A new Life

Getting through the Hardest part of my journey, For me, It began when I couldn't breathe properly anymore I began getting bad pains in my chest and ribcage I knew something was wrong and why I was experiencing this. I smoked Cigarettes for over 35 yrs and it was beginning to take its toll on me internally and externally, My skin was beginning to deteriorate, my face was all messed up and I was coughing up Black rubbish that I had never seen before, I knew it was time to Quit. After much encouragement from my Wife I made an appointment with my GP and got a prescription for some Patches and made an appointment with the Local Community Health clinic to see a Cessation Nurse who guided me thru my first couple of months, As an exsmoker and a Qualified Nurse over the first 6 weeks she was monitoring the amount of Carbon monoxide in my system at first I had a level of 50ngs of Carbon monoxide in me no wonder I felt so ill, this really opened my eyes to what I was doing to myself and I wondered if I was going to Die, and if it was too late. 2 weeks later I went back and the Co levels had dropped by half to 25ngs, I was really surprised it gave me hope and I thought if I can get this level down to normal I might be right 2 weeks later it dropped to 14ngs then finally after Six weeks I had reached the desired 7 nanograms. The motivation I got from my scare made the first 6 weeks a blur I was wearing full strength patches for 24 hours and using a Quick mist relief spray 8 times a day it really helped a lot. I was going thru withdrawals having nightmares and mood swings, I lost my Appetite and had a few temptations but never acted on them, remembering what was going on with my chest every time I coughed up more Garbage. The nights became a time I spent driving myself Batty so I joined this website and began to spend many hours writing stories and putting my thoughts down on paper I developed a bit of a online family with many Good listeners and all the encouragement I needed and got a lot of good advice as I read many Inspiring stories that made me more determined and want to become Quit Buddies with and battle this addiction. Its nearly 3 months now since I began this Journey and I've got a lot of people to thank for helping me to get this far, there are too many to name you all know who you are. If your just starting your journey here you have made the right choice there is a lot of people here that you can get a lot of good advice from, some from a couple of weeks months and some years, from all walks of life and I hope you find them If not they will find you, Just remember this is a give and take program the more you give us the more you will get back so get started today and make today yesterday and what life used to be like, Goodluck. Ron