Smoking

[Judyin Philly]

Hi All

Sorry I've been away so long.

I did go to the HS renunion. I posted this catch up note on the 'silly' thread and wanted to post here

see no one has posted since Jen on the 3rd. Hope all are well

Here is my note-------------

I was so down but seem to be better now as a new med seems to be working.

Seeing a Dr. who knows his meds was a turning point.

I'm so sensitive my internist was leery to try anything else new.

I've finally stopped 'spinning' and can focus on living and actually can get things accomplished

Porch is finally finished but the contractors still haven't been back to finish in 3 weeks. The counters are in however. Getting closets all cleaned out. Just taking a task a day and having the 'panic' feelings i did before. Think the move was really getting to me also. But trying to think...........'It's a choice to do this......no time frame..........and if we don't sell the house...........at least it will be clean ..........de-clutter and repaired FINALLY

I was even able to gather my mind and inner strength and fly to Ohio for my 50th HS reunion.

It was so nice to see all my old friends. I graduated in a class of 123 and 25 of us are in a 12 years club as we went from 1-12 th grade all together.

It was a small very close class.

Funny, the men seem to age so much more than the women..................IMO

It was worth the trip even tho coming home...........i went to the airport and waited through 5 plane cancellations..........

WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SMOKE SO WAS GOOD I STOPPED.

I finally had to take a cab and go back to my brothers for an extra nite.

I so enjoyed staying with my brother and his wife.

Got to see my 93 year old uncle at his farm in the hocking hills. I seem to find my inner core when I go to his log cabin where there are so many family memories.

Then got to see my cousin who who near death on Good Friday but got a liver transplant and we saw her in rehab. She on the faculty at OSU hospital. All the Dr's were pulling for her so i'm sure that helped.

I was able to visit with Joan........my HS friend from Temecula and we looked at some houses on her MLS listings on her computer. She and her dh came over to my brothers for a afternoon.

She is just an amazing woman. A realtor, lawyer, and flies her own plane. I can sure use her positive energy in my life now.

It's been 5 1/2 months since I've had a cig and today just found a full pack in a old purse while cleaning.........................when will this craving ever go away?

I did miss you guys!

HOPE SOME of you post and let us know how your doing.

Jen. PM me where you lived in Temecula. I checking out different areas now. I have another friend who lives there who lives in the Red Hawk development.

Judy

[PattyBoots]

If I may add, as someone who quit a 2 pack a day smoking habit in 2002 - they WANT you to think it's as hard as possible to quit. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to have their multi-BILLION dollar empires of selling you that stuff that starts with a "C" and ends with an "x" or Nicorette or whatever the snake oil is of the month. The propaganda that it's HARD is way overwhelming. Not to be smug, but I set them down, walked away, and quit - because I refused to buy into the whole "zomg it's so haaaard to quit" thing.

[psawyer]

I quit. More than once. I quit for good in April of 1990. All I used was my own determined willpower. It worked for me.

Nicotine is highly addictive--more so than heroin some say. To those who need help conquering the demon: take it. Use any substitute or therapy you have available to you.

The most important thing is this: You must choose not to smoke. Nobody can make this decision for you. You must make it yourself. I did, and for me there is no looking back.

[kenlove]

Guess we've all been running -- 50th reunion must have been "THE" experience.

just back from India and stopped in Chicago to see grandkids.

Only had one thought of smoking which I managed to curtail.

That was when the driver stopped to smoke an Indian bedde after a particularly hairy experience on a one lane road at 7000 foot elevation -- golad im stil here to write this <G>

good luck!

ken

Hi All

Sorry I've been away so long.

I did go to the HS renunion. I posted this catch up note on the 'silly' thread and wanted to post here

see no one has posted since Jen on the 3rd. Hope all are well

Here is my note-------------

I was so down but seem to be better now as a new med seems to be working.

Seeing a Dr. who knows his meds was a turning point.

I'm so sensitive my internist was leery to try anything else new.

I've finally stopped 'spinning' and can focus on living and actually can get things accomplished

Porch is finally finished but the contractors still haven't been back to finish in 3 weeks. The counters are in however. Getting closets all cleaned out. Just taking a task a day and having the 'panic' feelings i did before. Think the move was really getting to me also. But trying to think...........'It's a choice to do this......no time frame..........and if we don't sell the house...........at least it will be clean ..........de-clutter and repaired FINALLY

I was even able to gather my mind and inner strength and fly to Ohio for my 50th HS reunion.

It was so nice to see all my old friends. I graduated in a class of 123 and 25 of us are in a 12 years club as we went from 1-12 th grade all together.

It was a small very close class.

Funny, the men seem to age so much more than the women..................IMO

It was worth the trip even tho coming home...........i went to the airport and waited through 5 plane cancellations..........

WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SMOKE SO WAS GOOD I STOPPED.

I finally had to take a cab and go back to my brothers for an extra nite.

I so enjoyed staying with my brother and his wife.

Got to see my 93 year old uncle at his farm in the hocking hills. I seem to find my inner core when I go to his log cabin where there are so many family memories.

Then got to see my cousin who who near death on Good Friday but got a liver transplant and we saw her in rehab. She on the faculty at OSU hospital. All the Dr's were pulling for her so i'm sure that helped.

I was able to visit with Joan........my HS friend from Temecula and we looked at some houses on her MLS listings on her computer. She and her dh came over to my brothers for a afternoon.

She is just an amazing woman. A realtor, lawyer, and flies her own plane. I can sure use her positive energy in my life now.

It's been 5 1/2 months since I've had a cig and today just found a full pack in a old purse while cleaning.........................when will this craving ever go away?

I did miss you guys!

HOPE SOME of you post and let us know how your doing.

Jen. PM me where you lived in Temecula. I checking out different areas now. I have another friend who lives there who lives in the Red Hawk development.

Judy

[Judyin Philly]

Ken---Glad you arrived back home safe and sound and smokeless after the driver lit up>

Susan and Jen, are you both doing ok?

I'm still haven't had a smoke but craving still there but much less often.

would love to hear how others are doing. This rainy weather is making me nuttier than usual

My new Dr was telling me how many patients get depressed after quiting smoking. Said it had an effect on the dopamine in the brain. I know there was somthing not 'kicking' in like it did when i got those 'nicotine' boosts.

Judy

[kenlove]

Thanks Judy

Still smokeless but the desire is still there --

Don't feel depressed though - -maybe since I get a whole lot more O2 than before!

enjoy the weekend!

ken

Ken---Glad you arrived back home safe and sound and smokeless after the driver lit up>

Susan and Jen, are you both doing ok?

I'm still haven't had a smoke but craving still there but much less often.

would love to hear how others are doing. This rainy weather is making me nuttier than usual

My new Dr was telling me how many patients get depressed after quiting smoking. Said it had an effect on the dopamine in the brain. I know there was somthing not 'kicking' in like it did when i got those 'nicotine' boosts.

Judy

[Jestgar]

Open Original Shared Link

In some places cigs are $10 a pack!!!!

Stop smoking and you could pay for a trip to Europe.

[jerseyangel]

Open Original Shared Link

In some places cigs are $10 a pack!!!!

Stop smoking and you could pay for a trip to Europe.

You know, I stopped smoking years ago, and was floored at how much a pack costs today!

[psawyer]

When I first started smoking, cigs cost a penny a pop. A pack of 40 was 38 to 40 cents, depending on the store. What a difference four decades makes. I quit almost twenty years ago, so haven't been following prices lately.

[kenlove]

Pretty close to $10 in Hawaii. Before I stopped I was bringing them back from japan at $3.00 instead of the almost $10 here

When I first started smoking, cigs cost a penny a pop. A pack of 40 was 38 to 40 cents, depending on the store. What a difference four decades makes. I quit almost twenty years ago, so haven't been following prices lately.

[mushroom]

When I first started smoking, cigs cost a penny a pop. A pack of 40 was 38 to 40 cents, depending on the store. What a difference four decades makes. I quit almost twenty years ago, so haven't been following prices lately.

I quit exactly four decades ago, almost to the day; a carton of cigarettes (never bought a pack!) cost about $3.00 But when I think of the bucks (and breath) saved over the years... darn it, no-one can afford to smoke, whatever it costs because the monetary cost is only the beginning. Okay, okay, I'll stop preaching to the choir

[Judyin Philly]

Glad to see the thread running again.

I hope Susan and Jen are doing ok.

Been about 6 months and a few days for me.

Still missing it.

Judy

[debmidge]

Congratulations to the non-smokers for keeping to their promise to themselves. Please remember it's not only money you are saving when you stop smoking, but you are saving yourselves from future suffering.

My mom's sister (my aunt) is in a special nursing home, she was a smoker up until it was too late. She's been there since last year when she was 68 years old. When she was 56 she had a cancerous lung removed and survived. Fast forward to now - her remaining lung has COPD and can no longer absorb enough oxygen to keep her living. She's on a machine 24/7 with a tube permanently installed in her throat to breathe for her. Not all nursing homes have this specialty and I haven't been able to visit her in a long while. My Mom visits about once a month as it's very far and she needs someone to drive her there. My Aunt spends each day either in her bed or in a wheelchair as she is too far gone to be disconnected from the machine (some can be disconnected for a short while and will go out and walk in the hallway, but they must go back on the machine when they go to sleep at night). Her life is TV and watching the other patients go by. This is the same woman who years ago was dubbed "The Dancing Queen" - vibrant and full of life and energy. Their brother is dying of lung and adrenal cancer as a result of smoking all his life. My mother who is a heavy smoker herself, visits them both whenever she can but her COPD and emphysema keeps her home often.

Please keep yourselves away from cigarettes so that you remain in the best health that you can be in.

Wishing you all well and the strength to stay smoke-free.

[ravenwoodglass]

Mind if I join the thread? Last cig at 3 pm today. I have been cutting down for a bit. Like when my cigs went to over $8 a pack. I started buying the roll your own and cut down from a pack a day or more to about 10 to 15 cigs. Today I got the gum. I have tried before but not succeeded, but then again I must admit I hadn't tried that hard. I have been a smoker for over 41 yrs and it is time to 'just say no'. Today I decided it was time to stop 'trying to quit' and 'hoping to be able to quit' and just say, I quit. I don't have time tonight but I will be reading the whole thread soon as I know you all have some great advice. Thanks for starting this thread.

[mushroom]

Mind if I join the thread? Last cig at 3 pm today. I have been cutting down for a bit. Like when my cigs went to over $8 a pack. I started buying the roll your own and cut down from a pack a day or more to about 10 to 15 cigs. Today I got the gum. I have tried before but not succeeded, but then again I must admit I hadn't tried that hard. I have been a smoker for over 41 yrs and it is time to 'just say no'. Today I decided it was time to stop 'trying to quit' and 'hoping to be able to quit' and just say, I quit. I don't have time tonight but I will be reading the whole thread soon as I know you all have some great advice. Thanks for starting this thread.

Now that you have finally said I guit, you have to go one step further and say "I have quit". I found those were the magic words for me :D They gave me the motivation not to go back on my word. You are so right, hoping and trying don't really get you anywhere. But "I have smoked my last cigarette!", now that's powerful and empowering. I won't wish you luck, because it's not about luck; YOU CAN DO IT and I know you will. Won't be easy, but oh, the rewards. not the least of which is monetary and saving your lungs

CONGRATULATIONS!!

[psawyer]

Mind if I join the thread? Last cig at 3 pm today. I have been cutting down for a bit. Like when my cigs went to over $8 a pack. I started buying the roll your own and cut down from a pack a day or more to about 10 to 15 cigs. Today I got the gum. I have tried before but not succeeded, but then again I must admit I hadn't tried that hard. I have been a smoker for over 41 yrs and it is time to 'just say no'. Today I decided it was time to stop 'trying to quit' and 'hoping to be able to quit' and just say, I quit. I don't have time tonight but I will be reading the whole thread soon as I know you all have some great advice. Thanks for starting this thread.

Welcome aboard, Krista. We are all ex-smokers here. You are now an ex-smoker (get used to saying it) and you are one of us.

The future starts now. It is smoke-free (and gluten-free, too).

[jerseyangel]

Ravenwood!!! I'm overjoyed to see you here--you're gonna kick this thing!!!

I'm a cheerleader over here --I quit years ago and you will do it too

[Lisa]

I'm a quiter too

Knowing myself as I do...I kept a half/opened pack of cigs in my freezer. I alway knew they were there, so that I would not panic knowing I didn't have any in the house. I think it gave ME to power to not to smoke them. I threw them out a year and a half later.

Welcome Raven!

[GFinDC]

Ok, just sharing a story for the newest quitter here, the lovely Ravenwoodglass.

My ex quit smoking years ago. She did it by telling herself she would only smoke on her birthday, one day a year. And she stuck to that. One day a year on her birthday she would smoke, but only a couple. Then she was off them until next birthday. I think she quit totally after the first couple years though, even on birthdays.

Anyway congrats on being an ex-smoker!

[Judyin Philly]

Welcome Ravenwood

we'll be here to help if you need us.

I'm a quiter too

Knowing myself as I do...I kept a half/opened pack of cigs in my freezer. I alway knew they were there, so that I would not panic knowing I didn't have any in the house. I think it gave ME to power to not to smoke them. I threw them out a year and a half later.

Lisa

Your the only other one who has said this......about keeping some.

well............i did take the open pack and drench it in water............so it's gone

while cleaning......think i told you all I found another full pack.

so..........now i have 3 full packs here.

they are taped in a thick mailing envelope to mail to a friend who is still smoking..............

I've had them addressed and stamped for 1 1/2 weeks.

I just can't believe i can't let go of them.

Thanks Lisa for saying it took 1 1/2 years to throw them out.

I know I will not buy another pack.

I didn't take them on the trip to Ohio or the trip the CA

I know i'm a ex smoker when i put them in the mail.

maybe you right Lisa........it's what gives me to power to not smoke them that keeps me going i guess.

Judy

[mushroom]

No, I'm another one; always kept a pack of cigarettes on the corner of the coffee table because I knew I would have to resist them wherever I went and I might as well get in training at home If my husband smoked them I would replace them with a new pack

[Judyin Philly]

Mushroom

Thanks for posting that

I was beginning to think I was really the 'odd duck' out

Judy

[Judyin Philly]

143 days, 17 hours, 34 minutes and 7 seconds smoke free.

2156 cigarettes not smoked.

took out $$ saved as it was too embarrasing.

16 days, 11 hours of your life saved.

Your quit date: 12/23/2008

Your Quit Date is: 12/23/2008 Time

Smoke-Free: 196 days, 10 hours, 17 minutes and 15 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 2946

Lifetime Saved: 22 days, 12 hours

Open Original Shared Link Saved: $1,478.82

Going to keep this up to see the progress.

It's been about 6+ months now.

Sure hope all are doing well

How are you doing Ravenwood.

Judy

[jerseyangel]

Your Quit Date is: 12/23/2008 Time

Smoke-Free: 196 days, 10 hours, 17 minutes and 15 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 2946

Lifetime Saved: 22 days, 12 hours

Open Original Shared Link Saved: $1,478.82

Amazing how the numbers add up!! You should be so proud --that's quite an accomplishment

[kenlove]

hope your all doing well

I haven't slipped up yet but really wanted to light up today.

No stress, nothing special happened -- just missing it still.

I guess this is what addiction is.

good luck all!