Smoking......and not

[Jeremy A]

Hello everyone, just feel the need to tell eveyone that I had my last smoke 9 hours and 46 min. ago.

today is the first day in 20 years that I can call myself a nonsmoker. I am going out to eat to night and I will sit in the nonsmoking section. WooHoo :)

so far in almost 4 hours of work I have eaten an entire bag of seeds, all the carmels off my bosses desk drank a leater ir water and about half of a 20oz Dr Pepper.


But ##### it, I am finished with smoking, and I will do what ever it takes to keep it that way.

[Dave in Mpls]

Best of luck to ya, Jeremy!

I've tried to quit a few times, and always find myself lighting up again, as stress begins to build! I'll give it another whirl this spring.

Again, good luck

Regards

[Hans]

Hey Dave -- Great! I did it about 3-4 years ago. Used the chewing gum (forget the name). A little spendy, but it worked for me, after 40 years of smoking.

Hans

[RANGER]

I had been smoking for well over 35 years and TODAY it has been 4 months since I have quit! I wish you the BEST!

If it gets too tough I would suggest Zy-Ban (?) made by Glaxowelcome and is a prescription drug. It is NOT a nicotine substitute it is, actually, a neurological drug that removes the sense of satisfaction you get from smoking. This is how I quit. Took about 2 weeks of taking the drug to be able to completely walk away from smoking and another 2 weeks of taking the drug to complete the regiment. It is a regime so you must consult with your family DR.

If anyone is wondering my daughter AND her hubby are pharmacists and told me about it, and, no, I PAID for the prescription at retail level. About $75 for a 2 week supply. Yeah, most drug insurance programs won't cover it but I reasoned that I was smoking over $100 worth a month anyway!


RANGER


"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"

[Jeremy A]

I started taking Welbutron 13 days ago... Same thing as Zyban.

It does seem to help. I am ok with out smoking, just that I really want to do womthing with my hands...

[Tallmike]

Hi,
Good luck and hang in there. For many of us nonsmokers, myself included, it is really very difficult to fully understand what a smoker goes through in the process of quitting. All the studies done indicate that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances there is. Just listen also to the many smokers who successfully kicked the habit and near universally they will say they enjoyed every single one. My older sister is quitting right now after smoking for nearly forty years. She is using the nicotine pill prescribed by the Dr. and slowly weaning herself off cigarettes, down to just three a day. Overall, for your health's sake, you are doing the right thing. Godspeed.

[RANGER]

Jeremy,

Zy Ban is Wellbutron HCI and you are absolutely correct, it is the same stuff. I didn't want to get too technical in my thread. What to do with your hands? Stop thinking about them - I know, I know! GOOD LUCK!


RANGER


"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"

[Backwater Eddy]

Good luck I know how difficult it is to toss them lung tic's away!

A buddy of mine was a long time smoker and also suffered from erectile dysfunction, they often go together most Dr.'s say. So the Dr. put him on Zyban and Viagra at the same time.

Although he did manage to stop smoking, I think it had more to do with the Viagra. He had 11 kid's and couldn't afford the cigarette's any longer. He though he just may have mixed up his med.'s?

:)

BE...

{Patience is said to be a virtue, so lets all hurry up and find some!}

[Jeremy A]

well, if it wasn't winter time I would have used this as excuse to go fising for a day or two...

[Jeremy A]

LOL

ROTFLMAO

Mixed up meds might have helped us...

My wife and I are trying to have a baby

[EyeBoy]

Jeremy;
I have never smoked, so I must echo TallMike. As one individual stated, what does one do with their hands? This habitiual reaching for the smoke, is one of things that one has to break. Then the body chemistry and the mind craves the nicotine.....
The good Lord can help. Just think about that oxygen tank that you won't be thethered to, later on.
ON-PLANE!!!TOM

[sib]

at $2.00 + a pack, that's a crankbait every other day for a pack a day smoker!

good decision to quit, it will be something you appreciate more over time, but may struggle with in the near future. next time you get the urge to light up check this out:

http://www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us/internet/pd_web/lung2.html

hang tough you can beat this thing!!

"go outside and play"
sib

[Ness]

Good Luck, Jeremy. I'm rooting for you :-)

[Jeremy A]

Sib, try $3 a pack x 2 packs a day

Yep, theres alot of gas, bait, lures, rods and what ever else I would need sitting in my lungs right now...

and I feel it every time I walk up the stairs to my Appartment...

I turned 30 last summer, its time to stop playing with my body and take care of it...

[RANGER]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-01 AT 11:32AM (CST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-01 AT 11:31*AM (CST)

Ok, Jeremy, you blew me away with that statement!!! You and your wife are trying to have a baby AND YOU SAY YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........Son, come over here in the corner and let me 'splain sumthin' to Ya......

Jeremy, I think you KNOW what an oxymoron is, right? We need to talk! ;-) LOL


RANGER


"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"

[Backwater Eddy]

I figured it out once and it would cover a boat payment and insurance with gas cash to burn.

I do still smoke and find it EXTREAMLY difficult to quit.

I have quit other bad habit's with a bit of support, maybe I need the same approach to concur this one too?

Maybe I should carry my Camel's around in a Rapala box to remind me of cash tossed in the wind?


BE...

{Patience is said to be a virtue, so lets all hurry up and find some!}

[EyeBoy]

BE;
Take a look at that lung link, that sib has on his post. Maby even down load and print it out. Tape it to the top of your tackle box, next to the pictures of your wife and kids. Take another run a quitting, you will succeed.
ON-PLANE!!!TOM

[Jeremy A]

LOL, Good point. I quit once before, lasted 4 months and fell off the non smoking wagon. but I did it for someone else last time. this time its for me...

As for support, today you guys and another message board i visit are my support. Tomorrow will be easer.

As for inspiration....

Post by a friend on that other board
---------------------------------
Here's another good reason...


Just before this last Christmas, I flew back to California to be with my Dad for his last day on earth, thank God I made it there in time.

Last five years (at least) of being on oxygen 24/7. Last two years spent in complete misery - unable to move two steps without utter exhaustion.

He made it to 82 years old with his mind completely intact. Two years ago, he was still beating the pants off me in backgammon and cribbage. Today, I'd still have a father if it wasn't for that ##### tobacco. Don't ##### smoke!!! Put it down and don't pick it up ever again, ##### it!
-----------------------------------------------

[Jeremy A]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-01 AT 12:02PM (CST)[p]Ranger, I am at work right now...

thats why I am typing right now insted of being at home doing....

ehmmmm

the two finger two step.....

[EyeBoy]

Now, see there! You are doing something else with your hands. Typing. LOL
ON-PLANE!!!TOM

[Ben Remer]

I am smoke free for two months after 10 years of hard-core smokeing...I have cheated twice when out with the boys, but woke up and continued to be smoke free. Just try not to put yourself in situations where you will really miss them....good luck

[ufda]

That is one of the secrets - break the routines that go with smoking. I smoked for 20 years and quit for 10, then smoked for 5 (when I was on an extended business assignment and without my family - any excuse will work) and have now quit for the last time 8 years ago. This time was tougher, but it helped to break all the associations. No coffee and a cigarette in the morning, switched to orange juice. No sitting on the back patio in the evening, moved to the front porch, etc. etc. etc. You get the idea.
Good luck to all who are quitting (notice I did not say "trying" to quit - got to be much more positive!)
ufda

[Sunshine]

Been there, done that, got the lung scars to prove it. Most likely its not too late for you because of your age(healthwise). The shortness of breath will go away and your friends will come back (I never realized how back I stunk from the smoke). You just made the most important decision in your life. Now you'll be around to enjoy it a he** of a lot longer. MY advise is to take it one day at a time. Today will be tough. Other milestones will be the third day, one week, and three weeks. A lot of people slip a tthe three week mark, they get cocky. Make it through the first month and I'll guess it's mostly psychlogical from there. My first bit of advise is to stay away from those areas and people that you associate cigs with for the first month. Secondly, if you do slip after a couple of days it's no excuse not to keep trying. You don't convince yourself that you tried it and it didn't work, you look at all the time that it was working. As you can tell there are a lot of poeople pulling for you. Keep us posted. My last advise is to set a date and reward yourself (tell your wife that Sunshine said so). Pick August 12th and go out and buy yourself a very special walleye gift as a reward for not lighting up. You desrve it, your special!!!

[Frank from TBay]

Great Post Sunshine.

[badmisterevil]

You've taken the biggest step, congratulations! I would suggest that you not talk about the you- know- whats though. It helps to get them out of your mind.

[buzzer Ia]

Hey Dave,
Don't give up hope!!I smoked my first butt when I was 9 years old (a Camel straight!) and it took me 40 years to quit but I did it..I feel that everyone has there own time, and if people try to push them too fast, it just won't work..I smoke my last butt December 14th, 1999 and really don't have anyproblems with relapse..Yes, the first month was tough, but like I said, everyone has their own time to quit..I just looked at it this way..At $3.50 a pack, look at all of the crankbaits, rods, reels, heck even new GPS's you can buy in a year!!Not to mention the health factor..I had been working up to quitting on the last day of the century, with thoughts of my Aunt dying of lung cancer,(she was the one who smoked the Camel straights), and I finally said ENOUGH!!Other than marrying my wife, it's been the best decision I've ever made in my life..WE ALL CAN DO IT WHEN WE REALLY WANT TO!!!

[dd]

JEREMY === I see myself at your age, smoking same as you, wishing I could quit but never did. At the age of 62, woke up one day and passed blood in my urine. To make a long story short a tumor in my bladder, doctor says 99 per cent caused by smoking. Doctor also said chances of another tumor returning is 75 per cent if smoking continued. So there was no choice but to quit, real fear makes it possible. Quit cold turkey in Feb of 1998 and never touched one since, but even better the cancer has not come back. So, Jeremy, quit, quit, quit, it can be done, plus you feel,smell,taste,better. Let us know how your doing. Don==

[Dave in Mpls]

Don-

About five years ago my father had the same symtoms. He ended up leaving the Mayo Hospital less a bladder. He hadn't smoked in about 15 years prior to that, but had smoked about 20 years prior to quitting.

Speaking of fear, I ended up in the hospital three years ago with acute pancreatitus. I have never experienced such pain, and would not wish it on my worst enemy. The good doc said it was a result of gall stones (which I had none) or drinking. Pretty much the end of my drinking days! Fear (and pain) is a powerfull motivator!

Regards

[IaCraig]

Congrats,

I believe quitting smoking is largely a frame of mind, and unfortunately some people can't do it until a medical close call gives them a BIG wake up call.

2 bits of advice from my mistakes:

1. Don't substitute Skoal/Copenhagen in place of cigarettes. (that was even harder for me to quit)
2. When you & your wife are blessed with a baby, throw away any extra cigars that you don't give away in the 1st week. Or better yet give out chocolate ones.

I quit for many years with 100% success, and I thought I was cured from the nicotine temptations. Then when my children were born(20 months apart) I was stupid enough to puff on the few left over baby cigars while mowing the grass etc. I was hooked again, and 5 years later still give in to a cigar on occasion.

keep the spirit

IaCraig

[AquaMan]

J, think about this. Smokes are $3.49 a pack right now and were $1.50 when I started 20 years ago. If I had put that money in the bank each day, I would have over $24,000.00 right now.

But then there is the beer I spilled over the years, too. No sence gettin choked up over that either, so quit and tell me how good it feels. I am trying my self, unsuccessfully.

More power to you, bud!

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[TBO/MN]

Take Sunshine's advise and set August 12th as a target date. Save that $6.00 a day until then, and fish with us up on Lake of the Woods. I figure from today until then you will have saved up $1086, that is enough to have a great time on a 4 day fishing trip. You can also breath that great clean northern Minnesota air.

I have been through this as well as many others, there is only one thing that will work....you have to want to do it. In my case, as in many others, I had to, or die. 3 packs of non-filter Camels a day, a bad case of bronchitis, and coughing up blood, makes a guy think if smoking is really worth it... Doc said "no" it's not worth it. That was 25 years ago, now a rather older and much smarter guy, I thank the fish gods each day for allowing me to quit.

Good Luck, and Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[TBO/MN]

Take Sunshine's advise and set August 12th as a target date. Save that $6.00 a day until then, and fish with us up on Lake of the Woods. I figure from today until then you will have saved up $1086, that is enough to have a great time on a 4 day fishing trip. You can also breath that great clean northern Minnesota air.

I have been through this as well as many others, there is only one thing that will work....you have to want to do it. In my case, as in many others, I had to, or die. 3 packs of non-filter Camels a day, a bad case of bronchitis, and coughing up blood, makes a guy think if smoking is really worth it... Doc said "no" it's not worth it. That was 25 years ago, now a rather older and much smarter guy, I thank the fish gods each day for allowing me to quit.

Good Luck, and Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[Jeremy A]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-01 AT 01:27PM (CST)[p]---------

[Jeremy A]

How Ironic is that
Aug. 12 is my RL birthday, lol, imagin the gift I will get myself this year, and its all because of you sunshine

and you can bet your but thats what my wife will hear when the time comes...

[C J Hughes]

I can't tell you how many fish I missed cause I was messing with my lighter or my smokes. You will probably have your best year ever fishing. That will give you something to do with your hands.JERK,set the hook!

[Phil T.]

The physical addiction will be over in about 3-5 days. Nicotine is metabolized very quickly, that's where the minor high comes from. If you smoked for 20 years, the psycological addiction should be done around 2021.
Take the pressure off yourself, and refer to it as an interruption of your smoking.

[Don in Denver]

I still occasionally have a dream in which I look down, see a lighted cigarette in my hand that is half gone and think "Oh, no!! I forgot I'm a non-smoker and smoked one! Now I'm hooked again!!" Don't think of yourself as a nonsmoker. Keep thinking of yourself as a smoker who's quitting. And fight those temptations that will come along to have just one or just a hit from someone else's. I'm fully convinced that if I ever did that even once I'd be right back at 2 packs per day. I still get those little cravings a couple of times a year when the situation just cries out for a smoke. So far I haven't given in!

[EX SMOKER]

I'm getting that old urge back reading all these threads. I wish I would have never started as a youngster.

[curt quesnell]

february 10th was 2 years since i quit smokin...i liked the
smokin, no loved the smokin...but the coughin and the 3 bucks
a pack made me feel kinda stupid...i used the gum to help quit
and it worked real well, especially after the first couple of
weeks.

i figured i was spending 180 bucks a month smokin (more stupid)
so i took the money and bought a suburban, then i took the
money AGAIN and bought a pro v. i figure if i live long enough
the truck and boat are free.

good luck pal...it only hurts for a little while and then it
starts feeling not only good, but smart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

curt quesnell

[curt quesnell]

jerimy,
where is this house that comes with a 30 footer...? is it
on lake of the woods?

curt quesnell

[ebijack]

stopped smoking 15yrs or more now..took a good 5 yrs before i really didn't want one. i was a heavy smoker, got asthma 2 yrs after quiting (what a bonus). after trying many methods, what worked for me was to use a box of toothpicks in my shirt pocket and take the box out remove one and chew/hold the toothpick like a cig. went thru a couple boxes. maybe it could work for you.... i always really enjoyed smoking, it was way more than nicotine to beat.

[rodbuster]

My wife and I quit 15 years ago.Dose me no good to tell you that you can do it,only you can do that.

[Jack G]

It is not hard to quit smoking. I have done it at least 50 times.

Just quoting an old friend, actually I don't smoke.

[The Great Guide]

You can do it. It will be tough. But, you can do it.

I quit 18 years ago.I smoked two to three packs of Marlboros a day. I did it cold turkey. I kept telling myself " you are now a non-smoker, and a non-smoker does not smoke." over and over again. After about 3 months the cravings left. I don't mind telling you it was #####, but I talked a lot about it with my pals and got through it. Remember today is the easiest day to quit because tomorrow you will be just more addicted.

So go for it and good luck.

Fish like non-smokers, although it is usually not good for thier health when you meet.

TGG

[curt quesnell]

i have that same dream...very often...i am never smoking
the cigarette, just holding it or putting it out..
i am always very happy when i wake up

curt

[WAeyes]

I read this thread last night but was too tired to post. Well now I wake up to a bad dream of being caught smoking in my childhood bedroom by my MOTHER! I kid you not, that is how powerful smoking is on the mind. I have not smoked for going on 5 years, although I have had several dreams that I was still smoking. I quit by using the Nicoderm patch and alot of exercising. Join a health club or just go out and start walking. Your best motivation is the health benefits. When I quit, I stopped getting sick all the time with bronchitis and sinus infections. When you go out to exercise you will notice your physical stamina and air capacity for your lungs will increase everyday. There is absolutely nothing that gives me more gratifiction than knowing I beat those things. Good luck Jeremy

[Backwater Eddy]

The "USE DREAM" is a common psychological effect that addicts & alcoholics get during the quitting process and periodically even while in long term recovery.

It is often considered a self warning and should not be dismissed as just a dream but used to rally more determination to remain clean.

Consider this fact: Nicotine by weight is 100 times more addictive than heroin.

[Jeremy A]

Lavern (SP)