The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

imfedup

Its been 9 hours and 6 minutes since my last cigarette! not long I grant you but considering that I have normally had 3 by now thats doing well.

Both my partner and I gave up 9 hours 7 minutes ago and I am dreading it, I am o.k. at the minute cos I am in work and I can find plenty to do with my hands but dreading tonight when we are all at home and both of us a bit techy.

BUT I know its better in the long run. We havent told our family and friends as we want to surprise them when its been couple of weeks. I know the first 3 days are the hardest and just waiting to get over that hurdle.

We are using patches but after reading various threads I believe that you can get tablets prescribed from the doctor - my question is whether doctors will prescribe or whether there is a certain criteria that you need to meet first?

Well its now been 9 hours and 10 mins not that I am counting of course :rotfl:

katch22

Hi everyone,
I have been reading this thread for the past couple of weeks just wishing I was one of you that are already over the worst bit..... you are all doing so well.
I desperately need to stop smoking for several reasons:
Recently recovered from breast cancer (yep, you would think that would do it)
My partner does not smoke, never complains but I know its not fair
Cancer makes you poor and we are struggling with debt after my business more or less failed and my ex got half of my critial illness money.
Currently have a chest infection and feel dreadful.

I became a seriously dedicated smoker when I lost my daughter Nov 26 2003, my Jo hated it when I smoked 'Mum, youre not as nice to hug when you smell' was a regular from her. At 18 she was super fit and nagged me to quit all the time.
So I have decided, if I can find the strength to still suck air in and out when one of my children are not longer huggable I might as well make it clean air. The awful marriage is behind me and I have every reason to quit.
So I have appointment today for my bloods etc at the docs and I am going to tell them I am quitting tomorrow (I never smoke more than 10 a day).
Wish me luck, I hope I'm posting soon with some tips for others
Keep on quitting everyone.... it helps us new ex smokers to look ahead
x

Puzzledbubbles

hi all,

Well done to everyone for staying strong

thanks for the link for tangle's Sue, i really dont pop in as often as i should.

I have had a very big shock today, some very, very sad and horrible news and feel awful (in fact i am going home in a minute becuase i cant stand to be at work and cant concentrate on anything) the first thing my very good friend said to me was "fags are in my handbag"

But, i havent wanted one, i have even gone and sat outside, in the "smokers" unofficial area and just sat and got some air, somehow i dont even want a cigarette, im just numb but im thinking that this has to be a good thing? One emotional crutch is no longer appealing - just got to work on not going home and eating everything in the house now despite feeling sick.

Keep strong people, and i dont mean to be patronising, but please tell someone that you care about them today, a friend, family, child or lover, because we dont know if they will be here tomorrow for us to talk to.

Puzzled

karmacookie

I thought I'd update on how I'm doing. apart from my very small blip at the beginning it's been 4 weeks tomorrow :T I'm getting my patches free on prescription and have just been told that as I've done 4 weeks I now have to go down to 10mg ones as from tomorrow, yikes! I should be ok though as some days I forget to put a patch on until about lunch time.

On the whole, after the first week I've found it quite easy. What I find really hard though is at the weekend when I relax with a glass of wine, not helped by the fact that my OH is still smoking. It's really weird though cause if I have an odd glass of wine during the week it doesn't bother me. Perhaps I should re read the Alan Carr book!

I'm really pleased that I've not put on any weight. I was quite worried about this but I seem to have more time now that I'm not constantly puffing so the dog has had more walks and I've been going to aqua aerobics 2x week. I'm also going to be starting a sewing nightclass tomorrow!

so overall i'm still feeling positive about this, infact I'm starting to feel like a different person (does that sound weird?)

Well done everyone for staying strong and thanks for posting on this thread, it helps to read other people's experiences and to realise that I'm not alone if I'm having a bad moment :T

kaisersoze_2

After smoking a steady 20 a day for the best part of 15 years i finally quit smoking on May 25th 2009 using Allen Carr's EASYWAY to quit smoking book and havent looked back. This was probably attempt number 100 to give up, all the previous attempts using patches and going cold turkey lasted no longer than 2 days max, i have also put away half of my £5.20 a day that cigarettes were costing me and currently have over £250 in a savings account just from quitting smoking.

I cant recommend the book highly enough, it is the best £5.99 i have ever spent, it really was a last resort and i never ever thought it would work (how can you quit smoking from reading a book) but it did and im so glad i tried it.

I even went on holiday 5 days after i quit and still didnt feel the urge even when drinking and standing around with other smokers.

Puzzled hope you stay strong and my condolences

Sue-UU

Dear, dear katch, my heart really went out to you as I read through your post, you must have been through hell having gone through so much in, what sounds like, a relatively short time. To lose your Jo must have been the biggest blow, and at 18! Oh life does seem to terribly cruel for so many...but she'll still be with you, both in your heart and all around you in spirit. That alone, with those beautiful words of hers, could be mostly all you'll need to be able to quit. She so wanted it for you, for her too, so from tomorrow on, make a promise to her that you'll do your very best to quit it! Then keep those hugs and words in front of you throughout the time it takes to stop smoking. She'll certainly want you to get your health back, for sure! Believe us all when we tell you, it's never as bad once you make that start, but the fear of thinking "I'll never be able to cope without them" is never what happens when we stub that last one out. So soon comes the "Thank God, I'm free of those blasted things, free to live life as it should be lived with me being as healthy as I can make myself!!! Your Dr will get you all the help you need to give it up for good, for Jo, for your health! Keep us up to date with how things go Katch, you have all the best of wishes from us all to do what your heart desires! God Bless you. Love, Sue x

That was obviously a terrible shock to hit you so hard Puzzled, but I admire you so very much for not reaching our for what some folk perceive to be a crutch! As you well know, it never is, it's just starts us getting even more stressed up straight away and you've enough to deal with as it is, but talk it out to those you hold dearest in your heart, they're the ones to help us through at such times. Take great care Puzzled and let go of it all whenever you need to. Sue x

Hi imfedup and welcome to the quitting thread, the place where getting your life back begins...if YOU let it!:rolleyes: Well done on you both having quit already, 9 hours (even 1) is amazing as it's a start and a great achievement so soon! :THave you read Allen Carr's EASYWAY to quit smoking book? If not why not give it a try, we get wonderful reports from those who do. I honestly don't know whether certain criteria need to be met in order to get help with the Zyban or Champix, so go and have a chat with your Dr, he'll/she'll be so pleased that you're out to help your health anyway that he/she will certainly help in anyway that they're able. They pleasure Drs get and you receive from them due to you helping yourself is enough to spur anyone on, so see your Dr anyway, or the cessation Nurse. Going back for regular visits to update them keeps you wanting to please too, and all these things are so very good for the mental part of quitting. The very best of luck to you both, give each other love and support all the way.
karmacookie you are doing soooo very well :T and 4 weeks is a good long while when we first quit, but for you to do it when your OH is still smoking is fantastic, though I sincerely hope he never does so in front of you?! Keep praising yourself and all the courage it's taken for you to get where you are, but you know the importance of quitting and how vital it is if we're able to maintain good health, so I also think you should re read the Alan Carr book...and again...and again...and again until you need it know more! Don't let the weekends, which are a problem to so many of us, come between you and your health - please! The trouble is we're programmed to finish a week's work then totally relax, and that's just what you're doing and why it's harder - at present! At those times in future, do something at the same times as drinking, game of cards...even if it's patience! Alter the place where you drink, a different room etc...anything that helps you to not relate weekends with "those other darn things"! Well done on getting up and getting into plenty of exercise, I wish everyone was like-minded and prepared to do whatever it takes to get to where we all want to be. You WILL beat this Karma, keep up the GREAT job!!!

kaisersoze very many congratulations on coming such a long way on your journey, the greatest journey you'll ever make! :T I hope the pride you feel is all that you deserve as you've done a terrific job. Very well done indeed and thanks so much for the help to others!

Stay strong everyone, you CAN do it!

Sue

larmy16

Katch 22 and Puzzledbubbles my heart goes out to you both. Well done PB for not reaching for a fag - you are incredibly wise not to fall for the idea it might "help" in some way. Thinking of you and definitely going to tell all my loved ones how important they are to me.XX

Katch22 please, please do join us on this thread. Have you thought about getting the Alan Carr book. It may well dispell you of any fear about stopping and remove the pain you fear too. Go for it. Before you know it like all of us you will be posting how you are now, one month/two/three down the line and it was not anything like as hard as you imagined. Good luck. XX

Puzzledbubbles

thank you for the support guys, it was a huge shock and all of us are working together to try to come to terms with what has happened.

I am nearly at the end of the day and 2 chocolate bars, half a pizza, potato wedges and fishermans pie later i have almost eaten all of my reserve junk, but have not had a cigarette - that has to be a sign.

Keep reisiting the cigs peeps

larmy16

Well done Puzzledbubbles, well done. X

karmacookie

Just want to say a great big thanks to Sue :beer: :T and everyone else who are sharing their experiences of giving up on this thread x

yeah, sue, my oh is still smoking in front of me but in fairness, when we first met he had stopped but I was still puffing. He has been telling people that he is 'so proud o me''no smokin n somkin much less himself'.;
i got a bit squiffy on fri night, lit up one o his ciggies, had a draw, passed it back to him an said, 'I de smoke, that's horrid, do u want it?'

Most o the time it doesn't really bother me and hey, if I can quit wi him still puffin then hey that's good eh?

Thankx again 4 this thread x

Just think folks, nae mair horrid chest stuff in the winter :T