching OJ’s slow speed chase while hanging out in a dive bar.

[azhenfud]

“Sometimes I still smoke in my dreams.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1825416/posts?page=41#41

[Tunehead54]

My bro the doc says this works well for lots of people - something about stimulating the nicotine receptors but blocking nicotine? (Reminder Bump). ;-)

[Clemenza]

Congratulations. One should never become a SLAVE to some dried plant leaves wrapped in a little paper container.

[azhenfud]

To all you folk who have quit - remember it’s still a good idea to get a chest x-ray with your annual checkup for the first few years - or so says my MD.

[Tucker822]

Yeah, I read that too. I took blood thinners for 9 years, but was finally taken off about 8 months ago. So I won’t have to worry about that.

What about Zyban/Wellbutrin? Would that work for him?

[timydnuc]

I'm doing the "reduced dose" method. 1st week go to 1 cigarette every 2 hours. Second week go to 1 cigarette every 3 hours, third week, 1 cigarette every 4 hours, etc. Control the dose and you can control the heebe geebies. Take control and you can do it. I'm not blowing my own horn, I'm just saying that it has worked so far.

A cigar, a good cigar, helps me on those tough days. I'll stop cigarettes, but you stay away from my cigars.

[Tucker822]

I will. The lit also states that your doc can reduce the dosage if you have nausea and/or sleep problems.

I also wonder if you could take something for the nausea? I plan to ask my doc about that.

[Ditter]

He is 72 and has chewed since he was 16 so getting off it might kill him. His grandfather chewed and died of cancer of the jaw at a fairly young age, so if that was going to happen to him it probably would have already. He takes lots of meds and he doesn’t really want to take another pill. It is his decision I don’t try to influence him.

[Eagle Eye]

I quit cold turkey November 1, 1986.

Smoked and drank myself sick the night before in preparation!

[GATOR NAVY]

No, I don’t remember any disappointment. I’d say I wake up feeling good that was just a dream and I still don’t smoke.

[Tucker822]

I understand. Quitting tobacco is a hard personal decision.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

I just quit. It was two weeks for me Sunday. I went cold turkey. I was going to do the patch thing, but I stumbled onto this website. It is a little awkward to find things on I think, but the info and video’s are amazing for me. I could not have done it without this guy. www.whyquit.com

Because of Joel Spitzer and the folks at that web site....Quit since August 2000....Knowledge is power....

[mitch5501]

Thanks for the ping lp.

Lots of good posts here.

I'm on day 11 without the smokes and my brain has quit trying to convince me,in a civil manner,to light up and has instead resorted to wailing and screaming for a smoke!

Aint gonna happen.I know of a million good reasons not to smoke and can't think of one good reason to smoke.

I've gone through these internal arguments for years,so no amount of internal 'jumpy-uppy-downy-screaming for a smoky' is going to convince me otherwise.

It's actually a little scary to see just how much of a spoiled brat lurks in there when I don't get my own way.

Thanks for letting me rant....no doubt I'm also trying to convince myself.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

No, I don’t remember any disappointment. I’d say I wake up feeling good that was just a dream and I still don’t smoke.

Those are called "smokers dreams" very common when quitting. Read all about them at www.whyquit.com..

[SuziQ]

Good for this man, 'listening'to his 9 yr. old grandson! I never got into the habit of smoking. I guess Mama and Daddy's hacking and coughing dissuaded me, plus the cousins my age who I hung around with, didn't smoke, either. My youngest sister ran with a rowdier crowd, and she started smoking at about 15, and at almost 50, is still smoking like a chimney!

Now if I could just get myself into the discipline of eating less and exercising more, I could have a real shot at seeing some grandchildren grow up, and maybe even see some great-grands!

[leadpenny]

Go for day 12. I think that’s all you can ask of yourself.

Good luck.

[leadpenny]

Today’s the day!