QuitWit makes One Year

Hi Everyone!

I can't believe it! In a little less than 4 hours, it will be 1 year since my last cigarette! At this time, one year ago, I was smoking like a chimney, trying to finish my last pack of cigs, and when I put out the last one, I cried. I cried because I was angry...at myself mostly, because I had let myself get addicted to cigarettes in the first place. I was 11 when I had my first cigarette, but I didn't start smoking in earnest until I was 22...when I was old enough and smart enough to know better.

Fourteen years and more than 10,000 packs later, I decided that I WOULD NOT be a slave to my addiction any longer. I did a lot of research for about a month before my quit smoking date, and I frequented a smoking cessation forum like this one. It wasn't easy, as I'm sure you all already know, but I knew that I wanted it badly enough. I used the patches (as directed) , and they served their purpose for me. I understood that they were a crutch to help me wean myself off of the nicotine while I was battling the psychological addiction. When I was finished with the program, I kept the last patch in my purse...just in case...would you believe it's still there?

I wish I could say that I never think about smoking, but that's not true. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago, I had a couple of pretty strong urges. That's all they are though...momentary thoughts about what it would feel like to light up. The thought of how horrible I would feel if I actually did light up has always been enough to keep me on the straight and narrow.

The 1-year mark is a bug hurdle...I'm proud of myself, but I'm not naive. I know that I can NEVER have another cigarette. Every night for this past year I have thanked God for getting me through the day without a cigarette, and I have asked for help with the next day.

The three biggest positive influences in my quit have been: Wanting to quit more than I wanted to smoke and committing to it Asking God for help Reading and posting in a quit forumI can't thank you enough, Christine, for the forum. I think I'd be puffing away right now if it hadn't been for you and the 'No Smoke Cafe'.

I'm so proud of all of those who have decided to quit. As some of you have said in your posts, only another quitter can really understand, and I sure do. It will always be one day at a time, and I can NEVER let my guard down.

Even though I found my initial support in another forum, I hope you all won't mind me hanging out here from time to time. It's a great support system for which I'm grateful, and I sure am happy to offer any support I can in return.

All the best to everyone.

Hang tough...don't puff! We don't smoke no matter what!

Michelle
QUITWIT (MICHELL15437)

Michelle's Quit Story
Michelle's 2 Year Milestone
Michelle's 3 Year Milestone
Michelle's 4 Year Milestone
Michelle's 5 Year Milestone
Patience With the Process
A Perspective on Using NRT's
There is No Substitute for Time
Depression When You Quit Smoking
Smoking and Degenerative Disc Disease

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Don't Start Smoking

When my kids were 8 and 10, they would ask me if I would quit, and I knew I should if I did not want them to start. But I kept on smoking. Even when my son who was only eight was walking around with pens or licorice pretending to smoke, and my 10-year-old daughter was saying that she could not wait until she got older so she could smoke just like me. That did not drive it in me to quit! It was too easy to keep smoking; eventually though, everything you start must come to an end.

The addiction to cigarettes is as strong as any illegal drug. In order to quit, the person has to really want to quit. I had always heard how hard it was to quit smoking, and that scared me. I think one of the greatest lies ever told is that quitting smoking is hard to do. Quitting smoking is not what is hard - it is making the decision to quit that is hard.

I knew that if I wanted to keep breathing, I had to do something with my life. So, after having the same cold leave and come back for two months, I decided it was time to stop smoking - better to do it when I was sick. And guess what? Not smoking was not as hard as I thought it would be. There is nicotine withdrawal; it is a drug, and that is not pleasant to go through, but it was not impossible. Not that it is easy to stop once you start; it is very much not easy, and takes a lot of work and willpower to quit. I would not wish that on someone I did not like!

I would say it took about 4 or 5 months before the cravings to smoke stopped totally, and another 2 or 3 months after that before I felt totally comfortable not smoking. I still get thoughts occasionally about having one, so I would not say I am totally free of the "habit" or addiction. I don't have to struggle with myself about buying them anymore, and I can shrug off the thought of smoking, but I can never let my guard down because all it would take would be "just one" and I would be back to smoking a pack a day before a week was over. People who are addicted to illegal drugs also have to exercise that kind of caution, though I think it is easier for them to change their life style and whom they know to stay away from concerning drugs. There will always be with me a risk of a relapse though, and I know this. All it takes is one drag off a cigarette and if it does not taste good, maybe the next drag will. I say that because cigarettes are everywhere, and legal to buy. You can get them at almost any store.

There is a great deal more information available now that was not around when I started smoking. It was suggested that, over time, cigarettes could be bad for your health. Now it is loudly proclaimed how bad smoking is for you. Still, knowing all the risks involved, a great many people start smoking every year.

To avoid becoming another tobacco addict, remember, it is not just tobacco you are inhaling. Even the so-called "natural" cigarettes have additives in them. Cigarettes do not make anyone look older or cooler. They will damage your health, change your appearance, and can make it hard to breathe though.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of death among smokers. Smoking is hard on the heart. It beats out deaths by drug overdose, suicide, AIDS, and accidents combined. You can say "we all have to die somehow," but you do not have to make that somehow be sooner than it needs to be.

Ellen's One Year Smoke Free Milestone

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Cold Turkey

Definition:
When a person quits "cold turkey", they don't use quit aids containing nicotine to help ease physical withdrawal. The biggest advantage of quitting cold turkey is that most of the nicotine from tobacco is out of the bloodstream within 3 days. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms tend to be more intense than if a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was used, but they are shorter-lived. This quit smoking method has a high rate of success when combined with a cessation program involving education, support, and determination.

See also: Quit Smoking Aids

Updated: 12-2-2005

Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT's)The Benefits of Smoking Cessationif(zSbL

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Zyban and NRTs

Question: Can I use NRTs with Zyban?Answer:
Yes. You may use the NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) of your choice while on bupropion hydrochloride, also known as Zyban®. NRTs include products such as: Using Zyban in combination with a nicotine replacement therapy can be a good option for people who find that one type of quit smoking aid alone is not enough to keep them comfortable. The odds of success with smoking cessation also improve when these two therapies are used together.

Note: It is important to be monitored by your doctor if you choose to use both Zyban and a NRT, as high blood pressure can be a concern.

See Also:
Zyban Patient Information
Zyban as a Quit Smoking Aid

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Cadmium in Cigarette Smoke

Photo © Stockxpert What Cadmium Is and Where it Comes From:Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that occurs in nature. Cadmium is also produced as a by-product of the process of smelting (heating and melting ores to extract metals). Cadmium is present in low levels in food, and in high levels in cigarette smoke. Cadmium does not corrode easily, so it works well in batteries, its primary use. Cadmium is also used in metal plating, plastics and textile manufacturing.

The most common form of cadmium exposure for the general population is through food and cigarette smoke.

Cadmium occurs naturally in many foods because it is present in the soil and water. Cadmium levels in most U.S. foods are between 2 and 40 parts per billion(2-40ppb). Fruits and beverages contain the least amount of cadmium, while leafy vegetables and raw potatoes contain the most. Shellfish, liver and kidney meats are also high in cadmium.

It's estimated that of the 30 micrograms (mcg -- millionths of a gram) of cadmium the average person ingests daily, 1-3 mcg is retained by the body.

A single cigarette typically contains 1-2 mcg of cadmium. When burned, cadmium is present at a level of 1,000-3,000 ppb in the smoke. Approximately 40 to 60 percent of the cadmium inhaled from cigarette smoke is able to pass through the lungs and into the body. This means that for each pack of cigarettes smoked, a person can absorb an additional 1-3 mcg of cadmium over what is taken in from other sources in their daily life. Smokers typically have twice as much cadmium in their bodies as their nonsmoking counterparts.Other Sources of Cadmium Exposure:People who work in certain high-risk occupations may face an increased risk of cadmium exposure. This would include people who work with: Soldering Welding Battery, plastics and textile manufacturingThe Safe Level of Exposure to Cadmium for Humans:The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that a safe level cadmium in drinking water is 5 ppb or less. The EPA believes that this level of exposure to cadmium will not produce any of the health problems associated with cadmium.Health Risks Associated with Cadmium Exposure:Acute exposure to ingested cadmium can produce the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting diarrhea muscle cramps salivation sensory disturbances liver injury convulsions shock renal failureAcute exposure to inhaled cadmium can cause lung problems including pneumonitis and pulmonary edema.

Chronic, long-term exposure to cadmium at levels above what is considered safe by the EPA may cause lung, kidney, liver, bone or blood damage.

While definitive conclusions have yet to be drawn, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have determined that cadmium probably causes cancer. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal and is present in large quantities in inhaled cigarette smoke. It damages lung tissue and can build up over time to cause kidney, liver, bone and blood damage. And, cadmium is just one of the hundreds of toxins present in cigarette smoke. Waste no time kicking your smoking habit to the curb. It offers you nothing more than disease and ultimately -- death. if(zSbL

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Dawg's One Month Milestone

"In this corner, wearing tar black trunks with yellowish gray skin, yellow fangs, and bloodshot eyes is the Nicooooooodeeemoooooonnnnn! And prowling the other corner, sporting a shiny coat, bright eyes, a nasty disposition, and that dim wit we are all familiar with is the Jundyaaaaaaarrrrdaaaaawg!

Ding, ding, ding

"They come out of their corners folks, the nicodemon tries a stealth attack, but the dawg sees what he's doing. The dawg blocks the attack and responds with a vicious uppercut. The demon is stumbling, no, no, he is down!; this round goes to the Dawg! I swear folks; I think the demon lost a fang or two with that blow."

"Let's have a talk with this round's winner. Down to you, Bob."

Bob:Thanks Dan. So dawg, you looked great out there today, you made this round look easy, how do you feel?
Dawg: Honestly Bob, I never felt better in my life. Training hard, eating right. This round was easy.
Bob:Bet you didn't think you would be able to say that a few weeks ago. How did you know what the demon was trying to do just then? That was a pretty sneaky move.
Dawg: Reading, listening to the advice of other fighters, just being prepared, you know.
Bob: Now this is thirty-one rounds in a row for you right? How did you accomplish that?
Dawg: Wow, thirty-one rounds already? As you know, the first 7 rounds were tough for me. The demon staggered me on a few occasions. The next seven were definitely easier, and it has steadily gotten easier after that. There were a few rounds; 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 21 that could have gone either way, but I stayed standing, and the judges ruled in my favor. I swear, after a couple of those rounds, I never thought I'd be able to get off my stool to fight again.
Bob: Where did you find the strength to keep going?
Dawg: Well, you know Bob, the WOS as well as Danny, Simon, Dave, Keith, and some promising newcomers kept coming by to give me tips and encouragement, and I tried to learn as much as I could from their example. I read a lot about the nicodemon's strategy, and I listened to the Sista Ash Kicka's Experience on the headphones. Honestly, without all the help I received, there is no way I would be standing today. Oh, and I drank plenty of ice water, never let myself get too hungry, popped lots of Altoids and cloves, and just did anything and everything I could to keep standing.
Bob: Well, if you don't mind my saying so, it appears that you have actually gotten bigger and stronger in the later rounds, and it appears that the demon has gotten dramatically smaller and weaker.
Dawg:(with a sideways grin) Well, I have to admit that I have put on a few pounds...but without a doubt, I have gotten stronger too. As you know, the demon and I were partners for several years, and I guess I always assumed he was the stronger of the two of us, but come to find out, he needed me (for him to stay strong) much more than I needed him. I definitely see that he's getting weaker the longer we stay apart.
Bob: So what's next for the dawg?
Dawg: Nothing new, Bob. I'll be here tomorrow to fight the good fight. I'll continue my reading and preparation. The nicodemon didn't look strong today, but he is definitely a tough opponent, and you just can't count him out yet.
Bob: Just one more question, dawg. Did you really know Sooby Doo?
Dawg: Yeah, you know, it's not like we were in the same pack or anything, but yeah, I knew him. He always did soooo good in obedience class, and I just barely scraped by. The instructor would be like "fetch" and I'd be all like "what the hell for man, you threw the dam* thing, you've got two good legs, you go get it", and Scooby would be all like "rooby roo, as rong as I get a riscuit!" We started calling biscuits "Scooby Snacks" 'cause he'd do anything for one; what a suck up. Pretty shameless if you ask me. I mean, I'm my own dawg, you know, I'll sit when I'm dam*'d good and ready, and I'll lay down when I'm tired.
Bob: o
Bob: As usual dawg, we get just a little too much information with you, don't we. We were doing just fine, having a pretty good interview, and you just had to insult an Icon.
Dawg: Sorry, Bob.
Bob: Back to you, Dan.

~Dawg~ (junkyarddawg)

Dawg's Quit Smoking Story
Dawg's Two Month Milestone
Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours. Richard Bach, Illusions

May your day be filled with enough challenges to make you strong, enough failures to make you humble, enough success to make you believe in yourself, and enough love to make you believe in others.

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Quitter's Flu

Stockxpert Definition: Quitter's flu is a slang term used to describe the flu-like symptoms that nicotine withdrawal can sometimes produce.

Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can include: Cravings to smoke Irritability, crankiness Insomnia Fatigue Inability to concentrate Headache Cough Sore throat Constipation, gas, stomach pain Dry mouth Sore tongue and/or gums Postnasal drip Tightness in the chestAlso known as smoker's flu, quitter's flu is not a real sickness; it refers only to physical sensations we experience while detoxing from nicotine and the chemicals in tobacco that can mimic illness.

See also: All About Nicotine Withdrawal

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