On 26 Nov 2008 at 8:46pm Smoker wrote:
There is a very dodgy picture on my baccy packet....A very sick lung.
Seeing as all the other warnings have so far fallen on deaf ears...There is a (slight)glimmer of hope I am on the way to being an ex-smoker.I would be interested to know if any forumites have had any luck with the various nicotine replacement therapies on the market at the moment.
On 26 Nov 2008 at 8:58pm FA wrote:
I went to the quacks and got patches on prescription. I had my last cigarette on 3rd Feb 2004 and have nit even had a drag since.
It's hard...don't let anyone tell you otherwise but belive me, if i can give up a 40-60 a day roll up habbit, anyone can do it.
Considder every hurdle as a triumph....your first cup of tea without a smoke, your first dinner without one, your first pint without one, a trip to the pub without one, a party at friends without one...and maybe a holiday without one.
You will have times when you could kill for a smoke...i used to love it but how you deal with that must come from within....will power !!!
If poss, try to give up with someone or for a reason (kids, money, health) and find someone who will give you lots of moral support because there's plenty of people who will want to bring you down again unbelievably.
Good luck....hopefully next time you post, you'll be "ex-smoker"
On 26 Nov 2008 at 9:37pm Zola uncovered.... wrote:
Thanks FA,input much appreciated.
On 26 Nov 2008 at 9:40pm lurker wrote:
I gave up on the 16th of Dec last year, cannot wait to celebrate my "anniversary"!
I don't miss it at all - took about 3 months to get to that point, but now I cannot believe I ever smoked!
good luck, you can do it!
On 26 Nov 2008 at 10:25pm Nicholas Oscar Teen wrote:
I gave up on ban day. Its about 16 months now. Fags are not addictive, its the habit only. Overcome that and you will crack it.
On 26 Nov 2008 at 10:30pm MC wrote:
I gave up around two years ago after trying unsuccessfully a number of times previously. I was helped massively by two lots of hypnotherapy (I think). I find the smell of cigarettes a little nauseous now.
On 26 Nov 2008 at 11:20pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
I gave up a 30 roll-ups a day habit 17 years ago. I stopped completely and went cold turkey.
The trick that got me through was to say to myself that from the moment I gave up, I was a non-smoker. Once you've achieved the right state of mind, it's a doddle.
I avoided the company of smokers for a few weeks and ate far too many sweets, but it worked and the craving disappeared quite quickly.
It's nice not having bronchitis every winter!
On 26 Nov 2008 at 11:24pm Smiler wrote:
After you decide to give up all you have to do is avoid the next fag cos it will always lead to another
On 27 Nov 2008 at 2:28pm nearly there wrote:
I am planning on giving up after my wedding. Bought Alan Carr book 'easy way to give up smoking'. Its amazing. Smoked now for 23 years. Scary to think about giving up but read the book. Makes total sense and isn't dictatorial.
On 27 Nov 2008 at 5:12pm sashimi wrote:
I gave up a 40 a day habit the day decimal currency came in in 1971. Couldn't handle the new fangled money. Someone suggested taking one drag on a fag when the urge was really desperate and then putting it out - and next time the urge came relighting the same one. I never finished the cigarette as it became more and more disgusting. Also, I used to go for a run or stand on my head for two minutes as I didn't feel like smoking for some time afterwards. Unlike his lordship, in the 37 years since I've always thought of myself as an ex-smoker rather than a non-smoker.
On 27 Nov 2008 at 5:26pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
I forgot to mention that I'm now addicted to crack cocaine instead 
On 27 Nov 2008 at 5:42pm Puffy Billy wrote:
I have read the Allen Carr book and I am still smoking. Basically you read the book and at the end the advice you get is to just give up.
Although Allen Carr successfully gave up smoking, I understand that he died from lung cancer about 20 years later. So the message seems to be???
On 27 Nov 2008 at 6:26pm Lewes Laugher wrote:
I congratulate the hard-core on here - FA and Earl of Lewes most of all. I managed to give up at the beginning of September when I was laid up in hospital for a couple of weeks. No patches etc. I must say I've really fancied one sometimes since, but fingers crossed... the longer it goes on the more your pride gets involved. But I did LOVE smoking.
On 27 Nov 2008 at 7:02pm FA wrote:
My dear old nan.....god rest her soul, gave up smoking at 57. She died last year aged 96 and even on her death bed said she could murder a smoke.
Once a smoker, always a smoker im afraid and you'll never lose those cravings.....it's how you deal with them that is important.
On 27 Nov 2008 at 7:13pm lauren wrote:
Just been to doctors because my asthma is really playing up (before you all start, i know i should'nt be smoking with asthma), anyway i have been given a new drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it's really scared the life out of me, so as of today no more smoking, thats it. One day at a time, keep your fingers crossed for me FA.
On 27 Nov 2008 at 7:28pm FA wrote:
I'll frighten you even more because we watched my mother in law take approx 3 years to die with COPD. She was a heavy smoker and and it was one of the worst things ive ever seen. She was 57.
On 27 Nov 2008 at 8:04pm lauren wrote:
Now you've really put the fear of god in me. I've got the message sweetheart, dont want to go down that road x
On 27 Nov 2008 at 8:04pm expat wrote:
I gave up 5th Feb 05 with nicotine chewing gum. I enjoyed smoking but spent every day terrified from the moment I woke up to when I went to sleep, for years. Now I have peace of mind, but still carry nicotine gum all the time, to stop me picking up that stray fag and being once again a 20 a day woman. My main regret now is that I didn't give up 20 years before, cos I wouldn't have had so many wrinkles, and came close to having a mouth like a cat's bum. Yes, I am vain too. Good luck you can do it!!
On 27 Nov 2008 at 8:06pm expat wrote:
I gave up 5th Feb 05 with nicotine chewing gum. I enjoyed smoking but spent every day terrified from the moment I woke up to when I went to sleep, for years. Now I have peace of mind, but still carry nicotine gum all the time, to stop me picking up that stray fag and being once again a 20 a day woman. My main regret now is that I didn't give up 20 years before, cos I wouldn't have had so many wrinkles, and came close to having a mouth like a cat's bum. Yes, I am vain too. Good luck you can do it!!
On 28 Nov 2008 at 11:27am Lewes Laugher wrote:
Talking about vanity, what always gets me expat is all the time I spent in front of the mirror as a kid practising getting the smoke to drift out of my nostrils.
On 28 Nov 2008 at 2:03pm zola wrote:
I heard about an 'E cigarette' yesterday,and spent last night surfing the web for informstion.Look it up on Google,and on You Tube.
It is a cigarette shaped device with a rechargeable battery and a 'filter' which is replaceable and filled with nicotine.The nicotine is available in lots of flavours and is refillable,or you can buy ready filled cartridges in various strengths.The strengths vary from High,Medium or Low.It depends on your 'addiction' to which you chose.If you want to give up,you can start higher and then wean yourself off.Or it can also be used to smoke in a non smoking enviroment.IE,a pub.
Some pubs are even selling single 'cigarettes' to punters ina bid to win back business.Some publicans are selling the whole kit,which costs around £30.This contains the cigarette,charger,usually 5 refill filters in varying strengths.
Thereafter you can buy the refills at about 5 for 5..One filter can last as much as 20 cigarettes worth.When the device is charged,it can last all day.
The added bonus to this device,is somehow,when you take a drag,a vaporising action takes place and a plume of 'smoke' is inhaled into your lungs,which contains the nicotine.So in effect,you are 'smoking',getting your nicotine hit,and have something to do with your hands.....
Advantages are obvious.
I have read glowing reviews.I have read about folk who use this as a substitute,and folk who gave up using this.
The prices vary enormously.Fleabay have them fairly cheaply,and there are literally hundreds of suppliers out there...
I found a 'reputable' company,who sell their kit for 39.99.You also get a spare battery with this one.
The normal white cigarette is about the same size as a king size,and it even has a red tip which glows when you inhale....
So this particular company have bought out a black ciggie,with a glowing blue tip.This helps in pubs as bar staff and other customers get a bit sniffy when they think you are lighting up.They even do a pink one!
It is apparently completely legal to 'smoke' in pubs,restaurants,airports etc.
Then I read a report from the medical council saying these type of nicotine replacement has not been tested and could be unsafe....
I will let you know what I decide.
Here is the name of the company.
theelectroniccigarette.co.uk
On 28 Nov 2008 at 2:57pm pikelet wrote:
I gave up smoking in June and simply made the decision and stopped. I'd always really enjoyed smoking but was getting really bored with what I thought was an ever more grubby, expensive and unhealthy habit. I know it doesn't suit everyone to go cold turkey but I found it far easier than trying to wean myself off the fags with nicotine substitutes especially as it is the habit, not the nicotine that lurks about tempting you to fail. All the time you are using nicotine substitutes your mind tends to be fixated on not smoking and it's better to get your head around the idea that you are a non-smoker as quickly as possible. In this respect, a tip I was given is to think of yourself as a someone who doesn't smoke. Not someone who is trying to stop.
In my case, being rather single-minded (some would say downright awkward!) about things means I'm not good at failure. But looking back, I can honestly say that I find it hard to believe I smoked so many fags (20-30 daily) for so many years given that I really didn't have any terrible cravings when giving up.
However, you've got to give up because YOU want to. Not for anyone else and certainly because of a smoking ban alone. Neither should any other smokers in the household feel pressurised to give up because the likely consequences are that both of you will fail. Take it a step at a time! Because if the time is right I think that giving up may not be that hard to do.
On 28 Nov 2008 at 4:38pm Its Not Rocket Science wrote:
I gave up about 4 years ago. I was quite a heavy smoker and asthmatic which is not a good combination. I had tried lots of times using will power but that lasted a matter of hours !. Read Alan Carrs book and just got irritated with reading the same thing over and over again. Was hypnotised once and gave up for 18 months and then one day found I had a half smoked cigarette in my hand. I had literally lit up and smoked half of it before realising I didnt smoke. Of course by then I had started again. I finally gave up using patches. I got fed up with the patches long before the course was over and just stopped using them. It was so easy I cant understand why I didnt do it before. I agree with Pikelet that there is a right time to stop, and that was mine. If its not the right time then you will probably start again. One added incentive is that after a while you start to realise that cigarette smoke, and smokers smell absolutely rank !! I am horrified to think that I used to smell like that without realising it and it is reason enough not to start again as far as I am concerned. An interesting point however is that I gave up smoking to save money and improve my health (as most people do). Not only did I put on over 5 stone which meant having to buy a complete new wardrobe, but I also read the other day that for every 2 inches you put on round your waist, you increase your risk of an early death by 17%. So, I may well have been richer and lived longer if I had carried on smoking !!! Good luck anyway Smoker.
On 29 Nov 2008 at 8:58am expat wrote:
I did that too Lewes L, the only reason I started was the peer thing. Zola, I think the idea of the 'e smokes' you talk about is a good idea for some,but I felt a lot of the giving up involved actually breaking the habits of reaching for the smoke and having one between your fingers. I try to remind myself now by noting the awful smell on people, and the yellow teeth and fingers and the wrinkles on old smokers. The financial side was never a big enough incentive, I think you just have to wait for the time you know you are ready, plan and not try giving up till you get to the right day.
On 30 Nov 2008 at 1:54pm zola wrote:
Update.I have failed again.Had one at lunchtime yesterday,and none for the rest of the day.Went through this morning and then went to the shop....Nuff said.On the plus side,there is no picture on the packet this time,but a new banner which tells me that my risk of heart disease is halved after a year if I give up.
I have patches,and gum.I have tried them both,
I liked the idea of the E cigarettes,because I enjoy smoking,and the thought of a device which gets rid of the 4000 odd chemicals present in tobacco,(and therefore cutting the risk of COPD and all the other diseases associated with smoking) appealed to me.
On 30 Nov 2008 at 2:57pm zola wrote:
OOpps,didn't finish my post....
Anyway,I found a forum about these E cigs,and it turns out the starter pack,which costs around £30,doesn't last more than a month,and you will need to buy more batteries,atomisers,refill cartridges....It is an ongoing expense.It is interesting that literally thousands of folk have 'given up' smoking traditional cigs,and now 'vape' instead.
And it says on the forum that these devices are not a 'device for cessation.
And the chemicals in the filter have not been tested yet,and have not been endorsed by any medical councils....But I suppose that whatever is in them,is better than tobacco...
I need some help,and will visit my doctor and get some advice.
I appear to have no willpower.And I don't want to give up...I NEED to.
Thanks for all your answers.'