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.

[leadpenny]

I hate when that happens.

[CDHart]

"Sometimes I still smoke in my dreams."

So do I. And we quit in 1998. There are still times, when I'm under stress, that I really want one but so far so good. The best thing for me (I am being treated for lung cancer for the second time, so I didn't quit in time) is that the walls and ceilings of the house stay clean. When we were both smoking, I had to repaint everything every two or three years.

Carolyn

[advertising guy]

that was an old Red Foxx joke from Sanford and Son

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

I never did smoke myself, but had two grandfathers, an uncle and various other relatives who died from smoking-related ailments.

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Congrats on your two-year smoke-free life. :-)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Congrats to you too. :-)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

10 days to go until your deadline. Hope it goes well.

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

13 years....good to hear your story....food tastes better too, now, right?

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

I don’t (never did) smoke, but it is good to hear that you are tobacco-free.

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

leadpenny,

You're welcome. Glad to be of assistance. Thanks for the first two articles also! :-)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

(see post #64)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Keep it up....glad to hear. :-)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

(see post #64)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Is quitting “cold turkey” akin to quitting “cold chicken”? :-)

[IamConservative]

As I looked down upon the body of my first cousin, dead at the age of 32, I decided quitting was for me. That was 8 years ago. It was hard withdrawing from the nicotine; nausea, itchy skin, grouchy, jumpy. Haven’t touched tobacco since. Quitting is the best present I ever gave myself.

Good luck to all trying. It is so beneficial to you. I would quit for you if I could.

[beeber]

I've cut down to one beer a day...

[No Blue States]

I recently quit for 5 weeks, then fail off the cart.
From 4 cartons a months to 2 now.

I will try again.

[No Blue States]

fail...fell..same thing in this context.

[TomServo]

Will do buddy...;-)

[kjam22]

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.

It's closer to 6 months.