To ask you all to remind me why i must not smoke?

[FlyRussianUnicorn]

I gave up last week. Well, im on an electronic.

Just found a multipack of 100 that my friend brought me back from Greece last summer. I thought id left them, but no- soon as I quit, they turn up.

😩

Last time I gave up and found a packet, I chopped them up over the bin, it was actually quite therapeutic :) plus I couldn't justify giving in when the urge occurred as I'd already chopped up £10... Worked for me gods know why :)

Why must we remind you? Do you lack common sense?

I quit a few months ago, ive found im generally more relaxed now. I found before I would be craving one and feel calmer after, now I'm at a nice point where i don't even want one and feel much more relaxed throughout the day for it!

Because if you become a smoker again you'll have decades of giving money to the mass murderers who run tobacco firms & spent decades lying about the risks.

Don't smoke. You will be extremely likely to die much younger than necessary. I cite my dad as a first hand example of this. His lungs had less than 10% capacity when he died. They were knackered 100% because of smoking.

I had to take a dear friend to hospital when he had a heart attack, age 45. Only risk factor, smoking. He is living with the fall out now. It's not funny. Just don't do it.

Because you can be in the uber-cool vaping gang.

We are the future.

I am an ex smoker and I had always believed the "once a smoker, always a smoker" thing i.e. that you could quit but you'd always feel that something was missing and that you were constantly battling. I could never find the motivation to quit because I didn't want to be miserable and miss smoking. Well I can tell you that, even though it was hard at first, after the first few months I barely give it a thought. Occasionally, like maybe once a week, I'll think "I wouldn't mind a fag..." but the feeling comes and goes in about 10 seconds and then I forget about it again.

It's so worth it. I feel so much better, I have loads more money, I don't smell bad - you won't believe how bad smokers smell! You can't tell when you're a smoker yourself but it's bloody awful.

Good luck! You seriously can do this!!

Because hearing you mum coughing so hard she nearly choked is bloody terrifying for a child.

Because it's horrible being that child at school that stinks of cigarette smoke because their mum chain smokes all day long.

Because watching your mum have fits and mini strokes caused by the cancer that's spread over most of her body is the hardest, most soul destroying thing you'll ever do.

Because having to explain to your children that their nan has died at 54 and won't see them grow up is heartrending.

Because telling those same children that their other nan has lost her hair and is burned from radiotherapy and chemo because she has lung cancer is enough to make you want to burn every cigarette and tobacco plant in existence.

Because your an EX-smoker.

I know how hard it is to give up, my dh started vaping before mil was diagnosed with lung cancer, seeing what my mum and his mum have been through, and consequently what our dcs and I have been through, is what spurs him on when cravings hit.

Love to all on this thread who lost loved ones (especially parents) to smoking. Thank you for sharing, it reminds me of why I quit and why I must never start again.

Forget the health issues, everyone says that won't happen to them so there's no point telling people they'll die horribly of lung cancer.

But all smokers stink and have horrible skin. No exceptions there.

And it's a huge waste of money. Just think of how much money you'll save by not smoking.

Bin the cigarettes. Take up running.

Oh and I should have said, the bad skin is semi-reversible and the stinky bit is 100% reversible. You've managed a week, please carry on and congratulations for getting this far.

.

Op well done for posting. I will happily give you a good reason. I have brittle asthma. Last week I was in resus for 6 hours following an asthma attack due to having parainfluenza virus.

It's horrible. I can't explain it. It's not just the lack of breathing. It's the side effects from the drugs that try and help. It's the pain in your ribs/muscles from the effort of breathing.

Honesty look after your lungs. They are really bloody useful. I am 31 and spend time on respiratory wards with elderly smokers who have COPD. It's fucking horrible.

Here was me just about to be moved to a ward last Monday after being stabilised. It's not sexy. It's not worth smoking cos it's so shit to have lungs like this. Phone me up and I will happily wheeze down the phone to you! I am now home but my bedroom has many drugs and a sats monitor and a nebuliser machine.

Stay strong xxx

I'm going to be a real pedant and correct the Friends quote, its "strong, confident woman" 😀.

I quit smoking about 3 weeks ago now (I think). Prior to this I had quit multiple times using the Allen Carr method (which works for me but only for about 6 months or so until I get pissed and smoke a pack on a massive night out).

Anyway, this time round I was outside having a smoke and my 4 year old came out and I caught a glimpse of him watch the cigarette travel from my hand to my mouth and back again, all with a very puzzled expression on his face. And I realised then that I just don't want my kids to be subjected to seeing me smoke. I don't want them to become smokers.

So every time I thought about wanting a cigarette, I would imagine putting that cigarette in his mouth and lighting it.

And this time around I was so proud of myself for quitting because this time I did it by myself, cold turkey and I didn't need anything else.

I've not noticed anything, no weight gain, no cravings, nothing. Only that automatic "I'll go and have a cigarette" and then the jolt when I realised I don't smoke anymore. Then it goes away immediately.

You have done amazingly well to have quit for a week. Your lungs are starting to heal already, you no longer smell, your risk of stroke and heart attack are diminishing already. Keep it up, you are already free, you just don't know it yet.

My non-smoking dad died of a type of lung cancer associated with smoking. Watching him waste away, cry with the pain then suffocate in morphine is my reason for telling you why you should not smoke.

It was my best friend's 65th birthday recently. But lung cancer killed her 10 years ago. I miss her every single day.

I don't remember my grandmother who died of smoking related illness when I was a baby.

I've not smoked for fourteen years. Sometimes I miss it but then remember how much it had started to hurt my chest. I used to get bronchitis often, I've not had it once since I quit.

Stay strong.

Because you're doing brilliantly.

Think of those addicts huddled outside in the wind & rain, in thrall to a drug that's destroying their bodies, making them stink & taking all their cash... Do you really want to go back to that?

My 53yo uncle died of lung cancer OP, he only went down A & E as he'd had a headache he couldn't shift for a few days. They found secondaries and then the primary tumours on his lung. Diagnosed at Christmas, gone by May. It can be that fast.

I've never smoked but remember a friend who gave up being told to 'keep her hands busy'. Do you like knitting or anything like that?

Keep going OP and be proud of yourself

Do NOT smoke them.

Give them to a down and out or poor looking person on the streets. They will love you for it. And you will feel good for having given them to someone who either cannot afford a smoke, or will sell them on and get a few bob.

You already know you cannot smoke them or you are back to base again.

Please give them away to someone.

An old work colleague gave up. She saved her fag money for 6 months then added another 6 months worth to it. Went to Cartier and bought a very nice watch.

She then couldn't afford to smoke for the next six months. The nice watch was for her a powerful motivator.

Every year she buys a piece of 'I don't smoke jewellery'.

Great way to reward yourself.

Ooh I used to love watching that condescending bitch on Ten Years Younger berating all those poor toothless, fleece wearing smokers.

If you keep smoking let us know, we'll send you the requisite shit fleece and stringy hair wig.

OP I quit smoking 6 weeks ago (am on Champix). Sometimes I get a strong craving, but it passes in a minute or two. That's really not any kind of hardship!
As a result my lungs feel sooo much clearer already - sometimes they used to squeek and that has stopped completely.

And honestly - the stress was so much greater when I wanted a cigarette but couldn't have one (as in flying or train travel) than it is in the occasional moments now IFSWIM.

Take some deep breaths when you get the itch. It will pass and the craving will fade away.

If someone offered you some Crack, would you try it? Think of smoking in the same way. After all - it's just as addictive and health destroying........

It gives you a mouth like a cats bum. Seriously, all old smokers have millions of lines round there mouths.

(Goes off to wonder if duck face in selfies will cause a similar problem...)