Smoked My Last Cigarette (again)

[Ascension3030]

Hi Everyone,

 

Im Chris, 45YO living in Chicago area.  I have been smoking fairly heavily 2 packs a day, since I was 18.  Was able to successfully quit in 2016 for 3 years, at which point Nicodemon talked me into having "Just One" since I was really missing it and was missing having something to do. In my mind anyway.  So I have been smoking for the last 2 years and smoking heavily.  I always have to use patches since i have really bad physiological side effects when quitting cold turkey, so im going to do what i have to to avoid that.  I remember using Quitnet back then to find support on the quit smoking forums etc.  Im looking for same here, I have tried quiting over last few months, several times and obviously have not succeeded. Because of that, im having hard time finding much support from friends and family, since I have announced so many times recently that im quitting, Im not sure they believe it anymore.  I do though.

 

Looking forward to reading your stories, providing the little knowledge I have and being there for you to support you as well. Finished my last cig some time ago this morning, slapped a patch on and Im ready to do this!  Cheers!

[jillar]

Welcome to our train full of quitters Chris, sorry you gave up your last quit. I'm a 2016 quitter too. You'll find a ton of support here from a great group of people so take a seat, have a look around at everything we have to offer and lets get you your forever quit

[Doreensfree]

Hi and welcome Chris....

Your not alone ,but have a great group of Newbies ...

Congratulations on making the great decision to take your life back ...

Take time to get to know us ..and the board ...

Start on the Main Smoking Discussion Board...check out the post pinned with green 

Lots of useful information there ...

Buckle up...you can do it ...this Train goes all the way to Freedom..

[Gus]

Hello Chris and welcome! I’m a newbie here. Almost 10 weeks quit! My first first and only quit. There is no way I could go through the withdrawal again. Even with the aid of nicotine patches, of which I will use up my last stage 3, 7mg patch Friday! Kind of anxious about it. But I will prevail. I have to. I’m looking forward to following your quit and I hope that you join in on the socializing side of our forum, as well as taking advantage of all of the information provided in the pinned articles and videos! Again, WELCOME!

[Mee]

Welcome Chris.  Just one does not work when you are an addict.  I am so glad you are ready to quit again. Hang close to the forum and let's get this quit going.  You did it before and you can do it again.  

[Mona]

Hi Chris, congratulations on your new quit!  Yes the patches do help a lot with the physical withdrawal.  I had almost none when I used them.  Too bad they don't help so much with the mental aspects of quitting.  But, as you know, as long as you really want to quit, you can!  Best wishes to you for a successful quit!

[Dianne]

Hi Chris....welcome welcome will be cheering for you the whole way! Thank you for joining and sharing with all of us too!

Edited May 24, 2021 by Dianne

[Ascension3030]

23 minutes ago, Gus said:

Hello Chris and welcome! I’m a newbie here. Almost 10 weeks quit! My first first and only quit. There is no way I could go through the withdrawal again. Even with the aid of nicotine patches, of which I will use up my last stage 3, 7mg patch Friday! Kind of anxious about it. But I will prevail. I have to. I’m looking forward to following your quit and I hope that you join in on the socializing side of our forum, as well as taking advantage of all of the information provided in the pinned articles and videos! Again, WELCOME!

10 weeks is amazing, big congrats!  Thanks to you and others for the warm welcome.  I see youre using the patches too.  I know during my quit a few years ago, i had the same anxiety stepping down from step 1 to 2 and 2 to 3.  I know some people resulted to cutting a 21mg(step 1 patch) in half, and using that, giving them easier step down from 14 mg to 10.5mg then to 7mg.  I think you can do that depending on the patches that you use, Nicoderm CQ is possible, but some older patches used to spill the nicotine juice all over =). But those step downs only seemed to impact me for a couple days, and then things normalized again.  Im 10 weeks behind ya, in this journey.

[Ascension3030]

13 minutes ago, Mee said:

Welcome Chris.  Just one does not work when you are an addict.  I am so glad you are ready to quit again. Hang close to the forum and let's get this quit going.  You did it before and you can do it again.  

 THanks. Yes, the lie of "just one" i think all former quitters know that one. Its so stupid and silly too.  imagine not smoking for 3 years and when seeing poeple smoking thinking to myself "smoking was so silly and pointless, why did i ever do it".....only to romanticize having just one, a couple days later. Happy to be here, you guys seem to have a great community here

[Gus]

Yeah, I skipped the 21mg patches. Wish that I hadn’t. But I survived. I’m ready to be done with the patches. I don’t want to prolong it and thankfully, the worst of the withdrawal will happen over the weekend. So, everything looks like a go. I know you’ve been through this before and know what works for you. I’m winging it but have learned a lot of preps and what to do ifs from reading most of the posts made on this forum. That anxiety is a beast though!!! But so am I!! LOL

[Ascension3030]

1 minute ago, Gus said:

Yeah, I skipped the 21mg patches. Wish that I hadn’t. But I survived. I’m ready to be done with the patches. I don’t want to prolong it and thankfully, the worst of the withdrawal will happen over the weekend. So, everything looks like a go. I know you’ve been through this before and know what works for you. I’m winging it but have learned a lot of preps and what to do ifs from reading most of the posts made on this forum. That anxiety is a beast though!!! But so am I!! LOL

I completely get that, wanting to be off patches after 10 weeks.  You seem to have a really good approach to it, so im sure youre on your forever quit.  When i quit cold turkey, my anxeity was so bad that I had to go see a doctor, my hands were shaking, dialated pupils and blood pressure so high they had to use a second instrument to measure, because they thought the first was broken.  I have to use patches to make it smoother.  I remember back then I started practicing deep breathing and meditating for 10 minutes a day, always thinking about nicotine free life, being a non smoker, feeling like a non smoker etc.  You got this though

[Gus]

Wow! I get the anxiety. I’ve had it almost my whole life. And I cried, I shook, my mind mind was a mess, I stayed curled under blankets in my dark bedroom for days and I thought that I was going to die or end up in an asylum somewhere. Even after I came out of that I would just start crying for no reason or every reason for days. I think going through that has made me stronger. That blood pressure thing you went through was CRAZY! I hope that does not happen this time! But you stick close to us and use that SOS forum if you need us. Anxiety sucks almost as much as nicotine. 

[AceWhite]

Hey Chris- I quit for years as well and had "just one". Years later here I am just like you

Good news is you know what to do

Welcome aboard!! Look forward to seeing you around

[Reciprocity]

You will find all the support here on Quit Train that you want or need. As you know, in the end it comes down to you but there's a ton of information and support here to help you along the way.

 

Stick around and stay active; that's the key! Be involved in your own quit and the quits of others. Just responding to other quitters strengthens your own quit. Yeah; weird I know but so true!!

[jillar]

55 minutes ago, reciprocity said:

. Just responding to other quitters strengthens your own quit. Yeah; weird I know but so true!!

 

That is so true!

[Mac#23]

Welcome aboard Chris to the best support site for non smokers. Make sure to check out all the videos and articles regarding quitting and staying quit. Knowledge is power. So, grab a seat and enjoy your ride to a happier and healthier life.

[Doreensfree]

11 hours ago, Gus said:

Yeah, I skipped the 21mg patches. Wish that I hadn’t. But I survived. I’m ready to be done with the patches. I don’t want to prolong it and thankfully, the worst of the withdrawal will happen over the weekend. So, everything looks like a go. I know you’ve been through this before and know what works for you. I’m winging it but have learned a lot of preps and what to do ifs from reading most of the posts made on this forum. That anxiety is a beast though!!! But so am I!! LOL

When the patch program has finished ..try chewing regular gum...

It keeps our mouths and brains busy ....after meals and those times you need a little hand ...

Chew Gum ...

[Boo]

Welcome aboard the Quit Train Chris.

 

I had to back up and take another run at quitting before I stuck the landing.  Joining this site made a world of difference.  Now I can say that the last cigarette I smoked is the last cigarette that I smoked.

 

Buckle up, knuckle down, and enjoy the ride.

[jillar]

How are you doing today @Ascension3030 Chris? 

[Steven Drojensky]

Welcome Chris, you can do this.

[Robbie]

Welcome Chris, I managed to quit using a nicotine spray rather than patches as I can regulate when I need some relief, but it may be tricky when I decide to stop that too as some people get addicted to the spray! I may well be one, but it's better than smoking I guess! Maybe the same with patches? I have just hit 50 days without a cigarette, but I kept stopping and starting as well earlier this year, so I also kept going through those horrible first three days or so when it was really tough. I decided that I couldn't keep putting myself through that, over and over again, so I found this quit forum and have been going ok since then. I hope that you have a similar positive experience....there are many helpful, caring people here. As you can see by my 'ticker' cigarettes are outrageously expensive here in Australia, so my savings are HUGE, but it's more about gaining much needed confidence in oneself I think. Somehow we all found the money to feed our addiction, but finding the confidence to beat this horrible addiction is priceless! You too can do this...all the best on the Quit Train journey.

 

 

[Ascension3030]

3 hours ago, jillar said:

How are you doing today @Ascension3030 Chris? 

Doing great, thank you. Cravings all day, but able to manage.  Extremely busy and long day at work :), but hanging in there. Thanks for all the support and warm welcomes. Appreciate you guys!

[Doreensfree]

Upwards and Onwards Chris ....

One day at a time ....this is how it's done ....don't worry about the tomorrow,s....just today

[Ascension3030]

Yes, one step, day, week at a time.  Woke up this morning and I can already tell my breathing has improved a little.  I can take deeper breaths and somehow am able to feel that my body is getting more oxygen, improved circulation (i wont go into details here =)) etc.  Looking forward to another smoke free day. Another super busy day at work, i have some new posts in mind to get more topics going on here and get some feedback from you guys, maybe get little more convos going concerning smoking, quitting etc  

[Gus]

Ahhh..I remember the initial improved breathing. And how much sweeter the air seemed. As far as circulation goes, all I can tell is that I don’t get as cold as I used to. I’m glad that your quit is going so well! Oh and can I start calling you Gene? LOL Every time I see your profile picture I see Gene Simmons and think of KISS!