Another vice bites the dust

[Hermine]

So, I've had one cigarette all day and that only because I lost my nicotine gum. I get the inhaler tomorrow.

Anyway, I have to be done by tomorrow evening. If my boi made it anyway; I don't want to be the one who doesn't, which was the point of us doing it together.

[fallennon]

I hated quitting. There are two types of people in this world: smokers and non smokers. The trick is to find out which one you are, and be that. I, myself, am a smoker. Every time I quit I find my way back. So for now I have quit quitting. I hope it all works out for you. And it is WAY easier when you have someone there to motivate you to keep going!

[Nienna]

I'm a non smoking smoker. I love to smoke. I am not addicted to cigarettes. I havn't smoked in about a week now, and while I itch to smoke in social situations, I feel no real physical need for it..

[JaneDead]

i'm with nienna. i don't smoke like a smoker. but i do smoke. i can go weeks/a month and be fine. but when i am out with "smokers" i like to smoke too. i don't drink, i just smoke instead.

[Hermine]

I don't drink either, which actually makes it easier b/c alcohol makes you crave nicotine.

I've been smoking off and on for 16 years, so I'm really hooked.

I'm currently using cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon, btw, is an appetite suppressant and mood stabilizer.

The only problem is I chew things up (I am majorly oral. I chew gum, pens, have a hell of a time quitting smoking; it was really hard to learn to use the nicotine gum properly without chewing it up--I know how to do it, but it was hard to actually do it. I think all these oral fixations are because my mother is a Freudian ) I just ate an entire cinnamon stick. I don't think you're supposed to do it that way.

But I got nicotine gum, regular gum, and cinnamon sticks. I am trying really hard to not smoke a cigarette, to at least hold off until the train tonight.

[Shade Everdark]

Strangely enough, I've actually been cutting back some, not from any real desire, but simply because I just don't feel like smoking as much.

I figure that I will quit when I am ready, and not before.

[Hermine]

Well, if you're on Wellbutrin(no idea if you are, but if you are, there's your explanation. I reckon you would know--unless somebody was sneaking it into your food in a fiendish plot to get you to cut back on the cigarettes); that's the same chemicals as Zyban. I'm using it for ADD, so that helps a lot.

Another good sign; I just acquired a nasty chest cold to assist me in my efforts.

[torn asunder]

the chest cold is most likely your body's attempt to recover and clear out your lungs, now that all that smoke isn't supressing your lungs' natural inclination to expel all that stuff...

[Jarodaka]

I hope you're right about the chest cold, TA. I've had half a cig in the last two weeks. I've been coughing alot, but not really sick. Plz plz, lungs, clear out soon!

It sucks. I still go to clubs and that 'smoke-with-drink' urge is powerful. I overcome it, though.

[Hermine]

w00t! First cigarette free day!

Yeah, what TA said about the chest cold was kind of the conclusion I was coming to too. Though I may have a bit of a fever. I think that most of it.

Hey, Jarod- does it hurt like fuck when you cough and bring out big brownish lumps? Because that's what I'm getting.

[Jarodaka]

This morning was probably my worst coughing fit. I must've been really tense whilst hacking away 'cause I gave myself a headache. It cleared up after a shower and a couple hours.

I wouldn't so much say it's hurt as much as irritating. The morning coughing is very unpleasant. I get the impression you've smoked much longer than me Hermine. I imagine I'm getting off light.

[Ginevra]

Hermine, as far as I know, anything that um returns to you, should be clear. If it's coloured in any way, you should probably head to the doctor and get checked out as coloured phlegm or mucous usually is indicative of an infection.

[torn asunder]

remember, tho, that smoke has a lot of crap in it, and can discolor what you're coughing up. hell, look at how dark the filter is after you smoke one, then multiply that by how many you smoke! of course, it can't hurt to check with a doctor, other than hurting the pocketbook...

[Ginevra]

I've been a smoker for since I was about 16 years old (not that I'm overly proud of that fact). No matter how much I've hacked and coughed when I've tried to quit have I ever hacked up anything "unnatural" in colour. Whenever anything with any colour comes back, it always ends up being an infection of some sort. (IE bronchitis or some such.)

TA, yes your point very much has validity. I was only speaking from personal experience.

[Hermine]

I get the impression you've smoked much longer than me Hermine.

Oh, only about sixteen years, off and on. I started at twelve.

The last few years, I've consistently coughed up tar (rubbery brown lumps).

However, I did go to the doctor today, since I felt even worse; my throat hurt enough last night to wake me up several times; and I have a sinus infection. Which happens easily to me as a result of upper-respiratory distress b/c I have a deviated septum. So now I'm on a course of one of the very few antibiotics I'm not allergic to (I'm allergic to both penicillin and sulfa, so I'm pretty limited in what I can take)

Edit to add; next day, behind on sleep b/c my damned sinuses keep waking me. Damn, I want a cigarette! Where's my cinnamon?

[Hermine]

*twitch* *twitch*

[JaneDead]

The last few years, I've consistently coughed up tar (rubbery brown lumps).

really?? that is so weird. is that what people are referring to when they say they coughed up a "lung cookie"?

[Brenda Starrr]

Lung cookie, lung butter, lung biscuit.

Yup.

[Jarodaka]

I resisted all temptation this weekend. OMFG, it's hard.

[gothicmom]

I have to stop reading this thread before I throw up!

no offence. mostly i'm just being sarcastic. Isn't that reason enough to quit? I've never smoked so it's hard for me to imagine. To look at it from my angle, i'm addicted to food and I feel like poody-doo most days. Do I diet and get rid of that bad food? no!! so i do sympathize with you in my own way of knowing how!

Great for you on your progress!

[JaneDead]

it really sickens me that i ever smoke at all. i am not a "smoker". i am not addicted. and i don't smoke every day. i could care less when i dont have one- but put me with a bunch of smokers and i light up every time. and second hand smoke makes me want to barf. smelling it on people makes me want to barf. it makes me sick that i do that since i could just STOP and i don't.

i guess since i don't drink or anything "social smoking" is my thing. what a gross social thing to do eh? if i am around people who don't smoke i won't do it at all. and i never ever do it around/in front of kids.

sad thing is- i will completely quit all together. go like 2 years or something without one. and then one day- just decide i want one. after i had my daughter i SWORE i was done for good. i just didn't even want one. not ever. they made me sicker than ever to be around. then one day... i started again. not even sure when/why. i think it has to do with how much my "main" group of friends do it. (they ALL do it) and my husband too. *sigh* i don't even have oral fixation issues. i don't chew things or eat candy or anything like that. i have no idea why i even bother??

[Nienna]

The last few years, I've consistently coughed up tar (rubbery brown lumps).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh ew.. So that's what that is?!? I've always gotten those... and I really don't smoke except on weekends or times of stress... Hmm.. .maybe because of my asthma??

I hadn't had even one for 2 weeks, even made it through a City Club trip. This weekend it all went out the window and I resembled an ambulatory chimney. I had my reasons though. Maybe will "quit" again starting today since I'm still sick.

[fallennon]

I am a heavy smoker with asthma and I really don't cough anything up unless I am sick...

[Jarodaka]

I had a clove last night. Not even I could resist the allure of nasty smoke after four gin and tonics. Oh well, once in February isn't so awful, I suppose.