Time for the next big "thing"

[Lively]

I've been smoking since I was 14. That would be 20 years :\k:

I've also been sober for almost 6 months.

So...on Dec. 19 as I celebrate 6 months of sobriety I am going to quit smoking. I know I can do this...but it's sooo hard! I quit smoking (and drinking) during both of my pregnancies. The first pregnancy was easy to stop drinking because I hadn't yet spiraled down into alcoholism. Even the smoking part wasn't hard but within a few months I had picked it back up both times.

I've been wanting to quit smoking for some time now, but thought I should take things one step at a time. I've also lost 20 lbs. in the past 2 months, so I'm feelin' really good about life and really want to be as healthy as I can be.

I know 1 person and know of 3 other people who have been diagnosed with lung cancer in recent months. One of them was the secretary at the local high school. She was diagnosed a month ago and died last week. One of the other women was a hairdresser in town who ran a shop with MY hairdresser. She also gave my 2 year old his first hair cut last year. She was diagnosed in July and was told she will not make it through the holidays. The cancer has spread to her brain.

Both of these particular women and the other woman and man were all smokers. I'm scared to die like that! Just like I was scared to die from cirrhosis of the liver.

It's time for me to quit this nasty habit. I was thinking of going to my doctor and asking for something to help but I don't want to do the patch. Are there other options that have worked for anyone here?

[unspun]

Hello!!!!! I'm chewing the nicotine gum right now.Seems to be working good. I tried the patch a few years back but it didn't seem to help much. One thing I have noticed this time is my attitude has changed. I am doing this for myself, not anyone else.

stories of cancer are what brought me here. 2 of my really good friends are cancer survivers, just barely though, and I sat and talked with one of them earlier this week. I do not want to end up going through all that, scares the beeegeeezeeees out of me.

I'm closing up on day 7 right now, together we can accomplish anything

[historyteach]

Lively;
I'm now at four days, 20 hours, 42 minutes and 48 seconds. 194 cigarettes not smoked, saving $53.49. Life saved: 16 hours, 10 minutes.
I quit because I've got the beginnings of COPD.

I've been smoking since I was 14 also; it's been 36 years. In order to stay quit, I have quit drinking. Having a drink is a huge trigger for me to have a smoke. And today, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to not smoke. I figure this is the battle of my life.

I'm using the patch, zyban, and the gum. I'm going to smoke cessation classes. I've got telephone counseling from the American Cancer Society. I have workbooks to complete that take me through this process step by step. I've have the silk quit meter that gives me the above stats. And I've got this forum, full of the most supportive people on the internet!

So join us in this journey. And know that we'll be here to walk with you along the way. Together, we can do this.

Shalom!