Dave's Quit Smoking - This time I will

Hello everyone, my name is Dave and although there are thousands of reasons one should quit smoking, and none that I can think of why one should start, for me quitting has become a matter of life or death.

I have breathing problems and cluster headaches. My new prescription for my cluster headaches clearly states on the bottle, "DO NOT SMOKE WHILE ON THIS MEDICATION". Plus I got two lectures from the pharmacist. Smoking will on this medication puts me at an extremely high risk of heart attack or stroke. To say the least, this finally got my attention

I started Chantix, the prescription medication to help you quit. You begin taking it a week before quitting so it builds up to the proper level. My quit date is Tuesday April 28, 2009. Already I can feel the medication having an affect and less and less urge to smoke.

Encouraging comments, tips, etc. posted here would be greatly appreciated. Part of the plan is to have a circle of support friends.

Thanks in advance to all who join to help

I quit 4 years ago because of an impending operation and did it cold turkey...
Within 72 hours all traces of nicotine and it's metabolites have left your body and only the psychological attraction/addiction is left...Drink ample fluids and eat fresh fruit/vegetables and try to avoid situations where you might encounter smoking...Get out and get some fresh air and exercise also...The more active you are the less time you will have to think about having a smoke...
I wish you success in your quest for a smoke free life...It won't be easy but with a positive attitude and support you will be successful...

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Last edited by pipemanid; 26-04-2009 at 18:12.

I quit Jan 1, 2009. I did it cold turkey. The main reason I quit was price. Every week the money I would have spent on smokes goes into a special account. If I make it for a whole year I'm taking the whole family to Disney World. (I live in over taxed New York) It won't take me to long to save enough for the trip.

Just remember one day at a time. Stay away from things that might make you want a smoke. Good Luck and I hope you make it. I know I'm going to.

Watch out for the weird vivid dreams. Seriously, they're like tripping acid. I started having them about a week into taking them.

Make sure you eat before taking them also - I don't remember it being listed in the instructions but it's worthwhile to note.

Good luck.

Yo Dave-

I also quit - cold turkey - Valentines Day 4 years ago - not because of the lovely day - but because I had 5 paramedics working on me as I couldn't breathe - rode code 3 to the hospital 22 miles away and in there 5 days.

I did it without patches, medicines and gums - just quit - period.

It wasn't really that hard to do - I just needed a real good reason - and being within 30 minutes of death was a really good one for me-eh.

I have found a real good lung repairing herb called BroccoMax - a real good google search of vendors should yield about $13 for bottle of 60 - 250mg caps - stuff really works for me-eh.

Best wishes for success - if I can do it - ANYONE can-eh.

I´m another of the cold turkey team...and a believer that it´s the best way.

How to make it work???
That´s the $64,000 question...

I think you have to identify what smoking is for you.

In my case it was probably a a fairly typical problem...it was an addiction.
So...the solution was to replace it with something which was an acceptable addiction.

I quit 3 years ago...stubbed out my last smoke about 3 a.m. The first 5 - 7 days were fairly rough...visions of strangling people as they spoke to me...the next 5 - 10 days questioning if I was "sure" about this...this is well known as the breaking point for many. So...I had a new mountain bike...started riding...and riding step by step like hell...faster and further. This is now my addiction...feel weird and nervous if I miss several days with no bike.

I used to run...competitive stuff and was fairly fast. when I returned to university at 30 I had no time to train...and started smoking with various music and art buddies. I was gonna quit...yeah, right!
17 years later I decided to quit...and did it with the help of some friends who also ride

It´s not a race...but the feeling is coming back...

Wow, I can't believe the postings just after creating the thread. Thanks all of you for your support.

I've tried Cold Turkey, nicorette gum, patches (after 3 days I was ready to roll the patch up and smoke it). Tough part has always been that wife smokes and never really wanted to quit.

Now we're both on the same quest and the good thing about the Chantix is it does not contain nicotine.

No tips or advice here, but I just wanna say fair play to you Dave - and all others in this thread who've successfully quit

I'm crabby enough as a smoker, so I shudder to think what I'd be like if I tried quitting. Probably 10x as crabby and about 6 stone heavier

Anyway, nice job guys, and best of British to you Dave

My best advice is to ignore that part of the world that is trying to get you on it again.

And please don't become one of those people who "have seen the light" and must confront every smoker that "they can change too". You know, those kind that are suddenly so positively and happy that they keep telling you that you should quit too at everyone who smokes. I seriously hate those people more than jehova's witnesses.

I've quit using Chantix (it's called Champix on this side of the world) and I only went through the program halfway. It's been quite successful though, I've been smoke-free for the last 10 months. Watch out for the vivid dreams - I had a few that were too realistic that made me hurt myself once (I tried to kick the spiders away and hit the edge of the bed LOL).

Lots of water (minimizes side effects), exercise, a good amount of healthy fruits and vegetables, and proper support from your loved ones - those were the ones that helped me get through the terrible first few weeks.

Good luck!

All the best for tomorrow! (and the future....)

i've never smoked but i can be here to cheer ya on!! just take it one day at a time..you'll be all the better for it !

Give it hell, Dave... I quit Nov. 15, 2007. For about 6 months prior to that date, I thought every single day about why I should quit (all the way up until my quit date on nov. 15). I did it cold turkey.. The first few days were hell. The first few months weren't all that easy either. Even a year later, it took a conscious effort, especially when I was around friends who smoked. But now, I don't give it a second thought.. I am SO done smoking... Congrats to all who have quit, and best wishes to all who are trying to quit..

I too have encountered such people in the past and wanted to choke them. I'm making the choice to quit. Whether or not others do is their decision. Just about all of my wife's side of the family smokes and are very supportive of my decision.

Thanks Rob, much appreciated.

I've heard about the dreams but doubt if I'll be affected. I'm Bi-Polar and on enough other medications that my doc said Chantix won't be a concern. Now, take me off the medications and then the dreams begin

Thanks. I actually quit for 5 years but started again because it made my soon to be ex-wife at the time really mad.

If it wasn't for the health issue with my new medication I probably wouldn't have given quitting a thought.

I've know people that have never smoked and gotten cancer and people that have smoked clear in to their 90's and never got cancer. Could be genetic, who knows.

Any way, it is nice to know the British are cheering for me

Hi all,

Today is first day of not smoking. Surprisingly I really don't have the urge to smoke, just feel the need to pick one up out of habit or boredom.

Last night before bed we threw out anything to do with smoking. I sneaked out and washed the ashtray in my wife's car and fillied it with candy. Also sprayed "Febreeze" to take away the smoke smell.

There is no turning back...we are committed to finish and be smoke free for good.

Good luck.
I gave up cold turkey 2 years ago after 20 years, Wasn't hard at all and I didn't even want to give up. The first few days were a bitch but you realise the urge goes away after a couple of minutes and it gets easier day by day.

I just read in the pull up a chair thread....you like hanging out in your wood shop....sounds like there will be many projects coming from there now ....if only you lived closer to mississippi..i'd have you too busy to even think about smoking....


KEEP UP THE GREAT TASK BEFORE YOU!!! After all....its going to make you a much healther person!!!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Love the South and wouldn't mind moving there. Can't get wife to budge from here though. She likes the seasonal changes, especially winter. I hate snow and if I never saw it again it would be too soon for me.

I've been toying with the idea of displaying my wares on a web site and taking custom orders. Biggest problem is shipping. I build with solid wood, non of the particle board crap, so furniture is heavy.

Good Onya, mate!

It's a great decision, no matter the reason

hard to find solid furniture and yeah shipping would be a nightmare in costs......

as for the south.. it is true we have almost NO snow....it usually melts before hitting the ground.... but mild winters are always replaced with extra hot and muggy summers......heat index for the summer is always weeks on end of 100+ and the humidy...is 90 or above......( i suggest a home in the south for winter and keep the one in the north for summer

I have my few ciggies a Day Dont want to Quite.
My sister 10years younger than me tried to on Christmass holls with The Sisters

after she Smoked all mine I dident get more " She Ill Quite on Xmac OK New Year" She had to no more Smokes nor did i Shop 2 hours Walk away
Now home with Hubby he smokes 30 a Day..OK I dont blame her for not sticking to it .

My 23 Year old Son was trying in Varsity ,HE had no Smokes for 2 weeks at home Fine .IF I wanted a Fag went Outside ( I always Smoke outside Cant Stand Stale tabbaco)

came back to Diggs roomate `s all sitting on his bed smoking.told hm I dont bother if you Smoke or dont ,its HARD to Stop id OtHER people are blowing Smoke in your Face.

Have to Run Fetch Son From BAND

Thanks Di,

I use to be able to pick them up and put them down anytime I wanted. Could go a long time without a cigarette and never give it a thought. Then had a friend who convinced me to chew tobacco, them eventually dip snuff. That stuff has 20x more nicotine that cigs. Haven't been able to put them down since. At least until today

Hard part is I honestly enjoyed a good smoke now and then. We rolled our own cigs and the smell of fresh tobacco was great!

Smoke 'em if you got them, keep complaints to yourself if you don't