Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I'm trying to quit. Or, I should say, I did quit (positive thinking here). I've been a smoker for almost 14 years, tried to quit once but went back.

I told DH yesterday that I was going to the drugstore for the patch and he said to pick him up one, too. We were both thinking of it at the same time, which I think is a good sign.

It's been 2 days; I just now tossed my last full, unopened pack down the garbage chute. It's just REALLY hard. I know with both of us, we may be able to talk each other out of going back, but I'm afraid that we'll be really irritable and not be so good together for a while.

Any words of wisdom or tricks of the trade would be most welcome.

TIA.

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

The first week is the hardest
Second week is still hell
third week it gets better.
You already got over the HUGEST hurdle...the first 24 hours! The crap is working its way out of you now.
In time it DOES get easier! I promise! I have been smoke free since 2/2005 and still e lieve it was a very good decision for me.
I joined a website called quitnet.com which gave me a tally of how many cigs I didn't smoke, how much money I saved and how much time I added to my life. I loved this website because it gave me some sort of concrete info that inspired me to move on.

Here are my most current stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 892 days, 7 hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 14277

Lifetime Saved: 3 months, 19 days, 1 hour

Money Saved: $2,500.40

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

i been trying to quit also. Its so hard everytime i have 1 dink i crave a cigrette then another then another.

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I totally did it one day at a time...I set no long term goals...just aimed at getting through the day.
Soon a week had passed, then two, etc.
I didn't use a patch or gum and haven't "smoked" in over ten years.
I have to be honest and say I've done a little "bar" smoking here and there, but I don't really count that cuz "with booze, there is smoke"

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

Posted by Gertyrae

I totally did it one day at a time...I set no long term goals...just aimed at getting through the day.
Soon a week had passed, then two, etc.
I didn't use a patch or gum and haven't "smoked" in over ten years.
I have to be honest and say I've done a little "bar" smoking here and there, but I don't really count that cuz "with booze, there is smoke"

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

It's very difficult and if you fall of the wagon, just try to get back on.
Good luck...I know how hard it is

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

None of my RL friends are smokers; it's nice to know I'm not alone.

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I smoked from age 13 to age 25. It has been 10 years since i picked up a cigarette.

It took me 8 times to finally quit. I had to stop hanging out at the bar with my friends and also drinking for a while. If I had a beer, I had to have a cigarette. Thats how it was for me.

The first 7 times I quit, I quit buying but I still smoked other peoples cigarettes.

The last time I quit, I quit cold turkey. It was so hard, especially after a big meal.

After two weeks I felt great. I could actually start to inhale and not hear that weird wheezing noise in my lungs anymore.

I still get a craving after Mcdonalds or some other type of fast food, but I will never smoke again.

Scott

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

Im 2 years smoke free. I was on the patch for 6 months when I quit. The biggest thing is mentally you really have to be ready. Once I decided I knew I could never smoke a butt again and I haven't. Believe it or not it was easier than I thought. Stick it out and it will get easier. I never thought I could do it but I did!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I'm a newly ex-smoker. July 23rd was 5 months smoke free.

I thought the first 24 hours were the HARDEST of all of them. Then it was just a matter of slightly changing my routine so I didn't think of the scheduled cig. breaks.

I quit cold turkey..and I think it was my 3rd attempt at quitting. Although the prior 2 attempts were really just a thought about quitting, not actually trying.

You are doing FANTASTIC! The fact you got through a day smoke free is a TREMENDOUS accomplishment. It means you are truly trying. One day at a time is the best goal to set for yourself.

Although it has only been 5 months for me I am confident in saying I will never go back. I can breathe again and it's the best feeling EVER! DH also helps a lot in the support center. He was never a smoker but he remembers the day I quit and whenever another month has gone by he will try do something a little special as recognition. And that is a great feeling, that someone is proud of me.

Just hang in there and FM me anytime you feel like you need a little extra support.

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I was a smoker for 10 years. I quit 6 years ago using the patch. The first week was the hardest. I stopped going to bars because I always smoked at them. I also didn't hang around with my smoking friends for a while.
Good luck- it's a very wise decision to quit!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

Posted by Gertyrae

I totally did it one day at a time...I set no long term goals...just aimed at getting through the day.
Soon a week had passed, then two, etc.
I didn't use a patch or gum and haven't "smoked" in over ten years.
I have to be honest and say I've done a little "bar" smoking here and there, but I don't really count that cuz "with booze, there is smoke"

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

This December I will be smoke free for 3 years, it does get easier. It doesn't seem like it now but it will. Everyday you don't smoke is another day you will feel proud of yourself and that's a good feeling. I still am proud of myself that I smoked for so long and don't anymore. You can do it!!!!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I used to smoke for 11 years. I decided to quit when I wanted to woo my DH (we were just vfriends at the time and he was a non-smoker).

It was really really tough, but the things that helped me most were:

1. taking up jogging and dancing (it made me realize the damage I'd done to my lungs and it was a good reminder that "my body is my temple"). I thought I was gonna die at first when I started jogging, but I felt like it really helped me clear out my lungs.

2. I always had lollypops with me - for me a big part of quitting was getting over the whole hand-to-mouth addiction as well. Lollypops were good for that.

Good luck and keep up the good work. It's so tough, but so rewarding! You're claiming your life back!!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I am also an ex-smoker. I had been cutting down because DH and I were TTC. I smoked my last cig on Jan 11, 2006. That was the day I got my BFP
I had tried a few times before that by using the gum. It worked for me until a friend left a pack of cigs at my apartment. I remember saying, what can one do
For me, obviously the life growing inside of me was what helped. Not to say I didn't get crazy cravings. I found that changing my routine really helped me. Since I wasn't drinking anyway, I didn't have that to pull me in either.
Since having DS almost 11 months ago, I have been tempted but haven't gone back. Mostly because I was BF the first 9 months and didn't want to pass that along to him. Since then, what has kept me smoke free is the memory of quitting. We want another baby (not yet but soon) and I just don't want to have to go through the quitting again.

DH is still a smoker

ETA: Congratulations! The first week was the hardest for me then it really only gets easier. When someone asks you about it, don't be afraid to tell them that everyone asking only makes it harder!

Message edited 8/7/2007 10:17:52 AM.

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

GET PREGNANT!!!!!!

That helped me quit

Seriously though, drink a lot of water, buy some sugarless gum and try to stop drinking for a while if it's a trigger for you, as it was for me.

I can't drink or smoke so it helps take the pressure off a little.

And if you have to be antisocial from your smoker friends for a while, then do that too.

Good Luck!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

i just want to give u hugs. I have been through it, it is not easy. but it gets easier every day!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I quit cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant...you can do it

I have had one or two cigarettes here and there since my DD was born but even those taste like crap

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I haven't smoked in 6 months. I quit cold turkey in January and then got pregnant in April, so that's all I needed to keep me straight.

I've quit 100 times though - each time it gets easier. I smoked for 14 years and then quit for a few years, but slowly creeped back...first social smoking, then a little more and then once a day and then finally back to where I started. It's hard, but you can do it if you keep focused. You have to treat cigarettes the way an alcoholic should treat alcohol - you can't even have that first drag because it's all downhill from there.

I found that the first 2 weeks were easiest because I was so conscious of NOT smoking - it was after that when I thought I had it under control that it would get the better of me.

Just remember that cravings pass in about 10 minutes and the more you ignore them, the fewer you get and the shorter they last. I'd stay away from drinking for a while because that brings on the strongest cravings. Thankfully you can't smoke in bars anymore.

Good luck! You can get through this!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

I smoked for 10 years and quit cold turkey when I started IVF. It was hard but I had my mind set that if I did happen to cheat and smoke after that I would just get back on the wagon. Don't beat yourself up too much...do it at your own pace. Before you realize it you will be one week then two weeks then a month free of smoking. Trust me it's been 6 months and I'm pregnant but I still miss it but that's OK and normal. Don't be too hard on yourself set your goals at your own pace and you will do it!!!!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

After the 4th day, all the nicotine is out of your system and you won't want to put any back in ever again so that helps alot. The one day at a time approach is definitely good.

Just be careful with quitting at the same time as your DH. Just as easily as you can support each and keep each other from relapsing, you can also talk yourselves into cheating.

Hang in there - you can do it!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

Here are my most current stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 892 days, 7 hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 14277

Lifetime Saved: 3 months, 19 days, 1 hour

Money Saved: $2,500.40



WOW! It is so unbelievable to think about it this way. DH just got an Rx for Chantix. I am he quits. I hate it.

Good Luck to all.

Message edited 8/7/2007 12:43:28 PM.

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

DH just quit using Chantix. It's a prescription drug to help you quit. If it worked on him, it can work on anyone!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

Re: Any ex-smokers here? Need support!!!

Wow. Thank you EVERYONE for your good wishes. Seeing neenie's post about 1 year made me go back & check this post - I haven't been on the computer since Monday because I tend to smoke when I'm here. Glad I checked though. Thanks so much! 4 days & counting...