ready to quit! where do I start when under stress?

[whatayear]

Ok I am 26 ans stress doesnt begin to describe my life I wont get into all my medical issues but i quit for about a year when i found out I was pregnant and had gallstones and after surgery I quit I dont know how I did it but I quit! and after my daughter I developed IST its a high heart rate issue with my sinus node. I NEED TO QUIT and with all the stress in my life I dont know where to start. I smoke alot about 2 packs a day I smoke while im on the phone after I eat before a shower after a shower etc etc....all the time! I need to quit to get my health back on track and I dont know where to start becuase of my heart I cant use the patch or gum my doc said so does anyoen have any good ideas that would help me? Im at my wits end with smoking I dont even want to smoke any more but Icant seem to just not buy them I try everyday to not smoke I think I ahve cut down to under 2 packs but I am having new medical issues that Im having trouble getting diagnoised and am under a great deal of stress and constant worry and cigs are the only thing that I seem to have that I guess I can control does that make sense? I hate smoking its nasty I just want to quit. doesnt help that my husband smokes to but he is willing to quit if I do! WHERE DO I START??????

[nyychic]

I read a book and it worked for me to use the info in it.  Here it is, the easy way to stop smoking by allen carr I think is the author.  It has helped me to understand my addiction and how to work with it.  Good luck

[whatayear]

thank you! You know I also think websites like this where you can come and get support are good to and help with the process! Im ready to quit so i will check out the website and book I keep telling myself over and over that im a nonsmoker im a nonsmoker! maybe it will sink in! agian thank you and merry christmas!

[Shaley Girl]

I quit a 35yr smoking habit this past Oct 7th and if I can do it you can do it!  I have Rheumatoid Arthritis along with many other medical problems and I was still able to do it.  I used some Chantix to help me then 5 days after I quit smoking I quit the Chantix.

Please do post when you are in need of support.  I try to check the forum daily.

Good luck

[Jade59]

Before I quit smoking I was right where you are.....wanting to quit, but just kept buying them as you say.  Finally, one day, I had enough.....enough of being unable to breathe, my clothes stinking of smoke and not to mention the money of course.  My belief is, the more sick and tired you are of smoking, the more ready you are and it's easier to take that first step.  I just woke up one day and said "this is the day" and went to the store for the losenze which I only took for 5 days, then just went cold turkey.  It wasn't easy.....went through the anger and anxiety, but if you arm yourself with education like teko suggested then you'll at least be prepared.  

I, like Shaley Girl, am a long time smoker.....33yrs and if we can do it, you and your husband can do it and since your husband is willing.....GO FOR IT!!!!

Best of luck to you hun.....

[whatayear]

thank you everyone! no one will suport you like an ex-smoker whos been there! Im so glad I posted! what is chantix??? and are the losenze pretty good? do they effect your heart rate at all? I quit for almost a year and I remeber how nice it was not have my life controlled by smoking Id be in walmart and in my head I would tell myself hurry up so you can get out of here and have a cigerette! during the time I didnt smoke I almost felt FREE! I cant believe I have dont this to myself agian! besides the stress of having things going wrong with my body...im 26 and falling apart! LOL my one year old is a screamer I love her to pieces but she screams allll day about everything and she doesnt want to go to sleep for naps and bed time is atleast a 4 hour scream fest! I love her and Im not saying its her fault by any means!!! dont get me wrong but that on top of Im a stay at home mom right now and Im stuck in the house for the most part mostly becuase I dont feel well and  my anxiety level is so high I have klonopin which I take and my beta blocker which is supposted to help with anxiety and it did in the begining but now nothing seems to work no even smoking I really feel if I can kick the habbit agian and start walking eating better I will feel better and be able to deal with stress better! I am going to get the lozenges tomorrow and give them a try do I just wake up and use those instead of smoking? I cant do the gum its really nasty! agian thank you everyone you guys are awesome! thank you for the supportive words they have really helped get me in the mindset to beready to quit!
smoke free here I come!

[whatayear]

I just read that GEEZ it sounds like Im whining and making excuses!!!! Sorry!

[whatayear]

Ok! just went to whyquit.com and im crying now and I will never pick up another cigerette and everytime I think about doing so I will refer to the website! Im so sad right now after reading the stories of people who died to early from SMOKING!!!!! I have been smoking since I was 14 I hope it is not too late for me! I will post everyday if ok with everyone probably for support but im going cold turkey and Im starting now not in the morning but now no bedtime cigarette for me! as I lay here having trouble breathing! thank you for posting about that website thats all I needed! Im ready!

[Jade59]

Since you have heart issues, please talk to your doc about the lozenge before you begin.  If you can't use the gum or patch then maybe the lozenge would cause a problem, I don't know.  If you can use the lozenge, my experience was severe heartburn.....the taste, not so bad.....but after 5 days I couldn't take the heartburn anymore, plus I just wanted the nicotine out of my system and using an aid just prolongs the withdrawal.  

And you don't sound like your whining, you sound like your human with a lot of stress in your life right now so please feel free to post anytime you want to. You will see teko on here alot with lots of educational posts that I personally have found very helpful and supportive.  

So tonight is the night?  Hang in there, okay?  We're right here. :-)

[whatayear]

Ok went half a day and was feeling great and then got a call from my doc that I have MS!!!! its words I didnt want to hear then 20 min later the bank called and said that we were overdrawn over $900 and on top of that had asessed $649 is NSF charges come to find out our car payment was taken out twice and they wouldnt refund the money due to not bank error so from over a $2000 paycheck I have $331 at christmas and for 2 weeks....needless to say I smoked my butt off allllll day long!  I am going to get through the stress of all this without smoking but the medical issues was what I was dreading and its true I have MS all I want to do is sit in a room and cry and smoke!....LOL  I am going to get my mind right and try agian tomorrow! I went out this morning and bought a bunch of healthy organic food and want to eat really good the first couple of days im quiting to get all the junk out of my body and make a "clean start" Im not going to give up im going to kick this habbit just picked a bad day to start. round 2 here I come!

[kathyjo]

You are going through some really trying times and it looks as if you are a bit overwhelmed which is understandable. Your health should be your priority so keep trying until it works. We are here for you, to support you, hang in there and take it day by day.

[Jade59]

OMG so sorry to hear about the MS dx.  You are surly being tested my friend.  Now, more than ever is the time to quit smoking and get healthy and it sounds like you've made a good start.  I check this board all the time so if you need to talk, I'm here.  

Thinking of you..........

[nicorette]

nicorette gum "fruit chill " flavor. "I'm smoke free 10 months now and I have been under alot of stress.(who hasn't)!! Try the gum , it worked for me but now I am addicted to the dam gum.At least I don't stink!! What I need to know is how many miligrams of nicotine is in a cig.I chew the 4 mil. gum.My doctor said the gum is better,but how can I chew it for life.Soon I may try chantics.They say it is very helpful ONLY if you really want to quit.I never want to be a smoker again.Best of luck!!

[kathyjo]

I'm curious as to how much gum you chew. I have no doubt that the gum is better than the actual cigarette but I can see your dilemma.
Do you think that you can decrease the amount of gum you chew? Is there a lesser dosage? Chantix would probably work well for you but before you try it, why don't you try to contact the makers of nicorette to see if the offer some suggestions.
If you read some of the data at whyquit.com you will see that the actual withdrawal from nicotine is minimal (3 days). Perhaps even less for you as you have already decreased your usage.
Good luck!
Kathy Jo
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2m 3w 3d 13:34 smoke-free, 1,878 cigs not smoked, $450.72 saved, 6d 12:30 life saved