Quitting Cigarettes

[al-Mu'akhkhir]

Anyone have any advice? First time I'm attempting to try and quit since I started (8 years solid).. I always maintained that I could quit if I want, and being that I've contracted 3 respiratory infections in the last 5 weeks I figure that my body is trying to tell me to fuck off with the poison..

I've read that most people who successfully quit just go cold turkey.. Should I not even bother with an inhaler/patch/gum? Anything, any kind of advice, experiences etc. would be helpful or whatever.

[Xil]

cold turkey ftw.

just try to avoid situations that make you crave a cigarette for a while.

[zoltron]

1 of my favorite subjects....

1st of all, much props to you for making the decision to quit. The hardest part is actually making up your mind that you don't want to smoke cigs anymore.
My wife & I both quit cigs after smoking for about 40 yrs for me & 35 yrs for her [she's younger than me]. She was a pretty heavy smoker [about 2 packs-a-day] & she knew she couldn't do it on her own [no will-power], so she went the hypnosis route. Sure enough, she walked outta the session, threw out a 1/2 a pack & hasn't had 1 since. That was Sept 2007. The 1 bad thing, though, was it was too late. She had developed emphysema & pulmonary-fibrosis. She's on oxygen 24/7 now & has major health problems.
After my parents passed away, we moved into their nice house & never smoked in here, as they were non-smokers & we didn't want to stink the place up...so we'd just step out to the garage to have 1. Well, after she quit, I was going out & burning 1 by myself...the entire time kicking myself in the ass for not getting a grip on this shit. Finally, Feb 1, 2008 is when I went to light up a smoke & said "Enough's enough!!" & snuffed it out forever.
It was no easy give-up in the least. The 1st week is a rough 1, but I just did the 'cold turkey' deal & quit for good. I feel so much better being tobacco-free...& you will too. I wasn't a heavy smoker [usually less than a pack-a-day], so I came outta that with no health issues [*knock on wood*]. Now I don't even think of them & the $$$ saved from not buying cigs is $300-$400/month.
What's really helped is that we had already quit drinking, so there was no beer & a cig combo that goes so well together. I'd recommend just doing the cold turkey route & forget the patch [my wife initially tried that & they made her queasy...same with the Chantrix]. I guess you could try the gum, but the best way is a clean break. If you're a drinker, it might be a bit more difficult quitting, but with a 'made-up mind', you should do fine.
I commend you on your decision & the best of luck in shaking that damn habit. Now 1 thing I will NEVER quit is weed. Weed & I are way too close to stop seeing each other!!

[myxomatosis]

Cold turkey for me as well. Seems to be the way to go.

[al-Mu'akhkhir]

^ @zoltron: damn man sorry to hear about your wife... that sucks.

I mean I dunno necessarily if I'm going to quit forever, but I do want to take at least a month without smoking, not only to prove to myself that I can quit if I really want to, but also to see if it helps with all the lung infections.

My mother smoked while I was in the womb, and both of my parents were very heavy indoor smokers. So in a sense I've been smoking for nearly 20 years. I figure that the lung infections are somehow connected to the smoking, and I'm afraid that I may have a COPD.

But yeah thanks for the advice guys looks like I'll try and kick it again tommorow (I failed miserably today... haha).

[SageTree]

I'll admit I smoked from 17-21 with a year off in there combined. Certainly wasn't a long time. When I decided to quit I say down and rolled a bunch of small joints and stuck them in my pack, without cigs. When I wanted to smoke I smoked alittle j and felt like I had my oral fixation out of the way.

After a week I started smelling cigs and thinking I was going to be sick. I haven't bought a pack since then.

However I still have one a year, sorta of a reminder, but usually happens when I have a beer camping, almost like how some old heads smoke, "It's a camping thing for me now" Which works out for me. It's like serious moderation. If someone asks me to sit in on a hooka, I don't mind, its really different and doesn't feel like smoking black tar. But that doesn't happen often at all either.

I think my secret was not walking into stores that sold cigs when I was buying gas. I'd pay outside so I didn't get $15 of gas and say, oh I have enough for some smokes.

If you want A cigarette ask for one. Give someone a quater for one. First you have to ask, which isn't always easy and then making someone take a quater on top of it. Kind of makes you really consider when you want one.

Good luck man, have you started, stopping yet?

Hope you chest is feeling better at any rate.

[Mr. Poatheed]

Cold turkey here too.

After a week I started smelling cigs and thinking I was going to be sick. I haven't bought a pack since then.

I can barely smoke some certain cigs anymore without becoming or very nearly becoming violently ill. I don't know what it is but once your body isn't used to the chemicals anymore something just clicks and you don't ever want it again.

Just tell yourself no. No I won't buy a pack, no I won't smoke one right now, no I won't bum one. I found that repeatedly telling myself that "I'll just get one later" worked whenever I had a craving, enough to satiate my desire until the next craving when I would just tell myself no again.

[SageTree]

I quit predominantly for my stomache. American Spirits didn't mess with em though, and that is when i really considered that all cigs aren't created equal and was sure they all had shit in them that wasn't supposed to be there.

Atleast when you get herb it just herb, unless you a person who believes someone would actually spend extra money to see someone PCP for the same price as regular herbs. newbs.

[GanjaPlease]

basically what SageTree did is what I did. I quit just 3 days before my 18th birthday ironically.

I supplemented cigs with MJ, and I haven't bought or had a pack again. it helps to start by cutting back from smoking as much and get to less and less cigs a day, and when you get to about 1 or 2 a day thats when you can start replacing the cigs with MJ. you may become a major stoner and smoke weed every night like I do but I have only smoked 3 cigs in the past 5 months

[Lloydy]

You have to actually want to quit, the reason people fail is deep down they dont want to quit and make excuses to have a cig. I used nicotine lozenges for when i was drinking, other than that it was piss easy to stop.

[zoltron]

Just don't switch to chewing tobacco. I'm coming up on 2 years without cigs. After only 2 years of chewing, my gums are starting to recede, and I am hardcore addicted. (1/2 can/day)

I love seeing those Nicorette commercials or the Nicoderm Patch ads...& realizing I don't have that shit to deal with anymore.
When my wife quit like 6 months before I did, I was going out to the garage by myself & wondering why the hell I just don't QUIT!!
Seeing her on oxygen was my wake-up call...although it's a high price to pay. I feel really sorry for her... ...& then when she gasps for air after walking a little...breaks my heart.

[stoneric]

You have to actually want to quit, the reason people fail is deep down they dont want to quit and make excuses to have a cig.

Exactly. Quitting is easy, I did it hundreds of times. The last time I meant it.

[SageTree]

Man I had a friend that NEVER smoked or even tried his entire life once. Although he did about every other substance known to man. He started chewing and now I never see him without a dip. My Dad said cigs pipe cigars all easy for him, the chew was THE hardest of them all. Years and Years he said it took to not salivate. He even used to ask my Uncles not to chew in the truck for a while...

[stoneric]

I don't think there is anything more addictive than snuff. I started chewing to quit smoking and ended up doing both for 20 years. Snuff was by far harder to quit. I used a toothpick as a substitute and have been clean from both since '95.

[al-Mu'akhkhir]

thanks for das input friends. I'm going to try the nicorette gum for work and just not have any nicotine at all in my free time.

Went to the doctor today and found out I have asthma which has caused all the illness in the last 4-5 months.. Essentially I was told that I will contract a bronchial infection every time that I smoke pot or cigarettes... which sucks. I'm going to have to get a vape I guess, and totally quit teh cigz... Pretty shitty

[GratefulDead]

The only advice I can give it that the only possible way to quit is through sheer will power alone. If you really wan't to quit, redoing your self with nicitione is a different form isn't going to help. Smoke a bowl if you find yourself craving a smoke, it helps alot. Take all the baccy out of your house, that will reduce the temptation to have a smoke. Good luck, and I know its hard...but with enough determination you can do it.

[al-Mu'akhkhir]

I cannot smoke weed OR tobacco, any kind thick smoke (bong rip, cigarette, etc) entering my lungs will essentially cause me to have a bronchial infection.

[SageTree]

Not doubting you but did you talk with him about cannabis?, The doctor that is.....I think it would be good for you to get vap as soon as you can. It's only going to help with quiting the cigs. Or make yourself some butter and kind back and think about things. It's not a fun prospect, so one day at a time and best wishes. Hope your lungs get back to feeling better.

Love
Sage

[al-Mu'akhkhir]

Not doubting you but did you talk with him about cannabis?, The doctor that is.....I think it would be good for you to get vap as soon as you can. It's only going to help with quiting the cigs. Or make yourself some butter and kind back and think about things. It's not a fun prospect, so one day at a time and best wishes. Hope your lungs get back to feeling better.

Love
Sage

indeed I did, I'm of the motto that it's never a good idea to lie to your doctor, so I'm up front about everything I put into my body. He basically told me I'd have to find another method of administration, as at this point trial-and-error could be very costly to the health of my lungs. It's depressing to think that I won't be smoking bong rips anymore.

thanks

[al-Mu'akhkhir]

so as an update for anyone who's interested. I've gone a week without cigarettes. I kept my last half pack just in case. I've just come in from smoking my last cigarette ever (the week prior was a no-tobacco week). That was probably the most disgusting thing I've ever smoked. I feel no "want" to actually smoke cigarettes anymore.

I've done it. I've quit. There's no more want. I see it as a disgusting and destructive habit.

I have won. I've kicked teh tobacco. I'm halfway through an 8 pack of 2mg nicorette gum. I actually went all of today without a piece as well. Once I finish the pack I think I might get an inhaler and when I finish the inhaler I think I'll have kicked the nicotine too.