Anyone else trying to quit smoking in 2013? - Page 3

blipndub · #41 01-02-2013, 08:29 PM

Finishing up my second day without smoking. I have a song I'm singing in practice Friday and it's giving me motivation to get through the week. After that I'll have a week under my belt and it should be easier. Using low dose nico-patches. Keeping the crazies away. Very sleepy but unable to sleep. Dang smoking

scottfeldstein · #42 01-02-2013, 08:31 PM

Congrats! That's inspirational.

BTW, I wouldn't sleep with one of those patches on. Not unless you like hyper-vivid zombie apocalypse dreams.

ErebusBass · #43 01-02-2013, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Congrats! That's inspirational.

BTW, I wouldn't sleep with one of those patches on. Not unless you like hyper-vivid zombie apocalypse dreams.

Those patches make you have crazy dreams.

I've had a few too many IPAs tonight, but I'll put up a good post tomorrow. I'm glad I'm not the only one who wants to give up the coffin nails.

Thanks for all the replies, keep 'em coming.

Simo98 · #44 01-03-2013, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

It's actually true that higher taxes lead to fewer smokers, not false.

Statistically it makes a difference, but higher taxes coincide with a lot of other anti-smoking measures that also have an effect on smoking rates, and directly contribute to the amount spent on anti-smoking measures, so it's not really possible to do a controlled study on such things.

Higher taxes and prices can have the benefit of making people smoke less because they can't afford it, but someone who is suffering from addiction isn't going to kick the habit just because it doesn't fit into the budget, other areas suffer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

And the contention that smokers are just selfish SOBs who somehow transfer this burden to others instead of themselves is, to put it kindly, a wee judgmental.

I don't mean to be judgmental, but we're talking about addiction, if addiction didn't stop people from thinking straight and impacting their better judgement, well, it wouldn't really be much of a problem.

Of course not all smokers are like this, but then again not all smokers have the same problems with addiction. In my experience, people who are suffering from addiction will prioritise their addictive behaviour over the welfare of themselves and others.

In Australia, smoking rates are higher among low-income earners than they are among middle and high income earners. There are other factors that contribute to this (occupation, etc.), but I think this is a pretty clear indication that the price of cigarettes is far from the most significant factor in reducing smoking.

Good luck to anybody trying to kick the habit this year. Vaping sounds like a great option, although I'd be mindful of any potentially harmful effects that are yet to be discovered. Got to be better than cigs though!

MarkMgibson · #45 01-03-2013, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indiana Mike

that's awesome till your wheezing and gasping for air ...feeling so bad a bullet to the head sounds really good

Or you lose your voice box...

in America your gonna be taxed to death on cigs and your insurance premiums are gonna be more than a non smoker ,and probably already are.

About $6 a pack now...compared to $1.15 in 1996

Yeah yeah. My father took up smoking at 14 and smoked a pack a day till they day he died, from a brain tumour totally unrelated to smoking. My best friend died from a brain embolism when he was 42 - nothing to do with smoking. My uncle was a health fanatic, and he died at 52 from stomach cancer.

I'm not say smoking isn't bad for you; of course it is. All I'm saying is that you could die in a car accident tomorrow. If you really enjoy smoking, light 'em up, and enjoy. Salt,
fat, msg, butter, white bread, whole milk - they're all bad for you too (at least this week). Life's too short, IMHO.

BassDoc51 · #46 01-03-2013, 05:21 AM

I smoked two packs a day, some days more, for 22 years. I quit in May. Cold turkey can be done, but I do not recommend it. I used the nicotine lozenges. You can buy enough at Sams or Costco; hopefully to get you through the "major" cravings for about $50. I've quit several times using patches, gum, and Chantix. This is the longest that I've ever been smoke free. Now I can't stand the smell of cigarettes and have no cravings.

Heck I may even have a tube or two left that I could send you to get started. I'll check when I get home and let you know.

MatticusMania · #47 01-03-2013, 09:23 AM

Do, or do not. There is no try. (thats my advice for today)

Will Kelly · #48 01-03-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjadams

Not sure of the actual day, but always Xmas eve as my quit day. It's been ten years now without one. No desire to ever do it again.

I quit on Christmas Day, it was my gift to my wife. She has been climbing my ass for years to get me to quit, and I finally wanted to badly enough. I figure I owe it to her and our kids.

Smoked at least a pack a day (sometimes two) for almost fourteen years. I'm in the military, and it's been harder to run and keep physically fit while smoking.

So, I'm on day 9 of cold turkey. Only other time I quit before was when I went to basic training... nine weeks without a smoke, then I bought a pack on my way out the gate.

You gotta want to. I want to. Good luck to everyone else thats quitting.

TC424 · #49 01-03-2013, 09:03 PM

I started Chantix Christmas day. Last cigarette was on New Year's Eve. Along with the Chantix I am using flavored toothpicks. Similar to a cigarette in your mouth with a minty or cinnamon smell rather than an ashtray.

**mjac28** · #50 01-04-2013, 09:27 PM

I'm thinking about starting for a week then bragging it only took me a day to quit

MarkMgibson · #51 01-05-2013, 02:17 AM

I've known lots of friends who've quit smoking (or tried to), and the ones who use patchs, gum, pills, etc, are the ones who nearly always fail. It's just an observation, but pure will-power seems to work the best.

scottfeldstein · #52 01-05-2013, 10:06 AM

I'm pretty sure that's totally wrong.

FronTowardEnemy · #53 01-05-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Kelly

I quit on Christmas Day, it was my gift to my wife. She has been climbing my ass for years to get me to quit, and I finally wanted to badly enough. I figure I owe it to her and our kids.

Smoked at least a pack a day (sometimes two) for almost fourteen years. I'm in the military, and it's been harder to run and keep physically fit while smoking.

So, I'm on day 9 of cold turkey. Only other time I quit before was when I went to basic training... nine weeks without a smoke, then I bought a pack on my way out the gate.

You gotta want to. I want to. Good luck to everyone else thats quitting.

Wow! Almost my story except I have smoked for 21 years and I am not in the military! So far so good, I won't ever smoke again because I want to see my 3 sons get married and have kids. I am retiring in 14 years and would like to enjoy my retirement with my wife as well. So far so good cold turkey for me!

96tbird · #54 01-05-2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

I've known lots of friends who've quit smoking (or tried to), and the ones who use patchs, gum, pills, etc, are the ones who nearly always fail. It's just an observation, but pure will-power seems to work the best.

I have to agree with you Mark. It's a one day at a time thing. Easier to deal with maybe because of marginalization of smokers that helps motivation as well I think. All the aids available may or may not help, but it still comes down to just saying NO. Again I wimped out and took up vaping: still addicted to nicotine but eliminated the other toxins and carcinogens and it doesn't bother even the most sensitive people. Heck they let me vape in their homes once they see and understand what vaping is.

scottfeldstein · #55 01-05-2013, 10:57 AM

I'm sorry, guys, but no. Even though most people who quit will fail, smoking cessation aids like nicotine replacement and prescription medication do help. It is simply not the case that a higher success rate is found among people who do not use these things. That's false.

96tbird · #56 01-05-2013, 01:56 PM

K. I don't think we were quoting empirical evidence; merely anecdotal observation. Nevertheless, the will to quit has to exist or it will not succeed.

scottfeldstein · #57 01-05-2013, 03:00 PM

"Not intended to be a factual statement," I guess.

I wouldn't have nitpicked it but for the fact that some folks reading this thread might go away with the mistaken idea that these things don't help, when actually they do.

Having been down this road before (and feeling pretty stupid for having to go down it again), here are the facts as I understand them.

The quit rate after 1 year when you use a prescription like Zyban (which I have done and am fixin' to do again on Monday) is 30%. That is, 30% of those who quit using a prescription drug were still quit a year later.

The 1 year quit rate for those using nicotine replacement like gum or patches is 15%.

For people who do both, the year-later quit rate is 35%.

If you do none of these things but just go by "will power" alone, the quit rate is only 5%.

So even just getting a box of nicotine patches will triple your chances of being smoke free a year later.

PilbaraBass · #58 01-05-2013, 03:19 PM

Whatever it takes... Quit! And quit NOW!

my mother died of lung cancer last March... No matter how many 100 times we told her to quit, it was ultimately her decision to continue..And what a dumb one it was...

I quit 12 years ago... Goodbye smokes... I DON'T miss them

MarkMgibson · #59 01-05-2013, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I'm pretty sure that's totally wrong.

It's just an observation based on what I've seen from friends in my age group (mid 40's). I'm not claiming there's any scientific accuracy to it, and I certainly don't want to mislead anyone.

Still, I see little point in swapping one form of nicotine for another. It's not like we're talking about Opiates or Benzos here; there's no danger from nicotine withdrawal, so I see little point in prolonging it. As I said, the friends I know who've given up, have just stopped, sucked up the discomfort and they've been far more successful than those who use patches, gum, etc.

jkramer5 · #60 01-06-2013, 06:10 PM

I'm in my 3rd week totally smoke free using Chantix. I'm 48 and started smoking at around age 14 or 15. I would classify myself as a heavy smoker, I smoked constantly and it permeated every aspect of my life. Chantix made quitting easy for me. I can't believe how easy.

I don't care about any of the above observations or opinions, I never thought I'd get this far crutch or not.