Want to try....AGAIN. Some suggestions please..pretty please?

[jojo54]

This will be my 4th time trying to quit. I've tried the patch, Smoke Away and years ago, had tried Wellbutrin (the Wellbutrin WAS working really well, but after a week I developed a rash & doc said to stop taking it). I'm hoping that if I do it, hub will quit too. Many years ago, I had quit. I don't know if I got a bad cigarette or what, but the taste was disgusting and I put it out and didn't smoke again for the next 5, 6 years. I wish I could get that mindset back again. I wish I had never picked up another one.

I want to see my grandchildren grow up and I can't stand the thought of them watching smoke come out of my mouth, like some factory smokestack. I just don't know if I have enough determination. So....my cry for help. What has worked for DUers??? I can't chew the gum (dental issues in progress). Has anyone tried hypnotism?? What about the lozenges?

Any ideas will be much appreciated. Thx in advance!

[murielm99]

1. Don't know what to tell ya.

I lost my quit of six months. It is not as though I am smoking two packs a day. I smoke two or three, and only smoke them halfway down. But it is still smoking.

The really stupid thing is that I have some health problems that would improve if I quit this idiocy.

I called my doc Friday. He said that I can go back on the step three patch, and it will not conflict with my other meds. I am also signing up for a yoga class. I am hoping that I can get my quit back with a combination of those two things. And of course, I need will power. I need to say "no" to myself, even though my husband leaves his cigs around the house.

The patch worked for me before. I don't know what the hell was going on in my mind. If you get back on track, let me know. Good luck! I am buying patches today!

[jojo54]

3. Good luck with the patches, murielm99

Any health issues become bigger when smoking is involved. My sister found out she had cervical cancer about 8 months ago. She quit exactly the day she found out. She's had surgery and chemo and she's doing absolutely wonderful. Secretly, she's my idol and I want to show her that I can quit too, if not for anything else but to show her support. But as I stated in my post, my biggest reason is my grandchildren (we're on our way to 4!!!!).

So here's wishing you good luck. Let us know how it's going and maybe by then, I can report that I've taken the big plunge.

[Don Claybrook]

2. I can't say as I have much standing to tell you anything

Both you and the first reply to this thread have quit for longer periods than I have. Today starts week #8 for me. So I don't know that I can give you any advice, but I can tell you what has worked for me so far.

I started with Wellbutrin and the patch. I'm done with the patch now, and I'll be done with the Wellbutrin when this month's supply is gone. I was concerned about gaining weight when I quit smoking, so I decided to start a diet and exercise regimen when I quit smoking. I know that some say you shouldn't do this, but it's worked out great for me. If I have the urge to smoke, I try to get some exercise instead. But after 7 weeks, I don't have much of an urge to smoke anymore.

The biggest reason that I don't want to smoke again is because it would undo all this good work. I really feel like I have accomplished something, I feel like I'm healthier, and I like myself better.

Also, I really hadn't much considered the social implications until I quit, but life has gotten easier in that way too. I no longer have to be concerned about whether I'm standing too close to someone, smelling of smoke. I don't have to go out in the cold and rain. I'm impervious to the restaurant smoking ban that just passed in my city--it just doesn't matter to me anymore.

fwiw, I still like to walk near people who are smoking. Sometimes it smells good to me. Go figure.

Oh, and I can take one hell of a big lungful of air now, inhaling very deeply without a hacking cough. Sadly, this did not used to be the case.

I'm using what used to be cigarette money to buy new, smaller-sized clothes that I need because of the exercise I mentioned.

Please bear in mind that I smoked very heavily for 21 years. I was one of those people who was never going to quit. It's not that some part of me didn't want to, but that I was just one of those types of people who couldn't quit. I needed it too much, it was too integral a part of me. I might have been able to quit if a doctor told me I was about to die, but otherwise, I couldn't.......I see how pathetic this looks, what I've just written. But it's really true; that's how I felt. I had that thought about 3 months back. Now I have a completely different outlook on life and on my health. I really can be healthy, in good shape, and a non-smoker. And that's one of the most liberating notions I've had in a long, long time.

I do wish you luck. Check in periodically and let us know how it's going.

[jojo54]

4. Don, I'm happy for you.

You sound very committed and that's great. I think the biggest problem with me is, just simply taking that first big step - it's scary. I've got the same concerns that you had (weight), plus I'm afraid that stopping will make me bitchy. I'm trying to get my head on straight and think of it as a good thing, instead of those 2 concerns I mentioned.

It's funny that you said that you like the smell of smoke. I've heard that several times from others who have quit. I think it's an association thing that the former smokers will always have.

Keep up the good work and I will check in and report how I'm doing. Thanks for the encouragement.

[Vincardog]

5. I tried hypnotism. It worked so well I got the training to become a

Hypnotherapist. You have to stop trying and just do it.

[unhappycamper]

6. I was in a drug study (rimonabant) for smoking cessation study

in the fall of 2004. It was a blind study that used the drug and a nicotine patch or placebo. Our study group of 18 had a 45% success rate after 12 weeks, which is almost double other smoking cessation programs.

I think my last butt was just after Thanksgiving. Within the next few months,

my Mom died
my LTR relationship went down the toilette

and I did not smoke.


Like a complete idiot, I tried a butt this spring and am hooked again. Grrrrrr.

The good news is rimonabant works great; the bad news is this February the FDA said no to rimonabant for smoking cessation.

I'm going to quit again, but do not look forward to withdrawal.

[OnionPatch]

7. Hypnosis really helped me

I used to smoke two+ packs a day and I've not smoked for eleven years now. I used a self-hypnosis tape. But I'm not sure where to get that kind of tape again. I just posted hoping someone might know. I want one for my husband.

The hypnosis worked better than I thought possible. Basically all it is is a lot of relaxation then affirmations like: "I no long have a desire to smoke", "Stopping is easy." "I love the way my lungs breathe clearly" "I can feel the toxins washing away, out of my body" etc. etc. I was able to stop by using those tapes and the gum. I was skeptical at first but I truly believe something gets set in your brain after listening to it over and over.

Oh, the other thing I did, and the tape told me to do this, was to pick a day, one month in advance as the quitting day and cut back little by little until that day. During this I listened to the tape and one of the affirmations was, "I WILL stop smoking on such and such day."

Good luck. I think really wanting it is the first step to getting there. I bet you'll eventually be able to do it.

[lizerdbits]

8. I'm going to try to quit again this year

Probably when there's more light because I get SO TIRED when I've tried in the past even with patches or welbutrin and I have SAD as it is. I already eat well and exercise, the the cigs are the one thing I can't seem to change. I'm worried about weight because nothing gets me lower than about 25lbs overweight based on weight tables (I was told I have polycystic ovary syndrome and high testosterone levels and hence weight issues since puberty). However once I get all that crap out of my lungs (started at 14 and am now 32) my cardio ability should increase and maybe that will help.
My nephew is about 18 months so I'd like to quit before he asks why aunt Liz smells funny and not to have him think it's a good habit to pick up. One of my grandmothers is on oxygen constantly (as is her sister) after decades of smoking and my other grandmother has emphysema so you'd think I'd have quit by now!

[yellerpup]

9. Your story reminds me of a friend who quit ten years ago...

I was still smoking and I offered her one (because she said she liked the smell of mine) but she said, "It would be so easy for me to smoke again, but I won't because I'm not sure I could ever quit again." I tried everything, too. The gum made my teeth wobble, the patch gave me hives, I am a writer so I NEED the depression to work FOR me, which puts antidepressants out. I can't explain exactly how it happened, but last year on my birthday I decided I was going to quit and never be a smoker again. Smoking became something I used to do. When I felt as if I was going to slide into bitchiness, I reminded myself that the way I felt was my fault and that no one else needed my crap. My poor husband has suffered bitchy-backlash from all the other times I "quit" but did not succeed, so instead of thinking of my own pain, I became determined not to cause him another second's worth of grief because of my nasty addiction. Next month will be one year. I had strong cravings for about 4 months, sometimes bad enough to make me cry. Cry if you need to but remind yourself when you get that urge that the decision is already made: you are no longer a smoker. Make smoking something you used to do; keep it in your past. Remember that even yesterday is part of your past and that smoking is simply no longer an option. Good luck. :hug:

[ricochetastroman]

10. Good luck

I smoked 1.5 packs a day.
Real addicted. Tried everything to quit.
Wellbutrin for EIGHT DAYS.
Woke up, NEVER wanted another cigarette.
That was 6/21/2000

Try it again! It was a miracle.
Good luck.

[ricochetastroman]

11. Oh and,

I did continue to take it for 10 more months. But, who cares? It worked. When I went off of it - no side efx.

Wishing your body accept it this time.

[jojo54]

12. I'M ON CHANTIX AND IT'S WORKING!!!!!!!

Yeah!! and thanks for everyone's input. I didn't think this scrip was covered by our insurance, but after calling them 3 times about it, a woman who REALLY believes in customer service looked under "smoking cessation" instead of just the "C"'s. $30 a month is a LOT better than $115!

Anyway, I'm on my 2nd day of not smoking, 9th day overall taking the pills. I have no desire to smoke but I'm finding that I do get the urge to ring somebody's neck every once in awhile.

For any doubters, it's a must try if your insurance pays for it. Thanks again for everyone's positive responses and good advice.