The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Sue-UU

spicyprawn wrote: »

Thanks for your comments peeps. Still no desire to smoke, can't really describe what I mean in the following but I am sure some or all of you know what I mean....

It is night time, kids are in bed and I can't help but think I would like to just smoke (still no desire) just for something to do! I'm finding that a bit weird hehe.

I am finding it hard to convince him its OK though he has this little guilty look when he lights up.

Getting closer to Saturday! Not feeling so bad about it now, more positive

Hi again spiceyprawn,

Have a read through the PM I've sent and take note of the 'missing friend' part, that affected me a lot after stopping smoking though I didn't realise exactly what it was til a good while after.

Try hard to pick up an old hobby after the kiddies have gone to bed or think of a new one to start up. You need something challenging to do so it takes up your concentration. The trouble is that we've been so linked into fags being part of all we do; the day time ones we didn't take much notice of as it's part of the daily routine. Night time was always known to be the time to relax....need I say more! So, find something good (plenty of scope there!!! ) to put your mind to (body too maybe).

If it's possible and safe then a quick walk round the block would help, but only if it is safe! Exercise DVDs are good to work out with and will release the endorphins into the brain and make you feel food, but the main thing is a hobby; have a google and see what sparks your interest.

Re the 1st highlighted part, especially the part in red; are you sure your DH isn't guilty because he's smoking in the house???! Please, if he is ask him if he'd kindly have it at the back door or right outside, that way you'll all keep far healthier and he won't feel so guilty!

Re the part about Saturday - look forward to it by all means, just take it easy with the alcohol please as it's messed up many a new quitter!

With all you do, keep looking upon quitting as you not losing ou on anything, but gaining in every way possible. Be kind to yourself spicy and be smoke-free and so so proud o every step forward! :j

Sue x

OK Flis, I look forward to seeing it on your Title Bar tomorrow (or later today!) Have a really lovely evening with your friend, you'll have deserved it.

Sue x

jacci45

Well Ive done my first week...Yay!!:j:j:j

Cant sleep, think Ive got pre op nerves for Wednesday but am so happy that I will have a general anaesthetic as a non smoker.
My sense of smell is back with a vengeance, I can tell if someone has had a ciggie from a mile away and it smells DISGUSTING, now I never thought I would say that!!

Thanks for the advice Sue and thanks to all on here, it makes such a difference all being in the same boat.

Heres to the next week!!

Happy Friday all...

Sue-UU

That's absolutely fantastic news, Jacci!!!! :j:T:jTo reach that first week FREE from fags is a tremendous feeling and achievement, VERY well done indeed!!!!

Sue x

Money_maker

Have just read bits here and there on this thread. Have appointment with the nurse on tuesday about stopping. Inspired by a customer who has stopped after over 20 years. She said it was so easy and has one of the little white plastic inhalery thingamabobs! Will be far from easy for me but having discovered our monthly spend on smokes, it's like a mortgage round our necks.

Haven't spoken to DH about this yet, thought I would get myself set up then speak to him afterwards. Hopefully I can ban him smoking anywhere near me (!) and he might think about stopping. Although we smoke similar quantities, I think he is slightly more dependant on them but listening to his breathing, I reckon they will probably kill him eventually if I can't persuade him to quit.

Will let you know how I get on, am hoping a little plastic whatsit (don't know anything about e-cigs/inhalers) will keep my hands occupied. So wish I hadn't started in the first place over 20 years ago as I know this will be hard to quit. So many reasons to stop, yet I sit here cramming as many in as I can at the moment! Wish me luck. Will also dig out my Alan Carr book I bought a few years ago but never took the plastic wrapping off.

flis21

Day 7 - smoke free!!! Patches and Inhalator

Morning all, Woohoo a week today (well tonight, technically) I quit smoking. i can't believe I've made it this far without even having a quick puff!! I think it is starting to get easier, my cravings weren't too bad when I woke up this morning, which is a first. I have relied so much on my first thing in the morning fag, it's amazing to realise that I can now do without it.

Moneymaker - It sounds like what you're talking about is an inhalator, I have one and it's fab, kills the nicotine craving as well as giving you something to relieve missing that hand to mouth action. I love mine. Took a couple of days to get used to the funny feeling it gave me at the back of my throat but now I'm amazed by it. Good luck with your quit journey and keep posting on here, it really does help. Oh and download the silk quit thing (am sure Sue will give you the link). I love reading my stats, particularly how much money I've saved!! (£27.35 at the moment!)

Good luck to all the other quitters today,
Flis xx

crazymum_2

Morning everyone - very pleased to say that I am still smoke free.

Small error this morning - sat outside with my OH who was having a cigarette - without thinking he passed it to me, it took a couple of seconds before we both realised I was sat there holding a cigarette....luckily I hadn't taken a drag.

So pleased to have got through the morning without smoking - it was actually easier than I had thought it would be. Flis - it is my favourite one of the day too, so a small milestone to have got passed that one. Well done by the way - 1 week is brilliant :T.

It is still the forgetting that drives me mad. All the time I have little thoughts eg 'Children all off to school, get home, chill, cuppa and a fag....' and then I remember there's no smoking now.

Sue - thankyou so much for being so welcoming and such lovely and helpful PMs - helping me to stay strong.

jacflash

Yay! At midnight tonight I'll be three weeks smoke-free :j

Soooooo pleased, 21 days is a significant point for me as a milestone in establishing a new habit. It's definitely getting easier and various niggles that I had in the first few weeks are either gone or are settling down. I've used the sticker chart from the Quit Kit and have found it great - love giving myself a sticker each day, and seeing a visual representation of my progress/journey has been great. I have it on my fridge door so it is very visible and there for all to see!

I'm using one inhalator cartridge a day now, down from two (occasionally three in the first week). Am pleased with that as I don't want to replace one addiction with another.

For various reasons it has been a tough week in terms of life, stress and whatnot. Teenage daughter had a meltdown on Tuesday and said some things that really hurt, I've had PMT and been feeling a bit overwhelmed at times but I can honestly say I haven't felt the desire to smoke. The thought has crossed my mind that I would ordinarily be lighting up as a response to such upset/stress, but haven't felt even remotely tempted.

Well done all those who are becoming smoke-free or about to start the process. We can do this :T

Lotus-eater

Money_maker wrote: »

Will let you know how I get on, am hoping a little plastic whatsit (don't know anything about e-cigs/inhalers) will keep my hands occupied.

Have a go with your little plastic cig, if it doesn't work consider an e-cig.

They work very well because you still have the hand to mouth action and the feeling of smoking, while you're not actually smoking.

Most people start off with one that looks like a cigarette, because that's what their brain needs, you need the assimilation with cigarettes for it to work I think.

You can get disposable ones from many places now, which might be worth a go, to see if it does anything for you, before spending any more money.

My first kit was a cigarette sized model, but it was slightly more advanced than the very basic ones, as I was able to refill it with my own choice of flavour (e-juice). Which I found very useful, as I thought I would like the tobacco flavours, but I very quickly went off them and went to a maple like flavour.

It does still give you nicotine, which is very similar to the patches and sprays, but where as the NRT has something like a 3% success rate I believe, e-cigs in a test had a 50% success rate in hardened smokers who didn't even want to give up.
And it's been the same in anecdotal evidence I've seen.

Yes you might be swapping one habit for another and ideally we'd all like to stop completely, but you're getting none of the crap you get from fags, no carcinogens, no 3000 different chemicals, no smoke.

I'm available via PM for anyone who needs help re e-cigs.

daveys_2

HI Flis 21
You CM reading will vary quite a bit depending on your environment. I work in the city centre, and the cessation clinic I went to was the other side of a busy road from my office, and a few metres from the bus and rail station.

It was because of the amount CM that I was breathing in from other sources that I never blew less than 3 in all the time I attended. The staff at the clinics know what is a normal reading, because they are conducting these tests all day every day.

In other news, the money that I save from not smoking is back down to about £50. Last weekend my gf and I booked a holiday in Portugal. We’re going away for a week in may, and will be the first proper holiday I’ll have had in many years.

Keep up the good work everyone :grouphug:

ETA: Is it me or does the grouphug smilie look a bit 'wrong'?

Fundamental_2

Hi all

I'm really pleased for all the newer members joining to help get free - it really is encouraging that so many are resolved to not smoke any more.

My recent stats:

Two months, three weeks, two days, 15 hours, 41 minutes and 8 seconds. 1269 cigarettes not smoked, saving £422.21. Life saved: 4 days, 9 hours, 45 minutes.

Quite significant figures to be sure and they always make me feel better.

I am off out tonight with my brother and his friend; my daughter is out on a sleepover so I can have a late pass which is good. I have explained before that when I last visited my brother at New Year I found it difficult because somehow I always associate seeing him with smoking- weird but I managed to get through the night without having one.

Well tonight is completely different - I am actually looking forward to seeing them and again not smoking. I really seem to have turned a corner - when I am offered a cig I have a fleeting 'oh yes, I used to smoke' moment - but then, I get a real pleasure from saying 'no thanks, I don't smoke'.

I also have a confession - that inside I also get a real 'smug' feeling that I have managed to kick the habit but they are still hooked. It's not pity or an 'I'm better than you' type of thing - and I'm certainly not 'lording' it over them. I think I can describe it only that I have really accomplished something great - I feel like I have climbed Mount Everest and I am gazing at the wonderful view. Far from 'lording' it over all those below - I want them to succeed and join me at the top so they can enjoy the view and the immense feeling of joy too.

Come on everyone - you can do it!

Good luck

FDM

PS:

daveys wrote: »

Keep up the good work everyone :grouphug:

ETA: Is it me or does the grouphug smilie look a bit 'wrong'?

Agreed - it does look wrong!