Quitting Smoking

[suki43]

Hi Guys,

I am desperate to quit smoking because I know it heightens my anxiety and I feel so much better on days that I don't smoke.

However, as soon as work is stressful, my urge to smoke gets too much. I long to be a non-smoker and would appreciate any advice, tips on offer.

I truly believe that quitting will give me a greater sense of control and improve my well-being, as well as the obvious health bens. I've also been told that my gums will become healthier after a while without smoking, which due to my current worry, gives me some hope and relief.

I can't believe I've fallen off  the wagon so quickly.I have my gum, which is OK and I prefer it to patches.
If anyone has any success stories, I am all ears!

Many thanks

Suki

[anxiousguy]

Hi Suki-

No success here....still at 3 packs a day, but i have been told of a process that is supposed to make it a little easier. I have yet to try it but my goal is to be smoke free by September this year. Here's how it goes:

Day 1: Smoke your normal amount and not throughout the day, but at the end of the day, count how many you have smoked.
Day 2: Smoke 1 less than the day before.
Day3: Smoke 2 less than the first day

So on and so on.
tix
I plan to try this method in conjunction with a med that my pulmonogist gave me called Chanix.    http://www.chantixhome.com/about_chantix.html


Good luck, and i hope you can do it!

T

[jcp]

Ok Suki, I  know how you feel about your gums and teeth, so I will tell ya, when I was a smoker and they measured the pockets in my gums I had 5's and 6's, which was not good, they had to do a deep cleaning which was uncomfortable and EXPENSIVE!  Then I quit smoking.  I went to the dentist Monday and had 2's, 3's and 4's!  Great gums. 
This is not meant to scare you or tell you that you have gum problems, only to give an example of what smoking can do to your mouth, not even bringing up what it does to the rest of your body.

Don't get me wrong I LOVED smoking, a nice smoke and a glass of wine!!!  But I quit after my doctor scared the heck out of me and made me quit and start exercising.  Its not easy at all, but I really think you can do it!

[kuteness82]

3 packs Anxious? Wow! My boyfriend smokes at least 2 packs a day  . I am trying to quit myself. I went through a Lymphoma phase and kept smoking like a total moron. I smoke like 5-6 cigarettes a day. But on weekends when I am out with friends and having a good time, I go threw a pack. I quit before for 1 year and I don't know why I got back to doing it again. It was a craving I guess. Last month I stopped for a week but was started to go through withdrawls and couldn't handle it. What I did before was quit cold turkey, it worked for a year, but didn't last. I hope to do the same thing again! It's hard though. Any other tips would be appreciated!

[anxiousguy]

Kuteness82-

Yeah, unfortunately! I have smoked on a regular daily basis for about 27 years now, and once during basic training i did quit for three months, but like you said, i'm a moron too and went right back like i never quit. I've tried gum, patches, commit lozenge things, cold turkey, wellbutrin, and my personal favorite....the stinky coffee can method!

But with my lung doc telling me if i continue at this pace within 12-15 years i will be getting a script for O2!!
And, the fact that my worst fear (C) actually runs in my family is also some motivation to quit. Some days i think well, my sister got sick with (C), my father, cousin and grandfater passed away because of it, and i have smoked 3 packs a day for 27 years!......It's too late for me......what's the point in quitting now?

[peanut]

anxiousguy,
Its never to late to quit....I have a fear of lung cancer, also a smoker and I was talking to my boss(a doctor) and he was telling me that after ten years your lung are that of a non smoker.  Ten years is a long time, but not to long. 

[Mikem]

As long as your body is still getting nicotine, it will still crave it. The chewing  gum thing just replaces one bad habbit with another. The best way to quit, is just to quit.. Just stop! Cold turkey! I haven't touched cigarettes for two years now.. You have to be motivated and have the highest degree of discipline... But honestly.. Think about.. .Slave to a $7 (NYC) cardboard box... Two of those a day, pretty expensive. One of my motivations was Lung Cancer. I've known five people who have died of Lung Cancer specfically, and two that are suffeing with COPD (which is non-reversible and progressive(in some cases)). Anyway.. If you're looking for some miracle stop smoking pill... There isn't one yet. The only thing stopping you from quitting, is you. It isn't easy.. But nothing that is worth doing is.

[anxiousguy]

Peanut-
I heard that a few years ago, but then someone told me that it wasn't true and the damage was permanant. But your friend is a doctor and should know the real answer, so maybe you have given me a little more encouragement!

Mikem-
Well said!  And all very true! Thanks!!

[ocdengineer]

Actually, your lungs and liver are two of the best organs at recovering from trauma, so if you quit drinking and smoking before permanant damage occurs then your liver and lungs will naturally over time slowly clean themselves up.  Of course, they will never be as great as they were before cigs and the drink, but they can effectively clean themselves out.  It is kinda like a dirty closet vs. a new one.  When you have a new closet there is no dust or dirt in it, but once a closet has been used for awhile, no matter how well you clean it, it won't be free of a little dust and dirt here and there, but it is definitely way better than a dirty closet.  LOL.  Crazy analogy I guess, but what the heck!

I quit.  It was very difficult, but I got through it and I am glad that I don't rely on nicotine anymore to get through my day.  I don't cough all the time and I notice that I have a lot more stamina which is nice.  I have also significantly decreased my chance of lung cancer.

Take care,
OE

[suki43]

Ok Suki, I  know how you feel about your gums and teeth, so I will tell ya, when I was a smoker and they measured the pockets in my gums I had 5's and 6's, which was not good, they had to do a deep cleaning which was uncomfortable and EXPENSIVE!  Then I quit smoking.  I went to the dentist Monday and had 2's, 3's and 4's!  Great gums. 
This is not meant to scare you or tell you that you have gum problems, only to give an example of what smoking can do to your mouth, not even bringing up what it does to the rest of your body.

Don't get me wrong I LOVED smoking, a nice smoke and a glass of wine!!!  But I quit after my doctor scared the heck out of me and made me quit and start exercising.  Its not easy at all, but I really think you can do it!

Hi jcp!

Thank you for your post. Does what you wrote mean, that your gums can kinda recover themselves? How long did it take?
I've heard that your gums can bleed a bit when you give up smoking because the blood flow has increased.

Many thanks

Suki

[jcp]

Totally, my gums recovered themselves because I quit smoking and because I started flossing religiously!  Now they are great!

[suki43]

Totally, my gums recovered themselves because I quit smoking and because I started flossing religiously!  Now they are great!

Hi jcp!

Thank you for your reply. I was a bit scared and have been inspecting the gums this afternoon!!!! Oh man..........big sighs, you know.....

Things could be so much worse, but my fear is signif. to me, you know.

I'm going on hols for 2 weeks on Sat, so I am going to use this hol to quit. The thing is, I work at home, alone, so my fags are always there for me, to relieve stress or reward myself with a success at work!
So if I cannot smoke while on holiday and get through those 2 weeks, may be coming back I'll think, I can't start again now!

I really don't wanna have to have a deep clean, root planing and God knows what! I'm a 33 yr old baby at the dentist. I've never had a cavity, just a lot of orthodontal treatment as a child.

Did you find your gums bled at all after quitting as the blood flow gets through to them? HOw long has it taken for your gums to look less receded?

Many thanks, jcp.

Had a dodgy afternoon anxiety wise!

Suki

[jcp]

Hmmm my gums were a lot better within a month or two actually.....but its been 3 years since I quit smoking.  My gums did not bleed after I quit smoking but I was never a heavy smoker, maybe one or two a day, unless I was out at a bar or coffee shop with friends, then I could go through many more! 

Deep cleanings suck!  They aren't that painful but mine cost me $500!!!!!  So not worth it.  You will feel so much better not smoking once you get past the hard part. 

Good idea leaving them at home when you go on vacation! 

[suki43]

Hmmm my gums were a lot better within a month or two actually.....but its been 3 years since I quit smoking.  My gums did not bleed after I quit smoking but I was never a heavy smoker, maybe one or two a day, unless I was out at a bar or coffee shop with friends, then I could go through many more! 

Deep cleanings suck!  They aren't that painful but mine cost me $500!!!!!  So not worth it.  You will feel so much better not smoking once you get past the hard part. 

Good idea leaving them at home when you go on vacation! 

Thank you jcp. I'll give it my best shot now to quit. I don't even enjoy smoking that much anymore.
I really don't wanna have a deep clean. It sounds invasive. What I would say is that during the 11 yrs I didn't see the dentist, I didn't floss reallyor use mouth wash. By some miracle I didn't need any fillings. I had slight gum inflamation at the very back, but for the last 2 yrs since my last visit I too have flossed daily and used mouth wash morning and night. I'm hoping logic wouldsay that things will be OK. The hygenist said I had some gum recession but I'm hoping that if I quit it will help that, as well as continuing to look after my teeth well. I guess I'm doing well at 33 without fillings, but it still doesn't stop my fixation with it.

Suki

[nikkid5]

i am trying to quit myself. i smoke about 2 packs a day, and it really sucks. it costs an arm and a leg too!! i got some info from the dr. and plan on trying to quit in the next week or so. they say you need a patch or meds, but i think i can maybe do it on my own.my kids yell at me all the time and tell me my lungs are going to turn black, i am hoping this is enough to keep me from smoking if i can. good luck. if i find anything to make it easier on myself i will let you know. i think i am going to cut up some raw veggies so if i get an urge i can munch and it will still be healthy.
nikki

[ocdengineer]

Do your best to quit.  It will definitely help you healthwise in the long run.  I quit almost two years ago, but I still fall off the wagon when I go out drinking.  I just lose my ability to stave off the cravings when I have a few drinks.  I rarely drink though anymore, so that isn't too big of a deal either, but I quit using the patch because it was too strong.  I used a quarter of the weakest patch for the first 4 days and then quit cold turkey.  It sucked for about two weeks, but it got better over time.

Good luck,
OE

[gloomy]

I now have 6 weeks of non smoking, and have never felt better, although I would be lying if I said I dont think about it.  I do think about it less and less though, and I am on nicotine replacement so that staves off any bad cravings.

[nikkid5]

well i have set a quit date for july 2nd.we'll see if i can do it.i called a quit line and they gave me some great ideas.hope i can do it.

[ocdengineer]

Keep it up guys!  You will feel better as a result.

[KevinMF]

i quit smoking gradually

i went from a pack a day to half a pack

then a quarter pack

then a couple a day

then just before i quit, i was taking a puff and putting the smoke out

now im smoke free

[terrymac]

hello, lets see   16 days no smokes,            chantix    for 8 days  thats it.  that is great stuff.