Quitting Smoking

[Dietrich]

I`ve noticed that some of you good people seem to be a little on edge so I will give you some information that will help you to cope with whatever situation that`s putting a bee in your Easter bonnet.
I`m reminded of when I decided to quit smoking eight years ago.Needless to say,I was on edge.I was ready to put my niece`s hamster in the blender.I was mean,hateful and ready for a fight.One Saturday afternoon I decided to wander down to the state farmer`s market in Raleigh to kill some time and buy some fresh fruit and vegetables.When I got there,I noticed that one of the buildings had a sign posted that said something to the effect of "Stressed Out?Nerves on edge? Angry? Find relief inside.$25.00."
Well I went in and explained to the lady about the stress I was feeling as a result of quitting smoking and she said that they could help.I paid my money and they led me into a room that contained a circular pen and they put me inside of it.Then they released little baby ducks in the ring and I got to stomp them to death.It indeed got rid of my stress.Hope this helps you.Happy Easter.

[Bawanna]

Oh you sick sick man. I quit the devils weed about the same time after about 50 prior attempts. I didn't know about the baby duck treatment. I clearly remember driving on the freeway at 60 mph and considering just opening the door and stepping out. It was tough.

The baby ducks would have helped. Scientist need to examine your head though. I hope you've donated it once your thru with it.

[Longitude Zero]

It took a heart attack of the type/location that kills 95% of the men instantly. I survived, thankfully and went from a 3 pack a day smoker to zip. For me the first week was the worst. It also coincided with the time I was in a CICU.

Never looked back. Currently I enjoy a good cigar occasionally.

[Bawanna]

I had none for about 60 days when I broke my back, I'd roll outside and inhale second hand smoke and might have even bummed one or two early on. All it took was one borrowed one when I got home and I was right back on em. My wife nearly killed me.

My last stay for about 10 days in the hospital 8 or 9 years ago I thought did it. As I rolled out to go home I passed a smoker and it just nauseated me. I thought I'm cured but alas it didn't happen.

When my dad crossed the river from cancer and went hard, that did it for me. About 8 years now but I don't touch no tobacco at all, not risking even one. I started out easy with a pipe, then cigars, which graduated to cigs for conveinience and social acceptance. What a dummy I was.

They are nearly 8 bucks a pack around us now, I'd be like a drug user having to steal to support my habit now anyhow. Dont see how anyone can afford them now days. They were like 3 bucks back then and when I visited Missouri they were less than a buck. Alot of tax on em out here.

[gear_guy]

That is disgusting!

For $25 I hope at least they deep fried them into baby duck fritters. Now that would be a tasty alternative to the chalky sugar concoction trying to be chocolate that is normally found in Easter baskets.

[melissa5]

Good Lord! I hope you made that up!

I was driving home from work one day and the cig I was smoking tasted bad. I tried another one with the same result. Tried a few more and then gave up. They just didn't taste right anymore. That's been at least 15 years ago. Haven't touched one since then.

[Dietrich]

I had none for about 60 days when I broke my back, I'd roll outside and inhale second hand smoke and might have even bummed one or two early on. All it took was one borrowed one when I got home and I was right back on em. My wife nearly killed me.

My last stay for about 10 days in the hospital 8 or 9 years ago I thought did it. As I rolled out to go home I passed a smoker and it just nauseated me. I thought I'm cured but alas it didn't happen.

When my dad crossed the river from cancer and went hard, that did it for me. About 8 years now but I don't touch no tobacco at all, not risking even one. I started out easy with a pipe, then cigars, which graduated to cigs for conveinience and social acceptance. What a dummy I was.

They are nearly 8 bucks a pack around us now, I'd be like a drug user having to steal to support my habit now anyhow. Dont see how anyone can afford them now days. They were like 3 bucks back then and when I visited Missouri they were less than a buck. Alot of tax on em out here.
I don`t touch tobacco in any form now either.It`s funny.I can be around other people smoking and it don`t bother me in the least and then I`ll be driving down the hiway and a craving will hit me out of nowhere.It don`t last but a couple of minutes but it scares me some.As far as price goes,in NC the premium brands go for about $4 to $4.50 per pack.Cheaper brands for around 3 and change.I was in a store that is located on I-95 and it`s a cigarette warehouse aimed at Northerners travelling that route.A clerk told me that some brands up north are going for ten to eleven bucks a pack in carton quantities.I saw one guy with out of state plates buy $1200.00 worth and load them into his van.Many different brands.I wonder how many people run cigarettes illegally up that hiway.I know it is a major drug trafficking corridor so I guess the cops aren`t really worried about a few illegal smokes.Just another example of how the government can turn a normally law-abiding person into a criminal.Looks like they would have learned something with the failure of prohibition.I love the hypocrisy. "Oh,too bad you`ve got cancer or heart disease but at least we got our tax revenues."The bastards.

[Willieboy]

When I quit, forty or so years ago, I did it with the help of some over-the-counter nicotine tablets. As has been said, the first week was pretty tough. I didn't feel the need to kill anything though.

[melissa5]

Mama used to bring back trunk loads of cigs from NC!

[OldLincoln]

I bought them for trade fodder when in the military. That & booze was better than money.

[Longitude Zero]

Fortunately Bawanna I have never even thought of going back to cigs. Health got me to stop, money keeps me stopped. Now I take 2 ten day vacations to resorts in Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica for what cigs would cost.

I can be around smokers and it does not bother me or tempt me back.

[MW surveyor]

Not too sure about the baby ducks. (said sarcasticly) May have to thin the opossum herd out here at the house though.

I need to quite again. I had quit for over 10 years when my kids were small after the youngest would gag and roll about in the back seat of the old ram charger (she's still the dramatic one).

Had a very good dinner, tequila and a cigar. Next day right back to the cigs!

[Bawanna]

Fortunately Bawanna I have never even thought of going back to cigs. Health got me to stop, money keeps me stopped. Now I take 2 ten day vacations to resorts in Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica for what cigs would cost.

I can be around smokers and it does not bother me or tempt me back.

Good for you Longitude, I'm sure a major heart attack would have a profound effect on ones desire to smoke. I'm awfully glad you survived and are able to enjoy vacations.

Personally I'd take up smoking again rather than visit any of them places on your list but theres lots of places around the good ole USA that I'd like to lay eyes on before the river crossing.

The last time I quit was solid relying on my dads demise for fuel. I'll not go back and couldn't afford them if I wanted to. I used to lose enough production time sitting on the front porch killing myself, now I waste even more production time hanging out here on kahrtalk living it up.
I'll stick with the latter.

[jimbar]

I quit in 1988, after smoking for some 25 yrs. I stumbled once, buying a pack when some fellow workers and I went to a local watering hole, to drink a few, and shoot pool. I smoked half of one stick, then threw the rest of the pack out the window on the way home.
Fast forward to late 90's, I decided to have a good cigar, just as a "one time treat", you understand. Yeah, right. I started buying a few "good" stogies, and while my lovely wife and I were on a cruise,(30th anniv), I bought a Cuban while in Haiti, and another Cuban while in Canada. Boy, those were good, and pricey. I think the one in Canada cost me $12, for one. Wifey understood, said just this one time,..:)
I had my first heart attack in 2002, Dr said, your choice,...stop, or you'll be here again. Haven't had anything since.
I quit cigarette's pretty easily, no aides of any kind,..my wife never could, some are hooked more than others.

[O'Dell]

I guess I'll be the first to say I haven't quit. I started my junior year in college, [The Navy 'issued' a pack every night at the evening meal and I gave them away for 2 1/2 years] and that was in 1963. I'm just around too many people that smoke, Vickie being the primary. My Mother smoked until she died at 96. I suppose I want to quit, I know my doctor is pushing hard, but just not bad enough. I had my annual physical last month and everything was just as it should be. Even my lung X-rays were clear. Maybe some time, but then, maybe not.

[jimbar]

I remember when I was on the carrier, smokes were 10 cents a pack,...course at that time, they were only about 50 cents a pack in the stores. Boy, seems hard to believe now.

[Jeremiah/Az]

I smoked 3 - 4 packs a day for 40 years. Had a heart attack going to a horse sale. My then wife got me to the hospital just as I coded, died. They shocked me & brought me back. Doc said that if you keep on like this, you will be dead in a year. Never touched another one, but I still get the urge sometimes. Been 16 year now, but I still dip snuff.

[O'Dell]

I remember when I was on the carrier, smokes were 10 cents a pack,...course at that time, they were only about 50 cents a pack in the stores. Boy, seems hard to believe now.

They were 90 cents a carton on my boat - that was for Pall Mall red. After I got out I switched to the gold filtered ones, and then to More's. That's where I am now.

[MikeyKahr]

Never have I ever smoked a cigarette or even put one to my lips. Never had the desire to, and most likely never will. But then again, I didn't have to go through half of the stuff some of you guys went through being sent overseas and serving. I don't deserve to be counted among you.

[johnatw]

I also quit about 25 years ago when my father went hard with lung cancer. A recent scare with lung cancer myself reinforced my resolve not to smoke. (Of course if I was told I only had 6 mos to live I would go out and buy a carton and a 24 pack of Budwiser)

[jlottmc]

I quit about 8 years ago, one of the hardest things I've ever done. I was funny, I'd try to quit, and hand the closest buddy my lighter (usually a nice zippo) and smokes, and try it again. I got it on the fourth.

[Bawanna]

I also quit about 25 years ago when my father went hard with lung cancer. A recent scare with lung cancer myself reinforced my resolve not to smoke. (Of course if I was told I only had 6 mos to live I would go out and buy a carton and a 24 pack of Budwiser)

Ditto that. That was my dad's thought too. He seldom drank anything but he did like his smokes. After the cancer diagnosis and the projected time frame to the river crossing he continued to smoke. Everyone was like you gotta quit those, they are bad for ya. He was like little late to close the barn door now, I feel miserable enough as it is, why quit.

So I smoked right along with him till the end. The quit during the hardest part of my life after trying at least 20 times.

[TheTman]

I quit for a couple of years, then on one of our bike trips, some of the guys broke out some cigars, I thought one wouldn't hurt, so I smoked it, pretty soon I was smoking them regularly, now I smoke those little cigars that look like cigarettes but are a couple dollars cheaper than cigs due to them not being taxed like cigs. I'm pretty stupid for having that first cigar. Oh well, never have been accused of being the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'll get some those nicotine lozenges and stop again on these days when I've had enough. They really helped the last time I quit. Also, they work great on Airlines and places you can't smoke but need some nicotine. I think they work better than the gum. Haven't tried the patches.

[earle8888]

Yep really, really, really tough!!! I remember the date of my last Camel. 666 mark of the devil. June 6, 2006. Still miss them every day!!! Like mtyhe extra money though.
Yes-sirie-buba, If I new I had short time I would go for the carton, not a drinker.

[wales]

It's kind of funny ( I have never smoked ). At work it seams like the ones that complain about second hand smoke the most are ex-smokers.

[getsome]

When I was a youngun all the adults smoked and I remember taking long trips in Grand Pa's Ford Fairlane station wagon with 4 or 5 kids piled in the back and at least that many adult smokers up front with all the windows closed and feeling like I was in a fog bank....They didn't seem to notice anything, more smoke for everyone I guess but I thought I was gonna die before getting some fresh air and that did it for me and thank God I never smoked the first one....My wife smoked for 15 years or so and I hated that but she got real sick with the flu one time and quit cold turkey...Now she is the one that really cant stand smoke, kinda funny...I was at the Quick Trip the other day getting ($4.25 a gal gas).:eek:.and the guy in front of me in line bought 2 cartons of smokes and a 30 pack of Bud and his total was well over $100.00 and he paid with a credit card and I thought to myself, how stupid that was...All those smokes and beer will be long gone before the bill with interest comes in....

[Bawanna]

Course your gas will be gone long before the bill gets there too. Damn thiefs. Made a quick pit stop the other night, put 50 bucks worth in the van, got me almost a 1/4 tank. Damn thiefs.

[getsome]

Yep...Heard this morning on the news that we expect to see $5.00 a gal here before Memorial day...I watched a guy fill up his Harley recently and that thing took $25.00...Holy crap!!!!...Oh I always pay cash for gas because when I see all that green going bye bye it makes me think more about making any non essential trips....I think thats one reason they dreamed up pay at the pump by credit, it doesn't seem to hurt so much with plastic...

[Bawanna]

I wish I could pay cash, I occasionally get cut off if my wife is behind paying the bill the limit is reached. Pay at the pump is just convenient for me and I don't have to speak a 3rd world language to pay.

I'd much prefer to just stay home anyway. No place I want to go really.

Go to your room and stay there is music to my ears now days.

[toolman]

3-4 packs a day newports been 4 yrs took chantix quit in one week tried every thing under the sun for many yrs nothing worked started chantix on monday had my last smoke that sunday night (remember that like my first born) first few days were a female dog got a little better every day after that .


still get the urge every now and then don,t last but a second now would really like to have a cigar with my bourbon but afraid of fighting that nicotine again oh well geuss stick to just drinking.

feel a million % better health wise guess that what keep me quit .

[Bawanna]

Thats the thing that messes me up. Everybody says you feel better, food taste better, I haven't felt worth a darn since I quit. Food might taste better but other than that now improvement. Maybe worse, I don't get outside enough. I'm staying off anyhow, too hard to quit.
I'd like a good cigar too but not risking it. Not even one.

[ltxi]

It's kind of funny ( I have never smoked ). At work it seams like the ones that complain about second hand smoke the most are ex-smokers.

Ex-smokers normally are more sensitive to tobacco smoke than others, for years after they quit.

[Dietrich]

Thats the thing that messes me up. Everybody says you feel better, food taste better, I haven't felt worth a darn since I quit. Food might taste better but other than that now improvement. Maybe worse, I don't get outside enough. I'm staying off anyhow, too hard to quit.
I'd like a good cigar too but not risking it. Not even one.

I`m really glad that I quit and I hope I never pick up another one.I heard all the hype about how you feel better and food tastes so much better.Well,I don`t feel any better or worse for quitting and food tastes the same.The real plus as far as I`m concerned is not having to worry about whether or not I can quit because I have.I remember how much I hated all the commercials about quitting because I had tried and failed so many times before.I guess that`s the real trick for some people.Not letting past failures stop you from trying again.I smoked for 38 years and when I quit I was going through two and a half to three packs a day.I`d lay in bed at night and hear my lungs wheezing.Now my lungs are clear and I`m not coughing up a handful of quids every morning.Yeah,I thank God I was able to quit.