Evil smoking habit

[bruceb58]

Have you started to realize how much you weren't tasting or smelling when you smoked yet? I sure am.

I hear that often from smokers that quit.

 

[Lil' Bone]

Where was god when you started?

He was there, waiting to be asked for help. ;-)

 

[Gyrene]

. I no longer view myself as a smoker, and I like the sound of that.

THAT is the key, I think. It is an attitude,

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

The biggest help that you can get is to be away from others while they smoke.

 

[greenbush future]

The biggest help that you can get is to be away from others while they smoke.

I agree with you to the extent that it would help by staying away from those who do, however my lady who I live with does smoke, first we tried to quit together, and when one fails the other joins in on failing. So I just decided that I am only in control of me, nothing else. And I also know I cant keep smoking, so I elected to quit, I'm also leading by example, and only be in control of me. I'll admit it's difficult, but in the end I must be strong enough to not smoke, regardless of the situation, and so far it's working. I just finished 30 days (using Chantix) with no cigs. I renewed the prescription, because I think many people have weak moments when they stop taking the medicine too soon. While it's expensive at $249.00 for 30 day supply, I figure it's worth every penny in the long run.
I've re-painted my entire house inside just to keep busy, and to remove all the smoke smell, cleaned the truck out really well too, and am now washing all my clothes, both summer and winter. I'm glad I don't smoke now, my lungs are feeling so much better than the wheezing and short breaths I was used to and called "normal".
I will slowly cut the Chantix medicine over this next 30 days and move on with my life as a non-smoker. Maybe one day Linda will quit too, but that is entirely up to her. I used to say I enjoy smoking, but when you really look at the habit, it controls so much of your life, you tend to forget how much time (and $) you actually allow it to control you. One day at a time is all I can do.

 

[jkust]

I've never smoked but our admin assistant does and continued to do so through her pregnancy and still continues. It must be a bear to quit if you won't do it while pregnant. I have a friend, a serial entrepreneur, who started an ecig manufacturing company and he made a bundle. When I hear of anybody quitting now I just think of how I missed out on the ecig run up.

 

[greenbush future]

I've never smoked but our admin assistant does and continued to do so through her pregnancy and still continues. It must be a bear to quit if you won't do it while pregnant. I have a friend, a serial entrepreneur, who started an ecig manufacturing company and he made a bundle. When I hear of anybody quitting now I just think of how I missed out on the ecig run up.

Some have said it is more difficult than hard drugs like heroin, from my reading, you are only technically addicted to nicotine for 72 hours. The rest is psychological. I can tell you I have quit at least a dozen times, and my only advise is to never just have one, again, ever! I am unable to have just one.

 

[rivermouse]

I had a cough and congestion and was determined to continue puffing anyway. after several days I felt so sick and had such a hard time just breathing it became clear that I had to pick smoking or breathing. I believe GOD let me get to that point......breathing clean air is nice.

 

[hungupthespikes]

"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times.”
Mark Twain

 

[rivermouse]

Where was god when you started?[/QUOTE I didnt need any help to get started. I did it great all by myself..I recall it was on the school smoking patio during my senior year of high school in 1968.

 

[DayCruiser]

Really is risky business to start taking mind altering drugs like Chantix. For some it works. For some it is the beginning of a nightmare. You can be replacing one problem for another one. People get so desperate that they are willing to try anything. Hard to watch your loved ones and friends slowly kill themselves by smoking, but I just can't recommend Chantix. You just never know how anyone will be effected by that drug until it is too late.
With all the information we have out there about how harmful smoking is, it is very hard to understand why people try that first cigarette. Just makes me mad to think about why. TV and Movies still make it seem cool to smoke. I believe this has a profound effect on children and teens, but to start smoking as an adult is beyond stupid. I am not saying you are stupid, but you really did something stupid. Like stepping in front of a moving train to see what it feels like.
Kids also want to be like mommy and daddy and smoke. Like a vicious cycle of death

 

[greenbush future]

Day Cruiser, your points are very sharp and correct, that drug Chantix is not for everyone, I feel very lucky that it doesn't affect me negatively. Linda is 100 lbs lighter than me and when she tried to use it (same dose) it really messed her stomach up. So I know first hand how it can affect others differently. I really hope she can quit smoking soon too, she has all kinds of stomach issue's which I'm convinced come from smoking and all the crap that cigarettes leave in your body.
Like I said earlier, you really do have to want to quit yourself, or it will never work.

 

[foodfisher]

If you don't mind, could you describe these issues? I may jump on the wagon if her issues are the same as mine.

 

[greenbush future]

If you don't mind, could you describe these issues? I may jump on the wagon if her issues are the same as mine.

Linda has constant heart burn and nausea, she cant eat immediately after waking up, she starts each day with an acid blocker, she is diagnosed with GERD, has had surgery on her esophagus to help stop acid reflex. Stomach issues plague her, and she struggles with many food types that the rest of us would have no issues with. When she tried Chantix I think the dosage was too high personally. I weigh 200 and she's about 110 and there was no difference in the scripts/dose. I have a strong feeling that less of the medicine would have helped her quit smoking but she had to stop taking the medicine because it caused her to have an upset stomach so much. You do HAVE to take this medicine with food and water(no exceptions).
I will offer that I did experience strange dreams, They were of sexual content just like the warnings suggest. That was weird, but not a show stopper for me, I do not currently experience these dreams, that occurred only the first time I tried to use and quit smoking. I also found that the medicine seemed to work the best, the first time I used it. The two other tries at quitting using the medicine was not as strong or effective, if that makes any sense.
I have now cut my dose in half, and will continue to do so every week till I'm off the medicine 100%. I feel great, and am thankful it's doing what it should. Good luck to anyone who tries to use it.

 

[Bubbasboat]

XXXXXX

 

[greenbush future]

Made it through the holidays and festive adult beverage drinking without a single smoke. Happy to report not one smoke since I decided to be a non-smoker. Cut the Chantix dose in 1/2 and will do that again on Friday. Should be done with quitting by August at this pace. But I think as Bubbasboat said, the crave never ends, they just become less and smaller. For me, I just wont ever have one for fun, because that leads to full time smoking!! Been there and done that!!