Smoking

[GypsyStevi]

Hello,
This isn't a serious subject but here it goes:
I am having a hell of a time trying to quit smoking. Heres the thing, I quit smoking eleven years ago along with all of the street drugs I did.
I smoked cigarettes for 15 years, and when I went through detox and rehab I started again. I feel like I want to quit, but after all I went through giving up my opiates, this is the strange part, I don't want to let go of the cigarettes.
I am wondering if my addicted brain is somehow trying to keep any kind of addiction going on. I know this sounds weird.
Has anyone gone through this?
Thank you all for your time,
Jackie

[Poopypants]

Yes I have.  As of two weeks ago, I smoked, took pills, over ate and compulsivly lied.  I stopped everything and the only thing that's calling my name is a cigarette.  Wierd huh?  I'm not hurting for anything else either.  I feel ya.  You'll quit when you're ready to quit.  TAKE ONE THING AT A TIME.
God Bless and DON'T WORRY.
CB.

[Francoise]

I worked for a time as a communications consultant with the State Department of Corrections in Georgia. Had the opportunity on many occasions to speak with hardened criminals; murderers, rapists, armed robbers, assault artists, litterers. There were many of them who said they'd rather give up heroin than give up cigarettes. Apparently, with heroin there's an end coming at some point. With cigarettes, no end is in site.

I have a friend who quit cigarettes for 14 years. He got into a high-stress situation involving a kidney transplant and he was right back at it. This was about 10 years ago, and now he's quit and started again several times - all after 14 years.

Wellbutrin worked for me.

Francois

[GypsyStevi]

Thank you for your comments about smoking. I am going to work on quitting and I also know I have to really want to do it.
Warm Wishes,
Jackie

[skipper]

I smoked for 35 years + and was told by my neuro surgeon i had to
be free of nicotine for 60 days before surgery. i detoxed myself
from nicotine by smoking herbal cigerettes i found at a health
food store. after smoking those awful things for a week i had
most of the nicotine flushed out of me. i then went to a hypno-
therapist. several things this hypnotist told me:
when some one asks how your doing, just say fine. 80% of the people
dont listen to what you answer and the other 20% just don't give a
****.

the urge to smoke last only 20 seconds, so don't fight the urge,
just ride it out. anyone can last for 20 seconds.

yesterday i went to a 12 step meeting  and the man sitting across
from me smoked a camel straight. I found myself wondering if he
realised how much fun he was having. I have an on going fantacy
of buying a bottle of mad dog and 2 packs of camel straights. i've even set out (during an argument with spouse) to do just that. but by the time i've walked down to the nearest place that sells cheap wine i've come to what little sense i have. i buy ice tea to go. man have i ever turned into a wimp!

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[jennyfla]

I was told by (hazeldon) that people trying to quit drugs, alcohol, have a 17% chance of staying clean if they continue smoking cigerettes, whereas they have a 55% chance if they quit.
Somehow the cigerettes are a trigger for bigger and 'better' stuff.
They use to say hang on to it for at least 1-year if that's all you have left, but through studies, that theory has changed.
I'm smoking more than i ever have, so i can't really preach, i can only tell you what new studies are showing!
Good luck!
Lv Jenny

[Francoise]

Are you saying that continuing to smoke cigarettes makes it more difficult to quit drugs and stay quit?

And if you quit cigarettes it's easier to quit drugs and stay quit?

Is that it?

Francois

[nightnurse]

Hello All,

[nightnurse]

Hope that the cigarette thing doesn't mean you shouldn't quit while detoxing. Good news, I finally got Joe to go into a detox. I should say he finally did it. It was his idea. I thought he was doing oxy again but I couldn't prove it. I finaly just asked and he broke down and told me. The meth worked but after a week he was doing the oxy again. He said he needed help and went into a hospital Detox. This is his second day. I got to see him tonight and he seemed OK. You're not allowed to smoke so he got the patch and said he will come out not smoking. It's a lot but I'm glad since the heart Dr said that was the worst thing he could do. Please pray for him to have the strength to do this. I am thinking of all of ou, with love!

[jennyfla]

About the cigarette smoking.
Recent studies have shown that it is easier to relapse if you continue to smoke after getting clean.
I wouldn't think that cigarette smoking effects current drug users, only that they probably smoke more than usual while taking drugs, especially coke (my opinion).  Also, i know many people who only smoke when they drink.
I've been smoking more than ever with all the stress in my life, i'm getting very sick of it personally, i need to quit!!!
Plus, my 8-year old hates it when i smoke, and i don't want to teach her bad habits... they learn from what they see us do, scarey thought for me anyway! :(
Hope that answered your question, good luck if needed!
Lv Jenny

[susanlea]

Oh sweetie!  Read your post again....children learn from what they see......IT IS a scary thought.  I just woke again for about the 5th time today.  I am still not feeling well, the incission (long and very deep, hurts more today than before) You know me, I still have over 150 Vicoprophen sitting on my nightstand, the patch won't work for this, and I don't think the Vicoden would either.  I am just using heat and aspirin right now.  But I have a little bit of a fever, and just can't stay up right now.  After surgery, I MUST BE NUT"S, I went to work all day until 9 at night, I worked for over 10 hours straight.  I work outside, walking around, selling cable.  I felt ok until the local shots wore off.  But I got enough work in that I could take a few days off.  I painted the kids bathroom, seafoam green, It reminds me of Florida.  I am beat, going to bed.  PS...Mike called the other day, day of surgery, acting all concerned.  He said we will talk another time.  He had better hurry, or he really will  HATE me.  If he doesn't come through with some of the money....I am going to sue him.  I need closure and I figure he can spend on drugs, so he can give me what he owes.......Now that's closure....Night...Love Susan....pss...Larry my new man is in Hawaii till Friday with his daughter.  He sent me flowers from Chicago on his layover....really nice, normal guy....I got lucky this time......I cleaned up my space.....

[susanlea]

Oh sweetie!  Read your post again....children learn from what they see......IT IS a scary thought.  I just woke again for about the 5th time today.  I am still not feeling well, the incission (long and very deep, hurts more today than before) You know me, I still have over 150 Vicoprophen sitting on my nightstand, the patch won't work for this, and I don't think the Vicoden would either.  I am just using heat and aspirin right now.  But I have a little bit of a fever, and just can't stay up right now.  After surgery, I MUST BE NUT"S, I went to work all day until 9 at night, I worked for over 10 hours straight.  I work outside, walking around, selling cable.  I felt ok until the local shots wore off.  But I got enough work in that I could take a few days off.  I painted the kids bathroom, seafoam green, It reminds me of Florida.  I am beat, going to bed.  PS...Mike called the other day, day of surgery, acting all concerned.  He said we will talk another time.  He had better hurry, or he really will  HATE me.  If he doesn't come through with some of the money....I am going to sue him.  I need closure and I figure he can spend on drugs, so he can give me what he owes.......Now that's closure....Night...Love Susan....pss...Larry my new man is in Hawaii till Friday with his daughter.  He sent me flowers from Chicago on his layover....really nice, normal guy....I got lucky this time......I cleaned up my space.....

[jennyfla]

I'm so happy for you about Larry!  Sounds like a wonderful guy! :)
I'm so sorry you are hurting so much after your surgery, hopefully you are feeling better today (((HUGS)))!!!!
Doing MUCH better with robert and the kids.  Robert and I have been talking a lot, he started his new job this morning, so we shall see what the future brings.  Better he stay busy with working instead of sitting around the house collecting unemployment anyway.
I am still struggling, but i am really getting tired of living like this addiction, especially if robert can stay straight, i will really really get the strength to stop!!!
It's hardest in the mornings, i loose all my motivation (before i use, and i don't use until around 10:30 - 12:00 for the first time of the day, and i just take .5 of a percocet or whatever, just enough to ward off the withdrawal feeling).  I refuse to get into the habit of taking something 1 hour before getting out of bed, it might get too easy that way, i want to make it uncomfortable enough to want to quit... does that make sense.  Believe me, i hate pain, it's not like i like doing that to myself, i'm a big baby when it comes to pain, but i just don't want to make it too easy or i'll never want to stop!
I pray my hubbies job goes well, because unfortuately, if he is happy, i am more happy with my life (co-dependency shining through)... but also,he will be more supportive and helpful and have an easier time staying away from the drugs if his work life is happier.  It's when everything in your life just sucks that you need to dull the pain, and numb numb numb.  His job will require that he go out of the country or an undetermined amount of time... what to do if you're an addict. How much to pack, how will it get past customs, etc. etc., he knows he can't go back to that world.
Good luck Susan, Be strong, and don't let that man back into your life, hope you recover soon, and enjoy you're sweet, new man, you deserve only the best!!!!
Love Jenny