Tried the patches (which slid off with the sweat), prescriptions (which gave me bad dreams and a bit of depression), cold turkey (did for a year till a stint in jail got me going again) and even switching one form of tobacco for another (cigarettes to pipes to little cigars). Been at this for about 40 years now and I can honestly say it's a state of mind. Change your mind, and a few other related habits, and you can do it. Now if I can follow my own advice...

GP

I guess I never really got hooked on it. I probably had my first cigarette around 7 or 8 years old. Smoked off and on until about 41 years. At that time I only smoked when I was drinking. Then I started getting headaches when just starting to drink. That rapidly ended both my drinking and smoking. I doubt if that helps you any but I never really missed it.

I guess I do still smoke occasionally but only when I'm in Jamaica.

HoustonCH73 wrote:
I've never been a habitual smoker so I guess I'm lucky that I've never had that craving lurking in the background. I know my brother moved from cigs to skoal as a transition. Maybe ya'll could try that.



Dont try that, I'm hooked on kodiak.(same thing as skoal, diff brand). Several doctors have told me that the nicotene in 1 dip is equal to 10 cigarettes. Not a good way to quit, you're trading lung cancer for mouth cancer. I would give anything to quit. When I try its this horrible taste in my mouth, eyes kinda watering, aching all over and being sluggish, no energy. Then the headache comes and lasts for days. I have run out of dip at 4am before and looked like hell and still driven to any gas station that was open even if it was 100 miles to get it. When I was a kid I would get so desperate for it I would raid cookie jars, my old piggy bank, I would do anything for it. See the difference for me in cigs and dip was unreal. first cig was ok, but the first dip actually made me high. First few minutes of havin one you got light headed and dizzy lol. Kinda a Euphoria. But trust me, after about 6 months that goes away and then you're doing it cause you have to. Its no longer the cool thing to do with the guys when you get together. I spend probably 18 hours out of a day dipping. I even wake up in the middle of the night and dip, then go back to sleep. Heck I have even fallen asleep a time or two with it in. So please dont try to use dip to quit smoking. each dip will be like smoking 10 cigs all at once. Good luck. I'm considering trying it with you guys.

Edit:As soon as I finished typing this I didnt even realize I did it. I reached for the dip, packed it, and got me one.... All without thinking.

Thanks to all who are here with their support!! I greatly appreciate it! Today has been a very testing day, and could have easily gone to the Quick Mart and gotten a "Fix", but no, I refrained and am trying to hold my composure throughout the day. Seems to have gotten worse today, so we will see what later brings. Thanks again for all the support.

The more I think about quitting the more excited I am. I was supposed to quit last April with wifey but had allot of 'stuff' going on at work and figured I wouldn't succeed so I didn't.

I've smoked about 5 nails all day and no more tonite. I've got some nicorit gum and patched too - noit at the same time tho...don't want to OD while quitting

Keep the faith GJ.

bushr

Choosing to stop is a personal decision and I wish you luck. I learned this week a good friend has lung cancer (both lungs) and is also in his esophagus. He has less than six months. Have tried to get him to stop for some time. He always brushed it off saying he had to die one way or another. At 58 years old I am certain he has to wonder if he should have made another decision concerning smoking. Sorry for the downer message, but if this helps your decision to stop smoking it is worth sharing this sad story.

Yakman, I'm very sorry for your friend.

GJ, hang in there. You've proved to yourself that you can do it.

When you quit:

* In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
* In 8 hours the carbon monoxide levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
* In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
* In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
* In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
* In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
* In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
* In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
* In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
* In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

Also, from personal experience: You will awaken more refreshed in the mornings and with that, the Morning Wood Faery will resume her visits.

havent had a smoke since i had my last beer over ten months ago and dont miss niether.still chew at work but that is getting very old.good luck to quiting you can do it.

Liquid_Edge wrote:
HoustonCH73 wrote:
I've never been a habitual smoker so I guess I'm lucky that I've never had that craving lurking in the background. I know my brother moved from cigs to skoal as a transition. Maybe ya'll could try that.



Dont try that, I'm hooked on kodiak.(same thing as skoal, diff brand). Several doctors have told me that the nicotene in 1 dip is equal to 10 cigarettes. Not a good way to quit, you're trading lung cancer for mouth cancer. I would give anything to quit. When I try its this horrible taste in my mouth, eyes kinda watering, aching all over and being sluggish, no energy. Then the headache comes and lasts for days. I have run out of dip at 4am before and looked like hell and still driven to any gas station that was open even if it was 100 miles to get it. When I was a kid I would get so desperate for it I would raid cookie jars, my old piggy bank, I would do anything for it. See the difference for me in cigs and dip was unreal. first cig was ok, but the first dip actually made me high. First few minutes of havin one you got light headed and dizzy lol. Kinda a Euphoria. But trust me, after about 6 months that goes away and then you're doing it cause you have to. Its no longer the cool thing to do with the guys when you get together. I spend probably 18 hours out of a day dipping. I even wake up in the middle of the night and dip, then go back to sleep. Heck I have even fallen asleep a time or two with it in. So please dont try to use dip to quit smoking. each dip will be like smoking 10 cigs all at once. Good luck. I'm considering trying it with you guys.

Edit:As soon as I finished typing this I didnt even realize I did it. I reached for the dip, packed it, and got me one.... All without thinking.

Yea... I saw the origional quote and thought wow.... skoal is worse than sigs to try to kick. I dipped for years when I worked the oil grinders in the factory... and that was harder to quit that cigs for sure!

I smoked for about 7 years. One day I just said that was it, and sorta quit cold turkey. I would stop and buy a pack, smoke one, then get really pissed that I did it, then throw away the whole pack.

I think the worst was the first 3-4 days, if you can make it past that, you can do it.

Been smoke free for about 12years now, probably the single best choice I have ever made