Having one of those days...

Whoa...wait!! Nonic, smoking puts glucose into the bloodstream? Point me to an article if you have one, please? That would have been a great thing to know 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with diabetes. This may explain why my blood sugar has been dropping too low over the last two days. I've had to cut my insulin down a little bit and that's great. Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 264 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 10 [B]Seconds:[/B] 45

Having one of those days...

Heya Monica, I know exactly what you're saying by being the "Go To" girl. I've had myself in the same position for years now for my Mom and Dad, Sister, Brother, Cousins, Aunt with me being at the bottom of the list. I have noticed that it's a lot like that with my husband and three children too. And my children are grown and out on their own. I need to draw the line myself and hopefully on my quit, I'll learn the same thing that "Tutti Matters." Hopefully, I'll learn that lesson without feeling guilty for putting myself first from time to time. I've already learned a lot from your posts. It's great for us to share this way. Take Care and Blessings to You, Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 259 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 58 [B]Seconds:[/B] 32

i have finally quit

Jayhawk, I hear you and I feel for you too. Everyone is right, the depression is part of quitting. I'm feeling a lot of that right now myself as I wind down Day 4 of my quit. I mean, when you were anxious you lit up, nervous you lit up, bored you lit up, angry you lit up, had a drink you lit up, coffee you lit up, you lit up after a good meal, lit up while driving,lit up while doing book work or at the computer, etc. Man, it's probably easier to list when you did NOT light up. Mind you, I'm going by my own history and what many other former smokers have said. Now we've given up that constant companion so naturally, we're going to feel like something real special is missing in our lives. You'll feel the loss for a while, I know I will too and that makes us feel depressed. We have to keep telling ourselves that the feeling of depression and "loss" will pass and we have to tell ourselves that we haven't lost a thing but we stand everything to gain. I swear, I'd never thought about that feeling of "loss" causing me to feel depressed until I came to this site and then read up on it. It adds up and it sure stands to reason. I smoked for 30 years and those things were a daily part of my life. This depression will pass. I know it will because every time I come to this site, post how I'm feeling, and read the other posts from people who've been through this, I feel stronger. Hang in there. Okay? Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 257 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 54 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44

Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me...Deep Dark Depression, Excessive Misery

Hi Sherpa, I'm glad your program is working for you and that you got with your doctor. I appreciate your post. I'm not using the patch, gum, lozenges, Chantix or any of the other tools for a quit. I can't use them since I'm diabetic. My tools are every flavor of sugar free gum I can find, sugar free hard candy, toothpicks, straws, sunflower seeds, lots of water, staying busy, and blubbering like a mad woman to everyone on this site when I'm having a really horrible time. ha ha ha The nicotine leaving my system has triggered some anxiety attacks. That's why I had the shortness of breath, burning in my chest, and tightness in the chest. I just hung up with my doctor and he's very proud of me for finally quitting and he believes, and so do I, that the anxiety attacks will fade away once my system comes out of the state of shock it's in right now. I've had anxiety attacks before so I knew what was happening to me on Day 3 of my quit. I just didn't need it on top of all the rest. LOL Thank God for My Buddies!!!! Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 252 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 33

Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me...Deep Dark Depression, Excessive Misery

Danielle, I'm getting up as much as possible while working. But I'll come up with more ideas. You're right, physical exertion will release the nervous energy and will then improve my mood. It really helps to read your posts and know that the first three days are the worst. Especially that 3rd day. Whoa, that one was misery and not a day that I'll forget anytime soon. I really didn't expect the withdrawal symptoms to be that bad but then the anxiety attacks came too. I've had those attacks before so I knew what was happening. I'm now starting to have some more severe cravings but they're spaced out today. Yesterday they seemed to be one, long, constant crave. Today I'm still having some withdrawal symptoms but not nearly as bad as yesterday. The anxiety is still here. Not as bad but enough to be aggravating. Time to get mad at the nicodemon and at those anxiety attacks. Keep those cards and letters comin'. ha ha ha ha You guys really are great. It feels so good knowing I can talk to all of you. Hugs, Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 252 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 40 [B]Seconds:[/B] 56

I'm sick...is this normal?

I'm just curious but are any of you that are suffering from allergies burning candles, using carpet deodorizer, or any product to make your home/office smell nice, clean, and smoke free? If so, you may have an allergy to those things. I know I can't even walk down the laundry soap isle at the store without going into a sneezing fit. And I did use candles, carpet fresh, and things like that when I quit and did sneeze quite a bit. I found that I can only use Hazelnut candles. I don't sneeze using those. I walked through a cloud of cigarette smoke yesterday and I did go into a major sneezing fit. Good Luck!! Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 254 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 47 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31

Having one of those days...

Monica58, I hear you and I'm only on Day 4 so you KNOW I hear you. Day 3 was super bad and like you, it felt like one constant, fast, and furious craving. And one, constant struggle just to make it through that day. And damn, it is extremely exhausting. I found myself waiting impatiently to get home, go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and sleep. Girl, I felt like a serial killer having a crying jag too. Today is easier. So, I can only gather from that our support group is so right......Take One Day At A Time. I noticed you said that these cravings hit you every two weeks. Are you expecting them to come? If so, do you think that could be the problem? Maybe a mind game or two? I know I've been doing that a lot today....Looking over my shoulder, expecting the horrid cravings, the gut wrenching withdrawal symptoms, and the terrifying anxiety attacks to hit me again. I was given some great advice and I had used this tool in the past when I suffered from anxiety attacks but flat forgot about it. The tool is: Get mad at that craving!! Put all of your energy into chewing it's ash out. Tell it to, "Back off, back off now. This is my life, my quit so back the hell off. You're wasting your time on me." Say whatever you mean or whatever you want that makes you feel the strongest. But that tool really works. It helped me to conquer major anxiety attacks in the past and it's helping with these cravings. I know I'm only on day 4 but man, I do know what you're saying about being exhausted from fighting those fast and furious cravings. You know what? I'm one of those people who was born to think I can fix this and I can fix that. If there's a problem, no sweat, I can fix it. You can't fix everything. That was so hard for me to admit but you really, really can't. Designate chores to others....Enlist their help. You can only do so much. I would think that you're still healing from kicking the nicotine out of your system, so don't bite off more than you can chew. Hell, no one should bite off more than they can chew. Who needs that kind of stress? I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers Monica. And when I say that, I MEAN it. There's no cliche in my words. I truly will think of you and pray for you to get through this. I k

I Slipped

Heya Niks, I'm on day 4. Thank God this week is getting closer to the end. I don't want to feel that failure from the 14th quit again. I'm on with this one and yesterday was pure hell. My knuckles were white from hanging on so tight and of course, every one on this site flocked to me to encourage me. Today is better but, the withdrawals are still there along with the cravings. Not as bad as yesterday but they're pretty aggravating. I keep expecting them to get worse, like I'm looking over my shoulder. Under the forum Coping with Withdrawals, you'll see my post called, Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me. That was from yesterday. That day, I won't forget anytime soon. Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 254 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34

Do you know what i realise - today is day 4

Heya Niks, I just answered you post on the I Slipped thread. And here you are. ha ha I'm halfway through day 4 and I have to say that the withdrawal symptoms are better as far as getting the shakes and hot flashes. (You may not have had those at all) But the cravings are starting to get worse as the day wears on. They're not quite as bad as Day 3 but I was really hoping they wouldn't be as bad as they are. Yesterday I was really scared because I kept finding posts from people as far along as 20, 30, 40 days and more who are still having cravings. In the state of mind I was in yesterday I thought, "I can't live like this from now on." But more people are telling me that the cravings fade and I have to believe that too. Maybe it's our mental and/or emotional cravings that we're both feeling on Day 4. Oh, like you, I'm going Cold Turkey. I can't use NRT's. Hugs and Let's Keep Hanging In There, Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 254 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44

Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me...Deep Dark Depression, Excessive Misery

Hey Everyone, I finally got some free time to get back to our site and I was so excited to see all of your posts. You guys are a wonderful. You are helping me so, so much. I'm still hanging in here and I'm doing okay so far. Notice I say, "so far" like I expect to go spiraling into cravings and withdrawals all over again at any time. It's like that nicodemom has pulled so many wicked tricks out of his hat that now, I'm looking over my shoulder at every turn. I do need to work on that attitude a bit. Casey - I have started doing what you suggested too. I am telling myself, each time a craving or those nasty withdrawals hit, that my body is healing here and each time this happens, I'm making progress. Yesterday, I couldn't get my mind to go in that direction because of the anxiety attacks that I wasn't at all expecting. One thing that came to mind this morning - When I drove down to the store yesterday to buy sunflower seeds, apple bubble gum, and more mints, I never looked at the cigarette display rack which is right there behind the cash register. I wanted my stash of snacks for this ridiculous "oral fixation" but cigarettes weren't on my little grocery list at all. I didn't think about buying them and I didn't even look at the display rack. I have to admit, I feel good about that. I mean, if ever there were a time to cave in and buy a pack, it would have been yesterday. My God, just look up at my original post on this thread!! Someone hide that....Please!! Surely someone is keeping a folder of the most hilarious "Hell Week" posts. ha ha ha Mercy, Jan58, and Peteg, Oh thank you, thank you, thank you for telling me this will get easier. I was beginning to think this mess will never end. After reading some posts from folks who have been quit for as long as 6 months I started thinking, "I can't live like this for the rest of my life!!" I was afraid I'd turn into a serial killer. ha ha ha I'm serious guys, thank you for telling me it will get better. I need to keep hearing that so ya'll can just type all that stuff all over again. Okay? ha ha ha I was seriously getting scared about these symptoms lasting for so, so long. I know I'll have sudden urges or cravings 6 months from now and further along than that but I was really a