How I Quit Smoking

I began this blog at a different site and have decided to post it here as it was written over seven years time ....

I am 50 years old. I smoked for 32 years and quit, cold turkey, on Friday, March 8, 2002. This has been a very difficult week. I made two trips to my Doctor for help. I am now on an antidepressant medication, called Zoloft, to help me with my depression. Stay tuned for the continuing story ...
DAY 11 is over. So far so good and the cravings appear to be diminishing in severity and frequency. I have developed a new love for water consumption and Trident Sugarless Gum chewing...
TWO WEEKS down and the rest of my life to go. Trident Sugarless Gum is a heck of a lot cheaper than cigarettes...
THREE WEEKS and counting ... I can`t believe that I have abstained from smoking for three whole weeks. I miss it occasionally, but, it is getting easier with each day ... sort of ... I have switched to Excel Cherry Chill Gum, instead of Trident.
Day 40 .... It`s not so bad, if you can make it through the first three weeks. Then, remember ...NEVER HAVE JUST ONE .... EVER.
Day 57 has ended and Day 58 begins. A day does not go by without the urge to smoke. I chew a lot of gum and drink a lot of water and stay determined to never smoke again.
Day 78 is coming to a close and I just found out that Day 100 is a `Big Deal`. Only 22 more days and it will be my `Big Deal`. In the meantime, I am just content to take one day at a time and buy myself stuff. It`s amazing how much money I`ve saved in such a short period of time, even with buying myself stuff.
Day 92 and I am one happy ex-smoker.
Day 100 Hallelujah!!!! I am an Elder!
Day 109 A carton of cigarettes now costs $74.00 CDN here. I am very glad I quit when I did. A carton was only $54.00 a mere 109 days ago.
Day 161 I am still smoke free. It is still difficult. I believe it will always be difficult and a constant struggle within. I am firm in my resolve to remain smoke free for the rest of my life, which I hope will be extended as a result.
Day 209 It will soon be 7 months smoke free. It has been challenging to say the least. So far, so good.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME! 7 MONTHS TODAY!
Time Smoke-Free: 214 days, 14 hours, 26 minutes and 52 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 8369
Lifetime Saved: 2 months, 3 days, 22 hours
Money Saved: $3,338.40 (more in Canadian Dollars)
I would like to mention to others checking up on my progress that since I quit seven months ago, I have been `sick`more often. I have suffered through bouts of laryngitis, a throat infection, a normal cold, and now, a sinus infection. I have noticed changes in my general bodily functions and I attribute this to the toxins leaving my body after 32 years of abuse. I have seen my Doctor a lot this past 7 months and I understand that it may take a full year before I can say that I feel like a new person. I will hang in there. I will not smoke again!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME! 8 MONTHS TODAY!
Another month has passed. It has now been 9 months for me. Smokers Stink! I have trouble walking into smoke filled spaces now and I wonder why I waited so long to take the plunge. I`m glad I did.
TEN MONTHS TODAY ..... Do I hear everyone clapping? Well, I can imagine that everyone is clapping. Time Smoke-Free: 306 days, 12 hours, 53 minutes and 26 seconds
...but, who`s counting? :o)
I`m still counting and today, Saturday, February 8, 2003, marks 11 Months Smoke Free. I can now say that I feel really good. It took 11 months of abstinence, but, I feel terrific. So, Keep The Quit and you too will feel terrific.
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2003 @ 8:11 P.M. CST ONE YEAR!!!!! I MADE IT!!!! LIFE IS GRAND!365 Days to go for Year Number 2.
13 MONTHS .... and counting .....
14 MONTHS .... and very proud of myself!
15 MONTHS .... and Time Smoke-Free: 459 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes and 39 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 17939 Lifetime Saved: 4 months, 17 days Money Saved: $7,160.40 This is even impressive for me.
16 MONTHS and An Interesting Development.... I have just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I came across the following interesting tidbit of information concerning the correlation between Quitting Smoking and the development of Hypothyroidism, which I will now share with the Quitnet Community...
`The Relationship Between Quitting Smoking and Thyroid Disease OnsetWhile I don`t have an answer as to whether or not stopping smoking `triggers` problems with the thyroid -- as it anecdotally often appears to be -- it is clear that medical researchers have found that smoking can worsen hypothyroidism in people that already have it, and smoking can seriously affect thyroid function. My theory is that smoking/nicotine creates an artificially high metabolism that masks the fatigue/lethargy commonly seen in hypothyroidism. When the smoker quits, this masking is removed, and the full effects of hypothyroidism on the metabolism and thyroid are felt.
And, for smokers with undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction, without proper thyroid hormone treatment, stopping seems to be a metabolic/weight gain double whammy, as they lose the appetite suppressant, metabolism-upping effects of nicotine, and experience the full effects of the hypothyroidism.`
17 MONTHS .... It has not been easy.
18 MONTHS .... Cost of 3 cartons of cigarettes = a lovely trip. I leave October 7th.
19 MONTHS .... I am currently enjoying my 18 MONTH reward. I am celebrating today`s milestone in a different city. I am very good at rewarding myself. The city in which I live has now instituted a non-smoking policy in all public places. This is a good thing, as Martha would say. Congratulations to my city and to me!!!! It can be done!
20 MONTHS ... Things to do ... SHOP for an appropriate anniversary gift. I may stop rewarding myself at two years .... or not.
21 MONTHS ... The reward is on order. Quit 641 days. $9,999.60 and 6 months, 11 days, 5 hours of my life saved!
22 MONTHS ... I came very, very close to breaking down and submitting to an intense desire to return to smoking today. I had been having a rough week. If there was something to go wrong this week, it did indeed go wrong. I had another incident today and I almost hopped into my car to drive to the nearest convenience store to buy smokes. Instead I slammed a few drawers and cupboard doors and went to bed, where I did not sleep more than 5 hours and when I awoke, I still wanted a cigarette. I resisted. It is always a battle for me. Never let your guard down. Never succumb. It is too hard to start over.
23 MONTHS ... I may stop counting monthly anniversaries next month at 2 years. This afternoon, I had an irresistible urge to buy cigarettes and smoke myself silly. It passed, but, it is a constant struggle for me. It is incredibly hard to resist these urges sometimes. I have succeeded to date, but, I must never succumb.
TWO YEARS ... Congratulations to me. Time Smoke-Free: 731 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 8 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 28538 Lifetime Saved: 7 months, 7 days, 23 hours Money Saved: $11,403.60
EVERY SMOKER SHOULD QUIT. You will smell better. You will feel better and hopefully, you will live longer.
TWO YEARS, ONE MONTH or 25 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE... It is a good feeling to be free of nicotine. Try it.
TWO YEARS, TWO MONTHS or 26 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... plus 9 days or ...Time Smoke-Free: 801 days, 20 hours, 37 minutes and 54 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 31273 Lifetime Saved: 7 months, 28 days, 21 hours Money Saved: $12,495.60
I have a cousin that smoked for 40 years. He suffered a major heart attack 6 years ago and underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery. Now, he is faced with severe lung damage, shortness of breath and portable oxygen tanks. Picture yourself hooked up to one of these and do yourself a favor ...QUIT SMOKING!
TWO YEARS, THREE MONTHS or 27 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... plus 4 days ... and, yet another friend of mine was just diagnosed with COPD. She is 51 years old. So, READER, if you do not want to be another COPD sufferer, STOP SMOKING NOW and pray that the damage you did to yourself over the years can be reversed.
TWO YEARS, FOUR MONTHS or 28 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE... Time Smoke-Free: 853 days, 17 hours, 37 minutes and 22 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 33296 Lifetime Saved: 8 months, 14 days, 8 hours Money Saved: $13,306.80.
TWO YEARS, FIVE MONTHS or 29 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... Time Smoke-Free: 885 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 2 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 34550 Lifetime Saved: 8 months, 23 days, 22 hours PRETTY GOOD FOR SOMEONE WHO ONLY QUIT TWICE IN HER 32 YEARS OF SMOKING. TWO YEARS, SIX MONTHS OR 30 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ....plus 10 days, since I forgot to update my profile on my actual monthly anniversary. So, Time Smoke-Free: 925 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes and 7 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 36108 Lifetime Saved: 9 months, 5 days, 19 hours Money Saved: $14,430.00
......... AND COUNTING .....................................!
TWO YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS OR 31 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ....and it is with a heavy heart that I inform the world that my cousin mentioned earlier in this Profile, who was then diagnosed with COPD has had his diagnosis changed to something called Pulmonary Hypertension, which is far worse than COPD from what he tells me. He was a heavy smoker for most of his life. He suffered a heart attack at age 52 and was on a respirator for a very long time. The respirator could have caused this hypertension to develop. He sees a Pulmonary Specialist next week and will hopefully know more at that time. It makes me think that `what if` he had never began smoking in the first place, would he not be suffering the adverse health effects now? I am glad I chose to quit when I did and I think of my cousin attached to his oxygen supply 24/7, wheezing, puffing and panting his way through what remains of his life. He is approaching his 60th Birthday and may not live to enjoy his 61st. Smoking Kills Folks! So, if you have not done yourselves the favor of quitting, please read some Profiles on this Site and reconsider.
TWO YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS OR 32 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ..
My cousin has possibly 5 more years to live. He just celebrated his 60th Birthday. The Primary Pulmonary Hypertension supposedly was not caused by his smoking habit, but, I am sure that it did not help matters. His smoking habit certainly contributed to his early cardiac episode and subsequent quadruple bypass. Again, Everyone Out There Thinking About Quttting, JUST DO IT.
TWO YEARS, NINE MONTHS OR 33 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE...
My cousin dropped dead on Tuesday, November 9, 2004. He was buried on Canada`s Remembrance Day of Thursday, November 11, 2004. Farewell Cousin Mel .... I WILL REMEMBER.
As for me ... My Stats:Your Quit Date is: 3/8/2002Time Smoke-Free: 1006 days, 13 hours, 56 minutes and 13 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 39257 Lifetime Saved: 9 months, 29 days, 21 hours Money Saved: $15,693.60
So, Folks, Keep The Quit!
TWO YEARS, TEN MONTHS OR 34 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE It has been a very long 2 years and 10 months. I have chewed so many pieces of gum that I should have shares in the company. Gum is a lot cheaper than cigarettes. Perhaps there is a GumNet somewhere in Cyberspace? :o) Two more months to go to mark my Three Year Quit Anniversary. I shall begin thinking of a suitable reward for myself.
TWO YEARS, ELEVEN MONTHS OR 35 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE It has been a very long 2 years and 11 months. However, I persevere. Life can be difficult at times, yet there is a reward at the end of my rainbow. I just have to think of something special to mark my Three Year Abstinence. I have 28 more days to think about this one.
THREE LONG, HARD, SMOKE FREE YEARS!!!!!I am quite proud of myself. I marked this milestone by buying myself a new computer system. See how much money you save by not smoking. Keep your quit and save.
THREE YEARS, ONE MONTH OR 37 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE Time Smoke-Free: 1129 days, 14 hours, 30 minutes and 50 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 44055 Lifetime Saved: 11 months, 6 days, 12 hours Money Saved: $17,612.40 and I am enjoying my new computer, courtesy of my smoking abstinence. THREE YEARS, TWO MONTHS OR 38 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE and profound sadness .....Unfortunately, this week would have been one of my cherished Basset Hound`s 9th birthday. My Quitnet anniversary and his birthday fell on the same week. My youngest furkid succumbed to total rear end paralysis on April 20th and was gently helped to heaven, leaving his 12 year old Dad behind. April 20th was my true test for once my boy was gone, all I could think about was the need for a cigarette. I resisted. So, now, here I sit on Mother`s Day. mourning the loss of my beautiful Ben and what does God provide on this day? .... a horrible toothache. I hope my dentist doesn`t have plans for today. Life is very difficult indeed.
THREE YEARS, THREE MONTHS OR 39 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE and more profound sadness .....
On May 28th, a very good friend of mine lost her only son suddenly at the young age of 45 years. He leaves behind both his parents, a wife of only four years and a daughter not yet one year old. He was overweight, ate nothing but fast food, never exercised and he SMOKED! He suffered a massive heart attack, which autopsy results listed as life style choices. So, folks, choose a smoke free life style. I have and now My Stats:Your Quit Date is: 3/8/2002 Time Smoke-Free: 1188 days, 12 hours, 37 minutes and 9 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 46353 Lifetime Saved: 11 months, 24 days, 2 hours Money Saved: $18,532.80
THREE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS OR 40 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE and more sad news with the death of yet another ex-smoker on Monday past at age 58 years of lung cancer. Enough said.
THREE YEARS, FIVE MONTHS OR 41 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... Time Smoke-Free: 1249 days, 11 hours, 36 minutes and 41 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 48730 Lifetime Saved: 12 months, 12 days, 5 hours Money Saved: $19,484.40
THREE YEARS, SIX MONTHS OR 42 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... I seem to be the bearer of bad tidings lately, but, yet another of my still smoking girlfriends has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She quit smoking when she heard the diagnosis and lived through the surgical biopsy and lumpectomy, but, returned to the weed during chemotherapy and now radiation. I tried to convince her that she would be better off without cigarettes, but, she declined my advice.
YOU have to be ready to quit. I wish she was ready to quit.
THREE YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS OR 43 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... and holding.
THREE YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS OR 44 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... and more bad news. Another friend just had a heart attack. She quit smoking three years ago. She would probably be dead today if she had not quit.
THREE YEARS, NINE MONTHS OR 45 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... and since the Holidays are approaching and Smokers usually make a yearly resolution to quit the weed, I urge all still smoking Readers to actually keep the resolutions. Your future years will be happier amd healthier.
Happy Holidays ... Back on anniversary 46 months in 2006!
THREE YEARS, TEN MONTHS OR 46 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... I had a job interview last month. The Interviewer was a nice enough woman, until she opened her mouth to begin my interview. I spent the next 45 minutes trying to avoid the noxious assault on my olfactory system. She reeked of cigarette smoke. It was like sitting across from an ashtray filled with cigarette butts. I emailed the company she works for to suggest that in the future they should request that she possibly refrain from smoking before and during interviews. I did not get the job. Perhaps my lecture on the evils of smoking and how she should quit rubbed her the wrong way. If she could rub herself, she would realize that she stunk to high heaven. I am extremely affected by cigarette smoke since I quit. It makes me want to vomit.
THREE YEARS, ELEVEN MONTHS OR 47 MONTHS OF ABSTINENCE ... almost four years. Quite an accomplishment. If I can do it, so can you.
FOUR YEARS! 48 MONTHS!Time Smoke-Free: 1461 days, 12 hours, 46 minutes and 23 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 57000 Lifetime Saved: 14 months, 15 days, 10 hours Money Saved: $22,791.60
FOUR YEARS, ONE MONTH OR 49 MONTHS ... and still smoke free.
FOUR YEARS, TWO MONTHS OR 50 MONTHS ... and able to buy another Basset Hound with all the money I have saved by not smoking all these years. My old guy, Oliver, died on April 23rd. Both my Boys walk beside me on silent paws. I listen with my broken heart, but, now I have a new guy called Zack and he will not have to inhale second hand smoke, like my original two hounds did over the years. They say dogs make you live longer. I hope so.
FOUR YEARS, THREE MONTHS OR 51 MONTHS ... and I continue.
FOUR YEARS, FOUR MONTHS OR 52 MONTHS ... I will continue this until I have reached my Five Year Anniversary.
FIVE YEARS!
THE END.
P.S. I am still smoke free at 7 years. It can be done! Now on to another addiction I have to overcome. This one is very unpleasant. I am trying to break the habit of using Over The Counter nasal sprays.