How to quit?

[coribell]

Hi how can i quit smoking? I developed hbp about a yr ago and now doc thinks i have mitral valve prolaspe have been tested for that but wont get results from that until the 13 this month.I really want to quit and get my health back at least better than it is now iv started eating healthy and started walking some but cant walk much because i get to weak after only about 20 minutes and i desperatly want to quit smoking i just feel like i cant do it alone as iv smoked for 30 yrs.Any advice on where to start?Is there a way without the nicotine gum and things like that as im on 3 medications for my bp and i get stomach aches and heartburn pretty often so i dont want to make that any worse.A ny advise anyone?Thanks

[kathyjo]

In retrospect, quitting was so much easier then I thought.
I smoked for 38 years and I decided to give Chantix a try. So many people were singing its praises. Well, its been 1 year and 1 month since I put that last smoke to my mouth.
Given your other problems you might want to try the patch. If you can, cold turkey is probably the best way. The physical withdrawals only last 3 days.
Read the articles at whyquitdotcom under Joel's library. Make sure you surround yourself with positive minded people and tell them that you are quitting so this way they will watch and make sure that you do.
You can do this! I promise you that it is do-able.......we were all where you are at now and it is scary but we are here to support you so you need to just throw them out and read and write and talk and keep yourself busy. I joined a gym and yesterday I jogged on the treadmill for 11 minutes straight!! I remember last year and how I could barely walk at a regular pace!
Good luck!
Kathy Jo

[AndiJ78]

I agree, Chantix is an amazing tool to help kick the habit. I have only known one person who wasn't able to quit using Chantix and by her own admission she was not ready. Even my FIL who had been a heavy smoker for over 40 years quit with Chantix and hasn't looked back.

[coribell]

Thank you both so much I feel if i dont quit they will kill me as my bp wont seem to regulate yet and my heartrate isent right either and my doc had me on to much meds i know because today i cut back on them and im not having the heart arrithmias and my bp is in the normal range it was dropping to low and it dosent help my docs on vacation while im stuck trying to get the right amount of meds to keep my bp right,Iv been near tears all day because last night the heart irrithmias were so bad even after taking a sleeping pill i couldent get to sleep before 3 am.I know i must quit smoking and for the last 2 weeks iv only smoked about half as much as i use to but i want to put them down for good so my health will get better because i want to live i have to much to live for and both my parents died from smoking related causes so i know what will happen to me if i dont get serious and quit.Im going to look into the patch and chantix tomorrow and thanks again.I hope im making sense but iv had so little sleep im allmost a zombie today.

[kathyjo]

Along with wanting it, you must prepare yourself for it. Make sure you have the tools to fight off those urges.
After a few hours you might tell yourself that it doesn't hurt to have a smoke every hour or two, but in fact what happens is this will last a while and when you begin to feel a little better you will go back to your old ways. We all did it.....fooled ourselves. There is no such thing as cutting back........given your history (parents) and the way things are going with your health, you HAVE to QUIT or die.
Read the articles at whyquitdotcom and try to understand what it is that makes you so dependant on those nasty things. For me, I always thought they calmed me but in retrospect, they were the very things that caused me more stress.
Good luck and I hope you get your med. issues under control.
We are here for you.
Kathy Jo