Quitting Smoking - Oak Harbor, WA

I have 4 kids. I tried for years to quit and failed at each attempt.
So on friday of 2001 I quit. I slept and slept till sunday while the hubby watched kids over the weekend. I smoked for over 15 years. Just a suggestion. Hope you succeed.

Hello there J.,

I just quit smoking on 12/8/06. I'm doing quite well with it. I have also tried quitting and failed many times. There is a great website.... www.way2quit.com. It helped me a lot. Good luck!

~C.

Hi J.,

I quit 2 years ago after 23 years of smoking. I did not want to, but my best friend did and I knew it was time. Here is what we did. We did not set a date we just quit. There is no time like now. It is best to have a buddy that you can lean on. You and your daughter need to lean on each other. Do not tell a sole that you are quitting. That stops the questions of how are you doing every five minutes. Then you need to get the nicotine out of your system as soon as possible. I did a lot of water and aloe. This is a good quick way to detox. The first 48 hours stay busy and be in a place that you know you can't smoke. If you feel like you going to pull your hair out then there are some herbs that can help settle you. I am a nutritionist; fell free to call me if you need more suggestions. ###-###-####. You can also get the aloe from me as well.

Hope this helps

Hey Jackie:

My husband and I quit together by using the patch about 15 year ago. The first week was hard but it got easier every day after that. Try to keep busy and do something to distract yourself every time a craving hits hard. I used to stick a piece of sugar free gum in my mouth to substitute a cigarette. You will find that the cravings eventually lessen and get easier to handle over time. Quitting smoking was the best thing we ever did so don't give up! M.

Oh boy do I understand! I started smoking at about 17yrs old and I am 37 now. I have tried repeatedly to stop smoking nothing worked. Then last September my best-friend of 20 yrs called me that a mutual friends dad was dieing of lung cancer. This guy was so close to his dad that to imagine that he had to see him die in a matter of a couple of weeks was terrifying for me. I had just lit up my usual cigarette because of course the phone rang, I smoke for every all occasions, and I took one puff and turned it off. I got the kids (7 & 8) and went to the park for a walk and tried to do things that were out of my ordinary routine. It's gotta be the hardest thing to do in the world but be strong I PROMISE time will cure all cravings. Stick to it! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

I personally have not had to quit that habit, but I have helped a lot of friends. I agree with Kimberly, that you need to rethink your motivation. Your reasons can help in the tough times. A friend of mine just quit after 40 years of smoking. She quit to get baptized. The biggest help for her, other than fasting, prayer, and a priesthood blessing, was juice. I've been told that the vitamin C in orange juice and the anti-oxidants in blueberry juice, pomegranate juice, and mangosteen can help your body heal faster.
I also agree with the advice of replacing the habit with good habits (other than with other nicotine products). It's a lot easier to put light into a room than take the dark out. With my eating habits, it was easier to put good foods into my diet than to take bad foods out.

Take a look around the next time you are out or in your own mirror, depending on the elasticity of your skin, and notice how the women you see smoking have more wrinkles and they just plain start to look older faster than non-smokers. If your vanity isn't enough, haha, then think of dying a slow painful death. I have had two aunts die from lung cancer. It isn't pretty and although I have never personally been through it myself I can't imagine it is any fun. Next think of grandchildren. If you do not have any yet think of the future, when your life is cut short because of cigarettes, how stupid will you feel. How much of a hindsight is 20/20 feeling will you have then. How many if only feelings. Write all the negatives down and the positives and keep this list close by. When you get that craving go on a quick walk and clean out your lungs. I have noticed, and yes from experience, that it takes 10-20 minutes for a craving to pass and if I can keep myself occupied it will go away and each time I succeed I am happy and give myself a fat old pat on the back. I have been smoke free now for over 15 months and am currently training to run a marathon this summer. I smoked for 16 years. Best of luck to you.

D.

I have no advice other than what not to do.

Don't use a patch and continue to smoke while on it. My husband would continue to smoke and chew tobacco while on the patch. Putting the patch on was evidence that he does desire to quit. But, smoking shows his weak impulse.

As he went down in nicotine dosage on the patch, he went up on smoking and chewing. The only thing that the patch did was it evened out his mood swings. He didn't bite anyones head off right before he needed to smoke or chew again.

When I found out that he was doing this, I asked him to just quit the patch because it costs a lot of money. I said, "Don't make me live on the brunt of a nicotine fit and waste more of our money toward it." So, he let go of the patch. Wellbutrine didn't work either. And neither did the classes/support group at Keizer Permanente.

Just some fruitless bitching:
I hate living on the brunt of a nicotine fit. Either everything is wrong with the world or just perfect with the world. And it has everything to do with whether or not he's craving another nic fix.

Too many wives and kids are raised with the grouchiness of nic cravings and the various types of moods, emotional explosions, and over criticizm as we get on the nic addicts nerves. But, it's not really us. Thank God, for spouses who tell their kids, "It's not you ---- your Mom/Dad is just having a nic fit. You are not being annoying. He/she is annoying themself."

OK, that's all the bitching I've got. I'm sure you've heard enough of it.

So, I wish you the best in your endeavor to quit. I give much respect to your desire to do so.

YM

Hi Jackie. My name is A.. This March will be 4 years since I have smoked. I smoked for 10 years. I have tried numerous times to stop smoking, but time and time again I would start again. I have tried all the fads(patch,gum ect). But none worked. What really made me stop was I wanted to stop. I did not have any body harping on me, I was not in compation with anyone to stop. You want to know how I did it? I quit COLD TURKEY! I knew it would be hard. I had a few test, and I got through them. I used to smoke like a chimmney especially when I went out drinking and socializing. When I went out and had a good time with out smoking that was the first test. The next test was I lost a child and four days later grandma past a way. One of the big reasons why I smoked was because I felt it was a stress realeiver. But when I went through that and did not pick up a cigerette I officaly knew that I was a non smoker. Did I tell you that I work in a really smokey casino. You will have success when you stop for you and no buddy else. You are in control. And you will be amazed on the inprovement in your health. I use to get sick all the time. Now I hardly ever. Good Luck and let me know how you do.

I quit smoking 8 years ago and all I knew at the time is it was too expensive of a habit for me to have........One has to internally as well as externally want to quit and then to stay quit. There are suppose to be websites and help. I got help from the Washington Stop Smoking department that helps with patches and help teach you and others around you how they can best assist you in quitting. I would suggest finding something like that or even see if you can find a quit smoking support group cause it is the support that is gonna make you successful. Good Luck cause it will be one of the hardest things you will ever do just make sure it is really what you want instead of shooting at it half way.

I quit smoking FINALLY 2 years ago, and it was the hardest thing ever! I actually used the patch. It really did work. You have to follow the dosing schedule to the letter though, or it won't work. It really calms the cravings, not saying it's not hard, but it takes care of the physical addiction part. Now the actual will power, mentally, is the hardest. But you know, every time I started to freak, I'd drink a glass of water and breathe. Just keep telling myself, " I'm just not going to smoke today." Setting dates is not all together very realistic, because, at least for me, I'd always find a way out of it. You just have to do it. Yes easier said than done, but that's how you have to do it. One day at a time. Especially don't think of the future "non-smoker" you, because it's too much to deal with. One day at a time, YOU CAN DO IT SISTER!! GOOD LUCK!

The best thing I've tried is the nicotine nose spray. A lot of people dont know about it and if you get a perscription for it, you probably will have to wait a day for the pharmacy to order it. My insurance actually paid for it, and it works pretty good. The first week, it has quite a kick, but after that it evens out. You get straight nicotine delivered to the blood vessels in your nose resulting in instant satisfaction. Good luck!

Well, for me it was a do it now or not at all. I finally just quit cold turkey. I don't believe there is any other way. Cutting down was still smoking. The older we get the more wrinkles we get and the more leathery our skin looks when we smoke. Not to mention all the lung issues and how it affects those around us, etc.

I never realized how stinky I must have been to others. When I was just standing in line at the grocery store (after I quit), I could smell anyone that was a smoker. It just reeked! I was pretty embarassed about it. Your clothes smell. Your hair even smells.

I totally recommend not being around friends that smoke if you plan on quitting. Choose different friends. Don't go to bars. Don't go anywhere that is a place that triggers the urge. I know that when I drank, I had to smoke. I know that right after a meal, I had to smoke. I had to just make myself busy and get through those first few days. Then the physical needs went away and it was all mental from there.

You need to decide why you are quitting and is it enough motivation to do it. If not, you need to rethink and rethink.

I guess there is no real answer. It is different for everyone. I just know that for me...I had to give up a lifestyle and friends, not just the cigarettes.

Good luck!

Hi J., my husband was a 3 pack a day guy. when we met i didn't smoke so he would smoke outside so it would not affect me how sweet. but any ways a friend of his smoked since he was 10yr and he went and got hypnotized, so he has not smoked now for 10yrs. and he can be around people that smokes and he has no craving to want to smoke. and so my husband has done the same thing and now he has not smoked for 1yr now and he to can be around others that do and it does not bother him ,or makes him want to start. now he complains on how they stink,its funny to hear that from him since he was a 3 packer a day. but maybe that might be something you might want to look into.he was told that smoking is more addictive than drugs and you will fail time after time trying to do it own your own.its like at least 10 times or more before you can maybe quit. he swears it was the best thing for him that he went and got hypnotized.but sweety I wish you the best of luck as well as for your daughter its very hard.

I smoked for 8 years before my husband (then boyfriend) convinced me to seriously try quitting. I went to my doctor and ask to be put on Welbutrin. It's an antidepressent that doctors prescribe for people who are trying to quit smoking. It helps to keep your mood level while going through the withdrawals. It really helped me because I didn't go through the emotional ups and downs as badly, (not to mention my husband was much happier to be around me). You'll be a lot less tempted to have "just one" when you're in a good mood.

That was a huge help for me because I would smoke when I was stressed, mad, upset, etc. I had tried quiting half a dozen times before this but the wellbutrin was what really helped me.

Another thing I had to do was temporarily seperate myself from all my smoking friends. I told all of them that I was more then happy to hang out with them, but that they please don't smoke around me. They were all understanding and willing to help out. I also avoided the smoking area at work. I did whatever I could to stay away from smokers simply because it was too easy to have just one if I was around them.

It was hard but I've now been smoke free for almost 3 years. I hope this helps.

Good Luck!!!

After reading some of the responses to your request, the general consensus seems to be that Wellbutrin is the best way to go. I have not taken wellbutrin, but I think if you need an "aide" to help you quit, that it is a good route to go. However, if you want to hear from someone who quit cold turkey and was successful, I can give you some good advice.

I successfully quit smoking (cold turkey method) 1 1/2 years ago after several prior attemps at quitting cold turkey method. I learned a few things about quitting too. I was pregnant the first time i tried and my then husband (now ex-husband), who also smoked, kept offering me smokes. I made it about a week before i told him to quit offering me...too little too late..unsuccessful first attempt.

There were a few more attemps on my part, but what finally did it for me was my entire approach to quitting had to change. First, everybody who's trying to support you always says "just take it one day at a time." ONE WHOLE DAY?! Are they kidding? Do they know what it's like? How many smokes that is? that is all wrong. You need to take it one CRAVING at a time in order to be successful. If those close to you are smokers that are not quitting, ask them if they would mind not smoking around you while you are quitting (until you inform them that you can handle the smoke without temptation). Tell them to NOT offer you smokes. The most important thing is the craving thing though. One craving at a time. You might think this sounds kind of strange, but it's almost a little bit like being in labor. You take one contraction at a time and don't think about the next or you will never make it. The only problem here is that when you are in labor, come hell or high water that kid is coming out. With smoking I had to keep reminding myself that this feeling would not last forever and if I could wait just long enough for this one craving to pass, that i could get on with my life. After a while, I could handle being around smoke for certain amounts of time...now I just can't stand it. My current boyfriend likes to smoke cigars with his brother. Although i was never a cigar smoker, I have asked them (and have to sometimes remind) them not to offer me any drags because of how tempting it is and how addicting. I still have cravings once in a while...although not nearly as bad as when I first quit, but smoking cigarettes now just makes me sick, and when I'm reminded of that, I think twice about what i am doing.

I really wanted to do it. I had my teeth whitened and I just concentrated on how good my smile and my skin was going to look for NOT smoking and that kept me going. Its been 4 years since I quit and now, I try not to hang out with people when they are smoking because I cant stand the smell. Ex-smokers are the worst about how bad it smells! My husband also quit with me and he battles back and forth with it, he had to go to Iraq so he started again and then he quit when he came home and so on. I know how hard it is.
I just quit cold turkey, and it has worked really well with me.
I also think of the health of my family for not getting the second hand smoke and how much healthier they are going to be for not getting it from me!
Good luck, just keep that date in your mind and just think of things to do instead, like when you would usually go for a smoke you should think of something else that you like to do.
You could also put the money you would usually spend on cigarettes into a jar and see how much you are saving!
Again, good luck and keep us posted!

Quitting is one of the hardest things I've done. I quit several times before, but you have to be willing to let it all go. Even today, if I were to have "just one" I would start back up. I"ve only quit for 7 onths now, but it's the longest I've quit. The cravings still come up, but you have to do something else, or think about other things. I sometimes use a straw to get the feel of smoking without the nicotine. Especially if I'm in a situation of real stress or a place I use to smoke alot (clubs, car etc.) I just cut a straw the size of a cigarette and have it handy. It seems to do the trick. I quit cold turkey one day I just decided I was done, but there are lots of ways to go about quitting. Also not being around people you know that smoke, at least for a while until you've got the first few weeks under your belt. Good luck.

J.,

I totally agree with taking Welbutrin for quitting smoking. I smoked for 7 years and had tried the patch, gum, and cold turkey and nothing worked. Finally, my doctor gave me Welbutrin and I took it for about 3 weeks straight and I had no more cravings. The best thing about it is that you don't have to force yourself to quit. You continue to do what you normally do (smoke) and eventually the cravings go away. For me, I was on my way to work one day and out of cigarettes and didn't even have the urge to stop. I would really consider it. The cool thing about Welbutrin is that because it is an antidepressent insurance companies will cover the cost of it. I even think that there is a generic. Good Luck!

Hello...

Well, let me give you some encouragement...
First of all...quiting is hell...no butts or puns about it...
We tried to quit lots of time, I tried to quit when I didn't want to...got hypnotised...left wanting a cig..They say it takes an average of 10 to 12 times for a person to quit...quiting....so don't quit trying to quit..

Here is the facts of it, I didn't want my kids to smoke and the Dare program, geesh talk about making it heck to smoke the kids would come home showing pictures of your lungs....NICE but that wasn't enough. Our lives were ALWAYS stressful and I'll quit after this or that...Finally realized our life would never be stress free. Eventually my husband got sick every time he smoked and planned on quitting, well I had a good three more weeks to smoke...and smoke I did let me tell you when I quit I was up to 3 packs a day and lieing about IT, I would have to replace the packs so my hubby didn't know how much I really was smoking.

End of the story, I took a day that something horrible had happened in my life...and I took ownership over it...and made it a good day again...I got the patch and put it where I could smell it when I wanted to...I put it inside my arm...I quit drinking coffee for a week or two...I could NOT talk on the phone or leave my house or I would smoke, I knew it. But it got easier...I went off the patch quickly because I didn't want to be addicted to that too....Guess what...I found out that cars run with keys and gas...not a cig in my mouth HA HA HA...

Here is the deal....you pick a day that you can own...it is a day you are going to choose life....and not give anymore money to those lieing theiving companys who want you addicted...You take a cigerette and hold it between your fingers...hold it beside yourself...stand in front of a mirror...ask yourself...who is bigger???? This little tiny thing is running your life....this little thing is TAKING your life...and where will that time come off of? Will you miss your daughters wedding? Will your daughter miss seeing you grow old...will you miss out on grandbabies...ect....fact is....more than likely you will get some form of cancer...thus why they call them cancer sticks...lung cancer isn't fun...throat cancer isn't fun...my brother just died from smoke induced throat cancer at the age of 55, 10 years older than me...I am 45, and 8 years out from breast cancer...I have a photo of my brother with his vocal box removed and the cancer broke back through his remaining throat...I am sorry to tell you this...but you really must take this seriously...my Dad died because of smoking...10 years ago....I have a 25 year old step daughter, 17 year old daughter, 15 and 12 year old boys...I want to see them grow up...and I do not want them to smoke...

I pray for you two to have the strength to quit...it will happen...you can do it...its not easy...but it is worth it...and if I can quit...3 packs a day...ANYONE can...

I will leave you with this...you can choose to quit...or smoking will choose it for you...eventually...you will quit...either at your hands...or the hands of cancer created by those nasty things...

You can do it...don't give those company's one more flipping dime of your money or another moment of your time....TRUST me...you are indeed bigger... :) And you can crush that smoke right between your fingers....so how could something that small control your life????

Let me know how it goes....again I am sorry if I grossed you out...my brother died on Dec 14th the day of the big wind storm...and I have promised him to do my best to make people stop smoking....

God Bless and please let your daughter know...she can do this too....

Sincerely

Chris :)

I finally quit one day when I got very sick and smoking hurt more than it helped. So a week of pain and illness and I didn't smoke again. Nicotine leaves the system fairly rapidly, what people have a hard time quitting is the hand-mouth stimulation and the social/time-passing aspects. I found reading novels and sipping tea fills these habit voids - they occupy the mouth, hand, and, in the case of the book, pass time and stimulate the mind. Some people use suckers for the hand-mouth stimulation. I did quit, quite successfully, so please keep trying! The more times you try to quit the more chance you have of success. Also, it does no good to quit with a half a pack lying around the house tempting you. A good visual reminder to how well you are doing quitting is every time you think about a cigarette, put the money you'd spend on the pack in a jar to see all the money you're saving. Honestly, as soon as I quit I couldn't imagine how I could afford to buy them anymore!

Good luck!

hi J....here's my quit story. 5 years ago I went to my gyno for my annual, after asking me about smoking, she said she could prescribe something to help me quit. At this point I was a light smoker,and I had no real desire to quit, I had been smoking for 20 years, and someday was my quit date. I had heard about Zyban, and knowing it was an antidepressent(Welbutrin) I figured, i'll try it, it could help my pms. Anyway, 2 weeks later, I realized I hadn't had a cigerette all day! So, I thought, if I have to remind myself to smoke, maybe I CAN quit. By the end of the month I stopped completly and I haven't smoked since. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but it worked amazingly well for me and quite a few other people I have told about it. Good Luck!!!

I quit cold turkey about 2yrs ago and the best advice I can give you is just do it. You've conditioned yourself to believe that it's hard, so no wonder it is. Throw out all ash trays and cigarette lighters and anything else that reminds you of smoking. Usually people have a ritual with smoking, like after a meal, when they first wake up, etc. Just replace that ritual with a healthy one. Like after dinner, pop a piece of gum or hard candy and go for a walk. Anytime your craving a cigarette, find something to take your mind off of it. Take a hot bath. Start a hobby like drawing or scrapbooking. Don't think of yourself as quiting, think of yourself as a non smoker. Soon you'll start to feel and smell so much better you won't even miss it. And no amount of nicotine is ok. GOODLUCK!!