Quitting Smoking!

[SqualorVictoria]

I've been an on/ off smoker for years and have been off them a week now. I love smoking, especially in summer but I can't get away with it forever so enough is enough. The cost and impact on health and skin is going to take its toll if I don't stop.

Am pretty proud of getting through the weekend without smoking including my usual smoking triggers of sunny days sitting in the park.

Please share your quitting smoking stories so I don't feel so alone!

 

[DoraMaar]

I smoked for 15 years and vaped for around five years. Around six eeeks ago my vape pen completely broke and that was that. I snacked a lot and it took around two weeks to get rid of that craving for nicotine but after that fortnight it was pretty easy.

Agree with this - set aside two weeks to overeat and feel sorry for yourself and after that it will be OK.

 

[BigMavis]

Hi, I've quit and started again many times. My latest attempt was January and so far so good, although I'm using a vape so not exactly sure if that counts as quitting. I was initially using a high strength nicotine liquid 18mg, but it was making me feel really ill. Currently using 3mg, no sickness and tbh I don't use my vape much anymore. I'm sitting down to a coffee now and will puff until I've finished and then get on with my day. I have noticed I'm doing more steps daily and not out of breath like I was when smoking or coughing at night. I was a heavy smoker though, easily 20 a day. I don't miss it but in the past I really did which is why I always went back, the only thing I've done differently this time is vape.
I'm afraid I have no pearls of wisdom but this is my experience.

 

[Notworthy]

Well done!!! My oh gave up for a while after reading Allan Carr, then tried champix but started again, last year he tried champix again, it's been hard for him, but he's 14 months smoke free, and he has smoked for many many years!!!! I'm still smoking, want to give up, but not quite there yet!

This last time I quit my boss had had a (smoking related) heartattack at work and that was that, the last cigarette he had was the one before he had his heart attack, a month or two went by and then he started to come out with me when I went for a ciggie. I decided I couldn't have him restarting smoking on my conscience so decided to quit but was procrastinating about when to actually take the plunge. Went to work one day and forgot my lighter and literally everyone I knew that smoked had just quit so I had to go the day without smoking, got home, finished the packet I had and that was it. I hated my job and didn't think I could quit while I was there but that day without proved to me I could. I'd recommend that you just keep trying, don't put any pressure on yourself, if you get to 11am without a cigarette but it's been a fight then try again another day. Everytime I've quit for an extended period, it's been easy but there are way more times when I've tried and failed. I learnt that putting pressure on myself just made me crave one more, if I just said to myself 'I'll see how long I can go without one' I found it far easier.

 

[DoraMaar]

This timeline might be helpful - https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/lifestyle-advice/stop-smoking-timeline#24-hours

I quit smoking in 2007 and haven't smoked since. Unfortunately for me, it was too late and I suffer from COPD. My lifestyle is limited and my health is deteriorating (I will have to have supplemental oxygen at some point) - if you can give up, do so.

 

[Flowergirl14]

Very pleased to say I quit smoking on 3rd January. I still had a pack to use up, so couldn't stop on 1st!

I used Nicotene patches, and found it a lot easier than expected!

 

[RaveChampion]

I keep trying to pack it in with 25mg patches.
It's manageable for a week or so and then something miserable/stressful happens and I start smoking again. Often still wearing an active patch so I'm getting nicotine overload.
Patches give me vivid dreams on occasion (a noted side effect apparently) I don't mind that bit. It's definately more entertaining than that Lord of the Rings series on Amazon prime.
The price of patches and nicotine inhalators which I also use on and off as an adjunct when trying to quit has rocketed since the start of lockdown on Ebay etc
Could understand the rises during lockdown but the prices have never come down again. Other sellers see overpricing from other sellers and then overprice themselves thus compounding the problem. This type of fuckery is common on ebay as is.
Fair enough but it's taking the piss when people are just flogging their free NRT kit they've been prescribed or something at those prices.

I used to vape on occassion but I'm leery of the paucity of available medical research findings. It's still in it's infancy kind of.
It certainly seems not as harmful as Tobacco and the added chemicals/toxins within but if I'm stopping inhaling stuff (barring air) into my lungs I don't want to just replace Tobacco smoke with another possibly harmful substance.

I've packed in some other stuff without that much of a problem over the years but I struggle with the smoking thing. I like it too much. That's the truth.

 

[Warpaint]

I've found cold turkey was the best. It just frees you of everything and no dependence on any substitutes. I'd do really well for ages and then similar to you, the sunny beer garden days would come and I'd give in again.

I just vape now and that seems a pretty good alternative however is very addictive in itself.. I;m now working on vaping less and eventually nothing at all.

 

[Blowers]

I gave up around 10 years ago, I'd smoked since schooldays, from nicking the odd cig from my mother to spending pocket money on a 10 pack with my pals.
I smoked for around 25 years.
On a holiday about 11 years ago I'd been smoking a lot and got a real bad chest infection, I could not walk 5 paces without losing my breath.
This was the scare I needed, it had taken this to get me to realise I was killing myself, no doubt about it.
E-cigs were fairly new and I got myself one of the cigarette-style ones, haven't looked back.
I still vape now, I found the E-cig a great help.
Good luck OP

 

[Maid22]

I smoked since mid teens, quit twice with willpower, lasted a year both times. Two years with Allan Carr book. Last time I quit I went for champix I only managed to take them for around 3 weeks as they made me so ill. Have not smoked since and don’t miss it, not tempted at all, it’s been 4 years now. Would recommend the champix even though I did suffer on them and two months after!!!!! Worth it 100%

Well done!!! My oh gave up for a while after reading Allan Carr, then tried champix but started again, last year he tried champix again, it's been hard for him, but he's 14 months smoke free, and he has smoked for many many years!!!! I'm still smoking, want to give up, but not quite there yet!

 

[Mani1919]

Woke up one day and said I wasn’t going to smoke again.

Never smoked since

 

[SqualorVictoria]

That's brilliant, well done!

So glad to hear you've noted the physical changes too, so encouraging.

I have some Niquitin lozenges and they're helping

 

[HotesTilaire]

I smoked since mid teens, quit twice with willpower, lasted a year both times. Two years with Allan Carr book. Last time I quit I went for champix I only managed to take them for around 3 weeks as they made me so ill. Have not smoked since and don’t miss it, not tempted at all, it’s been 4 years now. Would recommend the champix even though I did suffer on them and two months after!!!!! Worth it 100%

 

[BigMavis]

That's brilliant, well done!

So glad to hear you've noted the physical changes too, so encouraging.

I have some Niquitin lozenges and they're helping

Excellent, did you sign up to the NHS quit programme, I can't remember what it's called. I did it before but unfortunately gave up, they give you a variety of nicotine substitutes, the little pipe thing was quite useful as it gave you something to do with your hands. Apologies if you're not in the UK.

 

[roarke]

I smoked for 15 years and vaped for around five years. Around six eeeks ago my vape pen completely broke and that was that. I snacked a lot and it took around two weeks to get rid of that craving for nicotine but after that fortnight it was pretty easy.

 

[Notworthy]

I've quit for extended periods a few times, once for 13 years, never used nicotine substitutes as I wasn't nicotine dependent, it was the routine of smoking that was my problem, had to change my route to work to avoid the lighting up points. This time I will have been smokefree for 3 years in September but consider myself not smoking at the moment rather than an ex smoker. If I had a terminal illness I'd probably start smoking again as I quite enjoy it but hate the lingering stale smoke smell.

 

[AllSeeingEye123]

https://archive.is/LaRNR

The number of people smoking has trebled. Upping the price of a pack of cigarettes isn't working as well as expected.

 

[Gem2212]

I quit nearly 5 years ago and I can’t give you any magic solution I just decided one day I was sick of it and wanted to use the money for better things and had my last cigarette the next day. I remember reading somewhere that it takes more effort to smoke than not smoke so always kept that in mind and “not even one puff”. Good luck

 

[saltandvinegarcrisps]

Bumping this thread, I stopped smoking on Thursday. I've been vaping since using a vape pen thing with nic salt eliquid. It's so much smoother than the regular type, I've tried to give up cigarettes a few times but always ended up going back or only really cutting down to a few.

Ideally I'd like to kick the nicotine all together but cold turkey has never worked for me when I tried before so hoping this is the way I can do it.

Any one else on the same path or managing without at the moment? I said to myself I will not buy another packet of cigarettes and it definitely seems to be sticking, even had a few drinks today!

 

[the_moonins]

I quit smoking cigarettes in 2016 (though I do vape, so I haven’t quit nicotine!!) I was on/off quitting for years, and then I re-trained into beauty and didn’t want to stink of cigarette smoke when I was working with clients. So I’d vape when I was working, and smoke in the evening. One day I just decided to stick to vaping and haven’t gone back. The key is to find the right vape for you - I found the small pen sized ones weren’t giving me the “hit” feeling in my throat (if that makes sense!! Sounds a bit sexual sorry ) Anyway, I got a good vape and weaned myself down the nicotine levels and now am at 6mg liquids, but I can’t seem to drop down further!