Lots of people on here are fighting against nicotine addiction and some have shared their journey. I just wondered how you are all doing? If you are doing well we can congratulate you (again). If you have faltered we can encourage and support you. Often one person's comments on their own experience helps others. Do you feel like sharing?
Are you beating tobacco?: Lots of... - Lung Conditions C...
Are you beating tobacco?
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32 Replies
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hanging my head in shame. using every excuse under the sun.then dear auntimary you pop up like my conscence....help xx
in reply to nellie15
I know how hard it is. It took me years and many, many attempts with different aids. Then I realised how simple it is. You can stop and start as many times as you like as long as you stop one more time than you restart. You can get there. xx
in reply to
Thats a great comment auntymary. You always manage to get to the heart of the matter.
Bev x
Gone 10 months now and I won't smoke again. It's not easy at first- Champix helped me- but you have to want to do it. I feel so much better now for not smoking and am going to the gym too.
I did 30 minutes on the treadmill today at 3.5 mph and 10 minutes on the bike. I could not have done that before.
So those struggling, try and focus on the positives. What helped me was thinking whether a cigarette lasting 3 minutes was worth the damage to my health - for me the answer was no.
Oh, I have also saved £250 pounds.
Lynne x
in reply to Lynne1955
Never mind the health benefits - what are you going to spend your fortune on????
smoked years ago and I now feel bad that I ever smoked. Smell it in the air, see people smoking outside in the rain and feel sad for them. All \I can say to people trying to give it up, that it can be done!
I stopped cold turkey 3 years ago after seeing someone in the last stages of emphysema but unfortunately the damage had already been done to my own lungs. I now encourage youngsters to give up by using myself as an example of what can happen and one of my young friends has a before and after photo of me pinned up in her kitchen and she has not had a cigarette now for 7 months.
Now there's an idea - put pictures of us lot on fag packets... Enough to put anyone off!
I was running the community radio station at the time and I was told about the NHS Smokefree people doing a weekly session in the same community centre, could we promote it. Well, not only that, but I went to see what it was all about and agreed to join in as a patient.
We talked about the length of time I had smoked, how it was affecting me and what could be done. After about 3 weeks they sent a letter to my GP and he issued a prescription for Champix. Joining these schemes means you can get these items prescribed, which may be cheaper than buying them. 
I used the tablets for 3 weeks in all, then stopped late on Sunday night, with my Smokefree session due on the Monday afternoon. The tablets made the cigs taste horrible, I was not enjoying them. Added to the knowledge that I was damaging my lungs I had decided to stop, and stopped the tablets at the same time - they say you should complete the course, I didn't.
I had some pressure form the radio presenters around me, and the listeners, so simple stayed stopped and have not had one since.
My own belief is that cutting down or using substitutes is not stopping, and you can easily go back to how you were before cutting down. Get it into your head that you will stop on such a day, and stick to it. 
in reply to Gordon57
Gordon said:
"My own belief is that cutting down or using substitutes is not stopping, and you can easily go back to how you were before cutting down. Get it into your head that you will stop on such a day, and stick to it."
Unfortunately Gordon this does not work for everyone. Although cutting down did not work for me either, I know it has for others who then found it easier to stop 5 a day than 20 a day. But although I had made up my mind and made a commitment to stop I don't think I could have done it without the help the aids gave me to get over the first few weeks. The important thing is stopping - it does not really matter how
Lynne1955 in reply to
I can see how cutting down might help towards the final goal. I think, in retrospect, what helped me was not using a nicotine replacement, which I always had on previous attempts so I was still getting nicotine cravings. As Champix doesn't have nicotine in it, I think that helped me.
I did do the whole course Gordon and you are right, at the point I stopped smoking 2 weeks in, the fags tasted awful and I was putting them out after a couple of puffs anyway.
The biggest thing for success for me was in my head though. The day after I quit, I truly realised I had to say goodbye to cigarettes forever. This was not a game, not just until next week, but forever. I actually cried as it was like a bereavement, but that was my turning point.
Lynne xx
in reply to Lynne1955
Lynne I can totally identify with this. I also mourned the loss of my "best friend" (the one that was killing me!). But I knew it was my last chance. A doctor told me I probably had 2 or 3 months to live. I knew that unless I stopped then and there I would not live long enough to try again. Great motivation!
I stopped in March 2011 with the help of Nicorette gum and patches (not at the same though). Never looked back and will never go back to Fags.
Sometimes I do get the smell of stale lingering smoke when I breath through my nose, might be a sign from above saying don't do it again!!!
Hate the smell of smoke and wish every one the best of luck on stopping and staying stopped. It is a hard thing to do but stay fcused and look forward to the long term bennifits.
David
I had pneumonia 12 years ago, collapsed lung and an abcess I was in hospital for 3 weeks and having a ciggie when I came home just didn't appeal. Found a packet and threw them in the dustbin, so they sort of gave me up but it was a very painful way of doing it. Now like David can't stand the smell of them and realize how grotty I must have smelt to my husband and children - if only I hadn't, if only all of us hadn't there wouldn't be so many on this site.
Libby
I was diagnosed with angina 18 months ago and 10 minutes later had given up smoking after 40 years of it. Rollups. The thought of the angina pain was enough to make me stop and I thought of that every time I wanted a fag. I also watched out for " triggers " like having a fag with a cup of tea. I decided to enjoy the tea for itself. After about 3 months I didn't get any craving and haven't done since.It's as though I've never smoked except for the COPD. Alas, three months later I was diagnosed with COPD but better late than never.
All my own work. I didn't want help.
Don't "try " and give up. Just give up !!
I don't mind people smoking but if I know them I explain what I have got and hope they take notice. Whether I would have given up if I had known about COPD I don't know but would hope to think I would have.
I never beat myself up about being a smoker in the past. I won't regret it either as I cannot change it. I just think what's done is done. I cannot go back in time and change things.
Now I look to the future and do what I can to improve my health now.
2 years smoke free and wont be changing back any time soon.... keep up the good fight all....
in reply to Preshous
It is a fight and sometimes we lose a battle but as long as we win the war...............
Four months and counting no ciggies thank you for thinking of us Auntiemary xx
in reply to maggiemay42
Well done on the four months. Keep going. xx
Hi I am reluctantly admitting to still smoking though I keep trying to stop.
I say reluctant because last time I admitted it I was attacked on here by a member (who has now gone thankfully). So please don't anyone have a go me. I don't need advice just more will power. Might delete this....
Bev x
unclebob in reply to
Hi hypercat,
dont delete or give up on here because of one narrow minded cretin who hides behind anonymity.
Keep on trying to give up, I stopped 18 months ago after a 30 yr, 60 a day habit.
Those genuine people on here a rooting for you.
Good luck
in reply to unclebob
Thank you unclebob xx
in reply to
Don't delete Bev. This is what I put the question up for. So we can share, help and support each other. You WILL get there, when you are ready. xx
in reply to
Thanks auntymary. Appreciated xx
I stopped on 20/6/11,aged 60,after smoking since I was 14, for the previous 15yrs I was smoking 60+ a day, I realized I had to stop when I got out of breath walking my dogs, or playing with my grandchildren, even worse I got ever so breathless when I was fly fishing, so with the help of my family, Champix,and the doctor I beat the demon weed, I do feel better, but now suffer with COPD.
Wish I had done it earlier.
Never stop trying it does fet easier to give up as time goes by, I found first 3 days were the worse.
Hope and encouragment to all of you.
in reply to unclebob
Well done. You are right in saying the beginning is hardest, But I think it does not matter how many you smoke or for how long you have been smoking, the struggle is the same and you get the same great feeling when you beat it!
I have been smoke free for 6 months now, hopefully I will continue to be the only thing that really helped me was the E-ciggies, they have the flavour and the "smoke" which fools me into thinking I am smoking, tried everything over the years but collapsing and being unable to draw a breath was the biggest incentive..! Oh one more word of advice if you are using patches take them off before having a hot shower or bath as they release the entire dose all at once..!
in reply to Noob
6 months smoke free is a good step forward. Wow about the hot shower. I tended to change mine by taking it off before I got in the shower and putting a new one on as I got out - simply because I thought the water/steam might stop it sticking properly.
I smoked from the age of 13 until I was 60 and gave up using Champix. I had tried everything gum, patches, hypnotherapy and acupuncture and not one worked. I think my problem was always that I did not want to give up.
I started the Champix because I realised that I was getting short of breath commuting early morning in London. After two weeks stopped smoking and it seemed so easy. It was, I was amazed. It wasn't all plain sailing I did get my coat on during the night twice to run up to the local supermarket to buy a packet. Fortunately, never got beyond the front door.
The nurse at my GP centre suggested I continue with the Champix for another two months, I did and haven't smoked since. That was 5 years ago this month. One thing I did as an incentive was to save all the money I used to spend on cigarettes and put it into a savings account. I still shake my head in disbelief how much I saved up in a year afterwards, if only.......... That account became my slush fund where I could treat myself.
Never stop trying to give up you will get their in the end. Nicotine is a powerful drug and is hard to kick, never be ashamed if you fail, try again, it can be beaten!
regards
David
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