[giggy2]

I agree about the lecturing. Anyone who has been a smoker should know better than to lecture. I know when someone would lecture me all I would think to myself was "shut the hell up!" All my friends still smoked when I stopped. Quitting was my choice and I was ready for it. We all have to decide for ourselves when to quit. I don't offer any advice unless asked.

My husband quit 4 months after I did. My best friend still hasn't quit, that's okay cause she just isn't ready to yet. I support her no matter what she does. My neighbors both quit with Chantix about 3 weeks ago and are doing well.

I did it for me and for my children, I was ready for a positive change in my life.

Happy Sunday!

[laineDec2007]

I have quit two times using the following method. I have been smoke-free since September 18, 2006.
I bought myself Step One patches and also 2mg lozenges. I wore the patches for the 24 hours and when I had a break-through craving I would pop a lozenge. The pathes contain about the nicotine of 1/2 pack of cigarettes and I was a pack a day smoker. I usually only needed 2-3 lozenges a day. This was during nursing clinicals and I did not want to be crabby.
I continued to use the patches as directed. When it was time to go to Step 2 I did. I would still use lozenges but still only 2 or 3. When it was time to go to step 3 I didn't. I didn't feel the need for nicotine anymore.
The experience was not even awful for those around me.
I believe it was probably cheaper than filling Chantix. But different methods work for different people.
I would still love to smoke. However, I do not have physical or mental cravings. I do know that if I give in and smoke one cigarette I will be off to the store to buy a pack. That is what happened to me last time.

[KarleeRN320]

Chantix, God bless Chantix. I smoked for hmmm, 35 years.... quit/abstained many times...difficult quits every one of them, except when I was pregnant...then it was a no brainer. I started on Chantix mid November with no quit date in mind...just took the med...found that I was smoking less and less....set my quit date for Jan 1st...no...it was/is NOT a New years resolution:dncg:! Smoke free now for over a month.....and now my husband is trying the Chantix also!!! I joined a gym before I quit smoking and have been religious about going when I am able...Still am fighting the battle of the bulge, but...I think that I am winning! I won't say it is always easy with my husband smoking, but for my health and his...I had to quit. When I started quitting Chantix was NOT covered by our insurance....as of last week when my husband checked...it is NOW covered....oh...and added incentive for myself...I take the money that I would have spent on ciggies....and buy myself something totally self indulgent.....diamonds are my current favs...... When I think that I may want a ciggie.....I get up and walk to the basement...(where my NEW gym equipment is) and by the time I get back upstairs...the urge is gone. If I get the urge when I am not at home...I tell my self to wait five minutes... by the time five minutes have passed...I usually have forgotten about it...
I feel for me that this is an especially appropriate forum...cuz I am a nicotine addict....and it would be all too easy to revert back to the habit....Guess I'll just wait five minutes....see if I still want one...Nah...I will just look at the new diamond ring I just bought...
Good Luck to all those that are quitting...attempting to quit...thinking about quitting.....
Try Chantix...get support....get gum.....get diamonds...LOL.

[Silverdragon102]

Congrats Karlee..... glad it is working out for you and I hope you both go from strength to strength

[bettyboop]

Both myself and my DD gave up the ciggs new yrs day for me this is the 3rd time all the other trys were with patches but had nasty side effects so my DD says cold turkey this time and we did it were not out of the woods yet and never will be have in the past given up for 3 months then thought i could just have 1, well like any addiction you can not even have 1.
The reward is my DD and i treat ourselves every month last week we went out and bought each other a gift my DD bought me a beautiful swimming costume from M & S i bought her a bottle of versace perfume.
My motto never give up trying to give up.

[darrell]

For me, it was keeping the consequences in mind so that whenever I thought about smokes, I also thought about consequences. Writing them down helps.

There are reasons for quitting or we wouldn't quit. The trick is to think about them instead of the illusory benefits.

D

[onesteaLPN]

Hi all,
I will post my story later, tomorrow I am starting another quit smoking journey! Wish me luck! I just wanted to quickly give you a link to a website www.whyquit.com it is based on the "cold turkey" approach but has tons of information that you can read through!

Hope it helps, I find it gives me a good "DOSE" of reality everytime I visit there!

[Miami NightNurse]

I quit smoking 12/29/07 after 35 years of Heavy Heavy Smoking, that's because on 12/29/07 I had a Heart Attack. The ER nurse told me if I thought I was going to smoke after having a heart attack I was dead wrong, that she wasn't going to let me and I believed her. I was then transferred to the hospital and floor where I work and was told by every nurse, secretary and Nurse's aide that if I tried to sneak off and smoke they would beat me and I was scared they would. The Doctor prescribed Xanax for me and that helped. When I was discharged I started taking Chantix. I took Xanax every 4-6 hours for the 1st 2 weeks since I wasn't allowed to work any way. The Cardiologist said all my coronary arteries were heavily calcified from smoking and that I got a stent this time but that if I continued to smoke Iwould need Open Heart Surgery within 1-2 years. So now it's been 44 days since I've had a cigarrette sometimes I really want one but that open heart crap helps me refrain. I never thought I could ever quit. I have to Thank the people who threatened to beat me, the Xanax and The Chantix.

[Miami NightNurse]

PS. Another thing that helped me in the beginng was to hold a lighter in one hand and a ball point pen in the other- I would take drags off the pen like it was a cigarette- it comforted me. Now I just chew gum or eat a piece of hard candy

[inspire]

I quit 31 days ago. Quite honestly, it was one of the easier things I have done. I have tried many times in past, but always went back to it. Not this time. I prayed A LOT! Then, I decided there are 2 choices: quit and have a poor me attitude, or have a positive attitude and move forward. Nobody is forcing me to quit, but its the choice I decided to make. Lets face it, there is not one good thing that comes from it. A great site is www.quitnet.com. It sends you daily emails, stats like cig not smoked, etc. Good luck! Keep a positive attitude! My motto is once you make an excuse to have the 1st one, you'll make an excuse for every single one. One a way from a pack a day!