Well so far it has been 31 1/2 hours since my last cigarette. 

My dr said I had to quit smoking, because now smoking has effected my vocal cords, along with stress, and I sound like "Mickey Mouse on Helium". 

I loose my voice for long periods of time, and then it comes back, then goes away again.  First I thought it was my thyroid - as I have a lump on it, and thought it was pressing my vocal cords.  But no, smoking is a major factor in me having no voice.

Here we have a study, where if you agree to participate in it, they supply you with non smoking aids, for free, to help you quit. 

So this is my second day with the patch on, and even though I still want one, I am being stubborn not to have a smoke. 

Hoping it gets easier!!!!!! 

i quit smoking last november
i have smoked for 30 years
i have tried patches in the past but always failed
this time i am using Champix and i feel fantastic
if i smell smoke i feel sick
they dont contain nicotine and really really work

What is the Champix, how does it work and where do you get it?

Thanks,
Sarah.

You can get it from your GP. It has been proven to work but you do still need will power.

This site has more info:

http://www.champixinfo.co.uk/

Some people say it causes suicidal thoughts but I think there is only 1 case of a man actually trying to commit suicide and theres no evidence to suggest it was because of the Champix.

Good luck!

go for it!!! go for it!!!  and well done so far!!!!
I'm on day 9!!!!!!! 

my dad was a smoker for over 30 years.one day he got scared because he stuggled to breath after walking a short distance up the road. He went to the Doctor who wanted him to use patches/gum/counselling. My Dad being a "mans man" said he didnt want any of that. The Doctor said he would never quit without help after being a 20-a-day smoker for 30 years. dad said (quite rightly) "how do i know if i dont give it ago?"  He had his cigarette as normal before he went to work. When he'd gone i noticed he'd forgotten his packet of fags. Turned out he decided that was the day to give up. He's never had a cigarette since and that was over a year ago. If he can do it anyone can!!!!! Good luck - when it's for your health it's so worthwhile.

I have stopped smoking on Champix, it is fantastic. At my Doctors  we have a stop smoking clinic there. To my knowledge only one person didnt manage to stop using Champix.It is a course of tablets and you start them and still carry on smoking. You then pick a day to quit between day 8 and 14 of starting the course.I stopped on day 8, I tried to keep smoking as I was allowed to keep smoking until day 14, but to be honest I just couldnt smoke many cigarettes after the first tablet.I have smoked for 20 years and enjoyed it. Not any more and the money I have saved!It worked for me, and I never thought I would be able to quit.

Good Luck!  I gave up 5 years ago, it's not easy but worth it - really it is :D

Good luck, if you are really determined and really want to quit then you will succeed. I gave up 4 years ago and I have never regretted it! :-)

Well its almost 48 hours since my last cigarette. 

I realized, why I smoked, and how to avoid it. A maing thing, was stress.  At least I thought so.  Well, I can tell you with moving, and then being involved with trying to save my Cher's brother, and all kinds of other stresses, it isnt hard to not smoke when stressed.  See I pretend.  I breathe deeply, hold it in, and then exhale.  The only change is that I am not breathing in a cigarette.  Its the breathing exercises that help.

Today I havent really wanted on.  For a split second I did, but did the breathing and it helped.  I am going to go to the market today, and pick up some fresh veggies.   At least if I am gonna snack, it might as well be healthy snacks. 

Also, cut back on caffiene, cos I always want a smoke with my coffee.  Now, one in the morning, and then its on to either water or juice.  Nice change, I feel more awake, which is odd, since caffiene is supposed to make you stay awake.

Good luck Crespin.  Keep at it, you can do it :-)

I found changing all the things that normally went with a cigarette helped too, like you I always had a coffee on my way to work with a cigarette so I change my morning drink etc etc.
Its really the nicotine that makes you feel stressed then when you have a cigarette you feel as if it has calmed you down, its like a viscious (sp) circle. You are doing great the start is always the hardest! :-)

Crespin, that is one of the best ways to relieve the stress.. the breathing in and exhaling...
One of the things I've said to people who know I've quit is that it isn't so much the fag I miss, but just that 2 minutes of going - 'aaaah' and having that little bit of time to myself.
No reason we can't do that from time to time hey?
I did the puffer thing at my docs yesterday at the quit smoking clinic, and already all the toxins are out of my system and lungs, and I have the same mg's (1!!!) as a non smoker!!
This is after 9 days, but it was the same after 48 hours - that's gotta be good?!
Well done so far, keep it up! :-)

Had a sort of slip today, but not really.

My mom had the ashtray right at the computer, and was having a smoke.  Mom and I would always have a smoke together, as we read emails and such, and talked about all the stuff people sent us.

Well what did I do?  I reached for the smoke, and it was almost in my mouth before I realized that I had the smoke in my hand.  I didnt puff or anything, and when I realized it, I screamed "OMG!!!!" and slammed it back into the tray.

My sister is being the witch about it.  She called me an idiot to try and quit smoking with all the stress right now.  But if I dont, I wont get my voice back. I wont feel better.  So, its either deal with it now, and learn, or dont do it, and not ever get better.  She also blew smoke in my face, and I told her right off.  Basically, I told her to get out of my house, and that if she was gonna be a jerk, I didnt want to see her for a while.
She got the message real quick.

But other than the almost slip up, it does seem to be getting easier.  It also helps when you got people kinda routing you on.  Some people are like "I will congratulate you when you havent smoked for a year" well poo on them.  The comment is also coming from people that smoke, so I take it with a grain of salt.  I am stubborn enough to stop smoking, and I am gonna do it this time.

Thanks everyone for your support!

unfortunatly the man didnt attempt to commit suicide! he succeeded ! he slit his wrists
but to be honest he must have had problems before taking the pills! i am asked every time i go to the clinic about my mental health etc and when i first wanted to go on them the nurse checked out my records to see if i was suitable!
i am off to Arles in March paid for by the money i no longer waste on ciggies!

My OH took the tablets too. He smoked until he lit one up and said it made him feel sick, that was his last cigarette and as I was having one at same time I made it my last as well. That was last April and neither of us have had a fag since then. But the difference is he did it with the tablets and although he smoked more than me it doesn't bother him at all. Whereas I did it with willpower and could still have a fag at times. The tablets did make him feel very sick though and I think he actually was sick a couple of times. He stuck with it though bless him!!!

Good luck, it does get slightly easier, for some reason I struggled most at about the 1 week mark!! I kept posting on here though and all the support from here kept me going!!

My OH gave up last March with help from the gum..he now just has sugar free gum and does not miss smoking at all!

Good luck

My brother and brother-in-law have both recently been on Champix and are doing great. My sister used the patches and gave up a few years ago but did seem to suffer a lot of nightmares at first, don't know if it was due to the patches?

Some people are like "I will congratulate you when you havent smoked for a year" well poo on them

Too right poo on them!!!  I've had people with that attitude toward me too.. but I'm such a stubborn old bat, I'm determined more than ever to prove them wrong!
I CAN give up and will continue to be smoke free! :-D
Try and think of yourself as a non smoker, who has never smoked.. that's kinda helping me through it!

Keep going - you can do it!

the chemical addiction to nicotine is not the difficult part to get over. It's touch but the chemical is out of your system within a few days if you go 'cold turkey'. however the physical effects and psychological effects are more long term. By smoking you will have drastically altered your dopamine system in your brain. basically this is the area that gives you pleasure for doing things (ususally for survival). for example when your really thirsty and you drink water it feels amazing- thats dopamine in your system. the dopamine system has been convinced that you require this substance to survive. once you have survived without it for a while it gets easier but you will always b physically addicted to nicotine (which is why "oh i'll just have one" doesn't work!). the hardest times will be when your in a situation in which you usually smoke. eg. if you always have one on yur work break you'll crave it worst then, because your brain is telling you "this is when you give me this thing". hope that made sense (we did a module on addiction before i dropped psychology)

well i say congrats to you all for trying, good luck

Keep going........it's a greatly satisfying thing when, you see another smoker lighting up, and say to yourself "I dont need that any more".
Count the pennies you have saved......and splash out on something as a reward.
10 years on I consider myself a reformed smoker. But tell myself and others I may start again when I reach about 80, never say never.....

Karen ;-)

>>did seem to suffer a lot of nightmares at first, don't know if it was due to the patches? <<

I do think it has something to do with the patches.

Last night, I dreamt that there was a haunted spirit living with me.  She had cuts all on her face, and kept throwing glass down on the floor.  She distroyed a wedding at the house.  Basically, it was really scary, but I cant remember all of it.

It says in the package, on the warning labels, that you can have "vivid" dreams on the patch. 

Hope it doesnt last long though. 

I stopped smoking May 06, Fa Cup Final day the 13th!  Smoked so much I thought it was my last day alive.  I find the smell of cigarettes repulsive now but if Hubby and I row, well I can easily go back to them! 

I can already smell the smell of smokes when I walk into my house.  My mom still smokes, but when I walked in, thats all I could smell.  It wreeked!!!

well I'm disappointed - no vivid dreams for me yet! :-D

Try putting Quit Keeper on your PC

http://www.dedicateddesigns.com/qk/

I up last July

They will come, oh my, some are good, like those dreams you get when you are crushing on someone, I guess the better word is fancy someone?

Those are the best!!!!  The nightmares, they are scary!!!!

Go for it!!!  It definatly gets easier

I smoked for about 3 years as i am only 19 now! And i quit 3 months ago

Just stopped, i am that stubborn that i wont even have one! lol

So definately go for it!!!

xx

My mom had a root canal done today, and when she got out of the dentists office, she wanted a smoke.  She tried for 5 minutes to light the smoke, and kept burning her hair.  I eventually lite it for her, without actually taking a drag.  But the taste still got in my mouth, and it was horrid.  I had to spit and drink water.

I dont think I will ever go back to smoking.  Its not a nice habit to have, and I am not missing out by not having a smoke.  This is day 4, and the only time I have a craving now, is when I first wake up.  That was my main smoke.  The rest of the day, I could care less.

Its great. I can smell things better, and taste things better.  I feel better already, and seem to have more energy.

I think part of it, is this board to, because I couldnt believe the amount of support on here.  Its fantastic!!!  Thanks guys.

Hi Crespin,
Well done for stopping and keeping it up in the face of the adversity you have had . Dont listen to negative people Most smokers want to give up ,and pour scorn on anyone who has succeeded,cos they don't have the willpower to do it.I stopped on Sept 11th 2005,after 50 years of smoking. I loved my cigarettes,and thought I would never be able to function or enjoy life without one,but that is a myth.I read Allen Carr's book (twice) before it started to sink in,and I would say. I don't need this fag ,as I was lighting up,but I want it,so that made it OK. Eventually,it got through,and I decided to stop,as I had been smoking more and more since I retired and was at home all day.I got a few tips from various stop smoking sites,and found the ones that helped were cutting a straw in half and using that like a fag,sucking air through it. I found that helped with the hand to mouth thing.Also sipping water when I felt like a fag.I personally used the inhalators as I knew that was the best method for me,but after 3 weeks,the nicotine craving had gone and I gradually phased them out too.I threw out everything connected to cigarettes,lighters,ashtrays etc and made sure there were no fags in any old handbags or cupboards.
Now,I am so glad I stopped,as it's banned everywhere,and not a pleasure any more.I have had to cope with the loss of my mother,and moving house,and ending up in hospital with last years virus,unable to breathe.I was diagnosed with mild COPD,and get breathless walking up stairs and hills now,thanks to all the fags I smoked.I never think of them now,even when my son and son in law are in the kitchen lighting up,it doesnt bother me,in fact it goes for the back of my throat now.
If you can get through the first 3 weeks,you will have stopped,as all the nicotine will be well out of your system,and only the urge to actually smoke will be there,the craving will be gone.Control the urge by trying some of the tips people have given on here and this time next year you will be giving the same advice to someone else who wants to stop.
Good Luck,
Jean

Well Done Crespin :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
IO know how hard it is.
I tried to give up every day I was pregnant with Sam. I only managed it when I was 7 months pregnant as I had a dream he was strill born due to cigrettes!!!!
About 6 months later I left my husband and the last 9 years have sometimes been hell on earth for me, most of the years havnt been great but I have never started again.The thing is, If ypou are able to quit in bad times, it means you will be better at resisting through the bad times to come :) :)
As for your sister, she is only jealous!!!! she knows she cant do it, so doesnt want you to!!!
And it must be soo hard quitting when you have smokers in the house so
A HUGE PAT ON THE BACK AND KEEP AT IT GAL, YOU WILL SUCCEED AND BE HEALTHIER FOR IT :D :D :D :D
Lea :)

Well, at this very moment in time, was the last time I put out a smoke.  It has been exactly one week since my last smoke.

I am so happy, and without the support of my friends, and some family, and of course you here on CD I wouldnt have been able to.

I AM SO HAPPY!!!!  I can do it, I am stubborn enough, and I am gonna keep this up.

Wow, I cant even believe it.  This is the longest I have gone without a smoke.

SO HAPPY YAY!!!!!!

Thanks CD'ers

Crespin

Great stuff, Crespin! The first week's a real milestone, so well done! Remember, now you know that you can manage one week, you can manage another one week ... go for it!

today seems a hard day for quitting smoking for some reason.  I am not overly stressed, and I am not anxious about anything.  Dont know why,but I want one so bad right now.  But I am not gonna have one.  Not worth having a smoke, and then being back at step one again.

I think I am gonna go get some fruit to munch on.  At least I am not going for the chocolate chip cookies (although that does sound REALLY good at teh moment.)

One day at a time.  Thats all it takes.

Now you are going to realise that I AM completely cracked!!!!
When I felt the urge to smoke, I used to get an empty biro, as in just the outside tube, and suck through that as if I was inhaling a cigerette!!!!!
Gave me just enough of a feeling I was smoking to calm the thoughts down :) :)
Yes I am cracked, but it worked for me :) :)
And If you can do a week, it means its now not the nicotine having a hold on you, its the Habit!!!! So now you have gone cold tuirkey, YOU CAN DO IT :) :)
Lea :)

Keep it up Crespin, you're doing great!

I wish I had your willpower.

keep it up!!! dont think you will  go back now anyway!! if your that stubborn you will be stubborn against yourself and not let yourself

awwww well done so proud!!!

xxx

2 weeks tomorrow.  I am so happy.  Now I am at the point, where I dont think about wanting a smoke at all. 

So done smoking for good!!!!

Crespin. that means the hold against you has gone!!!!
WELL DONE :D :D :D :D :D
Now is the hardest part......... Staying off them and realising you ARE a non smoker, and when you are low and your heart n says reach for the fags. your brain needs to say no!!!!!!
Yopu now need to treach your brain that you dont want to reach for the fags  :) :)
Well done well done well done. UI cant say that enough :D :D :D :D
And you have p[roved people WRONG :)
Lea :) :) :) (ex smoker for 9 years!!!)

Well Done! You should save the money you USED to spend on cigarettes and buy yourself (or your doggies) something nice.:-)
ex smoker 9 yrs also, can't stand the smell now!:-(

gonna get myself a new room.  Buy paint, new bedspread, carpet, and curtains.  It will be so nice.  Pink walls (not real pink, really washed out) with Burgendy accents, and black furniture.

Cant wait.  But it will be all done at the new place.  YAY