That is, I've cheated in that it isn't quite 14 days yet (I have been quit for 1 Week, 6 Days, 21 hours, 57 minutes and 53 seconds -- according to my quit app :)). But I've got a busy day tomorrow, so I thought I'd celebrate my two-week milestone a little early.
I haven't found the last two weeks too difficult. I suppose I've been quite lucky. I have, however, fancied a smoke several times today -- I've had to use my NRT more than usual. How odd.
I've been suffering from depression quite badly, but I'm sure that my quit hasn't played a significant role. I'm pleased to say that I've arranged to see a councillor next week, though. But, apart from that, I haven't found things too difficult. I just thought I'd ask a few questions of anyone who's gone past two weeks smoke free:
Firstly, I've noticed that my lungs seem to be as clear as a bell. They feel completely clear -- no weezing at all. Almost too good to be true! But, I haven't been coughing-up any crap at all (and I've heard that this usually happns after you quit?). To the contrary, I used to cough-up all sorts of rubbish -- especially in the mornings -- when I was smoking. But now, here's nothing. I was just wondering how everyone else felt at this stage?
Also, I was wondering when the cravings go away? A bit of an odd question, I suppose, as everyone's different. My father says that he never fancies a cigarette. Neither does a friend of mine who quit 8 years ago. But I've heard that some people crave a smoke months or even years after quitting. Does it get any better, or is is this it? I'm very confident that I won't go back to being a smoker, but will I have to live with the cravings for good? If I do, then it's just too bad -- it's a small price to pay in exchange for my physical health, my mental health and my financial health. But if the cravings do eventually go away, then all the better.
Anyway, I hope everone's Xmas went well?
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Hi Legs - well done for getting through your first two weeks - that's the hardest bit done!
As for your questions:
We have occassionally swapped notes about coughing on here. Like everything else, everyone has a unique experience, and there is no "normal" pattern. Generally speaking, those who cough up a load of crap just want it to stop, while those who don't cough are left wishing that they could purge all the rubbish that they believe to be in there....
On the craves issue, I think that this is partly an example of insufficiencies in the english language. Maybe we just don't have enough words to describe the various nuances behind the concept. In my view, the feelings change enormously over time. Craves become wants. Wants become thoughts. Thoughts become memories. I also think that there are some ex-smokers who enjoy their "war stories" and find some comfort in remembering the struggle that they went through. I can understand this in a way. Five months down the road, I am left thinking that if it was really as relatively easy as this, then why on earth did it take me forty years to do it? That's not a particularly comfortable question, to be honest.
Hope that this helps, and above all - don't worry, and keep on keeping on.
Two weeks is a huge achievement and you sound so positive about the whole experience, keep those thoughts incase the old nicodemon tries to trick you!
As Mrs T said, everyone varies, I coughed when I smoked, almost immediately it stopped and now almost 2 months on have an annoying snuffly nose and cough, could be total coincidence with not smoking and more to do with being shut in over Christmas lol
Good to hear you're off to see a counsellor, the way I see it, give the counsellor all the stuff that you don't need anymore so they can tidy it up and put it all away, if you know what I mean
well done on the 2 weeks however im right behind you by 1 day lol
on the subject of craves have you seen the allen carr dvd ?
i have found it to be a complete miracle i watched it a few days ago now and since i did i have not had a single craving not even after a big meal ???
i have not even been munching on any minties etc just totally changed my quit for me i would highly recomend watching it there is a thread in day one that is helpful for a youtube version am thinking about uploading it to rapidshare. i make a point of watching it everyday.
i have already stopped patches on day 2 and am now considering throwing away the champix mainly due to them screwing up my eye sight (last time thought i was going blind went to doc was told oh u need glasses u got a stigmatism and u need bifocles) eyes came good about a week after stopping the champix.
once again well done on the 2 weeks i will be there in like 36 hrs too
cheers
gra
One week, five days, 13 hours, 33 minutes and 41 seconds. 753 cigarettes not smoked, saving $384.48. Life saved: 2 days, 14 hours, 45 minutes.
In my view, the feelings change enormously over time. Craves become wants. Wants become thoughts. Thoughts become memories.
As usual Mrs T has hit the nail on the head with her Giant Hammer of Eloquence. The nature of the 'crave' changes as the quit lengthens. Sometimes - particularly if you encounter a strong or unusual trigger - the memories of smoking can play quite powerful tricks with your mind, and feel almost like a physical crave. As a personal example, the first theatre 'tech' day since I quit happened at about nine months, and I spent nearly the whole day in a manic state, chewing the furniture, because the combination of boredom and stress and the strong associations with smoking were crazy bad - but I kept reminding myself that it was all in my head, and the next day I was fine and I haven't had a 'crave' since.
As long as you stay aware of what's happening it's easy enough to beat them, and they don't consume you in the same way. And the best thing is that as you move on these random triggers become rarer and rarer!
You're doing fantastically well Legs, congratulations. Here's to a smoke free and happy 2012!
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