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Miracle Storm

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Well I am 29 years old and I have been smoking since I was fourteen...

Fifteen years, wow..wonder what my lungs look like..

I have attempted many times before, used patches and gum always end in failure..

But a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with asthma..so one inhaler four times a day and then a rescue inhaler..
Just more incentive to stop smoking, especially since my dad has COPD..

My insurance, ironically, will not pay for any medicines to stop smoking...only for the consequences of it..

I want to quit smoking for my health, my kids, and the rest of my family.
So any help you can offer without the use of expensive meds would be appreciated.
I know the first step is picking a quit date, I haven't done that yet, but I'm thinking I will give myself a month. Oh part of me is saying "You have to do this.." the other part of me is screaming "NO, NO, YOU CAN'T!!!" *sigh*
 
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Evie1980

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Hi there! Hoping that you have a successful quit! I have been quit 2 years and 3 months now so don't think I don't know what you are going through. Anyway lets see...
Select your start date and slowly start implementing your own rules. If you given your self a month don't just I will slowly cut down and then... Make sure you set some clear goals for each week. Here are some examples that you may want to start with -
  1. Smoke only outside.
  2. Have a glass of water before each cigarette
  3. Make time to exercise daily (it helps keep you happy and will help you when you do quit).
  4. Limit the cigarettes that you have each day by only smoking at set times of the day and not smoking when you would normally i.e. if you normally smoke when you get out of bed in the morning delay by 30 minutes. Break the habit and then break the addiction.
  5. Write a smoking diary telling when/where/why/with who diary. You may find you smoke around some people more than others (even if they don't smoke). Find out your triggers - are you a mood smoker, a social smoker (only smoke with other people), a habitual smoker (smoke only at set times) etc.
  6. Write down the reasons to quit. Write down all the good things that will happen. Read this every day to remind yourself why you are doing it.
  7. Remember - all things are hard to begin with but it will get better. Organise everything so the first week of you quit is as easy as possible. Choose the best day to quit for you - Monday may sound nice but if your day always starts out hectic then maybe Thursday would be better. Make sure you have no big social obligations in the first couple of days. Stay at home with your kids to remind yourself why you are doing it. I would suggest quitting near the weekend to you can watch DVDs with your kids and just relax. The distraction will be good and you will realise how easy a day can go past without giving in.
  8. Remember you may put on a little weight to begin with as your body readjusts and some of your organs start working properly again. Gove your body some time to get back on track and worry about those things later. Many people have fallen back into smoking because they have tried to do too much too soon and not let their body cope with the changes. Quitting smoking is a big thing. Respect your body and it will heal itself but like all things it takes a little time. In a couple of months you will feel wonderful!
God bless
 
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Miracle Storm

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I definitely like the diary idea and think that will be a big help.
You mind me asking what the glass of water will do besides maybe prevent to much weight gain, if anything else?
The delaying smoking is a good idea too, I think I will try that not only in the morning, but anytime I want a cigarette so I will slowly maybe get used to craving the cigarette without getting it..
I am a weird smoker, like I smoke five or so at a time than go five or so hours without it...Where other people I know that smoke need one or two every hour or two

it will be an awsome thing to say I am a non-smoker..I truly look forward to it!
Thanks for the advice.
 
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Evie1980

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They say a glass of water is a good delaying idea as well as it prevents you picking up food quickly. It something that you can easily consume without adding kilos but keeps your hands busy.

As far as the 5 smokes at one time try and lessen that so that you eventually have only one at a time with the delay of 5 hours. I was very good at not skoking during the day but once worked finished then my real cravings would start and would have many within the last couple of hours during the day. Just find what works for you. These are only suggestions so try them and see how you go. As in all things you know your life and abilities better than anyone else.

For me I had to make my environment smoke free (everything smoking related was thrown away) as well as read non smoking websites on a regular basis to keep me going through the first couple of months. Like I said - this is about you, for you and only you can make it successful!

God bless, Evie
 
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plmarquette

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I wound up with open heart surgery, 4 bypasses .... physical therapy.... because of 2.5-3 packs a day for 30+ years ....

do some searches on open heart surgery.... you do not want to go there ....

pray, ask wife, friend for help ...proverbs 24.16 keep after it , will win ....

I'm 7 months away from Jan 1 08 ... last smoke ... still miss them .... can't start again ...
 
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Miracle Storm

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Uck..I am so glad you are okay..
No you can't start again..cigarettes have ruined my life in so many ways..health being but one..And I know the health issue can get much worse..It seems with every cig it does..

I went from 20 to 16 to 11 and then had a very stressful day and went right back to smoking as usual..I have to get back on track and I am very thankful you have bumped this thread..

Make sure to keep sharing your story, you can affect people..saving lives and future health problems.

(hugs)
 
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Oneofthediaspora

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Hello everyone.
I'm new to these fora and I would just like to add my encouragement to those of you who are trying to stop smoking.
I haven't smoked for 7 years and it is undoubtedly one of the hardest addictions to crack but it is very much worth the effort.
As you can see from my profile I am a doctor ( I know ... how could I be so stupid to get addicted to cigarettes in the first place ? ) in the UK and the commitment to stop smoking came when I was working in vascular surgery. Almost all the amputations for peripheral vascular disease were due to smoking. Assisting in an above the knee amputation and then nipping out for a cigarette afterwards really emphasised the stupidity and the grip of the addiction.

I stopped using nicotine replacement. I can't say it was easy, but I found that exercise really helped. The other useful discovery that I found in the first week or so was that although the cravings were intense and frequent, they were relatively short lived and that breathing exercises helped me to get through them by focussing my mind something other than cigarettes whilst emphasising how much better my lungs felt for not smoking.
Another thing to keep in mind when your brain is trying desperately to convince you that smoking just one cigarette is a good idea, is the knowledge that even just 24 hours after your last cigarette, your chance of dying from a smoking related disease is decreasing. This helped me through that bad first week.

Miracle Storm ... it's a shame your insurance doesn't cover you for prescription of Champix. It's available to anyone over here and because our health system is totally different it's difficult for me to get my head round the idea that there is a drug that is effective but not available to some people.
Don't despair though. Keep focussed and take it one day at a time and you'll beat it.
 
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Miracle Storm

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Thank you MsAnne and Oneofthediaspora, and I appreciate the support..((hugs))

I think the one thing that continues to help me is even smoking one less cigarette in a day is making me proud of myself..so I strive to do better the next. I hope I can continue this way..
 
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Evie1980

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I hope that it works for you too!
 
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