Help Needed

jhager79

After 20 years of smoking, tomorrow is my quit day and am looking for any tips from others who have quit. 

WhatYouTaughtMe

I used a vape for 4 months. Not a big fan, but after 20 years I set a quit date and started vaping. Stepping the nicotine down over a few months until I didn't crave it so bad. I always left it at home to break the habit of smoking in my car and at bars, but it helped knowing I had that little crutch at home. Eventually I just stopped reaching for it. Best of luck to you!

jeffbr

Good luck, jhager79! You can do it. 6 months ago I grabbed a Juul to see what that was about. 3 days later I never touched another cig and have no desire to ever have one. My wife did the same. As whatyoutaughtme said, you can step down the nic % as well. Everyone is different, but for us vaping was the key. Much, MUCH less harmful than smoking (the anti-vape campaign notwithstanding, since they're trying to scare kids from picking up the habit). 
BTW, this probably belongs in AET.

jhager79

jeffbr said:

Good luck, jhager79! You can do it. 6 months ago I grabbed a Juul to see what that was about. 3 days later I never touched another cig and have no desire to ever have one. My wife did the same. As whatyoutaughtme said, you can step down the nic % as well. Everyone is different, but for us vaping was the key. Much, MUCH less harmful than smoking (the anti-vape campaign notwithstanding, since they're trying to scare kids from picking up the habit). 
BTW, this probably belongs in AET.

Thanks, unfortunately I can't get a Juul in Canada as we aren't allowed nicotine in e cigs. Congrats on 6 months without a cigarette. Wasn't 100% sure of where to post this. 

willbarclay

I got a prescription from the doctor for cantix 
they worked like a charm. You can smoke for 2 weeks while on them and then the cravings just go away. 

WhatYouTaughtMe

Cold turkey is definitely possible, although hard. If you're a stats nerd there's a couple smart phone apps that track all the info regarding money saved, health benefits. It helped me to constantly look at that and be able to put my progress into something I could actually see grow everyday.

jhager79

WhatYouTaughtMe said:

Cold turkey is definitely possible, although hard. If you're a stats nerd there's a couple smart phone apps that track all the info regarding money saved, health benefits. It helped me to constantly look at that and be able to put my progress into something I could actually see grow everyday.

Ijust downloaded an app that tracks the money saved and even gives you stuff to do for when cravings hit, thank you for that.

jhager79

willbarclay said:

I got a prescription from the doctor for cantix 
they worked like a charm. You can smoke for 2 weeks while on them and then the cravings just go away. 

I looked into chantix a awhile back and some of the side effects scared me half to death.  Did you have any trouble with side effects?

RS151862

Quit 7 years ago with the gum. I thought it was great, helped me incredibly. Just don’t let your brain convince yourself that you can have “just 1”. It’s tough but worth it. Good luck. 

willbarclay

jhager79 said:

willbarclay said:

I got a prescription from the doctor for cantix 
they worked like a charm. You can smoke for 2 weeks while on them and then the cravings just go away. 

I looked into chantix a awhile back and some of the side effects scared me half to death.  Did you have any trouble with side effects?

No I had no issues at all. Lots of dreams at night but never nightmares. I actually liked it. I don’t tend to remember my dreams at night but while I was on these pills I would wake up remembering everything.
all kinds of funny/strange dreams. 
One I was in a rock band, a few others I was at concerts. All good 

crookedcross

Good luck to you!  Would suggest just doing it cold turkey.  Everyone's different, but I smoked from '00 to '13. Around a pack a day.  During those years, I tried patches, gums, e-cigs, everything under the sun at the time, as they were offered for free through my job. None worked. Then one day, while on a ship, I had to go 7 flights of stairs during ridiculously rough seas and by the time I got to the top, I was dying and coughing. Silly and weird, but that's when I realized it was time to drop it... Because I thought it was sorry as hell that 7 flights of stairs whooped my ass. Went cold turkey and it's been working great for six years now (in May).  I would light-up a cigar on special occasions while drinking with friends. No more than twice a year, but other than that, zero urge to smoke nowadays.  I kept my last pack of Parliaments in my truck's center console, been there since 2013. It reminds me how well I'm doing.  Whatever you choose, stick to the plan. You got this. Focus on the positives.  You will not regret it.  

gvn2fly12

jhager79 said:

willbarclay said:

I got a prescription from the doctor for cantix 
they worked like a charm. You can smoke for 2 weeks while on them and then the cravings just go away. 

I looked into chantix a awhile back and some of the side effects scared me half to death.  Did you have any trouble with side effects?

Been a smoker a long long time, quit for months, start again quit for years at a time. years.
very regular cannabis smoker too, never tried never wanted to quit. always wanted to quit cigarettes, couldn’t. Tried nicotine replacement, Stupid shit, Don’t Use.  Tried “champex” poll fro
 dr, I’m in Australia so much the same I would think.  Was still somking while taking pills three months later.  No real side effects for me,  wife almost divorced me, very angry, very grumpy,  pleaded with me to stop taking the pills then I was fine again.  Still smoking but happy.
i have found an app stop smoking in two hours.
jason vale is his name,  it worked it’s awesome.
listen to him then take a nap,  while listening to him.  I believe it’s based on a book by Allen car.  (Never seen the book, I know people who have read it and quit)
you can somke while listening to the programme he will tell you when it’s time for your last cigarette, then that’s it,  I listened to it before bed for three nights and watched a sos video once. But I 
have not had a cigarette in 36 days, had no cravings at all. No longer need to listening him,
I recommend that you find this. app.

good luck.

TheGhost

I had a really bad smoking habit for 20+ years without a break or real attempt at quitting. Stopped cold turkey 3 years ago. The Allen Carr book "the easy way to quit smoking" convinced me to simply stop. Here is my insight: IT"S NOT HARD TO STOP SMOKING. BEING A SMOKER is what's hard. You've been experiencing nicotine withdrawals every day for 20 years. Just keep doing that but stop adding to your misery by continuing to smoke. It will end and the only time you'll have that withdrawal feeling is in your nightmares. You are good at resisting withdrawals you do it all day. If you stop smoking the withdrawals will end. YOU CAN DO THIS! If I did, anybody can. seriously. 

RunIntoTheRain

After smoking for 33 years, I quit in 2011 using the patch. Best thing I ever did for myself. Had to take the patch off before I went to sleep every night because the dreams were intense.

Just do it.

crookedcross

RunIntoTheRain said:

After smoking for 33 years, I quit in 2011 using the patch. Best thing I ever did for myself. Had to take the patch off before I went to sleep every night because the dreams were intense.

Just do it.

The dreams were so extremely vivid

PJammer4life

Just know with cold turkey you can’t have “just one” or you will be screwed. Never buy a full pack for that “1” during intense cravings or you will want to finish the whole pack, and end up smoking again.

brianlux

The old Mark Twain Joke goes, "Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it a hundred times."  That was almost true for me.  I'd quit and then start, quit and start.  Some times for days, sometimes for years.  Finally about 32 years ago I decided it was not to not just quit, but to commit to quitting for good.  Cold turkey, no hidden smokes, no bumming even a single drag of a cigarette.  Make the commitment to yourself, not someone else.  Know why you want to quit, keep focused on that commitment and the benefits of quitting.  Hack, don't pack.

NewJPage

jeffbr said:

Good luck, jhager79! You can do it. 6 months ago I grabbed a Juul to see what that was about. 3 days later I never touched another cig and have no desire to ever have one. My wife did the same. As whatyoutaughtme said, you can step down the nic % as well. Everyone is different, but for us vaping was the key. Much, MUCH less harmful than smoking (the anti-vape campaign notwithstanding, since they're trying to scare kids from picking up the habit). 
BTW, this probably belongs in AET.

Currently in the process of quitting the vape. Worked like a charm to stop the analog smokes though!

jhager79

NewJPage said:

jeffbr said:

Good luck, jhager79! You can do it. 6 months ago I grabbed a Juul to see what that was about. 3 days later I never touched another cig and have no desire to ever have one. My wife did the same. As whatyoutaughtme said, you can step down the nic % as well. Everyone is different, but for us vaping was the key. Much, MUCH less harmful than smoking (the anti-vape campaign notwithstanding, since they're trying to scare kids from picking up the habit). 
BTW, this probably belongs in AET.

Currently in the process of quitting the vape. Worked like a charm to stop the analog smokes though!

Good for you on the quitting smokes

jhager79

TheGhost said:

I had a really bad smoking habit for 20+ years without a break or real attempt at quitting. Stopped cold turkey 3 years ago. The Allen Carr book "the easy way to quit smoking" convinced me to simply stop. Here is my insight: IT"S NOT HARD TO STOP SMOKING. BEING A SMOKER is what's hard. You've been experiencing nicotine withdrawals every day for 20 years. Just keep doing that but stop adding to your misery by continuing to smoke. It will end and the only time you'll have that withdrawal feeling is in your nightmares. You are good at resisting withdrawals you do it all day. If you stop smoking the withdrawals will end. YOU CAN DO THIS! If I did, anybody can. seriously. 

Thanks for that,  library by my house has the Allen Carr book you mentioned, heading out to grab it.

jhager79

All cigarettes,lighters and ashtrays have been thrown out and on my out to grab Allen Carr's book.  Going to lock myself inside and kick this nasty habit .
Thanks for all the great advice.

otter

jhager79 said:

After 20 years of smoking, tomorrow is my quit day and am looking for any tips from others who have quit. 

You can do it.

gvn2fly12

Hope your doing ok.
dont give in, your cravings will be gone soon.

jhager79

gvn2fly12 said:

Hope your doing ok.
dont give in, your cravings will be gone soon.

Thanks for checking.  Doing real good, just over 2 days with out a cigarette and the cravings are getting easier to handle.

23scidoo

Be strong..

gvn2fly12

So how are you going??
hope your sticking with it.

Meltdown99

I quit Christmas Eve 1999, soon to be 20 years.  I used a pharmaceutical named Welbutrin which was approved as a stop smoking aid.  Take 1 day at a time.  Do not vape as an alternative.  

jhager79

gvn2fly12 said:

So how are you going??
hope your sticking with it.

Thank's for checking in, It's been going really good. Today is day 12, been a couple rough patches but I haven't slipped up and the cravings are getting easier to handle when they pop up. 

jhager79

Meltdown99 said:

I quit Christmas Eve 1999, soon to be 20 years.  I used a pharmaceutical named Welbutrin which was approved as a stop smoking aid.  Take 1 day at a time.  Do not vape as an alternative.  

Congratulations on almost 20 yrs smoke free. 
I've been sparingly using nicorette and definitely taking it one day at a time and today is day 12 smoke free. 

jhager79

Today is day 36 without a cigarette