Anyone want to give up smoking with me?

[bumpsoon]

Ok am failing miserably on the giving up smoking front and wondered if anyone else is in the same posistion and wants to try giving up together ?

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

Hi all its been 5 days and no one has posted how are you all doing?

Hope you havent all fallen of the wagon. I hope you have all had lovely weekends and if you have slipped up dont be upset with urselves just try again.

Day 9 today

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

Bump please dont worry about falling of the wagon and dont punish yourself over it! Just try again, main things is your trying try to think positively such as the amount of ciggerettes you have not smoked!

ellie its great that you recognise your time for needing one now its just to avoid that situation for me its having an outside smoke break so i have a non smoking break lol with my puffer!

Im proudly onto hour 106 i think lol its day 5 anyways from midnight last night, last smoke was midnight sun night! I definately secolnd what Lsee said it really does get better craving are still there but it is easier and i feel better to

[LSEE]

I gave up a few months ago, had hypnosis which (to my surprise) worked really well. I was also given some useful tips for dealing with cravings, which I'm sure you've probably already heard but they did really help me:

the chemicals in cigarettes raise your blood sugar so your body is used to getting a sugar hit - when you get a craving try sipping fruit juice until it goes as this will lift your blood sugar quickly

when you get a craving drink a big glass of water (don't stop til you've finished it)

when you get a craving try taking three or four really deep breaths (like you would drag on a cigarette)

I know how hard it is but if you persevere (and don't berate yourself too much if you relapse) eventually it does get much easier - after a week the worst cravings are gone and you will feel so much better!

[Dophus]

Bumpsoon - good to hear - when I asked for it during my first pregnancy (when I was a heavy smoker) they wouldn't let me have it!

NRT was always hard for me as I ended up addicted the the NRT

Haven't fallen off yet - Sat will be hard as DH is away.

All those fallen off - get back an keep at it!

[elliepac]

morning all and hello to foreverchanges .

I've now figured out that I have a danger zone time where I have failed every single day so far. It's that wonderful time of day when have cleared away from dinner, kids have gone to bed and peace and quiet reigns in the elliepac household. I love sitting outside on my own with a cuppa and a cigarette and just being.
I need to break that habit and find something else to do at that time of day.

Bumpsoon, you've done so well, you just have to get back on the wagon today although it sounds like you might have some fun on sunday .

lennox, iateall and dophus you guys sound as if you are doing brilliantly. Well DOne and keep it up.

Have a good non-smoking day

[foreverchanges]

ps im not pg !

[foreverchanges]

id like to join too please .house smells of smoke cant use enough whitening toothpaste.
i am a serial giver upper i managed 8 months smoke free over the winter and then lit up again .... its so hard stayin stopped ...
not giving up tonight but will try in next week or so
used nicotine sustitutes last time the worked well but kept having dreams i still had nicotine chewy in my mouth urrgghh...

good luck to everyone

[bumpsoon]

Aaaaaaaaaargh !!!!! have fallen off the wagon on day three ,its always day three i fail ,why oh why oh ? Will be back at it with a vengence tomorrow ,have asked DH to tie me up on sunday so that i cant leave the house

[thelennox]

Hello everyone! you all sound like you are doing really well. My DH is still smoking too, which makes it harder, although he has really cut back, and is going out to garden to do it - of his own accord! Only time I tried a patch it made me feel absolutely terrible, so I am cold turkey. Helps that any strong smell at all is making me feel ill just now, definitely keeps motivation up. 8 days and counting!

[bumpsoon]

Dophus nicotine replacement wasnt liscensed in pregnanacy ,but now is and i too was prescribed them by the smoking cessation midwife . Nicotine replacement gives you nicotine ,cigarettes when smoked give you nicotine plus 2,000 other types of poison, so as an alternative its alot safer .It is also meant to be followed as a reduction programme ,so you will be nicotine free . Clearly it would be a lot better to not have any nicotine at all , but as with any drug addiction ,some people find it harder than others to go cold turkey

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

thanks for word of caution dophus, i was prescribed this from the cessation midwife i think they feel its better to use this than to continue inhaling carbon monoxide which is actually the biggest problem. She said most problems occur when lighting and smoking ciggerettes etc so i shall feel no guilt using this lot as its working for me and if i was honest i would not have survived 84 hours without them
How are you all doing today xx

[Dophus]

Well done everyone - if you slip then just keep goign. I second the advice from bumpsoon re partners smoking.

A word of caution - nicotine replcament is not recommended whilst pregnant - especially not the patches. The inhaler is better than smoking but try to quit all once the worst is over.

[bumpsoon]

Ellipac ,i tried and failed 3 weeks in a row before finally doing it . 4 fags is really not so bad ,when i say i failed id manage quite well until say 4 oclock then chain smoke 20 . Does your dh smoke outside ? If not ,make him .Also ask him the night before you give up to make sure he never leaves his cigarettes lying about ,as you said before ,if they are sitting there and he goes for a bath whatever ,the temptation is too great .Dont put any pressure on him to join you in not smoking though ,that way he is much more likely to support you . Have you got any patches ? Id get some if i were you ,after all this whole smoking malarky is about nicotine addiction . I have the inhalator too and when i could really kill for a fag i have a good few puffs on that and it takes the edge off straight away .
Oh and my co level is less than 1 now ,thats as good as someone who has never smoked ,how cool is that

[elliepac]

Morning all and welcome lennox. This may be the hardest thing I have ever done and I need your tips because i keep failing. Not smoking loads but have had 4 since i said i was giving up. It's so hard when DH is still smoking. It was far easier to give up when I was pregnant because of babba, I am really struggling now. I am not pregnant now (and never likely to be again, job done on that front)

Am feeling very proud of bump, iateall, dophus and lennox. You go girls. Am hoping that when the stress of work is removed (am teacher 6 weeks hols coming up woohoo!) that I may be able to be more successful.

What I need is someone to give me a good kick up the arse. Any volunteers?

Have a lovely, cigarette free day.

[thelennox]

Hey everyone! Mind if I join in? Stopped last week after the positive test - and have stopped for previous 2 pregnancies but always start again. I only smoke in evenings, after dinner, kids in bed, cuppa, fag, book. Feel like my whole routine has changed!!!! Must keep going though. All for best, I think!

[Dophus]

Desparate when I got home and desperate now.

5weeks + 4

It will be my Friday night spliff I'm goign to really struggle with

[bumpsoon]

im 16+5 weeks ,still havent had a cigarette ,could really have one now though !! but wont ! DH has been really good and kept his hidden away out of sight .Got the smoking cessation lady due any minute to check my co level ,which should be a non smoking level now . I checked my pulse this morning and its gone from over 80 to a more normal 60 ish ,which is good .Bp never effected by fags anyway ,usually around 95/50,but thats a family thing not because im fit!! Still getting mental blips ,where i could really MURDER a cigarette ,but i cant now becuae ive come so far

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

ellie please please do not feel guilty!! really dont! You have made the decision to quit along with all of us and we will all support you!!

How many hours are we all on now??

I have to say i am proudly on Hour 62 now! and it actually does feel a bit easier right now! My puffer is always in my hand and i dotn care if im puffing on it more than i would a ciggie its not carbon monoxide going into baby.

Work was difficult last night as i was on shift with the only other smoker in my workplace! also 2 soldiers came in and put ciggies on the table! I boldy asked them to please hide them from me as im on day 2 of no smoking and im likely to grab them and run outside smoking all in one go! The ciggies i mean not the soldiers! They were fantastic and hide them under their mobile!

Then had a non smoking break with my puffer as i missed going outside which was lovely didnt have to spray loads of perfume before serving customers again! and when the girl went for a smoke break i was going to join her, but the smoked wafted to me in the office and i knew just knew that a)didn't smell that good! b) It was to much a temptation! so i shut the door stuck puffer in my mouth, stressball in my hand, gum in my mouth and i was fine!!

Sorry ladies i went on a bit then!! give me some stories, it bides some time, gives us some action for our hands and hopefully will make us feel less mad than we sometimes feel!

By the way are any of you pregnant and if so how far along are you? Im 11+1 today. Will pop back on later and see how your all getting on. shirls xx

[Dophus]

Don't feel guilty - it's highly unlikely to be related. Most growth is the the last trimester.

15 a week is still low.

[Zorra]

I found it really easy to give up initially, didn't smoke at all for the first trimester, then had emotional rollercoaster nonsense and smoked regularly (probably about 15 a week) for months 4 and 5, then occasional ciggies month 6 and nothing since then (am now 37 weeks)

At the time, I was such a mess I felt like I couldn't cope without smoking, but now I have to go for a scan because they think the baby is too little, and I am getting crushing guilt from all the cigarettes I smoked in those middle months

[Dophus]

How did you all get on?

I didn't have one last night or this morning. Been 36 hours now.

Bumpsoon - are you pregnant? (There is a clue in your alias)

[bumpsoon]

do you know what i think this time is the hardest time, because this is the time i would be winding down ,going out for a cigarette to chill out . I even went to the garage and bought cigarettes for my dh and none for myself . Dont worry ellipac ,have a plan and work out a day that you think is going to be the easiest for you , perhaps you hadnt managed to prepare yourself mentally enough first ,good luck and dont give up tryin g to give up .

[elliepac]

Bollocks, bollocks and triple bollocks, I have just let the side down . DH went for a bath when he came in from work, left his ciggies out and (can't tell you the rest am too ashamed of myself). Can't even manage one freaking day. Right, no more. I suspect the trick now is to put it down to experience so to speak (for that read bad day at work) and get back on the wagon.

Iateall, well done. I am going to try and follow your marvellous example.

Sorry.

[walks away with tail between legs]

[bumpsoon]

Iateall ,36hrs is brilliant ,youre half way there ,you will be a picture of serenity very very soon ,keep repeating 'my body is a temple '

[bumpsoon]

Ellipac have to say i have cheated ,dont panic ,i havent had a ciggy but i have just slept for 3 hours !!!! no kids until 6pm you see Still got the patch on ,would probably of had a cig now with a nice coffee but dh guarding them as requested