And off we go again!!!

[nsd_user663_1930]

Hello Everyone,

I am not sure what I am trying to achieve by posting on this forum but none-the-less here goes.

Here is a bit of background, probably not very interesting but while I am typing I am not smoking...

I am 36 years old and have been smoking for 10 years (I know a late starter).

I have tried giving up smoking in the past but to be brutally honest I did not approach the task with 100% commitment and failed with ease.

However about 3 years ago I was ill with flu over christmas (the real flu where you cannot get out of bed). Needless to say I did not get out of bed for 7 days (only for the essentials ) and as I only smoke outside I realized that through no effort what so ever I had stopped smoking for 7 days. At this point I decided to keep going and comfortably got to 1 month (At which point I was finding the no smoking very easy). Then one fateful day I bumped into an old work friend, decided I was in control, had one cigarette and have been smoking ever since... Bugger... :mad:

However 3 years later I am now on the 2nd day of my no smoking campaign.

Day 1 was relatively easy (Sunday, laying a driveway). Today was a nightmare, back to work (I work from home) and dealing with quite a few muppets (which has not helped the cause). However after walking out of the office and laying on the lounge floor for 2 hours I started calming down and regained a positive mental attitude (The strong coffee probably helped also).

Now that I am confident that I will move onto day 3 with out any more hitches I have some questions:

1. I am currently experiencing an odd sensation and I'd like to know how long this might last for. My eyes feel sort of hazy / slow, basically if I turn my head quickly it takes a bit of time for my eyes to catch up and focus. While I was smoking I didn't have a problem, but I am noticing this as I work on computers and I am not firing on all cylinders since stopping.

2. I am not using patches or any products that might assist in stopping. How long does it take for the real addicition to be out of the system. I once heard that everyday without smoking the nicotine levels in the body half, so after Day 1 Nicotine = 50%, Day 2 Nicotine = 25%, Day 3 12.5% etc... Is this the case?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[nsd_user663_1704]

Lo Gav

Welcome to the site!

Read through your post, glad your pushing through the quit this time it is such a good thing to be doing x x

I wouldn't worry about the eye focus thing too much, I would imagine that the cause is your blood circulation. Your blood has become more oxygenated and can now pump easier and reach everywhere with ease. However your body is used to the slow, thick oxygen starved flow. So it is good and your body will adapt soon

The brain kinda goes a bit erm, scatty? dizzy? whichever term you may use hehe thats common too, is that circulation? or is it that we start to use our mind without leaning on our old mate Mr Nico? probably a bit of both! but rest assured again totally normal.

Of course though, not everything is quit related and if your symptoms worsen or you become feverish or pass out you should seek medical help.

Nicotine is free from your body by 48 hours, hence the fact you started with the above at around the same time.

Free from your mind is the problem :rolleyes: and this is different for everyone and is what makes it that bit harder. Keep up your strength and keep in touch x x x x

[nsd_user663_1830]

Hi Gav and welcome to the site...I've been slightly spaced out since I quit eight weeks ago!!! BUT...everything is worth it in the end and you know the best thing about quitting is the self respect - I'm still waiting to fully regain all my faculties...

LoopyXX

[nsd_user663_1930]

Thanks for the responses... However I was hoping more like 8 hours of this "The lights are on but no body is home" feeling, 8 weeks might be a tadge too long to wait... :eek:

Oh well time will tell I suppose.

Okay then just to clarify, at what point does the giving up become purely a mental problem rather than a physical problem.

If the nicotine is free from the body in 48 hours, then is there a rough guideline to when the cravings are a mental issue rather than a drug withdrawal issue.

And if the answer isn't 56 hours or less then I don't want to know

I just want to know when I am fighting with my thoughts, rather then struggling against a withdrawal symptom.

[nsd_user663_1704]

Hehe

Okay then just to clarify, at what point does the giving up become purely a mental problem rather than a physical problem.

Well I would imagine that would be at the 48hr mark because it's not the body crying out anymore it is our mind? so we are all just mental from than point on!

If the nicotine is free from the body in 48 hours, then is there a rough guideline to when the cravings are a mental issue rather than a drug withdrawal issue.

How long is a piece of string? I mean the physical bits easy! researchers get paid over n over to find out the same info year in year out !!

When it comes to our minds thats different, everyone is so different! it's down to personality, how big of a dependency the said person had etc etc so many factors!

Many people don't plan it they just say 'ew no more' and never look back! others are in turmoil for years! the only common factor is their strength in remaining quit.

I just want to know when I am fighting with my thoughts, rather then struggling against a withdrawal symptom.

Thoughts, habits, routine, rituals your a complex creature! so much so that the arguing within ourselves is the hard bit i guess! s'pose we all have an inch of fickleness/schizophrenia!

At least with fighting yourself there's bound to be less bruising

But to cut it short, generaly 1-4 days are the hardest then after 1 week it all gets easier xxxx

1 week of feeling tetchy, on the grand scale of things, is well worthwhile x x

take it hour by hour, keep yourself busy and distracted.

Keep rewarding yourself with treats and hold your head high and *Smile*

[nsd_user663_1930]

Thanks for the advise / information.

I like the bit about "rewarding" your self ....

Looks like I am off to McDonalds for a Double Sausage and Egg McMuffin meal again in the morning with a Coke (Not diet) and a Coffee.

Well it's nearly midnight, which means I am currently sitting at two completed days and although its been a tricky day it was nice to wake up this morning without feeling like death on legs.

Its ironic really, you smoke and feel like poo in the morning (due to smoking), so you have a cigarette to make yourself feel better (Catch 22).

So it looks like I may well be fighting the habit from tomorrow onwards. The nicotine is pretty much out of the system, so I cannot blame that anymore.

Oh and a word of advice to everyone who is giving up (it seems to have helped me so far). When you feel like folding and having a cigarette, spend 15 minutes reading the threads on this forum, I have found a form of comfort in knowing I am not alone and its helped me through so far.

Unlike my wife who keeps offering to buy me some tobacco every time she goes out shopping :confused:

[nsd_user663_1704]

Enjoy the McD's Big Breakfast and REAL COCA COLA! :eek:

It is true to say that a crave will pass approximately 3mins, so if you can take 10-15 mins to read here or do anything! then afterwards the crave should of calmed enough to get on with whatever you was doing before!

Keep up those rewards and remember to keep on reminding yourself of all the positive things you have done ie how much money you have saved, how much healthier your body is, how much longer you will live, how much sweeter you smell! etc etc

I am sure your Wife means well :rolleyes: is she a smoker?

x x Good luck for your day 3 x x

x x Stay strong x x

x x Buffy x x