Guitars

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:55 pm

Just put my first patch on, decided I want to live

I may bump this thread ocassionally (or a lot) looking for support when it gets rough. I know it won't be easy but there is things in life that I still want to see and do. I am 48, been smoking since 7th grade, 2-4 packs a day. I am still strong as an ox but I feel the effects, not far from COPD if I judge correctly and I don't want to get to that point (or a heart attack)

Do me a favor, if you see that I am the last to post, jump right on it cause I need help obviously

Before anybody complains about me posting this in this forum, I need quick response, the Chat area is usually disregarded

Thanks Brothers & Sisters

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:56 pm

Good luck with it Ron! I remember Jim's thread from yonks back, you could look that one up for inspiration!

Mr. Green

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:59 pm

you can do it man! my dad just quit after like 50 years of a 2pack a day habit. how? those pills called Chantix. have a look at them and talk to your doctor. watch out though, they mess with your dreams hardcore.

Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Illinois

lordkronos187 wrote:

you can do it man! my dad just quit after like 50 years of a 2pack a day habit. how? those pills called Chantix. have a look at them and talk to your doctor. watch out though, they mess with your dreams hardcore.

My dad took Chantix, as well. Hasn't had a smoke in the past 1.5 years, give or take? Surprised the living hell out of me when he said he was going to quit "for real," but I guess it really works.

And yea, it messes with your dreams unlike anything I've heard of. I won't get into details because I don't wanna scare you off of using it, lol.

EDIT: The hell? Where are my manners. Good luck, man! Fight the good fight!

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:18 pm

lordkronos187 wrote:

you can do it man! my dad just quit after like 50 years of a 2pack a day habit. how? those pills called Chantix. have a look at them and talk to your doctor. watch out though, they mess with your dreams hardcore.

I have those also. I already have fvcked up dreams so I am not worried

Also have a thing of Commit lozenges

This WILL be without sneaking cigarettes which makes it harder

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:23 pm

good call on the lozenges.

my pops also started buying bags of lifesavers breath mints to handle the oral fixation. worked like a charm.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14502

I shall share words of wisdom from Ian/Faust (the best advice I got from anyone) when I quit.

If you don't put it between your lips, you can't smoke it. Therefore, don't put it between your lips. Simple as that.

Be dedicated to the effort.
Start with one-hour victories.
Then move to counting number of day victories.

I am to the point that I have to think about when the date was that I quit. I think it was in September of 2005. Since that date, I've only put one cigarette to the lips, took two drags, IMMEDIATELY got light headed and snubbed it out. And that was about two months ago. It's hard to fathom that I went from a solid pack-a-day to getting a severe buzz after two drags, and I didn't like it. Tasted like s#%t, too.

You can do it.
If you need moral support, let me know. I'll talk you off of the ledge.

And if you do fall off the wagon and huff one, get right back onto the wagon.

Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 4627 Location: UP of Michigan

Good luck buddy, you can do it! Cool

Joined: 06 Jul 2011 Posts: 122

BEST OF SUCCESS!
I'm doing it as well and it sucks!

Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 1275 Location: Easton Ma

You don't need luck you need will power and support.
I quit by smoking more green lol.. Its awesome LOL
Not buying a pack a day creates more money for a weekly bag or if your smart a monthly big bag.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12280 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

best of luck dood. you can do it.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:26 pm

You can do it Ron! No luck required!!! Cool

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

You can do it man. I quit cold turkey after 14 years. Just said "I'm done" one day and went from a pack and a half to zero that day. It sucked for the first 2 weeks. Like really sucked but it made me stronger. There is nothing wrong with patches and pills or sprays but if you have a strong disposition you can do it without all that.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:31 pm

Thanks!

The patches I use only give 14mg of nicotine in a 24hr period. That is less then 10 cigarettes a day going by my brand of Marlboro 83's which are about 1.8mg each. So basically, I am starting immediately from going 2-3 packs a day to less then 10 cigs. It takes the edge off and yes, I think about having one but this is it, I'm done. I watched Debbie smoke a couple in the last few hours and it did not faze me. In the last 5 hrs now since I smoked one and decided to commit, I would normally have had 10-15 already

Jim, I would surely love you to be my guardian from afar

Lanning, I suppose I could do this cold turkey but with Debbie still smoking in the house, it would be more difficult

I have 11 patches and that's it, no more. I am done when they, the Chantix and lozenges are gone

It's really a matter of life and death at this point. Some of you guys that know me know that for a 48 year old, I am built like a brick shithouse and weigh a little less then 160lbs. I can still benchpress 300lbs and I don't even really workout anymore. In fact, I was just over at my friends house and got 300lbs up once relatively easy on his Weider Olympic freeweight set w/ the 7ft 45lb bar. I have my health and pray that I don't have any issues started. I have a real chance to beat this and live to a decent age. I am already older then my parents when they died

Again, thanks for the support, I am sure trying times are ahead but I have to do this if I want to see my youngest Son get married and have kids

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

Northwinds wrote:

Lanning, I suppose I could do this cold turkey but with Debbie still smoking in the house, it would be more difficult

Yeah when I did it I volunteered to work 6, 12 hour shifts in a row. I was working in an alarm control room of a secured facility so you had to be relived by someone to leave the room for any reason. I told my boss to only let me out for bathroom breaks and to let me go home. I was working midnights too so when I got out in the morning I just went home and to bed so I didn't think about smoking much. That helped me kick it. I'd say it was all will power but having support from my friends, family and boss helped.

If I were you I'd stay elsewhere for 2 weeks. You're up against it man with a smoker in the house, but you can do it. Tell her she can only smoke outside lol...

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4739 Location: Dayton, OH

I've never smoked cigarettes so I don't know what you are going through, but I'd bet with another smoker in the house it won't be easy. I wish you the best of luck!

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6665 Location: Minnesota

Cold Turkey for me.

You can do it bro!

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:00 am

Ron! This made my day reading this. I'm glad you decided it's time. I really am bro.
Do it however you have to and if you really want to you are more than able to be done with it.

I ended up quitting cold turkey. I went home for Thanksgiving shortly after my daughter was born. I had never smoked in front of my uncles or aunts and it really bothered me that they would see me doing that because cancer had already taken my grandparents on both sides of my family, my aunt, my step father, and my mom way too young and all close together. Sitting at my place I had no problem smoking cig after cig but it bugged me out going home for our family get together and seeing empty seats that had been filled with them for my whole memory. I wanted a cig while I sat there and saw those seats too and that's what pissed me off about smoking. I kind of really got it right then how that crap had a hold on me. Sitting there in the same room that for years I spent every holiday with members of my family I still wanted to smoke after what cancer had done to them all?!
After three days on not having one I flew back home and you know what? As soon as I walked outside I got them out of my coat pocket and asked the dude next to me to borrow his lighter. He said sure and tossed it my way. I didn't catch the lighter and when I leaned over to pick it up the stupid soft pack that I bought and had ripped open (I smoked Camel Lights Box) started to empty out into the slush and snow soaking them. I was so pissed I gave the guy back his lighter and took the soaked pack and hopped in the truck and started driving home not having one.
I kept that pack right there in the cup holder the whole time I quit as well as another left over pack I had at home. I saw them every day when I drove and I didn't hide from them. I looked at them and didn't touch them. It was messed up that I liked having them available if I needed to have one but I never did.
Sorry for the long post and boring novel here Ron. Even though I don't see you every day I do care about you a ton. Having known you for quite some time I am certain that you are way more than capable to be done smoking cigs. It's gonna take awhile but whip this things ass.

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 3:38 pm

Todd, your story is not boring, thanks for sharing it

Coming up on 24 hours now (1pm)

I will admit I had ONE cigarette in that time period, much better then 40-60+ Cool

I don't plan to have another since the one made me dizzy

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14502

Day Two is easier than Day One.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from tar and nicotine.

Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 2509 Location: Houston, TX

Good for you! Good luck!

Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 2749 Location: Southeast MI

Good luck dude! You can do it for sure!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14502

ADDED BONUS

The light headedness from increased oxygen flow in the blood stream is like a buzz where you're making money.

You didn't do anything to obtain it.
You didn't spend money on cigs to avoid it.

THUS...........you're making money. Bling.

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:50 pm

I would have to wear 11 patches at once if i tried to quit....so i stopped trying Laughing

Good luck bro, i'm rooting for you!!!!!!!!

Quitter.. Laughing

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:51 pm

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:04 pm

I was dubious about these patches Randy but they are pretty effective. I think about lighting up and I just don't which is pretty cool. I saved about $20 in the last 24.5hrs already

I realize I am not quitting my nicotine addition, just replaced it with another delivery system so I need to work on that if I really want to be free of the habit

What good is quitting cigarettes when you just end up getting addicted to patches Laughing

(other then eliminating some cancer risk of course which I don't mind in the least)

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:11 am

Northwinds wrote:

Todd, your story is not boring, thanks for sharing it

Coming up on 24 hours now (1pm)

I will admit I had ONE cigarette in that time period, much better then 40-60+ Cool

I don't plan to have another since the one made me dizzy

Ron, if it gets bad try this..

I've been on them since October. Much better than patches or pills. And when you go back and try a real cigarette it tastes like s#%t. Not to mention I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke anymore.

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:22 am

Grim Reaper wrote:

I would have to wear 11 patches at once if i tried to quit....so i stopped trying Laughing

Good luck bro, i'm rooting for you!!!!!!!!

Quitter.. Laughing

Like I said try these. The nicotine won't kill you. It's the tar and the other bs they put in smokes, that will. Plus you can get this in different flavors. I'm puffing on a coconut one right now. I like cherry the best though.

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 3116 Location: NY

Good luck Ron! You can do it dude! I quit 3 years ago, helped my girlfriend quit and am in the process of helping my mom quit too! Best advice I can give is....don't think of it as you trying to quit smoking, you already quit. You've made your decision, stick with it! Good luck bro! Feel free to pm me if you need to!

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:35 pm

ML Tib wrote:

Grim Reaper wrote:

I would have to wear 11 patches at once if i tried to quit....so i stopped trying Laughing

Good luck bro, i'm rooting for you!!!!!!!!

Quitter.. Laughing

Like I said try these. The nicotine won't kill you. It's the tar and the other bs they put in smokes, that will. Plus you can get this in different flavors. I'm puffing on a coconut one right now. I like cherry the best though.

I have a couple of these Felice. I would like to quit nicotine period, not replace the delivery system to something less cancerous Laughing

Had about 12 cigs in the last 3 days, as Jim messaged me, quite a decrease but I am a bit disappointed in myself for even caving that much

Rome was not built in a day though

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:37 pm

Brad wrote:

Good luck Ron! You can do it dude! I quit 3 years ago, helped my girlfriend quit and am in the process of helping my mom quit too! Best advice I can give is....don't think of it as you trying to quit smoking, you already quit. You've made your decision, stick with it! Good luck bro! Feel free to pm me if you need to!

Thanks Brad, I see some sort of support system is needed. I see Deb out in the kitchen puffing away and it makes it much more difficult

Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 1285

I smoked for 13 years, at least a pack a day. I quit cold turkey with some simple tricks.

I stocked up on everything I like, chocolate, ice cream, donuts, candy, juice, soda, coffee, steak, barbeque, etc, etc. The idea is that you can have unlimited amounts of anything that you want except cigarrettes. I decided I could deal with any weight gain afterwards.

I was on vacation when I decided to do it so that helped, I was able to use laziness to my advantage, sleeping when it was easy to get cigarettes at the store across the street, and staying up all night when it's a pain in the butt to get up and go out to get them.
Use laziness and procrastination to your advantage.

For me the desire to smoke came in diminishing waves that lessened to nothing after about a week. Your brain plays tricks on you but I just kept reminding myself that no matter how crappy I felt I wasn't going to die without a cigarette, let me just see if I could hold out through one more wave, let me test my strength and see how this thing goes, etc.
Whatever mental tricks you need to remind yourself that you are the boss and you're not ruled by a cigarette. You don't need to fight the whole future, just the next 5 minutes, just don't smoke that one cigarette.

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:57 pm

Quitting is easy! I did it thousands of times, some as long as two years. Something that gave me an excuse was always available, though, so I fell off the wagon thousands of times, also. The last time (current) has lasted for 12 years, but I still fear that I really damaged my lungs enough to shorten my life. I know that I still cough my head off, but at least the pains have mostly gone away, and I no longer get an infection (bronchitis) every month.

The short part of this is as follows:

JUST F'ING QUIT! Stop with the cheating, already, unless you want to die!

All you will suffer (physically) is a lousy 3-4 days. Then, it will be over, as far as the nicotine addiction goes, but you'll crave a smoke (in ever lengthening periods of time) for a lonnnnnnng time, so get used to it! I still crave cigarettes, but I just don't want to die in a few months, and I'm convinced that this would happen.

Who knows, maybe it will be easier for you. My Dad smoked for 20 years and laid them down. He never missed a one. My Mother also smoked for 20 years, laid them down, and suffered mightily for a long time (but she quit). It's each to his own for that, but QUITTING COLD TURKEY IS TWICE AS SUCCESSFUL AS ANY NICOTINE REPLACEMENT 'THERAPY' bullsh!t. My brother-in-law is still chewing Nicorette gum, 20 years after he 'quit' smoking. But, even then, he is not gonna have to worry about lung cancer caused by smoke!

Just quit....

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

If you can just go one week and reward yourself with an "end of the week smoke" you'll see how much you hate it when you have that one cigarette. After you clear your body of the crap that week and regain your taste back that first smoke will taste like sh1t.

That or you can come stay with me for a few weeks. You won't be able to afford cigarettes up here at about $10 a pack. Laughing

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5634 Location: phoenix az.

i need to quit last time i had my chest xrayed they said your heart looks great nothing clogging or building up.I said whats that dark mass around it they said oh those are your black lungs u need to stop smoking now! Rolling Eyes

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 4:51 am

Northwinds wrote:

Brad wrote:

Good luck Ron! You can do it dude! I quit 3 years ago, helped my girlfriend quit and am in the process of helping my mom quit too! Best advice I can give is....don't think of it as you trying to quit smoking, you already quit. You've made your decision, stick with it! Good luck bro! Feel free to pm me if you need to!

Thanks Brad, I see some sort of support system is needed. I see Deb out in the kitchen puffing away and it makes it much more difficult

Come on out and hang in the woods for a week. You and my wonderful bulldog Agnes can snuggle. Wink

Keep at it bro but don't %$#@! around with the back n forth or teasers. After three days of none you got it beat. Then it's just being stubborn.

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1413 Location: Dallas, TX

How's your progress? I'm with you man....turned 45 this Jan 1st and felt like I needed to quit too. Haven't had a cig since Mon morning the 7th so I'm on my 3rd day w/o smoking. Been hard as hell too cuz I'm going through a divorce right now lol...been stressed big time. Craving is starting to go away though. Good luck with it bro.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14502

To both of you.........

STICK WITH IT

The payoff of not smoking is significantly greater long-term than the short-term tar/nicotine/mental gratification.

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:41 am

Has a setback yesterday and flamed through a few. Started feeling like s#%t immediately so today I will refocus

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1413 Location: Dallas, TX

Northwinds wrote:

Has a setback yesterday and flamed through a few. Started feeling like s#%t immediately so today I will refocus

Def brotha....stick it through. I still have not slipped up. Drank a few beers today at lunch too....suprised I was under control.

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:31 pm

Hang in there big guy. Every day you make it is one more day. Eventually, it gets to be everyday.

Prayer, mojo, and positive waves sent your way.

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 5:11 am

I chewed big red cinnamon gum whilst quitting and drinking. For some reason it worked for me...although I am not so fond of that particular chewing gum anymore lol

I do hope to hear good results from the both of you! Keep it up!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14502

Status check requested

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 6:46 am

Jim6 wrote:

Status check requested

frackin guys are back at it aren't they?

Joined: 06 Feb 2012 Posts: 98 Location: Milwaukee, WI

Northwinds wrote:

Has a setback yesterday and flamed through a few. Started feeling like s#%t immediately so today I will refocus

I wouldn't let the guilt of smoking more than you wanted get to you. By making you feel worse youd want to smoke more. Keep your focus and try again and keep working! I give you props for getting a good start on quitting. Ive had roommates who "wanted to quit" gave up after an hour or so. You're serious about it.
I quit right the the start of Selenes pregnancy picked up after she was born, I remember thinking "this tastes gross why am I doing this?" Quit again while going to the gym. Now I was a social smoker with drinks but have quit yet again with Schaffers pregnancy.
Good luck!! I hope you start feeling the good effects of not smoking soon! You can do it!

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1413 Location: Dallas, TX

Came close, really close to caving in this weekend but I didn't smoke. Had some friends over Sat night, we were drinking beer and I was about to go around the corner to the store and get a pack and my buddy talked me off the ledge lol! So it's 6 days right now without having any. I seriously think I need to lay off drinking until I get my urges under control cuz that's really the only time I feel weak about it. What abt you Ron? Still hangin in there?

Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 4627 Location: UP of Michigan

Bump.

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:46 am

Still working at it Brothers. I confess I have not quit entirely but I smoke a lot less. Once I go in for oral surgery next week, it will mean cutting back even more. This is a tough habit to kick but I will get it done

Joined: 19 Mar 2012 Posts: 1582

Everybody has their own methods & to be honest we are all different & have different body chemistries ...I myself winged off , if u have to do it that way then at least it's an improvement ...Ya gotta think you were smoking like a train so to cutback then eventually quit, might be the route you need to take. I mean don't get me wrong if you can do it Cold Turkey , by all means do it! But don't beat yourself up if you end smoking one or two Cigs. compared to one or 2 packs! Try to exercise , I Swear that's what helped me quit! After you get done lifting or running the LAST thing you want is a Smoke, it just something you don't crave. The only time I smoke is when I go to a bar , which is rare these days, cuz let's just face it Beer & Cigs go hand & hand. Buy if I'm not there or around friends then I don't even think of one, guess u could say I'm a social smoker... Bottom line if you want something bad enough you can do it & again just like they tell addicts , don't beat yourself up if you have a smoke or relapse , it's bound to happen but just cut back & before u know it you might get rid of those nasty things!

Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Posts: 322 Location: Cambridge,UK

Good luck dude!. I know how it is i smoke myself and its not a easy thing to quit. The best things in life dont come free or easy though remember that!. Keep fighting

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5634 Location: phoenix az.

I need to quit but my problem is i love smoking and i enjoy the fck outta it!I know it will kill me yet i do it anyways :roll:Its sick and demented and very stupid but its true!

Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 1275 Location: Easton Ma

RobBouchardDeanml wrote:

I need to quit but my problem is i love smoking and i enjoy the fck outta it!I know it will kill me yet i do it anyways :roll:Its sick and demented and very stupid but its true!

Same here..
I smoke a pack a day of Marb Red 100s and have been since I was 12/13. I can sure feel it these days tho and I know my time to quit is soon. The pain meds make me smoke like a champ, chain smoking at its finest. Thats hard to control..

Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 4627 Location: UP of Michigan

Bump. Any updates?

Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 75

Good luck friend...however, there is a lot worse habit that is considered acceptable. It slithers like a snake!

...wisdom through choices

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 12:30 pm

Still working at it. Had my surgery last Saturday so now I can focus more on quitting. Have to get more of the Nicoderm CQ patches asap

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:50 am

I fell off the wagon. Bought 2 packs of smokes Saturday, they taste like crap now. I'm going back on the program since it took me 4 days to go through 2 packs.

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:34 am

ML Tib wrote:

I fell off the wagon. Bought 2 packs of smokes Saturday, they taste like crap now. I'm going back on the program since it took me 4 days to go through 2 packs.

Same boat

Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 4627 Location: UP of Michigan

I had a cigarette on Sunday and wanted to puke. I think I've successfully quit Laughing

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 10625 Location: Canada

Cold Turkey for me too. Mid pack, that way I never felt I was out of smokes, but that I was quitting. Kept them in the drawer...

Good luck.

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 5:24 pm

Don't give up, y'all! I still fight the fight after 12 years, but then I'd be dead, if I hadn't quit. If I die this year, I still got at least 10 extra years out of quitting!

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:38 am

I quited too, since two moths.
what helps me a lot, is focussing on the joy, like "Wow, 2 moths and two weeks now! Wow, thats like 11/12 weeks, damn Im good!" Very Happy

Goodluck, and whenever it's rough, think of how bad you will feel afterwards, if you smoke one