Giving up smoking!

[Mariamark1]

I've just been diagnosed with broncastaces not sure I've spelt it correctly! After suffering with chest infections and now breathless most mornings, my day for giving up smoking is Sunday, I've tried so many times over the years and failed but now I've got to do it! Such an addictive drug! Must be worse than heroin! Any tips would be gratefully received! Xx

[2greys]

healthunlocked.com/quitsupport

[2greys]

Welcome to the forum. You can join both here and the Quit one just "Follow" both.

The correct spelling is: Bronchiectasis

You will have to give up smoking for your own health now. Yes it is hard to quit but if you fail then try again until you do. Get past 6 weeks or so and it will get easier. Once you have stopped your sense of smell will get a lot better, you will then find out just how bad tobacco smells and be able to tell a smoker just by their smell because it taints their clothes and hair. Believe me, cigarette smoke is really disgusting and that is coming from an ex heavy smoker.

[Mariamark1 in reply to 2greys]

Thank you for the info I've joined the quit smoking x looking forward to Sunday being the first day of the rest of my life!

[Magpuss]

On Sunday find a nice big jar and put all of the money that you'd normally spend on a weeks ciggies into it. Do that every Sunday and if you are tempted to buy some cigarettes you have to pay for them with cash from the jar. Even if 'to begin with' you only manage to cut down on the number of ciggies that you normally buy you'll have a little bit of cash left each week. The less you smoke the more your little kitty will grow - and, (if you're anything like me) you'll soon begin to be reluctant to take money out of the jar - 'to burn'. I stopped smoking 12 yrs ago using this method having failed more than once, previously. Back then I was spending £25 a week on cigarettes, it would be considerably more now, at today's prices. When you can see how much you're saving it gives you an added incentive to carry on, then after a few months you can go on a guilt free spending spree. Good luck!

[Mariamark1 in reply to Magpuss]

Omg I must spend a fortune! Hopefully a holiday in the sun! Thank you for replying to a hopefully non smoker x

[Pentreath Volunteer]

Hello Maria and welcome to our friendly forum. It took me quite a while to pronounce bronchiectasis let alone spell it. I have asthma as well. You have had good advice from 2greys (who knows a lot!). I was fortunate enough to have been given a very strong cigarette by a family friend when I was about 14 and it completely put me off smoking. My husband did smoke and ad several attempts to give up but did succeed. He tried various ‘aids’ but what finally worked was putting the money aside that he would have spent on rolling his own cigarettes to buy something he really wanted. He also kept a record of how many he smoked in a day and cut down by one a day. You know it will help your health to stop and you will get good support from the forum that 2greys mentioned as well as here. Good luck!

[Mariamark1 in reply to Pentreath]

Can't wait to become a non smoker! I've felt so ill since Christmas I must do some thing to help myself, my life is disappearing away with every puff I take! So I've got my jar ready and hopefully I will be a millionaire soon! Thanks for the reply x

[helingmic]

Mm1, This is fantastic. keep it going as much as you can. don't bash yourslf if you take a ciggy here and there, but tell yourself as a mantra, I am getting better now because I gave smoking up!

Can I recommend gentle exercises and one that should be part of your for coughing up the gunge. Active cycle of Breathing technique (ACBT)

youtube.com/watch?v=XvorhwG...(Not working as expected?)

Look for lung exercises on You Tube. That will do you good. Take courage and take good care of yourself, Mic

[Mariamark1 in reply to helingmic]

Wow thank you for the advice I want to do as much as I can to stop this illness in its track, I'm never ill but since Christmas I've had 7 lots of antibiotics,steroids two inhalers and I've just got flu so 2 days in bed and my chest starts again today, I've got patches and a spray which I don't think I can take as it makes me cough a lung up! But roll on Sunday, 50 a day for years has taken its toll, I'm giving it my all! Thanks again Maria x

[helingmic in reply to Mariamark1]

Yes, good for you Maria. Things that are lovely in life are not always easy to get to. But go for it, enjoy your new life. You might have to cough up a lot of junk before your lungs are free, But you are on the right track. I'd really be interested to know your progress as you go along. My best wishes and blessings on work to yourself, with yourself and for yourself, and some for others too ( My father gave me the illness I've got without knowing as he smoked cigarettes and cigars, cigars because they were "better" than cigarettes!) Mic

[Trudy2995 in reply to helingmic]

unable to see video.

[cofdrop-UK]

A very warm welcome to you. Don’t worry about the spelling - I have met many nurses who don’t know how to spell it and many people who have never heard of it!

As I’ve had it since I was a baby I have luckily never smoked, so I can’t help there except to wish you luck and to reinforce how important it is to stop because of your diagnosis.

Good luck

Cx

[Mariamark1 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Thank you I'm determined this time!

[mrsmummy]

Hi Mariamark1 and welcome to the forum. Many on here are ex-smokers and every one of them will be cheering you on.

[Mariamark1 in reply to mrsmummy]

Hehe I will let you know how sunday goes Xxx thanks to all for support xx

[Ergendl]

One of the first things I noticed after giving up smoking, was how different foods tasted so much better, more like they used to taste in childhood. Especially peanut butter....

[Mariamark1 in reply to Ergendl]

Hi Hun I've read most of your chats and am interested in knowing if you still use the blocks to stop you catching colds, do they work and are you still using them?............. Dreading catching another! And do you still crave a cig? Regards Maria x

[Ergendl in reply to Mariamark1]

I don't crave a cig any more because any smoke I inhale now causes me breathing problems. Before that I used to imagine myself retching when I had a craving, to create a negative association so that I would not relapse.

I do still use the blocks to stop me catching colds, and they do still tend to work. However, my priest had a bad cold for weeks which she continued to work with, and because I was in close proximity to her several times over several days, even the block and First Defence could not stop me catching her cold too. So it is a good idea to avoid other people with colds if you can.

[Schmicter]

Try everything you can to quit, the hill gets a lot steeper going down if you don't. The best thing I noticed almost immediately after quitting, was that it is easier to breathe and less wheeze.

[Mariamark1 in reply to Schmicter]

Aww thanks for replying I know if I don't do it I'm going to suffer with more chest infections and this dreadful breathless feeling which frightens me especially in the mornings, I have every aid at my disposal and was on a high yesterday but now the hours are passing quickly I'm stressed!x

[Dubba61]

You must quit Maria n so you will. 😊 i quit 14 years ago n ironically, just a few months before being diagnosed with COPD. A bad bout if pneumonia and that was my "wake up" call. I'd tried before but, managed to do it by using the white stick inhalator and the losengers. I had lots more than the recommended amount . But, it worked. You will be so happy to be an exSmoker. Food tastes lovely, and you'll realise just how foul fag smoke is! 😊🌻✌️plus you'll have more Money.

[Mariamark1 in reply to Dubba61]

Hi Hun I must do it! I have every aid set out on my kitchen side 50 a day will take some doing! I could do with being drugged for a month so I don't feel the terrible cravings! Feeling stressed today! X

[Mariamark1]

Hi Hun thanks the reply x I actually feel anxious today in case I can't do it, just know I'm killing myself with each puff I take, I hope this time I have my mind ready to give up x

[olive2709]

Hi My husband was a 80a day smoker. He wanted to cut down to 40 I got him a appointment with help to quit nurse at surgery,

He told her he just wanted to cut down was given the chewing gum on script did a strange thing for a man read instructions , over the next 6months back and forward to clinic allways following instructions. At home I washed down all paintwork , if it could be cleaned or washed it was.

That was14years ago from the first trip to see that nurse he has never smoked he was 54 then and a smoker of 40 +years

So take the bull by the horns make the call

[Mariamark1 in reply to olive2709]

Wow that's fab to know! 80 a day! I've already got my appointment on Tuesday with the smoking chap who tested my breath at 28 and my partner who's also giving up was 11 so roll on tomorrow our give up day! Just feel nervous! X

[Dubba61]

I remember it well, Maria. Just take one day at a time. Tell yourself your not going to Smoke today n then do the same the next day. It's easier that way, than thinking you'll never Smoke again also, get rid of all ashtrays, n Smoking related stuff. Wash all clothes, so nothing reminds you of it.n try to avoid people who still smoke.i wouldn't have one, these days if you paid me. You can feel the same. Honestly. 😊🌻✌️

[Mariamark1 in reply to Dubba61]

Aww thank you x I really want to give my lungs a chance to breath in fresh clean air and stop this bronc in its tracks x

[Dubba61]

Oh! And if you do slip up. ( I did). Start over again the next day. 😊

[Mariamark1 in reply to Dubba61]

I will xx

[Sphelan]

Good luck to you!!! I'm down to 7 cigs a day. Mild copd. Hopefully cig free soon. You can do it!

[Schmicter]

Hi Maria,I did the cutdown over about 2 weeks and got myself used to denying the urges and also used those mini nicotine lozenges, and the "Quit Support" site on here. I am now 15 months smoke free. I was over a pack a day for 40+ years and diagnosed copd/emphysema quite a few years ago, and like you I couldn't stand knowing anymore how much it was making things worse. The wheezing at night and the mornings went away almost immediately. Go for it...you can do it..you will never regret it.

[Trudy2995]

Champix as worked for me 3rd time lucky. First few times I kept a few fags in the house whilst trying to give up. Big mistake! If there is a cig there I will have it.

So get rid of all cigarettes and try champix.

I just need to get rid of the weight now.