The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

splishsplash

Evening everyone!

I passed my first smoke-free year last Wednesday, but the anniversary paled into insignificance because my elder daughter's Leaving Cert results were published on that day (her end of school exams).
Her results were fantastic, she got offered her first choice of college course this morning, so she will be fleeing the nest next Monday to embark on the next chapter in her life :eek: .

It's lovely to see all the new names joining up to the thread, I wish each one of you all the success in the world. Drsmum, I especially hope your recovery is progressing well and that you soon start to feel better.

It's also lovely to see Sue-UU and Dundeedoll still giving so freely of their time and wisdom to support everyone in their ongoing adjustments to being nicotine-free:T:T.

I hope your arm has improved Sue, and that you're taking care of yourself. Dundeedoll - congrats on a year free of nicotine! Oops, I mean a year and 22 days! I agree with you about the whyquit site, I was on it constantly for the first couple of weeks after stopping. I found it a very valuable resource. Just reading and re-reading the stories and information really helped to drill it into my head that there was no alternative to stopping and it really helped me.

I wish everyone continued success in becoming smoke-free:beer:.

Sue-UU

ixia wrote: »

I am slinking back in to join up again for attempt number 3, third time lucky I hope

I am going to re-read Sue's e-mail, thanks Sue and get myself geared up.

Hello again ixia!! :wave:It really is so very good to see you back and ready to do it again. I can understand what went wrong last time, but if anything like that ever happens again - remind yourself that a fag will never, ever fix things - it only makes you more stressful, honest. All the best with the patches as I think that with champix, you either love or loathe them due to the nausea.

Ok then ixia, you've got a long way before....keep it going this time and don't allow anything to stop you - and NEVER give in to thoughts of "just one puff/cig" it never works like that. Keep focused on the great things in your life. All the best!!

Sue xx


A very warm welcome to the thread, warez22, it's always wonderful to welcome a hopeful quitter on. Great news that you're doing the couch to 5k program on the NHS as exercise really helps when quitting as it gets the endorphins going and helps you feel much better about yourself, and more importantly, about stopping to! Be careful not to do too much too quick! Have a look at the Quitters Pledge below, it might just be helpful to you.

Quitters Pledge: 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 tricks your mind and makes things more bearable to do it in bitesizes.

All the very best warez and I'm hoping you're having a much better night's sleep. If sleeplessness persists try some "Kalms" from your Pharmacist, they'll help you. A warm bath/shower is always beneficial and along with a milky drink also relax us.

All very best wishes for you!

Sue xx

Hi Erme, chin up and push forward. Look forward to another visit with them soon. So good to see your Sis was a lot kinder to you this time, no that HAS to be good!!!

Oh dear Ali, what a day! Ahh those terrible 2 times eh :rotfl: Bless her, she didn't know what she was doing would mean so much to you, it might help in future though. Cats! They're taboo in our house as we love birds and have..........9 of the little b****rs right next door!!!! :mad: Not to worry though Ali as you have such a lot to be thrilled about - you're doing terrifically so always be proud no matter what life flings at you. Keep hard at it.

Hi there splishsplash and so very many congratulations on having passed that 1st year - you have now QUIT after a year of everyday life!!!! :T:T:j:T:T It's great when our youngsters get the results they needed, but I can really sympathise with your feelings of your DD's fleeing of the nest. Don't fret too much though as it's not quite so bad once they actually go, as with many things, it's that in between part that's the worse.

The hand/arm/shoulder's not going too badly thanks splishsplash, I have an op for the shoulder in October and they're hoping that it might also allow the hand to straighten and bend more. Still, it could have been worse...at least I can walk!

Thanks so much for coming and telling us of your great success splishsplash, you did brilliantly!!!

Sue xx

Best wishes to everyone fighting their way through this incredible journey, it'll happen and than after you've got to your goal you'll be amazed at how quickly it went and how much better you feel without the weed. Stay strong and busy!

Sue x

Erme

alibob_1986 wrote: »

god, another testing day for me!!
Well if you remember I said I was knitting something for my DD? Well the "little darling" got hold of it today and pulled all my stitches off the needle. Bearing in mind it's my first attempt at anything and it was nearly 12 inches long (like 2.5 weeks work!!!) I was just slightly furious!!!! Poor thing did get a ticking off, but she was being a little terror, I said put that back in the bag and she looked at me, shook her head and pulled it all off. Little sh....horror!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!!! so picked up as many stitches as I could and taking it to good old mumma bears, see if she can repair the damage! But oh my word, I was fuming. Then I felt awful for shouting at the littlun so calmed down and we had seen a load of birds outside and could hear tweeting so gave her a big cuddle and said come on, lets go find the birdies. So stood at the back door and realised the tweeting was coming from inside my house, turned round and the cat was sitting in the corner with a poor little bird! Grabbed the cat, who wasn't best pleased at all, shut her upstairs and picked the bird up and put it outside. It's gone now, so I hope it was only shaken up and will be ok bless it. However, tempting as it was, I am pleased to say I am still smoke free ....just!!!!! couldn't even find my nicotine inhaler tho so got through that one cold turkey. Still feeling a bit edgy but over the worst. bloody cats...bloody kids lol

Och sounds a nightmare of a day :eek:...poor you hun..Hugs...

warez22 wrote: »

Hi all,

This is my second day. I am sort of thinking I can do it which I have never felt before.

I have the podcasts - am on week one atm and think the music on it is pretty fab - it kept me going put it that way.

Am aching really bad today so definitely need a couple of days rest before I go again.

But trying to get to sleep last night - NIGHTMARE. Took ages to get to sleep, woke up every hour until I got up. I am hoping that when I get to sleep tonight my nicotine receptors will sort have dulled a bit from last night.

Good luck to everybody and it sounds like everyone is doing really well, with every possible situation thrown at you. Birds, knitting, kids, cats. If you can deal with that fag free then you are away.

x

Yeah lack of sleep is a common thing with quitting...I didn't have a fab night's sleep either (only 6 hours) though think that is partially the reduction in nighttime meds...

Just ordered more cartomisers - £34.:eek:...but now have enough for the next 6 weeks :j...so no more next month Bet they've gone up in price next time...Order them from china..they're just hardware ...

Next month though I think I have to order liquid and batteries...so like that'll be that.. ...praise God for my savings pots just for these things ...Put £30 every two weeks in it ...Covers e-cig stuff just nicely

So yeah I'm now over 2 days on the e-cig...yesterday was hard but I was determined not to smoke...

E

kahunababy

Good Morning All,

Is it ok if I join? I haven't given up just yet but I have set a date (this Saturday) and I am determined to do it this time.

I have tried to give up before using various methods but always seem to get sucked back in within a relativity short space of time (longest I have gone is about 8 months when I was pregnant). I have loads of different methods including patches and champix but never managed to kick it properly so this time I am just going to go for it and do it cold turkey (never tried that before!).

I have made a list of all the reasons why I want to stop and I am planning on using that when the going gets rough. I must admit money is a big motivation for me along with my kids. I am ashamed to say that I have passed up playing with my kids because I was having a fag and I really don't want to do that anymore. There has been time when they have asked me for something (a drink, help with homework etc) and I have asked them to wait for 5 mins because I was having a ciggie. God that makes me sound like such a bad mother. My husband has never smoked so he doesn't really understand the pull it has on you.

I have just realised I have been a smoker longer than I have been a non smoker!!!!! I started smoking when I was 13 (disgusting I know) and I am now 31 which means I have been smoking for 18 years (*hangs head in shame). My eldest is 7 and the thought of him lighting up in 6 years time absolutely terrifies me. I have to stop, for the sake of my kids, my health and my purse.

I have chosen a Saturday to give up due to everyone in my work place (there is only 5 of us in my office) are smokers! I always seem to smoke more in work and it is more of a social thing than anything else. As it's the Bank Holiday weekend (& I have Tue off too) I will have 4 days under my belt before being back at work and everyone tells me the first 3 days are the hardest so fingers crossed. I am slightly worried about putting weight on (already slightly overweight) but my work place has a free gym so I have booked my induction and I am due to start next week. There is classes of a lunchtime so I am hoping that will help keep my weight even.

Anyway, thats enough from me. Hope you are all well and enjoying your smoke free lives that little bit more. Any tips you lot are willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Take care and I will drop by during the week.

xKBx

Kiwisaver_2

splishsplash wrote: »

I passed my first smoke-free year last Wednesday,

Congratulations Splishsplash on making it one whole yeat, well done you. :T

kahunababy wrote: »

Good Morning All,

Is it ok if I join? I haven't given up just yet but I have set a date (this Saturday) and I am determined to do it this time

Welcome Kahunababy you've come to the right place for sure. You sound most determined and well prepared, I am looking forward to hearing how you get on.

Voyager0001

Hi all
I have been reading this board for quite a while and it has given me a lot of inspiration to succeed with my quit.
I gave up smoking in January this year with the aid of Champix from my GP. I am still not smoking and have been off the pills for a good few months now. I used to smoke about 10 a day - sometimes more of a weekend if I was out having a drink. I definitely feel much better for it both in my health and in my purse!
My d/h has smoked fairly heavily for about 40 years and he gave up with Champix and managed to stay stopped for over 5 months.
But he just couldn't get over the fact that "something was missing" from his life and much to my disappointment he has gone back to smoking this week.:(
To say that I am gutted is an understatement! He has been told by his docs that he has mild COPD and even this hasn't put him off!
I know I can't tell him what to do and it is his life to do with as he pleases, but I am so disappointed I could cry
I am concerned for his health and so are the rest of the family.
Any words of wisdom would be gratefully received.
Thanks. X

Sue-UU

A very warm welcome aboard, kahunababy. Don't be too hard on yourself as you sound just like the me I used to be before I quit, a bad Mother didn't even enter it, I must have been positively evil at times......all due to being hooked on blasted fags!!:mad: You've done the right thing in listing the reasons why you want to quit, the main ones being for the sake of your kids, your health and your purse, but the first 2 are the greatest ones to focus on as money can't buy health for them or you!

You've chosen the best time to stop, the best means too, to my mind, as it takes the nicotine out of the body so swiftly in 3 days, it may sound daft but I felt so much cleaner as a result. Ok, your weaker times are at work, so in future stay in when the puffers go out and have yourself a magazine or something to focus on so you don't think of them - though they may soon be envying you anyway! A great idea to take advantage of your firm's free gym too, you'll soon find how you're benefitting from that as you clear your system out and can breathe esier without choking with rusty lungs etc.

The weight won't be a great issue.....so long as you don't pick the wrong things to snack on; always go for carrots, celery (already prepared to nibble on), apples, oranges and any other fruit too. How about a small amount of nuts too and another healthy and long-lasting fller is Ice Pole/Pops! You can buy them cheaper in boxes in the super market, all ready to freeze. Another thing to help is putting a bit of toothpaste on your tongue and swirling it around your mouth...lovely and minty - who could think dirty, smelly fags then!!!! Let your 7 yr old remember how his Mum turned her life around - for her and her kiddies!!! Kiddies do recall things like that and what a loving memory to give him. One day at a time, KB and have a look at the Quitter's Pledge above and mentally recite that every day or as often as you wish - and ask your DH for his love and supprt, even if he doesn't understand I'm sure he'll back you all the way. Keep in touch KB please. I wish you all that you need to do this - NOW.

All very best wishes,

Sue xx


Voyager, you are most welcome to join us, it's a pleasure to have people who come here for the purpose of trying to help themselves and their loved ones, so please always feel welcome. I hope that having written what you have will perhaps help you feel a little better, at least I dearly hope so as my heart goes out to you.

Firstly many congratulations to you on not having smoked since January!!!!! :T:T:T:T That is a very long time and a really massive achievement, hang on to that first and foremost and please Voyager, whatever happens.....do as you're doing now and keep free from cigarettes! I think you will anyway as you realise all too well the consequences of not doing.

There's still a lot of hope for your DH, Voyager as I would imagine it's early days since he had the news about his COPD. Give it time to sink in fully and he may think it all out and just change his mind and stop again, especially if you hold strong and he reminds himself of the change in you from being a smoker to someone who is getting her health back on track.

I can truly understand exactly what he means when he talks about "something was missing" from his life. I gave up smoking 12 years ago and for a good while that is exactly what I used to think and it's something that I always address in my PM's (one of which I'll send you). In short though, when we stop smoking we go through a "grieving process" that happens to a lot of us. We really shouldn't be too surprised though as smoking has been a big part of our lives, little wonder that when it goes we feel we've lost something...a 'friend'?....but that friend is no good to us whatsoever! :mad: Yet somehow we've always thought we couldn't handle stress without it or make a phone call or....a host of daily habitual times we've leaned on it for. If he talks to you about it again please let him know that it is not just him, and that the further he gets away from smoking the less he'll have those feelings, and when they do come they last less and less and only last a few fleeting seconds. Encourage him to take up something he loves so he can distract himself straight away! If he can ride the temporary storm and get past that time then, I can promise you, he'll never be worried by it half as much again...until one day he realises, just as I did, that they've gone and never blight our lies again!!! It's such a huge relief, and I promise you that's exactly how it was me and I'm thrilled to bits that I stopped. Try to help him realise that really, he's giving nothing up, in fact he's gaining so much more in place.

Don't give up hope Voyager and give him all the love and support you possibly can. Time is a wonderful thing and so much is possible, if we just be patient for the right time to come. I truly hope that when he fully realises the full consequences of COPD, he'll be wanting to join you again in a far better life!

Love to you both, Sue xxx


Still thinking of you so much dear Brenda and so hoping everything is going well for you and that your recovery will be a wonderful one.


Stay strong folks and YES you CAN do it!!!

Sue x

Voyager0001

[QUOTE=Sue-UU;46315221
There's still a lot of hope for your DH, Voyager as I would imagine it's early days since he had the news about his COPD. Give it time to sink in fully and he may think it all out and just change his mind and stop again, especially if you hold strong and he reminds himself of the change in you from being a smoker to someone who is getting her health back on track.

Don't give up hope Voyager and give him all the love and support you possibly can. Time is a wonderful thing and so much is possible, if we just be patient for the right time to come. I truly hope that when he fully realises the full consequences of COPD, he'll be wanting to join you again in a far better life!

Love to you both, Sue xxx

Sue x[/QUOTE]

Thank you for your kind words Sue I really appreciate your taking the time to reply to me.
I agree with everything you say but my DH is not the easiest person to persuade! Once he has made his mind up about something no matter what anyone says to him won't make a blind bit of difference. In fact the more people go on about it, the more determined he will be to do the opposite!
I have tried to learn over the years not to say anything at all (although it is VERY difficult at times!) and to watch him smoking again after he was doing to brilliantly really breaks my heart
In fact I did say to him today that he doesn't "look right" smoking now as he had been quit for quite a while.
As for me, I would really like to think that I have conquered it for good although I am only too aware that an ex-smoker is only a puff away from being a smoker again!
Thank you again. X

ixia

Thanks Sue for the welcome back and everyone else.

Well I survived the first day need to keep myself busy tonight and that will be another day under my belt.

was going to go for a walk later but it is raining so I might just read a book and relax once I've done my usual stuff.

Sue-UU

Voyager0001 wrote: »

I would really like to think that I have conquered it for good although I am only too aware that an ex-smoker is only a puff away from being a smoker again!
Thank you again. X

I was so sorry to read about you DH, Voyager, though sadly, he's the only who's able to help himself - IF and when he chooses! Still,I think I'd have to keep hoping that something...anything....might just change his mind.

Re your words quoted above: Although that's how you might feel right now (and it is still relatively early days), I honestly disagree that all us ex-smokers remain just 1 puff/fag away from being slaves to it again. They turn me off completely and have done for years. I know full well that I would never smoke again and boy am I thrilled about that!!! :j

IF you allow it to take you over again then I'd be so very sad, especially after all you're going through with your DH, but personally......I think you're too wise for that after all this time.

Please prove the months you've had free aren't all to be in vain and please don't weaken your resolve due to your DH, you're too good for that!!!

Be strong! If weight is an issue, take on more exercise and burn the calories off, anything rather than risk your health too!!! Please take a look a few pages back to the posts of "drsmum" and see the health problems she's just endured due to fags. Look forward to being a year free in January, Voyager and continue on your great journey as your name would suggest.

All best wishes,

Sue xx


Great news ixia, you've done so well so far and are making the right decisions re the walk (apart from the rain!) and nestling down with a book; both are great ways to take you away from yourself.

Stay focused and stay strong...you're on that jourey of a lifetime remember - the one that's for LIFE - YOURS!!!!! You CAN do it.

Sue x