This Sunday = 6 months since I quit smoking cigarettes

[Mizmoon]

Hubby is going to take me out to dinner to celebrate, but I'd rather celebrate with a carton :) I still miss the damn cancer sticks.

[rfranklin]

1. That's your addiction talking....

don't listen!

[ewagner]

2. Congratulations!

I know how hard it is.

I gave up my pipe (involuntarily) 20 weeks ago. I still reach for it out of habit.

Keep strong....you're doing very well. :toast: :toast:


:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

3. I actually puked my guts out last night because of cigs

Sometimes I smoke so many cigarettes in such a short period of time I actually get a horrible headache followed by upset stomach...HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT QUITING...HOW DID YOU DO IT???????? HEEELLLLPPPP!!!

[purr]

6. I did it cold turkey this time..

tried wellbutrin last time and it made me sick and dizzy.. I also told myself that I dont need the shit and to knock it off. Works wonders if you have a strong will.

[Mizmoon]

8. I lay awake at night, on my back, touching my ribs

and imagining what it would be like to need a piece of my lung removed. I imagined the IVs, the surgery, the stitches, the pain, the blood, the lack of sympathy cause I did it to myself. I repeated it every night for about a year. I tried to quit and failed about 100 times, including one time when I made it to two weeks and then gave in. Then it worked. The time was right.

It's all in your head. Even the "physical addiction" part - it's not really like heroin. You can control it if you really want to.

[LostinVA]

22. Cold turkey was the ONLY thing that worked for me

You need a great support system of people, though, and great willpower. DO NOT SMOKE!!!! NO MATTER HOW YOU WANT IT!!! It does get much better. After 10 years, I don't even think about it. Sifter six months, you should be okay.

You give yourself nicotine poisoning. I used to do that, too. Nicotine is POISONOUS.

It is difficult, but doable. I smoked two packs a day for ten years.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. *hugs* Good job!

[purr]

5. Good job!!

Been 2 weeks for me now and I STILL want one.. Its almost like wanting a lobster dinner and having mcdonalds instead. I figure its better for me, my kids, and the one i'm carrying now.

Course, being diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (which i know isnt related to smoking) but still a heart condition helped me quit. I want to be around to see my first grandchild :)

[Mizmoon]

10. My God, are you going to be okay?

that sounds serious ...

[purr]

13. Im fine..

a lot of people have it and dont know they have it is what my cardiologist said.. If it wasnt for an EKG they wouldnt have known and sent me for an echocardiogram.

Only thing I need to do is take an antibiotic before any surgery or dental work..

Just an extra bump to keep me from smoking :)

[SnowGoose]

12. I'm sorry, friend, but your cat is *still* freaking me out!

What's its name?

You know, my job right now is studying the immune effects of cigarette smoke exposure. Most people tend to think of chronic diseases like cancer, emphysema, and heart disease as being the outcomes of cigarette smoke exposure, but often they do not realize that it also damages your immune system, making you more vulnerable to a wide variety of infectious disease (like flu and strep). And the effect is *fast* (I'm looking at 1-month exposures).

You probably also know that cigarette smoke also puts you at increased risk of miscarriage and preterm birth.

You're doing yourself (and everyone around you) a huge favor by quitting. Please don't give up.

[purr]

15. Her name is Osiris :)

My grandmother refuses to touch her or even come within a close proximity of my cat lol..

I noticed I got sick a LOT more when I was smoking... had bronchitis and a lot of other illnesses that I never thought of smoking related until I quit.

Only had one miscarriage and that was before I smoked and I know its better for everyone here. Even my bald cat :)

I'm holding on this time on quitting.. just have to get my stubborn husband to quit now!

[Telly Savalas]

16. After having quit two weeks ago...

the cigarettes won't "work" anymore. Your brain chemistry has changed to the point where having a smoke won't make things right again like it did when you were addicted. After 10 or 15 of 'em, and you're a slave of the tobacco companies again the Jones-Fix cycle will be restored, but why go to the effort? (At least this was my experience when I fell off the wagon.)

So stay on the path of righteousness!!!

Good job, and good job to Mizmoon too. :woohoo:

[GOPBasher]

7. Congrats on quitting!

My wife quit recently. I'm so proud of her. I can't even imagine how hard it is for you former smokers. I hear how addicting it is. Good job! :thumbsup:

[SnowGoose]

9. KUDOS !

I only smoked for about a year, and quitting was hell even then.

I remember this PBS show some years ago about calorie restriction as a way of extending lifespan. The guy was saying "sure I get hungry sometimes, but there's another hunger - the hunger to learn and grow and experience all life has to offer" (I'm paraphrasing).

That might be a good thing to keep in mind... you might get a nicotine craving from time to time, but remember and nurture your craving for seeing beautiful things, and hearing wonderful music, spending time with those you love deeply, reading wonderful books, traveling, smelling fresh spring air, crazy-good sex, spiritual pursuits if that's your thing. Would you really want to give up *all that* for a short-term nicotine fix?

I admire you and all the others that are on the same tough road.

Cheers.

[miss_kitty]

11. Good going!

I quit in 98 and I still miss 'em... I think some people never do lose that feeling, but I'd rather wrestle with that than the effects of smoking...:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[redqueen]

14. Congrats!

I used to smoke but the stuff makes me choke, now. I could never go back.

Kudos to you for kicking the habit. :toast:

[joeybee12]

17. Congratulations!

You'll probably never totally get rid of the craving--I am therefore sending you some added willpower!

[LostinVA]

18. Yay! Hang in there -- April 1 was 10 years for me

I still wanted a cigarette bad the first six months, although it had lessened quite a bit by the time one year came around. I didn't drink more than one beer at a time for the first year, though! And I DREAMED about smoking for about three years. Six months is GREAT! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[arwalden]

19. Congratulations! I'm Very Proud Of You...

... at this late date, you have beat your *physical* nicotine cravings. Any cravings you have from this point out are only *psychological* and can easily be overcome.

It's been almost three years for me (after about 24 years of smoking) and occasionally I miss them too. That feeling will come and go. You get used to it. Just don't act on it.

Keep up the good work!!!

-- Allen

[Left Is Write]

20. Good for you!

Don't let that addiction suck you back in! I've been quit almost seven years. I very, very, very rarely miss. Once in a great while I think, "A smoke would be nice." But the feeling passes pretty quickly, especially when I remind myself that I have not smoked at all this millennium - why start now? ;)

[arwalden]

21. Time Invested Is One Of My Motivators... The Other Is MONEY SAVED

My partner and I quit at the same time, and in about one year's time we had saved enough to buy a brand new "pop-up" camper RV. I'd much rather have the RV than NOT have had it and been smoking that entire year.

It really REALLY adds up!