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Joined: Sep 2003
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I need to quit smoking.

I am just wondering if anyone has had success with any aides? I have tried the patch (cuts the cravings some) and I am already on Wellbutrin (which is Zyban), can't chew the gum, makes me vomit. Tried hypotist YEARS ago - what a joke!

I am thinking about trying acupuncture.
Has anyone tried the nasal spray?

I know most pple will say it is all about willpower and really WANTING to quit but I am hoping for something to help me and get me to that point...

Thanks *cough, cough* <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

<small>[ June 18, 2004, 08:52 PM: Message edited by: Fraggles ]</small>

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have you tried marijuana? Seriously. Taht's what my son did when I told him to stop smoking. It got him off the ciggies at least.

Why don't you call your local teaching hospital and ask them if they run a program to help people stop smoking (films of yukkie lungs etc). Ask them if you can observe a lung cancer operation. I gather that many people have their last smoke when they go thru the hospital doors to have part of their lung removed. I know it's hard though. I'm addicted to a glass and a half of wine every day and I can't give it up. I'm at high risk of breast cancer and alcohol is one of the risk factors for familial breast cancer - so I'm no better than you. But, don't be discouraged - keep trying. The fags are thought to be associated with about 2000 carcinagenics (my kid did medicine!) <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />

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Well,I don't know if I would go on mind altering drugs to quit smoking,I think I would rather keep smoking. I smoked 4 packs a day up until Oct 1998 and the hardest thing for me was just STARTING.

The second hardest thing was dealing with my psychological addiction. I was over the nicotine addiction in about 3-4 days, that was the easy part. The way I did it, and it wasn't easy, was with a patch the first week. If I had to do it over again, I would buy some sugar free lollipops so that I could keep my hands occupied. That was my greatest problem.

Fraggle, just jump in there and do it. It is sure not easy but as many people who smoke today, have STOPPED smoking in the past. I am so glad I quit! One nice side effect is quitting will make you look much younger!

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I quit for 10 years but started back up. Hey, it helped during the times I felt like contacting the OM. I figured it was the lesser of two evils...

cest la vie!

So when I first quit I drank a BOATLOAD of water. I mean, gallons because that washes the nicotine out of your system faster. The physical withdrawals were easier to deal with because every time I wanted a cigarette I would drink water.

Another thing that might help is to brush your teeth every time you want a smoke. That way you have nice, clean happy breath and you don't want to ruin it with a cigarette.

My quit date is June 30th! I don't know though, MC has been heavy so I might extend my quit date just a bit.

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I started smoking when I was thirteen. By the time I was 20 I was up to a pack and half a day. I tried several times to quit cold turkey, and it never worked. What DID work, for me, was to cut the number of smokes in half every week for about 6 weeks. So, if I was averaging 30 a day, then I cut down to fifteen a day for a week, then the next week to 7 or 8 a day, then the next week around 4 a day, etc., etc. By the time you're down to 1 or 2 a day, it's a lot easier...they start tasting like crap.

Bob

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I'm a nurse who does smoking cessation counseling, and I'm an ex-smoker. Maybe I can help... I would find out if your local hospital has a quit smoking program, or if there is a quit line to call in your area. They can give you more info on nicotine replacement meds. Many have $$ so that your meds are free or greatly reduced in price, too!

The patches are great, but you need to be on the right dosage strength...One cig has about 1 mg of nicotine, so you need to do the patch which is closest to how much you smoke. Usually, you should do 4-6 weeks on that, then down to the next patches for 2-4 weeks, then the lowest for 2-4 weeks. You can also do the gum or nasal spray for cravings in between when you really need a boost, say right before or after MC!

I personally have done the acupuncture when I quit smoking 10 years ago...it was challenging, but well worth the $165. Plus, my doc gave me some chinese herbs that helped with withdrawals.

More stuff you can do: chew on cinnamon sticks (the real ones) or cinnamon gum/candy, cut up drinking straws to cig length and puff on them, drink lots of water, suck on lollipops, take deep breaths or a walk when you wanna light up.

Here's a cool fact...the nicotine craving will go away in 20 minutes WHETHER YOU SMOKE OR NOT! So, get busy or set a timer for 20 minutes and see how you do!!

Best of luck to you! This is one of those things you will never regret doing!!

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Jump on a treadmill with it on about 5 or 6 for an hour or so. Worked for me.

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Update:

Thanks all for your suggestions! I am (almost)ready to try anything!
Today my Dr. gave me a scrip for the nicotine inhaler. give my hands something to do. it's a psychological addiction for me as well.
Lots of water.
Breath through the cravings.

I am going to start cutting down first.
Plumb Bob - I had cut down to under 10 a day (from 2 packs!) by the end of last summer. My quit date was Sept. 30 (DS's Bday) Good eh? Then Dday came! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" />

Ok, cutting down in the next several weeks, maybe a quite date sometime in August....
wish me luck! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

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Fraggles

Good to see your posts again. Just wanted to wish you the best of luck! What a time to quit, but then again, it's never a good time, eh?

Suck on that inhaler to your heart's content. I've heard greta things about it!

Keep us posted, ok?

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I applaud all people who want to quit smoking.

My best advice is to take it a day at a time and really, really celebrate each day as a victory rather than a deprivation.

I have quit several times with several methods. It is still possible for me (after almost 10 years) to get into a state of mind where I would really really really really enjoy (okay, need) a cigarette.

That's why I say: each non-smoking day a victory. And use whatever works, each day, to achieve it.

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Fraggles

Good to see your posts again. Just wanted to wish you the best of luck! What a time to quit, but then again, it's never a good time, eh?

Suck on that inhaler to your heart's content. I've heard greta things about it!

Keep us posted, ok?

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Fraggles,

Finally a response that I feel confident about!!

I quit smoking 4 years ago. The thing that helped me - going to the gym. Start working out if you don't, this is a BIG plus!!

I wore the patch for about a week, forgot to put it on one day and never used one again.

I used to wake up in the morning and smoke at least a half a pack prior to work! I smoked at least 2 packs a day, for over 20 years.

You can do it!! Put your mind to it! Start living healthy and you'll change those bad habits.

Imagine waking up every morning and your chest doens't feel like it is going to burst! You can breath!

Good Luck


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