This time its for good ....
Hi, I have been smoking since I was 15 years of age and for the last 10 years or so have been smoking 60 cigs a day, costing me a fortune and giving me COPD along with lots of other problems. I have decided that enough is enough and as I am due to retire soon, I will not be able to afford to smoke, even if I survive long enough to retire. I quit on 12 January and it has been OK apart from some severe diaorrhea problems which now appear to be easing. I already had colitis so that might have been a contributory factor. I also watched the Alan Carr video on utube and this has given me extra help. So 18 days in and just beginning to see the benefits of quitting - the worst of it being the feeling of "emptiness" but I now know this will pass and I just have to outlive it. Good luck to everyone on here and Champix has definitely helped me this time.
You are doing great, Chrissy.
Yes you will go through a range of different emotions and some body motions.
Your body is going through a very major transitions (sic),
Just stay strong, positive and focused.
Well done Chrissy. There are many feelings and emotions that we go through on this journey and you can share anything with the people on this site and usually there is someone who is experiencing the same thing as you. Best smoke free wishes to you and all.
I am at the beginning of my journey to stop smoking. I have just been diagnosed with Emphysema and now realise I must stop. I have been smoking for 51 years and have tried, on and off, over the years to stop, but have failed. I have decided my stop date will be 4th February, 2016 and I am already anxious just thinking of it. It's amazing how you know you should stop, and it's not good for your health, but my addiction is well embedded. I somehow feel that I can't tell my family I am quitting just in case I fail again as they have been at me for years to stop. Wish me luck and I hope I can make it.
Wim, wishing you the very best in your endeavor to quit, its a hard habit to break after so many years that it has dictated your life and lifestyle.
Keep strong and positive and you can and will achieve your goal.
Be just like me n don't tell anyone that you have given up, it was my Co workers that noticed and not my family, and that was over a week before anyone mentioned it.
Looking forward to reading about your progress.
Good luck Wim, you can do it! I also decided not to tell any family members as the last thing we need to hear are negative comments....this is my second attempt. I gave in the other day and told my daughter I was quitting which she was very excited about but her hubby made the remark : how long for this time". I was pretty annoyed to say the least and told him that negative comments like that do not help!!
Are you using any quit smoking aids such as the patches or Champix to help you?
Thank you Jenno and Alleycat for your kind comments and support. I saw my GP today to get the "official" results of my CT scan {I sneeked a peek at the results before I saw him} and he told me that he was concerned that I may have had lung cancer. Thank goodness it's not! I have told my husband of the results and I will have to tell my kids also but not sure if I will tell them of my intention to stop smoking. My doctor does not like the use of smoking aids and certainly not Champix and has advised me to reduce my smoking by one cigarette per week (I average about 17 per day) and to keep having my favourite one until the end and then stop that. He feels by that time my body will get used to the reduction of nicotine and hopefully, I will be able to stop. As you guys would be aware, I find this solution to be a lot easier than just stopping and using aids. Any excuse to prolong the inevitable. When I have stopped smoking in the past, with patches, I am fine for the first few months and then the cravings kick in and I am quite volatile and bad tempered. I have warned my staff at work, poor things, and they are very supportive of me quitting. My problem is, that my mind knows that I have to stop, but I do enjoy smoking and have still not got the feeling of wanting to.
I wish you both well in your endeavour to quit. We can do this!!!