I think I take the cake for stupidity. I quit in 1972 for TEN YEARS and then in a weak stressful moment started again in 1982 and finally quit again in 1990. BUT, I used Nicorette and became addicted to it for 5 years but now I'm finished. However, I must admit it still smells good occasionally. You can do it!

Sansue, the first time the doctor recommended Nicorette gum to me I filled the prescription before I took the 1/2 hour drive home, and chewed and chewed and came home and....well, it was not pleasant, it really made me sick. No wonder! I read later you are supposed to chew maybe six times and PARK it, I guess somewhere up above your teeth. I think it is the tar in cigarettes that injures your health, but the nicotine is what keeps you addicted. Not sure if I am right about this. It has made me feel good to hear all these success stories on this thread, as I am also an addicted smoker. BUT, gives me hope. Like Doug said, only the smoker can decide when they are ready. :app: :app: :app: :app: to all of you who have overcome this terrible pull! Hopefully one of these days I will be among your lofty ranks!

I have a quit smoking horror story as well. I tried the prescription Zyban pills. If anyone remembers, I don't handle medicine very well, I hallucinated with the seasick patch. Well, I did about as well with the Zyban.

These pills are supposed to make the cravings and depression easier to handle when you quit smoking. About after a week of taking them, I got really depressed. Being that I am normally a very happy person, even when I quit smoking, I guess there was no where to go but down.

I started crying over any little thing. We were building our house at the time and staying in a wonderful old farmhouse, since we had already sold our old house before we started building.

I took a shower at the farm house and then I made put some eggs on to boil to make egg salad. I remembered I had left my blowdryer at the new house so I had to go get it.
My hair was all wet and wild and my eyes were red from crying and when I got to the new house, the workers had the emergency heat on and all the windows and doors open and it was below 0 outside.
I guess I screamed at them to shut the windows, I grabbed my blowdryer, got in the car and backed into a tree. The workers must of thought I was crazy.

When I got back to the farmhouse, all the water had boiled out of the pan, the eggs exploded all over the ceiling and the pan was on fire.

I credit Chip for lasting as long as he did, if he can go that long, I bet he can kick it the next time he tries.

I think I remember Marc saying he quite within the last year or two, if he can do it I still have hope!

Doug said it the best. Once you put in your mind that you have to give up you will find a way. So I've learned that. Hey Ngaire lets go park the Dimond in the middle of nowhere with no smokes on board. I'll go. Now that would be an interesting cruise. Where you should get combat pay for your services.

I forgot if Marc was ever a smoker! Right now, I am just going to cheer Chip on. Honest, you don't "lose" your days like I hear you do in AA. You have already given those benfits to your body! Just ask the doctors. Then call your girls, and they will forgive you. Chip, how I admire so much what you have done since just after Christmas. If nothing else, give the rest of us "still addicted" some hope! We are counting on you!

Olivia, I'm still hooked that's the problem. In this town they have a Betty Ford clinic for every thing, except smoking. Maybe I should take up vicadon and while I'm working on that I could give up smoking too.

I'm getting my sense of humor back because I'm enjoying, well you know.

Olivia, adding. I'd pay 10 grand in a heartbeat to go off and join a support group. This is a serious drug. I want to live long enough to hold my grandkids in my arms. It ain't going to happen if I keep doing this.

Chip,

No sense in being too hard on yourself. You are making a very earnest attempt at licking a very addictive habit.

You have lots of support and friends pulling for you. No matter how many attempts you make, there will be that special attempt that will do it for you. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"

Chip,

I've never smoked so I could never know how hard this is for you. But I admire you so much for lasting as long as you did. I have faith that you will do it again, as soon as it's the right time. When you are ready to try again, please, please let us all help you and cheer you on. :hug:

Chip,
I think all of us who smoked, had several tries before we finally quit....My brother- in- law, many, many, years before my sister ever meet him , was addicted to hard drugs and booze. We didn't know him like that, but long story short, he kicked everything but cigarettes, two years ago he quit smoking, but said it was harder to do that than anything, it took trying three times , but he is now smoke free.
We're all here for you, and support you no matter what.... :) :) :)

Chip,

It's o.k., Buddy! You will do it next time!!!!!

Betty

Chip,

There is a Smokers Anonymous and a Nicotine Anonymous. They are based on the 12 Steps of AA. Not sure if they are in Az. but we dod have them here is t he Land of the 12 Steps. There is a 12 Step Program for everyone here. I will tell you that I spent time in 12 Steps because someone I loved was addicted and I used the 12 steps to quit smoking. I also went everyday to the gym because I thought that doing healthly things would help keep me on track.

I probably tried to quit 5 times before I was successful at it. Just start all over again NOW while you know what it's all about. One cigarette won't make you a smoker but a whole pack will. Don't even think about a carton.

Chip;
Well, I will start out with, I started smoking 38 yrs. ago. November 2004 My wife and I were going to go to New Orleans for a long weekend. I knew she wouldn’t let me smoke in the room, (she quit three years ago)and the trip down to the lobby to smoke made me mad. SO, I have a friend that just started working at a place that uses a light beam on your ear to break the habit. I would have NEVER gone to this place, but my friend said, come on by and give it a shot! The day before we left for New Orleans, I dropped by my friends place. They “zapped” me, took about 20 minutes for the whole thing. I then flew to the Big Easy, where I think smoking was invented, LOL!!! I have been smoke free for 4 months now. The “Zap” really did help. I must say, now when I am around smokers, my nose stuffs up and I don’t like the smell. I keep telling myself, “how strange is this”!!! I was once on a Ren. ship, which was non smoking, you should have seen all us smokers when the ship docked!!! We were out there handling the lines with the dock workers, so we could light up on the pier!!!
Chip, I quit once before, then a “friend” offered me a cigar, and I said, one little cigar won’t hurt? Right? Yea, Right. Brother, I know what you are going through, and after four months, I still want to smoke, but now I just can’t bring myself to light up. The “Zap” cost me $125.00. Just yesterday while buying gas, I noticed a pack of smokes cost $2.99 here in St. Louis. Divide that by 20, that is $.15 per smoke, $29.90 per carton, at a carton a week, that is $119.60 per month, that is $1435.20 for a year. Give me a couple of years of this, and I will be able to get a upgrade!!!! At $.15 per smoke, I remember at all the ½ smoked cigarettes I lit and tossed…..What a waste!!!
Hang in there, and remember, You too can become a mean ole non tolerant ex smoker like the rest of us!!!! LOL!!!
Bob

Chip -
I've also heard it can take many tries to kick the habit. I'm so proud of you for doing this well, and I know you'll beat the habit one of these days! Let us know when you try again so we can redouble our positive thoughts headed your way.

Chip:

Some nice folks up-topic have said that I have nailed the "key" to quiting. Well, I don't know about that.

All I can tell you... for as many grains of salt that it may be worth.... is that all the gum, patches, doctors, etc are worth just about nothing unless... and only unless... the smoker has decided that it is time to stop smoking.
The reason really doesn't matter. The decision does.

Like so many others, I tried a number of times and failed until I decided (in my heart) that I just didn't want to smoke anymore.

I had a boss once who smoked like they gave him the cigarettes for free. I think that his wife pushed him to quit. One day he showed up at work with the patch.
He knew that with the patch on it was dangerous to smoke a cig. The Nic levels could do very bad things to him.
So, being an intelligent man, he removed the patch before he lit up. Then he stopped putting the patch on.

This is a very powerful drug. I feel that the mental addiction is stronger than the physical, but I know that there are those would will differ. But we ALL know that the addiction is strong - in whatever form.

Chip: you have taken the first step by choosing to stop smoking... that decision is ever so important. You have a great support group here made up of some truly fantastic people. Please keep all of us posted on your progress. Even if you slip, I know that you will still be a wee bit closer to the goal line!

If you truly want to quit, you will. You can do it!

We are all pulling for you. So are your GrandKids.

Doug

Doug: Truer words were never spoke! I know you are right on target with this because that's when I finally could quit for good after three tries. I just plain WANTED to.

Chip, my Joanna proudly reported to me last week that her dad had gone to a "smoking cessation week" offered at Canyon Ranch. You are already there in Arizona, and said something about 10 grand. SO, when you really get serious again, look into it! She was struck at how educated he had become about how smoking affects your health in so many ways. Me, I don't need to spend many K's to find it out what I already know. But it has worked for him, apparently....so far.

Sandy, remember many years ago when Dr. Everett Koop, the surgeon general said that the addiction to smoking is even stronger than an addiction to heroin? I always thought that it was because it was legal, and easy to get. Perhaps not, from your story.

Well I feel well sort of sheepish today. Olivia I'm going to check that one out. Thanks. I'm going to keep trying and I will beat it.

I had some friends come from NYC this week. Smoked and drank like fish. I think that's what did me in. I should of put my foot down and not of let them do it in the house and car. But Being a nice guy.

Thank you all very much for your support.

Chip,

I am learning about being a nice guy. Sometimes you have to watch your backside so you don't get hurt being nice.

Hang in there, Chip! Quitting smoking can be a slow process. I have faith in you!

Trish

Chip--

Your story really hits earth with me. I so very much admire what you've been trying to do and I want to offer my STRONG encouragement--you go, guy!! Even if you slipped back this time, keep trying, keep thinking of how awful it is. Maybe we should start a support thread for LCT smokers who would like to quit......

I'm 53 and have been smoking, other than when I quit for a year, since I was a teen. I also had terrible problems with being cranky when I quit for the year---not just cranky, but jumpy--loud noises would startle me, etc. It was awful. I so regret that I went back to it--everyone else I know who quit NEVER went back!! I hate the habit--it's messy, smelly, unattractive and (here in Calif.) costly.

I do believe that smokers should be considerate of non-smokers. I never smoke in the house when people are over here (if they don't smoke),and I don't even smoke outdoors, if I'm near someone who doesn't smoke. I agree with you about the issue of legislating it, however....if people want to smoke, it should be their choice---except I DO agree with NOT polluting non-smokers' lungs--their rights should take precedence over smokers, I think.

Like you, I WISH there were a Betty Ford Clinic for Smokers---I'd gladly give up my November cruise to Tahiti and put the money into a place like that, LOL. It's a terribly serious addiction and is so harmful.

My issue now is that I've really lost some weight and am really feeling GREAT about that, can fit into cute cruise clothes, LOL, and I know that if I quit, I'll gain not only what I lost, but more...I don't want to do that.

Chip, did you use any medication or the patch or anything? When I quit last time, I didn't use any of that stuff, so I wonder if anyone has advice on whether it works or not.

Think about a smokers' wanna-be-quitters support topic here on LCT. Hey, LOL, maybe we can all go on a "let's quit" cruise sometime, LOL, LOL, LOL. Chip you are brave, and I know you'll make it eventually, even if you slipped.... Liz

I hate to keep bringing this to the top, but my youngest daughter is coming to stay with me for a while. She will be my support group for my next attempt. She will be my support person. She smoked, gave up and knows the drill.

Oh, Chip, she is young and might be a smoking Nazi, as she has already quit! (Not as hard when you don't have a long addiction) I hope not. I think my non-smoking daughter, however, who smoked for only a short time, will knead me through the process when I am ready and give me every bit of support she can. All of us who smoke can only benefit from quitting, whatever what we must go through. We just have to be ready.

Chip,
Its good you'll have someone there to give you immediate support when you're tempted. But oh, I hope its not a chance to get back at the old man for all of the times he may have ragged on her. <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" /> Hang in there. You've shown yourself that you can quit, you know you can do it. But don't beat yourself up if you do slip. Just get back with the program. You know, that old adage about getting back on the horse.

JHP--I so agree with what you say. I think someone else, way up near the top said something similar---about being ready. I think it's really important not to let people "push" us into being ready... Chip, I think you'll get there, and you've made a good start. Liz

Yes, the whole key is thinking you are ready and then just jumping in and doing it. It's hard. The addage about one day at a time is true. It's also the most rewarding thing you can do for you. Not for your kids, grandkids or parents-just for you.

Liz, when I quit, I was on Jenny Craig, down to 112, and going every day to the gym for a workout. Doing all that other healthy stuff was the perfect segeway. That was the only unhealthy thing I was doing so I quit in 1991.

Kathy, that's heartening to know. My worst fear is gaining weight....especially w/the cruise coming up. It's SO hard to think about quitting, but at the same time, I HATE that I smoke. And, apart from that, I'm SO health conscious...go figure.... :rolleyes: