The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Catherine25

Hi everyone! Sorry I havnt been on in ages! Just wanted to say a big congrats to Dundeedoll! One year, that is fantastic!!!!:T:T:T

I am pleased to say I am still smoke free, nearly 9 months! However today is the first day in a long time that I have thought about smoking. I met my friend who quit around the same time as me and she is back smoking again, and is of course justifying all the reasons why she is smoking again which made me have slight pangs for a smoke. So I thought I would come on here again and read back through the posts. Im so glad I did, feel much more positive now.

Hope everyone is well!
Catherine xxx

Sue-UU

Catherine25 wrote: »

I am pleased to say I am still smoke free, nearly 9 months!

So I thought I would come on here again and read back through the posts. Im so glad I did, feel much more positive now.

Hi again Catherine :hello:it's wonderful to see you back! Very well done indeed on having quit for sooo very long!!! :T:T:T:T You've done so well and I'm really proud for you as I know you are.

It's no wonder you'd started thinking of smoking again after being with your friend. How sad to hear she succumbed to Nick's call again, I just hope she will soon pluck up the courage to do it again - and succeed!! Point her in the direction of the thread when she's ready, she doesn't need to come on if she'd rather not, reading the thread might be all she needs to keep her motivated.

Very well done for coming to read through and get your determination back, and many congratulations you've done just great!!! :jDon't forget to pay us a visit when your year goal arrives!

Take care.

Sue xx

Hi again Gina, well done on another day coped with! I can quite see your point with the means used, so long as you quit that's all that matters. Just a word of advice, why not read the PM now so you're prepared for dealing with any cravings.

All the best.

Sue xx

UnionGirl

1 Week, 10 hours - Cold Turkey

Just checking in to say that's the first week over and done with.

Looking forward to (hopefully) getting through many more weeks (and months) smoke-free!:)

djenks_2

I'm so cross with myself!!

I am using patches but am still cracking and having the odd one each day :-(

I'm not really sure how to sort this one out - I really want to stop and would normally have given up trying by now so am doing better.

How do I stop myself buying them?!

Sue-UU

UnionGirl that is BRILLIANT news!!!!! :T:T You've done amazingly and I'm chuffed to bits, bet you are too. So, that's 2 huge milestones in just one week! Ok, so move on now having that same daily goal and praise yourself at the end of each day...most important that. All the time though you gingerly have your eye on next Thursay.

Are you saving the money you'd normally have spent? If not - why not do so...it's a terrific incentive and is as much of an "come on...I can do this!" as leaving a dirty ashtray filled with old fag ends in water is able to be a "oh how disgusting" put-off. If that makes sense. Pop the money in a jar so you can see it then have something in mind to look ahead to buying and give yourself a real treat.

Be happy UnionGirl and be so proud!!! :j I am!

Sue x

djenks wrote:

I really want to stop and would normally have given up trying by now so am doing better.

Hey, come on djenks, I don't believe it's so bad as you think. Take the piece I've quoted from you above...to me that's something to be so very proud of as surely that alone IS success already! Maybe it's not fully stopping as you'd hoped, but I see it as you making ground and...succeeding slowly, but definitely succeeding all the same!!!

IF you've still got the PM I sent then read it again thoroughly if not daily to keep yourself reminded of the things you can do to help you out at critical times. That's what you need most right now - to focus on something to stop you getting any more.

Also try the following Quitters Pledge every day: (or as many times a day as you need)

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.

Always remember that choosing not to smoke is something you want to do and by not having them - it will not hurt you in any way! In fact the reverse is true as your health will start to pick up straight away.

You don't need those dirty, smelly, evil killers in your life - you have a far better life than fags offer - with them you may even destroy it!! You're better than that and YOU CAN BEAT IT!!!

You can get there djenks and I'll help you all I can. You can even imagine a mini me with you on your shoulder and twisting your ear IF you take one step towards a shop for the wrong reason!!! :mad: Or you can try imagining a dirty ashtray filled with old fag ends in water and stinking wicked!!!

Be kind to yourself, I'm very pleased with you, you be proud of any achievement and hold onto it.

Be strong!

Love, Sue xx

caracara

on day four will starting to bend ive tried so many times but thought id join this thread so try not to feel on my own

alibob_1986

I have given up a few times ranging from 1 day - 2 years but am determined to boot it for good now. I don't even really like smoking, feel like I want one but then halfway through think god this is making my chest feel like crap and it tastes miging but I have started the fag by then and feel like I'm wasting money by chucking them! Same as right now, really want to stop this minute but still have half a pack and don't want to "waste" them either! But once that packet is done that's me giving up then, it's just a waste of money and so bad for your health. PLus i have an operation in a couple of weeks that suggests you quit smoking before the anaesthetic and as I am pooping myself about the anesthetic as it is I def want to quit! Sooo just checking in for now but will be in for good sometime tomorrow

UnionGirl

1 Week 20mins short of 1 day

Thanks Sue. Yeah, I'm chuffed to bits with myself! Hope pride doesn't come before a fall though;)

I did get money out the atm today the amount I would have spent this week on cigarettes. I haven't got a clear jar though, I'll have to get something for that.

At the moment I am using an old empty tub of E45 cream which used to house the cat's drugs stash (catnip). Haven't got catnip just now so the money's being kept in there temporarily.

Thank you everyone for your support, it is well appreciated. :T

Sue-UU

Hello and a warm weclome aboard caracara and to alibob!

You'll get a lot of support and help here, caracara, also to you both, there are several people who have just started quitting so chuck the fags and be part of a group of people who know exactly what you're going through. Likewise, you too will be support for them!

Really concentrate on your health, alibob, by needing the operation this is a great chance to stop and STAY stopped for the good of health. Take note of the PM that I've sent as it says a lot about how quickly the chest can clear and will make a huge difference to the anaesthetic.

BOTH OF YOU please take note below:

Try the following Quitters Pledge every day: (or as many times a day as you need)

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.

Always remember that choosing not to smoke is something you want to do and by not having them - it will not hurt you in any way! In fact the reverse is true as your health will start to pick up straight away.

You don't need those dirty, smelly, evil killers in your life - you have a far better life than fags offer - with them you may even destroy it!! You're better than that and YOU CAN BEAT IT!!!

Come on back and ask any questions and tell us your feelings, it'll do you good.

All the best to you both and alibob - you could put the money saved on smoking into your Sealed Pot!!! See you over there!

Sue xx

Erme

UnionGirl wrote: »

Day 3 17 hrs 10mins

I have now officially passed the 72 hour mark and am nicotine free.

It hasn't been easy but it definitely hasn't been anywhere near as difficult as I thought.

A few cravings, but it was more the restlessness that bugged me. I'm breathing easier and deeper already and that keeps me from going to buy cigarettes when I do get a craving.

Have spent the weekend eating a lot of junk though lol. I'm lucky as I could be done with putting on some weight anyway so I'm not bothered about that.

Now that I've passed the 72 hour mark, what is the next milestone to reach?

Hope everyone else is doing well.:T

I thought it was 48 hours for the nicotine to get out of your body? Don't know...where did you get this piece of info from? (not having a go just curious)

djenks wrote: »

I'm so cross with myself!!

I am using patches but am still cracking and having the odd one each day :-(

I'm not really sure how to sort this one out - I really want to stop and would normally have given up trying by now so am doing better.

How do I stop myself buying them?!

It's simple....logic sounds like you need extra nicotine...unless it's the taste...

If it's extra nicotine you have various options....one of which is topping up with 1-2 (no more) cartridges in the inhalator...(your smoking cessation advisor should be able to help here)...if it's the taste try a dummy cig you can get from the chemist or online (crave away I think it's called?) - if it's just something in your mouth either or or a strong mint....

HUgs

Hope that helps

Another relapse for me this week with mega stress and tiredness (hence I haven't been posting )....however didn't repeat the mistake of 4-5 weeks ago where I went out and promptly bought a week's supply of tobacco. Know there's no point in doing that now.....

Was so sick I just wanted a smoke for comfort......daft as it sounds I thought it was the lesser of evils....can't say it helped but hey ho....Fortunately a really good nurse on the ward (I just phoned up) got me sorted and I saw my consultant yesterday and he says I can go on extra meds for anxiety till the crisis is over ....and when I finish with rehab and outreach team (they are the folk that started me on a recovery program. Anyone with MH probs seriously need to check out the W.R.A.P - wellness recovery action plan - mary ellen copeland - really good on self management) I'm not going to get a CPN .... just keep my enhanced access for crisis.....

My support worker says this is fab progress....it just seems natural to me...I mean - I've got a cpn (community nurse) but I've hardly seen her in months...she's there on paper and that's about it...and it's not like I've really needed her tbh...

So yeah...finances and the horrid taste dictate I'm now trying to get back on the e-cig....No rush to reduce from 28mg till I've gone at least a couple of months smoke free....no probs there.....

Pics of holiday are elsewhere on DFW Sue...a. pic of edinburgh castle; one of me in the mirror at easy tiny hotel (ma in the background was on the bed)......and one of litter (love taking pics of litter...portrait type stuff)...One of a pond snail taken with new camera and one thumbnail (cos I didn't want it copyrighted) of some leaf (fab shot...anyone who wants postcards of it let me know and I'll see what I can do) ...the last two taken down the Botanic Gardens about 2 miles away from me with with the delectable G

So now off to a charity to get some fabric (£1 a metre) for a new wardrobe...thought I could get pinafores on holiday...no joy so will try and make next week. Every woman needs two essential pieces of home equipment - a food processor and a sewing machine....

E