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Does anyone think its possible to give up smoking when i know that i dont want to.

kizz profile image
kizz
38 Replies

just been discharged from hospital after a very bad chest infection. Its not right that i shoud take up nhs time and money when i still smoke i am dissabled dur to brain damage and smoking is somthing that gives me some comfort and i dont want to live forever being unable to do anything without someone else to help me.

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kizz profile image
kizz
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38 Replies

Its is a hard choice which you will have to make. You will have to decide what is best for your body. Believe me, if you make the wrong decision which is to carry on smoking, your body

wont last as long.

I sympathise, kizz, but if you value your life, you have to stop smoking. There are sorts of advice, aids and help out there. You wont be alone because if you will have everybody in this forum behind you. You will have spare money to treat yourself to something special.

What you have to do right away, is to condition your mind to the fact that you CAN and WILL stop smoking. Believe me, once you have survived the first day, it gradually becomes easier. Your physical condition may not noticeably improve but your future will.

Once you have set a day to quit smoking, keep in touch with this forum as often as you like, and we will be behind you. Also ring the BLF for their help.

All the best for you to take the plunge, Kizz - GOOD LUCK

libby7827 profile image
libby7827 in reply to

Great advice from Annie, Kizz. After over 45 years of smoking I thought I'd never give up, tried many times. Finally, 3 years I did it and as Annie says, each day that goes by gets easier. Was a bit too late for me as I already had severe stage emphysema, but it's not too late for you! I just too each day at a time and did have the odd puff or two during the first couple of weeks, quickly putting them out each time realising they (a) they did not taste right and (b) did not give me the "hit" I'd expected. After that it was plain sailing. My cough went and my breathing improved within the first few weeks, so it was great to see something good was actually happening. Good luck, see the doc and get some nicotine replacement (I used lozenges) or even ordinary chewing gum helps! Good luck, you'll get a lot of support from this forum. Libby

123podmore profile image
123podmore

i do agree i use to smoke too ,you have to stop smoking soon as possible if you went to live simply is that ,believe mes easy then you think to quiet,the hardest is first two weeks ,good luck,

kizz profile image
kizz

Thanks for the encoragement ( know thats spelt wrong sorry) Unfortunatly a friend is away on holiday and is bringing me 400 cigs, its going to be hard to throw them away, but i will try.

in reply tokizz

Dont worry about your spelling, Kizz, just get on with stopping your smoking NOW. Nothing else matters. As regards the 400 cigs, first step is to fill up the basin and soak them. The whole lot. I dare you!!!! And dont give them away - that would be unkind to your friends.

123podmore profile image
123podmore in reply tokizz

I use to smoke until I start coughing blood,scan revelled I have chronic bronchitis emphysema co pd ,two years ago.,I am 52 years old I have lung like 70 years old,I always feel very tired I can't do anything I live alone I don't get any help,depression will take over eventually,if you have family do it for them, they need you,good luck,400cigs sell them,and don't let any one smoke in your house good luck

nixy profile image
nixy

I did not want to give up smoking, I enjoyed it. Yes I think it is harder when you feel forced into a decision for health reasons. However thats what its all about to be healthier. I feel so much better after only three weeks. Go for it, you wont regret it xx

kizz profile image
kizz in reply tonixy

WELL DONE. its nice to hear somone say they like smoking because when i say it i feel mad.

I didn't want to give up but I did nearly two years ago, I told myself that I could smoke again on my 90th birthday so it was a temporary thing. However 2 years on I know that I will never smoke again. It's a killer and we all know it. There is only you that can make up your mind but smoking isn't a comfort or a treat,It's the addiction conning you into thinking it is. don't throw the cigs away, sell them and treat yourself to something sensible. Good luck xx.

Lynne1955 profile image
Lynne1955

I loved it too, but have been a non smoker for over a year now. Guess what? I don't miss it.

Lynne xx

CouncillorB profile image
CouncillorB

I smoked for nearly 50 years and loved smoking(mostly) and never thought I could give it up> One day I woke up feeling more breathless than usual and realised I had to choose between smoking and breathing,I couldnt do both. I chose breathing and went to the docs for patches. I also used every known nicotine replacement therapy chewing gum,lozenges inhalaters. I also made sure there were no cigarettes in the house in case I weakened and have been smokefree since last May. It is not easy and I really missed smoking but occasionally use the e cigs as they do help. Best of luck but I had no choice

Polly63 profile image
Polly63

I know it is hard to give up something you enjoy. I stopped smoking over2 months ago after a spell in hospital. I use e cigs when the urge to smoke arises. My friends are all amazed and very happy for me. It will be worth it. Best of luck. You have the support of a super group of people who understand the smoking urge.

blessings profile image
blessings

Yes do AS I did , and take no notice , then when your told your lungs cant take any more and your die sooner than you think , then your see how MUCH you really want to give up , if your lucky enough to be alive and have that chance too .

kizz profile image
kizz

I had no idea how many good people there were that cared enough to try to help a stranger thank you all this is the first time I have used a blog and I feel that I have much more chance now to quit than I did this morning thank you again

Puffthemagicdragon profile image
Puffthemagicdragon in reply tokizz

Have just one day without a fag and go from there. Best of luck to you.

carolg1 profile image
carolg1 in reply tokizz

It is kiss encouragement is the best for anyone who is trying to stop smoking so when it gets tough shout out for help, good luck xx

Lynne1955 profile image
Lynne1955

It really is the difference between life and death Kizz. As someone once said on here, what do you want more? The cigarette or life?

Good luck.

Lynne xx

Felicityforgetmenot profile image
Felicityforgetmenot in reply toLynne1955

I never thought I would ever give up. I’m 57 and have had copd for twelve years. It’s almost three months now. I’ve saved nearly twelve hundred pounds, I’ve stopped coughing and feel clean. I’ll never go back now. Good luck to all of you who want to stop!

mrsmummy profile image
mrsmummy in reply toFelicityforgetmenot

Well done. :) This thread is five years old so unlikely to get a response. Try looking at the newer posts here:

healthunlocked.com/blf

grannybell profile image
grannybell

I loved smoking, even when I knew it was killing me. I gave up 6 years ago after a bad chest infection and I think it is the best thing I have ever done. No-one believed that I would do it but I did. You CAN do it. x

Good luck with it love,it is hard at the start,but you will soon be proud of yourself! I found it hard at first,but after being told its quite easy"YOU DONT PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH" easy as that' Well that worked for me, I can tell you.Not for everyone I know.It does make sense though!

Sell the 400 cigs.and treat yourself to something nice,& dont forget to save your daily money that you would spend on them seperately,and treat yourself when a nice amount there,wont take long.Look forward to being much healthier,and smelling so much better!!

Cheers Wendells xxx

canalchris profile image
canalchris

In reply to the original question, NO!!!

kizz profile image
kizz in reply tocanalchris

Are you speaking from experiance?

buny993 profile image
buny993

if you roll your own make at night but don't smoke until morning put your buts in tin or jar

with top on and for all fags until you have about 5 dog ends leave for one day then befor you

smoke open the container and sniff should put you off a few hours

best of luck bob

warwickstag profile image
warwickstag

Agree with Canalchris. You won't manage to give up smoking until you really want to do it. But once you do decide it's what you want to do, it's not as difficult as you think, and it's really worth doing, believe me.

PollyP profile image
PollyP

I loved smoking too! Never wanted to give up but it gave me up!i became too ill to continue.

Now, ten years later don't miss it at all, so much better for NOT smoking and detest the smoke from other people. BUT, gonna start again when I am 90 years old, hahhaaaaa :-)

young_one profile image
young_one

Give it up I say but it's you who has to make the move.

I'd like to say that I gave up 9 years ago - I had only smoked for 8yrs but i was totally adicted, the good thing was i didn't love it i just needed it.

Anyway I gave up after 3 atemps and with the help of patches, the no smoking nurse and that book by Alan carr (not the comedian). I'm so glad i gave it up and i honestly have no idea how i would be able to smoke with my lungs like this.

You'll notice that only smokers get stressed about when they can smoke, how long things take etc as they need the next fag. It doesn't relieve stress it causes it. I also hasd no idea how bad I smelt and now i do.

I really am one of those terrible ex-smokers who now really hates it.

I hope you decide to kick it (once you decide to you will be able to) x

I agree that you won't be able to give it up unless you really want to. I am still smoking and enjoy it so I am probably not the right person to try to give you advice but here goes. I am still having a continuous battle with myself about trying to give up again. I did give up for 4 months and what helped me was changing my routine ie identifying the key ciggies such as with a cup of coffee, after a meal etc. I changed my habits. The other thing which really helped was to ignore the 'official' reasons to give up and find a reason which is really important to you whatever it is. In my case I was working on the phones and my cough was a nightmare to manage. Think about it and work out a strategy. Lastly maybe you could replace cigarettes with something less harmful - chewing gum? fruit?

Bev x

Sylvsmum profile image
Sylvsmum

I think if you really don't want to give up - you won't! So WHY are you asking on here? Probably because you don't want to give up but know you HAVE TO if you want to live with any quality of life. My husband gave up - cold turkey - not because of his health, but because of mine. When we met he was a smoker, asked me if it would make a difference? I said that it would, I can't be with smokers, so he stopped. Lurve.... That was 5 years ago and he has only had one cigarette since then - and that was when I was in hospital! He doesn't miss it now, just feels a healthier and fitter. He had been a smoker for 30 years. Nobody can MAKE you give up, the decision has to be yours. But reading all the help on here, you might want to give it serious thought. Do it for you and yours.

I too loved my cigarettes and never really wanted to give up. When I got my first diagnosis of a lung disease I was told smoking would make it worse. Having tried all the other aids and making excuses for why they didn't work| I asked for Champix and after 4 days it was as if I had never smoked. It didn't even cross my mind to want one. It's nearly 2 years now and I can truthfully say I am a non smoker. Ask your GP if you are suitable to try this.

kizz profile image
kizz

Sorry not to have responded much today had a fall and have not been able to type there is a stop smoking nurse coming to see me tomorrow and i only have 16 cigs left so i guess tomorrows the day i will let you know how it goes. thank you again

hufferpuffer profile image
hufferpuffer

Good luck Kizz, never give up giving up! it might take a few or several false starts but keep trying, I gave up age 49 that was 9 years ago and my lungs have an age of 110 yrs, amagine what they would be like if I hadn't stopped when I did! You have to choose between living and dying...simples yes :)

oxytic profile image
oxytic

As soon as I was told that I had emphysema at the hospital I was told that life will go fast if I did not stop smoking.! All my life 50 years since I was 12 But on that day at the hospital I said to myself thats it stop and stop I did and never missed it smoked more than 20 aday..... its a matter of will just stop and on that be an end to it.:) Kizz I didnt wont to stop smoking, it was time to stop .just stop Kizz good luck Gbu

Mobilityman profile image
Mobilityman

Hufferpuffer says don't give up giving up and you shouldn't, it's great advice. I smoked from my teens until I was 52, having been in the Royal Navy the gave me cheap cigarettes, Blue Liners, plus duty free when abroad, my choice, by the age of 52 I was on 60 a day. It had to stop, so I got the patches, and some herbal cigarettes, it took 5 weeks, patches giving me the nicotine I need, reducing the amount week by week, and smoking herbal ciggies, with no nicotine, giving oral gratification. Had an interesting chat with a traffic policeman once, he thought the smell was wacky baccy. Final result I was driving home and didn't reach for the packet, that was it for me, people told me I would always crave the evil little nails, what they didn't tell was the thought jumps in and straight back out. I am able to enjoy smells, taste, and not being anti social. I gave up 12 years ago now. So Kizz it's up to you, all the support in the world won't help, unless you want to give up. Believe me for a better life style, you need to give up. Good luck

littlecamelia profile image
littlecamelia

You could try Allan Carr's Easyway=book, dvd or day course; it's all so logical and has worked for 2 of my friends.

hev67 profile image
hev67 in reply tolittlecamelia

I have just finished reading his book it has certainly changed my way of thinking towards smoking, and i now no it is not something to be scared of anymore, but think im gonna have to read again as even though cut down, am still smoking. A great book and definately a good recommendation.

giddysu profile image
giddysu

Dear Kizz

A diifficult choice for you. I think I can understand it. like you I enjoyed cigarettes, used to smoke a fair few in fact, but had to give up because of heart and chest problems. I'm now happy to say I haven't smoked for 20 years, but I am married to a man who still smokes,and doesn't want to give up either. That's not an easy one, but I never went back.

I'm disabled too, and I know how short money can be. Perhaps you could use that as an incentive? You'll soon have a nice little sum to treat yourself. Talk to your GP or a Healthcare professional and see if you can join a group. Mutual support can make you new friends, put you in touch with other people who have similar problems, and teach you new habits and coping strategies. Most of all you DO have to want to give up. You are worth it, you do matter. Find that reason for wanting to Kizz. You have to look after yourself as though you are someone you love, even when you live alone. Good luck and chin up

kizz profile image
kizz

The nurse came to talk to me on friday. she recomends i try champix tabs so i am going to start next week. i have got a very bad cold so not even getting much air through my nose! Thanks for still being there i will try to keep you up dated

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