First day of a smoke free life.

[danielle86]

Hi all,

 

So i've been doing a lot of research into quitting smoking, as my previous attempts have failed. I've tried the e-cig, spray, gum, tablets and lozengers and they have either made me sick or gag or left me with dry mouth. Patches are a no go as i suffer from eczema so cant use them. So i've decided to go cold turkey.

 

Not had a cig since last night, so nearly 24 hours in, and i've got to say im feeling pretty good, and when i can distract myself i have no cravings at all.

 

I actually got to thinking that maybe these NRT's may be more of a problem than a solution, as your prolonging the nicotine addiction.

 

What do you guys think, anyone just gone cold turkey and suceeded?

 

Danielle.x

[renegadeimp]

It will take a few days for you to see the REAL changes. Depending on how much you smoked per day, youll see the withdrawal signs soon enough.

 

Thats the hardest part of quitting Getting through those few days. Once you make it past them, you're laughing.

[danielle86]

thats it, just those first few days are really hard.

 

Im just going hour by hour for now, and reminding myself why im doing it, and if needs be i'll go minute by minute.

 

Danielle.x

[Conniff]

I think you should visit the smoking clinic in your local practice, it really helps with encouragement and you can see your oxygen levels increasing.

 

Good luck to you.

[lucksic]

Well done!!!

 

I did cold turkey, the first four or five days were hardest..( the nicotine, hits your brain for less than 20 secondsI) I ate copious amounts of carrots and other raw vegs which kept my hands occupied peeling and chopping. I also kinda of prepared myself by not only looking at all the nasty chemicals used in the production of cigs and visualising the same filling my lungs, this stopped any yearning I had. I'm in my fifth year of not smoking, I was a 30+ a day smoker for over 30 yrs.

 

Another family member has given up using one of the nicotine sprays, it's working for them about four months in, and using the bare minimum of sprays per day, much less than the recommended, and it's working for them.

 

We are all different and we each have different methods of coping with addictions. Go with what works for you!

Good luck

[im-mad]

Well done

 

I tried most of the things listed by the OP without luck. I eventually went to see my GP and was given Zyban which is a tablet that worked wonders for both myself and my wife (we gave up March 2008). I was smoking over 40 per day. There are several different ones now but I swear by them. Not everyone can use them as they are a very mild antidepressant but as Conniff said see your local GP or stop smoking service for help.

 

However you decide to do it I wish you the best of luck

[danielle86]

thanks everyone. day two and cravings have been a bit worse today. not picking a cig up now i'd probably end up choking

 

will make an appointment with the g.p. on monday and see if they can suggest anything.

 

Many thanks,

Danielle.x

[renegadeimp]

Your cravings will be really bad for around a week, as your body is trying to shrug off the nicotine, but craves it as well. After a week or so, youll notice its much easier as your body gets back to normal and not reliant on the drugs.

[zydeco]

The problem with smoking isn't the nicotine it's the crap that you breathe in with it.

 

Nicotine is the least of your worries with smoking, it's the whole range of chemicals that come with tobacco. N is the addictive part that keeps you smoking to get your fix which considering that N is only a mild stimulant like caffeine makes you wonder why it has so much control over you and makes it so hard to give up.

 

I think that the various medical solutions, patches etc. work for some people with the willpower to stop smoking anyway ( they just made me sick) but a safe alternative nicotine delivery system would work so much better.

 

Us weak willed people can still get our N without the umpteen thousand chemicals in tobacco.

 

I have nothing but admiration for anybody who gives up smoking completely without any other aids but some of us aren't that strong.

[Chayton]

So how's the cold turkey going, Danielle?

 

I did the same thing last Saturday, 16th March. Been 8 days now without a cig, and I'm not doing too badly actually - I was quite surprised, after over 30 years of smoking 20 a day, the cravings haven't been much of a problem at all. I think the anticipation of giving up has been worse than at least the first week has. That's not to say that the desire hasn't been there, but it's been managable.

 

Hope its still all going well for you too

[danielle86]

love to say it was going great, but unfortunately not so well, i managed 2 days then caved in and had a couple of drags off a cig and nearly choked myself, (serves me right) its been a few days again and the cravings are still there, i find the hardest times to be when i have nothing to keep myself busy with, but im getting there slowly.

 

my firend has one of those liquid nicotine things with different flavours, tried a few of them a while back and some were really nice, if the cravings dont subside soon i may well invest in one, honestly wwish i'd of never have started smoking. i always looked at my mum funny when she used to say that to me, i guess mums really do know best haha.

 

Well done on the 8 days though, wish i had that will power.

 

Danielle.x

[Chayton]

Well I did have help to start off the whole giving up thing - got 'flu which, together with asthma, meant that I couldn't smoke at all. Had to call the paramedics round one night last week because I couldn't breathe.. its what prompted me to give up really - so the first few days of my cold turkey were more enforced abstinence than anything else. I have an ecig sitting here in front of me, but I haven't really been able to use it because it really affects my asthma quite badly. Can't stand gum, and patches make me ache wherever I put them, so cold turkey is probably the only way I could possibly give up anyway lol.

 

Still cig free though - 12 days now. I do get cravings, but get through that by realising that if I did have a cig now, I wouldn't be able to breathe again - not a nice feeling. Also helps to know that in that 12 days I've saved nearly £90.00!

[Conniff]

Well I did have help to start off the whole giving up thing - got 'flu which, together with asthma, meant that I couldn't smoke at all. Had to call the paramedics round one night last week because I couldn't breathe.. its what prompted me to give up really - so the first few days of my cold turkey were more enforced abstinence than anything else. I have an ecig sitting here in front of me, but I haven't really been able to use it because it really affects my asthma quite badly. Can't stand gum, and patches make me ache wherever I put them, so cold turkey is probably the only way I could possibly give up anyway lol.

 

Still cig free though - 12 days now. I do get cravings, but get through that by realising that if I did have a cig now, I wouldn't be able to breathe again - not a nice feeling. Also helps to know that in that 12 days I've saved nearly £90.00!

 

 

I think 'craving' might not really be the correct word. I found that if my interest was elsewhere that I didn't even think about a ciggy until I sat down for a cuppa which could have been 5 or 6 hours later. That was when I definitely made up my mind that I didn't need them, they weren't addictive but habit forming. Break the habit and the need goes with it.

[sean_seany]

Hope you are still on track , I have tried several times to give up but always seem to get back on them Normally when alcohol is involved lol.

[danielle86]

nah, its not been going too good lately. keep losing my will power. Just keep falling off the horse. One day I will be smoke free though! lol

 

Danielle.x

[sean_seany]

Aww keep trying Danielle. I know its really hard to do. Think of all the extra clothes/shoes/handbags you could buy with the money you save .

 

Best of luck !

[hightail]

Try and work out if it's the nicotine or the physical habit (the hand to mouth thing). Knowing which you need to deal with can lead you towards the right support products.

[sohag]

When I read in class 7. I smoked first. It was an exciting moment in my life. Never I forget it.