It must and will be this time that i stop for good

[NaciravBanks]

What a WAKE UP CALL i recieved last night. I learnt that a close friend of mine is in hospital awaiting a bed in central london to undergo a major operation to repair a hole in his lung.

 

He woke up yesterday morning with chest pains and thought he was having a heart attack. Called ambulance who arived within a couple of minutes and whisked him off to hospital. had a scan of some sort that revealed a collapsed lung. they insurted a needle above his right nipple to release trapped air. It stopped after a few seconds. staff then made an incision between his ribs, under his right armpit, and incerted a tube into his chest cavity to release more air. He was awake throughout the whole procedure. He says the tube is now attached to a machine under his bed that "sucks" the air out periodicaly. He is 31 yrs old with a 6 yr old boy and his second child is due in 3 months.

 

I have "tried" to stop smoking before and failed. Now i feel a particular confidence in my abilty to quit that i have never felt before, clearly resulting from my friends missfortune. I ripped up all my tobacco paraphernalia last night and have quit.

 

I intend on updating this thread weekly as a added dimention of my determination that i may need in the future, even if its just a thumbs up!

 

To all you Caggers who have quit, Well Done & Congratulations! To those who are anticipating it, please join me and lets rid ourselves of this dirt and quit together

Edited September 18, 2009 by NaciravBanks

[callumsgran]

Good for you, we're behind you all the way

 

Nearly 2 yrs for me now

[pink1]

You can do it! If you struggle don't be afraid to get some help - hypnotherapy turned it off like flipping a switch for me! No cravings - nothing....

 

Keep posting, you'll get loads of support here!

[postggj]

i gave up in march

 

you can do it

 

the weed is all in the mind. i agree there is a small chemical addiction but get over the first few days.

 

no patches etc for me,

 

whatbi would recomend is get one of the inhalers, try with out the nicotine substitute first.

 

the reason for this is to keep the hands and mouth busy because of the habit.

 

you will turn to food otherwise.

i put on 2 stone.

 

even now i have times when i want a smoke, deep breath and its gone

 

the craving is no longer there but the memory is.

 

stopping smoking is realy easy

staying stoped is a whole new ball game

[NaciravBanks]

Day 2 and this is not easy at all... In the past I have stopped for several weeks at a time but always with the aid of patches (never felt like I actually stopped because I was still feeding my body nicotine and there was no cravings). When I came off the patches, I went back on the dirt. This time however, I am going cold turkey as I want to rid my body of nicotine once and for all.

 

It is hard but thinking of my poor friend in hospital and reading comments on here make it so so so much easier. Thank you for your kind words of support.

[Crapstone]

You aren't alone, someone else has also been inspired.

[postggj]

when you want a fag

go and make a coffee etc

 

just keep your mind occupied and off the weed

[NaciravBanks]

Day 3

 

Thanks for the replies.

 

I am feeling very snappy and irate as expected and I just pray that these feelings will go away soon.

 

Crapstone, that is excellent news, if I can do it, I guarantee you can also achieve a smoke free life. please keep us updated.

 

Postggi, The kettle is boiling as I type . Something else I am finding very soothing are seedless grapes! I hope i dont put on to much weight as a consequence

 

What an evil product cigarettes are! Education at all levels must be stepped up to spare generations of this misery

[postggj]

i ended up using celary sticks

0 calories in them

 

i was a pig with a sore head at work

 

there were times when i was told to start smoking again

 

they were great and allowed my temper tantrums

 

this will end after a few days

 

you have done three days

you can now do another three

[NaciravBanks]

Day 5

 

Going through absolute hell at times. Never in my life have i felt so tense and agitated at anything and everything that on any other day, i would have just deal with it as if it were a breeze. Deep breaths, grapes and long walks are helping a lot. Any hints or tips that will help me further in overcome these feelings please? Deep down i know i have broken up with cigarettes for good and i will never allow one to touch my lips again, but how long does the cravings last? it should start getting easier right? Thanks folks

[postggj]

Well The Nicotine Is Prob Out Your System By Now

 

From Now On Its All In The Mind

 

The Cravings Are A Bugger

I Wont Lie To You, Even Now, From Time To Time, I Smell A Fag And Think, I Could Do With One.

 

But Most Of The Time They Smell Foul, And I Mean Foul

 

As You Are At Day 5, It Will Get Easier By Every New Day, Believe Me.

 

I Was Once You, Remember That

 

Just Do Some Thing Different From Your Normal Routine

 

Even Now I Still Chew Cellary Sticks

 

0 Calories

[NaciravBanks]

I have lost count of what day i am on and dont actually believe it matters any more. I consider myself a non-smoker now and am very suprised at how easy a ride it has been. Get past the first 4-5 days and its home sweet home. Why i didnt stop earlier, i dont know. Prehaps it was because all my life i have been told that nicotine addiction is EXTREAMLY difficult to overcome and maybe i was afraid of the challenge. Yes, children need to be told this as a means of prevention (i was shown a video in primary school of a man who had to have his legs amputated from smoking. He was sat there smoking a fag as testimony to how difficult nicotine addiction is to break) but i believe it is equally as important for youngsters in particular to be told that nicotine addiction CAN be broken with ease... or is that just encouraging it? i dont know but what i do know is that stopping was a peice of cake!

 

Thanks for the support folks

[skegleg]

I have lost count of what day i am on and dont actually believe it matters any more. I consider myself a non-smoker now and am very suprised at how easy a ride it has been. Get past the first 4-5 days and its home sweet home. Why i didnt stop earlier, i dont know. Prehaps it was because all my life i have been told that nicotine addiction is EXTREAMLY difficult to overcome and maybe i was afraid of the challenge. Yes, children need to be told this as a means of prevention (i was shown a video in primary school of a man who had to have his legs amputated from smoking. He was sat there smoking a fag as testimony to how difficult nicotine addiction is to break) but i believe it is equally as important for youngsters in particular to be told that nicotine addiction CAN be broken with ease... or is that just encouraging it? i dont know but what i do know is that stopping was a peice of cake!

Thanks for the support folks

 

just want to say thank you and well done

i and my other half are trying to stop smoking and we find all these posts very inspirational, and help us tremendously.

thanks again and keep it up

[toddle2u]

what i do know is that stopping was a peice of cake!

 

Please don't get complacent on this. I have just done 11 weeks with the help of Champix. First 11 weeks seemed easy but for some reason I am really struggling now.

 

Be strong and keep it up.

Good Luck

[callumsgran]

Well done to you all, you've done really well

But dont get too complacent as toddle2u said as some days you will wake up and struggle

Keep up the good work and remember it only takes one puff to start again

[NaciravBanks]

Skegleg, Thank you. I am very glad to hear you are finding posts on here inspirational. You can stop if you want to, clearly you want to so please stop, it was as simple as that from my experience and i can guarantee i wont pick up a cigarette again .

 

Toddle2u, Thank you also. The way i see it, i have no choice but to be strong as i am sure you will be to. You are already there surly, 11 weeks! You can do it.

 

An update on my friends situation is as follows; (post-1)

 

He has been transferred to London Heart Hospital 4th Floor/Lungs, where he had the operation to seal the hole in his right lung and have the tube removed from between his ribs/chest cavity. He awoke from the general anaesthetic and was x-rayed a short while after. It was evident that his right lung was inflated (good news) so had a couple of local anaesthetic jabs around the tube to allow for it to be removed with as minimal pain as possible. This bit i didn't quiet understand fully as i was reeling from shock at what he told me next. He said that once the nurse pulled the tube out, air got back in, and another tube was inserted into his chest cavity. He is now awaiting the results of a further scan which will determine whether a further operation is required. His words were; "I have about 5 holes around my chest/back (keyhole) and a tube coming out of my chest, please stop smoking"

[NaciravBanks]

Thanks for the warning Callumsgran & toddle. You are right, just 1 puff is all it will take, and i more determined then ever to insure that puff never comes. We can do it people, we must do it!

[manc girl]

well done everyone, this is my 7th day without a ciggie, if you have the will power you can do it, congrats everyone

[reorete]

hi im on day 2 and jus feel so bad i usually smoke 30 a day but have gone 2 days and had 1 cigarette. im using the inhalator. i really want to stop but am feeling so weak . any tips guys to spur me on

[Tillysocute]

All i can suggest is to occupy yourself when you reel the urge to reach for a cigerette.Go for a walk,exercise,anything that steers you away from smoking.............

 

Dont think you have to go cold turkey either.I did it with Zyban and have never looked back.........It wasnt pleasant but i wanted to give up so much i put up with the side effects.........

 

STAY STRONG and think of all that money you are saving!!!!!!!!

 

xx

 

I was a 30 a day for 30 years so if i can do it any one can

Edited October 29, 2009 by Tillysocute
add on

[postggj]

go for a walk

make a cup of tea

the craving will go for a short time

get past the third day and all it is then is habit.

 

i stopped in march and have put on 2 stone in weight, its comming off now though.

 

its habit, a hand and mouth thing,

thats the cycle to break

 

i ended up chewing celary sticks

0 calories

[callumsgran]

Well done to everyone who has crushed the weed, in 30 days time it will be 2 yrs exactly for me and i've never looked back

[Crapstone]

It does get easier.....well done Callumsgran.