Stop Smoking Support Thread

Okay Ladies - Wish me luck.  I just smoked my last cig.  I have all the stuff I need to start the herbal program.  Kinda weird that you start the 1st day at the evening meal but that is okay - I am just so ready.  Heck, I only smoked 4 cigs today.  We will see what happens.  I know I said my Q date was Aug 1st but I am so focused NOW!  Can't guarantee I will feel the same way if I wait 2 more weeks.

Way to go JO!  

So far so good.  Just finished dinner and don't want a cig.  DH on the other hand had to light up at the table.  This is going to be very interesting.

Barbara - Michelle & Karen - Hope you don't mind doing some hand holding through this process.  I am now on a 7 day program and if I can do this then I think I will have this habit kicked. 

Jo: You can do this. Remember each day it gets a little easier.

Annette: Keep coming back!  You can do this too!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Love ya all...Sorry I've been MIA...busy with work, etc.

Jan

Everything that I have read says to drink lots of water to help flush out the system and that makes perfect sense.  I really have to watch that I don't overdo it on the liquid.  I found out during rads that if I drink an excessive amount of watet is throws off my potassium levels - I am taking a lasix for my blood pressure.  I do need to drink more than I do right now but will have to keep close tabs on it.

 4 hours without a cig and so far so good.  I am keeping my butt out of the kitchen where I used to smoke.  Go in there long enough to get something to drink and then leave.

Hey Jo!  I'll pop in this weekend to check on you when I can...  We have the whole family coming together this weekend to bury my Gpa, have a memorial service and then big family potluck so I may not have access to the computer very much.  

When I quit, I would go to sleep early just to be safe.  I found late at night and early morning were the hardest for me.   Stay strong!  I am so excited for you!

((JO)) You can do it. If you get the urge, go outside and pull some weeds.

Jo, my goodness you are going like a house on fire, you have done great even to sitting in the room you allowed yourself to smoke in, with your DH smoking!!!!   Karen

Headaches are more of a recovery symptom than a withdrawal. Smokers have more red blood cells than non-smokers (has to do with carbon monoxide binding to the red blood cells faster than oxygen and the body thinks it's oxygen deprived and creates more red blood cells to get more oxygen). So when you quit, and are not inhaling carbon monxide, more oxygen is available which can cause a headache, plus nicotine constricts the blood vessels and when there is no more nicotine, the blood vessels are not constricted, which can also cause a headache ( as the blood vessels "expand", they push on surrounding nerves) (expand is really not the right word, but I hope you get the drift of it). 

It takes about 3 weeks for the body to re-adjust the number of red blood cells. If the headaches get really bad--go give blood at the blood bank (if they will take your blood--they won't take mine because of the cancer--but it's one way of getting rid of excess red blood cells and it works).

VJ - I figured the headache was due to quitting - just did not know exactly how.  With that said, I am pretty sure then that the lightheadedness is also one of the things I will have to deal with. Can't give blood because of some medical issues other than cancer.  I will just put my "big girl panties" on and deal with this.  The panties part sounds ridiculous in my case - I only weigh 138 lbs - but ya'll get me drift.  Thanks for the info.

I will forewarn you gals, I may be on here alot during the weekend - sure hope you don't mind. 

Jo, the physical withdrawal part lasts, I believe 72 hrs, correct me of I am wrong VJ.  o2bhealthy, my thoughts are with you on this weekend of your grandpa's funeral.  May it bring laughter, good memories, along with the tears.  May you be surrounded by the love of your family and friends.  Jo, keep on, keeping on, you are doing great!  Karen

(((O2B)))  We will be thinking about you this weekend.

The half life of nicotine is very fast, 2 to 4 hours--which means half the nicotine you smoke if gone within 2 to 4 hours, another half (half of a half) is gone in another 2 to 4 hours and so on. So the nicotine is out of a smokers body really quick, a couple of days---BUT it's the receptors in the brain that cause the withdrawals, not the presence of nicotine, withdrawals can actually get worse once the nicotine is gone because then the receptors are empty and screaming for (craving) nicotine. Physical withdrawals will last as long as it takes for those receptors in the brain to calm down--which is different for everyone in both intensity and duration.

There is a reason why the average smoker smokes about a pack a day (and why the tobacco companies sell them in a pack of 20--did you ever wonder why not 10 or 30--but why 20 ?) It's because 20 a day keeps the level of nicotine in the smokers blood constant--because of the speed of the half-life. 

WOO HOO!!!! IT HAS BEEN A FULL 24 HOURS SINCE MY LAST CIG!!!! AMAZING.  I feel great and the cravings have not been bad at all - nothing like the ones I had in the past.  

Been drinking lots of ice tea but went to Wal Mart today for more distilled water to take with the herb capsules.  It won't hurt me to drink it - my potassium tends to get low anyway. 

Thanks Karen -  Haven't had a problem with triggers.