yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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What has worked for you people that have quit smoking?
I have tried the patch (which I smoked on), Nicorette gum (which was useless), the new Committ loszenge (gave me a lot of nausea), and Zyban (also useless). None of them have worked, I am looking into the Nicotrol inhaler though.
It is almost 4 in the morning here, and I haven't had a cigarette since after dinner (that was like 7). I was really hoping to be asleep for this, but it hasn't quite worked out that way, I'm extremely restless, and there is no way I'm getting to sleep tonite.
I am quitting for health and financial reasons. I'm a 2-pack-a-day smoker, my lungs always hurt, I'm short of breath, and in my state, it costs $5-6/pack.
Boy, a cigarette would feel amazing right now...
-yawkaw
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sweat
Old Hand
Reged: 12/23/01
Posts: 491
Loc: NJ
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I hear ya brother. I tried it all and nuthing worked.
Ya ever see the episode of The Simpsons when Krusty The Clown had patches all over him, and told Sideshow Bob theres room on his arse for one more? That was kinda like me. Its a tough thing to stop. So I quit the patches and the gum and just went back to the Marlboros. Yeah I know, I'm a failure... Still luv them butts though...Nuthin like a pot of coffee and a pack of Boros in the morning.
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xanthippe
Stranger
Reged: 08/20/03
Posts: 20
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God I wish I had something helpful to say on the subject - I'm a 1-2 pack/day smoker myself and I love those things! I quit once when I was pregnant - and it was easy in the beginning because I felt so wretched the first trimester, but once that magical second trimester came around, I was back up to chipping here and there. And I couldn't buy a pack fast enough when they finally let me out of the hospital after having my dear son!
I also quit two other times of my own desire - I stayed clean from cigs about a month each time. I am a cold turkey girl when it comes to cigs. My husband is a patch man and he once quit for two years using the patch to get him started. I find that when I quit cigs cold turkey, the first three days are the very worst and by the end of one week, I do not have ANY physical cravings for nicotine, but the mental cravings are out of control.
That's what always takes me back - the mental cravings and the fact it's hard for me to see how cigs are really harming me. I really don't have any physical problems - am active and healthy and not short of breath. Don't get me wrong - I KNOW they are harming me, it's just so hard to see the harm day by day.
The reason I want to quit now is my two young sons. I don't smoke in the house or car, but they know I smoke, they see me smoke. My 3-year-old will be riding on his go-kart and he'll say "Mommy, I'm going to the store to get a pack of cigarettes" and I'll want to shoot myself in the head! I grew up in a houseful of smokers and that's how I got started and I just don't want my sons to go that route.
I will say that I would certainly not attempt to stop smoking if I was trying to stop any other vice. I would probably lean on cigs as a crutch during that time.
My husband and I are going to stop in February. We have a date set and I am going to do all sorts of goofy things like write out all the reasons I want to quit and hang it next to my bathroom mirror and make a reward chart and that sort of jazz. Maybe it will help!
Happy Holidays to all!
Xanthippe
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Purple
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/15/03
Posts: 233
Loc: Midwest
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It's a hard habit to break. I quit for 8 years and started back up 3 years ago have tried to quit here and there since but stress always made me light up again.
I suggest that you try tapering, make a plan and mark your calendar starting with 20 the first day and subtract each day afterwards, maybe taking away 2 each day or whatever you want to do. This may take a while but this is how I am going to do it after Christmas. I am taking Wellbutrin (generic form of Zyban) and still smoke. I plan on doing the patch but only after a tapering schedule. The mental part is hard. You can and will do this!! Be positive and if you need support I am here for you. Good Luck and keep us posted on your plan.
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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Like my daddy always told me, "SON, NOBODY LIKES A QUITTER". Just my 2 cents. Excuse me, I need to light up now. Love you guys, good luck.
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pickles
Journeyman
Reged: 11/09/03
Posts: 54
Loc: Indiana
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Hello,
My first advice would be,this sounds like a good New Year's resolution!Meaning,any routine your trying to break might be cruel to yourself and your love-ones during the holiday's.Don't want to hear about you killing Aunt Emma with a stale fruit cake!
Secondly,this sounds wierd and maybe disgusting to yourself and those reading.The advice is use smokeless(Bandits),for a week or two,worked for me!This will fill the void for the "oral fixation",and the nicotine.After the week or two,guarantee you'll be able to quit the chew with ease.If you try to light up after that,you'll be sick,your body will reject the smoke(carbon monoxide),or whatever.
Please don't write this off,i know everyones different,but i tried everything.Kinda like goin' from Tabs to Tram to Motrin.
Just trying to help!
"Honey,i love ya,i'll be there,Dad's just busier than a cucumber in a convent".
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joffrey
Member
Reged: 02/03/02
Posts: 114
Loc: Left Coast
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Good luck. . .It is one of the toughest things in the world but do-able. I was a daily two-packer for 35 years, and definitely felt lousy and was having health problems as a result; I just chose to ignore the symptoms. The only things that got me to stop (well, almost -- I have one or two individual cigs a day. . .I want to reduce it to none. . .am insane to have any at all under the circustances) were a heart attack and the subsequent angioplasty and the insertion of stents in three occluded heart vessels. Oh, and there's also the matter of a $70,000 hospital bill, not to mention the fees for the individual physicians and very expensive monthly prescriptions. (Naturally, this incident occurred between full-time jobs and medical coverage.)
Hey, I'm not preaching to anyone. If you're one of the very select few who can indulge without serious health consequences (and some people do have the "magic gene," evidently), have at it. Arterial heart disease runs in my family -- both sides -- band I exacerbated it, made it much worse, by chaining cigs. Do what you will in any case. I am just relating my experience, that I effed myself up right proper, almost died, am paying for my indulgence dearly. And I still smoke one once in awhile.
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I'm not a doctor; I just think I know everything.
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LordBA
Journeyman
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 61
Loc: AZ
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Quote:
I am taking Wellbutrin (generic form of Zyban) and still smoke.
Hey Purple,
I was on Wellbutrin quite a long time ago, and I thought it was for anxiety? Maybe both I guess?
On the subject though,
I really like Xanthippe's advise with the rewards chart. That sounds like something I'd like to try, WHEN I TRY to quit. I don't really know what'll work for you Yawkaw, but I do wish you the best of luck! 
Off the subject again,
pickles...that signature is pretty messed up!  Verry funny though! 
Take care,
LordBradass 
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I will be more polite and will use less bad words :-) - signature courtesy of drugbuyers.com
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mindy
Journeyman
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 57
Loc: Northwest
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Yawkaw-
I actually went through counselingto quit my smoking! I know, I know.... kind of silly, but it really made sense to me. I was a total closet smoker, and I would constantly be sneaking a smoke here and there. It finally got really bad when I was under a lot of stress, and I needed help quitting (a pack would last me about 3 days- not a whole lot, but enough for me). There is a woman in my area who helps people quit by going way back and finding the reason why you started and what was going on in your life during that time. That takes care of the mental part. Now, for the physical part, she actually had me taper down off of my nicotine level week by week. First I was allowed to smoke my normal brand (Marlboro Lights), and the second week I would switch to a different cigarette brand that had lower nicotine, and the next week one that is even lower until you get to a brand that is almost like puffing on air. Switching like this also helps in the area of "brand" association as we are very attached to our particular brand of smokes. It helped me out quite a bit, but I must admit I still sneak one here and there, but if I wanted to quit for good, I would definately go that route again as it eased my body off of the nicotine in stages. The patch, gum and lozenge keep you at the same nicotine strength, so your body still goes into shock when you stop those. Think of it like tapering off meds.... same exact idea. Good luck- I know how dreadfully hard this process can be, but like anything else, you have to want it.
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quaker
Member
Reged: 08/20/03
Posts: 116
Loc: south east
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I wish you the best and my prayers are with you. I know that quitting smoking is so hard. I quit for three days once and my husband went to the store and came back with a pack of marlboro and said" I am not putting up with this s*** in other words I was a real B.
I even went as far as to order some herbs that you are suppose to start taking a week before you quit. They are suppose to work on the part of the brain that makes you want to smoke. Cost me $200.00 and I still have not tryed them. If cigarettes were 5.00 or 6.00 a pack where I live. I would have to try harder. Where I live Marlboro is $22.00 a carton.
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Quaker
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mihammer
Stranger
Reged: 07/19/03
Posts: 8
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hi, good for you. believe with All the power in your mind,
heart and soul and you will be able to quit, forever. not unlike an alcoholic or junkie, the smoker who has the desire
to quit smoking will succeed if the desire is strong enough.
you can be successful if you want to quit, not someone else
urging or pestering you to quit. stay active as possible mentally and physically. look...make the last cigarette you smoked the very last one. sure try some gum if ya like, but just remember..if you pick up another cigarette you'll be much like the alcoholic or junkie picking up "just one". it can't be done. best wishes in your efforts, keep others you know informed of your non-smoker status. congrats! happy holidaze, Mihammer
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Texas!
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I had a friend who really wanted to quit. I mean, mentally. It was the physical part that kept her going. She got accupuncture and it worked for her! She wore those little needles around the office. She only went twice I think, but since she wanted to quit, it worked easier for her I think. Also, what about hypnosis. I know it works on some, but not on others. My mom is into it a lot and thinks its a cure for everything, I just nod my head and say 'uh-uh'. good luck, it was hard as hell quitting when I was preggo. The hardest part was the habit of smoking in the car, during movies, after you eat, etc. You know the times. Try to distract yourself during those usual smoking times and break up your routine, so you don't feel like you're missing it. This is just my .02 worth, I still smoke too, so who am I to give advice??
ps. Wellbutrin did nothing for me but give me a seizure and start me on my wonderful life of lower seizure threshold.
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1962
Loc: Texas
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I'm right behind ya Yawkaw - New Year's Resolution - again. I just don't want to quit, that's my problem. Another hard thing for me - I really like to smoke after my hydro has kicked in - don't know why that is. And it's a must with my morning coffee. I just don't know the answer or the easy way to do it, I've tried them all - cold turkey, the patch, zyban, tapering.........it never works. I quit for one year one time, but of course stress brought it back on. We'll give it another go around in 2004! Best of luck!
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maria
Journeyman
Reged: 07/07/03
Posts: 92
Loc: nowhere
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Hey Yawkaw, I'm a pack a day smoker, and I smoke cloves, which are supposed to be worse than regular cigs. I'm tyring to taper off hydros right now and so here I am chain smoking and shivering with the electric blanket all the way to high, and sweating at the same time.
The thing is, I was never hooked on cigs although I've smoked on and off for many many years. But somewhere along the line, I got hooked. I ran out of cloves and was fine for about a week, then suddenly, I was dying to have a smoke. I went online and got a carton of cloves shipped overnight. I feel myself becoming dependent on a lot of chemicals over the course of just a few months... and only a year ago, I wouldn't even touch caffeine or want to be anywhere around cigarette smoke. Strange how life goes.
Feel free to PM me anytime, and I wish you the best of luck on kicking the cigs. 
-maria
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zoecece
Board Addict
Reged: 05/03/02
Posts: 392
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I HIGHLY recommend BuSpar as a medication option. It works similar to a SSRI AD, but rather than raising seratonin it evens it out, so it's very good for the anxiety that comes with cravings.
From a personal standpoint, what it did for me was, calm me (without sedation) to the point that I could make the RIGHT choice. That's the only way i can describe it, is that it put's you in the right frame of mind to "say NO". Supposedly they are in the process of approving it for the use of drug and alcohol addiction, so there must be SOMETHING to it, although I stumbled on to the benefits by accident.
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Caveman6666
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 218
Loc: Earth
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Quote:
Hey Yawkaw, I'm a pack a day smoker, and I smoke cloves, which are supposed to be worse than regular cigs. I'm tyring to taper off hydros right now and so here I am chain smoking and shivering with the electric blanket all the way to high, and sweating at the same time.
The thing is, I was never hooked on cigs although I've smoked on and off for many many years. But somewhere along the line, I got hooked. I ran out of cloves and was fine for about a week, then suddenly, I was dying to have a smoke. I went online and got a carton of cloves shipped overnight. I feel myself becoming dependent on a lot of chemicals over the course of just a few months... and only a year ago, I wouldn't even touch caffeine or want to be anywhere around cigarette smoke. Strange how life goes.
Feel free to PM me anytime, and I wish you the best of luck on kicking the cigs.
-maria
Where do you get these cloves? I've never seen them for sale.
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maria
Journeyman
Reged: 07/07/03
Posts: 92
Loc: nowhere
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There are many places that sell them... when I used to live in Omaha, I would buy a pack every so often at a tobacco shop, but now that I live in a state where it is illegal to sell cloves, I get them online. I personally get them from http://www.smokes-spirits.com/smokesweb/ but you can do a search and find many websites that sell tobacco from Indian reservations (tax-free). I smoke Djarum, Sampoerna is another popular brand. Try a search on one of those.
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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Okay, this is going to sound REALLY perverse, but I keep waiting to get a real kick in the Best if kept off the board cold/cough/flu that will be so bad I won't be able to smoke! I have two friends who smoked 2 plus packs a day who quit that way.
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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I have a horrible cold. My nose is clogged entirely, and I've built up a tolerance to Afrin Nasal Spray. No antihistamine is touching this, I know extra hydro will work, but I'm in the process of a taper. I could go to a doctor I know will give me 120 ml of Tussionex, but I haven't gone that route yet. 
I'm smoking about a pack and a half, and I'm certain it's not helping anything. More than that, and I'm wheezing.
Why did this have to happen during my vacation right before the holidays? It's hard enough to get off hydro in the first place, I don't need a cold and the ensuing cough/congestion to make things more difficult.
I really do think cigarettes are much harder to quit than hydro. I have weeks of clean time in my track record from opiates, but I haven't gone more than 24 hours without a cigarette in a looooooong time.
Ah well, gotta go sit on the couch like a sniper looking for the UPS guy, I'll post pack later.
-yawkaw
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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Yaw, I love the analogy!
Quote:
Ah well, gotta go sit on the couch like a sniper looking for the UPS guy, I'll post pack later.
I hope you get to feeling better soon.
D
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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Finally got my meds, UPS got here at 10:28 (they're supposed to be here by 10:30 when you use Next Day Air). I really hate my local UPS hub, packages have been late before, and when they're not, it's always at the last minute. Fedex, on the other hand, if I go for Priority Overnight, I'm the first or second person to sign the signature sheet. Always by 9:15-9:30.
Am now feeling a lot better- not in pain, not in early withdrawal, cold symptoms have subsided. Am enjoying a nice cigarette, listening to Radiohead, celebrating the fact I will have meds for the holidays.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who replied to this thread. I am going to make it a New Years Resolution. The methods I haven't tried are the Nicotrol Inhaler, switching to smokeless stuff like pickles suggested, and counseling. I see ads in my local free paper for a counselor who is supposed to help you with this, it really can't hurt at this point. Cold turkey is certainly not an option, but tapering might be. One of my professors suggested putting a piece of paper in the cellophane on my pack, then writing down the time every time I smoked- then at the end of the day, go through that and see when I smoke the most and what cigarettes I can eliminate first- he said that makes the taper a bit easier.
SkyQueen brings up the point that we tend to smoke more when hydro kicks in. FYI, this is because opiates lower your blood sugar, but a cigarette temporarily raises it (then lowers it afterwards), so there is a desire to keep the blood sugar level up. I tend to smoke a lot more when my meds first kick in, then between doses as a stress reliever. There is nothing like a cigarette on painkillers though, that will be something I'll miss.
So my bad times for smoking are the 4 times a day I take hydro, the gap between doses, and in the morning (the only time I drink coffee). I don't drink alcohol, so I don't have that time to worry about.
I think I will call up that counselor and see if I can get an appointment this week.
Thanks again, people.
-yawkaw
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Bathil
Journeyman
Reged: 11/03/03
Posts: 74
Loc: California
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Yaw
I will tell you what I have tried and what worked and what didn't. The patch, gum, being hypnotised( nice sp) cold turkey, switching brands.. etc etc none of these worked for me. During my first pregnancy my first OB told me that if it was too hard for me to quit, the stress and anxiety from trying was far worse for me then actually smoking.( I went to him crying , I felt I was a horrible mother because I couldn't quit and still do to some point still feel bad) He gave me the magical number..10. He said to keep it under 10 and so long as I was in good health,my baby would be fine. he would monitor etc etc. He said all the studies from women smoking while pregnant were 2/3 packs a day. I know I will most likely get flamed for saying that but I am just repeating what my dr told me. Again, that magic number was 10 so I stayed at 10 even after daughter was born. I did go back to him and asked why he didn't tell me 5 or 3? hehe
Anyways, that was 7 years ago. When I got pregnant again I knew I couldn't smoke and handle the guilt I felt while doing it. ( BTW my first daughter is a becon of health). So I simply stopped but as soon as my son was born I started using gum because I needed my nicotine.I chewed that gum for ohhh 2 years. God the money I spent../sigh anyways it was REALLY bad for my TMJ and headaches needless to say.
A few months ago I found a product called Ariva. Its a compressed tobacco, supposedly for when you "can't " smoke. I have found its working WONDERS. Of course I used it to quit the gum,haha, but I am now tapering off it and down to 3 or so a day. I should mention its a small little sublingual that packs a nicotine punch. It varies in price anywhere from 3$ to 5$ a pack fo 20. Rite Aid and Sav-On are the only places I have seen it for sale.
Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs out there and is certainly a best if kept off boards drug to kick.
PM me if you need support, hug, whatever
Bathil
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qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 841
Loc: USA
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Heck yes cigs are harder to quit than anything. I have seen my husband fight that battle for years. He has tried everything. My mom died because she couldn't quit. She smoked 4 packs a day. It is a serious thing to quit.
About vacation sickness, murphy's law. I know, every time I have a break, I seem to come down with something.
Ok my doc gave me a med called Protex D that really helped with the stuffiness. Using nose sprays will only aggrevate the condition, so try not to if possible.
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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YAWKAW,
I can't get over this comment
Quote:
Ah well, gotta go sit on the couch like a sniper looking for the UPS guy, I'll post pack later.
HAPPY HUNTING!
D
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Chitownlady
Member
Reged: 10/30/03
Posts: 114
Loc: IL
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What about tapering? Not to sound sarcastic, but if we can successfully taper hydros, whatever, why not with cigs? The only way I was able to quit was when I was laid up in the hospital for a week having surgery. I believe it is also a mind over matter thing too. Stay strong, you can do it!
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Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1962
Loc: Texas
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How is everyone coming along on their quitting smoking? I have 5 packs left and then I'm going cold turkey. I couldn't smoke for 3 full days at my in-laws and actually did just fine - a little cranky perhaps.........but I did do it so I know I can. Let's all encourage each other!!
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elo2003
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 12
Loc: Bay Area, CA
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Hi,
Not only am I trying to quit Hydro's this week, I'm trying to curtail my smoking. I was SO sick over Christmas with a bronchial infection, then went to my regular dr. and he told me I have Asthma! I have always been healthy, but a smoker (20 yrs now) normally a pack a day, and I do believe I helped create this condition I now have due to smoking. But do I want to quit? heck no, I want a cig right now.
Anyhow, I went 4 days without a cig--and then my kids stressed me out big time, and I had to have one. I am going to try to kick the hydros first, then the cigs. I have nightmares of myself as an old lady carrying one of those oxygen tanks around.....
I was also thinking, since they have rehab for alcohol/drug use... Why don't they have rehab for smokers? I'm sure if you locked me up for a few weeks and took my cigs away I COULD quit..... 
I have tried the patch, gum, the nicitrol spray, the nicitrol inhaler, Help!
K
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joffrey
Member
Reged: 02/03/02
Posts: 114
Loc: Left Coast
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I'm doing OK but could do a lot better. I've gone from about two packs a day to 2 to 5 individual cigarettes a day. Still very ill-advised, even insane, as I had a fairly serious heart attack and the ensuing angioplasties about a month ago. Not only that, I was diagnosed as being in the early stages of emphysema. So, I've slowed way down, but I still want the bastards and still have them occasionally. That I have any at all under the circumstances illustrates the incredible power of these hellish, insidious things. The oxygen tank WILL be in my future if I continue to consume even just a few cigs a day. My cardio-pulmonary test guy told me that this wasn't a lecture, it was a promise. Best if kept off the board. Good luck, people, and wish me the same.
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I'm not a doctor; I just think I know everything.
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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Not to be the bearer of bad news, but several months ago I read a study (yes, I can read, contrary to popular belief) that said Nicotine w/d's are worse than Heroin w/d's. Therefore, I think they should have a rehab for cigarettes also. However, the Betty Ford Clinic does treat Nicotine addiction also, but who can afford $6,500 a day, so I'm just going to keep smoking until the price of nicotine rehab comes down. Consequently, there is a place in Florida called "Laser Concepts" that supposedly will cure you of nicotine cravings and gaurantees you stop smoking in one treatment that only cost $110.00 and people swear that it really works. I'm not sure how it's done, but it is painless and only takes about 1 hour. If anyone is interested, PM me and I'll get some more info for you. Happy New Year.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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People who have Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance can enroll into their stop smoking program.LINK
I don't know if every BCBS program has it, but it's FREE in Minnesota.
Find your state's BCBS website for more info. I've posted a few links here:
BCBS of MN
BCBS of New Jersey
BCBS of Illinois
BCBS of Michigan
BCBS of Massachusetts
BCBS of Florida
BCBS of N Carolina
BCBS of Pennsylvania
BCBS of Georgia
BCBS of Texas
BCBS of Arizona
BCBS of Montana
There have been rave reviews of the smoking cessation program. Has anyone tried it? I'm thinking of quitting, too.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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