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.

[NCLaw441]

You said, in part: As my mom lay dying from smoking related causes I had a long talk with the respiratory tech and she said that basically, if you quit by 45-50, your body will rebound almost 100% in a few years, quit after that and the benefits go down.
***
Non-smoker here. I congratulate all of you on your efforts. Good luck. My mother died at age 43 of lung cancer that had metasticised to most of the rest of her body. It was an ugly way to go. So, if you make it to age 45, quitting may return your body to a semblance of health, but don’t use that as a guide, you may not make it that long.

Again, best of luck to all of you in your efforts.

[NCLaw441]

You said: What I will never understand, and will never forgive, is my mother sitting there and smoking with him. I hope we don’t have to go thru w/her what we went thru w/my stepfather.
***

Upon my mother’s death at age 43 from lung cancer, my sister swore off smoking. Sadly, it lasted until the drive to the cemetery to bury my mother (3 days). I am thankful every day for not taking up that habit. I support everyone’s right to smoke, but I have seen the possible results, and it is truly an ugly way to go— and the trip itself is not all that attractive either.

[TheRightGuy]

I have been quit since 9:30am (CDT), October 25, 2002.

I had been smoking 2-3 packs per day for over 35 years. I promised myself that this would be my first and ONLY attempt to quit. My regular doc set me up with a PharmD who layed out the following course:

QUIT DAY -2 weeks, start Zyban, one daily
QUIT DAY -1 weeks, step up Zyban, two daily
QUIT DAY ... start patch, high strength
QUIT DAY +4 weeks, step down patch to medium strength
QUIT DAY +6 weeks, step down patch to mild strngth
QUIT DAY +8 weeks, quit patch
QUIT DAY +9 weeks, step down Zyban to one daily
QUIT DAY +10 weeks, quit Zyban

It worked for me.

[somniferum]

Thought you were the author of the piece. Mea Culpa :)

[Minutemen]

Congratulations! Nicotine was my weakness for years too. I quit smoking 9 years ago.

[Lurker]

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

It sure does. After that amount of time the rage hormones in your body increase to levels which are dangerous to innocent bystanders.

Then the grumpiness genes which have been repressed by the nicotine flower into full bloom.

Strange uncontrollable urges to kick puppies and small children bloom forth from the limbic regions...

L

[word_warrior_bob]

I’m on my 5th week of Chantix, I was smoking 3 packs a day, I’m down to less than half that, sometimes when I smoke I’ll put it out real early, never done that before.

I’m hoping I’ll be smoke free by the end of the month.

[Eagle Eye]

Only in Northern states. Or so I’m told.

[word_warrior_bob]

I haven’t smoked in 2 days, the Chantix works.

[Joan Kerrey]

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

---

congrats!!!!! Weakness is still there long after 30 days.
I quit once for over a year and in a moment of weakness bummed just one from a friend (knowing I was over the hump) That one cigarette tasted so good and gave me a high so I decided to buy a pack and just have one per day. By the second day I smoked the whole pack and bought my first carton of 10 packs and have been smoking ever since (about 20 years) You’re never over the hump. Once you quit, QUIT and avoid even the smoke if you can. I’m lucky that at 67 I have no health problems after over 50 years of smoking.

[woollyone]

FarmerW,

Thank you! thank you! thank you!
It was your post #5 that led me to whyquit.com and to finally walk away from the cigarettes. Two+ packs per day for 32+ years, but now am free.

I had been on chantix for three weeks, but a couple of the side effects were horrible, so i stopped taking it. Three days later, I read your post and checked out whyquit.com. I read that website for nearly 6 hours that day!

What a blessing! That website gave me the information and tools to be able to quit, where nothing had worked in previous attempts. I have read EVERYTHING there and now share that resource with anyone who asks me how my QUIT is going.

So, thank you most sincerely!!!

I put out my last cigarette on 05-01-07 @ 9:14PM.

1 week, 13 hours, 43 minutes cold turkey QUIT!
318 nicotine delivery devices not smoked, saving USD $59.62
Life saved: 1 day, 5 hours, 9 minutes

...oh happy day

[woollyone]

Tomorrow is your day to be free from the Nicotine delivery Devices.

Wish the VERY best.
Be Strong!
and once quit...NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

keep us informed.

[AirForce-TechSgt]

Thank you nad I wilkeep you informed.

[woollyone]

whyquit.com

great reading during the first week of your quit.

you CAN do it.
Stay strong FRiend.

[woollyone]

FarmerW,

Greetings.

Saturday was 6 months quit for me.
Again, thanks to your post number 6 in this thread.

I hope you are also strong in your quit.

NTAP FRiend!

thanks again!

[AppyPappy]

I quit in 1982 after 10 years. It was the smartest thing I ever did. I don’t miss it at all. I did start smoking cigars a few years ago and still never craved a cigarette. Now I smoke one cigar a year.

[shag377]

February 7th, 2000. Last day I ever had a cigarette.

I regret the first day I ever smoked one, but I don’t regret the day I quit.

Watching your mother almost die because of undiagnosed COPD and spend 10 weeks in the hospital is enough for anyone.

I did it in 6 weeks with the patch and more importantly, readjusting my habits to trigger a craving (Re: going to the bar)

The scariest part is when I went back to the bar to play darts and have a beer.:) Made it without a cigarette.

Now, every year after Feb 7th, to celebrate the money I saved by not smoking, I buy myself a toy.

Needless to say, my gun cabinet is fuller than it once was.

[woollyone]

Pappy,
Congrats on the quit.

A cigar (or even five) per year is a pleasure!

keep it up!

[5050 no line]

Sounds familiar. I did cold turkey - twice, first time lasted six months. Second time was 20 years ago, just before leaving the Services. Worst times were with a beer in m’ hand in the mess with my buddies - who were all puffing away like chimmneys!

Funny, I also still dream about smoking and despair, in dreaming, that I have had a relapse! Such a relief in the morning to find ... it was all a dream!:-)

I actually now quite like the smell of tobacco, best out of doors, (mellow in my old age?) but I really hated it for a while after quitting.

[LibWhacker]

Cold turkey 22 years ago, almost 23. It will be 23 when they play the next Superbowl; I threw my cigarettes in the trash right after watching Superbowl XIX. Would be 36 years if I hadn't started again after successfully quiting once for four years. I smoked another nine years after that, up to two packs a day.

Some people can control it, only smoking a cigarette now and then, say a few a week. Not me. I just loved it too damned much. Even now, after 22 years, I know I could get hooked again real quick, in just one night really, if I ever let my guard down again. The craving is always there, under the surface.