Ex-Smokers....Need Some Advice

me-n-my guys

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
1,009
Purraise
5
Location
Under the Radar
I am seriously considering quitting smoking & would like to hear some of your stories about what worked, or didn't work for you.
I've been a regular smoker for about 24 years now, & am at that age where a person starts to think about their mortality in general. Lung & heart problems run in our family. My smoking has been on the increase, my lungs feel heavy & sometimes hurt, it's affected my voice enough where I don't sing anymore like I used to, & I am just sick of it-I don't want to end up like my mother. But I am seriously hooked.
Has anyone used the nicotine gum? I've quit before with the patch & it worked, but my main problem is wanting to smoke when I am bored. Or sitting still-like when I'm on this computer, I smoke like a freight train.
Plus, I don't want to use the patch right now, it's summer & we go to the beach alot, I don't want little red squares all over my body..
Forget about cold turkey, I would be a mess. No way.
I'm not worried at all about gaining weight, but don't care much for candy & sweets, so that is probably out.
I've mentioned it to Mike, & if he doesn't quit, too, he will take his smoking outside, so that's a plus.
I guess I just started this thread to hear what experiences you guys have had with smoking, trying to get myself in the right mindset for it.
 

prissykitty

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 13, 2004
Messages
411
Purraise
1
Location
Newnan, GA
I would say to see your doctor and ask him what methods his patients had success with and go from there. There are so many gimmicks to stop smoking, around as many as there are to lose weight. There's no reason for you to waste money on something that doesn't work.

Also if you see your doctor he can tell you what is SAFE, that is always good to know.
 

kittylover4ever

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 10, 2004
Messages
21,696
Purraise
16
Location
Ohio
I wish you all the luck in the world. My mom quit cold turkey after she started coughing up blood 20 years ago, and Dad died of lung cancer in 2003. You can do it!!!!
 

rockcat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Messages
6,665
Purraise
18
Location
The Spacecoast
Cold turkey - 3 times.
I haven't smoked since January this time.I had the flu and felt so bad it made me want to quit again.
 

ollyextra05

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 14, 2005
Messages
2,520
Purraise
3
Location
The Windy City
I was never a very heavy smoker but I used to smoke socially--I would probably only smoke a pack every week, maybe two packs a week, but I found that avoiding the situations in which I smoked (bars, parties, etc.) or just not drinking at those events helped...I did this in conjunction with a weight loss kick, and managed to do both at once, which was a pretty good show of willpower on my part!

The pounds have unfortunately crept back on (4 years later) but the cigarettes are still gone!!
 

halfpint

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
8,565
Purraise
3
Location
Somewhere over the Rainbow
Originally Posted by Me-n-my guys

I am seriously considering quitting smoking & would like to hear some of your stories about what worked, or didn't work for you.
I've been a regular smoker for about 24 years now, & am at that age where a person starts to think about their mortality in general. Lung & heart problems run in our family. My smoking has been on the increase, my lungs feel heavy & sometimes hurt, it's affected my voice enough where I don't sing anymore like I used to, & I am just sick of it-I don't want to end up like my mother. But I am seriously hooked.
Has anyone used the nicotine gum? I've quit before with the patch & it worked, but my main problem is wanting to smoke when I am bored. Or sitting still-like when I'm on this computer, I smoke like a freight train.
Plus, I don't want to use the patch right now, it's summer & we go to the beach alot, I don't want little red squares all over my body..
Forget about cold turkey, I would be a mess. No way.
I'm not worried at all about gaining weight, but don't care much for candy & sweets, so that is probably out.
I've mentioned it to Mike, & if he doesn't quit, too, he will take his smoking outside, so that's a plus.
I guess I just started this thread to hear what experiences you guys have had with smoking, trying to get myself in the right mindset for it.
I don't want to ruin it for ya
I have tried 3 times, the patch, the pill, and the patch and the pill together big looser here
If you find something let me know PLEASE
 

miss mew

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
13,668
Purraise
36
Location
Canada
I quit smoking back in 1998 and haven't smoked since. I had only smoked for about 7 years but I was up to a pack and a half a day. I went on the patch and did the step down method..

21 mg: 2 weeks
14 mg: 2 weeks
7 mg: 2 weeks

I won't lie to you though, the 21 mg made me feel psyhically sick, I was vomitting and everything, but I figured instead of going off the patch I'd stick with it..and it worked. I had to still go through all the mental stuff though, the habit part of it. So, I ate twizzlers, nuts, carrots and celery...finger food..stuff like that.

Anyways, good luck!, I know you can do it..if you need an ex smoker buddy you can PM me!!
 

prissykitty

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 13, 2004
Messages
411
Purraise
1
Location
Newnan, GA
My friend Dorota in Poland is doing something very similar to Miss Mew. She used to smoke 2 packs a day. She is VERY gradually stepping down by like two cigarettes a week. She says it is working but on stressfull days she really misses those two extra ciagarettes.

Just think of how much money you'll save. I'm serious, do the math and figure how much extra that will be in your pocket every year : )
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

me-n-my guys

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
1,009
Purraise
5
Location
Under the Radar
Originally Posted by PrissyKitty

My friend Dorota in Poland is doing something very similar to Miss Mew. She used to smoke 2 packs a day. She is VERY gradually stepping down by like two cigarettes a week. She says it is working but on stressfull days she really misses those two extra ciagarettes.

Just think of how much money you'll save. I'm serious, do the math and figure how much extra that will be in your pocket every year : )
Judging by 1 1/2 packs a day, about 72 dollars every 2 weeks! (my pay period) At least!
Not to mention I would have to quit drinking beer, which really makes me want to smoke, & I will save a small fortune.
I know the patch can work for me if I stay occupied. Boredom is my worst enemy. So I'll have to reconsider dealing with the red squares & put together one helluva "things to do" list!
 

katl8e

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 21, 2002
Messages
12,622
Purraise
3
Location
Movin' on up!
Tried the patch and lasted 62 hrs. When I almost threw a cat, across the kitchen, my ex bought me a pack of cigarettes.

Was on Zyban for 2 months - might as well have used sugar pills.

After 33 years of smoking, I've said stuff it. I'm going to die as politically incorrect as I've lived: with a cigarette in one hand, Jack Daniels in the other, eating a steak, gun tucked into the belt of my fur coat


Seriously, though, good luck. Check the American Cancer Society and Lung Assocation's websites. They have programs to help stop smoking.
 

bigkittendaddy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 14, 2005
Messages
3,078
Purraise
2
Location
Medford, Oregon
I went Stone Cold Turkey on July 4 2000, well actually when I went to bed on the 3rd. It wasn't all that hard for me really. Yes I figited and moped and went thru the withdrawls and all of that but I really believe that you either really want to quit or you really don't. If you really do want to quit you can get through the withdrawls. Physically it only lasts 5 - 7 days. The mental part will take a bit longer though. I always kept the shell of a bic pen to fiddle with and suck on like it was a smoke. I highly recommend taking the ink & tip out first. I also hope you work in a smoke free atmosphere. Also you should not hang out with the people who smoke during your breaks, Monkey see, monkey do. When the urge hits you at home go out and take a really fast walk around the block, this also helps burn off any extra calories you might pick up. Stay out of bars for at least 6 months. For some reason after a couple of drinks it is really easy to forget you quit and to bum a smoke and light up. Find things to keep your mind occupied when the urge hits.
IN the end all I and really say is do whatever it takes to quit and make it stick. I smoked for 30 years 2 - 3 packs a day and suffer still because of it but if I hadn't quit when I did I either would be on one of thise oxy breather packs you see some people wearing or I might very well have died by now. The other great thing is at around $35 a carton w/a 2 carton a week habit I an saving between $ 3500 - $4000 a year an that aint chicken feed.
I wish you the best of luck and hope you have the strength to quit. If there is anything I can do to help just drop me a line.

Howard
 

catlover67

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
May 18, 2003
Messages
498
Purraise
1
I smoked for 10 years. I started when I was 20 and quit when I was 30. I did it cold turkey. I moved to Arizona and felt sick to my stomach, when I would take a cigarette break at work. I think smoking and inhaling some of the most polluted air in the nation, in God-awful scorching heat, did it for me. I just didn't want to feel ill every time I lit up outside. I quit in 1997. I very rarely will have the occassional cigarette when I go camping or go to a backyard BBQ. I have maybe 4 cigarettes a year if that.

I think it is more of a mind over matter thing. IF you really want to quit, nothing will stop you.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

me-n-my guys

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
1,009
Purraise
5
Location
Under the Radar
Howard,
I don't work in a smoke free atmosphere, BUT have my own enclosed work area-for the most part. unless I'm needed in other areas. There is also a good friend there who always picks on smokers & would offer some humorous encouragement!
I'm not worried about calories at all..if I gained 20 pounds I'd be thrilled, but that didn't happen the last time I quit. Dammit.
Staying away from bars is no problem, I drink at home, but drink too much..relaxation after work gone a little overboard.
My Mom has emphesema (did I spell that right) has had a quintuple bypass, & her life scares me. She has a major problem with depression & states that smoking cigarettes is her only pleasure! I think that's horrible, & want to stop a downward spiral to avoid being like that.
It would definitely be a major life change, though. For the best, but tough all the same.
 

cjandbilly

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,335
Purraise
1
Location
Floridian
The patches worked miracles for my mom... she quit smoking years ago... hasn't had a sinlge cigarette in over 7 years.

Good luck!
 

deb25

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
12,769
Purraise
5
The biggest factor is your desire to quit. My step mother tried hypnosis, and it worked for her. Both times I quit it was cold turkey. The first time didn't take, but the 2nd did. You have to also know yourself and the types of things that will trip you up. I have always had a big oral thing going on, so I find things like toothpicks helped me.
 
Top