I quit smoking

[PaulaO]

Sunday November 3 at 1:30 am I drove myself to the ED because I couldn’t breathe. Saturday I was coughing so badly that I canceled my lesson, threw away my remaining cigarettes, and put on the NRT patch. Spent 4 hours in the ED for chest X-rays, breathing treatments, and Prednisone. Saw my PCP the next day and he gave me additional Prednisone and a home nebulizer. I was not allowed to go to work for a week.

Fortunately my breathing is almost better than when I wasn’t sick but still smoking. I’ve been 9 days without a cigarette. I smell so clean. Sadly my car smells like an ashtray.

One is too many but 1,000 isn’t enough.

[Linden]

I'm sorry you were feeling so sick But wishing you all the strength to stay smoke-free!

[piedmontfields]

That is a scary way to get on a new path, but I am really glad that you are doing it! It will be so worth it (as you can already tell by how clean you are). Maybe splurge and get your car detailed to help you out with your new way of life

[StraightForward]

Congratulations, you are going to feel so much better as your lungs clear!

[Sunshine2Me]

That is a scary way to get on a new path, but I am really glad that you are doing it! It will be so worth it (as you can already tell by how clean you are). Maybe splurge and get your car detailed to help you out with your new way of life

This! What a great idea piedmontfields! This is a well deserved treat for yourself Paula! You rock!

[Tarlo Farm]

EXACTLY what I was going to suggest. But never forget how much it (and your clothes) smelled. And CONGRATULATIONS!!! Every single day your body will get more and more healthy.

[Koolkat]

Congratulations! When I stopped smoking 35 years ago, it took 2 years to no longer want to smoke at times. One thing that REALLY helped me was that I started running to get some conditioning for a Wyoming (Wind Rivers) backpack that I had been invited on. I could really feel the difference and it definitely helped. Even if you don't take up running, I would highly recommend, at the least, very brisk walking to help your lungs (and your head) learn to be clean.

Be strong!!

[Hayburner]

Congrats Paula! Hopefully you never have a reoccurrence of this severe breathing problem.

Quitting smoking is very hard to do. I've done it a couple of times, but unfortunately I keep going back to this filthy and now expensive habit.

A friend of mine went to smoke Enders years ago and what kept him from take that first puff was to keep a gumband on his wrist and snap it every time he got the urge.

You can do this!

[PaulaO]

I smoked a pack a day and a pack is $10. That’s almost a car payment per month. Sadly, back to work today.

[Tarlo Farm]

Well then, forget the detailing... Buy yourself a new car! Or a horse! Or a trip! (I had no idea they'd gotten so expensive) Hang in there. Theoretically, you're supposed to be over the physical craving, now you need to disrupt the little habits that linked something to smoking, ie. cup of coffee and cig, adult beverage and cig, drive home from work and cig (take a different route? Stop after a few blocks/miles and walk around the car?) Just random thoughts because I understand it's tough and yet it's such an awful - and deadly - habit!
JINGLES!!

[PaulaO]

My car has 117K miles, but runs perfectly and I love it. I don't need or want another horse (although there is a liver chestnut OTTB mare at the barn that I think is mighty nice). I'm going to sink another $200 a month into my 401K or 403B or whatever I have at work...

[piedmontfields]

Proud of you, Paula! Tarlo has great ideas for little shifts that can be supportive of your new life.

p.s. I had no idea cigs were that expensive Yes, saving towards something good (like retirement) is a much better reward!

[Tuddy]

p.s. I had no idea cigs were that expensive Yes, saving towards something good (like retirement) is a much better reward!

Congrats on quitting! I quit a few years ago now and occasionally have a drag when I have been drinking...

As for the price - cigarettes are now close to $25 CDN a pack here. That is nearly $19 US.

[Hayburner]

Omg Tuddy that's insane pricing! Mine are $11.20 a pack, thank you Pennsylvania taxes! Ugh

[LeoApp]

I commented on this thread and have no idea where it went. Congratulations! 9 days means you are actually over the nicotine addiction but the worst part is the habit of lighting one when you are stressed, or having coffee, or whatever. Some of my friends (the ones who successfully quit) tried the Green Seminar, some Chantix, some Smoke Enders, and some just went cold turkey.
I hope you can keep it up and if you feel like you want a smoke, try one of the other methods above. Take that 10 dollars/day or a week or whatever and put it in a jar. This is a good visual.

[PaulaO]

I’m an all or nothing person. I could never have a drag or a puff. I’d go back to full blown smoking. My first day back at irk (yes, it was irksome) was so annoying that I craved for about 3 hours. Too cold for my lungs to go to the barn last night or I would have visited Miss A.

[Baroque]

Well done!

When I gave up many years ago I found that acupuncture really helped reduce cravings to almost nothing, so you may find that helpful. And Ventolin will help with the tortured bronchial lung feeling.

[PaulaO]

I’d cut a b! tch right now for a cigarette. This craving will pass.

[KathyK]

I’m an all or nothing person. I could never have a drag or a puff. I’d go back to full blown smoking.

Same for me. I quit almost 30 years ago, and every now and then, I have what I call THE DREAM. In THE DREAM, I have started smoking again and I am very unhappy about it. It's funny because I haven't consciously wanted a cigarette since the day I quit. I suppose, though, that THE DREAM is a way of reminding myself never to pick up a cigarette again.

Stay strong and know that you will feel better, be able to ride better, and have more money to buy nice things for Miss A.

[piedmontfields]

Still sending you strength Paula. I second the acupuncture. It can help tremendously!

Miss A is going to love your healthy lungs (long trots and long canters, please)

[PaulaO]

With my savings, I ordered a lovely navy blue fleece quarter sheet for Miss A. and a riding jacket for meself. Have to stay quit for at least another week to make up money spent vs money saved. LOL

[heddylamar]

I’d cut a b! tch right now for a cigarette. This craving will pass.

That was my husband's struggle with quitting too, but he succeeded. I had my last and walked away. We're both former smokers 15+ years now.

You'll do it <3

[Hayburner]

KathyK - When I quit a few years ago and was off them for 3 years thru hypnosis I had DREAMS too. I'd dream that I smoked - I'd get up and run all around wondering if I had actually smoked, I would be hysterical.....

I tried Chantix/Wellbrutrin and it made me very crazy! I had to go off of it.

A co-worker is on it now and I have noticed her mood is actually better, but she's been on it for a good year and is still smoking.

I am also an all or nothing smoker. Even trying to limit how much a smoke doesn't work.

Keep going Paula you can do this!

[Kyra's Mom]

You can do it .

All that money for things for Ms. A. Sweet.

Susan

[PaulaO]

Still not smoking. FOURTEEN DAYS! I went back to work part time on Tuesday. I’m wiped out by the mid afternoon. Coughing is 99% gone, but now I need to work on my stamina. I didn’t go to the barn all week. Ariel has on her sheet, but there was a cold snap, think single digits at night. Apparently she was shivering. The barn knew I was sick and didn’t want to worry me, so they put a medium blanket over her sheet to keep her toasty. Another reason I love my barn.

I hope to be back in the saddle next weekend.

[Moutaineer]

Keep going... we are all rooting for you!

Lung atuff will kick your butt. Take it carefully.

[piedmontfields]

Your barn sounds great. That is exactly how a good place should be.

I hope you can just ease back to work carefully (with short-term disability or flextime or ?). Still pulling for you, your lungs, your future health and of course the extra $$ for Miss A (and you).

[PaulaO]

According to my quit app, I have NOT purchased over 20 packs of cigarettes. Ariel’s quarter sheet and my riding jacket have been paid for with my savings.

[Sue B]

Keep up the great work, Paula!!!! We're still all rooting for you.

[PaulaO]

526 cigarettes NOT smoked!

[piedmontfields]

I love the rising numbers and savings. Well done and K E E P G O I N G!

[Tarlo Farm]

526 cigarettes NOT smoked!

You GO GIRL!!!!

[LeoApp]

Wow that is A LOT of cigarettes. I am sure your clothes are smelling a lot nicer now too.

[Xanthoria]

I am really impressed Paula - don't you dare stop now: you are over the hump!