Hello all! I've been reading the posts on this forum for two weeks and finally decided to sign up and post today. Today is Day 17 of no smoking for me. I am 35 years old, female, and have been smoking since I was 16 years old. At the end of my addiction here, I was up to 2 packs a day, and if I was drinking alcohol, sometimes more.
About 3 weeks ago, I came down with a nasty case of Strep throat. I have never had strep throat like this before. It was so bad that the pain meds were causing me to vomit over my already inflamed throat. My doctor put me in the hospital for 2 days to get the inflammation down. The point of my story was that I didn't ask for a patch while I was there, and I really wasn't thinking about smoking, as all I could think about was how bad my throat hurt. So after 48 hours of hospitalization, my husband came to pick me up and instead of lighting up, I chose not to. I figure the hospital gave me a jumpstart for 2 days and why blow it now?
So here I am...17 days and I quit cold turkey. Every day I notice something positive about this entire experience. For example, last night the husband and I went to see a movie and I didn't leave halfway through to go have a smoke.
I will not say this has been easy, but it has been easier than I thought it would. However, yesterday, at Day 16, I broke down crying in front of my husband. I told him I really wanted to have some beers, some smokes and call my girlfriend and chit chat. Of course, he said I could have some beers and make the call, just couldn't have the smokes. Problem is, I associate the smokes and beers together, so I knew if I had beers, it was only a matter of time before I went out and bought a pack of smokes. I was pretty upset, trying to reason to him why I should be able to "reward" myself with a smoke or two. I was crying like a blubbering idiot, telling him how everything is so different now and I feel like I've turned into a hermit; afraid to go in public where there may be smoking, don't want to drive anywhere, because I always smoked in my car. The list goes on. He claims that soon enough I'll be stronger and this phase will be over and get better. I mean, I'm not a total hermit, I WILL go places, but it seems given the choice right now, I just stay away from temptation. On the other hand, my house has never been more organized and clean as it is now. I've tried to keep busy while I'm here and that progress clearly shows.
My kids are 6, 7, and 8, and they are cheering me on daily. The house no longer smells of old cigarettes, and I'm no longer jeopardizing my family's health with my selfish habit. I have been withdrawing $10 a day from the bank which is what it was costing me to smoke every day. I now have $160 worth of bills in my piggy bank. It's my biggest VISUAL incentive right now. I think to myself, "OMG, look at how much I was spending to kill myself."
I never viewed myself as a non-smoker. But I'm starting to get used to this whole "not smoking" thing. I just wish some of the doubts would go away...Thank you for reading/listening. I haven't had a cigarette in 17 days and this is the longest I've ever gone. I've got this now.