Hints to stop smoking please

[Bandit58]

Master is trying to quit a 30 to 40-a-day habit. He is on the nicotine patches but is still smoking around 10 a day. I would like some ideas on how to help Him quit - at the moment He is in hospital (long story) but will be home in a few days. Please help us both to keep sane, it is absolutely imperative now that He stops, it will be life threatening if He doesn't

 

[catalina_francisco]

Not sure I am any help here, but the main part seems to be like all addictions, that he makes a conscious choice to reallly want to quit over the need to....not easy. Also it is said to help if you can stop smoking in usual situations (eg. comfy chair in front of TV, after dinner etc.) and replace it with an uncomfortable situation such as standing outside in all types of weather (not sitting), breaking the smoking habits in other words. Also a big thing seems to be finding something to replace the actual action of holding and smoking a cigareete, thus many people take to eating sweets and putting on weight....some find a hand orientated hobby to do to keep the hands busy. It is not easy and I was surprised when F quit cold turkey and stayed that way for well over a year, but his recent work has brought him into close prolonged contact with a chain smoker and in a smoke friendly country, so all his hard work has been undone. He is determined to kick it again once this assignment is over though. Hope you can both get through this together....and hugs to you Bandit for those times when he is likely to be less than friendly out of sheer withdrawal tension.

Catalina

 

[Guest]

Master is trying to quit a 30 to 40-a-day habit. He is on the nicotine patches but is still smoking around 10 a day. I would like some ideas on how to help Him quit - at the moment He is in hospital (long story) but will be home in a few days. Please help us both to keep sane, it is absolutely imperative now that He stops, it will be life threatening if He doesn't

Tell him to talk to his doctor...Him, not you... There are meds and techniques that will help... But either way, he has to WANT to quit...
*shrug*
It's a NASTY addiction... Made worse because It's legal...
I know because I smoke.. About a pack a day for hmmmmm... Approx. 26 years.
Luckily enough, it's the only addiction that I have allowed myself.

 

[Kierae]

ugh he really really shouldn't be smoking while on the patch - its a wicked combination (mucks with blood pressure, causes dizziness, etc). If the patch isn't holding him (am assuming he is on the strongest patch he can be on), he needs to add the nicotine gum to it. We also had to use 2 patches on some of our hardcore smokers which was out of the recommendations but hey it worked. He also needs to look at when he is smoking. It is a habit and we are creatures of habit. Some folks smoke out of boredom, nervousness, crave and smoke after meals, sex, etc so he needs to look at when he smokes and then find a way to change up that period of time. Basically modifying his behavior and substituting something else in for when he normally smokes a cig. The fact is with his health being in such a critical stage right now, he really should consider that incentive to push himself thru the withdrawal portion (which is really easier to get thru than breaking the actual habit/behavior).

Have him talk to his doc before he leaves the hospital to see what they can do. There is also a drug that can be prescribed that is used for cravings (used for tobacco and other drugs) but not sure if he is a candidate due to the other meds he is on.

Good luck to him - I know it is not easy (I was a 20 plus year smoker before I quit).

 

[Bandit58]

Thanks guys - I am hoping things will settle down once He is home and less stressed. Being in hospital and dealing with registrars (He calls them "doctors with L plates") is very stressful on Him. We have already identified some triggers where He smokes - on the phone, sitting at the PC, after meals and yes, sex. Thing is, He gave up drinking years ago with no problem but these damn cigarettes.....

I have sugar free sweets here and thought about getting some sugar free lollipops - Catalina will know what they are when I say Chupa Chups I already know that He will be grumpy, I also know it's not me he will be grumpy at but I'm prepared for a rough time. He's been in hospital since Friday (it's now Tues morning) and we've really come too far to let it backslide now, so we both have to be strong and push through that first 2 weeks. I am an ex smoker myself (will be 20 years clean this September) but I do remember how hard it was to quit and I didn't smoke nearly as many as Master or for as long.

 

[His_pita]

Most of quitting is in the mind. I quit over 4 months ago after smoking for 23 years. It's very hard!!! But, having a goal in mind, like being healthy and being with my Dom have been a huge help for me. It does get easier to manage. But, there are days I would give anything for just one puff.

 

[kayte]

Master is trying to quit a 30 to 40-a-day habit. He is on the nicotine patches but is still smoking around 10 a day. I would like some ideas on how to help Him quit - at the moment He is in hospital (long story) but will be home in a few days. Please help us both to keep sane, it is absolutely imperative now that He stops, it will be life threatening if He doesn't

Bandit ~ I quit smoking many years ago, before all of the aids. I found Life Savers had some suckers. I kept a bag of them with me and I'd put one of those in my mouth when I got the urge. Guess I am oral fixated.

That did help. In addition I changed my habits. No longer went to bars with my BF and all listening to blues as they are all smokey.


I know it isn't easy! Keeping you both in my prayers.

 

[Salendire]

I quit smoking about 3 months ago and i found that the 1st 2 weeks were the hardest, after that everything seemed to become infinatly easier.

I kept away from the areas or things that i usually smoked around most. Examples: Did not go to clubs or pubs, tried staying inside a lot of the time (i never smoked inside), when i did my daily exersise i went swimming insted of walking, kept away from others that smoked etc.

I found that sucking on a toothpick every now and again was a much better option than sucking on lollies, i didn't see the point in dropping one habbit just to pick another one up. I went cold turkey, i tried once before slowly cutting down and once more using patches, neither of those options worked for me. It only takes 3 days of not smoking to actually get the drug out of your system.

I just wanted to be rid of the habbit as soon as i could. After not smoking for 2 months i brought a small cigar to smoke just to remind me how horrible smoking tasted and how bad the smell was, since doing that i have not had the urge again to smoke at all.

Good luck.

 

[graceanne]

Whenever my mom would quit we'd scrub the house to get rid of the nicotine smell. We'd also wash the ashtrays, and put them away.

Also, welbutrin (that's the generic name - can't remember the brand name) really helps. That's how my mom quit and she went cold turkey off a 3 pack a day habit.

 

[RJMasters]

My grandpa quit by using speriment gum....and cough drops.

He said when he inhaled, the cool sensation from the gum or drops created a similar sinsation. He also said that it helped him to breath deeper and easier.

Hope that helps.

 

[BeachGurl2]

I recently quit again - last time I quit for over a year and then went through a stressful divorce so I caved. For me, patches and the gum never worked. They kept the nicotine in my body so I craved it all the more. I quit cold turkey and so far have been very successful. Here's my method, maybe something there will help.

~ Plan out my last pack so that I smoke the last one before going to bed
~ Throw away - yes, THROW AWAY - all ash trays and lighters (except my yin~yang Zippo - sentimental value)
~ Clean out car, empty ashtrays and air it out
~ Make sure that there is nothing remotely related to smoking anywhere in the house or car, including smell
~ Wash any clothes that smell like smoke
~ Make dentist appointment to have teeth cleaned
~ Stock up on crunchy raw veggies and sugarless gum
~ When the urge hits - for me, this is usually right after I've eaten, with my morning coffee, or in the evening when I'm reading or surfing the net - instead of lighting up, I either grab some veggies to munch or ride my bike or stairmaster for a half hour
~ After about 4 days, the nicotine has cleared out of my system and the physical craving/bitchiness is gone. At this point, it is completely a habitual craving for something either in my mouth or hands. I'm sure you can guess what my Dom likes me to do to keep occupied . . .

Bottom line for anyone trying to quit smoking is that they have to want to quit. If he really likes smoking and wants to keep doing it, then he won't be successful. I went to a club this weekend and was tempted for the first 10 minutes or so, but it passed pretty quickly. Just be supportive for him. It is worth quitting.

 

[Guest]

One tip I have used ... If he gets a really good case of the collywobbles..
Buy him a pipe....
They smell better, he will get a lot less nicotine out of pipe smoking than cigs...
*grin*
And the main thing... It's enough of a pain in the ass, that after a period of time it gets really easy to lay down.

 

[Kajira Callista]

One tip I have used ... If he gets a really good case of the collywobbles..
Buy him a pipe....
They smell better, he will get a lot less nicotine out of pipe smoking than cigs...
*grin*
And the main thing... It's enough of a pain in the ass, that after a period of time it gets really easy to lay down.

i can NOT picture you smoking a pipe.

 

[AnelizeDarkEyes]

Well, I just quit after many years of smoking.

I ended up in the hospital with an asthma attack and pneumonia.

There was something about sitting on that bed, on oxygen, getting one nebulizer treatment after another, wheezing to beat the band, and not being able to get a complete breath that made me realize that....

this is what I had in store for me if I kept on smoking.

I'm a nurse, I know this. I sat there, struggling to breathe, and kept thinking, oh god, I'm gonna be just like this when I get emphysema.

I haven't had a smoke since about 4 days prior to my admission (I felt too sick to smoke)

It's been, oh, about 3 weeks now.

Call me scared straight.

~anelize

 

[catalina_francisco]

Well, I just quit after many years of smoking.

I ended up in the hospital with an asthma attack and pneumonia.

There was something about sitting on that bed, on oxygen, getting one nebulizer treatment after another, wheezing to beat the band, and not being able to get a complete breath that made me realize that....

this is what I had in store for me if I kept on smoking.

I'm a nurse, I know this. I sat there, struggling to breathe, and kept thinking, oh god, I'm gonna be just like this when I get emphysema.

I haven't had a smoke since about 4 days prior to my admission (I felt too sick to smoke)

It's been, oh, about 3 weeks now.

Call me scared straight.

~anelize

Congratulations!!! Hope you are feeling better now.

Catalina

 

[Purple Sage]

Acupuncture is very effective- I've seen reports that claim about 65 to 70 per cent of people using it quit, most of them almost instantly. There are points in the earlobe, some people say that rubbing the points between thumb and forefinger when you have the urge to smoke is as effective as needles, clamps or staples. One nice thing about it, apparently, is that you probably know within a week or so if it's going to work for you- no long term struggle. If you're one of the people it's not going to work for, you just move on. I have known two people to try this, both quit with minimal withdrawal symptoms.

 

[Bandit58]

Well, I just quit after many years of smoking.

I ended up in the hospital with an asthma attack and pneumonia.

There was something about sitting on that bed, on oxygen, getting one nebulizer treatment after another, wheezing to beat the band, and not being able to get a complete breath that made me realize that....

this is what I had in store for me if I kept on smoking.

I'm a nurse, I know this. I sat there, struggling to breathe, and kept thinking, oh god, I'm gonna be just like this when I get emphysema.

I haven't had a smoke since about 4 days prior to my admission (I felt too sick to smoke)

It's been, oh, about 3 weeks now.

Call me scared straight.

~anelize

I'm glad you're feeling better now anelize I just read your post to Master, He says He's never been so sick that He couldn't/didn't smoke. Even with a sore throat and cough He would still have to have a cigarette, and in hospital He would go down 4 floors in the lift to sit outside and have a smoke.

BUT it's been a week now, He's still got terrible cravings but fighting them as well as He can, He's going out on the balcony if the craving becomes too much, and He is down to under 10 cigarettes a day (I think it was only 6 yesterday) AND He was awake much of the night. We have the sugar free lollies and gum to help, couldn't find the Chupa Chups but will look in a couple of other shops, I know they are out there somewhere

I spoke to the doctor yesterday and he said that quitting smoking is the number one thing He can do for His health - modern medicine can only do so much. If He quits, after a year His heart will be at least 50% better than it is now, He's already had one angioplasty.

We also worked out that when He quits completely we can save $3000 a year

 

[catalina_francisco]

couldn't find the Chupa Chups but will look in a couple of other shops, I know they are out there somewhere

Do they still have them in bulk packs in the supermarkets there? I found last visit that the grocery shelves had changed a lot and what was once easy to obtain, was a rare find now. Sheeesh, it was almost like being back in the Dutch supermarkets.

We also worked out that when He quits completely we can save $3000 a year

Hmm, now think how many toys that could buy!!!

Catalina

 

[Bandit58]

Catalina - they do still have the Chupa Chups in bulk packs (10 in a pack) but none of them were sugar free Master is already thinking of new toys to buy, and His eyes light up when I mention eBay!

He's only had two cigarettes today (and it's 6.30pm)

 

[graceanne]

That reminds me, the last time my mom was quitting she would take the budgeted money for cigarettes and put it in a jar. (She was smoking three or four packs a day at the time.) That was her vacation money. When she'd gone a certain amount of time without smoking (I forget how long) she took that money and went to the beach with L (my littlest sister - then 3.) It's a great incentive. Of course a vacation might not be an incentive to you. A new toy might . . . but you get hte idea.

 

[graceanne]

Oh and for quitting, K likes sunflower seeds - keeps his mouth busy. Another idea is licorice vines. You know, the hollow ones? You can bite the ends off, and use it like a cigarette. Takes care of the oral fixation and keeps your hands busy. Plus they're fat free.

 

[bullaford]

Oh and for quitting, K likes sunflower seeds - keeps his mouth busy. Another idea is licorice vines. You know, the hollow ones? You can bite the ends off, and use it like a cigarette. Takes care of the oral fixation and keeps your hands busy. Plus they're fat free.

Twizzlers are great for that, Graceanne. They are hollow on the inside, so you can bite off the ends, hold them like a cig and suck air thru them. Around here they are now called the "new cigs".

I quit as of last Wednesday, cold turkey. I am a creature of habit, so I changed my habits. I always go outside to smoke, so I would find something more productive to do inside. While driving, grabbed a Twizzler and held it in my hand like a cig, actually found myself with the window down and the Twizzler out the window once. I have to say, it wasn't hard to give up the nicotine, it was and still is harder to not have one while driving.

Good luck to all of those who are trying to quit.

 

[Succulent-one]

I quit 6 years ago cold turkey. I was smoking 2 packs a day. I will never go back.

I drank gallons of water and juices. It flushes the toxins from your system. And then the 2 of you have some fun. When he is up to it. Start walking. Subsitute a fun physical activity for smoking. You need the exercise or you will put on a lot of weight. Fill the fridge with raw veggies all cut up so when he has to he has something to chew on that is low cal. The first 3 days were pure hell, then it kept getting better and better. By the end of 3 weeks, I knew I was going to make it. Even after 6 years there is still some moments when I think of going a getting a pack of cigarettes. But the urge comes and goes fairly quickly now.