Quitting Smoking - Boiling Springs,SC

I quit (mostly and enough for my doc to be happy) using the Ecig. I went with the Encore brand. I got the highest available (24) for the start and I would take a few hits off the Ecig then smoke half a reg cig (I smoked 100's) then I would put it out and take a few more hits off the Ecig, if needed finished the 100. I did this for about a week and I neede/wanted the reg cig less and less and actually gave the last two in the pack to a friend b/c I did not want/need them. I enjoyed the fact that I could run off to my room real quick and take a few hits if needed and not do anything damaging to anyone in my home (did not let my son see me do it) and I could have a whole one or a quickie as needed. About 3 or 4 months later I realized I no longer needed it. Now when I go out with friends (they all smoke) I use it and I may have a cig or two out with a heavy drinking night but I again know I do not need it I just want it and I know how to put it down. Good Luck and remember accidents can happen and it's ok.

Congratulations on making the decision to quit!! Now... set your date & go to it! I quit smoking when I was in my early 30's, (I'm now 47). I did it with Nicoderm patches and they worked for me. It took me 3 tries before I never touched a cigarette again. You need to find something to replace the smoking. You also need to NOT be around anyone that smokes. It makes it impossible to quit. So... when your coworkers go out to smoke, you'll have to do something else and not join them. If you want to be successful, don't put yourself around it. They'll understand. Secondly, remind yourself how healthy you will feel & be by quitting. Working in a hospital, that should hit home for you. What worked for me was I started walking/exercising. I noticed a HUGE improvement in my breathing within a week. Now, about 17 years later since I quit, I can't believe I used to smoke a pack & a half a day and it completely disgusts me to even be around it. I've added at least 10 years to my life AND I've saved a TON of money by quitting. GOOD LUCK to you, YOU as many others have done can do this!!! :-)

I smoked for 23 years before I finally quit. One of the biggest factors for me was learning that smoking is not just a nicotine addiction, but WHEN we smoke is as much a habit. I live in NH so we get some cold days in the winter, so my first step was not smoking at work. We were not allowed to smoke inside and we had a cold spell so bad that I just couldn't bring myself to go out. This also helped me at home because I have a child and there was no smoking around her or in my house. I decided if I had made it through that week without smoking during the day then I would keep it up. In a matter of weeks I went from almost a pack a day to only smoking in my car when my daughter wasn't with me. I did that for about 2 years. I just couldn't seem to get rid of the 3 or 4 a day I was still smoking, so I got what's called a Nicitrol inhaler. I don't know if they are available anymore bu it was a small cartridge like thing with a nicotine filter that was suppose to substitute for a cigarette. For me this was a better option then the patch because of the the hand to mouth motion. So instead of a cigarette you're supposed to puff on this. It sat in my car next to my smokes for months. Then one day I was in a rush to do some things. I thought I had a full pack of smokes plus the one left in the almost empty box. It turned out the "full" pack was empty, but I didn't realize it until I got home that night because I was out with my daughter all day and there was no smoking around her. I smoked my last cigarette on my way to pick her up that day. It was too late for me to go get another pack and by the time I got up and out the next day it occurred to me that I went a full 24 hours without smoking. I decided to see how long I could make it, and finally took out that Nicitrol inhaler. I only used it a few times....it was awful, it tasted nasty and burned, but it did help because it gave me something to do with my hands. I chewed so much gum for months after that, but I have never smoked again. That was almost 7 years ago and I don' miss it one bit.

So I told you this story for a reason....Sometimes all the planning in the world won't help. One day you'll be ready and you'll just do it. Every time I set a quit date, I would get so anxious that I would smoke more and convince myself that I'd fail, so I never even tried. But I knew with all I am that one day I would quit, and I held on to that belief, and one day I did. I didn't plan it, I didn't mean to do it. It just happened. I won't tell you it was easy because it wasn't. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I was sick for over a year. I would shake for no reason, I would break out in a cold sweat, I got sick to my stomach at least once a day. I also developed migraines and had them occasionally over a period of 3 or 4 years. But it was and still is worth it to me. I would estimate that from the first time I decided to quit and I actually did, it was probably about a 5 year process of small steps with some successes and some failures along the way. But I did it and you can to. It's hard but not impossible, so don't give up. Good luck to you.

Congratulations A. in deciding to quit. That is important, because you must want to quit before you can do it for real. Since you are not an all the time smoker it will be easier.
I quit 3 yrs ago using Chantix. I don't recommend it. It has bad side effects. You could easily quit just chainging your habits. One of the main "helpers" I had were Coffee Stir Sticks. They gave my hands something to do, they are cheap, they are easy to carry. I kept them in my car, in my purse in my pockets, everywhere.
You can do it!!
Good luck and GOD BLESS!
D.

It always bothers me when I walk up to a hospital and see doctor's and nurses smoking. I think, "seriously, THEY are giving me health advice?" A lot of patients think that about the seeming hypocrisy. However, I do realize, I can't understand the stress of the job.

One of my friends got an e-cigarette. She taped down from that over a two month time, and has now been smoke free for several months. She did do things to keep herself busy, because she also smoked when bored. One thing that REALLY helped her, is to not hangout with people who smoked. Her downfalls and failures definitely happened around other smokers. I think the kindle is a great idea, actually. If you think it will help, it's certainly considered a health investment. You are a nurse, so you especially know how cigarettes ravage a body. If it's going to make a difference, spend the money on it!!!

Regarding chantix, everyone I know who tried it had hallucinations and lucid dreams...even suicidal ones. That stuff is no joke!!

This is what happened with me. I attended a 12th step meeting for another purpose (addiction) and people told me to use the 12 steps for the smoking, too. I smoked about the same amount of time that you did. I was up to 3 packs of menthol cigarettes a day. I tried to quit on my own and that did not work. I was miserable and crabby. I prayed and told God I cannot quit but I would give them to Him and in His time He would tell me when to stop. So, I continued to smoke and when I was water Baptized on May 23, 1983 I knew I was set free from the cigarettes. Was I ever tempted again? Sure I was. What did I do? Thank God for setting me free each time the temptation came. I went the opposite way. Also, it helps to get rid of all the ash trays and lighters, etc. that go along with smoking. Fancy cigarette pack holders and anything of that nature. I hope the best for you! Don't quit! Let God take them for you. I have not had one cigarette since May 23, 1983 and I am so grateful!

I posted on this recently; I'm a year younger and have been smoking just as long! Sucks, I know. BUT, the fact that your husband doesn't smoke can be a major advantage from a motivational point of view! My husband and best friends and family all smoke, so it's really hard to get away from it.

I've been doing really well with the e-cigarette... it's not cheap, but works wonders!! I justified the price by thinking about how much I spend on cigarettes... it's an investment into your future health :)

GOOD LUCK!!

I work in the ED too. I know your stress. Talk to your doc about chantix. Does have increased cardiovascular risk and suicide risk, makes you nauseous and gives you crazy dreams but it works. It is a partial agonist of the nicotinic receptors meaning that the receptors are on partially constantly so that smoking does not "work". Eventually it just tastes bad. I quit for 1 year the first time I took it. I fell off the wagon by hanging out with my friends when they were smoking. You will have to commit to hanging out with them when they are not smoking. I took it again and was able to quit again no cigarettes for almost a year and a half. Good luck!!

My husband was a long time smoker too. One day a friend called and asked if he wanted to quit. He said he had thought about. He suggested the book "the easy way to quit smoking" by Alan Carr. The next day my husband went ahead and got it at the library (you can probably get it on your kindle) He read the book and hasnt smoked since. He said he cant explain what was said, but he has had no desire to pick up a cigarette since.
Good luck to you!!

I tried to quit smoking several times before I was successful. What ultimately worked for me was a combination of the patch and the gum. I used the patch to curb the overall cravings and the gum as an emergency when I needed something oral.

I also had to avoid the places that would trigger my cravings. So, for example, I would have to find something else to do when my friends at work were taking smoke breaks. I'd have to avoid certain foods or drinks that I would normally associate with smoking (e.g., primarily alcohol).

Unfortunately, stress was a big roadblock to any attempt at quitting. If you can find a friend at work to help you, that would be a good idea. Maybe go for a walk instead of reaching for a cigarette.

Good luck to you. Quitting smoking is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your family.

You need to find something to keep you busy at work instead of smoking. I am figuring that since you work in the ER you have to walk off the property to even have a smoke (most states are doing this). Why not take a walk around to an area where smoking is not allowed. I used the gum to help me quit, I would only have a piece when I wanted a cigarette. I did not follow the package. Since you only smoke about a pack a week your body should be able to get over the nicotine addiction quickly. As for bars, most that I know of do not allow smoking inside anymore. So if other people go out for a smoke stay inside. You need to retrain your brain with this one. I used to always have a smoke with my morning coffee and/or a beer (or alcoholic beverage).

You can do it!!!!!!!

I had a co-worker who smoked 2 packs a day! It took her 2 years but she weaned her self slowly. For a month or so she would smoke 15 or whatever she had set her limit to. I don't rembember what her daily limit was but she took her time and I think that helped her. Some people can quit cold turkey but I think setting a day or just quitting freaked her out. So yea it took her two years but she did it and has been smoke free for 8 years! Good luck to you!