The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

kezzae

:jGood Morning All!

Thanks for the encouragement Sue!

Well, had a couple of bad days, but have woken up today feeling all bright and sparkly again:j:j.
I didn't give in and kept telling myself I could do it, I just found something to do to keep me busy until the craving past. I Just hope you're right Sue when you say that these 'wobbles' are short lived lol............

I have noticed that my skin has a little glow this morning and the dark circles under my eyes have faded, also my skin is clearer:T.

KatieShopstoomuch

Thanks for the lovely replies! And thank you sue for the message, i'm feeling a bit better now, well more so scared to death lol one of my case studies with my course at the moment is coronary heart disease and how many smokers have died from it and very detailed examples of how cigarettes clog up the atteries over time. Even though we are told all of this actually studying it has worried me more so i don't want a cigarette nope nope nope! That was the worst part of me smoking only being 22 years old and getting chest pains and i'm sure it was smoking related infact i just know it was!

Well done to everybody else keep up the good work

funkymonkey

howdy peeps - 3 weeks for me tomorrow. have £100 in the savings account today! am well chuffed! had the worst run of nights this week at work. if anyone else is a nurse they will understand what 2222 means - well i had three in a row! just totally rotten! but apart saying god i could do with a glass of wine and a fag after all of this - i didnt want one at all!

keep up the good work everyone and anyone just starting out - the craving feeling does go! dont believe it when people say that they know someone who quit years ago and still craves for a ciggie. I couldnt think of anything worse!

Heidi301272

Hello, its my first time here so howdy to everyone!

I have been quit now for 11 days on about my 8th attempt. :j
Its supposed to make you feel better giving up but since i have, ive had a sore throat, flatulence and now a bad case of gout in my left big toe (so bad i can hardly walk) I suspect its my body expelling all the bad toxins.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

funkymonkey

hi heidi - chin up - it does get better!

as for the gout - its quite rare in women! it could well be just your body adjusting to the not smoking but i would maybe see your GP about it as it can be related to the menopause and hormone imbalances.

The sore throat will most definately be you kicking out all the crap from your lungs etc and that should go within a few more days. if you have smoked for a long time then this may take longer and you may be more at risk from chest infections and throat infections etc.

Remember its the worlds biggest confidence trick. You feel fine when you smoke them and its only when you stop that you feel rotten. dont let that fool you into thinking its the giving up that is causing the problems. The problems were casued by the smoking and NON-SMOKERS dont have these problems. (well maybe the gout lol)

Heidi301272

Thanks Funkymonkey, Im sure its my body getting back to how it should be, dont think its the menopause though as im only 36. lol. Ive seen a doc about the gout and hes given me tablets. Its really still painful though. Although i feel low at the moment i know it wont last long and in the end i will feel better for it. Just wish i could fast forward a few weeks.lol.

What is a consolation though is my husband and i are quitting together and i thought we would be tearing eachothers hair out every day but we havent. Just proves that everyones experiences of quitting are very different.

I am getting support as not only my husband is my backup but my son is too. (He used to wrinkle his nose and give me a diry look every time i lit up lol)

Anyway, thankyou for your reply Funkymonkey, i appreciate you taking an interest. Hope you are having a good day and i wish you an excellent day tomorrow.

Regards, Heidi.:D

Sue-UU

Well done Kezza! I promise you that the wobbles ARE short-lived and whenever you get what you believe to be 'a craving' it's only old nick messing with your brain, believe me! In future, whenever you get one of those feelings of 'there's something missing' recognise it for what it is and then focus hard on something else, something beautiful to distract you. A few seconds later you'll suddenly be aware that the feeling you had that you considered was a craving...is GONE and you hadn't even realised it!! You wait and see if that's not how it feels! Go on Kezza, you've done wonderfully so far, keep it up as it's all so very worth it!!:D

Well done for not giving in Katie! :j I see what you mean about the relevance of your case studies and your tender age, but being smokers often starts us worrying so much that we can often 'bring on' things that, to our minds, represent symptoms of actually having such ailments/illnesses. Don't worry about it all too much Katie or you'll lose sight of your goal in regaining your good health and take on the worries of something which might never happen anyway! I speak from experience as, due to the fear of smoking, I was absolutely convinced that I'd already been hit with lung cancer years ago. However, I was wrong, thank the dear Lord! Concentrate on fulfilling your wish to quit for good Katie and then focus on your health being good. Please do this for me as I'd hate you to go through all the years of fear I went through, it's never worth it and robs you of living your life anyway. Concentrate on the here and now and all the great things in store for you, along with the sheer freedom of all that smoking gives! Keep healthy Katie and stay a non-smoker!!! :j

Hi and welcome Heidi and well done on deciding to quit! Having been quit now for 11 days is wonderful and something to be so very proud of, so very well done indeed!!! :T Regarding the sore throat and gout in your left big toe, I honestly suspect its your body expelling all the bad toxins too. I'm pleased you went to your Dr and hope the medication works well to clear it and ease your pain. If he/she suggests a follow-up appointment then stick to it and go, it'll give you even more incentive to stay strong! Though it sounds as though you and your husband are supporting each other in a wonderful way, your dear son too, bless him! Come on here as often as you wish, you're more than welcome. Stay strong and both of you enjoy being non-smokers!:D

Hiya funkymonkey! Well it's now gone 12 so I'm sure I can safely say - excellent news on being 3 weeks free from it all!!! :T You're now doing so very well and deserve to be so chuffed with yourself!! Also, having all that money saved is a great incentive so keep going ahead funky as you are doing just GREAT!!! :j With regards to the people who say that they know someone who quit years ago and still craves for a ciggie, I'm sure it's the following that people are speaking about (I've already put it on the part to Kezza) "In future, whenever you get one of those feelings of 'there's something missing' recognise it for what it is and then focus hard on something else, something beautiful to distract you. A few seconds later you'll suddenly be aware that the feeling you had that you considered was a craving...is GONE and you hadn't even realised it!!" All that those folk speak about is a feeling of something missing and that's what happened to me, but it was so fleeting that it's never worth thinking of, I PROMISE you!

You're all doing marvellously and should be so very proud of your achievements! Enjoy each new day of your new life everyone, you so deserve it!!! :j

Sue

kezzae

Good Morning All!!

Im feeling absolutely bloomin fantastic today!!! My energy levels are sky high and Im bouncing around!!!:j:j

No 'cravings' at all yesterday, which is good. I think I had some 'dud' patches in my box as I went through 3 because the first 2 I tried wouldn't stick, they just kept dropping off, 3 one was ok though, I actually panicked when they wouldn't stay on Just like I used to panic when I hadn't got any ciggies in but couldn't be bothered to go to the shop lol.
My arms and back are slowly turning into a piece of art work............. I have lovely little red squares on them where my patches have been, is this normal? Ive got no iritation or itch, Just the red squares................ Anyway I've decided that if anyone asks I'm Just going to tell them that I've had the new version of that thing the celebs have, cups is it, where they have them suction things stuck to em!!!!!! Only Ive had squares lol............

Hubby is doing really well and I can safely say that both he and the kids have now packed away their 'Tin Hats' as my rattiness has past...... I think...........

Hope you all have a fab weekend!!!!!!:D:D

Heidi301272

Hey everyone,

Thanx for the PM Sue, im finding that chatting to people who know how you feel helps loads.

There are people who have never smoked who can't see what all the fuss is about and also i have friends who say they are happy for me to have quit then say " i could quit any time i want, its easy!" Well all i can think is why dont they then? I know these people are a little short of money at the moment too. The mind boggles!

I have a tip which might help some people, when you get 'the urge' do something that you wouldnt smoke whilst doing. I brush my teeth. Only trouble is for the first couple of days i was brushing about 10 times a day! lol.

As for the red squares i havent had those but i do have sticky black squares!

Wishing you all a fabulous day! Heidi x PS Gout in my toe is feeling much better today.

Sue-UU

By golly Kezza it sounds as though you're determined to quit and be the happiest person on the planet today, apart from your DH and kiddies. Can just see you youngsters with helmets peeping out over the top of the settee or stairs to see if it's safe! I'll bet a bob they're so happy for you both, so they should be too. I read your post a minute ago and thought that you'd taken up a new hubby with "my arms and back are slowly turning into a piece of art work"!!! :rolleyes: I'm prepared for anything when folk quit!:o

Have a GREAT weekend Kazza, it's so good to see you really enjoying your new life!

Hi Heidi, you're welcome to the PM. You're quite right about how it helps when chatting to people who know how you feel as we're the only ones who fully understand the inner strength it takes as well as the actual feelings within us. Anyone who can't see what all the fuss is about hasn't much compassion anyway, as most of us will try our best with anyone's problems or trials in life. It's a natural thing to try to put yourself in someone else's place, even though it's nigh on impossible, but to at least try shows compassion and care!

Your friends who say they are happy for you to have quit but then say "I could quit any time I want, its easy!" show themselves to be what most of have been like at sometime or another, and that is scared of the fear of losing the smokes. I hope they'll get to where you are soon as, the fear of quitting and missing fags is nothing to the fear that smoking-related illnesses bring!!! Maybe you'll turn out to be the shining example they've been looking to follow Heidi, I certainly hope so!

You're right about brushing the teeth being a great "I can't even think of wanting one now" putter-offer, it really worked with me....so long as I didn't brush too hard for too long! I was thrilled to read that your toe is feeling much better today, let's hope it goes completely. All the best Heidi, enjoy life, you deserve to!

All of you do as it's so much more worthwhile without fears. Have a lovely Sunday.

Sue