Quit or Die Time...Literally
Hey guys an gals, I'm Tom, 65, pack a day smoker for 50 years
Well, my heart was hurting, went to cardialogist & he ran a stress tess. I failed miserably, on to a Cath. 2 top arteries blocked 85 & 95%
he stinted them, he said other 2 or 3 blocked 30% or so, but if I keep smoking he'll be doing it again within the yr, PROBLEM is, the arteries are hard to stent, and I'll be looking at bypass then
IT'S CRUNCH TIME NOW
I dont want to die, I have good motivation to quit now, as usual waiting until the last minute to do everything, trying to decide if I need gum or a patch or slow quit, or just ditch em. Looking for advice so I can live, thanks from across the big pond
Tom in Florida
Hi tom. Well you've certainly got a good reason to dump the smokes. To help I recommend you read allen Carr's book either "easy way" or "only way" to give up smoking. I smoked 2 packs a day for 45 years and have been smoke free for 48 days. I'm using patches and gum as recommended by my doctor and am down to 1/2 patch now. Feeling on top of this smoking caper and free of the slavery to cigarettes. There are many roads to a smoke free life and you need to find the one that works for you. Everyone on this site is helpful and supportive and its a great place to give you that extra boost of motivation. Hang in there and take it an hour, a day or a week at a time. You can do it.
Hi Tom, I'm 62 and gave up before Christmas after over 45 years of smoking. In hindsight this is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Health is better, family is happy and no longer a social outcast due to smoking and also I have saved over $7000, which I have spent on healthier pursuits.
Nicorrette spray worked for me to help give up the smoking habit, I know many espouse cold turkey or other methods such as Champix etc. My only advice is use what ever works for you and if one method doesn't work try another, we are all different and the only thing that matters is that you succeed in your goal of becoming a non-smoker.
Hi TBird. I never thought that i could quit smoking after 45 years, but i did, and easily cold turkey. Never did anything after being diagnosed borderline copd 3 years ago. Finally thought to cut down, threw my smokes across the room and stopped chain smoking. I took a ginger and turmeric lung cleanse for about a week and felt no desire to light up right away one morning. Cut down to 5 smokes that day, joined a quit forum and started to believe that i could quit smoking. I set a quit date, smoked 3 and 5 for a couple of days, but that was too hard because I just looked to the next one. The third morning i took a puff and got dizzy. I jump started my quit to the next day and never looked back.
I continued with my lung cleanse and discovered that ginger curbs cravings... which i never had after 72 hours. I also drank more water to rid of toxins, ate breakfast and better whole foods while cutting back on coffee. Coffee may not only be a trigger for cravings, but cause anxiety since nicotine used to diminish the effects of caffeine.
I also WANTED to quit. Once BELIEVING that i could, I DID.
Allan Carr's book was at my local library and I read it afterwards to re=inforce my quit. My hubby smoked beside me while I did, and when he finished the book, he quit as well. I am happy to say that we are both now over 200 days happy non=smokers.
Embrace the journey, the better health, the fat savings account and better senses that you will enjoy. If I can do it, you can too.
I just found a new link for the above book. I have also written a piece with useful steps to take in quitting.
Even while you procrastinate , ponder or plan quitting smoking , a few facts and easy steps will do you no harm and who knows what benefit. Please click on my name and find my story "If you've GivenUp GivinUp Try This!" I hope you find it useful for your journey.
I am back again, touched by a very emotional story that I would like to share with you and others.
I also enjoyed the other stories that Citrus posted for a very short time. However it does not diminish the story told. Some stories need retelling.
https://www.icanquit.com.au/story/13202/they-say-its-about-youits-not
Hi Tom, like you I also smoked for 42years and my health declined to a point I also had the stress test and found my heart wasn't doing so well. Angiogram showed two blocked arteries both 70% but over a long distance and cardiologists said stents would only last for a short time with the amount of blockage I had. Ended up having bypass surgery where they found another blockage so three in total. I'm now 8 weeks post surgery and getting back to normal slowly. Quit smoking cold turkey back in September 18, it is hard but can be done. Makes a huge difference to your overall health and well being.