Stopping smoking? What helps you

Nurses Recovery

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Although I have never smoked I have helped many patient's in my role as a practice nurse (I worked in doctor's surgery) and these are a few things that they found helped them to stop

chewing gum

mints - no added sugar kind as worried to putting on weight

crossword puzzles

needlecraft

finding something that would distract themselves for the few minutes that the cravings broke through

Many found something to do with their hands as that was what they felt affected them the most.. ie hands doing nothing

So what helped you to stop even for a short while if not permanent?

Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

I felt guilty smoking because its unhealthy. I worried about cancer, etc. I was a closet smoker so I always had stress being around certain people. I'd stress thinking when I could smoke, always looking out so certain people wouldn't see or smell me.

I'm that way right now. I do not smoke at work but I do smoke at home. I go outside to smoke and I'm very nervous about who will be driving by and see me out side having a smoke. I'm afraid it will be one of the patients that I've seen in the ED or someone I work w/. I've seen a doc, anesthesiologist, and RN drive by while I'm out smoking and hoping that did not recognize me. None of the people I work w/ smoke that I know about so it's not something I want to share w/ them because none of them will be able to relate to my situation. I don't think that they could relate to my situation and support me the way I would need to be. I hear how they talk about smokers and it's not kind nor supportive so that's really discouraging to admit that I'm one of them. I just hope that in time I'll be able to quit. I'm not ready yet but I'm hoping I'll reach that point before something bad comes from it.

Hi jmER,

I encourage you to visit www.quitnet.com, start reading and looking around the site, it was really helpful to me before I quit. A great support system. Trust me, you will feel a huge stress relief once you quit. If you prepare yourself and get in the right mindset it won't be as hard as you think. Good luck and set your quit date! You can do it! :up:

Specializes in LTC full time Hospital Float PRN.

A triple bypass helped me quit. I had stopped a week before and I think that stress helped me notice the pains. Been free 4 years now.

Not long ago I was discussing this with a patient while the Doc was in the room. I simply stated to stop smoking was the "Easiest hard thing" I had ever done. Many ten second battles, fierce and mean little battles that once I won them I had another half hour of peace.

My dreams then contained content of me smoking, being aware I was dreaming I hot boxed the durn things and that carried me over too. The dreams wittle away and the last year or so nadda. Just ease of breating and stuff tastes too good. No weight gain but no loss either.

My brother is an Oncologist and he smoked Old Gold.

Tis a tough thing to do kinda sorta. Helps to remember that I am a wee bit smarter than the cigs.

Did the patch too for 3 days, then took one with me to work in my pocket in case. I did not use it for a week, then left it at home. I was scared that day with no patch but I made it.

Just need to rid the body of the crap. Takes time, worth it.

3 days

then 3 weeks

then 6 months

then first year. These are the milestones. Month 1 thru 6 were not too bad. After first year you get bragging rights. Oh and the moolah you save. yea:redbeathe

Specializes in Dialysis.

I've been smoking for 12 years. It sucks when i read that statement. I started when i was 15. I quit, using Zyban, for 2 years when I was 18-ish. Then I got a job in a bar. College, out drinking a lot, working in a bar = smoking again. This past September I got Chantix. After the 2nd month I just couldn't afford it anymore. And I know that the price of cigarettes far outweighs the cost of a month of Chantix. But you know addiction.

I know I need to quit, I can't afford to keep smoking, I want to quit before I start having kids. The fiance smokes, he isn't in a hurry to quit.

What can you do? Need help.

Maybe I'll try cold turkey. like tomorrow.

thanks for this thread.

Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

inspire thanks for the info on the quit net website. I went there today and set my quit date for April 1st. I figure that should give me plenty of time to prepare and build a new plan post smoking. I'm really hoping it will work this time. I'm really tiered of the hiding, anxiety, and feeling like crap from the smoking. I guess we all get to the point where enoughs enough and I'm hoping this is it. Thanks again and wish me luck.:up:

Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!:redbeathe:heartbeat:redpinkhe:redbeathe:heartbeat:redpinkhe:redbeathe:heartbeat

ER Baby 12 Good Luck. You can do it!!! I believe if I can quit, anyone can. I smoked 2-4 packs per day for 35 years. Anyway Good Luck!!!!

Good for you! Setting a quit day is a huge step. Trust me if you get the urge go to that site people will help you. Do a lot of praying, it really did it for me. Also, one thing that helped me was not quitting on a Monday morning right when I woke up. Since I smoked so much in the AM, I chose quitting on an odd day of the week like Thursday at 2 PM. I'll pray for you and stay positive!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
After smoking for 12 years, I quit cold turkey on New Years Day 8 years ago. I used sugar free hard candies alot the first couple of weeks, but after that I was okay. Husband said I was a tad bit on the ****** side, but not nearly as bad as he thought I would be. I remember being very "edgy".

That's what I did. I only smoked for 4 years, but when I decided I had enough, I went off it cold turkey. The first month, I ate a lot of beef jerky for a month and was so wound up the husband took standard PMS precautions (i.e., he hid). Once I got past month 1, things improved drastically, and I haven't smoked since :)

I think what helped me was that my habit wasn't that long compared to a lot of smokers trying to quit...which is kind of surprising considering I grew up in a small apartment with two smoking parents whose mentatlity was, "if you don't like it then don't breathe." I actually made it until 21 before I succumbed to tobbacco.

Specializes in LTC/Rehab,Med/Surg, OB/GYN, Ortho, Neuro.

I started smoking when I was 16 or 17, never anything serious, cigarette here or there. Never really picked up the habit until after second daughter was born. I was 21, hubby and I were having problems, just started working at a job where others smoked, alot. I still didn't smoke alot. I was the kind of person that could buy a pack of cigarettes and still have over half left after a month. After hubby and I separated, I took my kids and moved back home w/ my mom. Life happened and the stress started piling on. It then came to a point that I was going through a pack a week. Not a lot to some I know, but waaay too much for me.

I tried quitting a couple of times. One that was partially effective, was that if I wanted a cigarette, I had to put the cost of a pack away in a savings jar, whether I bought the pack or not. That lasted for almost a year. Then I found out that my mother was being abusive to my kids while I was working...the stress came roaring back worse than ever, started smoking again, and I even developed bladder incontinence.

Sunday March 26, 2006 was my last night at my job and my girls and I moved away on the 31st. That last night I worked was the last time I had a cigarette. I had realized a long time ago that stress was my trigger to smoking, and by that point I was tired of smoking. I would be taking a smoke break and just berating myself for doing something that I didn't even enjoy anymore. I kept that pack of cigarettes that I didn't finish, it's still in the console of my vehicle. There are moments when I still get stressed out, and out of the blue I want a cigarette, but I made a pact w/ myself that if I want one, I have to finish that pack first. The thought of those stale things is enough to turn me off.

And on a side note, since moving away from that major stressor, no more bladder incontinence

I quit November 19th 2007..I still want to smoke at times i just dont.I have become a little OCD about the quit date and refuse to make a new date.so I cannot start smoking again.so far so good..

I used a million and one excuses not to quit until I decided I was tired of being addicted to cigs. After I admitted that I was addicted ,the quitting thing just naturally followed..hum..go figure...I can't say honestly that I feel better, but I do know my wallet does.

Specializes in behavioral health.

Smoking is someting that I have struggled with off and on. I have had long quit times, and would start smoking. I experimented with cigs for first time at age of 16. But, I never "inhaled" or became addicted until I was 18. I quit when I was 30. Then, I started at age of 38 and smoked for about 1 1/2 yrs. Then I quit for another 6 yrs. Followed by a relapse for about two years. Then quit for three years and started when I was dealing with my daughter's opiate addiction. Yeah, real smart I was to smoke(my addiction) when worrying about my daughter's addiction. I smoked off and on for about 1 yr. I had some short quit times lasting a few weeks to a few months. I quit again this past January, as I moved in with my mom.(who has no idea that I have been smoking again). But,I started smoking again about a month ago. Again, off and on a week here and there.

My husband is my biggest trigger these days. He is a heavy smoker. And, he is not at all supportive of my quitting. Honestly, I think he enjoys the company of me smoking. Or, maybe it is a case of me not ******** about his smoking. Sometimes, I think that I just lit up becaue his cigarette was nauseating me so much, and that if I would smoke maybe it won't bother me so much. I know that it sounds totally lame. I have asked him to please not smoke around me. However, he is too hooked not to. He will, instead, rationalize that I don't smoke all week, so a few cigs won't hurt me. Umm..... yes, they will. However, I am a nurse and know better.

Also, here is my health history: I have sarcoidosis and have had two temp. trachs d/t tracheal stenosis. Smoking didn't cause it, but it sure is not helping me. I have high cholesterol. My mother has CAD, my older sister has a stent in artery, my father died at age of 51 d/t fatal MI.(he had history of heart disease and chronic bronchitis)

My husband does not have a hx of lung or heart disease in his family. However, lately, I have noticed that yucky smoker's cough that he has.

I have a patch on today. Yesterday, I broke down and had a few cigs with him. I was hating myself the whole time. And, told him that I was mad at myself for smoking. However, he didn't think it was a big deal since I don't smoke when he is not around during the week. Okay, now here is a man that does not want me to return to my former job because it nearly killed me. And, he did not want to see me as sick as I was. Yes, with my illness, it appeared that I was on my deathbed a few times. However, smoking is worse than the work was. It was really more my fault about the working because I had a hard time saying "no". So, I convinced myself last night, that I am more educated than he in the area of health. So, "I" must convince him that I cannot smoke and would truly appreciate it, if he could curtail his smoking around me. Also, his dates with me will be non-smoking. He can take his nasty habit outside, but not around me. I need to demand this from him. It is my fault, not his. As he doesn't get it, and I know better. I am using patches, and am going to check out EFT.

I did enjoy smoking. But, even when I did smoke, I hated the smell of stale smoke. Also, it is a habit that I cannot afford. I will take this one day at a time. And, for today, I have not smoked. The real battle will be holding my ground with DH.

Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

I quit smoking a year ago. I know how hard it is. I chose to use Chantix, it helped.

If your hubby won't stop, perhaps he would at least agree not to smoke in the house or the car? When I was smoking, my hubby quit, so I started smoking outside, and for five years, I didn't smoke in the house or around my hubby.

Just a suggestion. Good luck, and God bless

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