(OT) any ex smokers out there? How did you kick it?

PS-Being co2 retentive is what killed him...This almost killed me. Towards the end hospital bed and cpap machines in the house. Not to mention all the prescription medication that you've got to take. Don't mean to preach but I would not want to see another human being go thru this. The cigarette addition was so strong that he still smoked the first few years after diagnosis. I threatened to leave him because I could not bear it. Had good coverage along with the medicare. So I was lucky in that sense.

I wish you well and all the luck in the world. It's going to be tough..Tougher if you got alcohol in your system..Going to bars, sporting events and just hanging out with friends is a rough road. Ex-smokers here will be pulling for you. I was a moderate smoker. DH was 2.5 pacs a day. After seeing what he was going thru I quit. It's been 6 yrs now. I did cheat once in a while hanging with co-workers. Today, I can't stand the taste. Sorry didn't mean to double post. You will be fighting the urge for a long time. sincerely d

I have quit a few times...note, a few times means that serveral attempts failed. This time, I tried self hypnosis technique. SO far so good. I'm not really sure why its working, but for about 2 weeks, every time I would light up I would taunt myself about it. Tell myself how silly it was that some flaming stick of dried leaves was controlling me. Then, I got a wee bit of a cold...next day, lit cigarette, immediatley put it out cuz it didn't interest me. Haven't had one, nor wanted one since. Very strange to have no disire, but I'm not complaining. Good luck to you. I'll tell you what doesn't work...Pall Malls. I thought if I smiked nasty, non-filtered jobbies that I'd just get sick of it...wrong. Just makes you smoke nastier cigarettes. No offense if Pall Malls are your brand, worked for Sinatra.

piejam, that was an amazing post. Your experience is one that few of us know about, and more of us should. Let us know what we can do to help support your adventure with the woodstove and wood--it can be a great way to economize and to rebuild a sense of confidence and optimism. It's about 35 degrees outside right now, and I woke up to a house that's 70F. The kid is warm, the dog is warm, the cat was warm but she's outside hunting now. Time for us to rally and do, but that stove is a big part of what makes it work for our household. Welcome to the forum.

Hi
I went to a hypnosis seminar to quit.
First step and most important is to make the desission to stop smoking,this has to the first step.YTou can try anything but if you don't make the decission to quit none will be succesfull.
I smoked on and off since i was in school,got hard core after school and began working equipment,nightshift was a bear to deal with for me,i would have a smoke every 15 min just to stay awake.I was a pack a day more if i went to the bar.
I tried on and off to quit but allways found the smokes again.
Fast forward to the birth of my daughter,had decided i didn't want her growing up seeing her dad smoking.
That went well till a bad patch in my marriage,she started smoking during this patch and it was all the excuse i needed to start.Once life got evened out i remembered the reason i had quite before.
One of my mantras was i didn't want to pay some company to slowly kill me.
Good luck on quiting
Thomas

A good friend of mine once stated that smoking is about as useful as sticking a stick up your butt. Funny thing is, if some big cooperation could figure out how to make money on something like that, and market and advertise it in the right way, there are people out there stupid enough to do it. Especially if they could somehow make it addictive and get all the movie stars doing it.
I come from a big family of smokers. My parents both died from smoking and most of my living siblings have health problems related to smoking and will probably die early from it. My older brother recently had a massive stroke and will be a vegetable for the rest of his life (at least he can‘t smoke anymore), and my younger brother already has had two stents installed in his arteries to re-establish blood flow to his legs. Apparently they are already getting plugged because he refuses to quit smoking .

I recall the stupidest family get together I ever attended, it was when my Dad was dieing. The doctors at the hospital said there was nothing more they could do for him and said he might as well go home to die around family and friends. I visited him at his home and family from all over were there as well. It was like a attending a smoking convention, a huge billow of smoke came out the door as I walked in the house and I could hardly breath. Everyone was crowded in the house with a cigarette (or two) going and there through all the smoke, was my dad lying in bed dieing of lung cancer,,, from smoking. It was the last time I saw him, and it was a pitiful reminder of the effects of this stupid, stick up your butt, habit, and just how stupid people can be in regards to the consequences.

I ain’t gona wish the OP luck, cause luck ain’t got nothing to do with it. USE YOUR HEAD MAN !

Did I mention how stupid smoking is?


Btw good post piejam, my heart goes out to you.

Carbon_Liberator said:

A good friend of mine once stated that smoking is about as useful as sticking a stick up your butt. Funny thing is, if some big cooperation could figure out how to make money on something like that, and market and advertise it in the right way, there are people out there stupid enough to do it. Especially if they could somehow make it addictive and get all the movie stars doing it.

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Anyone else getting a visual on this? Imagining the Oscars in a whole new light . . .

Hi bfunk13

Glad I made you think. Does your wife smoke? My hubby could not quit due to my occasional smoking-so I had to join him in the fight. Happy I did. Air out your car. I used to smoke while driving. Do not be disappointed if you regress. Others posters have told you multiple attempts. Tell you what, you quit smoking and I'll try to move on with my life.

If you can't quit, buy term life insurance before you suffer any health problems. That move by husband enabled me to pay off my house and some change to start over. Posters here are correct in telling you to exercise. I gained about 20lbs, lost only half of it. Don't make your wife a weeping widow like me..A ghost of what I used to be.

I will be thinking of you. Hang in there.

Regards, d

ps-thank you all for your kind remarks -it does make a difference.

I tried the patch multiple times and it took me going exactly by the instructions to finally quit. I kept trying to cheat it by quitting the program early because they were expensive.

Hello

BG is right Bfunk. It was the photo of your children that rattled me. That's why I posted my story. Actually my husband survived the cancer. He was free of that devil for 12yrs. after his surgery. Cancer is not the only groan here. It's pulmonary disease(copd/emphysema) and due to chemo- the loss of your immunity system. Thank you all for your sorrow and my condolences to anyone who has suffered a loss due to these diseases.

If you stumble and fall there are people here to help support you. Keep your hands busy. Go chop or split wood anything. Your wife may think of something..lol

Wishing you continued success in your endeavors..

Congratulations on making it through the day. I know you can make it through the night. I am pulling for you.

bfunk13 said:

One thing that helped is when i got that craving i thought of an overflowing ashtray with a cig still burning down to the filter. How nasty that smells even to a smoker.

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That makes me want to quit all over again.

You're doing good. Keep us posted.

If it's any comfort, I think on those really tough days your body is detoxing. There's a lot of crap built up in your cells, and once you stop shoveling it in, they start shoveling it out. Big transition there, and physiologically, your body is telling you that you could return to the status quo and halt the discomfort of that process by having just one. And then you're back to square one. That's one of the reasons I recommend drinking a lot of water while you're going through this peak withdrawal time--it helps flush out that crap and eases the symptoms.

Checking out that "what happens to your body when you quit" timeline might be helpful.

Another thought that might help: consider what you would do to someone that you found trying to convince your sons to smoke. Does the thought make you angry? If yes, then go look in the mirror, because that's you if you go back to the habit--children of smokers are three times as likely to smoke as their smoke-free-families peers. You're their hero, and if you smoke, it must be okay.

And one other thought: tell yourself that you can have that cigarette if you really want it, but before you do, you need to sit down with your wife and discuss the qualities you hope she'll look for in the boys' stepfather and her new husband if you turn out to be one of the smokers who die from the habit. (I bet he'll be a non-smoker.) You look her in the eyes and say, "Honey, I love you and the kids, but not as much as I love my smokes, so we need to talk . . . "

Keep up the good work. Get through the first couple weeks and gets easier. You may have the craving for years, but it will get easier to resist over time. The longer you go, the stronger you will be.

i think a small cheer is in order...some positive re-enforcement stuff.....

bfunk, bfunk, he's our man, he can do it cuz he likes ham! (i dont actually know if you like ham, but it did rhyme).

bfunk13 said:

Thats some heavy S***.
But true and makes a guy think. One thing i never did smoke around my kids, never in the house or car.
I am there man, i am doing it this time.
Thanks for the support!

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It is heavy stuff. I'm body-slamming you, and I know it, and some folks might think poorly of me for it. They weren't there when I sat with his mother trying to pick out pictures for my friend's burial quilt, or lived with his coffin in the corner for days until he was ready for it. They weren't there when I was trying to come up with an answer for a sweet little four-year-old boy, son of another friend who died from being stupid, who said to me, "I'm tired of my daddy being dead. When's he going to stop being dead?" I think I've earned the right to be straight up with you, and if it can help keep you from driving off the cliff, then it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of me.

I had you pegged as someone who never smoked around the kids, but those kids look smart, and if you keep it up, they'll know you're a smoker by the time they're ready to choose. Even if you keep smoking, you'll probably live long enough to see that for yourself.

Remember, I'm just the one who's saying it. You're the one who's doing it if you decide to smoke.

And you are welcome.

I have skimmed threw most of the post so forgive me if I am repeating! My wife had a scare when she was 33 the doctor told her that see has the beginning of emphysema. Well she quite that day! 6 months later she went back for a follow up and asked the Dr. "How's the emphysema". The Doctor with a smile says what emphysema! My wife's father was a NYC transit cop and bag pipe player who got throat cancer (tracheotomy) (no more bag pipe)! I think the Dr. Did the right thing knowing the family! My father in law now teaches asaphagil speech and plays uilian pipes ( Irish pipes that use elbo bellows instead of blowing)! The important thing is many people on this forum that don't know you care enough to support you! It is a big deal to quit! Read these posts when you get a craving!

bfunk13 said:

Today was another tough day, but not "one".
My neighbor smokes Marlboro Reds like i did and he was out in the yard today. I would be lying if i said i didn't think about bumming just one.
But i did not. I think thats whats different this time, once i decided to quit i have not had ANY! In the past when trying to quit i would always have that one i bummed
or just buy a pack and have one when i really needed. Then bum a few more till i was back to buying a pack a day.

I have been keeping as busy as possible, not sitting around thinking how much this sucks.
I cut a load of firewood yesterday and split it today. Think tomorrow will take the family to the mountains for a drive to see the leaves turning, sure is pretty right now, hopefully get a chance to fly fish my favorite stream.

Thanks again for the posts, i am not kidding when i say this really helps! You guys are too cool!

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I quit cold turkey overnight 12 years ago. Mind over matter. Just said I was born not smoking, so I really didn't need to do it. Woke up the next day and never had any withdrawal at all. It was like I never smoked at all. Guess I was just ready to quit. Just think, now you'll live to see your kids grow up and hopefully they won't smoke either. Keep positive. Hey, think of all the money you'll have every month now. Great job! Oh and as corny as it sounds, I did make a pack with God months before, that if he made it easy for me to quit I'd never smoke again, and I haven't!