For those of you who have quit smoking:

[MichelleandCraig 1]

I have been quit for 1 Week, 1 Day, 10 hours, 47 minutes and 35 seconds (8 days). I have saved $32.52 by not smoking 168 cigarettes. I have saved 14 hours of my life. My Quit Date: 1/22/2007 6:45 AM

Those are my stats as of thismoment. I'm proud of this quit because I know it's going to be my last. Hasn't been easy, but so worth it. I still have the "habit cravings" bigtime, but those will fade as well.

Anyway, the reason for the new thread is this: for those of you that have quit before, do you ever have any (not quite irrational) fears that you may not have quit soon enough??? Morbid, totally, I know....just now that I've read SO much the last week from this site and educated myself about it more on whyquit.com,etc. (and it's not the site..the information is all out there anyway...they just have a ton of stuff compiled there) I'm a bit freaked out about it. I realize that it doesn't help to flip out because not a thing can be done about it *now*, but it still scares me. I just read a story of someone who had been quit for 3 years and in late 40s found lung cancer. I personally had a 39 year old friend from work die of it. The site has a story about a 33 year old man...healthy strapping in his pic holding his 2 year old boy, 2 months later died in hospital looking like an absolute skeleton. It's SCARY, guys! The good news is, as most of you will know, after 15 years of not smoking, I will have about as much risk of death from something smoking-related as a nonsmoker! Pretty motivational gift to give myself for my 50th bday! (or just before...)

I'm never going to be one of those nonsmoking freaks that is all anti this that and the other after quitting, because I now know how tough it is...and I'm still feeling the effects of trying to break the habit. So...I hope no one thinks that has anything to do with what this post is about. I'm just wondering if anyone has shared any of my both rational and irrational fears after quitting....

Thanks, Michelle

PS...how long have you been quit for, too! Tell me the "habit cravings" really will go away! I've read it from a lot of members, but I've "known" you guys longer... M.

Edited January 30, 2007 by MichelleandCraig

[Ban Hammer 13,651]

keep up the good work

[doodlebug 3]

I've been quit since March 2002 and I'm having wicked cravings since I started this visa process.

Wicked cravings.

I can safely say though that before I started gathering all the visa info and stressing out over it all I would have maybe one LIGHT craving a year.

Hang in there!!! I'm trying to remember all the cool things that I enjoyed once I quit like:

smelling fresh towels when I got out of the shower and not gross smokey ones

being able to drive my car with the windows up when it is cold or rainy

not having to freeze or get wet outside because there's no smoking inside anywhere nowadays...especially in massachusetts!!!

not having to wait till my kids were asleep to have a smoke since they used to freak out on me about how bad it was

not having to stop every day or so to dump out my ashtray

feeling good about the fact that no one is suffering from my secondhand smoke

being able to say, "no, I don't smoke" to my daughters

knowing that if I die now, it's not because I'm smoking

that being said I miss:

smelling a fresh cigarette before I light it

hearing the *click* of the lighter or the *whoosh* of the match when i strike it

viewing the smoke come out of my mouth espeically on a cold winter night

feeling that nicotine surge

cool lighters and cool cigarette packages

the thrill of driving home from NH knowing that i bucked the system by getting my cartons tax free

ugh. i'm not helping you here am i?

[Ban Hammer 13,651]

I've been quit since March 2002 and I'm having wicked cravings since I started this visa process.

Wicked cravings.

I can safely say though that before I started gathering all the visa info and stressing out over it all I would have maybe one LIGHT craving a year.

Hang in there!!! I'm trying to remember all the cool things that I enjoyed once I quit like:

smelling fresh towels when I got out of the shower and not gross smokey ones

being able to drive my car with the windows up when it is cold or rainy

not having to freeze or get wet outside because there's no smoking inside anywhere nowadays...especially in massachusetts!!!

not having to wait till my kids were asleep to have a smoke since they used to freak out on me about how bad it was

not having to stop every day or so to dump out my ashtray

feeling good about the fact that no one is suffering from my secondhand smoke

being able to say, "no, I don't smoke" to my daughters

knowing that if I die now, it's not because I'm smoking

that being said I miss:

smelling a fresh cigarette before I light it

hearing the *click* of the lighter or the *whoosh* of the match when i strike it

viewing the smoke come out of my mouth espeically on a cold winter night

feeling that nicotine surge

cool lighters and cool cigarette packages

the thrill of driving home from NH knowing that i bucked the system by getting my cartons tax free

ugh. i'm not helping you here am i?

[bostonparis 0]

You're doing great - congratulations on passing the 1 week mark!

I quit just over 10 years ago. I still love the fresh smells that I never had when I was a smoker, the taste of everything is so much better. Even coffee, which I thought I'd never enjoy without a cigarette, I love all on its own! Keep up the great work!

[raymaga 25]

Congrats on the GREAT decision!!!

My husband quit smoking 3 years ago for me. He has smoked most of his adult life, but knew I was totally opposed to being with a smoker for the rest of my life. I have never smoked, and wanted a "smoke-free" lifestyle.

His decision to quit was very sudden, and he was determined to do it. He hasn't had a cigarette since and says he never will again.

He had cravings and mood swings for at least 2 weeks. After that, he said it gradually got easier and easier.

Now, even HE doesn't like to be around people who smoke!!!!

Keep up the good work, Michelle!!!!

[Marilyn. 340]

Congrats on the GREAT decision!!!

My husband quit smoking 3 years ago for me. He has smoked most of his adult life, but knew I was totally opposed to being with a smoker for the rest of my life. I have never smoked, and wanted a "smoke-free" lifestyle.

His decision to quit was very sudden, and he was determined to do it. He hasn't had a cigarette since and says he never will again.

He had cravings and mood swings for at least 2 weeks. After that, he said it gradually got easier and easier.

Now, even HE doesn't like to be around people who smoke!!!!

Keep up the good work, Michelle!!!!

I wish hubby would do that.... I have always wanted a smoke free lifestyle too and hubby knew that too......

the only problem is that his dad and brothers all smoke...... so when he is with them he smokes I have told him over and over that I want him to quit.... not sure what to do anymore.... I am really scared of losing him to some illness....

Congrats on the smoke free week, Michelle

[raymaga 25]

Marilyn:

Just before my husband decided to quit smoking, I tried a little experiment. Every time he got out a cigarette, I had one with him (YUCK!!!!!), but when my daughter (who was 16 at the time) saw me smoking, she was totally disgusted with me, and my husband got the hint!!!!! He definitely did NOT want me to become a smoker either!!!!

I'm not suggesting this scenario, but thankfully, it worked in our case!!!!

[Marilyn. 340]

Marilyn:

Just before my husband decided to quit smoking, I tried a little experiment. Every time he got out a cigarette, I had one with him (YUCK!!!!!), but when my daughter (who was 16 at the time) saw me smoking, she was totally disgusted with me, and my husband got the hint!!!!! He definitely did NOT want me to become a smoker either!!!!

I'm not suggesting this scenario, but thankfully, it worked in our case!!!!

I would do that but I get terrible headaches from cigarette smoke.....

my hubby tries to hide his smoking from me... he usually only smokes at work or outside his parent's place when we are there.. etc... but I usually can figure it out... but I don't want to make a scene around his family....

he does bring it home the smoke smell on his clothes though ......

The other day we had his family over for a BBQ and he was hanging outside with the guys and I went out to ask him something and I caught him with a cigarette.... you should have seen the look on his face... he quickly dropped the cig.....

[LuzyC 0]

Hello Michelle,

for a week that no smoke at all!!

Just be strong and keep yourself busy to other things,before you knew it days,months and years pass by so fast without the

the cigarettes and you will be proud of yourself for making the right decision.

Its been 2 months now that Gary decide to stop smoking,he is still have the cravings and struggling so hard when he is at

work(amost everybody smoke there) but he made it.He even go a day without a patch!!Im so proud of him!

I pray for you Michelle,keep it up!

Hugs,

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Thank you everyone; I really appreciate the support. It hasn't quite been the 'put your mind to it and just DO IT' task that I thought it was going to be...yes, it IS that,but the cravings...argh! And no, doodle, that *second* part to your post did NOT help at all... thanks for "whoopin'" her up, Charles~!!! Congrats to everyone else who's quit too!

Mostly though...I know it was a silly question....but honestly...do any of you ever worry about whether you quit smoking soon enough or not? I know that not by a long shot..everyone who smokes dies from a smoking-related disease...but, by the same token, people who have only smoked a few years die from them. ####### shoot I guess! Maybe it's just my anxietys kicking up with all of this, I dunno...but the last couple of days I have been unusually worried about getting lung cancer or something...moreso than when I was smoking!!

Thanks again everyone...positive reinforcement is goooooooooooood. M.

[melly 0]

Congrats again on quitting! You're doing great!!

The reason I quit 3 years ago was because I couldn't breathe. And when I say I couldn't breathe, I mean, I couldn't catch a whole breath. At all. For months. It finally scared me so bad that I quit. It was difficult but I just kept reminding myself that I was doing some pretty bad and possibly irreversible damage to my lungs.

It took some months for me to be able to breathe mostly okay again, but it took over a year for me to feel like I could get a breath no problem whenever I wanted.

I still have problems sometimes though, mostly just when it's way too hot out. Heat induced asthma caused by smoking??? I know I never had trouble before I was having breathing trouble when I still smoked.

Anyways, your fears aren't necessarily unfounded but I think the thing is just to stay positive and not focus on the negative stuff. If it's going to happen it will, but you did yourself a great favor with quitting. Time will unfold and you'll just live your life and what comes, comes.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Thank you everyone; I really appreciate the support. It hasn't quite been the 'put your mind to it and just DO IT' task that I thought it was going to be...yes, it IS that,but the cravings...argh! And no, doodle, that *second* part to your post did NOT help at all... thanks for "whoopin'" her up, Charles~!!! Congrats to everyone else who's quit too!

Mostly though...I know it was a silly question....but honestly...do any of you ever worry about whether you quit smoking soon enough or not? I know that not by a long shot..everyone who smokes dies from a smoking-related disease...but, by the same token, people who have only smoked a few years die from them. ####### shoot I guess! Maybe it's just my anxietys kicking up with all of this, I dunno...but the last couple of days I have been unusually worried about getting lung cancer or something...moreso than when I was smoking!!

Thanks again everyone...positive reinforcement is goooooooooooood. M.

Michelle, some of those stories are meant to do exactly that, scare the living ####### outta you so you'd quit.

And I know they are horrible but that's like the one end of the spectrum, ya know? There are tons of ex-smokers out there who are now living a healthy life and feeling tons and tons better. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, focus on the positive!

Remember that from the moment you've quit, your body has been changing and getting healthier by the minute.

Within ...

# 20 minutes

Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.

# 8 hours

Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.

# 24 hours

Your risk of a heart attack will have decreased by 50%.

# 48 hours

Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal.

# 72 hours

Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites will now have passed from your body via your urine. You can also expect the symptoms of chemical withdrawal to have peaked in intensity. Your bronchial tubes are beginning to relax thus making it easier to breathe. Your lung capacity has also started to increase.

# 10 days to 2 weeks

Your brain and body have now physically adjusted to again functioning without nicotine and the more than 3,500 chemical particles and 500 gases present in each and every puff.

# 3 weeks to 3 months

Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared. Your overall lung function has improved up to thirty percent.

# 1 to 9 months

Any sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.

# 1 year

Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.

# 5 to 15 years

Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.

# 10 years

Your risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus is now half that of a smoker's.

# 15 years

Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked. Your risk of lung cancer has decreased by 80 to 90%. Your overall risk of death has returned to near that of a person who has never smoked.

Oh and I wouldn't use that website. Ugh, that one's just a nightmare.

Try quitnet.com for a more positive and supportive attitude.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

hehehehe thanks, Swirls. (and Melly!) That site has helped me hang on over the last couple of rough days though...not so much today..the weekend mostly....anyway, how come you didn't like it??? Just curious. I have no big ties there, but it has helped me. Only thing I didn't like about it at all so far is they keep pushing the older members down your throat. I agree it's probably best to read the older members' posts more to see how things can/WILL be,etc...but the newbies can share what they are going through too! ARGH! That really frustrated me. Finally, I just posted my email and a couple people have contacted me that way. They are a bit 'militant' as one person put it but I think I actually need that right now to not go back to it...I'm still having really strong cravings, but I'm determined! Plenty of others quit...I can too! I will check out that other site you mentioned though..thanks!! M.

Edited January 31, 2007 by MichelleandCraig