blind_otter Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 So I decided to quit smoking cigarettes on the first of January. Oh, so cliche. But aside from a few slip ups, I've been going strong, smoke free for the last 55 days. I am not using anything now, initially I was using nicotine gum but I felt it was just prolonging the process so I stopped that abruptly about 2 weeks after my quit date. Surprisingly, I still have killer cravings for a smoke. Although the cravings are not a constant, they are a daily occurance. I wonder when the cravings will go away. I mean, every day I drive by the Jiffy store where I used to buy my Newports and I avoid pulling into their parking lot through sheer force of will, alone. My boyfriend still smokes. It kills me that he does this. He comes into the house smelling like smoke, looking blissful from his break, and I get jealous. But I haven't acted on those feelings of jealousy. I will, however, gleefully remind him that he's going to get high blood pressure, heart problems, emphysema, and a whole host of other nasty diseases because of his habit. I say that I do this out of love, but the reality is that I do this out of spite because the fact that he still smokes irritates the piss out of me. Plus, my Dad JUST died of lung cancer 4 short months ago. I watched him suffer a slow, painful death. And this is my main motivating factor. I know that Dad wouldn't want me to die like he did. And I don't want my boyfriend to die like that, either. I keep telling him that it's OK if he continues to smoke, but secretly I hate it. I just tell him it's OK because I can't control the behavior. But the longer I go without smoking, the more I can smell and taste the nastiness that is being with a smoker. Gross. Me. Out. I don't mean to be high and mighty. But smoking is stank. I wonder how long I can go on in my relationship with this between us. I don't want to force anyone to do anything, so I'm stuck. It's a great relationship otherwise. My boyfriend has been the most supportive, loving, open person in the world since my father died. Although in the past we had our problems, the crisis of my father's death really brought out the best in our relationship. But the smoking thing has got to stop. Link to post Share on other sites
tanbark813 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Keep on truckin', body odor. Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 Keep on truckin', body odor. Thank you, tuberculosis, my contagious friend. Link to post Share on other sites
justagirlforever Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Well done! It must be super hard trying to quit while being with someone who still smokes though. Hats off to you. I've never smoked - and never will. Though once had a smoking boyfriend - and will never have one of those either again. All the best sticking with it! Link to post Share on other sites
DownbutnotOut Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 I smoked 2 packs a day for 18 years and quit cold turkey and never slipped up. I made a little deal with God that if it turned out that the lump in my throat was not cancer, I'd quit. It wasn't so I kept my promise....I am 13 years smoke free. I am SO glad I quit! The longings will stop....it is mostly the HABITS you miss....everytime I got in the car, I'd light up....everytime I got on the phone, I'd light up... etc. It helped greatly to be around non-smokers. I couldn't date a smoker now.... I can't sit in smoking sections is restaurants and if I go to a smokey bar, I have to shower b4 I get in bed, I hate the stinky stank so much! Hang in there, it is SO worth it!! Link to post Share on other sites
Ripples Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Yeah, well done B_O. Really tough to do, even tougher if your SO is still doing it. It may help you (it helped me) to think of myself as a non-smoker rather than an ex-smoker. You're not giving up anything, you're taking a better, healthier, richer life for yourself Link to post Share on other sites
JadeStar Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Yippeee! Good for you blind, keep it up, you can do it! Its been 6 months for me now. And YES, I still want one, and probably always will. Jade Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 I am proud of you B_O. You're alot stronger than me, I tell ya that! I didn't stop smoking when my dad died of lung cancer and I still smoke today. I wanna quit, but I feel like such a pussy, scared to quit. Guess I've associated smoking with WHO I am. If that makes any sense...... Ask your bf to wash his hands after he smokes, brush his teeth or have a piece of gum to hide the smoke smell. Link to post Share on other sites
zeldazelda Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 But the longer I go without smoking, the more I can smell and taste the nastiness that is being with a smoker. Gross. Me. Out. I don't mean to be high and mighty. But smoking is stank. yup. i quit cold turkey almost 2 months ago, and i cannot believe how much better i can smell and taste. unfortunately, now is when bad things smell really bad, and smoke and stanked-out-smoke-stale clothing and furniture is the worst part. i never smoked inside my own house because the person i live with does not smoke, but in other smokers' houses, i sit down on a chair and feel smothered in smokey dust. it smells like old cigars and cat pee. keep up the good work. i feel great, it was empowering to quit for me, and i hope it stays that way. Link to post Share on other sites
tinktronik Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 I started again after 9 days no smokes . So I set a new quit date , and i now know to avoid certain places untill I've got more willpower. Link to post Share on other sites
brokenhart2007 Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 In high school I started bumming cigs off people when I was upset about something. In college, it got really bad with the drinking/smoking combo, till I was up to a pack a day easily, with or without drinking. Since then I'm practically a chain smoker...still about a pack daily though. I only tried to quit once. The only assistance i used was succers, twizzlers, etc..and wel butrin but that didn't seem to make a difference. I don't know what method would be best for me. I know it's time, cuz I get occasional sore throats and hoarseness. And I'm a nursing student. What I fear the most is withdrawal...the coughing, the increased appetite (at least I already exercise regularly), the crabbiness. I look forward to smoking after every meal. I don't think I could handle a night out drinking with friends without it, either...I could be one of those "social" smokers...but a person like me wouldn't get by on just that. I'd have to kick it all together, forever. I told my roommate, "cigs are like, my best friend!", and he said, "no their not, they are lying to you!" Other than nursing school, it would be my biggest challenge ever. Nursing school can be pretty scary at times...but to give up cigs..even scarier...lung cancer...well that's the scariest...I thought about trying that new drug Chantix..has anyone tried that? Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Posted February 24, 2007 Share Posted February 24, 2007 t...I thought about trying that new drug Chantix..has anyone tried that? Everything I've seen indicates that it helps most people just quit because they no longer get anything from smoking...have a look at http://www.loveshack.org/forums/t108220/ Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Keep going BO. I'm 8 weeks clean now. I'm still on the patches, but on a much lower dose and only 2 weeks left on them now. I don't see it being a problem coming off them. I rarely get cravings now. Not daily for sure. Only in times of severe stress or emotional anxiety. BUT... and it's a big BUT. I'm pretty sure that the whole process has been made easier by having a non-smoking partner. Had Spidy been a smoker the whole process would have been damn near impossible for me. I'm amazed at how well you've done especially living with a smoker. I can sooo relate to what you mean about smelling it on people. OMG. I had no idea I stunk like that for the last 15 years. You just don't smell it on yourself do you? Now I can smell it lingering after a smoker's walked past me. Bleughhhh!!! Is there no way, no reason why your partner would give up? Link to post Share on other sites
wanda1974 Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 In high school I started bumming cigs off people when I was upset about something. In college, it got really bad with the drinking/smoking combo, till I was up to a pack a day easily, with or without drinking. Since then I'm practically a chain smoker...still about a pack daily though. I only tried to quit once. The only assistance i used was succers, twizzlers, etc..and wel butrin but that didn't seem to make a difference. I don't know what method would be best for me. I know it's time, cuz I get occasional sore throats and hoarseness. And I'm a nursing student. What I fear the most is withdrawal...the coughing, the increased appetite (at least I already exercise regularly), the crabbiness. I look forward to smoking after every meal. I don't think I could handle a night out drinking with friends without it, either...I could be one of those "social" smokers...but a person like me wouldn't get by on just that. I'd have to kick it all together, forever. I told my roommate, "cigs are like, my best friend!", and he said, "no their not, they are lying to you!" Other than nursing school, it would be my biggest challenge ever. Nursing school can be pretty scary at times...but to give up cigs..even scarier...lung cancer...well that's the scariest...I thought about trying that new drug Chantix..has anyone tried that? I have been onthe Chantix for the last month. IT IS AWESOME!!!! And, I thought I couldn't be out drinking without smoking, and I have done it quite a few times over the past month and I am fine. You really should try it. Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 . But the longer I go without smoking, the more I can smell and taste the nastiness that is being with a smoker. Gross. Me. Out. I don't mean to be high and mighty. But smoking is stank. which explains why the biggest anti-smoking people are also ex-smokers. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Oh yeah, absolutely! Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted March 1, 2007 Author Share Posted March 1, 2007 Is there no way, no reason why your partner would give up? I don't know. I've asked him to quit. He even threatened to quit the same time I did but he chickened out. It's like something that is engrained into his identity. Now we heard the news that his father has a genetic heart problem, and I'm all for him quitting now even more because smoking + the human heart = bad news. I still have cravings, damn it. I wish they would go away. I feel them like minor panic attacks. Link to post Share on other sites
hotgurl Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 I don't know. I've asked him to quit. He even threatened to quit the same time I did but he chickened out. It's like something that is engrained into his identity. Now we heard the news that his father has a genetic heart problem, and I'm all for him quitting now even more because smoking + the human heart = bad news. I still have cravings, damn it. I wish they would go away. I feel them like minor panic attacks. quiting is hard BO you're doing great. I still have cravings occasionally when I am stressed/upset. I quit 6 years ago. the cravings will become less and less and not as frequent. I think it's 90% psycological after a certain point. Link to post Share on other sites
Asafan Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Watch out for month three! You'll be doing fine then all of a sudden BAM! You'll want to smoke more than you ever have. It lasts about a week then after that its smooth sailing. Still get cravings but they are fleeting and very easy to resist. Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted March 1, 2007 Author Share Posted March 1, 2007 Watch out for month three! You'll be doing fine then all of a sudden BAM! You'll want to smoke more than you ever have. It lasts about a week then after that its smooth sailing. Still get cravings but they are fleeting and very easy to resist. Uh oh, I'm starting month three right now. Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Yup me too. Month three is just on my doorstep. Fingers crossed. Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I don't know. I've asked him to quit. He even threatened to quit the same time I did but he chickened out. It's like something that is engrained into his identity. Now we heard the news that his father has a genetic heart problem, and I'm all for him quitting now even more because smoking + the human heart = bad news. I still have cravings, damn it. I wish they would go away. I feel them like minor panic attacks. Hopefully it might kick start him into quitting then. He certainly has a better reason to now. For the longest time I couldn't see a time I would quit. Smoking was part of my identity too. It was who I was, what I was. *I* was a smoker, and that was that. I guess somehow life just shifted for me, and I was able to see me and my life ahead as a non-smoker. To be happy and healthy in my marriage and for my future, and future children. Now I'm happy to be a non-smoker. BO have you tried breathing exercises when you have cravings? I found they really helped. Also when they do grab me, I try to keep myself busy, talk to someone or do something (anything!) to keep my mind off it. They will reduce with time. It can't help being around a smoker, it must make for more, and stronger cravings I would think. Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Share Posted March 2, 2007 Well we just heard the news that my boyfriend's father is going in for open heart surgery today, apparently they tried to put a cardiac stint (sp?) in there and it didn't take or whatever, and when they did their dye test he had a 99% blockage. This man smoked for most of his life but quit when he got older. I hope and pray the surgery goes well today. It just makes you think about your own health when you hear about things like this, and how we all abuse our bodies when we are young because we have no idea how difficult it is to maintain health as you get older. Link to post Share on other sites
JackJack Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Well we just heard the news that my boyfriend's father is going in for open heart surgery today, apparently they tried to put a cardiac stint (sp?) in there and it didn't take or whatever, and when they did their dye test he had a 99% blockage. This man smoked for most of his life but quit when he got older. I hope and pray the surgery goes well today. It just makes you think about your own health when you hear about things like this, and how we all abuse our bodies when we are young because we have no idea how difficult it is to maintain health as you get older. Hope all goes well with that blind. And you hang in there with your quitting too. As far as your b/f goes, he will quit when he feels he is ready. You can tell him, ask him, wish so much for him to, but until he makes it up in his mind he is ready, then he probably wont. Of course you probably know this. Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Share Posted March 2, 2007 Hope all goes well with that blind. And you hang in there with your quitting too. As far as your b/f goes, he will quit when he feels he is ready. You can tell him, ask him, wish so much for him to, but until he makes it up in his mind he is ready, then he probably wont. Of course you probably know this. Hey jackjack, thanks for the well wishes. He should be coming out of surgery in about an hour or so, if all goes well, but I haven't been able to reach anyone by cellphone so I hope that doesn't mean anything bad has happened. I know he won't quit until he's ready. But I'll probably continue my gender's time honored tradition of nagging until he's sick of it. Link to post Share on other sites
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