yup that's me, or Crabby Mum as the kids have nicknamed me, and the reason for this complete change of personality (no sniggering at the "complete change" part please)? well I've finally bitten the bullet and stopped smoking.
I have tried for years to stop smoking but my big problem is no will-power, I always hoped that being pregnant would have made me stop, but I could've quite merrily eaten fags when I was pregnant, especially with Faith. I've done the patches, but kept having a sneaky fag while wearing them for the buzz (!!), I've tried the gum, the inhalator, the electronic cigarette, and even hypnosis - but it just didn't work for me.
Well a month or so ago my best friend decided to give the Champix tablets a try, in case you're interested it's supposed to bind to the nicotine receptors in your brain so reducing cravings, it allegedly reduces the symptoms of whithdrawal and reduces the satisfaction the smoker gains from smoking a cigarette. You're supposed to pick a day to stop smoking between day 8 and day 14 of taking the tablets. So she stopped on day 10 and hasn't had a cigarette since, she says the smell of smoking now makes her feel sick - in fact she is the biggest pain in the bum ex-smoker that ever was lol
So Graham and I have decided to stop smoking, he's away offshore with his tablets and I started taking mone just before he went away. I had my last cigarette on Sunday night, seeing as it was 4 years exactly since we stopped smoking in the house and I would remember the date as it's Fayfee's birthday.
Now, I'm not going to say it's easy, because I haven't found it at all easy - although in fairness I have found it easier than the nicotine replacement therapy products. I am now on day 2 of no smoking and I could murder a fag - I have to keep reminding myself not to have a cigarette, my biggest triggers seem to be after a cup of tea (so I've switched to coffee), and after food (so I chew a carrot or eat some fruit) and the worst one of all is when I'm on the phone - I didn't realise that I automatically answer the phone and reach for my cigarettes ready to go outside with a fag an have a blether. Now if I was a normal person thentalking on the phone isn't that big a deal, my phone doesn't really ring very much - but I'm not a normal person, and I talk to my bestest pal 2 or else 3 times a day, up to an hour each time lol And with Graham being offshore, he phones every night too, which just adds to my danger time. But so far I'm coping. I announced my stopping smoking on my Facebook pages yesterday, I wasn't looking for sympathy or even all the fantastic support and encouragement I have been getting - I did it so that I would look really bloody stupid if I failed, and that's a pretty big incentive for me, I just hate to look stupid.
I'm not convinced the Champix are actually working for me - cos it doesn't seem to have reduced my cravings any, but then I'm wary of stopping them in case they have been working and I'll get the full force of the cravings. But I have to go back to the GP tomorrow, so I'll see what he has to say.
25 comments:
all the very best I stopped 5 years ago and the smell of stale smoke I hate but the fresh smoke after a hard day... i used to allways have one about 10 o'clock at night before bed so I now have a bath at that time, my reasoning was I would never be desperate enough to go outside naked for one lol.
will check and make sure you ar eok x
Good luck while i take a long drag on my fag, you are a far better person than me as i wouldnt even attempt to give up, i am terrified of putting it on in weight
smiles
Paola
I hope you could win this battle with smokking. I keep fingers for it.
If you are looking for good job for this hard days you make a little craft for me :))
Good luck!!!
Hugs
Oh good luck Debbi, I don't smoke but my Dad did and even when the doctor told him to give up he never could - he died due to bowel cancer 23 years ago when I was 22 - and I can't help thinking if he had given up smoking he would have been around for longer.
You could of course look on the brighter side - you can buy more craft stash with the money you are not spending on ciggies!!!
I wish you all the best of luck hun, stick with it - please.
hugs Ali x
Wonderful news!! Keep up the good work even if you are crabby! It will eventually go away! One day at a time is all it takes! Stay strong!
hang in there matey....you can do it and don't let that little monster sitting on your shoulder talk you into having one...hugs kath xxx
Hi Debz good luck and just think how much better you will feel in the end it will be worth it. It's a bit like me and the losing weight thing it has been a struggle but I have lost nearly 2 stone and I fell so much better with much more enery!!! your comment on my blog is just scary!!! Good luck and stay strong promise yourself something you really want with the money saved. Hugs Sue :o)
Debbi, you hang in there girl. I stopped 32 years ago with the nicotine chewing gum. I smoked 40 a day then and the fags were going up to £1 a packet. At today's prices I'm glad I stopped. It will get easier believe me. Try relaxing tapes .my friend stopped through listning to them. . Hugs Rita xxx
Hi there,
Just to say I really enjoy reading your postings and looking at the wonderful projects you produce.
Re the smoking - although this may look a really strange thing to do, you may like to look on YouTube under EFT and smoking. These are a couple of videos that are basic and straight forward to follow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUkhZC9pqI8
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVyEr1W_XPs&feature=related .
I personally haven't had to use EFT for any smokers but have used it for those with chocolate cravings and it surprises people how it can kill the craving dead. You may have to be prepared to do it fairly regularly to start with; it looks a bit odd but it does give you another choice and costs nothing other than a little of your time. It's something you can do while you are on the phone, once you remember the tapping points, and whenever you feel a craving strike.
Hope that helps.
Regards,
Karen
Good luck Debbi. I've never ever smoked, never even one puff so I don't really understand. Except I have a really sweet tooth and I find it really difficult not to eat sweeties and chocolate etc. Especially as I'm working full-time for 2 weeks and I get very bored. Pity you can't craft in a post office!!
On the plus side my colleague and her husband have successfully given up smoking and several other people I know of. They have all used the tablets so maybe you just need to hang on in there.
Kat xx
Best of luck! You'll soon be whinging about the smell of smoke and it'll be making you sick also!! ♥
PLEASE keep with it, best thing you could ever do for yourself and your family! I quite many years ago now by using Wellbutrin and the "inhaler" Wasn't that difficult, and have never started back. Just finally realized that I can never have another - no matter what the excuse would be.
Debbi, I wish you the very best of luck. It helps that Graham is quitting too. I know what you're going through since I've done it a few times. Once for almost a year. But then a number of medical problems for loved ones hit all at the same time and, you guessed it, I grabbed the cigs. Hope that it helps that you've announced it. Hang in there, and go ahead and BE CRABBY! It's a hard thing to do!
R/
I stopped smoking about 18 years ago but I do remember how hard it was. Keep going though as it's well worth it.
Ann xxx
Welcome to the club of "Crabby Mummy's" and I got in without giving up smoking, keep going Debbi, it'll get easier every day x Just think of all the extra pennies you'll have to spend on crafty things!!!
Good for you Debbi!
My SIL and 9 or 10 of her friends all gave up smoking with the help of a book!
I read the first few pages and was quite surprised because it's not like "normal" stop smoking books where they tell you how bad it is for you etc.
All those girls had tried many times before to stop but never managed until they done it with the book. Maybe it was just all in their heads after one said she stopped after reading it, but whatever it was, it worked!
I have a copy of it somewhere but can't remember the name of it...will have to see if I can find it.
Let us know how you get on with the tablets. I too really need to stop but my partner smokes too and has no intrest in quitting so I find it really hard to try stopping when he is still smoking.
Hugs Lora x
Good luck with this. I have never smoked, nor has my hubby and we are very grateful for that as that means we have never had to try giving up. Just think of the money you will save and can spend on more crafty stuff. That should be an incentive. Thanks for entering my candy. Marianne x
Brilliant news Deb, you can do it, just think of all that spare cash for craft goodies.......what more of an incentive do you want.....LOL
Wishing you all the luck and willpower in the world.
I stopped 3 years ago when I bought cigarettes instead of milk for my kids. I felt horrible.
I gave up with the help of patched and gum but all I needed to do really was looking at my partner's mum who after smoking heavily for 40 years collapsed and is now unable to walk anywhere and suffering terrible smoke-related illnesses like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema etc and she can't breath. Even cooking is hard for her. She's only 65. I watch her and am grateful I have stopped.
Just take 1 day at a time.
Oh babe I am sooooooooo proud of you, you are doing so well...I don't want to come over as patronising but I know how hard it is along with loads of other people who have stopped. It isn't easy, you will have your bad days but you will get there and you will be fine. Like I said on facebook here if you need a natter..also since I packed up I still get the ARGGHHH!!! need a fag for split seconds every now and then & the smell makes me feel soooooooo sick...standing in a queue tonight waiting to pay for my DST (lol) the bloke in front absolutely stunk of cigrette smoke I turned round gave Nige my stuff & walked out the shop it was that bad.....you just try and stay strong hun xxx
Oh I forgot red hair, cus our Danni has well auborn hair but I'd like to do it instead of the norm
thanks hun xx
Good luck with that sweetie, my friends did it with champix, they was sick every time they smelt one, except the female friend who went a bit mad lol, stick at it though you will get there,. i couldnt give up if i wanted too...
The question, its not a punch honey it is a tool, from http://cuddlybuddly.com/shop/v2904-making-memories-tool-slot-punch/
I take great pleasure in hitting it with an hammer :)
Hugs pops x x x
Congratulations! A good friend who gave up 4 years ago recommends increasing Vitamin C: she eats lots of salad and fruit, and now has a piece of fruit whenever she has a craving. She's lost weight, too!
All the best - Mags x
Good luck and hang in there. Two of my best friends did this and one of them stopped taking Chantix about a month and a half into it and she started smokin again. The other one just stopped Chantix cold turkey and had some health issues with serious depression and such. I do hear that it takes about two weeks or so to really notice a difference so just hang in there. One day I will follow you!
As a smoker myself and someone who doesn't want to be a smoker I applaud you! I have heard great things about Champix but it's not a miracle cure; will power is still needed and if this post was made on Day 2 then you have already started on this journey and I wish you the VERY BEST for total success! Warmest wishes, Lesley
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