Icanhike

Congratulations, Albert! You're an inspiration, and I'm so happy for you!!

Abbynormal...way to go!!! Great job, and thanks for sharing your adventures of freedom and thanks for the encouragement you kindly give to others! Congratulations!!!!

I completed day 17 without cigarettes. I learned on this forum to drink a lot of water, and that advice made my cravings easier to handle. This is the place to find lots of help. I'm getting some "surprise perks" from quitting. I was always the slowest person in the house, and my family had to wait around while I functioned in slow motion. But now that I've quit, I get things done even faster than my husband. And he's stunned! I think smoking slowed down my entire life. And it's tremendous fun to suddenly be faster, without even trying. But apart from the perks, I don't have smoking as a way to numb my feelings anymore. We moved about 7 months ago, and although it was a practical choice, it was against my wishes. I used to live in a very sunny place, and now I live with a lot of rain and snow. Lots of gray skies, mud, slush, ice and bare trees. A symphony of gray and brown. No, not a symphony..it's the Mamas and the Papas. You know the song..."all the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey, I've been for a walk, on a winters day, if I didn't tell her, I could leave today....California dreamin, on such a winters day..." Yeah, I hear that song in my head all the time, because that's how it looks outside. It's so gray, I can't believe it. And I really wish I could go home. But smoking is separate from this. Smoking won't bring back my sunny porch, or the hummingbirds I used to feed, or the lizards, or the funny desert trees. It'll just poison me and kill me. Smoking shouldn't have anything to do with the fact that I moved, or that I'm crushed with homesickness. I'm so proud of myself for quitting, but I wish I didn't crave cigarettes when I'm upset. I'm working on being constructive when I'm upset, but I don't think it will happen over night. But still, it feels so great to have quit. There are no words for it...I am thrilled to be free!!!!

Hi Guys, I completed 15 days without cigarettes, and 3 days off the patch. I got the side effect of little ulcers in my mouth, so it hurts to eat. Pretty sure my mouth will feel better tomorrow. I went hiking today, and it was horrible, and I'm so mad at myself for having done all this damage to my lungs and heart. I have the impulse to warn kids...I wish there would be an abrupt end to kids trying cigarettes! But happy day, I'm off nicotine!! yahoooo!

Ha! That's funny you had a punching pillow. I've been wishing I had one of those punching bags you see in gyms. Glad this will pass...I don't want this to be my new personality.

Wow, the people here are truly the greatest! Thank you for all the replies and advice. Well, I'm making it through another day and let me tell you, I eat CONSTANTLY, lol. I don't need the patch to avoid smoking, because I'm not willing to jeopardize my success at this point - I feel like I'll never smoke again. But I do love the patch because it controls my level of bitchiness. I haven't put it on yet today, and my rotten mood continues to escalate. But I'm going to try and stay off the patch, and just see if I can get the nicotine withdrawals over with. Thanks again for your replies...I'm so lucky having a line to other quitters!!!

Hello Everyone, I smoked for 43 years and quit 11 days ago. I never thought I'd be free from my addiction, and I used the patch to make it through that first day without smoking. That day was a miracle for me! My next goal is to get nicotine completely out of my life, so I made a plan to be off the patch by this Tuesday at the latest. I hope to someday go hiking and NOT make a spectacle of myself as I practically collapse on the trail, gasping for air. I live in Colorado and maybe I'll get better enough to actually make it up hills. Or maybe not. But either way, I'll be out there trying! Thanks for listening, and I'm glad I can hear from people who took control of their lives!!