The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

EatingGlitter

Hiya everybody!
I'm in the process of quitting smoking. I had my last cigarette on Saturday night and haven't looked back since.

This is my third time of trying to quit and this time I'm using Champix and I have to say it's going really well. I've quit before with NRT patches etc but I always felt like my mind was so dominated by the nicotine it didn't really work. This time my skin has already perked up, I can smell and taste things like I can remember, my teeth are already whiter and according to my phone app I've already saved £34.11!

I've been very fortunate to do it just after I've moved house as well so I didn't get a chance to get into any bad habits (Sneaking outside for a ciggy etc).

I still have a packet with one left in up on a really high shelf. I'm not sure why I haven't thrown it but it seems to be half a blue blanket (comforter) and half to prove to myself wow! I haven't smoked that.

I've seen what happens when someone dies of smoking (My mum died three years ago from complications linked to COPD) and I wouldn't wish it on anybody. Soooo yeah! Here we go.

Btw when do you consider yourself a fully quit ex-smoker? Does it just happen from day one or is there like a period of time that is official? I already feel like an non-smoker i guess though

Sue-UU

A warm welcome to the thread, EatingGlitter! Very well done on having stopped smoking again. Champix gets some very good results so stick to it and never give into "ah, just one puff/fag won't hurt me" as you'll be back starting over again! So sorry to learn about you poor Mum, no doubt she'll be right behind you and urging you on to quit for good!

It seems that a full year is the best guide to consider yourself as having quit; that way it sees you through all the everyday and yearly events that you normally go through and it sounds ood to me. I've quit for over 12 years and have been thrilled to bits at having succeeded and know I'd never go back - not for anything!

You've done it before EG, so you KNOW you can get through it again, just beware to get through whatever it is that's made you go back to it again. If you can do that then you CAN make it!!!

Please read through the thread if you ever need motivation and take part in chat here, it not only helps you, but it's also a great help to others!

Never look back again EatingGlitter.

Sue xx

Hi Erme, you're so right, chemistry was never any good for me...I was and still am a biology person, as my DGS quite honestly said, you get to practice at that much more!!!! :rotfl:You should have heard his Sis roar with laughter at his gaff, poor lad. It would never have done for me to be into e-cigs, I'm still puzzled about which end to suck at...and yes, we're talking about the same thing, or at least.......!

Look after yourself Erme and keep counting the bits and bobs and don't suck the wrong thing! :shocked:

Sue with {{{Hugs}}} xx

kjsmith7

Welcome to you EatingGlitter! :-)

I'm now on Day 6, the SilkQuit program says I've saved £35.49!

I did crumble yesterday (Day 5, hardest day so far!) and had about two puffs on a cigarette. It was absolutely disgusting! I couldn't believe that I'd been smoking those cigarettes and they'd tasted fine!

I don't see it as a failure just a weak moment which has strengthened my resolve!!!!

Erme

Well sue LOL...today is a toughie...well thursday night was cos was so tired after being elated on the nicotine I got psychotic :eek:

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE NEWBIES...

I consider myself a non smoker after 5 weeks. I now consider myself a vaper..(as in water vapour which is what I exale when I use the e-cig)...

I already loathe how people will stand outside doorways etc puffing on their weed sticks when I know there's alternatives...

Well I visit my Ma on Monday and am so excited and nervous it's unreal...finally the legs have just about healed after pulling all those ligaments LOL...today is the first day without strong painkillers..

Worked out e-cig should cos me about £10 a week rather than £35 for cigs which is even cheaper than buying the patches .. But then I could get the patches on rx which would be free but they wouldn't be strong enough for me right now (not till I'm at least down to 10mg/ml if not less)...

It's working well on the reduced mg/ml which is surprising cos I thought it'd be really hard and it's really easy. I know 2mg/ml doesn't sound much but that's about 4mg off what I was absorbing at least. So yeah will do again next month..

Also got the bottles filled up and diluted with nicotine juice for the next two weeks. Surprised how barely messy it was .

Batteries came (thanks for anyone who prayed)......so that's that sorted. Have invested in really expensive batteries praying they last longer than the cheap ones but now I notice I'm not vaping them till they expire as I was with my first battery box (with the attachments for inhaling on the end) which had a light on it as the e-vap I got doesn't have a light but boy it's good and it was cheap (£17 ) - so cheap I got a spare - though different e-cigs take different kinds of atomizers/cartomisers/mouthpieces and the adapters I got for this one (you can get adapters for these things if this makes sense for most of them) don't fit so will have to order more when I put my order in for cartomizers (50) from china in a few days....

So yeah...I have an e-liquid calculator for my e-cig (tells me how much to dilute the stuff by that's flavourless) and a quit smoking calculator....The quit smoking calculator is at least £70 over (so right now is saying about £180 when I've actually saved £110 after cos of e-cig and cost of tobacco for my one whoopsie)..

Newbie who has her 'comfort blanket' - completely understand and don't beat yourself up over it. For me personally that didn't work. But I know when in remission about 15 years ago from self harm I would keep one packet of razor blades for months after I'd not self harmed for comfort so I completely get ya - hugs

Any news on Mum?

Hugs

E

Sue-UU

kjsmith7 wrote: »

I'm now on Day 6, the SilkQuit program says I've saved £35.49!

I did crumble yesterday (Day 5, hardest day so far!) and had about two puffs on a cigarette. It was absolutely disgusting!

How very, very fortunate you were, Kj, it could so easily have been your downfall, so be very thankful of the outcome.

Still, it's obviously onward and upward from here on and I'm so pleased you're seeing it as a blip. You've done exceptionally well this week Kj, stay strong and determined to give it your all and you'll get so much in return! Great work, be proud!

Hi Erme, I'm thrilled for you that you sound so elated at thoughts of your visit to your Mum on Tuesday, have a really lovely time Erme. I've just read about your ligament problems and I'm so pleased you're recovering; maybe you spoke about them when I was incapacitated with my hand, arm and shoulder injuries as I don't recall anything. The Dr just gave me the results of the scan on my shoulder and I have some torn ligaments..fuid too. I'm due for an op in October to manipulate my frozen shoulder. My hand's a little better, but still terribly hard to move. Let's hope we're both much better soon.

Very well done on your non-smoker status Erme, just a thought though....how about if you were to just inhale the water without the nicotine?!!!! :rotfl::rotfl:Have a great Sunday Erme.

{{{Hugs}}} Sue xx

djenks_2

Grrr.... I'm so cross with myself! I bought patches 2 weeks ago and they do work.

But.... I have still been giving in to the odd one or two ciggarettes, throwing away the packet till the next time!

I'm sure it's all in my head but how do I cope with those moments when I just want one? Tips well appreciated :-)

Sue-UU

Hi djenks and a warm welcome. Well, you've started and very well done to you. You know the patches are doing their job, but now you need to keep your mind focused onto other things as soon as you feel a weak moment coming on. Start or re-start a hobby or do anything you like that will help keep your mind trained to other things apart from those evil little sticks!

How about exercise, even if it's only a quick walk it'll take your mind away. Have a look through a photo album, a lover's letters anything! Look through this tread and read all the inspiring posts, many written by very successful quitters. You've said it yourself and it's true that a lot of it is indeed all in your head, but don't be too hard on yourself when you slip up, just promise yourself that you WILL stay stronger the next time it happens.

I'll send you a PM to read through, there are plenty of tips in there. Stay strong djenks and don't allow fags to run your life anymore! Use the thread to browse through or to give vent to your feelings, that's what it's here for...and whilst writing your feelings you're not pursued by evil thoughts!

Take heart and read through the quitters pledge below:

Tell yourself every morning "I'm not going to smoke at all today, but if I wish to, I may smoke tomorrow." Repeat that pledge every morning, it makes things more bearable to do it in bitesizes.

Sue x

Hi Brenda, I'm hoping you're looking in as well as looking ahead to Monday, to start the beginning of a whole fresh life; it's best viewed like that, much better than being too stressed as there's little point when you think about it. We're with you Brenda and many prayers, loving thoughts and well wishes are with you throughout.

You too take heart.

Sue xxx

drsmum

welcome to all the new non smokers,hope you soon start to enjoy your freedom from fags.read and use the tips in sue's pm as they really do help.

Been for my pre op tests today and am cleared for surgery on Monday,not looking forward to it but trying to be positive,Monday is the first day that I start fighting back:eek:
hope to post an update when im discharged after about 10 days

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS POSTED GOOD WISHES ,YOU HELP ME GET THE FIGHTING SPIRIT THAT IM GOING TO NEED

Brenda x

Sue-UU

It's so good to see you here again, Brenda. I was delighted to see you've been cleared for the op to go ahead! No one would or could look forward to the type of op you're having so no one would expect it of you. However, it's good to see you're hanging on to that positive attitude; keep a really tight hold of it Brenda, that fighting spirit too, and don't let either go no matter what!!

My friend, who had the whole thing done a few months ago is making great progress and I'm so thrilled for her!!! Please remember that and remain hopeful and positive throughout!! I'll be in touch before Monday.

God speed Brenda, you are in my thoughts so very much. All best wishes and we will all be looking forward to hearing from you just as soon as you're able to. Monday is the first day that you start fighting back, you're right, it will also be the first day of the rest of your life - without that unhealthy lung to drag you down!!!

Love, Sue xxx

Kiwisaver_2

drsmum wrote: »

hope to post an update when im discharged after about 10 days

Brenda x

Hoping to hear from you as soon as you are able Brenda, keep strong, get plenty of rest and take care.