New and On Day Four

Discussion created by DavesTime on Sep 15, 2018
Latest reply on Sep 17, 2018 by Sandy-9-17-17

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Hi everyone. I'm new on this board, but not new to trying to quit. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to quit, but I feel that it's finally time for me to be done with smoking. I've been a closet smoker (with most people) since the day I first tried a cigarette--over forty years, if you can believe it. My wife only found out I smoked four years ago.

I've never been a heavy smoker, but I've been chewing nicotine gum for years fairly heavily to get me through the times when I couldn't have a cigarette, so I'm definitely physically and psychologically addicted. I was at my doctor for my annual physical last week, and got a prescription for Wellbutrin, which I started last Monday. Because of a health scare, I quit smoking earlier than I had planned--last Wednesday. I've done pretty well, except for some insomnia, but this morning I woke up seriously wanting a cigarette. Oh, for the time being I'm also using a nicotine patch.

I'm glad to be here for this, my final quit journey.

Outcomes

28 Replies

virgomama Sep 16, 2018 12:33 AM
Hi and welcome. I'm relatively new here too. But I have found this site chock full of knowledge and helpful information. Not to mention really supportive. I don't feel qualified to give you advice as I'm just working on my own quit plan. But I would encourage you to stay on this site and read, read, read. Educate yourself. You'll find what you need here.
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- DavesTime @ virgomama on Sep 16, 2018 9:00 AM
  Thank you, Virgomama! Best wishes to you as we begin our journeys.
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Barbscloud Sep 16, 2018 9:21 AM
Welcome to the Ex and congrats on beginning your journey. I also used Welbutrin this time, along with nicotrol inhalers, a smoking cessation class and the Ex. The support on this site has made all the difference, so stay close.

187 DOF
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- DavesTime @ Barbscloud on Sep 16, 2018 1:00 PM
  Thank you, Barbscloud!
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elvan Sep 16, 2018 9:28 AM
Welcome to EX, read everything you can about nicotine addiction. I am sure that Youngatheart.7.4.12 will be here soon to give you the warmest welcome filled with great information, advice, and encouragement. I, too, quit many times in the past and after 47 years and the health scare of my life, so far, I found EX and have been here for over 4 1/2 years. Thanks to education, support, and commitment, I am absolutely certain that this is my forever quit. Smoking did nothing FOR me but it sure did a lot TO me and none of that was good.

Congratulations on your four days...stay close to the site, come here every morning and every evening and read blogs, comment, blog, ask for help and advice if you need it and listen. We have all been where you are and we all want you to succeed. No crave ever killed anyone but no one can say that about smoking. You are on the best journey you can imagine.

Ellen
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- DavesTime @ elvan on Sep 16, 2018 1:05 PM
  Thank you. It all seems a bit daunting right now (navigating this site, as well as quitting smoking). I did quit in 2011 and lasted a little over two years, but I never quit chewing the Nicorette. This quit I want to get completely free of nicotine.
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  - Sandy-9-17-17 @ DavesTime on Sep 17, 2018 12:59 PM
    I think you have to completely get rid of all the nicotine use in order to be successful at quitting for good! But you can do it!
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Youngatheart.7.4.12 Sep 16, 2018 10:07 AM
Welcome to our community!

Did I hear my name called? Thanks, elvan!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and your first four days. This is a decision you will NEVER regret! Just give it the time it takes. In the meanwhile, I suggest you get to the reading I will recommend. It will make a world of difference in how you view this journey.

The most important thing you can do 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 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.

Regarding NRT's - they can help with the initial physical withdrawals, but nothing is going to quit FOR you. The idea is not to addict yourself to them - but to work your way to true freedom. This isn't easy, but it IS doable.

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-instead-of-smoke

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
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- DavesTime @ Youngatheart.7.4.12 on Sep 16, 2018 1:11 PM
  Thank you, Nancy! I've got some reading to do!
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JACKIE1-25-15 Sep 16, 2018 12:42 PM
Hi Dave, Welcome to Ex. As you can see there is a lot of information for you to review. I won't add a lot but will suggest for the insomnia try taking the wellbutrin as early as possible. One of the side effects is insomnia. It helped me.
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- DavesTime @ JACKIE1-25-15 on Sep 16, 2018 1:11 PM
  Thanks, Jackie!
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Bellegonia Sep 16, 2018 3:48 PM
Hi Davestime!
Welcome aboard this roller coaster ride of reality checks, insights and support. I'm QUIT day 20 today and I think you'll hear many times along the way, "If I can do it, ANYONE can do it!" Even if it was the 300th attempt, it stuck! My heart goes out to you, being a closet smoker for years. I was with my parents, even though I knew they knew I never admitted it to them until my Mom was diagnosed with emphysema. Toward her end she talked a lot about how she wished I would quit smoking. She's not here any longer but I am 100% positive that she is doing a jig and has been for the last 20 days. I am really really proud of myself right now and if there's anything I could say to encourage you it would be to take it one moment, one hour and one day at a time. Don't look to your past and don't look to your future. Just be present in the moment. It was sage advise I learned here and it helped me tremendously to stay focused.
You GOT this!

Belle
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- DavesTime @ Bellegonia on Sep 16, 2018 4:14 PM
  Thank you, Belle. I'm sorry about your mother and I'm sure she' s dancing up a storm right now! Congratulations on your quit! My parents are both gone now; my mother smoked pretty heavily, but my father wasn't a smoker. Neither of them ever knew I smoked. (Ironically, my first cigarettes were those I stole from my mother's packs ) If only I had known how they would become such a hard-to-beat, longtime addiction in my life.... Anyhow, glad we are on this rollercoaster together. We can do this!
  
  Dave
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karenjones Sep 16, 2018 4:58 PM
Welcome, we are all on the same road. You might find the daily pledge helpful. It is just a pledge to not smoke today. let tomorrow take care of itself. but for today I will not smoke cigarettes. The Daily Pledge. try it, you will like it.
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stAn3 Sep 16, 2018 5:37 PM
Welcome!
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alysonoholic Sep 16, 2018 5:58 PM
I'm in a boat very nearby your boat, DavesTime! I've tried quitting so many times before but this time I am trying wellbutrin, as well. Almost 2 days in and I'm finding this place a major comfort.

Good luck to you!
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- elvan @ alysonoholic on Sep 16, 2018 6:59 PM
  You CAN do this...believe it, educate yourself about the addiction, stay close to the site and read everything you possibly can find about how others are being successful, commit to your quit and absolutely refuse to allow smoking to take over your life. I quit so many times that I lost tract but THIS time has been different, WHY? Because the irreversible damage I have done is no longer something I can deny. Each day, I grow stronger emotionally and psychologically and I maintain my quit and at least SLOW the progression of the COPD that I cannot reverse but I can at least TRY to live with.
  Best to you,
  Ellen
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  - DavesTime @ elvan on Sep 16, 2018 8:48 PM
    Thank you, Ellen! I, too, can no longer deny the effects it's having on my health. What should I have expected after all those years, even if I was never a heavy smoker! I've had a number of "moments" today, but I managing ok!
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    - elvan @ DavesTime on Sep 16, 2018 8:53 PM
      DavesTime I am SO HAPPY to hear that. We all had to learn and to grow at our own paces...this site is the best thing that ever happened to me...it is because of this site and the people here and all that I have learned that I have gotten free and stayed that way for over 4 1/2 years. YOU can do it too.
      Ellen
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- DavesTime @ alysonoholic on Sep 16, 2018 8:42 PM
  We're in this together! I've tried to quit many times, but this is the first time with Wellbutrin. I do think it's helping take the edge off my cravings so far. Best wishes on your quit and keep in touch.
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- Gamb0414 @ alysonoholic on Sep 17, 2018 9:53 AM
  I’m 2 days and 19 hours. Let’s do this!!!
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BostonGirl Sep 17, 2018 11:21 AM
Hi Dave and welcome to EX. I'm new here too. I have 28 DOF (Days of Freedom) from smoking. My best friend and I have both quit 5 days apart and we joined this site and love it. This group of people are the most supportive and loving, caring, wonderful people, and I haven't met a single one. One simple post when your struggling and the troops come running to help. The trick is to post and wait, put off that smoke until the replies come, and you've got it made. I have tried to quit too many times to count, but this time is the last!
Donna 28 DOF
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- DavesTime @ BostonGirl on Sep 17, 2018 12:57 PM
  Thank you, Donna.
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Sandi4 Sep 17, 2018 11:42 AM
DavesTime
Welcome and congratulations on your quit!
I didn't use Wellbutrin but still had an awful bout of insomnia at the start of my quit. I used those restless hours to read everything I could on this site. Not just the recent posts but the related posts at the bottom of each post and gained so much help from those who are here daily and those who visit sporadically.
Once I realized and accepted that "one day at a time" was the best way to approach my quit, it became easier.
As many have said above, stay close to this site. We're all rooting for you!
Sandi
268 DOF
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- DavesTime @ Sandi4 on Sep 17, 2018 1:02 PM
  Thanks, Sandi. Actually, I think the Wellbutrin combined with the patch is working for me. I remember when I tried to quit cold turkey a couple of years ago I tossed and turned in bed so badly my wife asked me to sleep on the couch. "One day at a time" needs to be my motto for the near future. Thanks!
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  - Sandy-9-17-17 @ DavesTime on Sep 17, 2018 1:09 PM
    "One day at a time" is the motto of many! I used Wellbutrin for about a month and a half, and I was amazed at what it did for me! Made them taste horrible and after I would brush my teeth at bed time, I would feel like I needed to brush again and again! I think for me the use of NRT's would mean I was still addicted to the nicotine, and would cause me to fail my quit! I wanted to be done with nicotine once and for all!
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    - DavesTime @ Sandy-9-17-17 on Sep 17, 2018 2:33 PM
      Thanks, Sandy. I guess everyone's experience is a bit different. For me, the combination of the patch and medication seems to be working better than any other method I've tried. I started with the step 2 patch (even though step 1 is what I should have started with, based on my usual intake of nicotine) and I plan to step down to step 3 in a couple of weeks. Thanks for you input, and congrats on your quit!
      
      On day 6, Dave
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      - Sandy-9-17-17 @ DavesTime on Sep 17, 2018 2:40 PM
        Every quit is different, and we must do what works for us as individuals! Looking forward to watching yours grow!
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New and On Day Four

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