I have to quite smoking in one month

[WannaBrie]

doc says he wont' operate til i quit. I'm fine with that, I've actually been trying for a while and have quit about 100 times!! Anyone ever used wellbutrin or zyban to help?

[CkretAjint]

I personally haven't, but my gf is a doc in training and says there is a site out there that gives out free patches and gum. I'll get the link from her later and post it!

Best of luck WannaBrie!!!!! :D

[frankster]

How many do you smoke a day and when do you smoke? I gather that makes a big difference in which quitting strategy will work best. I smoked mainly after midday, more in the evenings and all roll ups, but probably only 50g a week in skinny prison cigs. I quit cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant, but it was easier than I thought as the up the duffness made other people's smoke smell awful to me. I'd never tried to quit before that. I smoked from about 14 to 24 years old, but around 90% of my mates back home have also quit in the last 2 or 3 years through various means, the last few smokers in the gang started reassesing things when the smoking in public places ban came in a few months back in the UK. Smoking in the pub was a big thing for most of them.

[jena4]

My bf is quiting this weekend. We keep seeing info on Chantix which is a relatively new med for quiting smoking. I've heard possitive results from people at the beginning stages, but don't know anything about success rate. I'd discuss with your doc though because I've also heard issues with depression can be caused. I don't know how common this is or if it's only if you already have a problem. Good luck!!!

[balou]

Let's work on the brain part first...

Let's change the "I have to quit" to "I want to quit" or "I am quitting"

I was smoking two packs a day and spending over $200 a month on cigs. Having started smoking at 15, I had been puffing for 26 years. I tried quitting with Nicorette gum, patch, Wellbutrin, gum again, Zyban and cold turkey a few times.

Everybody is different but what finally worked for me is to spend about a month ahead wrapping my brain around the fact that beginning September 12, 2005, I will never smoke another cigarette again. I thought about it often and talked to others. I got on to the forums on About.com and read others stories and posted during my process. Also signed up for the Smoking Cessation newsletter on about.com. I read up on how your body and health changes after you quit smoking and what you can do to help work through urges. I got some of the Nicorette gum to use at my hardest points - if I couldn't breathe through, exercise through, brush my teeth through, shower through or wait out the urges. When the day came, I was ready.

I kept half a pack of cigs in a cabinet...out of sight but I knew they were there. I also made up red signs and put them all over the house, in my smoking spots, in the car and even made a paper bracelet I wore on my wrist. They said NOPE...an acronym for Not One Puff Ever. I also sent out an email to my friends and family asking them to send me a little random "attaboys" once in a while to help my resolve. I haven't had one puff since that day. The urges are still there but over time, they grew further and further apart. Never listen to the "junkie brain" that kicks on trying to trick you into smoking again by saying "if you have just one you will feel better." If you've quit 100 times, you know that "one cigarette" is never just one.

It's going to be a combination of things that help you stay a non-smoker, not one magic pill. Your biggest tool is going to be your brain (and you have a son that needs a healthy Mom around too right?). It's hard and it's a bitch but quitting is sooooo worth it. Let me know if I can help.

[Craig B]

Jena, I've heard really bad things about Chantix. So do some research. I live in Dallas and there's a claim that a local musician got shot due to Chantix's side effects. Click this. (http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/chantix_side_effects)

[Virgo Nightingale]

A couple things that I've seen suggested: 1-Keep healthy snacks nearby to help curb the oral fixation that's no longer being satisfied. 2-Get yourself involved with hobbies that are very dexterous to keep your hands too busy to bother with a cigarette.

[doubting_thomas]

Jena, I've heard really bad things about Chantix. So do some research. I live in Dallas and there's a claim that a local musician got shot due to Chantix's side effects. Click this. (http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/chantix_side_effects)
There was a similar story in Seattle a few weeks ago to the one Craig B linked
to. The Chantix user was boozing it up at the time and
he ran into his neighbors yard yelling and acting out. His neighbor shot him
and he died.

http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_111407HEK_chantix_drug_SW.1e4fda78d.html

I'm currently on it, and have to say I've had no side effects that even come
close to these stories. It just works for me. I don't use anything else outside
of a few drinks now and then. The reports I've read have been in regards to
Chantix and other drugs mixing, so maybe staying away from other stuff
would be a good idea.

I've used Zyban in the past and the known side effect of skin rashes was terrible.
I wanted to scratch the flesh off of my bones all day and night. If not for that, I
would have quit smoking while using it for sure. I really liked Zyban.

[MD]

Keep your hands and mouth busy - good advise Virgo ... someones significant other is going to be very happy :D

[frankster]

Keep your hands and mouth busy - good advise Virgo ... someones significant other is going to be very happy :D

Wow, who would have pegged MD as also having an oral fixation :rolleyes: . Here, have a megga drumstick lollypop you dirty boy!

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/content/ebiz/wilkinsonplus/invt/0147586/0147586_m.jpg

[jimking]

A friend of mine was prescribed what I believe to be Chantix. His smoking urge decreased but he was having trouble sleeping and having nightmares.

[Red Kittie Kat]

I'm on day 7 .. no cheating ... cold turkey ... I smoked a pack a day for the last 4 years.

You can do it Brie. It's going to be different for everyone. I just got to the point I was done... this is my last *insert expletive* cig. I was tired of spending 100+ bucks a month on them and I was tired of sounding like I had tuberculosis when I woke up in the morning.

I enjoy smoking and if I wasn't coughing so bad I would still be smoking.

It's tough and it sucks and its gonna be hard as hell the first couple of days. Day 1 wasn't really too bad other than feeling anxious. I was physically sick to my stomach for day 2 and 3 getting over the withdrawal. But I forced myself to do it and on day 4 I felt pretty good. Now on day 7 it's only been a week ... but my cough is 100% better... it's amazing how fast your body wants to heal itself.

Drink lots of water .. it will help the toxins pass and keep plenty of gum and hard candy (I like Jolly Ranchers) on hand. All kidding aside keep your mouth busy and find things to do ... keep busy.

Good Luck ((hugs))

[budafist]

My bf has quit several times (always cold turkey - no cutting down first, no drugs). His new years resolution was to quit but he hasn't started to quit yet.

I think a good idea is to write a list of diversions. Perhaps a list of things to do instead of reaching for that cigarette. You could do all the list in order or you could choose 1 to do each time you want a cigarette.

Brush your teeth
Eat an apple
Chew gum
Drink a glass of water
Have sex
Fold a paper plane
Eat a carrot
Read a chapter of a quit smoking book

[frankster]

I think a good idea is to write a list of diversions. Perhaps a list of things to do instead of reaching for that cigarette. You could do all the list in order or you could choose 1 to do each time you want a cigarette.

Brush your teeth
Eat an apple
Chew gum
Drink a glass of water
Have sex
Fold a paper plane
Eat a carrot
Read a chapter of a quit smoking book

Depending on how much you currently smoke then I'd add a whole load more things to that list or you'll be spending half the day shagging and the other half on the toilet due to water, carrot and apple induced butt vomit. Sexy! ;)

[budafist]

Well if you smoke 16 cigs a day, then you get 2 shags a day!

Oh and it depends on if you're at work or not, some of those might prove a problem while at work...

[tuliptree]

Good luck Brie, you can do it!

[urstwile]

Good luck Brie!

[CkretAjint]

From my girlfriend:


Depends on the state but each state seems to have a Quitline program, http://www.quitline.com/services/about_quitline.php. This is Washington state's program website but florida has the same number. 1 800 Quit NOW. it is sponsored by the dept of health and they provide coaching and assistance to buy nicotine replacement therapy.

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Tobacco/quitline.html This is florida's website. For a local program, they can search their state and quitline.

[jena4]

Jena, I've heard really bad things about Chantix. So do some research. I live in Dallas and there's a claim that a local musician got shot due to Chantix's side effects. Click this. (http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/chantix_side_effects)

:eek: I had heard some bad stuff about it, but nothing I heard was that bad. I'm going to print out that article and show it to the bf. He's talking to his dr. about it today. Thanks for posting. And good luck Wannabrie!

[Craig B]

jena4, I'm no doctor, but I'd definitely be worried about it.

Good luck Brie!!

[jena4]

If you are open to alternative medicince, below is an article on Juice Fasting. There is a lot of info online. I've done juice fasting for a day or two to detox the body. Believe it or not, fasting can benefit the body in many ways. I haven't done it to quit smoking (I don't smoke), but it's supposed to make quiting smoking a lot easier. Of course I wouldn't recommend doing it without talking to your doctor first (there is a right and wrong way to do it and you need to work your way back into eating normally again) and doing plenty of research.

http://fasting.ygoy.com/2007/11/06/fasting-helps-quit-smoking/

[WannaBrie]

Wow! thanks for all the replies everyone! I said I "have to" but I have been wanting to quit (again) for several yrs. I quit cold turkey when I found out I was preggers, and stayed off until I weaned my son at one year. Then one night I went out, to a bar with other smokers and that was it....(I still only smoke abt a 1/2 pack a day and can go for hours without one, its just the social situaations or the after meal part that I know is gonna be the killer!! I can't take chantix...Ins won't cover it and it is waaaay to expensive, so I'm t hinking Wellbutrin (zyban, whatever) Please send me all your non smoking karma, I'm gona need it!! Jena, I'm going to check into the fasting thing, I also need to lose wieght and this will make it a lot harder!!

[Red Kittie Kat]

Just go cold turkey .. makes no sense to me filling yourself with more chemicals while you are trying to cleanse from others :confused:

It's just another way for another company to make $$ off of peoples addictions.

[longboy]

x2 on the cold turkey. It takes willpower, but I know plenty of people who have done it that way. Including me and my Dad (who smoked 2 packs daily for 30+years). My Dad now bicycles, lost about 50 pounds, and just climbed his first 14'er last summer as a result of his newfound healthiness.