Quitting smoking cigarettes due to health problems. Any tips?

M

Madvillain

EGO Zealot
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
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I'd appreciate it if this was limited to people that have quit smoking, or are also trying to quit, OR know people that smoke often and have quit. I know there are quite a few smokers in eGO.


I'm too lazy to register on some health forum, so if there's anyone that has some useful suggestions let me know. I'm going to get that nicotine patch, or something like it, to aid in my cause.



I'm 22, and I've smoked since I was 17. Yeah I know 5 years isn't a lot, but I've smoked AT LEAST a pack a day, every day, for almost 4 years of that time. Sometimes I'll smoke a pack and a half to 2 packs a day.

Today, I was told by my cardiologist that recent chest pain/ irregular heart beats could be caused by my smoking, and other unhealthy stuff, like drinking caffeine (Which I also do to excess).. For the last year, after smoking quite a few cigs in 1 day, I'll start feeling really crappy. It's just time to stop.
 
I've smoked for over 20 years. Quit numerous times only to start back up. You have to WANT to quit before you actually will. If there are health problems at 22, that should be enough to want to quit. The hardest part is quitting the routine. The 2nd hardest part is the addiction. The last time I tried to quit I did really well with some Nicotine gum and a E-Cig. The E-Cig takes a bit of getting used to (the buzz you get is from the Nicotine gel pack and not all the other crap they put in cigs) but it actually curbs the craving plus none of the other chemicals they put it cigs.

Quitting is going to be hard. If you are already having health issues it should be a top priority imo. The last thing I'm sure you want is to have a heart attack before you turn 25.

Try the patch or gum first and see what you think. The E-Cig might be a good choice since it helped me tremendously. Plus it is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying cigs.

Good luck with quitting. I will tell you after about a week you will start feeling better instead of crappy. It will be a nice boost of motivation to continue the fight to quit.
 
xosniper said:
I've smoked for over 20 years. Quit numerous times only to start back up. You have to WANT to quit before you actually will. If there are health problems at 22, that should be enough to want to quit. The hardest part is quitting the routine. The 2nd hardest part is the addiction. The last time I tried to quit I did really well with some Nicotine gum and a E-Cig. The E-Cig takes a bit of getting used to (the buzz you get is from the Nicotine gel pack and not all the other crap they put in cigs) but it actually curbs the craving plus none of the other chemicals they put it cigs.

Quitting is going to be hard. If you are already having health issues it should be a top priority imo. The last thing I'm sure you want is to have a heart attack before you turn 25.

Try the patch or gum first and see what you think. The E-Cig might be a good choice since it helped me tremendously. Plus it is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying cigs.

Good luck with quitting. I will tell you after about a week you will start feeling better instead of crappy. It will be a nice boost of motivation to continue the fight to quit.
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The hardest part of it all is WANTING to quit. I never could have fathomed a doctor would be telling me to quit smoking because it's ALREADY causing health problems at 22. It's a bit of a shock. There are periods in the recent months that have most certainly caused me to question smoking, especially smoking the 100 cigarettes, which have charcoal. These cigs especially make me feel achy, a bit hard of breathing, etc. I've most certainly known its starting to affect me physically for a year about, I have just denied it.


Breaking the routine is certainly a tough obstacle as well. Not smoking a cig when I wake up, go to bed, or after meals, AND ESPECIALLY while driving is going to be hard.. I cannot emphasize enough the driving part.

Thank you for the post sniper, extremely helpful. Any other peoples stories and experiences are welcome as well.
 
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Please take me serious when I give you this idea, since i've seen it, and it works.

A friend of mine was trying to get his friend to quit smoking, so he took one of his friends cigs, and removed everything from inside it besides the filter, and replaced it with a firecracker. He then stuffed a little of the cig gunk in it, so it'd weigh out, and look realistic.

Suprise Suprise when his friend lit the cigarette.
He never smoked again in his life, and only suffered very slight burns which healed within a day.
 
PloxBox said:
Please take me serious when I give you this idea, since i've seen it, and it works.

A friend of mine was trying to get his friend to quit smoking, so he took one of his friends cigs, and removed everything from inside it besides the filter, and replaced it with a firecracker. He then stuffed a little of the cig gunk in it, so it'd weigh out, and look realistic.

Suprise Suprise when his friend lit the cigarette.
He never smoked again in his life, and only suffered very slight burns which healed within a day.
Click to expand...


...Perhaps that would work, if I wasn't the one stuffing a firecracker into my own cigarette.. Might give away the unknown aspects of the whole thing, you know, like asking "WHY THE HELL DID MY CIGARETTE JUST BLOW UP IN MY FACE". Entertaining, though.
 
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The way to quit smoking is to simply stop buying packs. When you get the craving, just bum a smoke off a friend or somebody at work. But once you go out and buy a pack, it's game over.

That's how I quit. I've been smoke-free for almost three months now.
 
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Hey Fabbrini,

I think most people hit on the most important aspects. The will to stop is always the most important. I think most of the general public knows the harmful effects of tabacco. In fact, a recent medical journal stated that a year in smoking could potentially take (up to) 5 years of life off your lifespan. Besides the lung damage and other side effects known, there is also some evidence of long term smoking to other chronic mental illnesses later on in life.

So there's definitely MANY reasons to stop smoking as soon as you can. Like I mentioned, the WILL to stop is absolutely the most important. Stopping "cold turkey" is always the best as you don't have side effects or any negative effects.

However, if you can't do that, there are other options. While I'm sure you know of the "patch" which is somewhat successful depending on how your compliance of usage is. Meaning, if you properly use the step-wise downgrade of tabacco (ie. First Week, 4 cigarettes, then Second week, 3, then 2, then 1, and so on). There is a more effective method. In clinical practice, we use "wellbutrin" which is an effective pharmaceutical intervention. Moreover, and more recently, "Chantix" has come to light. These should be your absolute last point of reference. I say this because there are some major side effects associated with these drugs.

Chantix was on the verge of getting pulled by the FDA because of its "major depressive & suicidal" side effects. However, the drug itself is VERY effective. If you were to use a pharmaceutical intervention, I would recommend Chantix as I do for many patients.

Chantix works by replacing the nicotine receptor in the Central Nervous System (your brain) in matter of weeks. This means that it actually decreases the urge for you to smoke making it very effective. With that said, as you can see, any drug that acts on the brain, has the potential for some serious side effects and you should remember that. Patients can suffer from agitation, depression, suicidal tendencies, etc.

You need to be monitored by your physician while on the drug.

I hope this helps.
 
you want to quit, well hers how i did it. was for health issues too. first, no smokes in the house, car or anywhere, second dont buy any, no stash or nothing, then third, dont lite one up, fourth, get some popsicle sticks, break them in half an grab one when you feel like smoking, put it in your mouth, or just hold it like a cig, it worked for me. i used the sticks for over 2 years an then that gradually stopped. been smoke free for 6 years, but ill tell you now its the hardest thing youll ever try to stop. drinking or drugging got nothing on a cigarette addiction. well thats my sory, oh btw i stated smoking when i was 12, im almost 64, you do the math. good luck dont light that first one an youll be fine
 



I have yet to start, and I've already smoked 4 cigarettes today.. This is actually an improvement. typically, I would have gone through 15 to a pack by now, so I guess that's good.


C-whit, my mother actually informed me about chantix today, as she assumed quitting would be very hard for me. I use cigarettes as a "stress" reliever, and I'm terribly addicted. I'm willing to give this a try most certainly. I've been on a few different prescriptions in my life. None gave me suicidal thoughts, all though there were some I've been on that had suicidal thoughts as a listed side effect.

I feel that for now, the best possible option is for me to wean myself off of them. I have gave up drinking, and other things. I just do not think I can go 100% cold turkey on cigs. It's extremely difficult. I think I'd start to show agitation and general discomfort after a while. I will try to find the best patch possible for the time being.

CaptGoomba, I agree completely with being rid of cigarettes in places that I'd most want them, ESPECIALLY the car.. I drive to and from queens 4 time a week, and even further to riverhead, at the end of long island, once a week. These long drives, and driving in general, have always made me want a cigarette.

I want to throw out the cigarettes I have left, but I can't get myself to do it.. the few cigs I've smoked today just make me feel disgusted, I imagine how black my lungs could be, and how its killing off my heart. The thought alone disturbs me into not even wanting to finish... I'm going to try immediately to just smoke 2 or 3 a day.. I'm not sure how little I should try to aim for initially, but even 5 if a significant cut down from 20+ a day.
 
Fraurrix said:
The way to quit smoking is to simply stop buying packs. When you get the craving, just bum a smoke off a friend or somebody at work. But once you go out and buy a pack, it's game over.

That's how I quit. I've been smoke-free for almost three months now.
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Agreed. I will try my very hardest to not buy anymore packs. The thought alone of not wasting money any longer (Cigarettes are 10.75 on long island, sometimes more, sometimes a bit less), and the thought of not having to go out constantly and buy packs is a rather free thought.

This post got me thinking, as well has everyone else's shares. Thanks.
 
your coming up with bad excuses, dont pick up an you wont get smoked up.
 
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These Nicotine patches work great! You put one patch over each eye and you won't find your cigarettes anymore.
 
IceStyle said:
These Nicotine patches work great! You put one patch over each eye and you won't find your cigarettes anymore.
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images


On a serious note, I just quit for the 2nd time this past Monday. I am mad at the everything right now.
 
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I've been smoke free for a year and a half now. I quit cold turkey, the first few days are the worst but it starts to get better after that. A lot of people here have made some good points and provided some good strategies. It's absolutely true that you have to WANT to quit to be successful.

For me it really helped to carry a pack of toothpicks around. Whenever I had a craving I would stick a toothpick between my lips and carry on.

Good luck on quitting! I'll be honest, it'll be one of the most difficult things you'll ever do but you will not regret it.
 
Going cold turkey is probley best way to do it i was a light smoker but i found easy to quit
 
Nicotrel, problem solved.
[ame]http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2738528/stop_smoking_with_nicotrel/[/ame]

Keep trying, breaking any addiction is a day at a time process. Keep a positive attitude and BELIEVE that you will conquer this habit. You can do this, you've got tons of support here. I really think your mindset towards it plays a big part, so help enable yourself by knowing you will over come this.

I haven't dealt with a smoking addiction but don't toss my opinion out because of that. I don't doubt that it is worse than any other addiction but an addiction is an addiction and breaking it is hard no matter what it is.
 
Fabbrini said:
Agreed. I will try my very hardest to not buy anymore packs. The thought alone of not wasting money any longer (Cigarettes are 10.75 on long island, sometimes more, sometimes a bit less), and the thought of not having to go out constantly and buy packs is a rather free thought.

This post got me thinking, as well has everyone else's shares. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Take those 10 dollars. Save them up. Quit buying. And BEGIN YOUR NEW COMPUTER BUILD AND BUY A SET OF NEW GAMES! :D
 
I smoked for about 20 years. Keep trying to quit. I have been nicotine free for over 11 years now. I smoked when I had the patch on and it made me sick as a dog. It felt like I smoked a carton in one cigarette. I used to smoke 3 packs a day of Marlboro red. I used hypnosis tapes and they did help and I went through tons of breath savers candy. The weirdest thing is how stupid you look with one in your hand. When I quit i didn't know what to do with my fingers. It was weird. My true final day I knew I was done. I bought a pack packed it down opened the foil and looked at the cigarettes and started crying I wanted one so bad. I threw them in the trash and havn't smoked yet! Keep trying and you will succeed if you want it bad enough!
 
I hope you stop your addiction. Breaking ANY addiction is hard, like Spitfir'd said. Kind've embarrising, and gross, I used to eat my boogers, and eat them (I know. VERY disgusting). now all I do is, pick my nose when no-one is around, and rub my hands really fast, to just clean my nose. (I stopped at age 13)
 
real cool boomboom, just what we needed to know. now we know what your keyboard looks like:chair:
 
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