Almost 2 weeks since I smoked

[Brenda Starrr]

Okay........

1. How long before I quit coughing like I'm dying?

2. What's the average weight gain. Mind you, It doesn't bother me if I gain weight. I was too thin before. I just want to know what to expect.

3. Have any of you quit cold turkey. This is how I'm doing it. Did you have horrible mood swings?

4. For the asthmatics who have quit: Do you feel the same, better, or worse? I don't feel any different.

Thanks for answering. I really appreciate any support I can get.

[gothicmom]

Congrats in the 2 weeks of no smoking. Sorry I can't answer any of you questions.

[Brenda Starrr]

It's okay, GM. Thanks for your support, though.

[LuthienTheFallen]

congrats on 2 weeks i dont seem to have the willpower to quit more than a day

[Brenda Starrr]

Luthien, I'm not sure just how I'm doing it. I just gave it up, something I thought I'd never do on my own. Tonight, I'm going to a friends house to celebrate his birthday, and I can't guarantee that I won't smoke. However, I'll try.........

[Fierce Critter]

I'll help a little, but I have to re-order your questions a bit...

1) My husband quit cold-turkey 6 years ago. The first day was fine. The 2nd a bit harder. The third, easier, and he was pretty much fine after that. His moods were pretty pleasantly level. And we're talking a guy who, at the time, was as yet unmedicated for anxiety disorder. He suffered precious little in the way of mood swings period.

2) Jon's lungs started clearing up almost immediately. Within a few weeks, he could breathe easier, taste food again, etc. I don't recall the exact time frame, but he was surprised at how quickly he lost the coughing fits. Breathing easy took a little longer, but I'm talking probably less than a couple months.

By the way, Jon smoked about 7-8 years or more.

3) Jon did not gain weight. He has a fast metabolism. If he ate more, the additional calories were balanced out by his new ability to breathe better, and therefore be more active. See if this might not be something you can practice yourself if the lbs start creeping up. Use that new lung capacity!

4) Jon is borderline asthmatic. He saw a radical improvement. However, just as myself (also borderline), he now will suffer asthmatic symptoms when exposed to other smokers or other things that generally exacerbate asthma attacks. So while he's not bringing the symptoms on himself, he's more susceptible to problems from outside sources.

5) Give it time. It all gets better. 6 years later, Jon can't believe he's ever had a cigarette in his mouth.

In case you haven't heard, I've read (in trying to help other relatives in their attempts to quit) that women have a harder time, in part, due to the tendency for women to be more addicted to physiological aspects of smoking - holding a cigarette, smoking after meals, etc. Best to find substitutes for these kind of actions - keep a pencil to hold, keep gum or mints on hand to pop into your mouth after a meal - or better yet, suckers if you can.

You can do it. 5 people in my family quit sucessfully, 3 cold-turkey.

Best of luck!

[Brenda Starrr]

Critter!!

Last night, I went to my friend's house. They smoke socially, and pretty much expected me to do the same. They were shocked to see that I didn't Light up. I honestly have had NO mood swings. I actually quit 3 days before Wayne went to Orlando on business. I figured that if I was going to do it, that was as good a time as any.

I'm a chronic asthmatic. I don't really feel any different yet. I still wheeze, whether I cough or not. Then again, I have a lot of things here that I'm allergic to. Like my 2 cats and my 2 birds, a down comforter, etc. The cats and the birds are my babies, hence my reason not to get rid of them.

I'm 39, and have smoked steadily since I was 21 or so. On and off since I was 13. I don't worry too much about the weight gain, as Wayne loves me for who I am, not who I look like. If he didn't, I'm sure that there would be someone who would!! i feel as though I really CAN do this. I'm really proud of me.

[torn asunder]

I'm really proud of me.

as are we! :

[Brenda Starrr]

Aww........thanks Torn!

[Fierce Critter]

I honestly have had NO mood swings.

I have a lot of things here that I'm allergic to...

i feel as though I really CAN do this. I'm really proud of me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good for you on the mood swings. Jon was amazed at how unaffected he really was when he went the cold-turkey route. He'd tried "easing off" prior to that and was a basket case.

As for your allergies, in case you haven't seen my previous advocacy posts, ZYRTEC ZYRTEC ZYRTEC. I'm severely allergic to cats, many other animals, mold, pollen, you name it. On Zyrtec, it's like I've never been allergic in my life. 7 cats will attest to that. The copays on Zyrtec became insane when they made Claritin over the counter. So now I get my Zyrtec (actually reactine, the generic form) from Canada. It's over-the-counter there, so MUCH less expensive than even paying insurance copays here. If you want ideas for sources, let me know.

I'm proud of you too - good job!!!

[Brenda Starrr]

thanks, FC!! And, yes.......I would love to have the sources for where to get Reactine. I'm on Zyrtec, but it's even too expensive with my copay (as you pointed out).

[Ginevra]

1. How long before I quit coughing like I'm dying?

That's going to very much vary by person. It's the body's attempt to clean itself out and rid itself of the toxins that we place there when we smoke. It will rectify itself, although the asthmatic aspect is an unknown for me.

2. What's the average weight gain. Mind you, It doesn't bother me if I gain weight. I was too thin before. I just want to know what to expect.

Many smokers use cigarettes as a means of appetite suppresant, myself included. I could see myself actually looking forward to meals again if I could taste and smell like I used to.

3. Have any of you quit cold turkey. This is how I'm doing it. Did you have horrible mood swings?

I have before and my mood swings were horrible. But I didn't have any type of support network setup for myself either and the people that were around me were not helpful in any way.

Good luck, Brenda!!

[Brenda Starrr]

Ginerva....

I just saw something last night on 60 Minutes about Hoodia, which comes from Africa. It supresses the appetite without all the stimulants (like Ephedra, Guarana, etc.), and NO side effects. I spent last night doing reseach on the internet, and decided to order it. I've begun to get into herbal remedies for lots of things. Now, I'd like to find something for my asthma and the fine lines under my eyes!

I think I'm asking entirely too much........

[Fierce Critter]

BS - I saw that story about Hoodia. Sounds good.

I have to hunt-up my saved files on websites to purchase reactine. My former source went unavailable, so I had to research a new one.

I think the price is around $40 for 90 tablets...

I'll get back to you when I find that info...

[Ginevra]

I'm not overweight by any means (about 5'2, 115-120, although doctors keep telling me that my ideal weight would be 130.) But if I'm not in a place where I can get food quickly or something, then I know I can fall back on cigarettes to help quell the hunger for just a little longer.

[Brenda Starrr]

I'm not overweight, either, At least not technically. However, Hoodia should keep me from becoming so. Quitting smoking seems to make me want to eat everything that isn't running from me. We'll se what happens.

FC.....Thanks. Because allergies suck!