holy freakin' crap.

[wandergrrl777]

I quit smoking on Thursday. Started out with some gum. No good for me! Hit the drug store and bought the patch. Going really really good. Took the edge off.

Had new filling placed at the dentist's Friday. Novacaine wore off, felt like I was hit by a bus! Got that under control.

Tonight, horrible insomnia (took patch off), neighbors blasting music, called police, they did nothing, feeling a little irritable now. (we are in the process of finding a new place because of these people...they win we're outa' here) This whole episode made me cry...LOL I don't know why but i just burst into tears and then started eating pizza!!LOLOL Took some valerian and rescue remedy...that helped a little.

I don't crave the act of smoking I can fight that off. But this craziness from withdrawal!! Holy freakin' crap! I hope it dies down soon. I'm going to make it.
But, god this is so hard. My S.O. just quit too...but he was down to 3 a day and finally he's down to zero. We have been really supportive of eachother, but occaisionally yup. I know that I have all the tools because I quit drinking, so I can do this! It's just a slightly different trip.

okay, I'm done for now. I will add more as I go along. Hopefully I'll be more sane next time.

[historyteach]

Congratulations!!!
Yes, you can do it. And the physical withdrawal is @ 3 days. After that, it's all psychological. But, that's a ride in and of itself....

Have you read the stickies above? There's a load of good information in them. What to expect, and how to get through difficult times, especially with the holiday season coming upon us. Plan for what to do. Mix up your routines so you don't grab for a butt out of habit. Drink LOTS of water. And don't get alarmed when you start to cough; it's a good sign. Your body is beginning to heal itself. Finally, every time a craving comes rely on doing something different. EVERY TIME. It's all about changing behaviors.

I smoked for 36 years. At my worst, I smoked over 3 packs a day. Today, I am One year, eleven months, two weeks, six days, 57 minutes and 51 seconds nicotine free. That's 28721 cigarettes not smoked, saving $7,908.98. Life saved: 14 weeks, 1 day, 17 hours, 25 minutes.

Keep the quit and post before you puff. Remember, posting is doing something different! We're here for you!

Shalom!

[wandergrrl777]

It's been a rough morning. More crying!! I can't believe I'm having these symptome even with the patch. That's okay, I know it's helping.

A pack or more a day for almost 15 years. No wonder it's so hard.

So, right now my body is trying to adjust to this new lower level of nicotine from the patch. Does that mean that every time I take a step down on the patch I'm going to have withdrawal again?? 'Cause I'm really more of a RIP the band-aid off, kinda' girl.

In some ways this is a lot harder than I thought it'd be. My body is sooo pissed off that I'm not giving it this nasty thing. My cravings for everything are strong. Food, smoking, even my drinking urges are stronger right now. But I know it's my body just trying to find what's missing.

It's amazing to me that just a little cigarette can be such a powerful drug and get such a strong hold on you. YIKES!

So, me and my S.O. had a nasty snit this morning. We are going to go out for lunch. It will be good to get out of the house for awhile. It sucks when we're cooped up inside together. It got a little ugly. But we both are embracing the spirit of forgiveness!!! lol

thanks for the reply teach! I know if you could quit after all that...I can do it too!!

[wandergrrl777]

Okay so things are going pretty good. I think I'm tired enough from not sleeping last night to pass right out tonight.

I'm feeling a little foggy and detached. I've had a lot of ups and downs but the intensity is starting to wind down. Which is great, because I was feelin' a lil stabby!

Anyway, it's been a crazy coupla' days. I'm going to keep writing on here just to get the bugs out.

[wandergrrl777]

This morning is my first day back to work without smoking. I'm absolutely having devious thoughts like ...oh just one won't hurt. IT'S A LIE!!!! lol
I think besides that I'm doing pretty good.

Dog goes to the vet for his limp today. Called S.O. and we have less $ than I thought. And I have to get through the work day. So, I'm feeling under a little pressure right now. That's all fine and good but, it's no excuse to smoke. The more I prove to myself that I can get over these types of obstacles without smoking, the stronger and more confident I will become in life without cigarettes.

So, here goes...I'm off to start my day!!

[SoberKev]

Keep hanging in there! You are gonna love being smoke free. A couple weeks ago I had some serious crazies as the Chantix I was taking got out of my system. Keep breathing, keep posting.

I have been quit for 1 Month, 3 Weeks, 4 Days, 22 hours, 39 minutes and 1 second (56 days). I have saved $409.99 by not smoking 2,277 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Week, 21 hours and 45 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 9/23/2007 8:35 PM

[zxcirce]

Good for you!

I personally found quitting smoking to be more difficult in the long run than quitting drinking or speed, my other d.o.c.

I also cried for no reason frequently when I was quitting smoking. One day at a time is the best way to go, because even that can feel like forever!!!

Best to you.

[wandergrrl777]

Thanks for the replies! I'm doing good. I hate my S.O. My stomach wants to come up out of my mouth, grab him and shake him to death! LOL "Irritability" is NOT the word. I'm partial to the phrase "bat sh*t crazy!" LOL

The good news is we tolerated eachother for a longer span of time today. So we are finding our way back.

All and all it was a good day. My dog may have a hairline fracture in his shoulder. So he has to take medicine for a little while and then he will have xrays. In the mean time he has to take it easy. Poor baby, it's no fun for a big ol hound dog when he can't run through the woods with his friends to sniff stuff.

Starting tomorrow, my schedule is going to get crazy. It's pretty much going to stay that way until the new year. Soooo much on my plate! Gotta find and move into a new place, tax time is lurking right around the corner, my stinkin' car is falling apart, and my dog is limping. I feel a country song coming on! lol

Forget all that. Always time enough to worry. You know what happened? I left my purse in a shopping cart at the grocery store last night. I didn't miss it until this morning. I called the store...it had been turned in. I went and picked it up. All my money, my cards, my license, and everything was just as I had left it. I was shocked. Not only did I not really expect someone to turn it in...I surely thought if I got it back, the cash would be gone.

So with high hopes and my faith in humanity restored for the time being, I say goodnight SR! See you tomorrow.

PS I smell EVERYTHING! (am rethinking my two cats lol)

[wandergrrl777]

Howdy! Just wanted to type in and say....STILL NOT SMOKIN'! YAY

today my chest feels tight and my throat is really dry (all part of the healing process), also seem to have a keener sense of taste!

Was a little emotional earlier, and that's fine...just as long as I never smoke again.

[wandergrrl777]

Still here! Still not smokin'. It's still hard. It's been a week and two days. I'm feeling a lot saner which is great. It's been a crazy week.

Was at the vet with my dog again yesterday. He doesn't seem to have a fracture. They think he has Lyme Disease. He also had a chest xray that looked a little suspect. So they sent it off to the radiologist. So I won't know about that for about a week. He had a temp of 105.5 yesterday and wasn't eating. Today he still has a fever, but it's lower. He's eating a little better too. I'm very worried about him.

I got pretty stressed out because putting this on top of all the other stuff I have going on sucks. It made me feel like smoking. I was thinking, 'I've got all this going on, maybe now isn't the right time to quit smoking.' That's crap. boo-hoo im so stressed out, i should smoke...HA! I played that game when I quit drinking. I'm not falling for it this time! Addiction is so devious, I swear.

All this writing is my therapy right now. I will write again soon.

[wandergrrl777]

Still freaking out and still not smoking! LOL

[Dee74]

I don't smoke anymore...but just had to come in and check out a thread called Holy Freakin' Crap tho

you recognize the addict voice and its wily ways wandergrrl - I think you're gonna be just fine...just step away from the sharp objects drawer....

D

[wandergrrl777]

darn, I lost some posts here. That's okay.

I am still smoke free. I stepped down a level on my patches last Thursday. Had withdrawal but it wasn't too bad...no crying this time. LOL It's starting to level out.

I didn't have it in me to go cold turkey. I think I needed the step down approach. However, I think cold turkey is the way to go if you can take it. I feel that taking nicotine replacement gives you a less intense but longer lasting withdrawal.

My S.O. and I quit together and it has been so hard!! In our household their is currently no voice of reason. I don't think we could've done it any other way. Him outside smoking while I'm inside jonesin' (or vice versa), not good.

My dog is doing great! He's all better.

Also, we found a beautiful apartment!! We move in Jan. 1st.

My S.O. backed into my tiny car yesterday with his gy-normous monster truck. So I'm in a sweet rental while my little car gets patched up. Our insurance rocks so it cost us nothing. Thanks geico. lol

I can't wait to start packing! I'm sooo ready to move out of this place we're in now. Our new place is so freakin' awesome!!! We can afford this little upgrade because we quit smoking. How cool is that??

I thought about it yesterday and I think the biggest motivator for me to quit smoking was the money. I work too hard to flush my money down the toilet. And what was I really paying for? I was paying an ass-load of money to kill myself slowly and die a horrible death. (not to mention premature aging) I just don't know why it took so long to sink in!

[wandergrrl777]

Okay, so in about 1 hour I will have not smoked for 3 weeks!!!! 3 WEEKS!!

I have not gone that long without a cigarette since I was 12 years old. That is so sad and awesome all at the same time.

Today I was thinking.... I first tried smoking when I was 11. (stole my parents' cigarettes) At 12, I found creative ways to purchase them myself. By 14 I was smoking about a pack a day. At fifteen, my step-mom would buy me cartons. (who freakin' does that? buyin' cigarettes for a 15 year old...shame on her.) The rest is history. So, by age 28....I've been smoking for about 17 years!!! That's crazy. More than half of my life.

I am so proud of myself. This is one of my greatest accomplishments.

Oh, I have a question! How are you guys calculating that 3 days 4 hours 2 minutes 28 seconds, 5 million dollars, 80 years thing??? I want to calculate too!

YAY ME!

[wandergrrl777]

Still here!!! Still not smokin'!

It's been one month, and one week and one day.

It's still hard. I have cravings sometimes but I'm not going to smoke!

[wandergrrl777]

Okay sooo...

I went off the patch on Thursday. This is the last leg of the race I guess. I have really missed smoking lately. I'm hanging in there and I'm not going to smoke.

The patch kinda sucks...

I feel like every step down is another withdrawal. Now I'm finally at the end and am nicotine free. I'm still battling the demons none the less. Just a few more fights and my body will readjust.

I swear the cravings have been worse for me in the last coupla' weeks than they were in the very beginning. I didn't expect that.

Anyway, I move into my new place on the 1st. Since I haven't smoked, I saved about $340! Which is awesome because I've been able to buy a few new things for my place.

Hope you all had a great Christmas!

[WantsOut]

You rule! You are there, man. Good for you!

[historyteach]

Keep up the good work, wandergirl777!!!
You're doing it one day at a time.

Keep the quit and post before you puff!

Shalom!

[ICU]

That's great! Congratulations! You're an inspiration for this 'future patch gal'!

[wandergrrl777]

Guess what guys????

I STILL don't smoke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MWA HA HA!!!!!!

I have not smoked since Nov. 15th 2007! April 15th will be 5 mos smoke free.

I have a message for all of you that are trying to quit smoking...You CAN do it!
It's HARD and it freakin' SUCKS! But, you CAN quit.

I still struggle a little. I have my days. It just gets better.

I can't wait to hit the 6 mos. marker. I will be really proud.

[tonys76]

congrats on the progress wander! Look forward to hearing your success on the 6 month mark!