I am going to make it this time!

[kirkschultz]

Well after 40 years of smoking I think I am actually going to make it this time, it feels better to actually say this publicly. I quit on January 18th not the way I wanted to, but after Pneumonia not being able to breath my OSAT in the mid 70's and a hospital stay that scared the &^$&^ out of me. So words of wisdom to all of you who are trying to quit and let me assure you I am not preaching. This was the most awful feeling that I ever had the only way that I can explain it is I felt like I was drowning! I have smoked for 40 years and it is shame that it came to this. My lungs will take some time to recover after this incident. Quit now I don't want any of you  to go thru this. The defining moment for me not only not be able to breath but when the Doc came into my room at the ER and asked this simple question. After giving the diagnose of Pneumonia, COPD, Exacerbation then this "What are your wishes if for some reason you stop breathing!" Well of course I answered do what you can. So for me only  4 weeks and counting but I told myself the other day "I think I am going to make this time"

Signing out for now and do yourself, your friends and family a favor quit now before it is to late. I still have a lot of Fly Fishing to do with my Grandson and this incident woke me up in a big way.

[Beck37]

Don’t understand why after all that you said “but I told myself the other day "I think I am going to make this time"? 

You “think” your going to make it this time? How about I don’t want to die a horrible death therefore I have quit smoking forever!!!!  If you truly want to live you will just quit. What’s the big deal? What is holding you back? What are the positives of you smoking?

Im at 52 days after smoking for 37 years. Quit cold turkey, wasn’t on deaths door.....  If you truly have committed to not smoking, then don’t. Stay out of your head, shake off the craves and move on. Yes this is tough but so doable and we are here for you!!!!!

You can do this!!!!!

Beck

[Barb102]

Congratulations. I’m very excited for you. I quit after 40+ years and numerous health issues 392 days ago on JAN 18 2018!  Wanted to quit is half the battle. Believing you will quit is the other half. You can do this. Stay on this site with us. Just say no not today. Soon it will be not ever again. We will support you. Start your day with the daily pledge. It’s empowering. I will be looking to take your hand on the pledge site

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

It's a shame it takes so many of us (me included) to have a health scare to quit.  Even with almost a month under your belt now, it would not hurt for you to educate yourself a bit about this addiction so you understand that all smoking did for us was a lie....it did nothing, in actuality.  It was a addiction delivery device....period.  Read on!

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library. Here's a link to a video here on the site which describes nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
 
 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance.  Not a bad idea for you to read up on what to expect in the next portion of your journey so you are prepared, not surprised, by some of its elements:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2011/05/24/no-mans-land-days-30-to130-appr....
 
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
 
You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.    Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
 
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

 Nancy

[anaussiemom]

Very scary !!  Congrats on 4 weeks!!

[sweetplt]

Congratulations on 4 weeks Quit...I am so sorry you had to get so sick to decide it was time, but nonetheless you finally have Quit smoking.  I want to suggest you take the "think" out and "know" this is your last quit.  Also, if you haven't already I suggest you read and work at 

• My Quit Plan  to seal the deal on your Quit...Keep close to the site and everyday...make the Choice to stay Free...~ Colleen

[Sandy-9-17-17]

kirkschultz‌  I have to agree with Beck37‌ on this one!  Change the way you say it!  Say it with conviction!  

You got this!   It's scary once you have medical get involved in the addiction!  I can say, I know I'm done with it, because I heard the doc say "spots on lungs"  !  I have felt what beginning to drown feels like, so I hear you on the can't breath thing!  Very scary not being able to breath!  I like to introduce people to the straw test!  Take a straw, plug your nose, and just try breathing through the straw.  You won't last long!  

Wishing you the best health to come!  Just say N.O.P.E., and tell everyone you know, "I don't do that anymore"  !  

Today, after 1 year and 5 months free from this addiction, I am happy to announce, "I am so glad/happy that I don't do that anymore"!   I literally can't stand the smell of it anymore!  Good luck!

[Barbscloud]

Congratulations on your continued success.   I think you're going make it this time too.

Barb

[sld2]

Don't think - do!  I too smoked for 40+ years, but, thankfully, have always been healthy - I plan on keeping it that way.  One day at a time. 

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I think I'd go fishing. 

(with no smokes)

[maryfreecig]

Congratulations on your quit! Keep the smober days coming.

[beazel]

Glad you are on the mend, I'm sure not smoking will move things along much quicker!

You can do it...one day at a time.....

KTQ

[elvan]

Your post is very much like mine from five years ago...I have not smoked since.  My quit date was January 19, 2014.  I smoked for 47 years and I have significant lung damage, I would not wish this on anyone BUT, I exercise regularly, I eat a healthy diet, and I am taking better care of myself than at any other time that I can remember except when I was pregnant.  I know exactly the feeling that you are talking about that is like drowning...unlike you, I refused to be hospitalized.  I KNEW how sick I was, I am a retired RN and I made a deal with my doc that if I did not get better in a week, I would agree to be admitted.  I had three inhalers, a nebulizer, a warm steam vaporizer, GALLONS of orange juice, two antibiotics and some experience with postural drainage and cupping and I made it.  Probably by the skin of my teeth but I made it and I have not smoked since.  I have accepted that smoking never did anything FOR me, it never FIXED anything but it sure did a lot TO me.   I had surgery a year and ten months after quitting to remove both upper lobes of my lungs because they were so badly damaged.  The idea was that my lower lobes would move up and take over.  I was told very clearly that it was not a cure, that the BEST I could hope for was an increased quality of life for 3-5 years...it has been over 3 now.  I am on oxygen at night only and my addiction these days is to EX and to exercising.  You CAN do this, there is no thinking to do.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen

[NewMe]

I too quit after a medical scare. I smoked for 44 years, and was 2 packs a day for many of those years. I agree with the above advice, although I know it was quite some time before I actually came to believe that I "will be successful" this time. I didn't realize in the beginning what a huge difference attitude can make in terms of how hard it is to stay quit. Stay close to this site, listen to the advice given by people who have successfully quit, look for any tips that resonate with you. There are so many of us who finally committed to doing whatever it takes to beat the NicoDemon. When you do, there will come a time when you will wonder what took you so long to get here. Fake it til you make it, if need be. I was amazed at how much power the phrase "I don't do that anymore" had on my brain. When I would be having a powerful urge to give up and smoke, I would say that phrase (frequently silently in my head so as not to attract any unwanted attention to myself), and it was amazing that my brain would accept that statement as a fact and therefore look around for something else to pay attention to. The people on this site will have your back and help you in any way possible to guide you down the path to freedom. Stick close by, and hopefully you will soon be one of the people offering to help newcomers succeed.

[Sootie]

WOW! Your blog scared me and I've been quit for nine years! So I certainly hope the people "on the fence about quitting" take your words to heart.

I like what you said to your doctor-------"do what you can". So let us all DO WHAT WE CAN. And we CAN quit smoking! It is doable.....doesn't matter how many years you smoked, how much stress you think you have.....EVERYONE can quit.

Stay Strong.