3 days. no cigarettes... cold turkey... hands shaking.

[BigMcLargehuge]

any former smokers care to offer me a guess as to how long the shaking shit is gonna go on? I have deadline intensive work to do and it's making it nearly impossible to type.

I am gonna hang on, I just needed to vent.

[slackmaster]

1. Not a former smoker but I commend you for your courage

I've seen enough people quit that I have a pretty good idea that it's not a whole lot easier than kicking narcotics.

[bearfan454]

2. I used Zyban. It helped a lot.

It is the same thing as Wellbutrin Sr. I smoked for 25 years. I haven't had one in 4 years.

[Richardo]

Courage, Big...

Kudos on quitting during an intense deadline and going into the holiday season. (Stacking the deck a little, no?) :D

Unfortunately I can't help with the WD symptoms, just wanted to lend my support. Vent away. :thumbsup:

[BigMcLargehuge]

7. deadline came after I started the quitting

damn fate and its fickle finger

[Richardo]

19. We are proud to present you with the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award

:D

[realFedUp]

3. It takes about a week to get off caffeine

hang in there...better than getting cancer.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. You are almost there Big. I am really proud you are able to do

this. One more day, and the shakes will be gone...though not the cravings. Keep it up!! :)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. drink Yarba mate...it helps...you can get it at health food store

[silverlib]

6. I'm on day five

and typing away. Hang in there. Now, I have to tell you my mood is not so good. My fourteen year-old would love for me to start smoking again. Once I stopped shaking, I bang those keys really hard, so figure I'll need a new keyboard soon. I work at home, so have always lit up while typing. It' s terrible association to break. Best to luck!

I'm going to need a lot of luck, too. I was breaking two packs a day.

[BigMcLargehuge]

never smoked more than a pack a day,

but I too work at home so can empathize... boy it's hard to stay focused here while I'm vibrating like an electric football game, and in the room where I used to smoke AND work all day long.

Now all I have is work... Blah!!!

Hang in there silverlib!!!!!

[pink_poodle]

28. Good for you silverlib!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -nm

:

[Catfish]

29. You sound like me

I work at home and always light up at my desk, my smoking has been escalating and I'm sick of it. I'm aiming to quit on December 1, not sure why that date but I hope I make it.

[silverlib]

50. Good luck and I know you can do it!

I know I can do it, too - but, I'll never say it's a piece of cake. I quit (made it 10 days) last September with someone else here on DU and got some info from quitnet.com. It's as good a web site as I have found for support and I highly recommend it. My thoughts are with you and me and anyone else going through this stuggle. My longest "quit" is two years, five years ago. My husband quit at the same time and did not start back. Good luck to you!

[LuLu550]

8. I'm not a smoker but all I can say is..

hang in there! Smoking kills! My 57 year old editor is in critical condition after suffering a stroke related to her heavy smoking.
So while I have no words of advice, I have words of encouragement. It's a hard habit to break....good luck!
:yourock:

[prolesunited]

9. Just hang on

you're almost through the worst of it. You can make it!!!

The first three days were the worst, a week feels like a real milestone. After two, the cravings lessen considerably and after a month, I was already feeling better.

Sometime in that first month or two, you may develop intense coughing and hack up a few gross things, but it's just your lungs clearing out.

I'm about 1 1/2 years into being a non-smoker and it's wonderful. I can't believe how much better I feel!

You CAN do it!

[Aristus]

10. Not a smoker, but hang in there, buddy.

You can do it. I've lost too many people to lung cancer to just soft-pedal this issue. Stick with it. :thumbsup:

[bobja]

11. Good going! Be strong!

Congrats on quitting! I never had the shakes, though.

[Another Bill C.]

12. I can't remember shaking

but if you're drinking coffee, make it decaf. Nicotine and caffeine have some offsetting qualities. Without the nicotine to modify its effect, caffeine is free to have its way with you.

[BigMcLargehuge]

13. I do drink decaf

so it's not shaking via coffee.... hmmm.... maybe I was addicted to heroin and didn't know it?

the weird thing is, I don't want a cigarette, I just want to stop shaking...

[OneBlueSky]

14. congratulations . . . hang in there . . .

I hope to be joining you soon . . . it's just getting too expensive, in every meaning of the word . . .

[jus_the_facts]

15. Best of luck to ya BMc.....

.....keep on keepin' on...get the patches they will take away the urges! :)

[meti57b]

16. the worst is over!!! you are well on your way to having quit!

In the years to come, you'll be so glad you did!

[catmandu57]

17. It takes a while for the craving to stop

The first week is a real bitch, I was so jumpy and edgy I damn near lost my girlfriend. Hang in there next week will be better, take it down to a minute if you have to, you can have a smoke in a minute, just not this minute, and keep it up till they go away. Get a candy cane to suck on, it'll give you something to fit in your hand and mouth like a cigarette, that'll help some.
Hang in there, when your sense of smell comes back and you smell how nasty tobacco smells, you'll thank yourself, good luck, rick.

[leftyandproud]

18. you need to compensate..

tonight, rent some videos to keep yourself occupied...You should be chewing gum 24/7 to keep busy...order your favorite pizza (triple pepperoni for me), buy a giant bottle of SWEET red wine...

chew the gum on your way to pick up the videos, wine, and pizza...
It should get you through tonight.
I heard nicotine is almost completely out of your system within 72 hours.

Stay strong.

[BigMcLargehuge]

21. can I substitute all of that for playing with my Son and his

Hot Wheels cars? It's helped me through the last three days and I haven't even threatened to kill anyone.

I think the more time I spend with my wife and son, the better I do... good we are all leaving for Thanksgiving tomorrow.

[TrogL]

22. Don't substitute food

for that matter don't substitute anything.

If you substitute food you'll gain 100 lb in no time.

[BigMcLargehuge]

26. nah, I already conquered the food demons

back about two years ago.

then the coca cola monster... a full year ago.

I am trying to do the fruit and water thing when it's really bad. So far though, aside from the shaking, I've been okay. Not craving a cigarette, just wanting the shakes to stop so I can get to work.

[wysimdnwyg]

43. I substituted chewing gum

Almost four years later, I'm addicted to gum. But, it's a hell of a lot cheaper, and I can always buy new teeth.

[pink_poodle]

20. Cold turkey. 6 months later I do not look back........................

The first 3-5 days are the worst. I tried the patch for 2 days and it was stupid so I just went cold turkey and got it over with. Holed up for a week and went nuts.

As each day went by, I just kept saying to myself that it will get easier and to start smoking again, meant that I would again have to go through the horrid withdrawals. Each day got me one day closer to standing on my own two feet. Just go one day at a time. Don't think about each hour passing. Go one day. Each morning get out of bed with a mantra that today is a piece of cake......... Set small goals like that, not saying a week or month - just one day.

Get some Mentos or gum (I hate chewing gum) so I got things like seedless grapes and would eat 4 grapes at a time to keep my mouth busy........

I was doing needlepoint to keep my hands busy but you could do something like solitaire or shuffle cards kinds of thing.......just keep going.

6 months later, I can be around smokers now. At first I asked my sister, etc., not to smoke in my house because I was in the early stages of quitting, so no problem - lived in a smoke free home and it helped also. Now I can be near smokers - I still feel a bit tempted but I just think back to that first week and shudder.........it will help you if you think of your week in hell.....see what I mean....

Keep going. One more day. You CAN DO IT. I started smoking when I was 12. Quit 3 times over the years (once for 5 years) so I am/WAS a long time addict. YOU can do it too. It is horrible and so hard, but just tell yourself about how your hair will be clean and your mouth and all that extra cash. Whee!!!!

[BigMcLargehuge]

24. thanks pink poodle

:)

[pink_poodle]

27. Reward yourself each time you resist that urge................

Get those grapes or whatever and stuff your mouth.....keep chewing.....and the money you save on the ciggies - go spend it at first on CD's and soon you will see how much cool stuff you can have if you don't waste the cash on the ciggies.........Reward yourself every hour.....go one day at a time - think about that clean hair and clean clothes, clean house..... The worst is really over if you have gone 3 days now. CONGRATS YOU NON SMOKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[politicat]

23. Honestly, Best advice I have (and I'm 14 weeks quit as of today) is to

masturbate or have sex.

No, this isn't a way to convert to a sex thread.

Here's the rationale, which I couldn't ever publish as a shrink, but it does seem to work and it did work for others I've mentioned it to. Nicotine is a dopamine mimic - it causes the dopamine in your brain to release and fill all those nice dopamine receptors.

Zyban (buproprion or Wellbutrin) is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor (meaning you have more free floating dopamine in your brain, filling those nice dopamine receptors and making you feel good.

Orgasm releases dopamine.

The more dopamine you have in your brain, the better you feel, the less likely you are to be shaky.

You could eat chocolate, spinach (if you like it) or oysters. They do the same thing in smaller amounts.

There's a reason it feels good.

Hang in there, Best wishes,

Politicat. (Who is cheering you on from the sidelines - you'll feel so much better!!)

[onebigbadwulf]

25. Two weeks

and your withdrawal symptoms will vanish. The cravings, however, will take much much longer.

This is the ugliness of falsely triggering the brain's reward circuitry.

[tridim]

30. I envy you for going cold turkey

I'm working on my 3rd week using nicotine lozenges. They make it easy to quit, but just as easy to start up again from past experience. If you can get through cold turkey, you'll be better off. If not, get your ass down to the drug store and buy some type of nic-replacement. Just don't start smoking again!

[Scottie72]

31. Congradulaltions!!!!

The worst is almost over!!

I am now almost 3 years being a non-smoker. I started back in college during my sophmore year. (1992) It gradually increased to a pack a day in about a year. I probably smoked a pack a day (more or less) till about Jan. 1 2001. (There were periods of Months and at one point I stopped for a year)

Anyway the harderst times were when I would be doing something that I would assciociate with smoking and for awhile I would have to avoid those situtations. I have to give credit to you trying to quit while working at home where you can work and smoke at the same time.

The craving do in fact start to become more and more infrequent. Here I am almost three years later and I still will have an INTENSE craving to have a cigarette. (It usually only lasts a few minutes and then goes away) My problem is that I truely enjoyed smoking. There were so many times during the day that I looked forward to "that" cigarette (after dinner, first with a cup of coffee, etc )

Take it hour by hour and even minute by minute.... you'll soon be taking it day by day. You will begin to feel much better, if you haven't started to feel better already.

Get active!! You are going to need to get a bit more active to avoid some weight gain. When I quit I began to eat a bit more (not much but enough) and wound up gaining 30lbs within the first year after quitting. I really started to go to the gym to work out and now two years later I have lost about 35lbs (for a net loss of 5lbs.) I feel I am in the best health of my life.

:toast: here is to you! and your new life!

[Zomby Woof]

32. you picked a heckuva time to quit!

With the stressful holidays upon us, the only cold turkey you should be worried about are Thanksgiving leftovers!

Still, I guess anytime is a good time when it comes to health, so hang in there, and keep us posted. :toast:

[Booberdawg]

33. I've quit a couple times and don't recall any shaking

might be just thinking about it and being preoccupied with the idea?

Anyway after 3 days you should be through the worst of it. I wish you luck and hope you stick with it. :thumbsup:

[pdx_prog]

34. I smoked for 30 yrs...

quit cold turkey in March of this year. It never really bothered me until about 5 months into it. Craved that smoke in my lungs. Just tell yourself that you are comitted to "not smoking". If you think you are comitted and still want one, you are obviously comitted to continuing to smoke.

Hang tight...it gets better....

[truthspeaker]

35. Good luck man

Never tried to quit a drug that addictive myself. But I'm told the first 72 hours are the worst, so it should start getting better after today.

[Wickerman]

36. Hang in there Big!

I did it 4 years ago - tough stuff. Chew gum, distract the heck outta yerself - do things to break variety.

we're pulling for you!

[4323Lopez]

37. why are you doing it "old school"style?

Why don't you get some nicotine gum or patches. From two packs a day to nada, your asking for it...you need to bring that nicotine down slowly. Save yourself some heartache and headache. You're NOT a bigger hero if you just quit cold turkey, you family shouldn't have to suffer with you.

[BigMcLargehuge]

38. my family is okay

I am okay. I am going old school style because I am stubborn. I do pretty much everything old school.

For the record I haven't:

been snappy
screamed at anyone
lost my sense of humor
lashed out in anger

I am doing okay, i just need the shaking to stop so I can work.

[topherX]

39. Tell yourself, "I'm a non-smoker"

It sounds like your having a tough time after not smoking for three days. You shakes will most likely go away soon enough as you body adjusts to not having nicotene. You mentioned that you do not crave cigarettes. That has to be a relief. You may find yourself wanting a smoke in a week or month or later. Hang in there. Whenever you feel a strong desire to smoke, tell yourself that you are not a smoker.

Why did you decide to quit? Write down your reasons and carry those reasons with you. Whenever you want a smoke, pull out your list and remind yourself why you stopped.

Perhaps my smoking history will provide some inspirations. I've essentially stopped smoking since last January. I say essentially because I've smoke a dozen or so cigarettes since then. Shame on me. =)

I stopped smoking three times in the last three years. I would quit for a few months and then begin again. This time I hope to stop for good.

I stopped smoking when I had a bad case of bronchitis. At the time, I did not feel like smoking anyways so quiting was that much easier. I didn't get the shakes. I experienced strong cravings a month after I quit. I still want a smoke at times, especially when I'm stressed.

In the last ten months, I chew nicotene gum regularly. Chewing the gum replaced my smoking habit. I enjoy the nicotine without the other nastiness of smoking. I spend more money buying gum than I spent smoking. I smoked about a pack a day. My next step is to stop chewing the gum.

In the end, I don't want to be a slave to my addiction to smoking. That inspires me. What's your inspiration?

Here's a couple weblinks about quitting smoking:

http://www.quitbuddies.org/

http://www.quit.co.nz/


You can do it!

TopherX

[BigMcLargehuge]

40. thanks for the encouragement topherX

I am okay.

I have a few reasons for quitting. Most importantly I have a young son, and I don't want to die before he grows us. I want to be more competitive in Hapkido. I need to cut even more budget corners to we can have both heat AND food throughout the winter.

Those are my reasons, and I'm sticking to them.

:)

[topherX]

47. Here's to good health

You're welcome.

Setting a good example for your son sounds like a great reason to quit. I have two young boys. I would like to say that I quit for them. That was a secondary reason. I primarily quit to preserve my health. I've had multiple ear infections the past few years. Smoking only made things worse. Has it helped... That's debatable.

I'm happy to be hear that you can now afford heat and food. That's pretty funny.

Here's silly smoking story from my past. My wife and I decided to hike up a mountain trail a few years back. At the time, I smoked my usual pack a day. My wife had quit smoking for over a year. As we reached the top of the trail, my wife became extremely winded with exertion. As I breathed normally, I pulled a cigarette and puffed away. She went on to tell me how it wasn't fair.

What's Hapkido? Is it some form of martial arts?

TopherX

[BigMcLargehuge]

49. Hapkido is...

a Korean martial art started by Choi Yong Sool and based on Dan te ryu aki Jui Jitsu. rough on the joints.

[oxymoron]

41. Good for you BigMcLargehuge!

I started Zyban last week. My quit date is next monday.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

42. Could be worse

It could be 3 turkeys... cold days... cigarettes shaking... no hands. :crazy:

[lefty_mcduff]

44. I quit three weeks ago.

Before that, I 'scaled back' for three weeks (1 - 3 ciggies a day from a pack and a half for 26 years). I'm using the patch (though I fast tracked down to the lower mg one, and gum - the lower of the mgs - no point in ramping up nicotine intake). There have been a few really bad days when I've crawled the walls - a couple of days that I lectured my kids longer than I should have as I was feeling mildly bitchy. A week ago I noticed that my sense of smell was becoming more accute, and a few days ago I noticed how much better food tasted (especially anything salty). So far so good - actually found an old emergency smoke in my car yesterday (from months ago) and crushed it, and threw it out the window. Whenever I really want a smoke, I just remind myself why I quit -

1) Health issues (smoking seems like a really stupid way/reason to die). I'm 43 and don't want to have a heart attack at 50, or worse, a stroke or lung cancer
2) If I make it to an older age, I want to be relatively healthy, not dragging around an oxygen cylinder. My partner works with some older folks and the number of people who have bits cut off (legs, feet) as a result of smoking (circulatory problems) is frightening.
3) I want to have the moral high ground when/if my kids start smoking
4) My son seemed disappointed in my lack of will power when it came to the cigs. I quit drinking a few years ago and that impressed him. (I do like when my kids look up to me - so sue me).
5) The ridiculous expense (I would much rather spend the $$ on other frivilous things)

[moroni]

45. For me, the physical addiction took a week to get over

The psychological addiction took longer. Carrying, lighter, ashtrays, afterdinner smoking, etc.... Those are a little harder to get over.

I quit 15 years ago. Cold turkey. Never looked back. Everything tastes
better, Things don't stink with the smell of cigarettes (hair, clothes, house EVERYTHING). When things taste better you tend to eat more (oral substitution??) Exercise. You will never regret this.

Good luck!

One moment at a time will stretch to one second to one minute to....
well you get the idea. Find something else to do. Go walk, run, do pushups, yell, scream, whatever it takes. DO NOT ever pick up another cigarette.

Corinthians 3:16&17
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

[bloom]

46. good luck

:hi:

[veganwitch]

48. congrats on quitting

if you can manage the first 3 days (and you have) it only gets easier.

drink plenty of water and chew some gum.

[ronzo]

51. Hang in there, BigMcLargeHuge!

I haven't tried to quit in a couple of years, but I've quit so many times it ain't funny. :)

Day 3 is always the make or break day for me. Hang in and you'll be over the hump, I think.

Best of luck.
ronzo