Smokers/ExSmokers

[minneman]

For you Smokers,Last Wed.Am I had a real I opener, 6:am sitting right here, cup of coffee, havin a smoke, reading the best fishin info around, I feel kinda clammy/hot. I reach up behind me to open the window. after opening I feel as tho I pulled a muscle in my chest. nothing major, just irratating, 10 min. later its more of a heavy feeling, I go lay down next to the wife to strech it off. NOT!
30 sec. of that I wake her with the Scarriest words to ever come out of my mouth.. "I think you should take me into the hospital, "I think im having a heart attack??"

With pain that feels like an elephant standing on my chest we get to emergency and although relieved to be there, I still am in pain. 2 little sprays of nitro and the pain is gone. the next day im shipped to Fargo for an angiogram, and ultimatly angioplasty and a stent for the blockage they found. lucky for me there was only minor damage to my heart, the blockage was not in a major artery.

Here is the thing, Im male, 42 yrs young, and there is no heart disease in the family, None. my Cholesteral level is 164, Im not over weight, 6'3" 205lbs, and am phisically active. My downfall is that ive Smoked for 26 years! !!Quit Now!!

Ex Smokers, please share with me the ways you found things to do to avoid the urge, I havent smoked since 6am wed. and am doing the patch, so far so good, but today I return to work (selfemployed const) and in this biz smoking is the norm. Yes, they will all get an earfull!!

Thanks for your time! I have a totaly new outlook on life now, and sharing this is part of it, hoping that atleast one of you great people will Kick it!! Ted

[Mykal]

Wow! Just what I needed to hear. I am a chewer. I quit once for 3 months awhile back, but found a tin I hid in my takle box. And here I am back at it again. I know I need to quit and hearing these stories gives me a good reason to get it done. The hardest time I have is when I'm on the water. The first thing I reach for is the tin. Looks like I need to replace the tin with something else.

Thanks for a great topic.

[CorynTracySellHomes]

Alright! You convinced me!!!!!! I can do it I can do it! It is 10:53 September 25th, and I just threw away a full pack! (maybe I should run them through the paper shredder!)
I have quit before and the toughest times, for me personally, are also my favorites...Cruising across the lake, Pulling lindys or spinners....and...sitting with the buds having a few cold ones...driving.....and the worst is...a duck blind a 4 am! I think if I can make it through this weekend, I should be ok! Any advice for someone who's spouse smokes?

[MT Net]

Congrats, keep up it up! I know its tough. I never got into the smoking thing very much. One or 2 smokes now and then. It was the Copenhagen that got me. That was tough quitting Copenhagen, so I know what your going through. I must have consumed hundreds of pounds of Tootsie Pops and gum when i quit "dipping".

[fishinphyl]

Maybe sunflower seeds would help while on the lake. I chew them all the time while fishing and I don't even smoke.

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Phyl

[Aquaman01]

WOW TED! Day 8!! Right on! Yer winning!
Cory - you give it he11 man! Dunno 'bout yer spouse, though. Mine hasn't smoked in 7 years.
Dip-quitters - You can do it! Remember those nasty pics from physiology class? Ugh!
Day 2 log -
Coffee was okay - not a big monkey. Commute was okay. Work stress mounted (1st day new job) and I wanted one, so I got a little Southern Comfort after work instead. BAD MOVE! As soon as that shot was down the monkey grew claws and big brass ones.
I meditated on the idea of 'willing prey' for about (10) ten-count breaths and it passed. I gelded the monkey. Put the SC away.

THREE CHEERS FOR TED!!!! THREE CHEERS FOR TED!!!!!
Ya know, Ted - now that we're telling 275,000 people about this - failure is not an option.
Thanks for the # - I'll call if I have to, and after a few days - even if I don't have to.

Rob

[upnorth]

You know what is really great about this site?

Everyone here is ready, willing, and able help someone else who is willing to ask for it

Just look at this post. One person asks for some help and support for quitting smoking and everyone responds with help and suggestions. Gives one hope for the human race after all

[husker4u9899]

CORY

My wife smokes and works in the Health Care field..go figure. We reached an agreement years ago, she doesn't smoke in the house no matter the weather and she doesn't smoke in my truck. Has worked so far still married (40) years. I do let her smoke in the boat as long as she is down wind. Maybe that's why she out fishes me all the time. Hang in there you'll make it.

[minneman]

Cory, Glad to here your gonna do it! I know its been said b4, but the thing that will make it easier is to be 100% sure that this is what YOU want to do with your life. as far as the wife, Give it time with yourself first! you cant change anyone unwilling to change. but im sure once she sees how much better you feel and how all the benifits are now benifiting you, and not her she'll jump on the wagon too!

maybey ask her to smoke somewhere where your not for a while.

Upnorth, Your words are so true! this site is Great! "!!THANKS RICK!!"

Rob, Im used to comming home and have a few brews after work, I stopped doing it for the first 5 days and have kinda eased back into it slowly. its still tough at times, but I like to get together with the guys and have a few, so this is part of my training. might as well learn if its even possible to do this in the early stage.
Day 9! and Im feeling fine!

Ive saved $75.00 so far!! another great reason to give them up!

[fivebucks]

Day 3 is today. One day at a time. We can do it!

[Granny]

Be careful with the sunflower seeds. Take a look at the back of the package, they are pretty high in fat. I went with the seeds for the first month or so, but I finally kicked them too.

I think the hardest times are when your out with the guys. Almost all my friends chew and or smoke, but if feels good to say no thanks. I always crave a cig when having a couple brew, but in the morning it feels so good to know that you made it over another hurdle.

Good luck to all us quiters!
60 days and counting!

[irvingdog]

Found this. Hope it works....

[Guest]

Come on Cory!! You gotta do it! I'm usually strong until I see you, then I break down. You know that. Tracy needs to quit or reduce intake! It will be hard, but you can do it.

The duck blind at 4am was a smoking ritual. Ice fishing too. I can now hunt and fish without a craving whatsoever. Tell yourself that's the way it's going to be. Coffee helped a lot in the duck blind for me.

I was never a heavy smoker, usually a pack lasted close to a week. I still hate them. They make me cough the following day(s), it's hard to do any physical labor and the smell. Oh, the smell. Yuck.

My fishing partner and I fished tourneys and we smoked wayyy too much. He quit cold turkey and has been doing very well for almost a year. He hates cigs to death now, but he can withstand being around them...it doesn't bother him! I can't believe it. He chews a lot of gum and that beef jerky chew to kill the cravings of chewing. He gave up both, but chewing was harder he claimed. Don't go to chewing guys!!! That's worse!

Hold in there Ted. Your body will thank you!

Cory, hold in there! You can!

[This message has been edited by CD (edited 09-26-2003).]

[Pherris]

I am a former smoker I used gum and quit for a few months but never really lost the urge so I started again. The last time I quit was a year ago I used the patch and it worked very well for me. I have not had even a drag and I won’t. The first 8 months were hard every day I would think about smoking many times throughout the day. Always told myself try a bit longer and if you still want one have one, the cravings do pass. The quality of life improvement for me is what keeps me from smoking I have better sense of taste and can do many things I used to enjoy but avoided because I would get so out of breath. I feel really proud when people ask me if I smoke and I can say NO. Best advice I ever have received about cravings was:

If you have a craving you can have a cigarette and the craving will go away
Or
You can NOT have a cigarette and the craving will go away.

Good luck to everyone that is trying to quit it is one of the hardest things you will ever do but to me the best thing I have ever done for me, my family, and my friends.

[Aquaman01]

Irvingdog - I liked that thing!
Right on Ted, Granny, Fivebucks and Cory - we're spitting the hook!!
Thanks for the stories and encouragement we're getting from all of you quit-vets.

Day 4 - nearing it's close. This nasty head-cold is really helping me. Dang - my teeth hurt, though - from all that grinding.
I like that mental ammo that Pherris threw in there.
I'm doing okay and not too pi$$y.

Rob

[upnorth]

Hang in there guys!! It gets easier the further you get from your last cigarette

When a strong craving hits, just try to remember the reasons behind you wanting to quit in the 1st place. If you forget them you will probably smoke And nobody wants to keep repeating this process if they don't have to.

It really pi$$ed me off when I heard the tobacco companies put additives in the tobacco to make them even more addictive. How effin greedy can you be:MAD: They should be in jail!

[irvingdog]

Corny, but this also helped me:

Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette:
You stop polluting the air.
Blood pressure drops to normal.
Pulse rate drops to normal rate.
Temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.
8 hours:
Carbon monoxide in blood drops to normal.
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.
24 hours:
Chance of heart attack decreases.
48 hours: 
Nerve endings adjust to the absence of nicotine. 
Ability to smell and taste things is enhanced.
72 hours:
Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier.
Lung capacity increases.
2 weeks to 3 months:
Circulation improves.
Walking becomes easier.
Lung function increases up to 30 percent.
1 to 9 months:
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath all decrease.
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.
Body's overall energy level increases.
1 year:
Heart disease death rate is halfway back to that of nonsmokers.
5 years:
disease death rate drops to the rate for nonsmokers.
Lung cancer death rate decreases halfway back to that of nonsmokers.
10 years:
Lung cancer death rate drops almost to the rate for nonsmokers.
Precancerous cells are replaced.
The incidence of other cancers (such as: mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas) decreases.

you can sit in a movie for longer, a tree stand without moving, no going outside to freeze your a$$ off 5 minutes at a time 7 times a day, credability with your kids, etc, etc, etc......

[minneman]

Good info there!

Day 10 went good even went to the bar with my 2 brothers and had a bunch a beers. I handled it perfectly, one brother is a smoker, and I had fun timeing his smoking and giving him grief all night. I was amazed at how many people smoke! and how stinkin stinky it is in a bar. My clothes smell terrible this am. ha ha, I guess my sense of smell has gotten better.

Day 11 on tap, going fishin! Have a great smoke free day guys!!

[Fisher Dave]

I quit smoking for about 6 months a couple years back... cold turkey ... The words that inspired me to quit and made it easy at the time was the Dr.'s words... "Your lungs look similar to some of our lung cancer patients at 40." .. That was an eye opener considering I was in the emergency room for pneaumonia(sp?).

What I found the toughest thing to overcome is the habit.. not the addiction. I have been smoking so long its a habit to put a cigarret in my mouth and light it even if I dont need it.

I will be quitting one day again very soon .. this time for good. I'm looking forward to it. It's also very important to *want* to quit or it just wont happen.

[fishinphyl]

I am sooooooooo glad you guys are still at it! Now you realize why us non smokers never wear our good clothes to the sports bars and then never hang our coats in the closet until we hang them outside when we get home. They stink! My favorite is the women with the high dollar clothes, expensive perfume and they smoke. So what do they smell like - a dirty ashtray and they have way more wrinkles!

FisherDave. I had a friend that quit but like you he could not get past the cigarette between his fingers. He kept a cigarette behind his ear for this purpose then when he was he needed that finger fix he would just hold the UNLIT cigarette. All mind games you know. Mind over cigarette.

Good luck guys!

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Phyl

[Mueske]

Folks,
This is a great thread and I congratulate all those successful and those even considering tobacco cessation. As one who never smoked but lived with a father who did, and as a nurse who has taught cessation classes, do be careful when substituting behaviors. Now is the time to make HEALTHY choices, such as exercising 30 mins. 3X a week, reducing caffeine, fat and alcohol intake, wearing seatbelts, etc. Also be aware of secondhand smoke's dangers and the temptation to resume smoking after stressful events or after passing certain milestones. "It's been three months since my heart attack, I've only gained five pounds, I can still outdrink my buddies, so it won't kill me to have a smoke now and then." I'm pleased to hear so many positive comments about Ted's progress and I wish all of you many more healthy years of fishing. You are all doing a great thing by supporting each other. Now the hard part: keep on being quitters.

Kevin

[minneman]

Kevin, thanks for the reminder about the healthy choises we need to keep making, In a way I wanted to see just how tuff it would be in a situation like a night out at the bar. but the real reason was that my bros wanted to celebrate my living, and the whole time out Healthy choises kept reminding me to not over doit, so I didnt.

The second hand smoke that night was the only smoke I had smelled since my last day, smoking, I realize that the choise to go doing what I did was in a bit foolish, and wouldnt recomend it, but I had support with me and just needed to know how tuff it might be.
Tommorow I have my first cardio rehab session, Im interested in what I really need to be doing to keep my heart healthy. Ill fill ya all in on what I learn.

Thanks again Kevin for reminding us all about the dangers of takeing some risks!!

[fivebucks]

On day 6. Passed the beer test over the weekend. I guess the truck does start without a cig. being lit after all. Just keep thinking that for each pack I don't smoke I get one more evening on the deer stand or one more lighted bobber night. This sure ain't fun but it'll be worth it. Let's all keep it up - I know I don't want to have to do this last 5 days over again. WE ARE DOING IT!

[bigdog]

First of all, congrats to those of you trying to quit. I wanted to pass along a short story that may offer some incentive as you break the habit.

I have never smoked but my father did. He died from Lung cancer 3 years ago. I was with him at the end. It was not easy for him, he was gasping for air and had a wild look in his eyes. We gave him morphine so he could relax and to ease the struggle. I tried to make sure the nurse's were giving him enough. He had difficulty finding enough air to speak. His last words to me were "you're doing a good job".

When you get the urge, stop and think if you want your children to have to "do that job".
Good Luck.

[irvingdog]

OUTSTANDING! If ever a thread deserved to be four pages and growing, it is one about the importance of quitting smoking. What is better is the fact that many of the posters share the same awareness of the difficulties inherent with quitting.

Want my phone number to call me when you need help? P.M. me. It would be nice to help someone feel as good as I do now that I've beaten this monster. I can't even begin to tell you how good I feel or how proud I am of myself..........

Want to feel this way to? You know what to do.

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"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person" Andy Rooney

[minneman]

Hey! we're half way to 100 posts!