43 days of freedom

[constanceclum]

I stepped down to 3 (7mg.) with the patches yesterday and wasn't even aware of the difference. Today I'm having the emptiness in my chest so I'm doing what I usually do-stay busy and deep breathing. I stay prepared for these days but I will be glad when they get down to the random thought.

My son is visiting next week-he'll be here Fri. with a friend of his. I'm ecstatic as I haven't seen him in 3 yrs. but also wary as they smoke. They have to go outside of course but since we'll probably be having some nice weather, I'll probably want to be out there too. I'll appreciate any prayers for strength that I can get. The one thing I'm not going to do is set myself up for failure by telling myself I can't get through this.

Hope all of you are having a great day. Even though I love tarheels I'll be so glad when March madness is over!

Connie

[elvan]

Prayers coming, Connie, look at you stacking those days! That makes me SO HAPPY!  

I hope you have a wonderful visit with your son.  If you do go outside, don't sit down wind of the smoke, you don't need to inhale someone else's smoke.

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Congratulations on 43 days.  Think of the emptiness as freedom from smoke in your chest.  Think of it as being clean inside of your lungs. Think of it as the best breathing you have done in a long time.  It is newness not emptiness, embrace it.  Count it all joy.  You are feeling better and it is time to recognize it. Explain that you are no longer smoking and your wish is they respect it.  You have come a long way no need to go back. NOPE no matter what.  You can and will do this.  I believe in you. 

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Connie, my recommendation is that you don't go outside with your Son! I know it's tempting but you've come too far to let this one get away! Second hand smoke is not only very bad for your quit - it's very, very bad fro your COPD! Why go there?

[wlh]

Hi Connie,

Great news on having your son visiting, especially after 3 years!!!

In our tool boxes we have a section on triggers and what we will do for them.  Please make sure you have a plan for this when you are outside with them.  This may help.  Hey, who knows, maybe they will smoke when you aren't out there with them or even better yet, maybe they don't smoke anymore!!  That would be great!!

Enjoy your time with your son!

Lynne

[JustSharon]

Connie, I'm so very proud of you for your days quit! I know the struggles you have had to get there. So nice that you will visit with your son. Maybe you can sit him down and have a talk about how difficult this has been for you and ask him to at least keep his smoking to a minimum. Enjoy outdoors, just maybe step in for a powder break when he wants a smoke. Hugs to you my friend!

[bonniebee]

    I experienced that empty feeling in my chest too Connie but I can attest to the fact that it goes away. I like what Jackie said about the feeling being freedom from smoke in your chest.......... smoke is heavy fresh air is lighter !

    Think of the temptations and craves as coming from you not from without when it comes to other peoples smoking .You have gotten this far and your son will be proud of you and you will be a power of example for him .

  I am so happy for you, my children all live quite far from me also. I know what it is like to miss them so much !  My daughter is coming to visit me in June and I haven't seen her in 2 years I am really looking forward to seeing her

Stay Strong and Carry On !!!!

                     So proud of you Connie !!!

[freeneasy]

Sounds like you have got a good handle on how to use the patch. It's only a quit helper and you're using it according to how you feel. Enjoy your time with your son and keep stacking the Smoke-free days. Good Job! 

[MarilynH]

Good evening Connie, congratulations on your precious 43 smoke free days, I'm very happy for you and your son 3 yrs is a long time so you two have lots of catching up to do and it's nice that he has a friend with him. Please be EXtra Vigilant and protect your precious quit with your life because as you know your life is literally depending on you remaining quit so have a great time and keep saying N. O. P. E.  Because S. I.N.A.O and You only want Days WON not Days One so if you get a strong urge when your son comes give your head a couple of shakes everytime an urge strikes and as Dale says you don't do that anymore and continue to stack up those precious DOF. constanceclum you've got this my friend and fellow Exer.

[Strudel]

Congrats on 43 days Connie! Keep reminding yourself that they "have to smoke" - you, my dear, are FREE! 

[lucyda]

Thanks for sharing this. After my mom passed of lung cancer I quit for about 3 days then decided I was a confirmed smoker. Fast forward 17 years to like a month ago. Not sure why exactly, a bunch of little things really, smoking is smelly when it’s cold out, that was bugging me. anyway, I had a book from eons ago about quitting that I never finished, Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Quit Smoking. Yup. It’s become famous since I 1st bought it. It’s super repetitive, I smoked while I read it, realizing that there was some sense of hypnosis, but also that it was speaking truth, and I did want to quit. I haven’t smoked since I finished it in early December. Not going to say I haven’t thought about it, but I haven’t done it, and for the 1st time since my Mom died, I am truly proud of myself bc I have a shot now at not dying from a goddamned drug addiction. I feel free. And I am glad you are too!

Best,

Lucy

[elvan]

 lucyda     Congratulations on your quit, Lucy.  Stick around and keep stacking your days, it does get easier.

[elvan]

Well, how did the visit go?  Was it this last weekend or is it coming up?  I am so glad that you are here and that you are doing so well constanceclum‌  keep stacking those days!