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

[minneman]

Along with the list, keep a picture of your family or your parents, or someone that you would miss or who would miss you.

Or get a pic of your lungs from your Dr.

one other thing that helped (is helping) me was to keep a pic of what all this money im saving is going to buy. Reward yourself daily at first then weekly then after your comfortable give yourself a big present in a year.

when you get a craving keep telling yourself that YOU only get one body and your lucky to get this far in life being a smoker.

turn your life around take control! think of all the ways that these smokes keep pushing you around, keeping you from doing the things that really matter, like parenting, being sociable, and sports or being more active.

Sure, one would taste great right now!

Laugh out loud at those Monkeys,and WIN this game they play!!

day 20 and out of patches! Yikes..

[fivebucks]

Hang in there Mrmillacs - it ain't easy by any means but if you have the will you will find a way. When that craving comes just go out and do something else like clean out the tackle box, put new line on a reel, or just take a short walk and throw rocks at stuff. Anything but buy a pack of smokes. I'm on day 14 today and it is much easier today than on day 7. It does get easier. Just remember don't give in on even one cig. cause then you just wasted that time. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Well, I t sure is strange that I stumbled back into the forums and see This conversation going on. This week I told myself it was time to quit. For those of you who don't know me well, I'm currently 21, and I've been smoking since I was 13. Now thats sad. It really is motivating to hear others stories. Group thearpy aint so bad huh?
Everyone has givin all kinds of great advice and tips. So I'll share my motivation. My biggest motivator is knowing that if I smoke,....I will die from it one way or another. And the worst part is the fear of suffering. Hooked up to something To stay alive, breathe or talk. Can you imagine having your vocal folds cut out? It just seems like another one of those things that won't happen to you.

[fishinphyl]

Hey Bigguns1 you are right! My mother had to first move out of her house to an apartment, then to the nursing home. She was hooked up to an oxygen machine 24/7 for the last 5 years of her life. When we cleaned her bedroom furniture there was brown sludge that ran off of it. Can you imagine what that was doing to her lungs?

I just can not imagine why someone would spend so much money to waste their lives like that. Besides that I get so sick of being around someone that smokes because they can not get anything done because they have to stop and smoke all the time.

I am so glad you are joining the rest of these guys in stopping. They have had a lot of good hints on here for you. PLEASE stick with it.

------------------
Phyl

[mistermom]

This thread must be why I still have internet connection. I was supposed to lose it yesterday. Go figger.

Anyway, I quit chewing after 20 years on my 40th birthday about 10 months ago. My inspiration was/is my 18 month old son. I'm gonna be 60 when he is 20. I want to be there and be able to do a BWCA trip with him. I used the nicotine gum. I bought the 4mg pack and the 2 mg pack and I actually still got some if anybody wants it (expensive stuff!)

I gained weight and I'm abusing the caffeine pretty heavy (that is next to go). But I really like running my toungue on the inside of my mouth and feeling its smooth and healthy
(Chewing rips the heck out of your mouth.)

Hang in there Aqua and Minneman and Cory and others! It can be done!

mm

[MT Net]

Congrats, mm!
I must have consumed tons of Tootsie Pops and gum when I quit. It was tough quitting. Funny, I gained weight also, (still got it too, LOL).
I don't miss it a bit, food tastes much better. Guess thats why I gained weight.

But those empty chew cans made nice small tackle containers.

Congrats and keep it up everybody!

[MT Net]

Congrats everybody, keep it up!

Funny, I gained weight also when I quit dipping. Man, that was tough quitting the morning Copenhagen dip. Now its the morning coffee. I don't miss it a bit, food tastes so much better.

Good luck, and keep it up.

[MT Net]

Congrats everybody, keep it up!

Funny, I gained weight also when I quit dipping. Man, that was tough quitting the morning Copenhagen dip. Now its the morning coffee. I don't miss it a bit, food tastes so much better.

Good luck, and keep it up.

[Granny]

mistermom,
As I was reading your post I did the same thing, felt how smooth the lip is. My friend was putting in a dip the other day and dumped about a quarter of a tin on my truck seat. Dang it smelt good, but the monkey went away soon after. Going on day 72 now! It sounds better to count the days instead of weeks or months.

Keep the quit'n train a roll'n! Lots of open seats if anyone wants to jump on!

[Paul Rohweller]

Going on eight days here now, so far so good!! If I can go from 2 to 3 packs a day to zero we can all do it besides I need you to tell me your surviving without the nails. :-) Wife seems to be managing ok also. I think we lost her sister, doesnt see the need to quit, silly child.........Paul

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Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
N.P.A.A. 425
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[irvingdog]

"I need you to tell me your surviving without the nails."

Surviving? try thriving! I'm not gonna smoke in front of my kid. I'm $1300.00 per year richer! I called all of my teen-age nieces and nephews (**** near cried) and told them the truth. The truth about the struggle to quit. How bad I felt for smoking around them. The bad example. How I was a slave to tobacco. I begged and pleaded, while deep in the middle of the quitting battle, for them to not go down the road I was walking. I know for sure it worked with one niece. That alone makes it worth the fight.

I don't walk up staircases anymore, I run . I don't stand out in front of public buildings in the cold (winter's coming boys and girls). I'm $1300.00 per year richer! I don't disappear 3 or 4 times a day from work. I don't smell like this one guy who came up to me today . God, I should have been embarassed! Oh my lord is food delicious! My wife kisses me more. I don't get chilly as easily. I threw out my old gloves. The new ones don't have burn holes in them. Deer hunting is better. I'm $1300.00 per year richer! Granted, I don't have something to start a fire or light a candle with at my immediate grasp, so I have to think ahead about camping and such. I don't make a huge, filthy stinking mess on the ice near where I wsa fishing! (truthfully, I never did, but you jerks that litter your butts out there..... ) My house smells better. My truck smells better. I'm $1300.00 per year richer! I don't get colds as easily. There are no stinking ashtrays in my house. My teeth are getting whiter. The first thing I do in the morning now is let the dogs out. The last thing I do at night now is let the dogs out. I'm $1300.00 per year richer!

Anyone want to add to this list?

[This message has been edited by irvingdog (edited 10-10-2003).]

[minneman]

Did he mention saving $1300.00 a year?

But heck paul, at 3.20 a pack, and 3 per day thats 290.00 a mo. a NEW BOAT payment!

Time to upgrade!

One more thing, Smokers are going out of style anyway.

[This message has been edited by minneman (edited 10-10-2003).]

[Paul Rohweller]

Thanks guys, made it thru the day again, seemed a little tougher for some reason but not going to give in, got the boat cleaned up tonite. I had to get out of the shop the other night before I broke down...Tommorows another day.. On the plus side I am already breathing a little easier and not hacking every 5 minutes..Wonder if I can have my boat relettered to say nonsmokercraft? lolol Paul

------------------
Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
N.P.A.A. 425
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[Aquaman01]

Remember that "Target Market" campaign?
Why do cigarette companies fight so hard to engage new customers?
They need to keep up with losing the dead ones.
What has made it easier for me this time than last times (it still ain't easy) is drastically changing my routines. I work a new job - without the cues to go outside 3 times a day. I have a new commute - I don't have to sit at the eternal light in St. Michael. New routines help.

Rob

[Valv]

Ok, you guys have me convinced too.
I am at day 2 with patch, and doing good so far.
I think one of the biggest problems is separating with something you lived most of your life with.
I started at 18 now I'm 42, smoking has been part of my life, it's kinda loosing something I lived with for such a long time.

But this is ending now, and this time forever.

One thing disgusted me A LOT, was a TV ad from Philip Morris to quit smoking and a phone # to call to get help.....that ticked me off bad...why they don't just quit making cigarettes ????

[irvingdog]

So was smoking the "Valv-closure" or was quitiing closure for Valv?

<bad pun drives him from the room>

[Valv]

I don't get it, but for me is quit smoking.

No more, end of it, hasta la vista, ciao....

[irvingdog]

Ya see....the valves in your heart.........they uh..start to get hard and close up......if you smoke and uh.......Oh, never mind. Congratulations buddy.
Here to help if I can-

[Paul Rohweller]

Glad to have ya on board valv!
I'm surviving just fine! You will too. I've been awefully hard on the tootsie roll suckers but that will come to an end too..I've already lost track of the days. something like 10 or 11 anyways it dont matter, I just know I can never burn one again...Good luck and were all pullin for ya!! Paul

------------------
Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
N.P.A.A. 425
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[minneman]

Well, one more day and I made it a month!

I did have to break down and get the next batch of patches however. I could see that I get too edgy w/out them, thats just not fair to people close to me. But Im still hangin in there! with no plans to give in!

Lets Win this battle!

Congrats Valv on the decision!! that alone has to be the hardest part of quiting.

Loose the Monkey!

[Paul Rohweller]

Congrats Ted!!!

------------------
Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
N.P.A.A. 425
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[Aquaman01]

FREEEEEDDDAAAAAHHHHHHHMMMMM!!!!!!!
Glad to have you 'round, Valv. Nice work, everybody! Closing 18 days, myself.
Kids were getting to me while we drove to Mpls - I wanted one of my old breaks-on-the-sly.
"Kids - gotta check the (insert dumb lie here). No - you stay in the car...it'll only take a 4 1/2 minutes."
I pulled into the convenience-store
(!!Q!!- How come convenience stores can sell cigarettes, but not Nicorette!!?!!) to 'fix' somehow.
I came out with 1/2 a dozen coffee stirrers to chew into Springy Spit Snakes...for free!
Whatever it takes, right!?

Ahhhh - turned every "are we there yet?" into a "thanks for not killing yourself, Dad."

Peace -
Rob

[Rick]

One week down for me.

I'm done with them. It's that simple.

We all talk ourselves into the fact that it's too hard. Bottom line is, you just really have to want to quit bad enough.

Actually it's really not that difficult. There's no pain involved. It's just a big mental and emotional commitment. Take control over your life.

Do YOU own your own will-power or do the cigarette companies own that?

What do you get out of smoking those smelly brown round things wrapped in toilet paper? Nothing but pain and suffering in the end and it makes you smelly too.

If you want to quit bad enough, don't make a drama out of it, just do it...

COMMIT to it FOREVER.

End of story. End of smoking.

It IS THAT EASY...

from a 30 year smoker who has completed 1 week without and will not smoke ever again.
You can do it to.

By the way..
I'm proud of you Paul, Valv, minneman, seabass, finns, upnorth(great advice), husker, wally, Rob, irvingdog, fivebucks (you CAN do it), coryntrtacy (my wife smokes), granny, Pherris, Come on Fisher Dave join us, scheuney, davev, Jim W, Leaky (ya gotta really want to quit), mrmillelacs(You CAN do it..don't allow yourself excuses..really commit KEEP ON QUITTING, we're here for ya bud), mm, and MT-Net.

Make the commitment, own it, and follow through. Then just keep on making that commitment.

I hope all of you make it and I hope more jump on the bandwagon with us.

Thanks guys for the inspiration

[irvingdog]

"If you want to quit bad enough, don't make a drama out of it, just do it..."

Not everyone is that stoic.
Go ahead. Whine. Cry. Pitch a fit. Blame someone else (kinda like Target Market does). Exonerate yourself from personal behavior and convince yourself that a whole industry put the first and last cigarette into your mouth if thats what you need to do. This stuff IS worse than lots of hard-core drugs in terms of addictive properties. But it's gonna kill you.

So go ahead and weep like a baby because it's so darn hard to quit. And I wont tell anyone. I promise. Because the tears at your early funeral would be much waorse, and more well deserved.

I can't tell you how much I hate these things.........

[traveler]

Way to go guys. Six or eight years from now (smoke-free years) you'll look back at this time and laugh. Or shudder to think about it Either way, you won't EVER want to go back. You may miss smoking forever, I do, but NO way I'd ever go back.