Winners never quit and quitters never win is the saying, but I've made up my mind to quit smoking. As many of you here already know, Mrs. Idiot is expecting, and is due in about 6 weeks. I've put this off as long as I can, and this is my second day not smoking. Granted, it's still morning here, so I can't really say that I've been smoke free for two days. It's more like one day and a couple of hours. Still, you got to start somewhere.

I went to the doctor's with the intent to get the pill that turns off the nicotine receptors. However, my doctor talked me into trying the patch instead. I was not all that keen on the patch, as I didn't see how taking nicotine through a patch helps you break your nicotine addiction. However, what he said made sense. He explained that smoking involves a life style more than just an action. The psychological oral-fixation thing is just as hard to break as the phsyical nicotine addiction. The patch allows you to break the psychological part first, while not having to go through withdrawal.

However, the thing that sold me on the patch was my doctor said that the pill has side effects for some people, including migrains, blurred vision, dizzyness, and a few other things, including in some rare instances psychosis. I'm not sure what psychosis is, but it sounds pretty f'ing bad, so I'd rather not find out the hard way. Since I had not previously tried the patch, he recommended that I try the patch first, because why not try something with no side effects before going with something that has potential side effects? That made sense to me. Also, the pill contains some anti-depressant medication, which means you can only be on it for a set period of time. If you don't actually suffer from clinical depression, it is evidently NOT a good idea to take anti-depressants for an extended period of time. However, nicotine itself is not life threatening (nicotine causes the addiction, but it's not the nicotine that kills you), so you can stay on the patch as long as you need to.

The other good thing about the patch is that it comes in three flavors - 21mg, 14mg, and 7mg. You start at the 21mg level, and gradually you go down to the 14mg, and finally the 7mg. So it breaks the addiction gradually. The prescribed method is to buy 2 boxes of the 21mg patches (each box is a 2-week supply) then one box of the 14mg patches, and finally one box of the 7mg patches, so the entire process is about 8 weeks long. The only bad part is that the patches are expensive - a 2-week supply is $45, which is actually more than I was spending on cigarettes.

So anyway, with the patch, it is hard, but it's not THAT BAD. I feel like I can do this. The best way I can describe it is that I WANT a cigarette, but I don't absolutely NEED a cigarette. As someone who has tried to quit cold turkey (and failed miserably) in the past, the patch kind of takes the edge off. What felt like an irresistible compusion before is now resistible. Wish me luck.

:thumb: Good choice, good luck, I know you can work it out.

Congratulations, man. It gets harder as you get older. I was lucky (smart?) enough to quit before it'd really dug its meathooks into me.

Sidenote: since this post was in SS, I thought it meant you were quitting SP. What a relief it's just about smoking. :)

since this post was in SS, I thought it meant you were quitting SP :lol: No, when it comes to the SP addiction, there's no patch for that, so I doubt I could quit. I put it in SS because it seemed most appropriate, as this is about me specifically. I considered Whatnots, but this seemed the better choice. /me sticks another piece of gum in me mouth for oral fixation purposes/ God, I've become a chain gum chewer.

It still kind of sucks. While I have known for a long time about the hazards of smoking (heck, I knew before I started), I didn't smoke to be cool, or fit in, or any of the other reasons most people started. I smoked because I actually enjoyed smoking. I realize that sounds retarded given the health effects, but it's true. And the other thing that was stupid is that I started when I should have known better. I've always been a law-abider, so I didn't even attempt to buy pack a cigarettes until I was over 18. Like I said - old enough to know better.

I suppose the good part (or bad depending on how you want to look at it) is that if the Mrs. wasn't pregnant, I probably wouldn't have quit at this time. Evidently, the personal health benefits were insufficient motivation for me to stop. I should put all the money I was spending on cigarettes into a college fund for mini-fop.

Sidenote: since this post was in SS, I thought it meant you were quitting SP. What a relief it's just about smoking. DR, you mistakenly typed "relief" instead of "disappointment".

:p :p

OK, jk of course. Good luck, you big likable Idiot, you! :D

Well, he does smell funny.

Good for you Aldeth. Smoking would have killed you in the end. Injoy a cough free life.

since this post was in SS, I thought it meant you were quitting SP. What a relief it's just about smoking. Had me worried for a moment.

Be a winner and quit. :thumb:

Kudos to you man!

About time! :D

since this post was in SS, I thought it meant you were quitting SP Makes two of us! :shake:

@Aldeth: Way to go, and good luck with it. :thumb:

I think the best way to quit is going Cold turkey, but if you can't cope with that, the patch is definitely better for you than to keep smoking.

2-week supply is $45, which is actually more than I was spending on cigarettes.Well, you might spend a couple hundred bucks now, but that is nothing compared to a lifetime supply of cigarettes. So in the end, you're better off financially.

Haha, I also thought you meant you were leaving here. I was worried for a sec.

Does Mrs. Idiot smoke? (If you don't mind me asking, of course)

since this post was in SS, I thought it meant you were quitting SP. What a relief it's just about smoking.

Had me worried for a moment.

Makes two of us!

Haha, I also thought you meant you were leaving here. I was worried for a sec. Geez, wtf people? I think I get along with most people here. It would really be hard to someone to piss me off to the point that I'd never come back to the site again...

I think the best way to quit is going Cold turkey, but if you can't cope with that, the patch is definitely better for you than to keep smoking. Tried that - it didn't work. Although I am worried that when I drop down to a lower level nicotine patch, the urge to smoke will become greater. Although that's almost a month away from now.

Does Mrs. Idiot smoke? (If you don't mind me asking, of course) Mrs. Idiot did smoke for a time, but never as much as I did. She was one of those very social smokers, as in a pack of cigarettes would last her an entire week. She was like a 3-cigarette per day smoker, so that doesn't really count as a hard core smoker. She also quit completely before she even tried to get pregnant, but like I said, since she didn't smoke much to begin with, it wasn't hard for her. Hers was more of a smoking habit than a nicotine addiction.

Well, you might spend a couple hundred bucks now, but that is nothing compared to a lifetime supply of cigarettes. So in the end, you're better off financially. I have considered the overall costs. I figured out that I was spending about $50 per month on cigarettes. I smoked about half a pack per day, and at around $3.50 per pack, that's about $50 per month. So yeah, the costs of quitting will not exceed what I would have spent on cigarettes if I continued smoking for a few more months.

I have considered the overall costs. I figured out that I was spending about $50 per month on cigarettes. I smoked about half a pack per day, and at around $3.50 per pack, that's about $50 per month. So yeah, the costs of quitting will not exceed what I would have spent on cigarettes if I continued smoking for a few more months.And even if they did, in the longer term picture you still come out WAAAY ahead. Eventually those costs would even out, and you'd be living $50 monthly cheaper (and/or putting the money to better use--diapers come to mind, hehe). And to really put the longer term financial savings in perspective, consider how much less likely you will be down the road to be paying heavy doctor's bills to deal with the self inflicted damage to your body.

And that brings me to the positive health implications, which are far less than trivial. Not to mention that with a child on the way, I'm sure you don't want to subject him/her to the whole second hand smoke thing.

Congratulations on having the will to make it this far, and I hope you'll be able to carry this progress forward in the days, weeks, months, and years to come!

And by the way -- even though I don't know you like a lot of the board regulars seem to -- I didn't think for a second you were intending to quite the boards. ;)

Good stuff, Aldeth. :thumb:

There are so many different approaches to giving up. You just need to find the approach that works best for you. A guy I work with quit instantly after reading a book that just hit the right wavelenght for him. He gave the book to another guy who sayshe wants to give up, but he keeps putting off starting to read it.

The smoking ban is doing it for me. When once I could easily cane 40 fags in 1 night on the piss, I'm now only getting through half a stack of 20 as I can't be arsed to go outside in the cold and wet just to have a fag. I only really ever smoked on nights out.

As a former tobacco smoker, I can but support that decision.

Going cold turkey is, as it was told, pretty much the best way - I personally didn't liked nicotine gum or patches.

The urges were totally unbearable for the first weeks (It gave me a valid and widely accepted reason for being a rude jerk to everyone), but gradually it went down to a bearable level. I'm still struggling against the urges in some rare occurences, though. This is a battle that is never truly won -- you'll have to be ever careful not to slip back in the habit.

You can pull it off though, of that I have no doubts.

Oh, yeah... quitting shows on the wallet too. You might find your bank account gaining weight or more money be put to better use.

When I saw the topic I paused for a second, but then I realized it wasn't Sorvo and it wasn't April 1, so I figured it was something else -- which it was.

Congratulations on your decision and best of luck in implementing it.

Never having smoked, I can empathize with the concept but not the reality you are facing in quitting. You have the best of reasons though, so I expect that they will carry through for you.

He explained that smoking involves a life style more than just an action. The psychological oral-fixation thing is just as hard to break as the phsyical nicotine addiction. The patch allows you to break the psychological part first, while not having to go through withdrawal.I once heard that the nicotine addiction is over within a week, but the psychological addiction is the biggest step to overcome. But stay strong, I'm sure your kid will be proud of you some day.

You may not be physically dependant, it's always hard to break a habit. I plan not to smoke during my summer vacations. I already did that last year but I picked it up again in autumn what with work and stuff it gets really stressful sometimes.
I hope you'll manage to resist the temptation. Good luck.

Good luck. ;)

Going cold turkey is, as it was told, pretty much the best way - I personally didn't liked nicotine gum or patches. Well, it's only the best way if it actually WORKS. While I agree with you in principle - that if you go cold turkey and if you can resist the urge to smoke, then it's definitely the best way. However, IMO, it is also the hardest way. You're battling the physical and psychological effects of not smoking simultaneously. The way I see it, if you can make the processes somewhat easier, it only enhances your chance of quitting. To me, the best way is the way that works.

I once heard that the nicotine addiction is over within a week, but the psychological addiction is the biggest step to overcome. I've heard that too, and I hope it is true. The basic plan is one month to overcome the psychological part, and then start overcoming the physical part. While I'm doing OK so far - quit last Thursday and no cigarettes since - my daily nicotine intake is about the same as it has always been. So I haven't starting overcoming the physical addiction at all - at least not yet.

Not to mention that with a child on the way, I'm sure you don't want to subject him/her to the whole second hand smoke thing. True, but that wouldn't have been an issue anyway. I never smoked in my home or my car. While I've never taken the step of stopping smoking before, I was always aware that many other people didn't like the smell of smoke. So I never smoked in confined areas - it was always outdoors.

Going cold turkey is, as it was told, pretty much the best way - I personally didn't liked nicotine gum or patches.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Well, it's only the best way if it actually WORKS.Ah yes, that's the problem. :) I went cold turkey myself, but then I had a bout of bronchitis at the time, which makes it a LOT easier to quit, because you just can't smoke anyway. Let's just say that the patch is preferable to that... ;)

Well as I smoker I can do nothing but praise you, I too would like to stop. I already decided that on my 19th birthday I'll stop, wich is in 30 days. I can smoke a pack of 25 in two days and considering my age it's alarming. My best wishes to you, and don't you forget to bring pictures of your baby as soon as (s)he is born! :p

Well, it's only the best way if it actually WORKS. While I agree with you in principle - that if you go cold turkey and if you can resist the urge to smoke, then it's definitely the best way. However, IMO, it is also the hardest way. You're battling the physical and psychological effects of not smoking simultaneously. Actually, the two first weeks were the hardest ever. The psychological part I took care of by chewing gum and toothpicks, exactly like my brother did, and it did the job. As for the physical part... the lack of nicotine made me pretty much unbearable for the first two weeks - cranky as f***, very easy to irritate and extremely quick in being nasty with others. Since I was working in a metal shop in that era, I took it out by starting various metalworking projects - bashing metal sheets into submission eased the crankiness, anger and kept my mind busy, therefore focusing it on something other than smoking, therefore simplifying the process.

Honestly, while those two weeks were truly nightmarish, I regret nothing. If I had to do it all over again, I'd do exactly the same thing. Being finally tobacco-free was worth every second of frustation, anger, crankiness, edgyness along the way.

Just thought I'd give a quick update. I have now been smoke free for one week, with not a single relapse over that time. I think I'll be in good shape for the next three weeks - that's when I start reducing my nicotine intake with a lower level patch. I think if I was going to break at this level of nicotine, it would have happened by now.

Good job. You can do this.

Two weeks and going strong!

Congrats!

Hope you don't mind a little unsolicited advice...

One thing that I found helpful when I quit smoking was to stop counting how long it had been since my last cigarette. Everytime I tried to quit and kept count, it made it feel like I was just taking a break.

When I quit for good, I stopped counting after a week or two. Instead of thinking "It's been 3 weeks and 2 days since my last smoke", I instead just told myself "I don't smoke anymore. Doesn't matter how long ago I quit."

Like I said, I found this helpful, but your mileage may vary.

Good luck!

Congrats Aldeth! If you can go 2 weeks, then there's no reason you can't go 2 months... 2 years (you get the idea :happy: )

My father had surprisingly little trouble in quitting smoking, the thing is he now chews a pack of nicotine gum a day. :p

I suppose even that's better than smoking though.

i used the gum when i quit,too.17 years ago.i got addicted to regular chewing gum for a few months after that,but eventually,i got back to what i pass off as normal...oh,and congratulations for quitting.you'll be healthier,and much richer.cigs cost a fortune any more

OK, I have now moved down from the 21mg patch to the 14mg patch. While I haven't really been counting off days anymore, it's still easy to keep track, as I bought 4 weeks worth of the 1st patch, and now I'll be on step 2 for another 2 weeks, and then step 3 for two more weeks after that.

The way I look at, since step 1 takes as long as step 2 and 3 combined, I'm more than half way to ending my nicotine addiction. No cravings after going from the 21mg patch down to the 14mg patch. I was a little worried when I made the move down. In the course of the last month I got used to not smoking, but I was not used to not having as much nicotine, but it seems to be going OK.

Good going mate! and keep going!

I too would like to quit smoking, it is something i have thought about for a long time. Oh, and just to give you a bit of info on how much money you will really save:

Apparently the average british smoker will spend £700 to £1000 a year on smokes. I'm 23, if I quit now and placed the money I would spend on ciggerettes into a savings account, that would work out to about £25,000 by the time I hit 50.

Hope thats even more inspiration for you and other smokers out there to give it up!

Nice work Aldeth, quitting smoking is a bloody nightmare. Keep it up! Think of all the moolah you're saving!

Thanx for the props dmc, this topic caught my eye too :p Congrats Aldeth! Now if I could just quit :beer:

Last patch today!!!!!

After today, I will be nicotine free!

Congrats!

Well done, Aldeth! :thumb:

Congrats! You've done really well up to now. Keep up the good work!

You're a source of inspiration to all us would-be non-smokers :) .

Yay! Well done, man!

Now which of your following addictions is the one you'll quit with now? Crack, Alcohol, Gambling, Opium, Green Gear, Pr0nsurfing or Cocain again? :p

Congratulations!

[ Deleted. ]

[ September 05, 2007, 17:21: Message edited by: Death Rabbit ]

You're doing spectacularly well, Aldeth! if only I had your willpower [I'm sure some people will remember my attempt bwaha]

Keep up the good work! :thumb:

Looks good so far, Aldeth.

It's a perpetual battle, however. Don't get cocky, or you'll fall off the wagon faster than you can say it.

One good trick is to tell as many people as possible that you've quit. It will be so much worse if you start again, with all the people you have to tell that you couldn't make it.

So, opening this thread was a brilliant first move! :)

Doing well yanky pank. You're a bigger man than me. My 'quits' last until about 2 beers in.

[ September 05, 2007, 21:25: Message edited by: Barmy Army ]

Well that's the other thing - I never was a heavy drinker but I always smoked when I did drink. Since my kid arrived, I'm not going out drinking. In fact, I've only had about two beers in the last two weeks. Drinking and smoking go hand-in-hand for me, and so naturally, I've tried to avoid both.

The big challenge will come this weekend, when I'm off with two of my college buds who I haven't seen in years to a football (american) game. I'm the first of my close group of friends to have a kid, and so principally, they are coming in to see the baby, but I'm sure adding a game to the agenda was never a bad thing.

Since you had so much luck, Aldeth, I decided to quit again too, and I'm proud to say I have now been smoke free for 6 weeks (Well, I will be tomorrow.)

Well there was a slight slip a couple of weeks ago where I had a few puffs but am proud to say it didn't drag me back in and I'm now what I consider to be "in the clear". Incidentally, I don't actually feel any better, but I'm holding out hoping for great bursts of health in the future!

Good going!

Great work.

Urithrand,

I don't feel any better either. I notice that I tend to cough a bit less than I used to, but in terms of overall health, I don't feel any better (or worse)today than I did back in July. That, however, shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. Almost all of the detrimental effects of smoking only manifest themselves over the long term.

I've talked about lung recovery from smoking with some doctors, and the general consensus is that it takes about 7 YEARS for the lungs of a pack a day smoker to fully recover. You've only been off them for a few weeks, and I for a few months, so perhaps the longer term health benefits won't be apparent to either of us for quite some time yet.

Anyone got any fags? I'm bostin' for a drag.

Ha ha Barmy :p Aldeth, that's true, and I suppose one thing I did neglect to mention is how much healthier my wallet feels ever since :D

Well, for awhile there, the only thing I was smoking was punk-ass fools, but alas, I'm back to playing cancer roulette.

Good job Urithrand... and congrats again to Aldeth for sticking with this for so long!

In the incredibly wise and eloquent words of Mr. Macke (Southpark), "Smoking's bad. You shouldn't smoke."

@Aldeth and Urithrand: Just don't forget to keep an eye on your weight. I gained 5-10 kilograms after quitting :o - fortunately I was able to shred most of it again by cleaning up my diet. :)

Hehe, gaining weight is certainly not an issue for me, I'm about 20 lbs underweight lmao