Scared

[Ming370]

Like everyone I have tried the pill, the patch & stopping for others. It's different now, at 47 years old I had open heart surgery. But still smoking?

[kathyjo]

I don't envy your situation......hubby who smokes while you are trying to quit. That has got to be VERY difficult.
The pill I used was called Chantix and it's been out a few years now. It has a good "quit" rate but a lot of people have differing opinions on some possible side effects.
I had a little bit of stomach pains, but that was all. It worked for me and after 38 years of smoking, I am happy to say that I am smoke free for 1 year, 2 months and 2 weeks!
As far as a comparison to the other quit aids, this is the first of its kind and at 40% effective, is the best there is so far.
You might want to google it and read more about it. I am not pushing it on anyone, just telling you that it worked for me : )
Keep us posted an remember that we are here for you.
Kathy Jo

[babyblue2449]

I always smoked after a meal or with coffee or on the phone. I DO NOT smoke in the house! I figure its my addiction and not my daughters. I have never smoked in the house with her. Or the family car, even if she isnt riding in it at the time. My spouse smokes and refuses to try and quit, so it is hard, but i am going to keep cutting back. You have mentioned Chantix a couple of times, what is it? And what are the side affects? How is it different from all the others?

babyblue2449

[kathyjo]

I found that changing my routine helped me, and I wonder if you are also trying to avoid the "usual" smokes. What I did was to smoke before a meal instead of after. Never smoke with coffee/tea or while talking on the phone, but chose a random time to smoke instead. Those changes helped me to figure out that I didn't even enjoy it anymore.

Saying that, I also used Chantix so I know that the drug is what brought me to the realization that if I changed my routine I would only be helping the cause : )

Quitting is a HARD thing to do and support is so important so whatever way we chose to quit, make sure you have some positive people helping you too.
Good luck!
Kathy Jo

[babyblue2449]

I am on my way to quiting...Tried cold turkey, doesnt work! So I stopped buying the packs in the store and started rolling my own. Its not easy, but thats the point. 1 month ago I was smoking 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day. Now I am down to 5 or 6 cigs a day. Every couple of days I roll 1 less. I am weening myself off, and it is working. Also change your routine. After dinner read a book or do something that helps you relax. I am a 25/F and a mom. I have to go see a heart doctor because I keep getting a tight/heavy feeling in my chest and always dizzy. I have been smoking since I was 13..

[mr.lucky66]

Good job Dakota. Sometimes fear doesn't work and we just don't care or just want to smoke. I do it for fear but more for the memory of my parents. I don't think there is any one size fits all attitude just don't smoke any way you can do it.

[Dakotawinks]

Don't feel bad, I'm sure we have all done this before at some point. Ok, here's one for ya....I went to the hospital and couldn't breath and they gave me 4 nebulizer's to open up my airways and I went home and lit a cigeratte, was told I had COPD and got to the car and lit one up as I was freaking out. Finally ...........I have quit. If I can you can too. Someone said to me that they quit because "fear can make you do a lot of things" and that is me. I am a single mom, and want to be here for my son. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a pulomary doctor, and I'm really scared. I'm here if you need to talk.
Dakota

[mr.lucky66]

That's pretty extreme but so was I. I still smoked after both parents died from it. Chantix is working for me don't stop trying to quit if you really want to.

[kathyjo]

You have no choice so you must do it. I'm sure if you ask anyone here, they will all tell you that they tried multiple times, with different things. You have to change your whole attitude about quitting and what you should be asking yourself now is this: Do you want to live. If you answered yes, then you know what you must do.
Please visit whyquitdotcom and read through the articles in Joel's library. The articles are very, very helpful and they will help you to prepare for your quit and to maintain it too.

Some of us were lucky enough to quit without any diagnosis and some were not so lucky, but the important thing is that we all realized that if we wanted the quality of our life to be better, then it was time to quit.

It's up to you to take back control of your life. You can do this and we are all here to help you. If you need to yell, or complain, we will be here : )
Ming, just do it!

Kathy Jo

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1y 2m 21:42 smoke-free, 9,413 cigs not smoked, $2,259.12 saved, 1m 2d 16:25 life saved