The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

blue_eyes_2

Hi All,
I'm a newbie, at work on the nightshift currently, just had last cigarette, patch in place!!!

I am so nervous to be giving up......sadly the main reason is I can't afford it despite actually admitting here to liking it!!!
OH does not smoke and is encouraging me to give up for financial and health reasons.

So reasons for me to quit

1.COST........Will save more money not smoking
2.APPEARANCE............Will look and smell nicer...better skin
3.WEDDING DAY.............10 weeks till wedding.....no smoking in wedding dress.

So my plan is to put away some of smoking money and treat me and OH to night out once per month ie.cinema/meal for 2, new DVD and bottle of wine etc etc.

Will need major motivation, I know my weakness and it is the ease of being able to just go and buy some....and the panicky feeling knowing I don't have any.

So here it goes....as I said before the patch is on and the clock is ticking...if I get to tonight without taking patch off and going to buy ciggies....I am going to have big bubble bath.....mmmmmmmmm

larmy16

All the best Blue Eyes. You can do it, but that panicky nervous feeling is what the cigs are giving you every time you have to wait to smoke, which is frankly becoming a total pain in the rear what with smoking bans all over the place.

I identify with everything you said about enjoying smoking. Yes you do enjoy it, because it puts to an end those cravings and also it can seem like a reward to punctuate time, especially at the end of the day. That aaargh feeling as you inhale and then exhale.
It does go though! After a while, the cravings are so few and far between that the benefits start to shine through to put them to shame.

For me, the greatest benefit has not been money, (I was a rollie smoker) but the elimination of the smell which seems to pervade everything. I could wash my hands a dozen times and still smell that stuff on my fingers!

A friend gave me a new top recently. She had bought it new and wondered if I would like it. Otherwise she was going to take it back to the shop. As she is a heavy smoker I knew it would hum of fags. She had put it away in the airing cupboard "so it would not smell of smoke" but it reeked of it. She was totally unaware of the power of nicotines missile power of penetrating everything it comes into contact with.

As usual......I have got carried away. So have a great day. Keep up the good work all.

bluedog

Haven't been in recently, but have lurked to try and keep up with how everyone's doing.

In the few weeks since I've joined this thread, it's good to see so many people coming back to say how they're doing and it's a great incentive to continue. Well done and thanks to you all :beer:.

At my last visit to the quit nurse, I blew a 1 on the carbon monoxide monitor so she's now marked me as a non-smoker. That felt great but somehow, it's felt a greater achievement to get past the 5 week period as that's the longest I've ever quit for before - so I'm well chuffed!

Larmy - Your posts are very helpful so keep on getting carried away!! I got a short sharp lesson in how smoke clings to clothes etc when taking a weekend break with friends a few years ago (before the smoking bans). I was the only smoker so didn't smoke in the car on the drive down, but had a ciggy outside when took a break in the journey. Obviously my clothes were all freshly laundered before packing but I was shocked at the stench of stale smoke when I opened my case and how everything in it reeked of it too - even the toothpaste tube! I'm glad I've stopped now and the smell in my home is slowly going.

Sue-UU

Hi blue eyes and a warm welcome to the thread. If you stick to wishing to quit then you're about to embark on a marvellous journey that, in time, will bring you back to your old healthstyle! That was one thing missing from your list that really should have been the major reason to quit - your HEALTH!!! Don't be too nervous, you'll soon enjoy being back to being healthy again, and just think of all the things that might just have come your way if you don't quit now! Life is so precious blue eyes, do take care of yours....while you're still young and able to. You've only smoked for 6 years....but smoking's dangerous however long we smoke for, the least we can keep it down to the better for us - and our loved ones! Finally (for now), beware of alcohol! It really can affect your judgement and have you back on the weed without you knowing it....til the next day!:o

Marvellous advice there larmy! It's not getting carried away if you're saying how things are for you or what they'd be like IF you were to smoke again. Get carried away as much as you like, after all it's as useful to others as it is to you! Keep it up larmy, you're doing brilliantly!:T

Brilliant news bluedog, you are doing wonderfully well! Congratulations with that 1 on the CM reading!!!:T

All the very best folks, you CAN do it, stay strong at all times!

Sue

funkymonkey

Hey All - had a little slip up on sunday with my friends and had a couple of puffs. bleugh - it made me so dizzy! am not going to do that again! (although i am aware i said that last week). anyway today is day 10 of not buying any and so thats £50 in my savings account! it looks great! definately inspiration and im being so strict with myself! im not gonna be trying the odd puff ever again. I must say it bought back the cravings throughout yesterday - id forgotten what they were like! i just fought them off though! and am feeling good again today!

LondonAndy

Hello guys ! :hello:

What a FANTASTIC thread ! I wish I had spotted you all sooner !
Congrats on being a wicked supportive thread, hope you don't mind me adding my experience for newbies and lurkers....

I gave up on 1st June for two reasons 1) to give myself a big "pay-rise" to pay off some debt and have the holidays I used to have once the debt has gone (I love travelling) 2) dentist said I was at risk of wrecking my teeth and gumline and I'm only 29 :eek:

I was a 15 a day man ; up to 30+ on nights out :eek:

GOOD LUCK to everyone with your quits!! YOU CAN DO IT!!

I am still have a crave every now and again, natural as its early days, mostly having drinks outside with mates in this weather - but few and far between - AND not a single ciggie. So "beware of alcohol" is an excellent tip at least for the first few weeks.

The cash for me is the main motivator. I am rich lol - There is ALWAYS loose change in my wallet nowadays! Plus being able to taste food better is a massive bonus. Its also amazing that I can now smell smokers sitting next to me on the tube or bus and think "did I used to smell like that?" Its a really strong lingering smell.

Here's a bonus to add to the list - I was a real stress-head before quitting - i.e I'm really stressed I need a fag - but since quitting I find I am much calmer. Strange we think they are relaxing us?

I am using NRT - all free from NHS drop in centre - they are really good nowadays. No patronizing or talking to you like a 10 year old (tried when I was 25 and the nurse was evil. lol) I just stepped down to stage 2 no probs a few days ago.

LondonA

JBD

Hi all, have never posted before, just really wanted to offer my support and encouragement as a very heavy exsmoker. Ismoked my last cigarette over 3 years ago after 5or 6 serious attempts ,twice for at least ayear. I think for me I have accepted I must never have another cigarette. It has been very difficult at times but I now love being a nonsmoker. Good luck to you all.

little_lily

Hi JBD,

Out of interest - what made you start again after more than a year of not smoking?

I am heading that way (towards a year, not towards a relapse!) slowly myself - over 7 months now! - and am DETERMINED never to go back to the evil weed. Any tips/advice as to what went wrong for you on those earlier attempts would be welcome by me and, I'm sure, by many others on here. I have gone through too much to land back at square one!

Thanks :T

kezzae

Hi, I hope you don't mind me joining the thread but I could really do with the support and have something to focus on and keep me going.............
OK, a bit about me..... Im 31 and I am married with 3 children. I have tried 3 times to stop smoking and this is my 4th try. I had my appointment at NSC on Monday and today is quit day. I smoked about 20 ciggies a day and blew a massive 21 on the carbon monoxide monitor, so I am on 21mg patches and have lozengers as back up.

My main reason for stopping smoking is my health, Last year I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which has scared the life out of me and made me think I have enough problems without smoking aswell. My 3 wonderful children and my fantastic hubby(who has also quit with me by the way) are my second reason and my third is obviously the cost, we were spending £11 a day on cigarettes, that's £11 gone before we had even got out of bed in a morning!!!:eek::eek:

So, I had my last ciggie at 10pm last night and put a patch on first thing this morning. Things are going really well upto now, I haven't actually craved one although they have been on my mind but habit wise, I was washing up and thought 'I'll just finish this then have a brew and a ciggie then load the washer etc etc, then I thought 'oh I dont smoke' and the thought was gone.
I have noticed that Ive felt a bit light headed this morning and had a terribly dry mouth, is this normal, can't remember getting it last time I tried to stop.
I feel quite liberated today, like its a new beginning although I am just going to take a day at a time, I got ahead of myself last time and failed

Sorry for rambling on and hope you dont mind me Joining the thread........

funkymonkey

Hi all! - well im finally feeling amazing again! All I can say to people is BEWARE! just a couple of puffs because you think it will be great with that mouthful of wine you promiced you wouldnt have IS DANGEROUS. I sent all of monday moping again and most of yesterday feeling really anxious for a ciggie. Am finally back to normal and feeling a little foolish! on a plus note at least i didnt buy a box just to throw it away after a few puffs! thus my bank balance today is £55.

feeling great now - just have to remember there is no such thing as one cigerette!

Kezzae Congratulations on quitting! use the posts in here as insperations! you may want to think about putting some of that £11 aside each day to watch it grow!

You will feel a bit strange for a couple of days but believe me it will go! just take your time and relax and dont beat yourself up about anything.

As for you type 1 diabetes - the risk to your feet and hands through circulation problems and healing problems will be bad enough without the arteriosclerosis caused by the tar and chemicals inside cigerettes. The boos it will give you to your confience when you have finally quit for a few days/weeks will make you feel so much better and more confident in taking care of any other health problems.

anyway sorry to ramble on a bit! and good luck everyone