I've quit...again

[jeanniebug]

Well, I'm going on day 3 of no cigarettes. It hasn't been too hard so far, because on Sunday night I came down with a really nasty flu bug. Went to the doctor yesterday and had a fever of 102.3. So, I haven't really wanted to smoke yet. However, I tossed all my cigs and ashtray, and figured this would be a perfect time to try and quit again. (While I'm already sweating the fever out...might as well jump in with both feet!) I smoked very light..2-3 cigarettes per day for the past 2 years. However, I've smoked in general for about (yikes..) 15-17 years, if you include sneaking a smoke with the girls in high school now and then. Even though I have been a light smoker the past couple of years, it is still really hard for me to give them up. Where I used to keep my pack of cigs, in a drawer in the kitchen, I filled the space with tons of bubble gum. I also printed out some statistics on smoking that hit home with me, cut them out, and put them in the drawer to keep me motivated. And, I changed my little "smoking area" on the balcony around and tossed the ashtray. I never smoked inside so at least that won't be tempting. Just thought I would share....this is attempt number....uh..I lost count! ;) Hopefully it will stick this time. I'm pretty sure my bladder will love me for it. :)

[MelissaJ]

Congratulations! I hope you stick it out.
Myself, I am cutting down slowly. Down from 12 a day to 8. I just pick one and every two weeks I cut that one out.
It's definitely not easy, but they say the worst is the first three days, and you just have to make it a little longer!
:woohoo:

[Babs RN]

Jeannie,
You go girl, I am sooooo proud of you. I hope you're feeling better and will call ya later.


TTFN,
Barb :woohoo:

[rhea]

:woohoo: You go Jeanniebug!! I quit cold turkey 2 months ago. There are days I am craving bad, but mostly I just keep thinking about how bad it is for my poor bladder and I just ask myself, do you really want to make it worse? :loco: Keep up the good work and know that there are others out there that understand!

[jeanniebug]

Thanks for the encouragement. :) The last cigarette I had smoked, tasted really nasty to me. I know now it was because I was getting sick, because it hit me within an hour when I got sick. But I think it helps that the last cigarette I had tasted so gross. If it had been a better experience, maybe it would be even harder, who knows. All the times I've quit before, I've always had my ceremonial last cigarette before quit time. This time I thought, what the heck, I'll remember my "last" cig as really disguisting and see what happens. I am not using any patches or nicotine gum. I've had about 3 really intense cravings tonight. Even though I'm really congested from the flu, I could have smoked a cigarette as long as California. :bonk: Each time it hits, I make myself breath in and out deeply (like when I used to smoke), and wait 15 minutes. I find it's usually passed by then. I guess it's true what they say...one hour at a time till it gets better. Thanks again for the support. :grouphug:

[Sherry5]

I am very impressed! Smoking is so emotional, as well as physical. I quit smoking more than 9 years ago, and I still have dreams where I am "allowed " to smoke one cigarette. I have always had those dreams, and when I am stressed they come more often. It sounds like you are well on your way to kicking the emotional/habitual side of it, and when you do, the physical side comes more easily. Congratulations :woohoo: and keep up the good work! I don't even know how many times I tried to quit before it actually took. You are one step closer!

[Trishie]

:woohoo: Jeanniebug:
It is really hard to quit those nasty things isn't it?
I haven't had one in 2 days. Have a terrible sinus infection (that I think is because I started smoking more - you see I seem to be a habitual quitter! LOL)
Right now I have no desire to have one - nose hurts to bad
Hang in there.

[jeanniebug]

(((Sherry))) It's interesting that you posted about the dream..because last night, I dreamed I smoked a cigarette! I woke up kind of freaked out because I wanted one so bad. :dizzy: However, I am giving the reward center of my brain some good lectures, (MANY lectures, I've had several really intense cravings tonight..it SUCKS!) and telling it where to go, :rant: and to quit trying to trick me into thinking a cigarette would be a good thing. I've never had "talks" with my reward center before, sometimes I do this out loud (not in public though) :biglaugh: ..and as nuts as it sounds, it actually works pretty well! (((Trishie))) Hang in there! They say after 3 days, the nicotine is out of your system, so the rest is all about the psychological withdrawels. (Not to downplay the psych withdrawels..they are a @#$*% too!) However, I'm thinking this time around, I can beat them into submission, instead of the other way around, for once. :) If any ex-smokers are reading this have had alot of pain relief from quitting smoking, I would love to hear about it. I'm hoping this will help my pain level.

[Trying2Cope]

I quit cold turkey a few months ago. Can't say I've really craved one since then. The stabbing bladder pains were a pretty good motivating factor to quit. I was never a heavy smoker (2-3 a day) so that helps. My mom and uncle also had lung cancer (and survived) so I figure I'm genetically predisposed to get that if I keep smoking. It is just NOT worth it.

[dragonfly7412]

Hi!
I am so glad you have decided to try and quit! :woohoo:
I have not had any pain relief to tell you about, but I do have a quick story to share that may make you feel better!
As I have posted in the Just Venting section, my boyfriend broke his foot over a week ago so I have had to stay there and help him since then :dizzy:
until last night when I stayed at my own place. (he hates smoking so I didn't smoke for a whole week! :) )
I have heard that even after a few days some of your senses begin returning/changing and I can tell you this is true! I woke up last night at around 2:30 and I could not figure out why (I didn't even have to pee!) and then I realized it was this terrible stench of cigarettes everywhere! I am not making this up or exaggerating. I don't even smoke that much (maybe 5/day) but it made me feel sick! It was on my comforter, and pillow (I had never noticed it before)! I was so grossed out I changed my sheets and threw my comforter in the hall! I don't know if you have experienced this, but it made me realize what I must smell like to other people, and it is sick!
This morning when I was getting ready for work, I could smell it on my jacket and gloves and it has really made me think about quitting for real this time.
Maybe you have already noticed this for yourself, but it really opened my eyes!
Good luck quitting and to all who are trying to kick this habit! :)
Caroline

[ICNDonna]

I haven't smoked for over twenty years now, but I still remember how bad other smokers smelled to me after that first week! I ended up replacing all of my curtains and even the carpet in my living room to get rid of the smell.

I told myself when I quit that if I could make it for four days, I could make it for the rest of my life. It wasn't easy, but definitely worth it!

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[MelissaJ]

Well, with all this talk about quitting, I think I'd better give it another try! :)

[jeanniebug]

UPDATE: Last night my cravings were sooo bad....it lasted several hours and I couldn't talk myself out of it! It was horrible! Nothing I did was destracting me from the cravings. The palms of my hands were sweating and my skin felt prickly. But guess what..I got through it and STILL HAVEN'T SMOKED!!!! :woohoo: I felt like such a "junkie" last night.....ugh! For now my hands are not sweating anymore. Whew.

[rhea]

:woohoo: Yea Jeanniebug!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB!! Quitting smoking cold turkey is like anything else. There are going to be good and bad days...if you can keep "holding it together" when the need hits you can do this!! What I used to do is just get my dog and go out and walk. It helped get my mind off of it...Good luck, and we are right here with you. Also, think of how grateful you bladder is you are doing this.

[ICnIL]

They call the first week after you quit, h*ll week, and thats EXACTLY what it is too. Your body pretty much FREAKS out and goes through chemical withdrawls like any other drug/medication your body is used to. It's all downhill from here girl, you can do it! Just think back through this last week and ask yourself if you want to go through that again? If you give in and light up you have to start all over and I dunno about you but I NEVER want to go through that week again. Be strong and you will win! We're all here to stand by you and support you!