Who has Quit Smoking with Success?

[MandiesMom]

So, I had a LONG post written out with step by step details of what led me to the moment in time that I was typing last night at 7:30pm and when I hit submit - I think I crashed YT.

All I know is it said I didn't have permissions. Tried a couple of times and then went to navigate the forum to see if there was an issue and I couldn't get anything to load (til after midnight). I posted on FB but never heard from anyone so was it just me that couldn't get on??

Anyway, long story short: I have smoked for 26 years. I've tried a gazillion things/ways to quit over the years but nothing in the last 7. I swore I wasn't even going to try again until I had proof - living breathing proof - that something works.

In walks Vapor Stix. 4 guys from the other trucking company have been using it. One started 30 days ago and has not smoked or dipped since. 2 started 3 weeks ago and they both admit to having 1 or 2 cigs but nothing in the past week (that was like the first week for both of them).

What really got me was the 4th, who is actually a truck driver and the one that introduced these to all of us. He was a 2 pack a day smoker (I smoke more than anyone around here in the office at 1 pack so he sold me on this). He had smoked for over 20 years. He hasn't had a cigarette in 3 months.

I said, what the heck. So I'm nervous, scared of failure, and excited all at the same time. I got my PINK Vapor Stix and started this last night (yes, at 7:30pm Central Time when my YT world vanished - AAARRRGGHHH!!!) lol

So, here is my status. I haven't had a cigarette in 13 hours. I know that doesn't seem long especially with those hours being overnight, but I couldn't sleep (storms) last night and I didn't get to sleep until 2am and then had to get up for work this morning at 6:30am. So, I've been awake most of those 13. I won't lie - there have been several moments when I think that it's not working and I need just one cig. The worse time so far was right when I woke up this morning and on the drive to work.

All I know is I'm trying. If I fail, I fail...but I plan on succeeding this time. All I can do is try right?

Has anyone out there successfully quit smoking after years of it? If so, how did you do it and how long has it been?

[GeorgiesMomma]

I have never smoked but I wanted to tell you I am proud of you Believe in yourself and you can make anything happen or not happen hehe. I know you can do it!

[MandiesMom]

Thanks, Morgan!! I am a lot more optimistic right now than I have ever been with anything else I have tried (and trust me, I have tried lol)

[rubymoon2072]

I quite when my dh's previous boss passed away from it....the day of his services. I wanted to be sure I was here to see my daughter's life.

congrats to you for your 13 hours. terri if u fail you can keep trying until you succeed. I actually hated the smell after I quit and it grossed me out so much so I never looked back. I didn't have a beer for 3 months cause I knew that would be my true test! wishing you much luck and success........either way you are taking the steps and that is what is most important.

[107barney]

Yes. 20 yr smoker. Quit cold turkey 8 yrs ago. You can do it! Do not take one puff, do not use any "aids" and I promise you it will get better.

[Teresiana]

I never really tried to SINCERELY quit. So I'm still a smoker. It's such a nasty word these days When I started, a pack was $1.50. Now it's up to $12 in NYC!!! And Bloomberg is really making it difficult for us. I tried hypnosis when I lived in Dallas. Didn't work. The again, I didn't really WANT it to work. I'm getting older now & I'm really sick of having to go in my backyard when I want a smoke. Plus, I could really use that money for something more positive. So your post is actually make me think. Both of my parents quit. So why can't I?

CONGRATULATIONS on going 13 hours. Being a smoker, I do know how long that is. The first step is really wantig to make that change. You've got that down. I wish you the very best of luck!!!!! Maybe your will power will rub off on me

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

Thanks, Morgan!! I am a lot more optimistic right now than I have ever been with anything else I have tried (and trust me, I have tried lol)

You just have to believe it! I know coming from a non smoker you just want to slap me but I truly believe we can do anything we put our minds to

[Micah my love]

After smoking for many years i quit over 17 years ago cold turkey not easy but you need to have a made up mind, and it sounds as if you do this time i went through dozens of crossword puzzle books maybe it helped to hold a pencil and packs of gum and i don't like gum i also gained about 15 pounds but i have felt so much better it was so worth it..you can do it

[Marhcarter]

I quit a 1+ppd habit > 15 years cold turkey 10 years ago with the nicotine patches. As a nurse, I was able to convince myself that I would nicotine overdose if I smoke with the patch on. 6 months later my husband also quit & we stayed cigarette free for 5 years. It was horrible and I cried for weeks. People threatened to hold me down and force a cigarette into my mouth. I think I was on several hit lists...but I quit, and then wondered what the big deal was that I thought I was gonna die without them. After 5 years my dh started smoking again and my choice was divorce him or join him, so I joined him. (He stunk of smoke..). I am only at 2 packs a week and wellbutrin is my friend. If I stop taking the wellbutrin, then I want to smoke much, much more. I rarely smoke at home and smoke at work out of habit, because for those 5 years I didn't smoke, I didnt get a break in a 12 hour shift. Now, at least I have an excuse to walk away a few times a shift. My days off, I go1-2 days with no ciggy and have yet to die. Good luck and best wishes for a successful quitting. It can be done, and later you will wonder what the big deal was. A mental health professional friend of mine said cigarettes are more addictive than heroin, so for every "junkie" that puts them down, KUDOS! !!!

[MandiesMom]

I always used "I might gain weight" as an excuse. C'mon! I'm already overweight (not self-bashing, just know the truth lol). So, really, if I gain 10 or 15 lbs - big frickin deal right?

Oooh, and I just texted someone this - think of what I could do with the money I save - like Teresiana was saying!! Let's see at $180 a month x 12 months..that is $2160 a year! I think Ima go to Gatlinburg next Spring!!

[MandiesMom]

Originally Posted by Marhcarter

I quit a 1+ppd habit > 15 years cold turkey 10 years ago with the nicotine patches. As a nurse, I was able to convince myself that I would nicotine overdose if I smoke with the patch on. 6 months later my husband also quit & we stayed cigarette free for 5 years. It was horrible and I cried for weeks. People threatened to hold me down and force a cigarette into my mouth. I think I was on several hit lists...but I quit, and then wondered what the big deal was that I thought I was gonna die without them. After 5 years my dh started smoking again and my choice was divorce him or join him, so I joined him. (He stunk of smoke..). I am only at 2 packs a week and wellbutrin is my friend. If I stop taking the wellbutrin, then I want to smoke much, much more. I rarely smoke at home and smoke at work out of habit, because for those 5 years I didn't smoke, I didnt get a break in a 12 hour shift. Now, at least I have an excuse to walk away a few times a shift. My days off, I go1-2 days with no ciggy and have yet to die. Good luck and best wishes for a successful quitting. It can be done, and later you will wonder what the big deal was. A mental health professional friend of mine said cigarettes are more addictive than heroin, so for every "junkie" that puts them down, KUDOS! !!!

LOL @ the holding you down to make you smoke! I was told if it came to that, my boss lady would in fact do it. lol

I'm glad Wellbutrin is helping you. As I said, I've tried many things. The gum and Wellbutrin were some of those things. I didn't do the patch for the reason you mentioned. I didn't trust myself not to break and I thought I'd kill myself.

A doctor once told my Granddaddy that nicotine is worse than cocaine to come off of. He was told that he had to quit drinking and smoking when I was 12 years old. He quit drinking, which was really hard for him, but he never could quit smoking. He died of liver disease when I was 17 years old but he smoked until the day he died. It is that hard to quit!

[kamax60]

I quit almost 4 years ago, after smoking for more than 30 years. The car was always my weakness, because I started smoking as a way to pass the time on the 5 hour trip to and from college. I was never a heavy smoker, less than a half a pack a day - sometimes a pack would last me a week. I was definitely a stress smoker and had quit on numerous occasions only to pick one up again under stress. The only thing that worked for me was (1) being ready and (2) Chantix. Most likely it was simply being ready, but the daily check-ins and accountability certainly helped. I can not stand the smell of smoke now and can't believe that I put my friends and family thru that. Good luck!!!

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by kamax60

I can not stand the smell of smoke now and can't believe that I put my friends and family thru that. Good luck!!!

Funny, I still hate the smell, even though I smoke. I have never been able to stand the smell and am constantly yelling at my husband to close the basement door so his smoke does not come inside the house. I am very careful to wash my hands after smoking and I usually cover with something that I can take off when I come back indoors. I have had people I worked with for years tell me they never realized I smoked because I did not smell like it. I brush my teeth or chew gum after a ciggy, too. Nothing worse than counseling a patient with bronchitis against smoking when you smell like an ashtray!

[MandiesMom]

Yeah, I am one of those weird smokers who can not stand the smell of smoke anyway. Back in the day when you could smoke in restaurants, I would always sit in the non-smoking section. I can't stand for people to smoke around me while I'm eating.

You know our sense of smell is "off" too. The driver that got these Vapor Stix (I'll post a pic below of my pink one) said, "Oh and get some febreeze now." I asked "huh?" and he said, "In about 3 days, you are going to be nauseous from the smell of your car." Just so you all know (this is something I am very self concious about and I never let anyone ride in my car - and it can be 20 degrees and snowing or raining outside - my window is always down when I smoke).

Here she is
VaporStix.JPG

[Harrysmum]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

So, I had a LONG post written out with step by step details of what led me to the moment in time that I was typing last night at 7:30pm and when I hit submit - I think I crashed YT.

All I know is it said I didn't have permissions. Tried a couple of times and then went to navigate the forum to see if there was an issue and I couldn't get anything to load (til after midnight). I posted on FB but never heard from anyone so was it just me that couldn't get on??

Anyway, long story short: I have smoked for 26 years. I've tried a gazillion things/ways to quit over the years but nothing in the last 7. I swore I wasn't even going to try again until I had proof - living breathing proof - that something works.

In walks Vapor Stix. 4 guys from the other trucking company have been using it. One started 30 days ago and has not smoked or dipped since. 2 started 3 weeks ago and they both admit to having 1 or 2 cigs but nothing in the past week (that was like the first week for both of them).

What really got me was the 4th, who is actually a truck driver and the one that introduced these to all of us. He was a 2 pack a day smoker (I smoke more than anyone around here in the office at 1 pack so he sold me on this). He had smoked for over 20 years. He hasn't had a cigarette in 3 months.

I said, what the heck. So I'm nervous, scared of failure, and excited all at the same time. I got my PINK Vapor Stix and started this last night (yes, at 7:30pm Central Time when my YT world vanished - AAARRRGGHHH!!!) lol

So, here is my status. I haven't had a cigarette in 13 hours. I know that doesn't seem long especially with those hours being overnight, but I couldn't sleep (storms) last night and I didn't get to sleep until 2am and then had to get up for work this morning at 6:30am. So, I've been awake most of those 13. I won't lie - there have been several moments when I think that it's not working and I need just one cig. The worse time so far was right when I woke up this morning and on the drive to work.

All I know is I'm trying. If I fail, I fail...but I plan on succeeding this time. All I can do is try right?

Has anyone out there successfully quit smoking after years of it? If so, how did you do it and how long has it been?

Woo hoo!!! They're e-cigs - right?

Yep, I quit with these after 30+ years of smoking - two and a half years now since a 'real' ciggie....people will give the anti's of course, but they certainly worked for me (and were the complete saviour for Andy when he was in hospital having his surgery....).

All I would suggest is, that you get THE PUREST, verified, everything-tested e-liquid that you can find.... Oh, I wish you luck, well done so far!!! Sally x