The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

bluedog

I've finally done it and am pleased to call myself a non-smoker again. :j

I was doing really well last year and had not been smoking for about 4-5 months - I even went through a relationship breadown without bowing. It was hearing somethings that happened to my kids during that time that I had absolutely NO idea about that knocked stuffing out of me & it was " just one cig" .. well, I was happy being a non-smoker so it would be easy ... and probably less harmful than other options going through my mind at the time ... and the rest is history. I then went through a period of sort of proving to myself that I WAS in control because I could go "X" long without one and felt I was consciously choosing when I was going to smoke .. yeah, I know .... ..... I was fully hooked again within a couple of months.

I DID sign up to go back with the quit nurse again waaayyy back in January and have asked several times since what's happening about it. She finally called me 3 weeks ago and by sounds of it, there wasn't actually one working to cover this whilst she was off sick for a few months so she's now playing catch up!

It's been very difficult and full of high stresses for most of this year and just thing after another. None are reasons or excuses I've used to smoke and have told people that as I know that with going through the relationship breakdown without it, then it simply is that .. an excuse. (several friends have said I must be really wicked as things have come thick and fast and at times, I've barely stood up from one blow before the next has hit.) I felt there was something more to it and figured it was far simpler than that in the end. I've realised how much I allowed the child-within to join ranks with nasty-nick instead .... "I will cos I want to" kind of thing ... "I'll quit when I want to .." .... and when I realised that, it seemed a verrrryy weird co-incidence as the quit nurse rang to offer me an appointment within a week!

We set quit day as the next day and here I am. 2 major lessons learnt in the process I hope and that is there is no such thing as "just one puff" and I need to "toddler tame" the child within.

larmy16

Bluedog that was a really honest and insightful post you just made there. Thank goodness you got that appointment with the nurse at just the right time.

It is astonishing just how much we can rationalise why we should be able to smoke and it really all boils down to Nick wanting us to smoke, and as you say the toddler wanted to go along with it all.

You see the truth so clearly in the end that there is only one decision you can make.

Bluedog go for it and I wish you a peaceful and contented time.

scarey78

Day 3 and smoke free...yay!!

Sue-UU - Thank you for your PM. I will keep everything you've said in mind and will use all of the tips.
In answer to your questions, when I discovered I was pregnant (both times) I gave up by cold turkey. I found it very easy. From the moment I found out I was pregnant I just couldn't bring myself to draw on a cig. Both times my husband gave up for a few months but ended up going back to it.
The first time I went back to it I'd been to a wedding and had a lot to drink. The second time I went back to it was in the Summer at a BBQ after a couple of drinks.
I smoked between 10 and 15 a day (OH smoked about 20 a day). We smoked outside and never in the house.
We've been trying to give up since September. We managed about 3 weeks not long ago and we did it on patches. Then my OH had one here and there and that was us both back and hooked on it.
This time we're going cold turkey. I really believe I can give up as long as OH doesn't smoke. I have told him this in the hope that this might keep him off them. But I am fully aware that my giving up smoking is down to me only. It would just be so much easier if he stays off them too.
It's weird because (like last time) the first week or so we find fairly easy, it's a few weeks/months down the line that we start to have trouble. At the moment I don't think about it that much and haven't really had any very strong cravings. I just know that it'll be times like NYE after a couple of drinks.

FEE 100 - Well done for doing a year! I really hope I'll be in the same position this time next year.

jammy dodger - I will keep it in mind to come on here during wobbles. Well done for being back on the wagon.

Sorry it's such a long post.

Thanks

Claire

Sue-UU

Hello again, Bluedog! Good to see you back and trying again though my heart goes out to you on what sounds like a harrowing event. Look to the future now, a future without fags and Nick in it! It sounds as though someone stepped in to help you re the Nurse appointment, I'm so pleased for you. You've managed it for a good while, onwards from here Bluedog, you know it's achieveable - stick hard and fulfil the quitting journey, there's so much to be gained from it!

Hi Claire, you're welcome to the PM, just please, keep doing as you said and referring to it. It sounds as though you know all too well that it's that drink demon than makes you vulnerable and as you're concerned about NYE, why not have a different drink, something less or non alcoholic.

It's a shame about your husband influencing you so much as men usually find it far easier than us women, lack of hormonal problems and TOTM no doubt. I know it's easier said etc, but IF he weakens again (he may not!), use that weakness to give you strength to say "OK, you please yourself but I'm staying QUIT!" If you stick to your words, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he didn't stop very soon again! He might hate seeing you sticking to your guns whilst he can't. He's a guy, Claire - you know how to handle em!!!

Sometimes after a few weeks/months down the line, people lose the excitement of it all and become a bit bored, but if they can just keep pushing passed those times, you'll find you'll soon pass that weakening stage and it'll all come so very much easier! Try it this time - you'll see!I'm wishing you both all the very best to get back to a healthy lifestyle and to have cash in your pockets...money in the bank...not to mention pride in the eyes of your kiddies at what you've achieved for their sakes as well as yours! :A:A You CAN do this Caire, show yourself you CAN!!!

If you're looking in Ross, yes we've had lots of the white stuff too and you must have as well!!! :j:j Happy, happy, happy. 's..ok folks, I'm getting over it.

Keep it up everyone, imagine going outside and freezing to bits every time just for those smelly, dirty, white sticks and all the harm they have the potential to do! :mad: We won't allow it anymore!!! :mad:

Sue x

dundeedoll_2

scarey78 wrote: »

Day 3 and smoke free...yay!!

Sue-UU - Thank you for your PM. I will keep everything you've said in mind and will use all of the tips.
In answer to your questions, when I discovered I was pregnant (both times) I gave up by cold turkey. I found it very easy. From the moment I found out I was pregnant I just couldn't bring myself to draw on a cig. Both times my husband gave up for a few months but ended up going back to it.
The first time I went back to it I'd been to a wedding and had a lot to drink. The second time I went back to it was in the Summer at a BBQ after a couple of drinks.
I smoked between 10 and 15 a day (OH smoked about 20 a day). We smoked outside and never in the house.
We've been trying to give up since September. We managed about 3 weeks not long ago and we did it on patches. Then my OH had one here and there and that was us both back and hooked on it.
This time we're going cold turkey. I really believe I can give up as long as OH doesn't smoke. I have told him this in the hope that this might keep him off them. But I am fully aware that my giving up smoking is down to me only. It would just be so much easier if he stays off them too.
It's weird because (like last time) the first week or so we find fairly easy, it's a few weeks/months down the line that we start to have trouble. At the moment I don't think about it that much and haven't really had any very strong cravings. I just know that it'll be times like NYE after a couple of drinks.

FEE 100 - Well done for doing a year! I really hope I'll be in the same position this time next year.

jammy dodger - I will keep it in mind to come on here during wobbles. Well done for being back on the wagon.

Sorry it's such a long post.

Thanks


Claire

That's always been me 1st 6 mths = easy peasy...........after 1 year starting to get 'twitchy'..............after 2 years thinking about smoking more and more.....................

I AM NOT GOING TO SMOKE AGAIN............EVER!!! is my motto this time and at least I know I may feel like this, but I also know it will pass.

Posts tend to get missed sometimes when there are lots of posts, so have a look at my posts 4695, 4713 and 4715 especially the nicodemonlies link. May be of some help to you. Well done on your decision.

Have been fine after my couple of wobbly hormonal weeks!

Had 15" of snow and am effectively snowed in so it's soooooooooooo nice that I haven't got the 'How many fags have I got? How can I get some more? ETC ETC' stress!

Keep warm, well and happy everyone!

Sue-UU

dundeedoll wrote: »

Have been fine after my couple of wobbly hormonal weeks!

Had 15" of snow and am effectively snowed in so it's soooooooooooo nice that I haven't got the 'How many fags have I got? How can I get some more? ETC ETC' stress!

Keep warm, well and happy everyone!

Hi DD...it's ok I'm sane again now I'm back over here...tis the thoughts of all that cash pouring into post that does it.

You' said it all above, we women suffer a lot with hormones and it's those that affect us for a short while every now and again and make us fearful about continuing quitting even though normally we're perfectly ok. Ride the storm DD and blue clouds will always reappear. :A
Must go to bed, these threads are messing with my head.

Sue x

rmplc

Sue-UU wrote: »

If you're looking in Ross, yes we've had lots of the white stuff too and you must have as well!!! :j:j

Hi Sue yeah we got lots of it too ... which really !!!!!!ed my day up today as have been back and forwards to the vets with my poor lil dog, she has not been eating for a few days and is not herself and other symptoms, so its a good thing i stopped smoking as today has cost me over £90 (Vet is thinking it may be early stage Cancer of the Liver), with more to pay at vet tomorrow!!!!!!

If I still smoked im ashamed to say either my little girl would have been put to sleep without any of the treatment or I would have got into serious amounts of debt.

What money I had saved from non smoking has been put to good use in getting her seen to, my plans for an Ipad are on hold (those of us who are pet owners or have had pets will understand where I am coming from)

I hope everyone is getting along ok without the evil ciggies, and is well prepared for Crimbo at the end of the week??

Ross
xxx

dundeedoll_2

rmplc wrote: »

Hi Sue yeah we got lots of it too ... which really !!!!!!ed my day up today as have been back and forwards to the vets with my poor lil dog, she has not been eating for a few days and is not herself and other symptoms, so its a good thing i stopped smoking as today has cost me over £90 (Vet is thinking it may be early stage Cancer of the Liver), with more to pay at vet tomorrow!!!!!!

If I still smoked im ashamed to say either my little girl would have been put to sleep without any of the treatment or I would have got into serious amounts of debt.

What money I had saved from non smoking has been put to good use in getting her seen to, my plans for an Ipad are on hold (those of us who are pet owners or have had pets will understand where I am coming from)

I hope everyone is getting along ok without the evil ciggies, and is well prepared for Crimbo at the end of the week??

Ross
xxx

So sorry to hear about your dog, Ross. It's heartbreaking when you're told your pet has an illness. I do hope that she will be ok.
My thought are with you and Miss Mutt. DD x

MissGolightly

2 months 3 weeks - champix and crochet, then willpower and crochet!!

hello all, just checking in to let you know i'm still off them! have had quite a few times when i would normally be triggered (out for a drink or with certain people), but rather than craving, i've found myself thinking on the way home "oh, isn't that odd, i didn't even think about smoking" haha.

so far i have calculated i've saved around about £350! goodness knows where it's gone though, cause i've certainly seen none of it! haha. it's all disappeared with needing oil, and christmas pressies, but after christmas i'll get myself a nice new handbag as a treat for being off them 3 months.

so sorry to hear about your doggy ross, that's where some of my money saved has gone too, my little kitty was diagnosed with epilepsy, but took £100 to get there! don't worry yourself too much, my SIL has a 14 year old shar pei who was diagnosed with a particularly severe form of lung cancer 3 years ago, and she still thinks she's a pup to this day!

Sue-UU

itselliebell wrote: »

2 months 3 weeks - champix and crochet, then willpower and crochet!!

have had quite a few times when i would normally be triggered (out for a drink or with certain people), but rather than craving, i've found myself thinking on the way home "oh, isn't that odd, i didn't even think about smoking" haha.

so far i have calculated i've saved around about £350!

so sorry to hear about your doggy ross, that's where some of my money saved has gone too, my little kitty was diagnosed with epilepsy, but took £100 to get there!

You're doing wonderfully, itselliebell :T:T and your first paragraph says so much about what all of us feel after having quit. Keep the crocheting up, the willpower too - an excellent combination. What a price to find the epilepsy in your little kitty!!! :eek:

How great a Christmas present you, Ross, DD, Daz, Alan, jammy dodger, mustkeephoping, copperjar, Catherine and sooooo many others have given yourselves this year!!!!! :T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T You look forward to that handbag, itselliebell, you've earned it!!! Once Christmas is over why not get a pot, similar to one of the "sealed pots" like DD, larmy, Alan, Nige and I have and put your smoke spends in it and see what it nets you over the next year or until next Christmas. You could even join us on the "Sealed Pot Challenge 4" doing exactly what I've just written about, it's amazing what you can save during a year! Have a look here and see what you think.

Ross, I'm so sorry to hear about your little friend being so poorly, a very sad part of being a pet owner of all of us who share their love know so well. I hope your Vet's not right. We lost our dear Sally (a yellow Lab) in August, though she was 15 and had suffered very little until arthritis set in badly. We now have Jessie, a lovely black Lab and a little corker, nothing like our dear Sal, but we wouldn't want her to be anyway, they all have different traits which make them unique, just as you sweetheart is to you. Love her to bits is all I can suggest, Ross....not that you couldn't NOT do, but you know what I mean. Thank Heaven you gave up smoking when you did!!!

Take care everyone, keep safe, warm and happy in the knowledge that you're getting your health back....along with saving you cash!!:D

Sue x