Help, I keep cheating with a puff or two

[Barby77]

Hi I am on day 5 of trying to quit. I have smoked for the past 26 years and really started to feel bad, my lungs hurt. I went to doctor and she said that my lung are clear but the bottom of my lungs are not really passes much air, my blood pressure was also high, which it never has been. She thinks that i have done real bad damage to my lungs. I was diagnosed with copd last year when she did a lung function test on me. I have tried to quit before but never made it past the 12 hour mark. I have made it past this mark this time because I am really trying. That being said day one I broke down and had one cigarette, it did not make me feel better but it made my brain feel better. Day 2,3 and 4 I lit a cigarette and took 2 puffs put it out and went on with my day. I have the gum and it seems to help but I can not seem to stop lighting a smoke and taking a puff. Please help. I am not sleeping well and I know everywhere I read that one puff will lead me back but I cant help myself. I have gone for walks, cleaned my house etc. please help

[J9_54 4 Years Smoke Free]

Hi Barby, I am 14 months off the fags now. I don't even think about them now but remember those early days well when I gave up as I was on holiday in France at the time where relaxing in the sun beside the lake with a glass of wine and a smoke was close to heaven for me.

I found each time I had that strong urge to light a fag I had to do something else. So I had bags of mints in wrappers stashed in my bag and everywhere I usually smoked, car, desk drawer etc and took one of those instead. It gave my fingers something to do and then replaced that watery feeling in my mouth with a pleasant taste and then I was able to just move on.

Tackle it one smoke at a time, one day at a time and you'll get there.

Good luck :0)

[mushen Valued Contributor]

Hello and welcome.

What you have read is correct. When trying to quit, one puff can be fatal for the vast majority of us. Sadly, it is never just one puff, just as you have experienced this quit. One leads to another and another. I have had 3 relapses because I allowed myself just one puff. Smoking really does seem to be an all or nothing activity. The problem with having one puff, is that you are leaving yourself in a permanent state of withdrawal. It takes 3 days for nicotine to leave the body after which the mental battle begins.

You said that you are using gum so that will help a bit. Have you considered using an e-cigarette? You do not have to use one with nicotine in it if you don't want to and it may help you with the 'hand to mouth' habit. I used one for a couple of weeks and it was the only thing that worked. Granted, e-cigarettes are not risk free but they are certainly a vast improvement on actual cigarettes and have been helpful to lots of us on here.

Whatever you choose to do, do not stop trying. Remove all smoking related materials from the house and take it one hour at a time. Do whatever it takes not to smoke. I know it is terribly hard, but quitting is achievable.

Post as much as you need to. 😊

[CocoaXChange Valued Contributor]

Barby, I echo the comments from J9 and Mushen. I'd add that especially when you are trying to get over the physical addiction, which is generally 3 days, sneaking even a few puffs keeps the nicotine receptors working and prolongs your suffering.

I also used e-cigs and found them more useful than gum or patch; though everyone is different. best in your quit,

[Chickweed1 2 Years Smoke Free]

I haven't smoked for almost three years ... but still wouldn't dare have any in the house and know very well that if I had just one cigarette (or even a few puffs) I would be back to square one. So, by having the odd puff or two, you are actually making it more difficult for yourself to quit. No-one finds it easy - in fact it is hellishly difficult (and at times feel impossible) - but it can be done. You have to really want to, though, for yourself. Advice from doctors, etc, has absolutely no effect unless you decide you 'want' to do it. The key is doing it for yourself. I had to almost go from hour to hour (or 30 mins to 30 mins!). Tick the days off on your calendar - with a note each day on how much money you've saved - just gives you something to be proud of as it adds up. I remember being almost moribund when I started my quit - felt I couldn't shift from my chair, let alone do things to take my mind of having cigarette. Smoking is a dreadful, all-consuming, addiction. But you can quit. You really can.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Welcome Barby77 - can't offer much more to the excellent advice given already other than having the mindset that smoking is not option - just take it hour by hour and build it up to day by day, week by week and so on....

Below is a link to a pinned post worth a read if not already done so on tips in our journey. We look forward to seeing you in Day 1 very soon and keep reading up here

healthunlocked.com/nosmokin...

[Hercu Valued Contributor]

Barby ...Hi and welcome..Yes. you are making it extremely difficult for yourself....By understanding why it is so difficult to quit you will see why you are torturing yourself...during 26 years smoking your brain is rewired to exept smoking as the only stress relief and the only way to be happy...You are actually feeding this by taking a puff or two...It is like giving in to a naughty child throwing a tantrum...

I know it is very difficult and quitting is certainly one of the most difficult processes I have gone through in my life...

Stay strong !!!