Former smokers. where ya at?

[JessterNC 92]

I smoked for 22 years, at least 2 packs a day, most of the time 3-4. Right before I got remarried I asked my soon-to-be wife what she wanted as a gift and she asked me to stop. So June 20th, 2003 was when I "officially" quit.

But many times I felt I had it under control, so I would have just 1/4 of a smoke, then 1/2, next thing you know it was the whole thing. I know the physical craving for nicotine can disappear in 7 days, but that did nothing for the mental craving.

I needed something to keep my hands and mind busy...so I started to make latch hook rugs. Yea, a 40 yr old guy watching football, making latch hook rugs, it was funny to watch, but hey, it worked. All of my family got latch hook rugs for Christmas that year!

I asked my Dad who quit smoking 20 years before I did if the desire ever goes away, and he said no, it will come back at the weirdest times, and it does. So I keep a rug in the closet and when the desire for a smoke comes along, I work on the rug.

Keep your mind and hands busy, I would suggest trying something you have never done before, because if you are anything like me you would smoke while doing almost everything, so I needed something that I didn't have memories of doing while smoking.

Good luck, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

[net0girl 13]

I have quit as well! Very difficult, i used zero nicotine cigs. So helpful

[shellyd88 463]

Im 47 I smoked from the age of 12 until 2008 when I quit again hopefully for the last time the craving doesn't go away I still want to smoke I smell it coming from pls cars or from far away when ppl are standing outside smoking luckily I can't afford it it's so damn expensive now ironically enough my father now has lung cancer and he quit 23 yrs ago so I'm glad I never started again and I hope I never do I guess some habits u put down are better left there....

Edited August 4, 2015 by shellyd88

[Mremilio 95]

I quit smoking in January with the help of Allen Carr easy way to stop smoking.

I have quit in the past but it was only a matter of time before I went back. with the help of this book, I can truly say I will never go back.

I believe anyone(current or former smokers) can and will benefit from reading book.

Please give it a try.

[elrios1 47]

I have surgery in a week to two weeks (date hasn't been determined yet) and I am struggling with quitting. Believe it or not I quit for a month started up again for 3 weeks, then off a week, then had a pack, off for 5days had 4 cigarettes, now 2 days without. I can't keep going back and forth but hell it is hard. I am using a 0mg nictotine vape and it helps but the mental urge is the problem. Idk if I will be tested before surgery or not, but I do not want to take the chance and continue smoking and possibly being turned away for surgery. What scares me the most is as soon as they put you under anesthesia they know you are a smoker because you will have a difficult time maintaining a certain oxygen level.

[tstarkey704 21]

I also used Chantix to quit smoking almost 3 mos ago. I found that ice chips (the little ones) and really cold Water seemed to help me. If I had a major urge to I would just move around until that urge was gone. I also kept my hands busy so I didn't think about reaching for that ????.

There is a Quit Smoking app called Livestrong that I use as well

Hope this helps

Good luck!

[Mremilio 95]

I quit smoking in January with the help of Allen Carr easy way to stop smoking.

I have quit in the past but it was only a matter of time before I went back. with the help of this book, I can truly say I will never go back.

I believe anyone(current or former smokers) can and will benefit from reading book.

Please give it a try. ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1439178308.446083.jpg

[judyoz 240]

I have surgery in a week to two weeks (date hasn't been determined yet) and I am struggling with quitting. Believe it or not I quit for a month started up again for 3 weeks, then off a week, then had a pack, off for 5days had 4 cigarettes, now 2 days without. I can't keep going back and forth but hell it is hard. I am using a 0mg nictotine vape and it helps but the mental urge is the problem. Idk if I will be tested before surgery or not, but I do not want to take the chance and continue smoking and possibly being turned away for surgery. What scares me the most is as soon as they put you under anesthesia they know you are a smoker because you will have a difficult time maintaining a certain oxygen level.

You may not even have surgery if they do a drug test preop for nicotine. My doctor will not do surgery if you have nicotine in your body. And yes they can do that. I highly suggest you never have another cig before surgery. I am not being mean but honest. Hopefully if you can quit prior to surgery, you can quit for good. I know it is hard, been there done that. Good luck! HUGS

[elrios1 47]

I have surgery in a week to two weeks (date hasn't been determined yet) and I am struggling with quitting. Believe it or not I quit for a month started up again for 3 weeks, then off a week, then had a pack, off for 5days had 4 cigarettes, now 2 days without. I can't keep going back and forth but hell it is hard. I am using a 0mg nictotine vape and it helps but the mental urge is the problem. Idk if I will be tested before surgery or not, but I do not want to take the chance and continue smoking and possibly being turned away for surgery. What scares me the most is as soon as they put you under anesthesia they know you are a smoker because you will have a difficult time maintaining a certain oxygen level.

You may not even have surgery if they do a drug test preop for nicotine. My doctor will not do surgery if you have nicotine in your body. And yes they can do that. I highly suggest you never have another cig before surgery. I am not being mean but honest. Hopefully if you can quit prior to surgery, you can quit for good. I know it is hard, been there done that. Good luck! HUGS

I don't plan on having anymore, I can't afford to fail a test if they do one, I need thus surgery. Since it was only a few after having it out of my system I figure it will probably be gone by today actually, hopefully.

[grruss 9]

I have surgery in a week to two weeks (date hasn't been determined yet) and I am struggling with quitting. Believe it or not I quit for a month started up again for 3 weeks, then off a week, then had a pack, off for 5days had 4 cigarettes, now 2 days without. I can't keep going back and forth but hell it is hard. I am using a 0mg nictotine vape and it helps but the mental urge is the problem. Idk if I will be tested before surgery or not, but I do not want to take the chance and continue smoking and possibly being turned away for surgery. What scares me the most is as soon as they put you under anesthesia they know you are a smoker because you will have a difficult time maintaining a certain oxygen level.

You may not even have surgery if they do a drug test preop for nicotine. My doctor will not do surgery if you have nicotine in your body. And yes they can do that. I highly suggest you never have another cig before surgery. I am not being mean but honest. Hopefully if you can quit prior to surgery, you can quit for good. I know it is hard, been there done that. Good luck! HUGS

I don't plan on having anymore, I can't afford to fail a test if they do one, I need thus surgery. Since it was only a few after having it out of my system I figure it will probably be gone by today actually, hopefully.

My doc won't operate with a positive nicotine test. I have been vaping at zero nicotine, and passed with flying colors. So much of the trouble with quitting smoking is about "ritual"... Hand to mouth, breathe in/breathe out. I think that's why vaping worked for me, and I slowly weaned myself off the nicotine.

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

@@Mremilio Allen Carr is how I quit too!!

[elrios1 47]

I took a cotinine test today and it was negative so as long as I stick with it I should be fine

[Kacee78 6]

I quit in Jan of 2014 after almost 18ish yrs of smoking with a mix of nicotine Patches and just plain being over it.. I still have friends that smoke and now I can't stand the smell, which is good since I know it wouldn't be that hard to pick it back up.. that and I am only 2 months into my 6mnth waiting period.. would be pretty dumb to start when I am so close lol

[net0girl 13]

A cottinine test is that what it is called for nicotine? Sid your dr order it? Was it a blood test?

[grruss 9]

A cottinine test is that what it is called for nicotine? Sid your dr order it? Was it a blood test?

It's a sort of confirmation of the nicotine test. I think they even use the same urine.