Topic : Trying to Quit Smoking?

my husband and I are wanting to attempt stopping smoking.  My husband has emphyzema and bad heart problems as well as a pacemaker.  He is 59 and has smoked 43 years, I am 47 and have smoked off and on for 20 years.  I can quit at will but he has attempted just about everything twice.  The patch, 4 times, gum, inhalers, lozenges, scopalomine shots in the ear lobe, hypnosis. 

So far the only thing that helped were the lozenges, however, the expense is high.  Yeah, I know it's only about 1.5 times the cost of smoking, but somehow that fact doesn't seem to help.  I don't really know why I am doing this message board support thing, but like i said, we have tried just about everything twice. 

Wanting to quit is the first step to really being able to kick this ADDICTION to the curb!! I come and check this board every so often, but the unfortunate thing is that this board is really slow. There are times when no one posts a message for days and when you are trying to quit smoking, that is just unacceptable, you will need constant support. I signed up here on the 1st when I decided I was going to try and quit; I know how original, huh? Anyway, I got frustrated that no one was available here to respond when I needed some support, so I went searching for another support group and found a wonderful group of people at the WebMD Smoking Cessation Support Group that have helped me more than words can say. If you are looking for advice on how to go about quitting, the next thing you should do is set a quit date for some time in the NEAR future and throw away anything related to smoking cigarettes(Lighters, ashtrays, matches, ANYTHING related!!) the night before you quit and clean your smoking areas up really well because when an urge to smoke comes, those half-smoked cigarettes will be calling your name! I have been so desperate during my attempts to quit in the past, I picked up cigs off the ground on my back porch that weren't smoked down all the way and smoked those. I know how gross that sounds. i am embarressed to say it, but smokers are ADDICTS and will do anything to get a fix. Cigarettes really do change our thinking. You have to set up your environment for success. No secret stashes hidden somewhere "in case" it gets too hard because I promise that it will be hard, but I also promise that it gets better and easier everyday. This has to be your #1 priority!  We often say on the other board, you have to do WIT (whatever it takes) and WIN (whatever is neccessary) to become smoke-free. Don't be discouraged that you have tried many times before and haven't "succeeded" yet  because nicotine is such a powerful and addictive substance and sometimes it takes people a few tries and sometimes it takes dozens, but the only way you can fail is if you quit trying. It takes whatever it takes. I hope you come check us out over there and read some of the older posts too and find out what has and has not worked for others. Everyone is different and it takes what it takes. I have found this time around that support is crucial for keeping my quit. There are also resources listed to to help you gain some truth and knowledge about smoking. If you would rather stay on this board, I will support and encourage you any way I can, but just one person can only offer so much, you know what I mean? YOU CAN DO THIS!! By the way, my grandmother died at 56 from emphyzema. She continued smoking even while dragging around her oxygen tank. That just goes to show ya how powerful this drug is. It is tough, but it CAN BE DONE!!! Hope to hear from you soon and keep us updated on how you're doing. :-) 

~Amy~  Three weeks, six days, 10 hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds. 548 cigarettes not smoked, saving $100.95. Life saved: 1 day, 21 hours, 40 minutes.
 

Amy, 

This is the husband speaking.  Hey, thanks much for careing enough to read and reply to our first ever post to any board anywhere.  Yes this drug is the most powerfull of them all.  I know.  Believe me, I know.  I won't go into the other addictions I have already overcome, but this one seems to be beating me, SO FAR, but I haven't quit quitting yet.  No one knows better than me just what this drug will do to you.  No  one knows better than me how deadly this drug is.  No one knows better than me how powerfull this drug is.  No one has tried more things, more times than me.  No one has failed more than me.  No one knows more than me how terrible the death will be that is comming.  No one knows more than me that I know nothing about how to beat this thing.  I will not stop trying to stop.  Thanks for the encouragement.  

Bruce and Berni 

Bruce and Bernie - So glad to hear back from you!! Hope you'll consider checking out that other support group I mentioned. So ,are you taking any steps to quit right now? Have you set a quit date? This is definitely one of the hardest, if not thee hardest, addiction to overcome. I have overcome an addiction to crystal-meth and I thought that was hard, but I found that quitting smoking and keeping my quit is harder. I wonder if you felt like me and said, but this is all I have left? As long as you keep trying to quit, one of these times will be the right time for you! Keep updating me on your efforts! 

~Amy~  Four weeks, one day, 13 hours, 9 minutes and 44 seconds. 590 cigarettes not smoked, saving $108.74. Life saved: 2 days, 1 hour, 10 minutes.
 

Thats the question, isn't it?  Thanks for keeping in touch Amy, you're pushing us along.  I suppose I need pushing, but I sometimes respond badly.  No, we haven't set a date yet.  I'm  so tired of failing.  Sometimes I feel I'll just let it kill me, easier that way.  Yes, we did check out the site you told us about, as well as a couple of others.  This internet thing is brand new to us, we've only been on the net for a couple weeks, it sometimes is slow navigating, but we're coming up to speed.  Yeah, we were meth-heads too, at the last anyway.  But that was easy.  Don't even miss it, almost 7 years now.  Oh that it would be as easy with cigs.  Anyway, thanks.  Later 

  

Bruce and Berni 

Hello everyone if there is anyone here. My name is Ron Im 37. I am on my 8th day as an exsmoker. I have tried plenty of times before but only got 4 or 5 days before relapsing. I am so proud of myself for getting this far and really getting serious this time. If you want my advice its like riding a bike. You keep trying and trying until you finally do it. I tried and tried until I finally got real with myself about quitting. No one can talk you into it or tell you to do it except yourself. I am on the patch and it hasnt been too bad this time. Maybe I am in for a rude awakening but I just tell myself smoking is no longer an option. I have a long hard road ahead, ( been smoking for about 27 years) but wanting something more for my life is what I focus on. This is changing many parts of my life. I feel more confident and I feel I can accomplish other goals. Thank you Dr. Phil for all your awesome advice in the books. I think I have read Life Strategies 3 or 4 times. This guy is a genius. I just thought I would encourage someone else who might need it. Change is good.

thanks for the encouragement, were still working up to it, but I know we will begin soon, wishing you all the best , may God give you the strength you need

There you go.....VERY nice work.  We know that this is very hard to do but the most difficult part is over now.  The first three days are the worst.  And all the other times you had quit were only practice runs.  Keep going, this gets easier and better for you....the craving will be less and less from now on.  So hang in there and keep on keeping on.   Aggie Eleven months, two weeks, four days, 4 hours, 51 minutes and 40 seconds. 8805 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,517.62. Life saved: 4 weeks, 2 days, 13 hours, 45 minutes.

 Hi Linda! Just a quick hello b/c it's been awhile. Hope all is well. Been pretty busy so haven't been around these past few weeks. Smoke free already for 39 days -  - can you believe it? Still very hard, but I refuse to give up. Let me know how you are doing when you can. Take care, Jamie (BigKid)

Hi Jamie, 

KUDO's to you !!!  39 days... wonderful.. I so agree it is hard to believe, when you have a few days tucked under your belt they amount up quick. And when you take a deep breath, you can feel that your chest is stronger. 

I have been doing alot for my mom lately, as in cleaning house, (from top to bottom).  A year ago I would have been taking breaks every hour or so, to get my nicotine fix. Then stopping after a while to just rest. I  think I can move the house now !!!! My energy level seems to be unstoppable. And I know I wouldn't be like that if I were still smoking. 

Oh, I still think about the cigarettes, of just one, when I finish cleaning a room.. but I know from past mistakes if I take one cigarette, I'm a goner. But I will say the thoughts are getting far and far between. I know one of my habits was to reward myself... cigarette break...now I take a deep breath, and look for more rewards, other than taking a break. 

You are doing so good.  We are all in that "can we make it",no more cigarettes mode. 

Take care 

Linda 

Ten months, one week, four days, 19 hours, 24 minutes and 34 seconds. 7627 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,441.58. Life saved: 3 weeks, 5 days, 11 hours, 35 minutes.