TWO WEEKS, 3 HOURS, 40 MINUTES, AND COUNTING!!

:-)

Woooo ooo. Way to go Bill! How's the wife doing???

just think of all the Senkos you can buy with the money you're saving!

you da man!

And you smell so much better!!!!

Seriously.

Kathy-- FUNNY YOU SHOULD SAY THAT!! LMAO I'm thinking a little bigger than Senkos, though!! We're talking about getting a newer boat this spring. A good friend of mine's selling his 2003 21' Ranger for $20K, and if he's still got it by the end of march, I may buy it from him! BTW-- do me a favor and email me-- I've got something I want to send you and your husband!

Softfurn-- We're both doing good. Even kathleen's cravings have begun to subside, so it's getting alot easier for both of us to handle. We'll make it!! :-)

celticmoon-- Amen to that. In addition, my wife makes custom doll outfits for collector dolls (her website's below), and it's been a pain in the neck, making sure we keep her "craft room" smoke free, including things like no smoking anywhere near the door to the room, keeping the door shut at all times, having an air purifier going constantly in the room-- all things of the past now!

Here is a link that might be useful: Topos Treasures

Bill,
As I remember quitting my 2 and 1/2 pack a day habit in 1979, you are thru the worst of the physical withdrawel. Now it is the mental habit part you have to work on. Try to remember how good it feels to have succeeded in doing this most difficult thing. In the next few weeks you may be tempted to test yourself. Don't do it.

Jillypie is right. Don't get cocky or complacent. And don't fall for your own bullsh*t rationalizations in a weak moment.

You are doing great. Have you considered stockpiling the actual cigaret money? Hard cash daily. Just like smoking. Keep depositing it in that boat fund to reward yourselves.

Any time I start feeling like it'd be nice just to smoke ONE, I get to thinking about how nice it is to wake up in the morning, feeling rested, and ready to go-- not groggy as hell, coughing and sputtering like an old Model T!! I think about how much more energy I have, even now, only 2 weeks later! I literally feel like I'm in my mid 30's again!

No, there's no going back. I'm done.

Bill, after reading your post, I just had to comment. Congratulations on your decision and your success so far!
My husband and I quit smoking abrubtly a couple of weeks ago.. for him tomorrow will mark the two week mark, as he didnt have a choice when he was admitted to the hospital with heart problems. Both of us were long time smokers, 2 packs a day, and although quitting smoking crossed our minds occassionally, the reasons were never about health benefits, always about cost, or nasty odour. Then we'd forget about the thought of quitting, always in denial about the health risks. These things happen to other people, right?
So my DH underwent an angioplasty and had four stents inserted into his artery to repair four blockages. The angiogram photos clearly showed he was days, maybe even hours away from a major heart attack.. after all, he did take himself to the ER with symptoms, and even then, he was thinking a lung infection, it never occured to him it was his heart!

So a very close call, a very rude awakeneing, and a dire warning from the cardiologist that he would be back on the table in 6 months and have to be opened up like a chicken if he continued to smoke. Who can argue with all of that? So here we are, greatful for the chance to have hopefully many more years together.

DH is using the patch and he's finding he can leave putting one on until well into the day.. I am using the gum and am only using 3-4 a day. After 40 years of smoking, we're kind of amazed we arent climbing the walls like we feared. The fear of withdrawal was always the worst part for DH, so he always resisted quitting figuring he would suffer terribly as he did in past attempts to quit.
Our life changed suddenly 13 days ago, we've had to completely change our lifestyle - no smoking, eating a proper low fat, low cholesterol diet, and adding exercise to our daily routines, not to mention becoming informed about the meds DH now has to take each day for the rest of his life and all the risk factors and limitations they come with.

You're already enjoying many of the benefits of being smoke-free, it can only get better!

Funny how when you feel things happening inside, THAT'S when it's time to do something!!

I'll let you in on a little secret that I haven't told anyone-- not even my wife to this point-- every day, atleast once a day, I was experiencing an arythmea. For about 2 minutes it would all of the sudden feel like my heart was doing the drum solo from Inna Godda Davida. That's also stopped, and I didn't even realise it till I read your post! I just never thought about it... since I quit! You can BET I was thinking about it ALOT before, though. Between that and the breathing problems I was experiencing, I even told my wife if we didn't do something fast, I wasn't going to be here in 5 years, and I'd be willing to bet it would've happened sooner than that. I have a feeling that the whole reason I've felt such a huge energy return in such a short time is that before I quit, I think my blood oxygen level was WAY down, and I mean to a critical level. I'm pretty sure if I'd walked into an ER, they would've invited me to stay a while. I say this, because when I quit years ago, I didn't feel any real physical differences for MONTHS. This time, it was almost immediate. One way or the other, I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I'm just glad I came to my senses in time.

Kinda reminds me of an old Irish Blessing my mother used to say-- May the good Lord take a likin to ya, but not too much, and not too soon!

Bill - so glad to see you're hanging in there - and feeling better already. That has to be VERY motivating. Good for you!!

Good for you, Bill. That's really great. The only thing I would suggest- for your own peace of mind, is to still have a checkup with a cardiologist. I am glad you are not having erratic heart rhythms, but you don't want to fool around with this. It is easily controllable nowadays. So... take a break one afternoon, and make an appointment.

So... take a break one afternoon,

You make a big funny!! Hell, I had to break an appointment to get much needed work done to my truck 4 times before I could finally get it in!! This economy is not the time to be breaking promises on scheduling to homeowners! You all know how THEY are-- they all want it done yesterday!! :-)

Bill,
So glad you are doing so well. What a treat. I, also, had "palpitations" before I quit. Like "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (remember that show?) said, it felt like Giant Eagles in my chest. I have never had it since. I've been running ever since and at one point had a resting heart rate of 48. (That's good, not dead) Everytime I think about a smoke, I think of my firness level and general health at 62 and I resist. Keep truckin'!

You can bet on it!!

God bless you, lady!!

I've been following along, with today being National Smoke-out day, I just wanted to say, Bill, you're a stud for doing this! And everyone else who has or is working on kicking the habit.

To life.
Lisa

Still pulling for ya, Bill.

High five.

Keep it up!

Thanks, everyone, for the support. It's over and done with. I've got absolutely no desire to smoke anymore, and it's a great feeling!!

I had a job we had to set up yesterday-- Adam and I installed tile over the entire basement floor of a house today-- about 670 feet (just over 2600 pounds), and we had to carry it in yesterday. I was sore as hell when I got home, but I never lost my breath, didn't need to take any breaks, nothing! Best soreness I've ever felt!!

Bill, reading your post gave me goosebumps! I'm so happy that you've stuck with it!

Keep it up!

Same to Kathleen, of course. Is she doing OK still?

She sure is!! I'm real proud of her. It's alot tougher for her. We've been here for about 4 years, and with both of us chain smoking (me on the computer and her while crocheting), there's a significant amount of cleaning to do. We've put a good dent into it, but it's not completely done, and there are times when you can still smell the cigarettes. Between that, plus the fact that she stays at home all day, it's been alot tougher on her, and she's come through it with flying colors. Kicking and screaming sometimes, but ninetheless with flying colors. I'm VERY proud of her. :-)

Congratulations Bill. You got to the point of having no desire to smoke pretty quickly. You'll love it when you go for a new paint job - especially with both of you not smoking.

Believe me when I tell you-- I haven't WANTED to smoke for a long long time now! It was just a matter of getting past the habit pangs!

We DO need to stay away from smokers, though. WE had a friend over this evening who still smokes, and not thinking, he lit up in the apartment. it didn't bother me at all, but Kathleen was beside herself just from the smell of the smoke. She was all set and ready to head to the drugstore!!

DH and I quit together too. It's been almost 15 years for me but I still have a twitch of desire when I see someone light up, even in movies. The smell of smoke makes me sick now. I spent several years having dreams where I was smoking and I was constrantly trying to hide it from my DH and afraid he would catch me. lol. It's important to be able to ask friends to not smoke around you. Put a sign on the front door if you have to, "smoke free" or something to that effect. Congrats to you both.

Wow, it's been a month! I'm very proud of you both.

Hey Bill,
How are you and Kathleen doing? Soon I think you will enter what I call the "Valley of Temptation" when it comes to quitting smoking. At about 2 months ,I thought I had it licked (and I did) but I would have these thoughts when I would smell a cigarette, outside mostly, and think, "oh, I could have one." DON"T! Remeber, no matter how good an ex-smoker feels, the ex-smoker is really a "reformed smoker" and temptation can be out there for years. My brother quit for TWELVE years and then caved. I am not telling you this to scare you but just to encourage and congratulate you on a very tough habit to break.

This is my first time at Kitchen "Conversations" in months & months. Wow. I had never pictured you as a smoker, Bill. The fact that you were going to try to quit came as a total surprise. It's funny that you create a whole persona of some of the people on this site just by 'reading' them.............and of course, I've seen your photo posted too.

I just want to say how glad I am for you and your wife, that you attacked this situation and have your real life back. Good for you both. And for any of the rest of you who have quit, or who are trying, I hope for the very best for you too!
Even though I have never smoked, I am working on quitting some addictive behavior myself right now. Other people can encourage you, support you, and applaud you. But ultimately, you have to WANT to. And you have to keep at it.

Red

red, I could show you three or four pics, and you'd never think in a million years that it could possibly be the same person in any two of the pictures. :-)

jilly- We're doing okay. I DO get the pangs every so often, but I think it's more a matter of habit than anything else. I finish doing something, and it's time to sit down for a smoke. Or when I'm done with work for the day, I can't COUNT the number of times I've climbed into the truck and reached into my pocket for the pack. One thing people don't realise is just how commited to this I am. It really scared me when I started getting short of breath way too quickly. My father died when he was 53. I'm 49 now. I'm beginning to look at alot of things a little differently.

As hard as it is to lose weight, it's nothing compared to quitting smoking. So you put on some pounds now. Next year you can take it off.

Almost forgot-- I'm at 35 pounds, so far!! With any luck, someone will hire me to do about a thousand feet of mudset 18x18 granite! That oughta get me back down again!! :-)

But how is your wife doing? Is she still hanging in there too? Sure hope so!

Bill,
Are you sure the hypnosis didn't help at all? I am still thinking about hypnosis for chronic back pain. How did you feel after you came out of the hypnotic state, more relaxed? Were you able to be put under easily? Maybe the hypnotist wasn't very good.
Donna

Donna- I wasn't "under" anything at all. At any time, I could have gotten up out of the chair and walked out. Personally, I think it's a waste of time. As for the chronic back pain, you might have your doctor refer you to a pain management clinic. My wife has the same problem in her lower back, and the place she's gone to has done wonders for her.

sjerin-- She's doing okay. She broke down and fell off the wagon one time about a week ago and had a cigarette. Other than that, though, she's done great-- both before and after.

To bad your not in CA, I would FIND 1000 ft of mudset and granite just to keep you not smoking :). It warms my heart to hear in your post the support you and Kathleen have for eachother. Buy her some fancy yarn and new "smokeless" crochet stuff :).

Bill,
I've tried everything for my back pain. It's in the muscles I've been told. I looked into pain clinics but they wanted to give me pain meds which I won't take. That solution just covers the problem. I've done physical therapy, yoga, acupunture, chiropractor, Cranial Sacral therapy, Chinese massage, Tiger Balm, sleep on a Foam bed, magnet therapy, but I won't do drugs.
Donna

Hi Bill,

Huge congrats on your achievement! I quit 5 years ago. A decade before I was buying a carton of cigarettes at a grocery store and the cashier (who looked to be about 80 yrs. old) told me he'd quit when he was 30 yrs. old and that he STILL craved smokes. Needless to say, I was devastated and believed for a long time quitting was a lost cause. Then, like so many others, I quit 3 times - once for an entire year, before I finally gave them up for good. I haven't had any cravings for a long long time now. In fact, I don't ever think about cigarettes unless I'm subjected to second-hand smoke and then it just seems nasty.

I feel so guilty for all of the years I smoked around my children and I'm thankful for the societal forces in place now-a-days to keep them (and my grandchildren) away from cigarettes. Good luck and happy holidays!

Bill, sorry your wife had a little relapse but it sounds like she's good to go again-- hurray for her and for you!

Donna, this sounds way too simplistic, but I've had off and on back problems for years (I'm 46) and it seemed chronic for awhile, starting in my lower back and reaching up to my shoulders, neck and head. We got a new car and..... it disappeared for the most part!! Somehow the ten-year-old seat was causing the problems. I'm not saying my back always feels great, but the pain goes soon after it comes if I keep proper posture and ocassionally take a Motrin. Standing or sitting on hard surfaces too long always brings it on. Just a thought.

Erin

One way or the other, Donna, there's GOT to be a way to relieve the pain.

Yadax-- I'm still getting the cravings, but they make no sense to me, so it's pretty easy to ignore them (knock on wood!).

bill,

First of all congratulations
Funny, I quit smoking in the 2 packs a day in early 90's because I could no longer swim the entire length of a pool underwater. Then I started knitting to keep my hands busy. Now I am an expert knitter, and smoke free (and I can justify the cost of the yarn vs what I paid for cigarettes - well sort of) Tell Kathleen congratulations, and crochet should help her keep her hands busy!

Keep up the good work- and by the way you dont weigh 35 lb do you?

sjerin,
I even tried the Alexander Technique which helps to correct your posture. After the first session, the specialist said, "I really can't teach you anything, your alignment is perfect. The only thing I havn't tried is Rolfing, I guess that's next. It cost $1500.00 and the Rolfer said it might not help. I currently used a ointment called Biofreeze and I wear a Tens unit, which is electrical stimulation. It's not really pain, more like a ache in my back that never goes away.
Donna

YOB-- no-- that's how much I've GAINED in the last few months

Donna, I'm so sorry you're having this hard a time with it. I certainly hope you can find SOME kind of relief for it soon.

YOB, can you really swim 25 meters underwater? That's cool. I've so envied people with good lungs. The smoking *and* the mitral valve prolapse conspired to give me *pathetic* lungs from teen years on. Quitting smoking helped me, I'm sure, and the swimming and racewalking help too, but I still couldn't swim 25 meters underwater. I just have a limit I can't cross, I guess.

Bill,
Thanks for your concern. I've been living with this for about 15 years. It has been worse over the last 5 years. I've been going to Yoga the last few Sunday's and that seems to be helping. I practiced KungFu for many years and while I loved it, my back would really hurt when I got home. I try and stretch a lot and that helps a little. Being on the computer makes it worse but I'm so addicted!!!
I am a flight attendant and the job is the worst thing for a bad back, I think that's what caused it in the first place. In three years I can "retire" and start a new career that is more "back friendly".
Donna

Donna, what kind of shoes do you all have to wear? If I were still wearing high heels I'd be crippled in the lower back and knees by this point. Are you allowed to wear even, say, Cole-Haan with the Nike air in the soles or do they tell you exactly what shoes are allowed? (Cole-Haans are too narrow for me, but if you fit them I am told they're really comfortable)

Well Bill, consider this thread temporarily hijacked as we attept to give Donna all kinds of back pain advice. Sorry!

Donna, yeah, the stand-up job and constant bending must be it, I would guess. My 14-year-old has been going to pt for her chronic head/neck aches and FINALLY something has started working. This therapist does a lot of massage and stretching, which I know you are doing. She recently showed her how to make a traction device out of a rope and towel to place on the doorknob. She is to lie down on the floor and get her head situated in the towel, and just keeping the rope taught provides enough pull. But maybe your pain is in your lower back?

flyleft,
I never wear heals. I usually wear some type of comfort shoe. I also had orthotics made and just started wearing them.
sjerin,
My pain is close to the kidneys. Sorry to hijack your post Bill. I appreciate all of you trying to help me. I have had back pain for many years and have tried just about everything except medication. I also have very bad TMJ and just this past year I went for weekly treatments. (that's another long story). The TMJ got worse from the treatments and now I have both back pain and jaw pain. Bill, I know you said the hypnosis didn't work for your smoking but I read that back pain is easier to help with hypnosis. When I am relaxed the pain is a lot less pronounced.
Don't worry about me, so many other people on this forum have a lot worse health issues than me.
thanks for the concern,
Donna

consider this thread temporarily hijacked as we attept to give Donna all kinds of back pain advice. Sorry!

Not a problem. I'd consider that a little more important. :-)

Donna,
pain is pain and no one deserves to endure it if they don't have to, so let us all try to help you. I have had chronic back issues my whole life. Thinner is better. Regular stretching, like yoga, pilates will help if done correctly. Swimming always helps me. Do you have one of those funny looking posture chairs for the computer- the ones with no back?

jillie,
Thanks for the reply. I've just tried so many things that I've given up. I am at my correct weight so that's not an issue. I've done Yoga, which helped a little but not enough. Being on the computer is the worst thing for my back. Since finding GW I am addicted. (I use a lap top but my pain was there before the computer). Has anyone out there tried Rolfing? that's the only thing I haven't tried.
Donna

Yer not gonna believe this, but I just finished a job for a company by that name!! LMAO

Isn't that the super-deep massage that's VERY strong? I'd be pretty careful, especially if you're a small person.

I had a doctor from China give me a massage that hurt so much I couldn't breath. I went to him for 10 weeks. It didn't help. If Rolfing would help I would endure the pain. I've been getting an acupunture face lift once a week for 8 weeks and that hurts too. I'm a pro when it comes to pain.
Donna