The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

jammy_dodger

auntiesue wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've noticed this thread numerous times before but never popped in. I promised my son a while ago that I would give up smoking soon and it's a promise I don't want to break. Some-one thought they would do me a favour and bring me some cigs back from Spain - couldn't refuse to take them off their hands when they had gone to the bother of thinking of me!!
I am now down to the last pack, well the last 6 in the pack so it looks like I might have to start giving up tomorrow. Help! I keep trying to come up with excuses why it's not the right time like ' I've got a hen night to go to tomorrow night and will be tempted when I have a drink' or the excuse for a while now has been that' I am currently trying to complete a dissertation for my degree course and I'm stressed enough as it is. But I know these are just excuses!

I really don't want to pay the price for a pack of cigs at the shops and we're going camping next Fri and I'm now the only one in the company that still smokes.
I just need to find that will power, have already got my gum ready and waiting with my extra large bag of clementines Now, where is that willpower?????.

a warm welcome

so glad you popped by it will be the most useful thread you visited for a whole host of reasons , not just money saving !!

start by listing all the reasons why YOU want to quit ,and keep them close to hand whenever tempted
its fine doing it for someone else but the motivation has to be yours to stay stopped me thinks
be prepared for those cravings and have plans to overcome them as others here suggest a walk sipping water eating fruit putting out the washing doing the dishes anything that will keep you busy ..THEY DO PASS
reward yourself for evry hour / day you stay stopped dont look to long goals take each hour day at a time you will get through the hurdles
read past posts on here and theres a wealth of support and post your thoughts feelings / vents on here let it all out
its the best gift you can give yourself and family

we all wish you well

dazco

Hiya everyone.

Sorry for not checking in earlier but I have nothing to report

I am a non-smoker so therefore will never smoke again:T:T:T

My advice to the people just giving up, or thinking of giving up, is just do it!!!!
Don't wait for that special date, or the end of all the packs of fags, just do it now. Don't make a big deal out of it, it is something that just needs doing. Smoking is the most ridiculous act any normal person can do. It costs loads of money, makes you stink and kills you.

I am putting flowers on my mothers grave today, she was taken at the age of 60 by lung cancer. Today is her birthday.

If the knowledge that your loved ones will watch you die an awful death cannot get you to stop, nothing will.

To AUNTIESUE, can I recommend Champix for you? The course allows you to ween yourself, quite gently, off the fags and I think they really helped me. But I was determined to give in. I did not see it as denying myself something I enjoyed, I saw it as the very earlier elimination of a cancer. I have now cut that particular cancer out.

And it is the best thing I ever did. Please do it. :j:j:j:j

jammy_dodger

fantastic news dazco you have done so well and was smoking a whopping 50 a day too :eek:

anyone reading DAZCOS post ..and thinking about stopping
what are you waiting for ??? DO IT NOW

my thoughts are with you today too big hugs x x

missi1

Hi Dazco, well done you for kicking the habit.

Am really determined now to give up, this will be my 2nd attempt in a week and I really hope I win this time.

I see from your post that you gave up with the help of Champix? I take it these are tablets and wondered if you knew if they are similar to a product called Zyban?

I took Zyban about 3 years ago and the side effects were awful, I nearly passed out a couple of times and went really light headed, had to have a week of work as could hardly stand up.

I have an appointment with the nurse soon for smoking cessation and for some Nicotine Gum as the current pack I have will probably see me through until then if I give up by tomorrow. She will probably mention me taking tablets but with the effects of Zyban, I think I will be too anxious to take them.

dazco

missi1 wrote: »

Hi Dazco, well done you for kicking the habit.

Am really determined now to give up, this will be my 2nd attempt in a week and I really hope I win this time.

I see from your post that you gave up with the help of Champix? I take it these are tablets and wondered if you knew if they are similar to a product called Zyban?

I took Zyban about 3 years ago and the side effects were awful, I nearly passed out a couple of times and went really light headed, had to have a week of work as could hardly stand up.

I have an appointment with the nurse soon for smoking cessation and for some Nicotine Gum as the current pack I have will probably see me through until then if I give up by tomorrow. She will probably mention me taking tablets but with the effects of Zyban, I think I will be too anxious to take them.

Hi Missi

Champix appear to be completely different to Zyban.

The thing I liked most about Champix was cutting down the fags as my quit time neared, you still smoke when you start the Champix course and you cut down to zero as week 1 appears.

The side effects I suffered were;
Anxiety/nausea...........This only happened once and soon ended when I ate something
Bad dreams................Really vivid evil dreams :eek:. I came to embrace these and not see them as bad, just different.

Tiredness...............Sometimes I would take a tablet and would be spark out five minutes later. This would last about five minutes.




I personally believe that the greatest aid to giving up is you. :beer:
Your attitude and perception will be worth more than any tablets or electronic aids. I think it is essential to programme your mind to believe that you are doing the best thing you possibly could, for your body, rather than depriving it of something lovely that you enjoy.
It is not a punishment or a test, it is something that just has to be done.

Now go and do it :j:j:j:j:j

choille

Hi Missi - the best thing you can do is speak with a cesssation trained person/nurse. I too had major problems with medication & gave up on a mixture of Champix (which I had to stop) & sheer determination & a massive amount of support from this forum - I truly believe that this forum is a huge reason to anyone doing it.
Let the nurse guide you & help you as much as possible. They are there to help you quit & stay quit. They can help you realise what type of smoker you are & what is the best method of stopping for you.
I smoked for 32 years & smoked a lot - 30 @day every day whether ill or well. I thought I would never stop ever. I have been stopped for 6 months.

If I can stop anyone can stop. It doess get easier as each day passes. It is easier than it has ever been with so may places non smoking.
All the best
You will do it & you will be amazed at how much easier it is than you thought.

larmy16

Choille is it really 6 months since you quit?

It just goes to show that after those first few weeks, the time just whizzes by. Well done by the way and nice to see you check in.

Missi I had Zyban once and had no problems with it. We all react so differently to these drugs. I understand that Champix has fewer side effects.


It is very exciting when you feel your confidence growing and you know that you really want to stop, even if it does present some difficulties in the first stages.

I agree with Choille, the thread is such a tremendous aid because you don't always get the support from friends or family and if they have never smoked they just cannot understand.

Good luck for the week ahead.

Dazco great to hear from you again.

dundeedoll_2

Hello everybody,

Missi, I too took Zyban (in 2001), it certainly worked with the stopping smoking, BUT I was like a zombie!!! Looking back I don't think I should have been driving.
Stopped for 4 years and then while at the pub 1 night was eyeing up a rollup someone had just lit and asked them to do me 1.

I then bought a pack of 10 (menthol - could never smoke 'normals' again) every 2nd Friday after dropping my sons off at their dad's for the weekend - my 'treat' (How daft!!!)
Gradually started smoking daily again but only in secret.

Ran out on the Sunday morning 3 weeks ago and just didn't get any more.
In all honesty I have found it fairly easy..........apart from the awful empty hungry feeling - chopped carrots and apples are a great help tho' along with mugs and mugs of herbal tea/water. I have also found that if I take deep breaths (like the sort you would take when you had a 'deep drag') it has helped as well.

The biggest help of all tho' is coming on this thread - it really really helps me no end.


Dazco
Well done :j
Really sorry to hear about your mum.

stclair

Hi everyone how are you all? I hope all is well.....

Well im going on holiday in 3 weeks with the 600 quid ive saved from non smoking.

However im abit worried as im going to barcelona and smoking is still permitted in bars and clubs etc.

Ive been a non smoker now 7 months however im really worried im going to buckle whilst im on holiday or am i just being para??

missi1

Thank you all for your messages, advice and support. This forum has truly been a massive help and I will definately keep coming back for tips from other posters and offer support where I can, especially if I keep this non smoking up - I will succeed!! :j

I found a good application on the NHS website that can either be saved as a widget to your desktop or downloaded to iphone if you have one. It shows a running total of the time since you gave up and amount saved so far plus tips as well.

When I think of the £140 I will save each month, that keeps me motivated and more importantly the health concerns and my daughter wanting me to give up.