Smoking cessation

[markiver54]

Almost embarrassed to say in this day and age, that I have been a heavy smoker and fearful of my will power to quit. I now find myself at a point when it is mandatory. I will be having back surgery soon and have also been diagnosed with a deep vein blood clot in my leg that I will start on meds for tomorrow. Just wondering if any out there have smoked, or do,and have tried to quit .
Were you successful? I hope so, and guess I'm just looking for some support here from my Henry friends!
Kinda like Marines' post on dieting. Sorry, just trying everything, as a support mechanism to help me succed.

[PT7]

I was a fairly heavy smoker (actually a chimney) during my 20s. Did that for less than 10 years.
There was a day that I knew I had to quit, and went for it. Cold turkey, and didn't need a lot of chewing gum or mints. A plus was that I had solid encouragement from a very good friend who is also an ex-smoker. We still keep in touch, and sometimes recall the day I made that decision.

How long ago did I quit? My last pack of Marlboro cost me the exorbitant price of $0.40 cents. Less than the cost of one round of my .45 Colt ammo today.

One thing that I learned after I gave up that habit. I didn't know that the "addiction" to nicotine drastically subsides and practically disappears in 24 hours or so. That told me that smoking was mostly in my head, and really just a habit. It was easier than I thought it would be, and for me, a great positive decision in my life.

I'd encourage you to "go for it," Mark. You may find it as easy as I found. Plus you have the extra incentive of it "being mandatory" due to your medical needs. Never too late to begin fresh!

[RanchRoper]

Never smoked but over 30 years on the wagon. Will power. You can do it. Decide and just do it.

[JEBar]

we most certainly wish you success .... once I made up my mind to do so, I quit, cold turkey in my late 20's .... there numerous programs with various tools to help folks stop smoking .... hopefully you will find one that works for you

[RanchRoper]

1 day at a time.

[markiver54]

1 day at a time.

THANK YOU RR! kinda how I'm looking at it. Start the 1s't stage of Chantix tomorrow.

[RanchRoper]

I wake up in the morning and I'm not going to drink today. That's it. After awhile it gets to be a matter of stubborn pig-headed pride. 30+ yrs later I'm still stubborn about it. Not gonna happen.

[BigAl52]

I smoked once upon a time and had no business ever starting. I started with smoking a pipe because I thought it was COOOOOL. Then went to cigarettes and chewin. I had asthma. Real smart and real COOOOL. Couldnt figure out why I would get these chest colds and always need antibiotics to get it out of my chest. Then one day this little man came to rest on my shoulder. He told me hey dummie throws those damn things out the window save yourself some coin and just maybe those chest colds might go away. Pulled the pack out of my shirt pocket and maned up. There in the trash and been there ever since. No it aint easy. But you can do it Mark.

[markiver54]

I wake up in the morning and I'm not going to drink today. That's it. After awhile it gets to be a matter of stubborn pig-headed pride. 30+ yrs later I'm still stubborn about it. Not gonna happen.

I definitely admire you for that!!

[markiver54]

I smoked once upon a time and had no business ever starting. I started with smoking a pipe because I thought it was COOOOOL. The went to cigarettes and chewin. I had asthma. Real smart and real COOOOL. Couldnt figure out why I would get these chest colds and always need antibiotics to get it out of my chest. Then one day this little man came to rest on my shoulder. He told me hey dummie throws those damn things out the window save yourself some coin and just maybe those chest colds might go away. Pulled the pack out of my shirt pocket and maned up. There in the trash and been there ever since. No it aint easy. But you can do it Mark.

Thank you Al...this is the support I humbly think I need!!...kinda scared, believe it or not.

[RanchRoper]

Good luck.

[RanchRoper]

Whenever you feel the urge, go shoot instead.

[markiver54]

Whenever you feel the urge, go shoot instead.

Sound like great therapy..
Great advice!!

[markiver54]

Might have to change my avatar.

[Lyman]

I Smoked from the age of 13. I am 56 now and just quit smoking June 28th. I had cut back to 10 a day for the past few years. It was time. I quit cold turkey. I was a mess for the first two weeks. Now I hardly think about them. I had tried many times quitting and always failed. This time I did it one day at a time one hour at a time. I feel real good about it now. I think my success is due to NO CHEATING. Not even a puff. In the past I would cheat and all I was doing was resetting my addiction. Once I got past a few weeks the cravings were much less and I wasn't feeling like it had a hold on me any longer.
I also had a blood Clot in my leg a few years back. I had to have knee surgery and was laid up for quite a while. Went in for a follow up with my doctor and he discovered I had a clot. I had to do the injections in my stomach for a month and then blood thinners for another 6 months after that. It's no fun but I got through it and got back to being able to work along side my younger coworkers.
Good luck to You! You can do it!

[markiver54]

I Smoked from the age of 13. I am 56 now and just quit smoking June 28th. I had cut back to 10 a day for the past few years. It was time. I quit cold turkey. I was a mess for the first two weeks. Now I hardly think about them. I had tried many times quitting and always failed. This time I did it one day at a time one hour at a time. I feel real good about it now. I think my success is due to NO CHEATING. Not even a puff. In the past I would cheat and all I was doing was resetting my addiction. Once I got past a few weeks the cravings were much less and I wasn't feeling like it had a hold on me any longer.
I also had a blood Clot in my leg a few years back. I had to have knee surgery and was laid up for quite a while. Went in for a follow up with my doctor and he discovered I had a clot. I had to do the injections in my stomach for a month and then blood thinners for another 6 months after that. It's no fun but I got through it and got back to being able to work along side my younger coworkers.
Good luck to You! You can do it!

Thank you Lyman! Starting Xerelto tomorrow for the clotting. Don't know if I spelled the drug right, however, that will be taken in tandem with the Chantix. I am my own worst enemy at the moment. Current physical events have all but ruined my summer.

[RanchRoper]

This too shall pass.

[Lyman]

I Smoked from the age of 13. I am 56 now and just quit smoking June 28th. I had cut back to 10 a day for the past few years. It was time. I quit cold turkey. I was a mess for the first two weeks. Now I hardly think about them. I had tried many times quitting and always failed. This time I did it one day at a time one hour at a time. I feel real good about it now. I think my success is due to NO CHEATING. Not even a puff. In the past I would cheat and all I was doing was resetting my addiction. Once I got past a few weeks the cravings were much less and I wasn't feeling like it had a hold on me any longer.
I also had a blood Clot in my leg a few years back. I had to have knee surgery and was laid up for quite a while. Went in for a follow up with my doctor and he discovered I had a clot. I had to do the injections in my stomach for a month and then blood thinners for another 6 months after that. It's no fun but I got through it and got back to being able to work along side my younger coworkers.
Good luck to You! You can do it!

Thank you Lyman! Starting Xerelto tomorrow for the clotting. Don't know if I spelled the drug right, however, that will be taken in tandem with the Chantix. I am my own worst enemy at the moment. Current physical events have all but ruined my summer.

Oh, you got lucky and don't have to do the injections. good for you. I felt like a pin cushion for a while. I have heard that both of the drugs you mention work well.

[markiver54]

This too shall pass.

Guess you're right RR. Hopefully it will and I don't...

[dave77]

I started at 14 and smoked until I was 63, was up to 2 packs a day. When I retired I realized I couldn't afford to spend over $300 a month on cigarettes. I did vape when I quit and don't know how I would have done without vaping. I spent several months getting to zero nicotine vape juice and then I quit inhaling. I vape very rarely now but it is there when I occasionally get a strong urge for a smoke. It's been over 3 years since I've had a single puff on a cigarette.

Good luck, do whatever it takes to quit. I wish I had quit many years ago, still have pretty noticeable shortness of breath but at least my smoker's cough is gone.