Messages By: linda12k

1. Get a prescription of Wellbrutrin or Zyban; this takes the edge off of quitting, you have to be on it 1 to 2 weeks before you actually give them up.  

2. Pick a QUIT date.  

3. Get one of these; nicotine gum, inhaler or patch, to get you through the day, I personally used the inhaler.  

4. Post often on the message board of how you are coming along.  

5. Find something to keep hands busy.  

6. Get yourself a meter, www.silkquit.org. , it is an incentive to keep going, once your meter is going on how long you have quit.   

7. Read some of the old postings on this board, to see what worked for others, also the "archives".  

Nicotine is one drug that will tell you  "just one more time", and if you do, you are  hooked again.  

I really believe everyone that has smoked, has tried many times to put them down, hopefully this will be the right time for you !!!!!  

I, myself smoked 34 years, a pack a day. I am also a Lung Cancer survivor, minus a left lung now.  

Linda 

Nine months, one week, three days, 11 hours, 27 minutes and 37 seconds. 6851 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,294.92. Life saved: 3 weeks, 2 days, 18 hours, 55 minutes.
 

Hi Jamie, 

I just wanted to say you are a very kind and thoughtful person, the way you encourage others. Quitting smoking has got to be one of these hardest things in life. A kind word goes a long way, and you have been there for others. I read the board daily, I just don't have the chance to post as often as I would like. 

Linda 

Nine months, two weeks, 1 hour, 29 minutes and 41 seconds. 6937 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,311.18. Life saved: 3 weeks, 3 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes.
 

Hi Amy, 

Your posting I could have said what you have said word for word. I have quit now into 9 months, and at times I just "want one", but I don't dare. I had to learn the hard way, one will lead to many, many more.  I sometimes do that "imaginary cigarette", inhale, then exhale, it really helps. You are doing great. 

Linda   

Nine months, two weeks, 1 hour, 45 minutes and 8 seconds. 6937 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,311.23. Life saved: 3 weeks, 3 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes.

 

Hi Halmeg 

Going 4 days, then breaking down to have one cigarette, you where under so much stress. The fact that you want to keep trying, says you will succeed. Stress will take down the strongest person. Hang in there, you'll beat this nicotine demon. Keep posting we care.  Needless to say, we didn't develop this habit overnight, it took a while. You are quitting at a point in your life, that hopefully, you won't have any "bad outcomes", that comes from smoking. We are here for you, hang in there. 

Linda  

Nine months, two weeks, 2 hours, 3 minutes and 34 seconds. 6938 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,311.29. Life saved: 3 weeks, 3 days, 2 hours, 10 minutes.
 

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.
 

Hi Bruce and Berni, 

Well sounds like you have a plan going. You set a quit date of the 13th, you have some gum, patches and such. I myself tried a many times too, I do believe taking the wellbrutrin, it takes the edge off of quitting, helped soooo much. You have to have a prescription, and be on it about a week first. 

You also have each other, and that can be a big plus. I really believe having a "plan of action", is what will help so much. You can always pick a quit day, but an action plan puts more serious effort. Read plenty, to put your mind in that frame of succeeding when times gets tough. When not reading, find the fun things to do, that you can't have a cigarette with you: "going to the show", a amusement park", the theater, maybe a good play is showing.  Since money is tight, just window shopping, "can't smoke at the mall".   

Also, since the both of you smoke, you would have spent more than $ 5.00 a day. Maybe up your Anni a little, like $ 8.00 a day. It is amazing how quick the money adds up.  

Well hold on tight, you are about to take the best ride of your life, it will be bumpy, but will be smooth before you know it. Good Luck. 

Linda 

Ten months, one week, five days, 9 hours, 51 minutes and 37 seconds. 7641 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,444.31. Life saved: 3 weeks, 5 days, 12 hours, 45 minutes.
 

Hi Bruce and Berni, 

When I said  

"Well hold on tight, you are about to take the best ride of your life, it will be bumpy, but will be smooth before you know it". Good Luck.  

I was meaning, after you have quit it will be the best thing you have ever done for yourself, and one of the hardest too. Its a one day at a time, and sometimes one minute at a time. Lets us know how things are coming along. 

Linda  

Ten months, two weeks, one day, 12 hours, 18 minutes and 53 seconds. 7716 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,458.38. Life saved: 3 weeks, 5 days, 19 hours, 0 minutes.
 

Hi Bruce and Berni 

I so hear your pain and feel where you are now. It took this board to help me realize the addiction of smoking and how strong of a hold it has on us. We all want a cigarette for just about any reason there is, we just want to smoke. And it is hard to admit at times the cigarette was your best friend too. We all use the cigarette as a crutch to lend on. To overcome the hold the cigarettes have on us, you have got to have a plan. Replace the form of nicotine with another, such as the patch, gum or inhaler (that is what I used), weaning from the cigarettes. Then rewarding yourself as you would have with the cigarettes with something new. 

I had lung cancer and had a lung removed, and still wanted one so bad that I went back to smoking 3 months after my surgery. Then this board came into my life and I found help for an addiction I never could get a hold on till now. Post often, we care, you can do this !!!!! 

Linda 

Ten months, two weeks, two days, 1 hour, 47 minutes and 39 seconds. 7729 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,460.93. Life saved: 3 weeks, 5 days, 20 hours, 5 minutes.
 

Hi Amy, 

BRAVO, SO VERY WELL SAID, BRAVO...Your posting is just wonderful.  Everyone needs to print it and put it on the refrig. to keep them going. " I'd rather be a non-smoker with an occasional urge to smoke than a smoker with a constant desire to quit." That needs to be posted everywhere.  Your entire letter is so inspiring....so proud of you for your determination to quit and your inspiration to help others.  

Linda 

Ten months, two weeks, five days, 23 hours, 54 minutes and 13 seconds. 7823 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,478.72. Life saved: 3 weeks, 6 days, 3 hours, 55 minutes.
 

Hi Nannyp410 

Don't beat your self up so. That is what this board is here for. For you to learn from our mistakes. We all did the same thing as in saying we are quitting, then 24 hours later, go out and buy a pack, only to be kicking ourselves the entire time we taking a drag off of one!!!!! As soon as that is out, it won't be 15 minutes later, you'll say just one more ''then that's it,,,,, no more". This is the addiction to NICOTINE. 

Just a suggestion, maybe that particular plan you had picked out, wasn't the right one. In saying that I also did the hypnosis, years ago, spent plenty of money on it too. It might work for some but not for me.  

Check out the Wellbrutin or Zyban to take the edge off of it (prescriptions only). Replace one form of nicotine with another for now, gum, patches, inhaler (that is what I used, it made me feel that I was as least taking a drag off a cigarette. And as Amy said earlier in her posting, keep busy, busy, busy, the urge will be better controlled.  Another suggestions; go back a few days and read some of the older postings, it's a baby step process, but your life is so worth it. 

I'm just 1 cigarette away from being a smoker again. Right now I'm working hard on 11 months of smoke free.  I smoked 34 years, had the lung cancer, spent thousands of dollars on cigarettes. Don't give up hang in there, we are here for you. 

Linda 

Ten months, three weeks, two days, 12 hours, 16 minutes and 14 seconds. 7908 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,494.66. Life saved: 3 weeks, 6 days, 11 hours, 0 minutes.