I've GOT to give up smoking

ellie101

scottish_lassy wrote: »

Also, don't believe those who say you always have the cravings - you don't. I hardly think of cigs any more and I was a fervent smoker! There is life after smoking .... and more of it!

I agree with you on cravings, if you change your mindset to think like a non-smoker they disappear fairly quickly.

It did take me longer than a few days for them to go, probably the first couple of weeks that I had cravings after stopping after 20 years.

I think if you can accept that, and say "well, I'm a non-smoker now, but for the first bit I need to look after myself, then I'll be fine" that it helps. And finding what to do with my hands.. I realised down the pub that I'd sat and listened to so many boring conversations but not realised as I'd been puffing away.. very bizarre.

But I did find there can be the odd moment (rare that this happened) where you think about having one after months of no cravings and I've learnt now to NEVER have the odd one.

Allen carrs' book stopped me for years, but I ignored the advice to stay totally away so started smoking again.

I got hypnotised to stop a bit ago, and the guy I saw was great. I felt like a non-smoker very quickly. However he also gave me techniques that I used throughout the first few days (I found doing these that the cravings went even quicker). Breathing exercises, fruit and juices for the first few days to keep my blood sugar stable, all really useful.

I'm sure NHS clinics will give advice like that too, on dealing with cravings when you first stop.

You can do this OP, it's amazing how much better you feel relatively quickly as well. Good luck.

Gillyx

If you don't want to go to the clinics, my local boots had a drop in thing and they give you 4 weeks NRT for the price of a prescription not sure if this is all Boots but my few local ones do it.

notechno

Once again, thanks for all your lovely replies

3 days in to not smoking. I can honestly say that it's not been anywhere near as bad as I'd feared. Stuck a patch on first thing Thurs morn. Not smoking at work was pretty much how I'd imagined, spend most of the time there not being able to smoke, so it's only been a case of doing something different on my breaks and I've cracked it.

The evenings at home are the worst. The patches are definitely taking all the physical cravings away, but it's the mental tugs. I can't believe how many times I subconsciously think "I'll go and have a smoke now" - literally dozens of times a day. And each time I have to tell my brain that I don't smoke any more.

My family are dead chuffed, and that's really spurred me on. And today I went off to my Mum's, but on the way there remembered that I hadn't even put my patch on :eek:
But I was fine, did stick one on as soon as I got home tho, didn't want to risk falling by the wayside

Anyway, as I keep saying, you've all been really kind and helpful. But I'm not a special case, and some of you have already pointed me in the direction of the stopping smoking thread which is already well established. There are lots of people on there attempting exactly what I'm doing, so I won't continue boring you on here. But maybe I'll see some of you over there. Thanks again everyone xxxx :T

ailuro2

Fantastic news, well done notechno!:j

Come back and resurrect the thread from time to time, tell us how you're doing?:D

davr_2

Tried patches, gum and Champix and failed with all. Even tried cold turkey, much to my wife's displeasure. Electronic cigarette worked for me and I've not had a real cigarette for over a year. I've tried a few, and prefer the VIP E-Cig. It's probably saved me about £1000 so far and I don't stink like a walking ashtray, so that's a bonus.

If you consider e-cigs the best advice I can give is firstly, don't sign up for any trial offers or monthly contracts! Don't expect miracles overnight. Give it at least a month while you adjust.

suki1964

Lifesaver wrote: »

It hasn't actually, as per the Smoking Cessation Nurse, it takes away the cravings without any effort from the smoker, when they stop the tablets they invariably start smoking again.
The best success rates are with patches and inhalaters.

I dont know anyone that has sucessfully stopped for a prolonged period following the cessation of Champix.

I stopped 12 months ago with patches and inhalaters - but, God, I could murder a fag!

And heres another one whos been nearly four years smoke free after taking champix

As for the nurse saying theres no effort on behalf of the smoker - tosh. Champix isnt the nicest drug in the world to take and believe me, you have to be as committed to quitting as you would need to be using any other method. What Champix does is turns you off nicotine. By day four of taking them you just cant even stand the sniff of a ciggie so come day 7 you are actually looking forward to quitting at last. But the side effects for those first few weeks are horrendous and it really is a struggle to get by them - which is why so many people do fail on the champix

NRT is just delaying the inevitable - nicotine withdrawal

I cant stand the smell of ciggies now. I am so sensitive to the smell of it then when my boss had carried my wage packet in her handbag for two days - I could smell the stench on the notes. My grandson is put into a complete change of clothes as soon as he gets to my house and I make excuses not to visit with friends and family who still smoke in their homes.

Im the ex smoker from hell:eek: Someone I never wanted to be but believe me, the champix totally turned me from cigarettes and their stench

arunadasi

My son has just stopped smoking after reading the Allen Carr book. The empty feeling you speak of -- that just is not there. It's like a miracle!

Congratulations to everyone who have stopped! :T

Hard_up,_not_happy

My dad had a health scare a few years back. He use to smoke 60 a day. He tried alot of the things that have been suggested here but his will-power got the better of him each time.

Then his health really deteriorated and he was told if he didn't cut out the smoking it could see him off. Sorry to be so blunt, that is just how it was for my dad. This news, combined with the fact that he had just become a grandad kicked him into action. He went cold turkey and never touched another cig again. Was a flipping nightmare for my mum to live with, what with not smoking and being seriously ill, for a good few months.

He is now fully recovered, hasn't had a cig for 6 years and is fit and healthy and enjoying life. Good luck with the giving up smoking OP it is very hard but well worth it.

seven-day-weekend

I gave up smoking 20 years ago through prayer.

However I agree that this is not the way for everybody.;)

My husband's cousin gave up, in her 50s, with the help of some tablets from the Dr and a smoking clinic. She said you smoked for the first few days with the tablets, then I think she increased the dose and stopped.

My husband went cold turkey about seven years ago.

I think you have to find what works for you and stick with it.

I do agree with the people who say remove all smoking paraphenalia from the house and don't go to the shops where you used to buy your fix.

Good luck!

(Have a look at this chart:


2 to 4 weeks
Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.
21 days
Brain acetylcholine receptor counts up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.
2 weeks to 3 months
Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.
3 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.
1 to 9 months
Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.
1 year
Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.
5 to 15 years
Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.
10 years
Your risk of pancreatic cancer has declined to that of a never-smoker (2011 study).
Your risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus has now decreased.
13 years
Your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).
15 years
Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked.
20 years
Female excess risk of death from all smoking related causes, including lung disease and cancer, has now reduced to that of a never-smoker (2008 study).

arunadasi

Just wanted to say that my son is now in his 4th smokeless week, after reading Allan Carr's book, the Easy Way to stop Smoking. It's crazy, but that book really does work miracles. He smoked his last cigarette while reading it, like most people do.