Smoking cessation

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

I know Mumsnet hates smokers so I am not expecting any support here - more just that I wanted to create a sort of log. I started smoking at uni when I was 21, I'm now 48.

I've joined Boots smoking cessation programme and have patches and a spray thing. I also have a vape. I think the habit of smoking - the punctuation points in the day - is going to be really hard to quit, but I realise I have everything to gain from stopping and nothing to gain from smoking.

Reasons to stop:

Health
Wealth
It's embarrassing to smoke and I am ashamed to be the last raver still at the party!

I have not smoked today.

You’re doing brilliantly OP. Congratulations

I quit in July 2021 after smoking for 32 years, so I know how difficult it is. The first three or four weeks were the worst, but it gets so much easier.

One thing that helped me was an app called Since I Quit. It tracks how much money you’ve saved and how many cigarettes you would have smoked. This is mine since July! I was smoking about 20 a day

£6215, 565 days for me. As a PP said, once I got to a year I stopped counting, but occasionally pop to the app to check. Well done OP.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses amazing, especially getting through the tough day. How is it going today? I had a moment yesterday and I’m so glad I didn’t cave. My breathing is definitely so much clearer. The patches did the same to me, crazy dreams! I always take it off before bed now and sleep fine, plus I like to think I’m getting that morning ‘hit’ of nicotine in the mornings ☺️ It’s 21 days tomorrow, but my first real test, going out for dinner/drinks and a glass of anything makes me reach for a fag! So I’ve set a reminder in the nhs smoking app for tomorrow eve, to tell me to keep going, anything that might help, I definitely like seeing how much I’m saving etc.

I thought exercise was supposed to get easier?? I walked up a big hill today and had to stop to catch my breath and it was probably harder going than it was when I smoked! Took me ages to get my breath back afterwards!

Apparently I’ve “only” saved £420 in 16 weeks but then I was a tobacco person and spent about £30 a week. 2240 rollies not smoked though!

Well done @Judystilldreamsofhorses you’re doing brilliantly!

I remember when I stopped, I was ticking the days off…then all of a sudden I was counting in months, and now it’s years, but I can’t remember if it’s 12 or 13 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not saying that to be smug, by the way, just to reassure you that one day, being a non smoker will be perfectly natural to you, and you won’t be ticking off the days forever! Keep going! ☺️

Hello, thanks so much to everyone for posting. I didn’t expect any interaction with this thread at all when I started so it has been really lovely to have so many people checking in.

Day 18, almost done! I was back at the pharmacy today and the lady insisted I stick with the step one patches, but did agree about taking them off for bed.

@PukkaP I have just installed that app, thank you for that.

@PaulineFowlersCardigan you are doing great. You won’t be able to smoke indoors so if people are going out for a fag can you go to the loo? I think I am “lucky” in that I barely know any smokers now. Loads of ex smokers though!

Day 19 ✔️

Days 20 and 21, done.

My DP has a fancy blood pressure monitor as he has high BP, so we checked mine on the day before I quit, and today - I have gone from “normal” to “optimal”. I also noticed my resting heart rate on my Fitbit has dropped. It’s 58 today, whereas a month ago it was 67. (I wonder if this is too low actually?)

Well done on quitting! It's so hard! Just read the thread and you're doing amazingly well. I've tried giving up a fair few times. I last a month or two then 'just have the one', but it's my birthday in 2 weeks so I'm setting my birthday as my quit date.

I really want (and need) to stop, just entering week 3 of a cough/cold and I'm sure my lungs are screaming at me.

One question if you don't mind me asking as I see quite a few vapers on this thread. When quitting/vaping in the beginning did you feel more out of breath for a while? That is why I've started again each time, the breathlessness while doing small things freaked me out

@WigglesWaggles it was the cough/cold thing that forced me to give up and switch to vaping because despite trying everything else under the sun, nothing was working. I did feel a little out of breath but I figured that was because my lungs were trying to function without all the extra crap I was putting in them but it did get better.

I didn’t want to quit when I did. I wasn’t ready to quit when I did but my body decided otherwise. As you’re still in cough mode maybe consider duel fuelling where you replace some cigs with vaping for the next couple of weeks? With the cough being as evil as it is, every cig not smoked is a bonus :)

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

Days 20 and 21, done.

My DP has a fancy blood pressure monitor as he has high BP, so we checked mine on the day before I quit, and today - I have gone from “normal” to “optimal”. I also noticed my resting heart rate on my Fitbit has dropped. It’s 58 today, whereas a month ago it was 67. (I wonder if this is too low actually?)

I am so proud and happy for you. Amazing. YOU DID IT! Woo Hoo....

Day 22 ✔️

Thank you @PiperPosey! @WigglesWaggles I think setting a date was really important for me. The night before I made a list of reasons to stop, and “coping strategies” which I stuck on the fridge. I now do my daily tally on that list.

Ahh I've found my people. I thought this was a Mumsnet taboo subject too.

Do you mind if I join?

I gave up on 2nd Jan and am on day 66. I'm the same as you OP and using a vape and so far so good. I've been doing the same as you and just vaping when I'd normally have a ciggy. So for example when everyone goes out to smoke I still join them just vape. Gonna sound like a saddo but then I don't feel left out sat inside twiddling my thumbs.

I've noticed the smell of smoke now smells really gross whereas earlier on I still liked the smell if was stood near someone smoking.

You all seem to be doing so well. Lots of ups and downs as expected but just got to hang on in there.

Wishing you all well with your quits

@greatherewegoagain

Ahh I've found my people. I thought this was a Mumsnet taboo subject too.

Do you mind if I join?

I gave up on 2nd Jan and am on day 66. I'm the same as you OP and using a vape and so far so good. I've been doing the same as you and just vaping when I'd normally have a ciggy. So for example when everyone goes out to smoke I still join them just vape. Gonna sound like a saddo but then I don't feel left out sat inside twiddling my thumbs.

I've noticed the smell of smoke now smells really gross whereas earlier on I still liked the smell if was stood near someone smoking.

You all seem to be doing so well. Lots of ups and downs as expected but just got to hang on in there.

Wishing you all well with your quits

Oh you just sit down beside us.. we have plenty of room for more.. You've done wonderful. Do you know what I mean by ritual. I just couldn't do the patch. Yay! I ran out of E juice and took a puff of my husband's cig...OMG I thought I would die..The taste...ugh... [shock!]

@Judystilldreamsofhorses Wow... You go gurl...
We all are stars... Yes we are....

Hello, welcome @greatherewegoagain - 66 days is fantastic! I didn’t expect anyone to post when I started this thread so it has been lovely to have people join in. @PiperPosey I think I would be too scared to try a cigarette but the dream is finding it disgusting!

It happened maybe 3 years after I vaped... OMG Judy... It was horrible..Horrible and I thought.." How could I have had this horrible thing in my mouth all these years!

Day 23 ✔️

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

Day 23 ✔️

Good Girl! Woo Hoo...Here's a laugh for you...

Haha @PiperPosey - that is just the kind of stunt our cat would pull!

Day 24 has been very hard. Our washing machine packed up at the weekend, and we had an engineer in yesterday. Today I ran a wool wash and it got “stuck” - a brand new jumper of mine is totally ruined. I am very upset. The washing machine guy is going to come back but he obviously can’t fix my jumper. DP doesn’t really get why I am so upset - he doesn’t really care about clothes - and god, I have been SO desperate to smoke. I didn’t. But if you had a pack for me now I would snatch it out of your hand.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

Haha *@PiperPosey* - that is just the kind of stunt our cat would pull!

Day 24 has been very hard. Our washing machine packed up at the weekend, and we had an engineer in yesterday. Today I ran a wool wash and it got “stuck” - a brand new jumper of mine is totally ruined. I am very upset. The washing machine guy is going to come back but he obviously can’t fix my jumper. DP doesn’t really get why I am so upset - he doesn’t really care about clothes - and god, I have been SO desperate to smoke. I didn’t. But if you had a pack for me now I would snatch it out of your hand.

OOOOOOOOOhhhhhhh Jude...I am so sorry... What a hot mess... VApe darlin... just sayin... hahahhaha... No cigs here.. but I do have a Vape...men

Day 25 almost coming to a close. I was back to the smoking cessation pharmacy today and have been lowered onto the step two patches. It’s a 12 week programme so the end feels like a long way off!

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

Day 25 almost coming to a close. I was back to the smoking cessation pharmacy today and have been lowered onto the step two patches. It’s a 12 week programme so the end feels like a long way off!

OH MY it is a long way... You don't want to vape, eh?

I am vaping @PiperPosey! I use the vape like I did cigarettes, going out to the garden for a seat. I don’t love it tbh, but it takes care of the habit side of things.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

I am vaping *@PiperPosey*! I use the vape like I did cigarettes, going out to the garden for a seat. I don’t love it tbh, but it takes care of the habit side of things.

OH good... It's funny you don't like it though... but glad you have it for the habit side of things! So you have the patches for nicotine.. and the vape with no nicotine?