I smoked for 25 years and i have quit now for 7 months.
December 26th 9:03pm was my last cigarette. Wasn't a big moment was it lol for me to remember the time and the date lol.
If youre a quitter or Ex Smoker then maybe we can help others quit too. That's if they want to quit. As I found lots of help and patches out there. You don't have to attend classes etc.
Its not the end of the world if it doesn't work this time you can always try again.
But its not for everyone, so if its not your thing to quit please respect the quitters in this topic please.
My mum is an NHS health advisor and one of he roles is to help people quit smoking.
So if people need information or advice, I can ask her, ill also ask her for details of the relevant agencies and organisations etc to contact to gain help and support.
I smoked for 25 years and i have quit now for 7 months.
christ, 25 years?! you dont look a day over 20 mate
Good look to those who are quitting
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The lad next door to me is a builder and i was surprised to hear that on his building site they now have a designated smoking area under a sheet out side. No more smoking just anywhere.
They started this a week early and its given him the incentive to quit.
Iv been smoking since i was 16 (5 years) I would like to quit as i spend far to much money on fags/Baccy but i find it hard every time i try, I just end up chewing some poor persons head off
dont get pissed or chew gum when u wanna tab or lick an ashtray. all three can be done in any order and all are effective, especially licking the inards of an ashtray
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I've tried to give up more times than I can count. Been a smoker for 22 years. Finally went to the Practice Nurse and got Champix - wish I'd gone ages ago!!!
Not smoked for 2 weeks now. Not been as narky as I was on the patches (baccy stuck to the sticky & tasted like crap when you lit it - maybe I was using them wrong). I think "really want a cig" and it's like the thought floats into my head then floats right out.
If anyone's really serious about giving up ask for the Champix. It's fantastic!
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Just for future reference, in case it happens - what do I do after "doing the do" now I have given up smoking?? Do I call thee other party a taxi earlier or offer them a beverage perhaps?
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
I see. I tried smoking banana skins when I was a teenager - just made my tongue curved and slippy What if I don't have a banana in the house?? Should we perhaps continue this in general chit chat
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
quit with champix, it work very well for me and aceritz, also i might add join a gym or take up some form of regular hobby to help suppress the craving
Uncertainty or not knowing causes depression, Im happy because I know I'm going to die one day!
I've already given up with the Champix - just over 7 weeks now. It was just a general query really. A new hobby may be just the ticket I have a cunning plan mwahhhhh ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaa
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
I've already given up with the Champix - just over 7 weeks now. It was just a general query really. A new hobby may be just the ticket I have a cunning plan mwahhhhh ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaa
I've been reading about Champix and am going to give it a try. How are you guys getting on - all still stopped. I've got an appointment 21st for my first session and am hoping they will give me a prescription. I read that Wirral is well below it's targets for people stopping. Does anyone know if Fender Way HC will issue Champix?
It will be 11 weeks on Friday for me Just tell them that you have tried everything - patches, lozenges, inhalator etc and they should give you it.
It's not for everyone - it's made quite a few of my friends sick as dogs but if you stick with it, it tends to wear off. I had a piece of toast just after mine and the nausea soon went.
Hope that helps
If not, feel free to ask away!
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Well done you - congratulations. I've been reading a forum (all 100+ pages!) and several on there say you must take the tablets after food or else you feel very ill. Fingers crossed!
I've been a quitter for 2 years now! was a heavy smoker on 40 a day!! I quit due to being rushed to hospital for a op and was so ill i couldn't smoke even if i wanted to lol but i was on patches before i got takin in. I found they worked for me!
I quit smoking for the seventh and final time back in April. I had smoked on and off for about twenty years i suppose.
I tried everything from hypnosis to cold turkey but i think what made the difference this time was that I went to my local doctors and saw the nurse there and she put me on the patches. They were strong at first and I did have a few sleepless nights because i was told to wear them over night because i was one of those ppl that had to smoke as soon as i opened my eyes lol. I wont pretend it was a walkover but because i had been desperate to give up for some years and because i developed asthma i realised it was time.
I hope this helps someone to decide and i would be happy to answer any questions
This is my 4th time giving up, but I really wanted to give up this time and I think that is the difference. The other times it was because I was being pressured to give up. I'd been a smoker for 24 yrs, averaging 20-40 a day.
The only good thing about smoking was that it got me up and about after the hystericalectomy - I'd have stayed in bed until they discharged me otherwise because it hurt like hell
I tried the patches too but they were not strong enough and gave me horrific nightmares. Cold turkey just took me too close to comitting murder I don't think there is a right or wrong way - it's just a matter of finding what is right for you and don't see a setback as failure!
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
I quit due to being rushed to hospital for a op and was so ill i couldn't smoke even if i wanted to lol
Very similar here. 12 years ago I was in hozzy for near 2 weeks. Used to see the guy opposite sneaking down to the smoking room dragging his drip trolly and thought how daft that was. I decided "no more" and have stayed with that. No patches or anything - just gave it up. Funny thing is that for the next year or so I ALWAYS kept an open pack in the drawer next to me at work - as a sort of "reminder of the temptation". In the house I still have a few unopened cartons of 200. After 12 years they must be a bit stale by now I guess.
Snod
5 Precepts of Buddhism seem appropriate. Refrain from taking life. Refrain from taking that which is not given. Refrain from misconduct. Refrain from lying. Refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness
Kudos to you too Snod!!! I'd have given up once they were all gone. I don't have a single one in the house. I don't mind people smoking here, I just spray like a demon after they leave I guess I just feel guilty if I ask them not to smoke here
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Its strange, when I stopped, I used to hate people smoking round me, now it doesnt bother me anymore, and just reminds me of how glad I am that I stopped, and the smell it leaves.
I put perfume on my sleeves now because if someone sits next to me on the bus or a train and they've been smoking, it makes me gip so I sniff the perfume instead.
It just makes me feel bad because I used to smell like that
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Its cool to hear other ppls stories of how they gave up. I had a carton of cigarettes for ages and i still have a lighter in the car lol and just keep forgetting to chuck it out. I think i thought about how many times i had failed so i kept all the stuff around because of the amount of times in the past i had thrown out all my lighters etc lol. I do feel a bit miffed now if someone lights up in my airspace lol but it doesnt make me want a smoke. I was so desperate to give up i would have done anything, within reason lol. But spent many hours crying and wondering why it was so hard to give up when the answer was within me all along.
I put perfume on my sleeves now because if someone sits next to me on the bus or a train . . . .
I think I may get a few funny looks if I did that
Seriously I know what you mean. The smell of stale smoke on other people is now a real off-put and I would go out of my way to avoid having to put up with it. My son used to moan (justifiably) about the "stinky" customers he had to serve at the supermarket checkout.
Snod
5 Precepts of Buddhism seem appropriate. Refrain from taking life. Refrain from taking that which is not given. Refrain from misconduct. Refrain from lying. Refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness
You usually find that reformed smokers are the worst when it comes to telling others that they shouldn't smoke. Bit hypocritical.
Well done to those that have. I gave up on the 1st of August and suck on those lozenge thingys. Trouble is I am addicted to them now. I see a nice lady at my GP's who encourages me but can only give me prescriptions for twelve weeks. Given the price of those things over the counter, if the Government really wanted you to give up they would let you have prescriptions until you no longer needed them.
Forty something years of smoking, wonder how much money I spent in that time? Don't try and work it out as in the latter part I was on the contraband stuff and rolled my own.
You usually find that reformed smokers are the worst when it comes to telling others that they shouldn't smoke. Bit hypocritical.
Well done to those that have. I gave up on the 1st of August and suck on those lozenge thingys. Trouble is I am addicted to them now. I see a nice lady at my GP's who encourages me but can only give me prescriptions for twelve weeks. Given the price of those things over the counter, if the Government really wanted you to give up they would let you have prescriptions until you no longer needed them.
Forty something years of smoking, wonder how much money I spent in that time? Don't try and work it out as in the latter part I was on the contraband stuff and rolled my own.
I have a cousin that's spending more on the lozenge thingys than she ever did on ciggies lol. . .
I packed in over well almost 2 years ago now. And i don't mind smokers at all Mainly because i was one.
i was a 40 a day man for more years than i care to remember, quit 18 months ago using the patches. best thing i've ever done. if i can do it, anyone can!
They're great aren't they!!! I brought loads of ciggies back from my holiday in November so I'm trying to find someone still smoking that will buy them off me
i am on day 10 of champix and feel like a bag off s**t ,having trouble keeping my eyes open ion between wanting to throw up lol and still smoking more than ever!!!!
Have a piece of toast or something similar about 5 mins after you take the champix - works for me. Failing that, a ginger nut biscuit as ginger is good for nausea.
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
are these champix supposed to make fags taste horrible or something cos there are not working...day 11 and forty a day,mind you the sickness has not happened today.
Either that or just knock the cravings out. Worked for me I'm in the process of washing everything that can be washed as I can smell the smoke on everything!! It knocks me sick I had to move to another seat on the bus because someone sat in front of me that had just had a cig and I was nearly sick down his back
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
It's weird the way it creeps up on you. I smoked normally up to day 13 when I only smoked half the normal 20 a day. Day 14 I lit one in the morning put it out half way through and that was it. I was soooo convinced it wouldn't work for me but it did - after nearly 40 years of smoking! Good luck
Giving up smoking is one of the easiest things i ever did, i only smoked for 7 years but i gave up in jan/feb this year, i had that awful flu that was going round which kept me bed ridden for quite litrally 2 weeks, i figured it was in my intrests to stop, didnt use any aids at all apart from extra chewies. i just found if had a chewie when i needed a fag it helped loads.
then the hard part is actually when youve given up
sleep pattern gets fooked up lungs start to hurt from coughing up so much shit headaches eating all the time
but its definatly worth it its been 4 months now and i feel my lungs are well on the road to recovery, i started running when i gave up, i litrally couldnt run 100 yards without having to stop. now im runnning 3 miles quite comfotably.
If you decide to give up, stick with it
oh and the extra money you have is unreal! ive been putting the £5 a day i would of spent on fags into a savings account theres about £800 in there so far which im planning on using for a holiday.
she's incredible, took about an hour, and I got the session burned to a CD to use again, should the need arise.... without a doubt the easiest way of quitting smoking, it DOES take some willpower, but not very much at all, I havent had a need to smoke since, just the occasional 'ahhh, that was a nice meal, could do with a smoke now', and then I realise, that I wanted to quit smoking ages ago, and the thought just goes from my mind in an instant... its amazing and I'd recommend it to ANYONE wanting to quit.
oh yeah, and I love the smell of people smoking now, so I got to achieve my ambition to never be one of those horrible ex-smokers who passionately hates smokers....
I know exactly what you mean - it's more of a fleeting thought that is quickly forgotten. I've still got 3 cigs here but they will stay in the box. They've been there for a couple of weeks now
As for the support - that's what Wiki's for
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
8 days now and not even thinking about smoking much at all now,not even with the missus still smoking right next to me,just does not bother me,these tablets are great..
8 days now and not even thinking about smoking much at all now,not even with the missus still smoking right next to me,just does not bother me,these tablets are great..
They're bloody brilliant aren't they??? Don't get complacent, it's still early yet but once the weeks start stacking up you feel dead chuffed!
I felt like one at about 2am but that soon passed. I didn't realise until about 3 hours ago that I've not had any tablets for 3 days I've had one now and will have the other later. Just over 4 weeks now with one blip when I was out was hammered and was offered one. Felt like someone had shat in my mouth the next morning though
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Are you still taking 2 a day? I cut down to 1 a day at around 10 weeks then half at 11 weeks. I kept forgetting to take the half so stopped completely. Well done to the 9 weeks. I hit the 6 month mile stone a couple of weeks ago
ha ha so you did, i forgot you were not ment to be smoking lol
That's 10 lashes deducted from your quota!!
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Good luck to all who are making the effort. I was a 100 a day smoker, I was getting them duty free. However, once the missus was expecting and the warnings had been put about that it was bad for tiny infants (this was 28 years ago) I went cold turkey, with a 200 pack in the cupboard. It was hard but I knew I had to do it for the sake of my daughter to be. Everybody said that if I could do it then anyone could. Several others succeeded. We had a sort of self help group to encourage each other. The upshot was though that my daughter started smoking herself when she was a youngster. Me? I am still off them. Success to your elbow.
If you mean Champix Rude then yes they do make you feel sick, then you just taste nothing and the craving goes totally. I'm on them for the third time now, but this time I want to give up for me, not because of the money
By now I have usually had about 10 but so far I've had 4 - they're kicking in again
I'm satisfied that by this time next week I'll be a non smoker again (also may stop certain people nagging me )
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Ah come on Rudy, I was just saying and trying to be positive and helpful. At least my lungs are not hanging there like a pair of manx kippers now so I have to try and help.
Rude I did it with Champix - nearly 8 months now.I always siad that if they made a tablet that would make me stop with little effort then I would take it - they did so I did!!!! One tip - my Drs wouldn't give them to me until I'd gone through the Nictoine Replacement therapy course. I expected to be greeted like the prodigal daughter when I went and asked for the tablets. When they wouldn't give them to me, I nearly fell at the first fence! I was soooo upset having made the decision after nearly 40 years. I'm glad I stuck with it though. I highly recommend them.
Thanks v much. At least now i know what to expect. I'd have been gutted trekking up the docs only to get patches! Ive tryed them but not in the proper way- one time i ran out of fags and used a patch to take the edge off til i cud get fresh supply in. I think it will be champix or nothing. I hate feeling sick. Well done to you tho. 40 years wow!! Ive done 24 years. Yikes! Just worked that out and im shocked.
Rude. I just played the waiting game with the NRT. I went every week and told them what they wanted to hear. I know it's wrong but to me, the end justified the means. After 8 weeks I got my Champix! As for the feeling sick - Most people can control it by drinking loads of water when you take the tablets and that seems to mask it. You think 24 years is a shock - in the 7.5 months I have not spent £1155 on ciggies!!!!!!
Now thats a sickening thought-the amount of money spent on smokes. Have you saved it? Plan to do anything nice? Or was the money just 'swallowed up' in the housekeeping or whatever?
No need to ask if I saved, 100 a day it's a no brainer. Keep thinking of packing in the ale but the company is too good. The way prices are going now though........?????
I'm in the process of trying to give up, i've tried before and failed!but my Dr says i have to try because my cholestrel is high,and that i am at high risk of a heart attack or stroke within the next 10yrs, so as you can guess that has frightened me!! in the last 2 days i have cut down to 2/3 a day, but it's so hard not to have one, i can't stop just like that, i have to cut down and go longer and longer in between, i think i am doing well seeing as i was on 15/20 a day, and i rolled my own cos it was cheaper! any hints or tips? how did you get over the cravings?
Although I gave up with the help of Champix but I still got cravings. I don't like mints but do like cough candy and pear drops - these sweets helped enormously whenever I had a craving. Some people say that a glass of water helps. My biggest tip would be that when you get a craving - don't sit there thinking about it. Get up and do something to take your mind off it. Good Luck
It is hard, remember I once tried cigars instead of cigs so as to smoke less and ended up having a fag between King Eddies (duty free again). I must have been the ultimate addict. Get a support group going. We did and and the penalty for smoking was that we had to take the others out for a proper meal, with wives. All this because the missus was having a nipper. I packed in and it was only years later I found the others had cheated and smoked. I didn't care because being a tight b.......d it had worked for me, I was frightened of spending so much money on others.
Just getting treatment for pulminory something or other, a legacy of smoking and I gave up 28 years ago. Don't know what the score is yet but please.........give up now!
Well...been to Dr today and saw the nurse there and i've got patch's and inhaler, i've got a 12wk course on them, so wish me luck everyone! i start Sunday!! chris.
Why start on Sunday? No time like the present & all that. In fact sod it. I'm gunna pack the ale in from Monday. What can the doctor prescribe if I get a craving for a pint? Any ideas?
Why start on Sunday? No time like the present & all that. In fact sod it. I'm gunna pack the ale in from Monday. What can the doctor prescribe if I get a craving for a pint? Any ideas?
I had to pack the ale in, i was throwing punches at Mrs Bert and missing.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Been for my pulminory thingy today. Blowing into tubes, getting an inhaler then blowing again. My wind is better than the nurse who administered the tests so I might not be as bad as I thought, except that she used to smoke too so it isn't a good bench mark. Can't see the Doc for the proper diagnosis until 16th next month, the week after my big reunion blow out. It gets better and better, she always says I have an excuse for being knackered. She's married to a Liverpool lad so knows where we are coming from.
Not 'alf, Softy. Can be a bit blase at times but when push comes to shove it doesn't pay to sit around thinking about it too much, just got to get on with it hope you get a result. Bugger.
Friday I had a spiro thingy (blow test) and the doc told me that my lungs are clear and giving up smoking has finally shown benefit. I am only breathing 4 years out of kilter, like a 71 yr old instead of a 67 yr old but she said otherwise I would be breathing like a 90 year old, so it is a big plus for me. Anyway, just to let peeps know that you do get the benefits eventually. At this rate I might see 68 out.
I've finally seen the light but not because I wanted to - because of a massive health scare this week. Not been that frightened for a long long time and don't want to go through anything like that again so the fags have gone!!
Whole lifestyle change is afoot - I'm dreading my best mate coming back from holiday as I know I'm in for a mahoooooosive lecture but I know it's only because he loves me
I've already had "that look" off Snooze
Sometimes Police Officers give more than just speeding tickets!
It�s hard to be fit as a fiddle when you�re shaped like a cello!
Good luck Wench and everyone else thats trying to give up. I gave up just over 5 years ago so I know how bloody difficult it is. It took me several attempts but it is well worth it in the end. Think of £££££££ you will save too!.
I've finally seen the light but not because I wanted to - because of a massive health scare this week. Not been that frightened for a long long time and don't want to go through anything like that again so the fags have gone!!
Whole lifestyle change is afoot - I'm dreading my best mate coming back from holiday as I know I'm in for a mahoooooosive lecture but I know it's only because he loves me
I've already had "that look" off Snooze
I smoked for 20yrs and quit. Its having the mind over matter.
I used the free service from the chemist over 6 months and it took away all that will power / cold turkey. For me it made it easier than i thought.
Good to see others having a go, hoped my missive would give a bit of encouragement. Giving up does provide huge benefits. Good to see everyone backing each other up.
Spoken like a true gent Paul. Oi loiks moi pint too. Got to go to a Xmas bash though where it is £3.80 a pint, that's a bit ott to me but got to go. Still, with packing in the fags I suppose I can afford a one off.
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Just tell them that you have tried everything - patches, lozenges, inhalator etc and they should give you it. 
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I've had one now and will have the other later. Just over 4 weeks now with one blip when I was out 
I'll give it one more shot I think 
