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Health problems a severe hinderance. Help Please

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Health problems a severe hinderance. Help Please

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Pupikat!

I'm your age and had smoked since my teenage years! I tried quitting several times for all the reasons one would want to quit! My father finally died from lung cancer last year and I promised myself that I WOULD quit!!! Well, I did it!!! You can do it too!!! Get your mom on this site, too!!!

Anyways, I mentally prepared myself to quit after the Christmas holidays, then got a script for Chantix from the doc! Luckily, I found this site just after starting the Chantix! I read and read and learned that this addiction CAN be beat!!! The more I read, the more confidence I gained!!! The Chantix really helped minimize my cravings and this site gave me the information I needed and better yet, the support that I needed to quit!!! Another thing that I have learned is that you HAVE to have a Positive Mental Attitude going into this journey to be successful!!! You have to tell yourself over and over that you CAN do this and never look back!!!

So use your pre-quit time to prepare yourself well mentally as well as learning as much as you can about addictions and how to beat them!! Also, when you start your quit, you don't have to do anything more than stay on this site as much as you can to learn and receive the support you need! My first few weeks, I was here constantly!! The more I learned, the more information I was able to convey to others starting their quit! Before you know it, you'll have a few days under your belt, then a few weeks and then you'll be well on your way to being a non-smoker!!!

Jim

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 128
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,200
Amount Saved: $528.00
Life Gained:
Days: 20 Hrs: 22 Mins: 38 Seconds: 54

Quit Meter

$44,235.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1058 Hours: 15

Minutes: 40 Seconds: 37

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5898

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

176,940

Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 126

Hi Pupikat,

I was also terrified to try, and you know what? Some days I STILL feel terrified.

We have smoked for so long that we have made it part of who we are. Its really scary to re-identify yourself without nicotine.

I know it sounds strange, but its like something that was always part of us ....feeling happy? smoke,Sstressed? smoke. sad , bored or lonely? smoke. I could go on, but you know what I mean. Funny thing is, It doesn't change the happy, stressed or sad, bored or lonely, just adds a mask or a crutch.

I think your change from 28 per day to 5 is an awesome step in the right direction. I'm happy that you are now feeling excited and confident. You should DEFINITELY believe that you can do this, because you can!

Ps...tell your mom we are pulling for her too!!!!

we CAN and WILL do this!

Theresa

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 6/9/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 32
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 544
Amount Saved: $108.80
Life Gained:
Days: 3 Hrs: 19 Mins: 21 Seconds: 13

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 145

WOW! What a lot of great usable ideas. Thanks so much Daily Llama, Brenna, Sparky, Theresa (congrats on 30 days!), Ron, and Bonnie. When I first came to this site, after looking at a lot of others, I felt this was the place that could help me the most. Seems I was right. I also was so desperate not to be the reason my mom started to smoke again, but to be honest I just was not really into to quitting, and terrified to even try. After reading so many post from people that were so struggling to overcome, well it started to really encourage me, for me. I started to get a little excited and started to believe maybe, just maybe I could really do this thing. I could not think of anything I could do to help through the horrible spots so I asked and now have a good supply of great suggestions that I know will help me. Thanks to all of you. Ok for an update, Dr. did give me some anti-anxiety meds and said I could use the patch. I could not find the download for the book you suggested. I have already given up the biggies, smoking after meals and have gone from 28 to 5 a day. Also, my mother did give into the nicodemon, but has committed to try to keep at 3 a day and then go from there. All in all pretty good for a 40 and 60 year smokers. Hey, maybe I can? Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers.
Thanks for the help, encouragement, ideas and good wishes.

Pupikat

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/26/2008
Smoke-Free Days: -15
Cigarettes Not Smoked: -420
Amount Saved: $-105.00
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 0 Mins: 0 Seconds: -145651

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1209

Hi, I would talk with the Dr. maybe zyban.. or Wellbutrin could be an option for you. Or there are natural herbs at vitamin stores.. if it would be ok with your Dr.

I also posted.. there is a FREE on line E book download.. "Allen Carr's Easy Way To Quit Smoking"

it is pretty good, makes you think about things.. like any book or advice.. there is always some things you may not agree with.

so take what you need.. and leave the rest. Maybe there are some stop smoking support groups/meetings in your area.

some people said some "spicey flavors" helped with craves. I found cinnamon helped also.. so maybe some cinnamon mints you could let dissolve in your mouth.

I also use computer games.. I am a stroke survivor and I use the to help with cognitive function and memory .as well.

maybe taking care of your mom, and playing card games or puttig together some puzzles would be an activity you could do together

Bonnie

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/10/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 150
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,550
Amount Saved: $510.00
Life Gained:
Days: 21 Hrs: 13 Mins: 47 Seconds: 13

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 377

Hi Pupikat,

I can't really add anything to what Theresa said. There really is no obstacles to quitting unless you let there be some. Many of the suggestions for substitutes are just suggestions people have used to help them. You can modify any of them to suit what works best for you. I think what people are trying to say is you will need substitutes to smoking just because it will give you a substitute for the time you have smoked in the past. I love meditation and reading or listening to books on tape. Many of the subjects are about things that motivate me to learn and grow. I've been on Amazon spending a lot of money that would have gone for cigs and enjoying the substitute. But the main thing is you should quit not because you have to but because you really want to. The way you get there is to really see smoking for what it is. I read Carr's book on quitting smoking the easy way and it really put me in a place where I could really want to quit. I think it really needs to start with you and once you have that determination the days will turn to weeks, and weeks to months until you will see that it can be done.

We Wish you Good Luck in Your Quit.

Ron

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 6/17/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 22
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 396
Amount Saved: $99.00
Life Gained:
Days: 3 Hrs: 10 Mins: 6 Seconds: 25

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 126

Hi Pupikat,

I was really glad to see your post again. Wow, you have many medical obsticles to trudge through, but this is REALLY important. First of all, smoking is so bad for your body, that I'll bet your problems are even more so because of it.

How many times have your doctors told you in the past that you MUST stop? I'll bet many.

You have to want this MORE than anything. You are doing such a marvelous thing for your mom, and even more importantly, for yourself. I have an idea. Lets try not to look at this as obstacles to see a way around. Instead, lets take each hour and day as its comes, and find creative solutions to bumps on the road to freedom. Maybe, just maybe, a change in thinking is what we need to help us succeed.

You know, we CAN and WILL do this. I am rooting for you and your mom with all my heart.

Stay strong and let me know how you are doing each step of the way.

Theresa

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 6/9/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 30
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 510
Amount Saved: $102.00
Life Gained:
Days: 3 Hrs: 14 Mins: 55 Seconds: 39

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3307

First off, welcome to SSC. I would suggest you talk with your doctor and ask for help with the quit. Second, it has been said, there are many other things to do. I was on the computer a lot. Not only here, but I played games, I cut straw to the length of my cigarettes and "phony" puffed on them. You can drink water, it doesn't have to ice cold. I don't drink mine ice cold. Maybe you can't go for long walks but you can walk around the house. Call friends, take up a craft or maybe cooking. Research quit sites and share the information. If I can think of any more I will post them for you.

Keep the Quit

Sparky

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/30/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 436
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,360
Amount Saved: $654.00
Life Gained:
Days: 61 Hrs: 18 Mins: 47 Seconds: 16

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1153

Pupikat,

Welcome to the SSC and congratulations on taking the first steps and deciding to quit! Take some time and look around the program, become familiar with the tools and resources available to you, read old and new posts and start working through the program and creating a quit plan.

Physical activity is only a small part of the quitting process for most people. There are many other distractions that you can use; puzzles, singing, writing, using the computer, reading are also great distraction. In the program there are suggestions for relaxation techniques and deep breathing to help with anxiety or nerves.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about using an NRT or prescription to help you quit as well. He/she can be a great source of support to help you quit.

Members, please add some of the techniques you use to help fight cravings.

Keep us posted.

Brenna, Bilingual Health Educator

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Health problems a severe hinderance. Help Please