Ok so here goes ...

[barb dwyer]

... started Chantix on monday. Quit date is next Monday.

I recently had a very bad case of pneumonia caused by smoke inhalation. Neighbor's bbq filled my house with smoke while I ws sleeping. I'm told it's the second worst smoke you can breathe.
Add that to all the forest fires up here this year ... *sigh*

I've been a smoker for years. Have been sober for one year (yay!) and knew all along that smoking would be next.

However - I didn't expect HP to take over, and mandate the date. LOL

I thought it was going to be this whole choice thing.
ok fine.
A deal ... is a deal.

SO!

Because of the other therapies I'm doing right now, I can barely smoke anyhow.
(asthma stuff)

Like two puffs and the cig has to go out. I can no longer attend my home group meetings, because they're smoking meetings.
Tried it - almost had to go to hospital.
So much for that.

My life is going through almost as much readjustment as it did for me to quit drinking.
Luckily, there's several members of my Fellowship here who are severe asthmatics, and who've had really hard summers as well because of the smoke. So I've got good advice and all that.

I've read that froglegs, and xjunkie, and probably others are all quitting at the same time just about. So let's keep up with each other, for example -

am I the only one experiencing manic moods?

I mean, if I can get through this without bi+ch - slapping a guest or co-worker, I'll be blessed indeed.... so I've taken a week's vacation starting next weekend as well.

LOL!

[barb dwyer]

oh!

better also add that I'm trying to apply the twelve steps as much as I possibly can, too.

Thought I'd better add that before Taz comes over and gives me a lecture ... LOL

Mostly, it's the ritual and the habit itself that keeps creeping up. So I have re-done the house, orienting it toward a no smoking zone kind of thing. Times when it's time to light up - I try to do the third step prayer and find something else to distract me...

[historyteach]

Hey, Barb!
Congratulations on your decision to quit!
And the behaviors that will make it happen!

Funny how our HP has plans for us we didn't count on, huh?

Here's some tips from my quit.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...s-my-quit.html (Tips from my Quit)
Some things, you may find helpful; others, not. The only difference is now I am One year, nine months, three weeks, two days, 19 minutes and 5 seconds nicotine free. That's 26400 cigarettes not smoked, saving $7,270.69. Life saved: 13 weeks, 16 hours, 0 minutes.

Please join in our daily check in thread. It helps to be held accountable. And remember to keep the quit and post before you puff!

Shalom!

[barb dwyer]

thanks HT ...

'decision' ... heh. Yha. Hokay. LOL

I read through your link there - and so far, I've done all that. Got stuff on the way for the state, all that. Chantix even has a help line, did you know that?

Went through the house. Did that this last few days off. When the actual start date hits - I'm gonna use some of that $$ to shampo the carpet. Lots of freshener febreeze type stuff helps me not to dirty up the air in the house.

You'd THINK that potential lung damage would be enough.
hehe.
yeah.
if you're not an alcoholic, you might think that.

I'm wearing out the third step prayer, too.

[Tazman53]

Well here I am Barb, I am not sure why, but the smoking thing has been a breeze compared to the booze for me, but I feel that with a year sober under my belt and having worked the steps and still working & living them that my HP & I are far closer now and turning it over has been extremely helpful.

I have not had a cigarette since 4:10am on the 18th, it has been fairly easy so far.

I bought a thing of those Sloal Bandits, there are like 20 in a tin, I use one of them when I do getting really needy, they taste like crap and I can only keep them in my mouth about 5-10 minutes, but they do the trick for 5-6 hours. 2-3 of those a day vs well over a pack of smokes a day I am sure my lungs appreciate!

As nasty as these skoal things are I have a feeling that if I finish the can I will not be buying any more of it and I know I won't be buying any more smokes.

Hang in there hon, turn it over!

Step #1
Step #2
Step #3

Smoke free!!!!

[barb dwyer]

yeah. doing the 'waltz' over here.

[barb dwyer]

Woke up today and actually sat up and said, 'hey, I'm feeling better.'

Of course the cats looked at me like I'm nuts. They're like, Who're ya talking to?'

*g*

But I do feel better. Still runnin' on a very very short fuse, though. I'm glad I told the boss about it, and got the week's vacation. That starts the last weekend of this month.

And - had my first 'Chantix dram' - hoooBOY!!!!
I'm looking forward to more of them!!!
I'm talking closing credits and theme music clear and FUN!

Ho'w everyone else doin?

[barb dwyer]

dream... first chantix DREAM ... *rolls eyes*

[Peter]

You can do this barb. I am smoke free now nearly four years. It was hard but by then I was able to seriously apply the 12 steps after being sober for 6 years.

I had that barbecue smoke inhalation thing onetime too. Got really sick.

Please don't bi+ch slap any guests today , okay. Go outside and yell at a tree or ssomething and really scare the neighbours

Wot's a chantix dream?

[Peter]

Originally Posted by Peter

Wot's a chantix dream?

Oh never mind, I just noticed the chantx dreams have something to do with Nicholas Cage...

[Raineydae]

Barb, it's great news that you're quitting.
I quit smoking when I was still an active alcoholic. I have been smoke free for 22½ months. I can't actually remember the last time I wanted a cigarette. It takes time for those good old associations to stop giving you grief, like the end of the meal, the phone call and so on but after I told them, go away, for long enough they stopped bothering me & left me alone. All the best.

[barb dwyer]

Peter wrote:

Please don't bi+ch slap any guests today , okay.

awwww ... you're no fun ... c'mon... just ONE, I promise!

And Peter -
the dreams -
are even talked about in the literature.
Woo HOO! Special effects!


Rainey -

Yes, I understand about the 'rituals' ... I had a guest today and when I felt it coming on ... I just stopped and told them about it, and since they're non-smokers; they let me get up and pace.
We had dinner, (had to pace for a bit - no cig after food)
watched a movie (again - halfway in- got a phonecall) but it was no big deal.

The one that DID have me worried - was ...

what do you do after sex?

then I remembered - I haven't been having sex, so who cares???



but seriously - what ... do you do?
I mean, so I'll know.
In case.

[barb dwyer]

hey - it could happen!

[stone]

I am sure youre fighting them off with a pointy stick Barb!
Good luck hun! You DO know smoking makes you cool right?

[barb dwyer]

I got yer kewl ... I LOVE this lounge lizard smilie

I tell ya - i'm pretty dang cool ...