Quit Smoking

[flatfloor]

I quit smoking today, so don't cross me! This may not be the best time to do it, but I always find an excuse. Sooo here I go.

The last time I tried this I quit for 30 days, thought I was doing great, had a drink or two lit up and my kids cheered, said I was a perfect Bear the whole time. This was before all the information about smoking was available.

[Edited by flatfloor on 09-17-2001 at 02:59 PM]

[Sponsored Links]

[Bill]

Best of luck Jim!

[cx]

Good on you Jim!

First thirty one years are the hardest - so far.

In truth, the greatest danger is your becoming a radical, obnoxious anti-smoker when you find out just what a filthy habit you used to have. Oh, yeah, it can happen.

There ain't NO DOWNSIDE to quitting! You email me I'll give you all my phone numbers. You call me anytime, day or night, and I'll remind you what a good thing you're doing. It's not easy, but it's worth it.

Hang in there!

[John Bridge]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is a down side. When I quit (over three years now) I doubled my intake of beer. Wait a minute, maybe that's not a down side after all. . .

Here's the good side. I get about one cold per year, where I used to have them every other week.

I can breathe and smell things 100% better.

Coffee tastes like coffee (and of course, beer tastes like beer.)

My cardiologist thinks he's somebody for getting me to quit.

[flatfloor]

Thanks for the encouragement guys, Kelly email on the way.

[John Bridge]

Hold it. I was making jokes, but this is serious stuff.

Jim, I used those patches -- forget the name -- the ones you see in the drug store. They want you to spend about $300 over the course of a couple months, but it's not necessary. I used only the initial package, which is supposed to last two weeks.

The first week I used the patches whole. Then I cut them in half for about a week. I actually started cutting them in quarters, but then I came to my senses. Had two or three patches left when I quit using them.

I don't know whether it's scientific or in your mind, but it worked for me. That, and several truck loads of beer, of course. :D

[cx]

You gonna be soooooo glad you did!

Didn't have those patches when I quit. Just had to cold turkey it. Not fun. Not easy. One of the most worthwhile things I've ever done.

Hang in there!

[cx]

Listen up y'all!

Flatfloor done figgered up how much dinero he's afixin' to save in the next year on accounta he quit smoking, and it's a whole gaggle!

I'm sure he's gonna want to out-do Johns fall party over to Mt. Houston, by invitin' everbody up to his place next summer for an even BIGGER party. Boy gonna be able to by more beers than even John and RobZ can drink! Oh, yeah, he gonna have large dinero.

I don't think he has set the date yet, but I'm sure he'll let us all know. Prolly he'll save the goodest beer for thems as gave him the most support whilst he was a-quitin'.

Ain't that right, Jim Boy? :D

[Rob Z]

Jim

You have my FULL support!

Z

[John Bridge]

[Patti, I'm not going to reply to this thread anymore. Maybe the heat is off, and they're going to converge on Long Island instead of here. Let's just hope for the best.]

[flatfloor]

Uh-Uh John, we are talking about next year, you are still numero uno for this year.

Kelly you get your own barrel!

John, yes I am on the "patch" 21mg then it cuts down to 11mg then to zero. I am not paying for them, they are provided by NY State and my county from funds realized from the Tobacco Settlement.

Interesting note, we received a print out of how much money each county in NY received and how much each county put into a tobacco program. Not surprising was how many haven't put a dime into a preventative program. The money just disappeared.

Thanks again guys.

[Edited by flatfloor on 09-21-2001 at 01:23 PM]

[John Bridge]

Okay, guess I might as well emerge from hiding.

I am amazed that your local government put ANY money into the smoking thing. Nobody's publicizing any programs around here that I know of. Texas got a huge chunk.

[cx]

Give us a progress report, flatfloor.

After that post over to the computer side, some of us is a bit worried about you.

Sure you didn't get the wrong kinda patch down there to the county office?

[flatfloor]

CX, doing well thank you, nothing now for two days. I think I have replaced smoking with a new hobby, collecting viruses, or should that be virae? What is the plural of virus, viri? Veni, Viri, Vici.

[Bud Cline]

Good luck big guy. I'm envious so far.

Quiting smoking is easy....I've done it thousands of times.

(I stole that from somebody.)

[cx]

Jim Boy, maybe you're gettin' them viruses from them patches the county is giving you. :D

[Ron]

Jim "the quitter"

How's the non-smoking going?If you are successful,please let us know how you went about it.

I have been a smoker since the age of 20 and it's been a real thorn in my side.I'd probably be married now if I didn't smoke.On the other hand,maybe that's not such a bad thing...Anyway,rooting for ya.

[Bud Cline]

I'm a smoker and been married for centuries. Where'd I go wrong?







Sorry Laura Lee".....
"ouch"..."ooch"..."ouch"..."ouch"..."ooch"......

[cx]

Hey, Ron, there are a whole gaggle of better ways to stay un-married. Oh, yeah, there really are.

I suggest you start quittin' today, on accounta Jim(I ain't no drug addict)Buckley has started somethin' here and you wanna get in line before Bud.

Anybody tells you it's easy is not your friend, nor an honest person.

Anybody tells you it's worth the pain is both.

C(used to be addicted myownself)X :)

[Bri]

Hi
Yeah..Time to give up the smokes Ron...tile guys suck enough bad things into their lungs without adding ciggy's to the mix...

[flatfloor]

Before I go any further, let me remind everybody that two weeks without smoking does not make me an expert.

The most important thing about quitting smoking is YOU HAVE TO WANT TO QUIT not because someone else wants you to.

I am fortunate in that I got into a program that provides me with medications that aids in quitting smoking. I am using a combination of Zyban and the nicotine patches John mentioned. I get them free, but even if you have to pay for them, the cigarette money you save will pay for them. BTW, I'm curious, what does a pack of butts cost in Canada these days?

Do a search for "quit smoking" there's lots of good stuff on the net. Some of which will motivate you and some will give tips on how to. A few:

Break your routine.
Don't sit around with morning coffee, smoke while on the phone? Doodle instead. Smoke while driving? Bring some candy along. Smoke after sex? Quit sex. OK, OK, forget the last one. Smoke after meals? Get up, do something take a walk; your dog will love it.

Pick a date to quit and then tell everyone you know.

CX said it, it won't be easy, and you have to be motivated. If you quit and light up, get back on the horse, it's not the end of the world.

Big thing that helped me, the urge to smoke only lasts 7 minutes! Do deep breathing, occupy your mind, and keep busy. It will go away. If you get someone like Kelly for encouragement it's a big help. Your significant other can be a big help as long as it's not in the form of nagging, and yes, guys can be nags.

As I think of other stuff, I'll pass it along

[Bud Cline]

Hey Jim,

Zyban AND nicotine patches?

No wonder your so damned happy. I think your over stimulated, better have a cigarette and calm down some.

About eight years ago I tried the patches. At the same time my partner was also using the patches. We both had the same routine and weren't much help for one another. We wore a patch and we smoked. Realizing the patches weren't working (so to speak) we decided to wear two patches. So we did. And we continued to smoke. It wasn't long before we together had used up $600 worth of patches and smoked up $300 worth of cigarettes. We didn't quit smoking but boy could we work. We could complete more work in a short period of time than anyone we had ever known.

Then he had a heart attack and as a result did quit smoking. He's alive today and a non-smoker. Lucky bastard.

[flatfloor]

If you smoke and use the patch, you run the risk of a heart attack.

If you smoke after sex you run the risk of setting the bed on fire.

If you set the bed on fire you run the risk of smoking after sex.

[Bud Cline]

Hey Jim,

.....remember when we used to set the bed on fire during sex???

Now all we can do is set back, have a smoke and a beer and reminisce.

I know I know; speak for yourself Bud.

[flatfloor]

Barely

[cx]

Well, the sex ain't s'more of our bidness, but how goes the un-smoking?

EVERYBODY LIKES A QUITTER! :D

[flatfloor]

Still hangin in there, tonight is last meeting of our group until 1 month reunion. Not sure if it's my imagination but it seems a little easier.

[Bud Cline]

Hey Jim,

I joke but I'm rootin' for ya, I know what your up against.

[cx]

Hey, jump on the ol' wagon whilst it's in the neighborhood, Bud.

We'll be happy to rag on your ass too!

Equal opportunity nag, that's ol' CX. :D

[Bud Cline]

I haven't decided to quit (again) yet, but when I do you guys will be the second to know.

[chip]

I haven't been around much lately, but when did Bud and Jim come out of the closet?

What with all this talk about the 2 of em' setting the bed on fire during sex, and asking each other if they still remembered?

Hey, smoke em' if you got em'!!

[Bud Cline]

There's a lot you don't know about Bud and Jim, hell we go way back.

[cx]

Yo, flatfloor, how 'bout a report?

I ain't seen no smoke signals. :)

[flatfloor]

I have been meaning to, still hanging in there nobody has threatened me with a gun yet, and the dog hasn't bit me yet.:)

The gun bit, reminded me of a thread I meant to start.

[Bud Cline]

Almost a month since your announcement Jim...

How's it goin'???

http://www.unknown553.f2s.com/YaBBImages/smilies/smoke.gif

[flatfloor]

Thanks for asking. I'm still hanging in there. I'm at the point where I go on a lower dose nicotine patch. According to the plan I have to get over the mental part first, then the physical dependancy for nicotine. So far so good. I don't want to have to admit to you guys I failed so that's a good motivator, but not the primary one. Thanks again

[cx]

Good on you, Jim.

Major motivator for me when I quit was that I told all my friends I had quit. Pride is a pretty tough thing for me to swallow - never had to on that one.

By the way, now that Cami has us all trained, this is what happens to you if you backslide: http://www.avonlea.f2s.com/emoticons/bash.gif

[Bud Cline]

Congrats Jim, this may be the motivation I need to try it again.

[flatfloor]

Go for it Bud, you can do it and I really think I'm starting to feel better physically.

[Bud Cline]

Yeh the "feel better" is what everyone says. I'll think on it.

I would have to do what cx did and announce to the world what I was doing, then and only then would I feel some committment.

In the past when I've made this decision I've kept it to myself so as not to be embarassed when I failed. AND THAT DON'T WORK!

[flatfloor]

Why do you think I posted it here?

[cx]

You're right, Bud, if you don't burn all them bridges it means you plan to use one of'em to retreat. Gotta give yourself no choice at all, except the right one.

Never be a better time. http://www.freakygamers.com/smilies/s/otn/other/bandit.gifhttp://www.avonlea.f2s.com/emoticons/smash.gif

[Bud Cline]

"Well I just got a few more things to get out of the way first".http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/images/icons/icon11.gif

(been sayin' THAT for decades)

[John Bridge]

You and Patti. Can't make her stop. She's afraid she'll gain weight (and she will), but hey . . .

[flatfloor]

Tell Patti the average weight gain is 10 lbs. Substitute sugar free candies.

Besides she can easily work that off mixing mud for you.

[John Bridge]

Patti doesn't do mud.

[Sonnie Layne]

After all this, I'm thinking of quiting my own self. Did it once for 5 months. I was realizing all the great things and slipped a few days and all bets were off. Same ol' story.

Hypnotized once, his schmeel (under hypnosis) was to convince you that you used to smoke. Good idea, probably would have worked had his secretary not told me about it before I arrived for my appointment.

By the way... smoking after sex will kill your libido right quick. Fact. Ain't gonna be no "Mr Two Times" for some time after you light up. Hell that should be reason enough for me.

Been having a hard time with other issues in my life, got 'em just about under control. Might be a good time. I've already limited my intake to the kitchen.

Someone told JJ one day they were surprised that she took up with a smoker. I asked my sweetie "How the hell did they know that?" reply; "She smelled it". I was embarrassed. JJ is umm I guess you'd say a social smoker. Maybe once every 3 months or so if a group of us is out for martinis she'll have a cigarette or two usually not.

Anyway, I got to thinking about this odor thingy and brought it up to her again. She said her clothes (we just did inventory for insurance, her clothes scoped out at just under $42K) were smelling like smoke too, but she said she'd
never ask me to stop because of that. So to the kitchen I went, with a can of Ozone spray to kill the odor.

Speaking of Zyban... another name for it is Welbutrin which is an antidepressant. It was recently added to the arsenal of drugs prescribed for me and I've found it quite easy not to smoke on a non-smoking job site. Probably down to 1/2 pack from 2.

So.. I'm thinking of a date. My birthday has past. JJ will be going to FL for 2 weeks over Thanksgiving holiday. Not sure if that would be a good time or not. Maybe give her a surprise when she returned if I were clean. It's also our anniversary (while she's gone). Maybe there's something there. On the other hand I'm wondering if a bit of support from her would help. Naaaa, excercise and lots of salad is probably more support.

geez, sorry for the space and time, my mind's just wandering.

s

[cx]

Good lord, man! If I inventoried my tool trailer for insurance purposes, I couldn't come up with $42K!! And It's a big ol' trailer! What do that girl wear? Didn't nobody never tell her it's ok not to wear nothin' sometimes? Damn!

One word of unsolicited advice: Don't be worrying about scheduling your quitting to coincide with a time when everything in your life is going well - do it tomorrow. If everything is going well, that just means anything negative that happens will be a downer. Forget it. Just do it. At the worst part of life is going to be the easiest time 'cause you got plenty other things to occupy your mind.

As for picking a date, tomorrow happens to be the 19th of October, 2001, a very auspicious date if that's the day you quit smoking for good. A very find date, indeed.

JJ wasn't putting you on about the smell, by the way. I can tell you if someone is smoking two cars up at a stop light on a nice day, one car back at highway speed for cigars. Can detect smokers not smoking at least five feet away on a calm day. Truth.

Jump on the old bandwagon, Sonnie. You can sit right next to Bud. Jim will drive, I'm sure. Me and the other guys will all cheer as y'all go by, sure enough.

C(been there, done that)X http://www.freakygamers.com/smilies/s/otn/angry/director.gif

[flatfloor]

I'd be proud to be the chauffer.

[Cami A]

Come on, Sonnie, get to it. Today IS a good day to quit. Ya, Ya, I know...you just bought a pack, a carton, a new lighter, whatever. So, are you sitting there with your arms crossed shaking your head yet? Ok, then, quit smoking in your house AND your van. Make it darned inconvenient to fire one up. You don't smoke in your customers' houses, right? Doesn't your loving wife deserve that, too? I bet she'd like to snuggle up to a man who doesn't smell like an ashtray....

:D Damn, aren't us exsmokers the WORST naggers? :D

[flatfloor]

Sonnie, I promised Kelly I wouldn't become a nag about this and I won't. You won't quit successfully until your ready. Somebody bugs you or nags you it won't work. Sounds Like JJ is a smart lady and realizes this. I can tell you there will never be a perfect time to quit. Ask your self if you really enjoy them or is it just a habit? I smoked when there were problems, when things were going great, or worst of all, if I was bored.

[John Bridge]

Guess I've already said whatever it was I said about smoking. Did I mention the money? I can buy a lot of cheap beer for the price of a couple packs nowadays.

[flatfloor]

In NY you can buy some good beer. $4.75 a pack if I don't get them at a discount from the tax free Indian reservation.

[Sonnie Layne]

Believe me I'm determined.

Currently undergoing some changes in medication that have me squandering for anything resembling sanity. Sounds like an excuse I know. World is full of 'em. Took me half a day to mix 2 wheelbarrows of mud because I wasn't sure what size shovel I should use and if the 'barrow had the right profile. Sick, huh? Then I stood over my "fasteners kit" where I store anything that attaches anything to anything and drew a blank...should I use roofing nails? If so what length? Or should I use lath nails and bend 'em over like I've seen done, if so, what size? Went to Subway for a sandwich and couldn't tell 'em what I wanted, finally just said "fix me what you like". Left without my change. Went to the grocery to buy chicken to cook for tonight, but there were too many choices so I came home empty and cooked something else though there's no name for it. We ate it. I was good.

Can't drink right now either, so that helps. Tough to have a bourbon/water w/o smokes.

At any rate, I've signed up for a study from UCSF for cessation and following their study's advice for what you can do to get ready. Getting ready is about the limit for me right now. But I'm goin' at it hard from that viewpoint/limitation.

She's not my wife, yet.

Let me get over this hump with the meds, increase my excercise a bit, refine my diet (tho' I'm not sure how), I want desperately to succeed this time.

Thanks guys/gals/folks,
S

[Bud Cline]

Hey Sonnie, RELAX, I'll tell you what, hang in there and keep smokin', and get your other ducks in a row. Then...on November 8 you and I can (face to face) devise a plan to quit at the same time and make the plan public knowledge here on the board. We'll let these guys do the shin kickin' if we get out of line and are honest enough to admit it.

[flatfloor]

If you go on Zyban it takes 7 to 10 days to kick in, during that time you may smoke.

[cx]

Sounds like a good plan, Bud.

Just remember, twas only flatfloor promised not to nag!

Me, I'll do/say most anything if I think it will get someone to kick that habit. My phone numbers will be available to you guys too for late night counseling. Jim never did take advantage of the service, musta found it was easier that he expected.

You gonna take him up on it Sonnie?

Maybe we can get John to pewt a no-smoking restriction on the site! http://www.freakygamers.com/smilies/s/otn/angry/director.gif

[cx]

Jim:

What is Zyban, and how is it supposed to work?

[Bud Cline]

Got a box of expired Zyban on the shelf now. Doesn't work without a strong dose of "want to" to go along with it.

[Sonnie Layne]

Kelly,

Zyban is also prescribed as Welbutrin, a nice anti-depressant. I'm not exactly remembering which chemicals it affects, I'm thinking the seratonin uptake sites. One result is it greatly reduces anxiety levels. Takes about 7-10 days to get built up in your system. Its anti-anxiety effect is what is supposed to help with some of the side effects of nicotine withdrawal.

[flatfloor]

Kelly, Sonnie described Zyban pretty well.

The reason I didn't call is not because I'm finding it so easy, it's really because I am a pain in the ass to get me to pick up a phone.http://www.unknown553.f2s.com/YaBBImages/smilies/ass.gif

[cx]

I'd never heard of Zyban, nor heard that antidepressants could be used to kick the habbit. Do they use that for other habbits too, like alcohol, or is it somehow connected to nicotine use?

The "patch", now that actually doses you with nicotine, does it not?

Do you use both methods together, or just one or the other?

Bud: One of your comments back a little ways was right on the money, I think. Without plenty of "want to", I doubt that any of that stuff is going to be of much help. I know that with enough want to you can do it without anything else, but I'm absolutely sure it ain't gonna work the other way.

[Bud Cline]

I've known for years I should quit. With the exception of hypnosis I've tried everything. Nothing has done it for me. There's nothing wrong with using those aids, but that's all they are I think. It takes plenty of will power, a trmendous amount in my case.

I also believe some people are better hooked than others. If smoking causes certain death ( and I'm not convinced it does) then it's too late for me anyway.

I am now also convinced that I will just simply feel better among other improvements in my health and lifestyle but unfortunately I am still of the feeling I just plain like to smoke.

I am approaching yet another serious attempt at quiting, however, I have run out of ideas as a means of personal discipline techniques which I need to pull it off. This is why I challenged (so to speak) Sonnie. I'm thinking the internet could help me to help myself quit for real this time.

Anybody got a lite?

[Ron]

Bud,

My sentiments exactly.I could've written the same almost word for word.It's a real dilemma,this addiction.And I've only smoked for 10 years.Started late.....yeah,I know,...stupid.

[Sonnie Layne]

"Anti-depressant" is a generic term used to define several genera of medications that alter the chemical balances or receptor sites of chemicals in the brain.

Welbutrin belongs to one of these groups. Don't make me look it up with my blood work, please. At any rate, no... not just any A-D will relieve anxiety. If the disorder is psychological rather than chemical no drug will help the cause but may eleviate some of the symptoms. If I'm not mistaken Welbutrin alters the dopamine levels (could be seratonin, I won't swear, too much to remember) and that results in a decrease of the symptoms applied to anxiety. Therefore it's not tied to just nicotine, but breaking any habit where withdrawal results in anxiety disorders as far as I know. It is however much more than an anti-anxiety. Most any depressant is good for the symptoms... beer included, hahhaa.

[cx]

Bud:

It's not so much that it will kill you (It will, of course), something gonna kill us every one, but it's the method of dying that should capture your attention. Watched (actually didn't have the balls to watch, but witnessed) my daddy die that way. Emphysema. No good.

To help in getting you ready for the quitting, let's make two lists here:

1. Benefits and good points about smoking tobacco.

2. Hazzards and negatives about smoking tobacco.

Don't have to do it all by your onesies, everybody will help. You go first. May the better side win! http://www.freakygamers.com/smilies/s/otn/angry/director.gif

[Sonnie Layne]

OK, I'll bite. tongue in cheek-- I know this is serious, but...

Benefit #1: You always have a fire to burn off those loose threads on your clothes.

[Bud Cline]

Sonnie,

Your all over the field here lately. I'm beginning to feel like I'm watching a -not so funny- episode of Frazier.

Anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, depression (self induced), feeling of impending doom around every corner, shortness of breath, heart palpitations???

Are you also reading the obituaries daily to check the ages of the deceased in your area?

Boy have I got a shrink for you. Brought me out of it in about 18 months.

This is the honest to God's truth: I was so freaked at one point that I had a full blown panic attack that sent me to the hospital emergency room. I thought I was having a heart attack. Just to be sure I wasn't, I stayed on a heart monitor for three days in the hospital.

My doctor wrote me a "prescription for an ash tray" in my room. This is no shit. The nurses had to give me an ash tray so I could smoke, IN BED. The Doc knew I was a smoker so to ease my anxiety and level the playing field for additional tests, he insisted they allow me to smoke at will.

From the sounds of things, and you ain't tellin' it all at this point, but from the sounds of things, this is probably something you can handle yourself believe it or not.

I am now amazed at how easy it was to get over once it was all explained to me.

[Sonnie Layne]

no shortness of breath or heart palpitations. And please explain "self induced". Is it your understanding that clinical depression is a self-induced condition?

[flatfloor]

I'd never heard of Zyban, nor heard that antidepressants could be used to kick the habbit. Do they use that for other habbits too, like alcohol, or is it somehow connected to nicotine use?

Kelly I really don't know, except to say Glaxo-Welcomm (mfr) only promotes Zyban for smoking.

The "patch", now that actually doses you with nicotine, does it not?

Yes it does, when you start the dosage is based on the number of cigarettes you smoke/day. The idea is to gradually lower the dosage until your weaned from the nicotine addiction.

Do you use both methods together, or just one or the other?

Together, starting with Zyban and continuing to smoke for 5 to 10 days, then starting with the patch at which point you quit.

Bud: One of your comments back a little ways was right on the money, I think. Without plenty of "want to", I doubt that any of that stuff is going to be of much help. I know that with enough want to you can do it without anything else, but I'm absolutely sure it ain't gonna work the other way

Right on! Without want to forget it. Even with these aids success rate is only about 10% higher than cold turkey. They just make transition easier. Want To is the cheapest and most effective.

[John Bridge]

This is immensely interesting. I've been depressed, but I've always been able to work my way out of it. The root of my depression (for the most part) has always been a lack of cash. It has always affected me most severely when I was about to go bankrupt. :D

A few patches worked for me, but I did decide I wanted to quit.

Now someone please tell me how to deal with the beer belly I've acquired as a direct result of having quit smoking. :D

[cx]

But non, mon cher! Zee beer belly is zee direct result of drinking zee beer, not of quitting zee smoking.

That eez, how you say, zee excuse, non? :D