How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes? (sinus, infections, prescription, hospital)

[Dariusz]

I have been smoking 1-2 packs a day of Camel for 5 years, I am in the process of quitting (started 3 weeks ago). I have been switching up brands each day to get different chemicals and it seems to be working. I got myself down to 4-5 cigarettes a day, last thursday I only smoked 3 cigarettes. Anyone have any suggestions? It seems everytime I get in my car I need to smoke, also everytime I finish a meal I need to smoke.

One problem is my roommate smokes too, so I think that is making it harder to quit.

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by Dariusz

I have been smoking 1-2 packs a day of Camel for 5 years, I am in the process of quitting (started 3 weeks ago). I have been switching up brands each day to get different chemicals and it seems to be working. I got myself down to 4-5 cigarettes a day, last thursday I only smoked 3 cigarettes. Anyone have any suggestions? It seems everytime I get in my car I need to smoke, also everytime I finish a meal I need to smoke.

One problem is my roommate smokes too, so I think that is making it harder to quit.

Dariusz- just being funny here but if you only had 3 cigs on Thursday, you didn't eat or get in the car very much did you? ok laugh!
Ask your roommate to smoke outside or somewhere not near you.
I'll tell you something.... Way back when, about 25-30 yrs ago, I went to this Smoke Enders program. The switching brands and getting lower tar ones each week was part of their methods. You also had to wrap your pack of cigarettes with a rubber band and then jot down each cigarette you had. The butts had to do into a glass container and you were supposed to take a nice whiff of that everytime you lit another one. What a pain in the behind!!!! It's all about inconvenience, being grossed out, not liking the brand, puffing too hard for the high until your cheeks hurt, etc.
There are lots of other methods nowadays but honestly, I think cold turkey is the ONLY way to go.
I have been trying everything for the past 25 years. Patches, hypnosis, antidepressants, acupuncture, cold laser, support groups.... Last time, 2 years ago, I did ALL of these simultaneously. The only thing I have left is cold turkey and it scares the daylights out of me.
Good luck to you!!!

[sprtsluvr8]

When I quit I simply picked up another habit that was harmless and not addictive...I crunched ice from the ice machine at work all day. It may sound silly but it gave me something to do constantly that kept my mind off of having a cigarrette.

Even though I've always heard you have to quit for yourself, I really believe that it's best to quit for someone else...not when they're pressuring you or watching you to make sure you don't cheat, but just having someone in mind who you know would be very happy and proud of you if you quit. It's a great gift to give someone you love...it worked for me.

[Dariusz]

Thursday is my day off so it takes me a lot longer to get out of bed

[xray42]

I quit after 20 years last march 06. i used the nicorete gum, and welbutrin. I had halucinations on the welbutrin, but it did work. I have since gained 50lbs.
My mother had lung cancer from smoking for 30 years. I promised her on her death bed i would quit. My mom suffered for nine months with cancer. I work in the medical fied and see cancer patients all day-suffer-suffer, and many still smoke after there chemo-nobody knows how addicting it is. I was just thinking i could go for a cig-almost after a year- but it does get better.
Just do it, there is no right time.

[Yorkie_Mom]

I am doing it cold turkey, I have had a draw back in the last month, where I had a couple, but I haven't had one in a week now, and this time I keep telling myself no!!!!!
The minute you give into one, you will be right back at smoking again, I am very thankful my last time I gave in was short lived, of course I told myself I would not buy a pack, and so that helped.
We are here to support anyone who is trying to quit, or is in the process of thinking of quitting, at least from us, we are on your side and know what you are going through, because we are going through it ourselves, we have also made mistakes, and have went back to smoking, but we are giving it our all.
So what do you have to lose? You have our support, and we will be here to help you get past your cravings, it will also help you, by reading this thread from the start, since you will be able to see what works for others, and get some ideas that may also help you. Let us know if we can be of any help, and good luck!!!!!!

[Yorkie_Mom]

Just a quick update, I am still smoke free, and it is getting so much easier, the first week is the worst.
The main thing is you can't sit and think about, how am I going to make it without my cigarettes? If you think like that, you will never be able to give them up, I know because I felt the same way.
You just have to put enough faith in yourself and tell youreslf that you can do it. Just like the little Engine that could story, one hill or mountain at a time. If I would have one I would be honest enough to tell everyone, but I am so proud of myself for being able to do it.
I can breath so much better, and everything smells better, (I can't wait until spring, the fresh smells that I have missed.) Just to let you know the Chex Mix does help a lot, and I keep a bag close by. I have also gotten hooked on the butterscotch disks, they taste great!!!!
If anyone would like to ask for more help or information on quitting smoking, I would be more then happy to help. Good luck, and wish you all the best!!!!

[-=GSH=-]

Hello all,

I am a huge Bears fan, former soldier, and a husband to a wonderfyul wife for 16 years. I found this forum via my searching the web and figured I should give this a go. So please bear with me.

I am a 21 year smoker. I quit cold turkey 5 weeks and 2 days ago. I been searching the web fairly hard for answers to things I am going through that to me just got dumb asking my Doc all the time whom never smoked and could not relate. Felt I was getting the old "ah, your quitting...good for you...you'll be a better person for it." speach.

Well Again, 5 weeks 2 days, cold..no cheats, nothing...and I am still having monster cravings.

One thing that is bothering me is this stuffy head I have had since quiting...is this normal?

I am chewing normal gum, drinking water, and trying like crazy to keep myself occupied. Boredom seems to be my worst enemy.

GSH

[Yorkie_Mom]

The stuffy head feeling I guess I have had that also, I think some of it can be if you still have the smoke smell in your house or in your car. Mine has gotten a little better, although I gave mine up around the first of the year.
One other thing, I did have a couple in January under stressful times, I never bought a pack and refuse to do so. I also just went through a major stressful time this last weekend, had three cigarettes then, because I was around smokers at the time.
I still haven't went and bought cigarettes, it seems that if I can stay away from buying a pack, and then only getting a couple from some one who smokes, it takes that craving away, as long as you only stick with that limit, because if you don't you will be back smoking and you don't want that, you have come to far.
When I did have them cigarettes, boy did I get high, and if you smoke it to fast, I even got to the point where I felt like throwing up. This is only what I have done, so it depends on your will power. With me though the Cheese Chex Mix really helps, and if you go back and read this thread you can also see what everyone has tried. Good luck, and if you have more questions or if you want to pm me, I am on here at different times of the day. Again good luck!!!!!!!!!!

[fuzzymystic]

On December 12th, I smoked my last two cigarettes. [thinking positive here]
The thought of smoking still sort of appeals to me, even though my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer May of last year, and my younger sister just was about a week ago-a different type of lung cancer than my mom's; nevertheless, this to me is inconceivable. I hear my husband hacking his a$$ off every morning in the bathroom-scared to even think about that.
I have heard of people going back to smoking out of boredom, but dude, five weeks, and 2 days-don't throw it away.