Advice from ex smokers?

[cassandramarie93 199]

Tomorrow is my quit date. I'm doing my best to make sure I get this habit under control before my consult as I know my surgeon will not operate on smokers. (Also I don't want to be feeling froggy in the hospital so the sooner the better) I've been listening to the "easy way to quit" by Allen Carr and making a plan/ the why list for the big day for the past weeks. I'm feeling very nervous. More so about this then anything else I feel. Any advice from any ex smokers you can pass on to a newbie for the first days? I know I have the will power to stop I'm thinking more in the terms of how to keep my optimism up while still being able to identify triggers in my old day to day routine. I don't wan't to end up creating bad blood between myself and anyone I may have contact with due to a short fuse. Any advice from anyone that helped them get through this transitional period?

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[#9grammy 274]

I had to quit cold turkey 18 years ago! I was using a inhaler every cig I smoked! Yeah not good, now I still use inhalers 2 a day 2 puffs in am then pm. I also went into COPD and I'm on O2 at night and during day when needed.

I'm not telling you this to get you to lose the cigarettes, it took me so long probably couple years to get really out of the habit of what to do with my hands! I would get in car light up, phone light up, had to have one sitting on the pot, yeah tmi. Now when I go past the smoke I get sick from the smell. Sometimes my lungs will get choked up from it, yep second hand smoke is horrid now.

Good luck on quitting I have a lot of respect for you for your effort to stop.

[justhere4theshow 462]

My experience is slightly different, but I think it will still translate. I quit cigarettes a couple of years before I made the decision to have WLS, but I used e-cigarettes to do it. I still had the addiction to nicotine, and had merely traded one addiction for what was pretty much the same habit. When I learned that I had to be free of nicotine to qualify for surgery, I became so determined to have the surgery that I immediately bought zero-nicotine juice for my e-cig and set my mind to quitting. I made it through the nicotine withdrawal on sheer determination. Then I decided it was stupid to continue using my e-cig with no nicotine, so I eventually quit that, too. I am certainly not giving you a recommendation to just pick up a different habit, but trying to explain how I got it done. I just had to decide what was most important to me. What do you want more? I wanted this surgery more than I had wanted almost anything in my life. I struggled for a year to lose the weight on my own and simply could not do it. It helped me to visualize myself having reached my weight loss goal. Also, there is no shame in getting help. I had a severe sugar addiction also, and I spent some stressful days and nights really pissed off that I had to give up the things I loved. I was pretty bitter about the fact that I essentially had no more vices. I had to learn to cope without my addictions. It was so very hard, but so very worthwhile. You CAN do this. I have now learned to face my emotions and allow myself to feel them. I still cry. I still get cranky. It does take less time to get over it, though. I have had some pretty wicked mood swings, but I know why I have them and I know they won't last forever. I hope you find your answer. You are stronger than you think you are. Good luck to you!

[cassandramarie93 199]

@@#9grammy my grandfather has developed COPD after a lifetime of the habit so my mother has quit and I can't imagine how proud he would be seeing two generations break the habit. I'm excited as the date draws closer but I'll be honest about two weeks ago before I started planning I was in sheer panic.

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[cassandramarie93 199]

@ I invested in a vape pen some time in the last year with the intention of replacing the habit eventually I never actually picked it up though because I think I am mentally addicted to the ritual of it as much as anything. I appreciate your uplifting words and support I know I'm ready to do this. I'm really excited to have found a place where it seems there is always someone to remind you that you are more then capable of making the decisions that need to be made. I believe I will probably struggle with the same bitterness over the lack of vices but I will draw strength from the wisdom I gain from facing myself in my rawest form. Thank you very much

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[justhere4theshow 462]

Any time!

[Frenchie1977 262]

I just quit a few days ago on chantix. Still want a cigarette but I'm not going nuts for one no physical craving really, it's just the ritual of smoking that I'm missing, going outside, having those five minutes away from the world all to myself while smoking was my favorite. But here I am 2 days smoke free

[cassandramarie93 199]

@@Frenchie1977 I heard a year or two back that chantix induces strange dreams/ sleep walking? Is this true?

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[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,443]

I don't wan't to end up creating bad blood between myself and anyone I may have contact with due to a short fuse.

It's common to be irritable or worse for a few or several days or even longer. My solution 15 years ago was to let people know that I was in my first days without smoking. I also stayed away from people as much as possible during my worst moments. No one banished me from their lives and no relationships suffered. People understand, but do let them know what's going on.

[Frenchie1977 262]

@cassandra- I have had some lucid dreams with it but that's it, no sleepwalking or anything like that

[cherylanne k 13]

Tomorrow will be two weeks smoke free for me after 35 + yrs of heavy smoking. If I can do this so can you! I do use a zero nicotine evape pen. And I feel like it helps me with the whole ritual of smoking. I can see where maybe I won't always need it but for right now? It's helping me. This is longest I have ever gone quitting and I feel good. First week was rough but now the smell of smoke disgusts me. Keep yourself focused on why you are doing this-to get healthier to qualify for surgery. You can do this! Good luck.

[justhere4theshow 462]

The surgery is well worth it!

[cdsjjotn 516]

Quit several times during the year before my surgery, as my date got closer I just said that's it no more. It's been 9 months now. I could probably pick a cigarette up and smoke it with no problem but I really don't ever want to go back there. I did have to quit coffee and alcohol too at the same time. I started working out a lot too. Smoking and exercise don't really go together.. Good luck, you got this, it's so worth it!!

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[Caribear 184]

I quit cold turkey several years ago. I think my son's dad was afraid of me for the first three days, lol. Just warn the people who are close to you that you might be a little emotional for a while, and explain why. I think the biggest thing for me was reminding myself that every time I craved a cigarette but didn't smoke one, I was closer to being healthy and smoke-free. I took up crocheting and used that to distract myself. Quitting isn't easy, but it is worth it. And you can do it.

[Heatgirl03 41]

I'm going through the same thing! My surgery may not be until December/January but I am going to invest in the E cigarette (no nicotine) to see how well I do with that. All of my co workers smoke so I'm definitely going to try my hardest to stay away from the outside until I get the E cigarette. It's a very hard thing to do and I wish you the best of luck!!!

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