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Post by abrakapokus on Mar 5, 2012 20:02:41 GMT -5
For all of us looking to quit smoking, to continue staying tobacco free or to support each other, here is the thread. Feel free to tell your story, your plan to quit, what reward your are going to give yourself, your triggers and of course successes!
I started smoking at age 17 (1995) because my then boyfriend smoked. I seriously quit for the first time the day I found out I was pregnant for my first son in 2004 and stayed quit until spring of 2010. Started smoking again because I was hanging around with old friends and I've always LOVED smoking. Quit again in October 2010 and started back Bonnaroo of last year.
The hardest part for me is when I get stressed out being able to go outside and sit on the porch away from the kids and the chaos and relax. The first inhale calms everything. It's the same for the first cigarette of the day with coffee. It's very much a ritual for me.
I have several reasons for quitting. The first is so I'm around for my kids and grandkids one day. I also recently started smoking here and there in the house and that is NOT okay. I don't want to sound or look older than I am. Also, it's so freaking expensive!!
Last Monday started to quit and held on by smoking an ecig now and then until I had a slip up on Thursday/Friday where I slipped up and smoked but after we got home from Atlanta I haven't had another one. I've taken a couple hits off of the ecig but I'm pretty much done with it all. The only time I hit the ecig is when I start to get shaky.
Once I quit for 6 weeks I'm buying myself a new hoop and I know once I'm 6 weeks out I'll be good not to smoke anytime soon. My only worry is when Bonnaroo comes again. I might actually plan to take some of the e-cigs with me just in case.
Post by Funky Munky on Mar 5, 2012 20:13:50 GMT -5
Great thread. I'll give you a little inspiration. I quite about ten years ago, it was my second time really trying. The first time lasted a year or so. I had been smoking two pacs of cowboy killers a day for about five or six years, a little less prior to that. I got pretty sick, nothing too serious, I had the flu, but it was pretty bad and lasted a little over a week. There was no way I could have smoked during that, I could barely stay awake. When I realized I hadn't smoked for a week I just gutted it out cold turkey. I had wanted to quit for some time but just couldn't take that first step. I'm 39 and went to the doctor today. EKG looked good, my blood work from last work looked good, I'm in pretty good shape. It's totally doable. There were lots of days that sucked, really sucked. I'd say that you can expect something like this scale over the next year from a cravings standpoint:
First Month - Really sucks, you'll think about smoking multiple times every single day. If you are drinking during the first month you will almost certainly smoke again.
60-90 Days - A bit easier, you'll think about it occasionally, I still wouldn't drink. You'll start thinking other people smoking is a bit gross even though you'll still have an occasional craving. Weird.
90-180 Days - Things really start to get a bit easier here. You can actually drink again without immediately wanting a grit. I had maybe a craving or two a every few weeks at worst. I'm sure this varies but I know that there are some real physical things changing at this point that make staying quit easier.
180-360 - You're nearly out of the woods. I still had a random craving even after a year but somewhere out there, maybe year four or five they just stopped. I never get them now. Good luck.
I "quit" back before my first Roo in 06... I was a pack a day smoker for 2 years prior, just up and quit. Every year since, however, Bonnaroo has become the one time of the year where I will buy a couple of packs of cigarettes and just not care for a weekend... I must have decent self control, because my smoking begins and ends at Bonnaroo, only cracking here and there (meaning maybe a handful of cigarettes a year outside of Roo) and having a smoke. Not what the thread's about, but just saying a weekend of enjoyment of the cancer sticks ain't too bad if you can control it.
I don't like Chantix for what it did to a friend of mine. While he probably shouldn't have tried it in the first place because of his mentality, it just made things so much worse. And he still smokes. The only difference is when he was on it, it led to about a year of unhappiness and mood stabilizing(sp?) medication.
I would never take that drug. I have no intention of quiting. But I don't smoke all that much. My husband and I can make a carton last us a few weeks. Sometimes a month. Sometimes less depending on how much wine I drink.
I've been a strictly "smoker only when drunk" for the last 15 years. When I don't drink I won't even want one. But the moment I have the first drink I will smoke anywhere from 4-20 in one night.
So while i consider myself a smoker. if I don't have any drinks for 6 days I won't smoke for 6 days. So I really don't need to quit anything.
On that note I think I will have a glass of wine and a cigarette.
Tomorrow is 1 month since "quitting". I say that loosely because there has been 4 nights that I have smoked while drinking. One of which was this past weekend with the OP in Atlanta lol. But thats still a hell of a lot better than a pack a day, and Ive yet to smoke at work in that month. And ive replaced all the times id go outside at work to smoke, with doing a walk around my office building instead.
Ive been about a pack a day smoker for the past 10 years and I can already tell major improvements in my breathing.
I am glad I do not smoke, cigarettes! When I was young, like 9 or 10, I tried to smoke my mom's butts, with my brother and cousin. They were nasty! Never had an urge after that.
I support you all in your journey!
If needed I will do this for you, If I see you at Roo smoking a cig, can I smack it away from you? We could do this and keep you safe at Roo from Cigs. Make it a support group and call it the Hit Patrol! Or if I see you lighting one or with a lit one, We get a free pass to pour, throw, dump water/drink on you and your cig. I would like to open everyone up to the 'Hit Patrol', open it up to ones who need, 'Hit patrol' support and to ones who want to give 'Hit Patrol' support.
This is the story of my life... I've done gum, patches, ecig and support. Still a pack a day Newport smoker for the past 5 years. Bonnaroo goal for the past 2 Roo's was to quit by the Festival. Hopefully this is the year...
02/08 Tool 02/11 Jeff Mangum 02/17 of Montreal 02/29 Blind Pilot 03/31 The Naked & The Famous 05/14 M83 and I Break Horses 05/19 Flaming Lips, Young the Giant, Dawes and AWOLNATION 06/07 Bonnaroo 2012!!! 06/13 Roger Waters 07/28 Toadies
IMO, Chantix is a bad idea. Honestly, most products meant to wean you off aren't that good... it's all in the head, self control. I've never seen any of these overpriced products work for anyone, outside of getting them off of smoke and onto the patch, or gum, or whatever other smokeless way you can get the nicotine. At the end of the day, you're still hooked on nicotine.
I'm not really worried about being hooked on nicotine since it in it's self really isn't that harmful and has a couple benefits.
No worries RDK, I was honestly shocked he tried that. I thought I was going to die seeing him with that cig in hand, something I thought I'd NEVER see!
I think I'll pass on your offer Scrog A glass of water might be refreshing to have poured on me but beer, nah.
WTG Phill on staying quit. I thought for a second you might pick some up on the way home. I can't tell a difference in my breathing yet but since quitting I've been coughing up a ton of nasty stuff bleh.
Goodluck Jm, this might be the year that you quit.
I'll partner up with Scrog for the hit patrol. I've head less than one cigarette in my life, so I cannot relate, but I'll TOTALLY support those of you making the effort to quit!!
Welcome back Bonz, but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal.
I have no intention of quiting. But I don't smoke all that much. So I really don't need to quit anything.
Look, I don't know you personally. I only met you briefly at Brunch, so I can assess your personality only from your posts. Maybe you are a genuinely awesome person, but that mentality is not. The "Oh, it's not that bad a habit" mentality KILLS smokers and KILLS their loved ones through second-hand smoke. That dismissive attitude is illogical. It's detrimental to YOUR health and the health of your children. It's unnecessarily reckless.
Anybody remember Christopher Reeve's wife, Dana? She died of lung cancer yet she NEVER SMOKED. She sang in smoke-filled bars. That exposure killed her and orphaned their two young children.
Hey, I'm a former smoker. I quit in 2008 after 15 years. I swore I would never start because I hated that both my parents smoked. But lo and behold, bar-hopping in college made me a "casual, only-when-I-drink" smoker. And that turned into a full-time, 1pk/day habit. So yeah, I know exactly where you are in your reasoning. You think it's no big deal to you now.
But it IS a big deal to your body.
And your children are watching you. They learn from your habits. My parents told me I shouldn't pick up the habit. Their words said that; their actions did not.
Smokers, find a reason to be healthy. Quit for your kids. Quit for your sex life (wheezing isn't sexy!) or for your wallet or for the live music you want to see, or for whatever reason is important to you. Better yet: QUIT BECAUSE YOU SMELL BAD. Seriously, smoking makes your hair, your clothes, your house, and your car stink.
Just please, PLEASE don't say (or think) that smoking is an acceptable, harmless habit that has no ill-effects on the body. It is harmful to you and those around you. I'm not trying to be preachy for no reason; I truly care about all of you. I want you dancing on the Farm every summer, not pushing up daisies or dragging around an oxygen tank. Good luck to all of you quitters. You CAN do this!
I'll take the Hit Patrol up on it's offer! Please, if any of you see me with a smoke at Roo do whatever you feel is necessary.
I had my first smoke when I was 12 and was smoking fairly regularly when I was 13. I'm 34 now so that makes 21 years of smoking, some of it pretty heavy. I have quit several times but I don't think I've ever made it more that 9 or 10 months before picking it back up. My last smoke was on January 25 so tomorrow makes 6 weeks smoke free. I used nicotine gum for about 10 days or so before I put that away. It's still hard but I've not caved yet and I don't think I'm going to this time.
Ever since I was a teenager my heart rate was on the high side. After I had my daughter I started having problems with chest pains, my heart racing and skipping beats. I finally caved and went to the ER when I was sure I was having a heart attack at 24. I was diagnosed with angina, tachycardia and a very severe case of premature ventricular contractions. I have been through 10+ EKGs, an echocardiogram, a stress test, and have done a holter monitor 3 different times. They could find no reason in particular for my problems, I just had a weak heart and the electrical system of my heart was out of whack. It was suggested to me that I was predisposed to it and my prior drug use really screwed my heart up and aged it 20 years or more.
I was prescribed Tenormin to help control my heart rate and rhythm, but refused to take it at first because I thought of it as something old people took. 5 days after I got that prescription I was sitting on the floor playing with my daughter when my heart just started fluttering. I tried to take a breath in, but it felt like no air was hitting my lungs. Numbness started crawling up my arms and legs and I felt like I could pass out. Suddenly it felt like I had been punched in the chest and everything started working again. It seriously couldn't have lasted more than 15 seconds, but it felt like so much longer. I made it to the ER and was told that I most likely went into ventricular fibrillation and was extremely lucky that it stopped on it's own. If it hadn't I would have died before and ambulance could have reached me. V-fib is more lethal than a-fib and not something you want to hear when talking to your doctor.
Since that day I have been taking Tenormin religiously, first at 50mg, then less than a year later at 100mg. I have been taking that dose for 9 years, with my resting heart rate still hovering between 80-90 bpm and with the occasional problem with PVCs. I have quit smoking before with little benefit to my heart rate and rhythm despite the medicine. But something is different this time. 3 days after I quit smoking my heart rate was averaging 45 and my bp was 95/60. I had to cut my medicine in half to keep from feeling lightheaded. The first 2 weeks I had a few more instances with PVCs, but now even that's back to normal. I feel 100 times better than I did 6 weeks ago, not only because of not smoking but because I don't have near the side effects from the medicine. My resting heart rate is currently bouncing between 50-65 and my bp is about 110/70. My hopes are to get insurance as soon as possible so I can get back to a cardiologist. I haven't seen one since the end of 2006 because I lost my health insurance in 2007 and haven't had any since (I've been managing through my family doctor). I'm hopeful that I may be able to come off of my medicine all together.
I don't want to go back to how I felt just 6 weeks ago. I know smoking will change everything back to the way it was. Plus, it's a nasty habit that's really hard on my lungs and bad for everyone around me. I want to be a better role model for my daughter too. I can't honestly tell her not to smoke if I'm doing it myself.
So yes, smack me upside the head or whatever else is needed if you see me with a smoke. Don't give me one, not even if I beg and plead with you. Remind me that I like feeling good and I can't do that while smoking.
If any of you quitters need any support or just feel the need to bitch and vent I'm here for you. I know I could use a little support now and then too.
Welcome back Bonz, but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal.
Okay, abra no beer, to be honest I was not going to waste a beer in an attempt to help you quit smoking anyways, but water on the other hand. I will make note to remind you if I see you smoking.
And Phi, I am happy to hear you have recognized the health problems of smoking, you are a grown man, so I will not smack a cig out of your mouth. but I will "hit' you up if I see one in your hands.
KK, V-fib is no joke! You need to see a cardiologist and do not smoke! So you have accepted help from the "Hit" patrol. We support you in your choice to achieve the goal of; Quit Smoking Cigarettes. We think you are making the right choice and will do what we can to help you achieve that goal(in a respectful manner of coarse . We better not see anybody giving KK a cig! Alright!
Posting here for two reasons. First off, to accept the challenge of the Hit Patrol. I know I will probably be hanging out with Scrog a good bit so you can attempt to keep me in check. Have yet to meet Bonnie, but if you wanna smack my smoke go for it I am also signing up the Lovely Popsicle Sarah for this at Roo. She isn't here, but I am sure she will find this soon enough
2nd - Bonnie, while us southerners typically do enjoy chewing on a piece of straw while playing in the local jug band with our overalls on, we also have drinking straws to chew on Get yo ass down here for a pool party and see for yourself
edit: 4 friggin posts are made while typing this, nice work
Hollis. That was a very heartfelt response. Thank you. I do absolutely agree with you about smoking in front children. It drives me nuts when my husband does it. Everything you said makes sense. I try my best not to be an idiot. Sometimes I stil am.
I'll see you at the brunch and probably won't be smoking. It's to crowded and I never smoke in crowded places. I'm afraid of burning someone and I don't like to be the person that makes everyone else uncomfortable.
Welcome back Bonz, but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal.