Quitting on Monday!!

[Laura M]

I usually visit alanon boards but was excited to see this one as well. I am having surgery on June 2 and my doctor strongly recommended that I quit smoking 2 weeks b/4 surgery and not smoke for 2 weeks after to avoid ending up with pneumonia.


I figure if I can quit that long, why start again? I have used the patch b/4 but had some side effects that I wasn't crazy about. I'm sure the gum tastes like crap but I'm going to pair it with a piece of hard candy to combat the taste.

I really want to do it this time!! My husband smokes as well and said he'll quit with me but I'm not going to count on him. I can only count on myself and the support that I may get from online friends here.

So, starting Monday morning, I'm smoke free. Forever? We'll see.
Laura M

[Dan]

Support online?
Done. Welcome to the unsmoking club! Membership is free. A sense of humor is however recommended,:LMAO

[boryad]

Welcome Laura! Hop on, plenty of room on the Un-Smoking Bandwagon! Smells quite pretty too!

Sorry you had a bad experience w/the patch, I'm just so enamored w/it (hmmmm, 2nd job being Un-Smoking w/the Patch Spokeswoman???). I've seen a bad experience w/the gum and wasn't willing to go that route but heck, whatever works...go for it!

:LMAO (HAD to do it...Dan ALWAYS uses my favorite guy!)

[Dan]

O.K, I get the message!
From now on, fingers off the:LMAO.
Oops...

[boryad]

No, no Dan!!! The more the merrier!

:LMAO :LMAO :LMAO

[Laura M]

Thanks for the support! I am not regretting my decision yet, maybe because I know that I still get to smoke for a few more days. Monday will probably suck, oh that's right, nothing sucks. Only pushes or pulls. I will definitely be on here on Monday, looking for some....encouragement, humor, whatever, to get me through. The worst part is after I get off work and go home. Thanks again for writing and I'll be back on Monday!

I agree....the more the merrier :LMAO :LMAO :LMAO

Laura

[Ann]

Laura

Your reservation at the "Unsmoking Club" has been confirmed and we are saving you your own special seat.

A little suggestion (you KNEW I'd have one), is plan ahead for the tough times. If coming home from work is a toough time, don't come home from work (LOLOLOL Sorry, I couldn't resist).

Plan a nice walk after dinner, instead of smoking. Plan to read a good book or do something that will take your mind elsewhere. Come here and type your heart out and it will keep your hands too busy to do anything elese.

And have fun with this. Why not? Laughing clears the lungs.



Hugs
Ann

[boryad]

Just double-checking the guest list and yup, I see "Laura" is due to sign in to the Unsmoking Club tomorrow.

LOL Ann! I like what you said about not going home...sometimes I try NOT to go home.

Laura, do whatever it takes to get past the toughest times, even at home. My commute, while I've handled it well since choosing to un-smoke, has been pretty ugly the past couple of days. The meds I've had to take recently (for asthma) in conjunction w/not smoking don't help my mood at all and all I can do is tell myself "I don't do that any more!". Something else I did "discover" a couple of days ago...DO NOT let yourself get hungry. You start to think more about smoking and get REAL irritable...well, I did at least. I was late to work Friday morning...horrendous traffic of course (can everyone NOT get in an accident just one day/week, please?), finally strolled over to Starbuck's to pick up a scone. I was so busy on Friday, it probably took me about 2 hours to nibble away at the scone. I was still hungry at lunch time, but couldn't figure out what I wanted and was too lazy to go out and pick something up. I knew I had to stop at the store on my way home from work (a side note, I live 75 miles away from my office) to pick up the food platters and cake for my daughters' party yesterday. I figured I'd drive through and grab a couple of tacos from Jack in the Box (about 45 miles from the office, most convenient to the freeway). Again, ickier than usual traffic on my way home, before I even got to Jack in the Box and I was using words I absolutely abhor...all I wanted was a smoke but told myself I'd feel better after I ate. I did (not sure the Jack In The Box employee appreciated me demanding HOT, FRESH tacos - different story, lol).

So, come on by, sign yourself in and type away...talk away, eat away...do what you gotta do but we want your membership!

[Ann]

Don't mind me...I'm just in here setting up the chair for Laura. SWC you gotta move that recliner a little to the left and I am putting her reservation across her seat,

Okay, whose the wiseguy that hid my red licorice???

The decorators have done a fabulous job don't you think? Our padded cell has been installed so we won't have to listen to each other having a smokless tizzy.

Sure smells good in here.

Laura, we're ready for ya.

Hugs and Smelling like a Rose
Ann

[dotcom]

best wishes laura! unsmoking rocks and rules! i can breathe (sort of)!

[boryad]

Oooooh Laura???? Where are you? Ann went to all of the effort to set up the seating arrangement so nicely!

Besides, I need to set a good example for SOMEONE!!! I'm weak today.

[Laura M]

Laura is present and accounted for! I have been smoke free for 5 1/2 hours. Not too big a deal BUT I normally have 3 from the time I wake up and the time I go home for lunch. I had my last one this morning when I took the puppies out. I haven't had to start the gum yet but I'm pretty sure that I'll take one after lunch. I normally have atleast 2 over lunch. So, if I stay strong, that means that'll be at least 4 less than normal. My hubby is also planning on stopping today. He already talked about just cutting back and maybe having one in the evening. Can't do it, man! It's gotta be all or nothing.

Thanks for the advice about hunger. My problem is, I do not want to gain weight!! I normally snack in the morning, eat a decent lunch and then don't snack in the pm, eat supper and that's it. Maybe a bedtime snack. I do not want to gain weight!! I do not want to gain weight!!

I started typing about what I would do if I gain weight, which included starting again. Why am I talking about starting again already? I do know that one of the main reasons I smoke is boredom. Plus habit. Put me in my car, and I'm lighting up.

I'm glad that my job keeps me from smoking over 4 hours in the am and about 2 1/2 hours in the pm. I have plans after school and tonight that should help keep my mind off of it.

So, SWC has a recliner? What kind of chair do I have ? :LOL

I'll be back and soon!

Laura

[boryad]

Way to go Laura! Yuppers, recliner for me...otherwise, someone better find me a bed.

Weird thing this un-smoking. I've seen Eddie post about it many times. Is loss of energy a typical reaction when quitting smoking? I'm just so tired all the time, over-dramatic yawns and everything! The only time I had any energy (too much actually) was last week after having an asthma attack and being put on meds. I finished one of them up yesterday morning, was still bolting all over the place cleaning yesterday but today, it's all I can do to stay awake and try to find some motivation to work.

[Hopefloats]

HI, I had quit for 2 years. I took it back up shortly after finding out about my daughter's heroin addiction and my bf's heart surgery. I quit again for a week this past Feb. Right now I am nothing short of a little "chimney" and need to quit AGAIN. I use the nicorette gum..get it off e-bay for a third of the price in the stores. I never was tired, or gained any weight probably due to the nicotine I was getting from the gum. BUT my best friend had all kinds of symptoms when she quit. Everything from being tired..to irritable bowel symptoms. SO I think it is quite common to have MANY side effects upon quitting.
GOOD LUCK and I hope you make it!!!! I appreciate how difficult this is to do..
God bless!!!
HOPE2055

[boryad]

I guess it's "to each his own"??? I was a smoker for 20 years. I've had irritable bowel syndrome (I know, TMI) for the past 10-13 years. It seems greatly improved in just the 17 days I've been un-smoking.

I have to check the calendar, but I started taking Paxil just before I quit smoking (or was it just after?). In 11 days of Paxil, I almost fell asleep at the wheel 3 times, would take power naps during my morning and afternoon breaks and try to snooze for at least half of my lunch hour. I stopped the Paxil because I'd prefer not to die in my car. Two days later is when I had the asthma attack and I know the meds were what had me hyped up last week. I finished one med yesterday morning and did o.k. yesterday but today, I'm back to the sleepiness and lack of motivation. I just don't know what to do about the sleepiness...it's scary.

I am eating ALOT more, and fortunately, not all junk (I have the biggest sweet tooth) but, I need to eat...not enough meat on my bones to keep a mouse warm.

[Ann]

YEAHHH Laura's here!!! She's the one on the "therapist's couch", because that's where we all start and it's comfy.

Laura, I quit AND went on Atkins low-carb diet (I modified it and am not as "low" as he suggests), and I lost 18 pounds, so far, as well as quitting. I'm sort of stuck right now, probably because this weight suits me, but I am watching it and would like to lose a few more before summer.

Just find things to nibble that are not fattening. If you do the low carb thing, pork rinds with dip are just fine, or Atkins Advantage bars if you are a chocolate lover. All these are low carb and tasty.

Glad to have you join us!!! It's rough at first, but it gets better real fast if you just ride the wave.

Hugs
Ann

[Laura M]

Fellow un-smokers,
I had my last full cigarette at 6:30 am. Since then, I have used/chewed/tolerated 2 pieces of gum and had 3 puffs of a really gross, old cig. Pretty good, huh?!

The mental part has been good today, it's the physical. Yuk. I'm a bit hyper, a little on edge. Eating a bit more but not too much more. I may have to up my happy pills in the afternoon to combat the crabby part. My hubby said if I was going to be like that, go back on the cigs!

He has cut way back today, didn't use the gum at all. He said he may try the gum tomorrow.

So, when 6:30 am rolls around tomorrow, does that mean I can say I've been smoke free for 24 hours or are those three puffs gonna make me start all over again? Screw it, I'm not counting them!!

Gotta go to bed so I can sleep so I don't think about smoking so I don't want to get up and smoke one of those crappy, old ones. What are they doing in the house anyway?

Laura

[boryad]

Yeah Laura! I think that's great that the mental part has proven to be a bit easier for you (than expected!?). The mental part is what I feared most, and still do, and after 18 days, I'm having a bit more trouble w/it than I did the first 15 days. The physical cravings have been easily abated w/the 21 mg. patch.

I still don't know if my current mental status (huge irritability yesterday and today) is due to reduction to a 14 mg. patch or PMS (sorry Dan and Mike, lol) but I sure hope I find out in the next day or two. If I'm still struggling, I'm going to up myself back to the 21 mg. and try not to feel like I've failed.