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Original poster

Help - Giving up Smoking

72 replies

TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 15:46

I have decided to give up smoking tomorrow.

I am going on a long journey by coach and train and my GP has prescribed nicotine patches.

This will be my seventh attempt. I did give up a for nearly two years about five years ago, but started again when I was stressed. I thought one wouldn't hurt - well, that was a mistake.

Has anyone got any Top Tips? When I get to my destination I shall be staying with DD for a week. There is no smoking allowed in her house and I have no intention of going into the garden for a sly puff.

She has no DC so my clothes, which I am sure smell of smoke, won't be an issue from that point of view.

Tell me how you did it. I am determined.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 15:55

No-one?

OP posts:
notnowdennis · 19/11/2019 15:58

Hypnotherapist - 1 session. So cross I didn’t try it before.

Then vaped a little reducing nicotine content over a few weeks.

Now completely stopped.

You can do this!

Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:00

@notnowdennis

Thank you so much.

I did try hypnotherapy, twice.

The first time it didn't work.

The second time, the hypnotherapist turned out to be a sex pest.

That didn't work either. I have since discovered that some people cannot be hypnotised.

OP posts:
Mylittlepony374 · 19/11/2019 16:01

Visualisation. Visualised cancer growing in my throat as I smoked, visualised dying of lung cancer- really focused on hacking cough, unable to breathe type death- every time I had a puff. Soon wanted none at all. Haven't smoked for about 3 years now.

Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:01

Also, I live in a small village in the middle of nowhere, so I do not think there will be a hypnotherapist nearby.

OP posts:
Mylittlepony374 · 19/11/2019 16:02

Forgot to add, Good Luck! It's tough but worth it

Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:02

@Mylittlepony374

I do worry about the health implications. My DM died of lung cancer (she smoked all her life).

OP posts:
Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:05

And since DH and I moved to this remote and very lovely part of Scotland, I have wondered how long it will be before lung cancer catches up with me, too.

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 19/11/2019 16:06

If you have nicotine patches, it will be the psychological, not the physical effects you'll need to manage initially.

Try chewing gum. Or finding something to do with your hands. Knitting? Painting? Even a jigsaw puzzle? Exercise? Make sure you have plenty of things to take your mind off it. Best of luck, it takes on average 7 attempts to quit, so this could be your one!

(I think it took me about 5 goes over the years, lots of different methods, in the end I found that getting pneumonia at the age of 40 was enough to frighten me into stopping. Well, that, plus a bollocking from my GP!)

You can do this.

alphaechokiwi · 19/11/2019 16:15

Allen Carr with me when everything else didn't. I did a seminar rather than read the book. 17years ago now.... I can't believe it. I smoked heavily for 14 years before that. Good luck OP. A smoke free life is amazing.

Apileofballyhoo · 19/11/2019 16:18

Take regular deep breaths.

Bunnybaubles · 19/11/2019 16:23

I stopped about 7 years ago, I did it completely cold turkey. I kept myself busy, especially when I felt a craving come on (they only last 2 minutes). I also had to stay clear of alcohol!
I will say tho, dont beat yourself up if you end up having a sneaky puff at some point. I was really determined but it still took me months before I could finally say I've done it!

RoyalChocolat · 19/11/2019 16:25

I have never smoked but you might want to see pictures of my mother who is dying of lung cancer. She never had a cough or chest pains or difficulty breathing. We realised she was sick when the cancer was already everywhere in her brain. It is not a nice way to go.

I am not judging, BTW - I am trying to overcome binge eating disorder before diabetes gets me (and failing so far)

stucknoue · 19/11/2019 16:25

My friend crunched in carrots, are so many he had orange skin (I kid you not) but he's still not smoking 5 years later. It's about something to hold, a distraction. Ultimately it's will power. Get rid of all smoking related items from your house too. Best of luck

cantmovewont · 19/11/2019 16:27

I'm in the process of giving up with Champix. Got it from the pharmacist and he's helping me with counselling. Im on day 4 and it's working! I've never been able to give up with other methods

Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:29

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

I have got several crossword puzzle books for the journey.

I am going to start knitting a jumper as well. I used to knit all the time and tackled very complicated patterns - Aran, Fair Isle etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:30

I've tried the gum and it gave me horrendous heartburn. I have reflux anyway, so the gum (and the inhalator) weren't for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:32

@cantmovewont

How much was the Champix? Mind you, whatever it costs, it has to cheaper than cigarettes.

Would my GP prescribe it?

OP posts:
Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:34

@Bunnybaubles

Iit still took me months before I could finally say I've done it

That's brilliant. Well done!

The trouble is that I know how easily I told myself I had done it before, when Ii gave up for two years.

I really am determined this time, though.

OP posts:
3littlemincemeatpies · 19/11/2019 16:35

Alan Carr...

The best book I ever read and went cold turkey, didn’t seem the point in substituting one bad habit for an other...

Stopped 6 years ago and it’s my biggest achievement!! You can do it!! Smile

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 19/11/2019 16:44

Champix is available on the NHS in England (pretty sure Scotland too) so yes, your GP can prescribe and you will probably find your local surgery has a smoking cessation clinic too. I found it helped as they measure the amount of carbon monoxide you exhale, and when it starts dropping I found it really motivational. Also means they know if you cheat!

Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:45

@stucknoue

Get rid of all smoking related items from your house too

That would have to include DH, unfortunately.

He has tried to stop so many times. He gets nicotine patches from the Practice Nurse, but still buys tobacco.

And that's my biggest problem - if the tobacco is there in the house I am highly likely to roll a cigarette. I have said to him that if there was no tobacco available I would be able to ride it out, but he still buys it.

Sabotage. As far as he is concerned, he has definitely slowed down.

OP posts:
CherM1592 · 19/11/2019 16:50

I started painting by numbers, you can get some really cool ones from eBay and have it delivered to the place your staying in time for when you arrive. It sounds mad but I got so hooked on the painting that I never gave smoking another thought, keeping your hands busy and having the patches should help!

Original poster
TheMustressMhor · 19/11/2019 16:50

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

I found it helped as they measure the amount of carbon monoxide you exhale, and when it starts dropping I found it really motivational

The time I did manage to give up was when I went to the smoking cessation clinic and had my CO2 levels measured.

I agree it's motivational and I also liked watching the levels drop to zero.

OP posts:
cantmovewont · 19/11/2019 16:51

I got it prescribed through my pharmacist - I didn't pay anything because I am Scotland. He had to check with my DR if it was ok to prescribe because it can exacerbate mental health issues.

ive just checked and I am actually on Day 6. I don't feel like smoking - more the habit of doing it. Today is the first day of pronounced affects for me. When I do smoke (and I'm sure its just the habit at the moment), I get nothing out of it. Ive just started to feel quite unwell if I have one too. Im having some really curious dreams - nothing scary, but very lucid and odd. I am also having some issues nodding off, otherwise I am sleeping as normal. I found a good hard session at the gym today made me feel better as well.
You're meant to pick a give up date, but I am just going to go with it as my smoking is already tailing off and I've smoked a lot less over the last 2/3 days without trying.