Quitting Smoking (OT)

[mim]

Well,

Day 4, found it a bit tougher today, had quite a few cravings, but got through - Guess what, I can breathe better already and my chest is clearing - got rotten cough and a cold but that is expected.

Update you again soon

Love

Mim 

I stink purty  -  I stink purty

[PiaSava]

Congratulations! I know exactly what you are going throu. I quit smoking in June and to tell you the truth I have never looked back.

One of the things that kept me motivated was everytime I would walk by smokers I would think how bad they smelt and that I was lucky not to smell like that any more.

My kids congratulated me every day for the first 3 months and if they forgot I would fool around by saying... "I guess nobody thinks I am strong for staying away from those cigarettes" every day they forgot to say contratulations. That would cook up a storm and the kids would make a big deal out of me not smoking that day.

Try to find any positive thought and hold on to it. Read about  the benifits staying smoke free for a week, a month and so on. And last but not least tell yourself how strong you are EVERY DAY! Because thats what you are. Soon you will find that you haven't thought about a cigarette for days, then weeks. You kinda find your new normal.

May you have lots of great smoke free days ahead!

Stay strong

[LenV]

See Mim, Four Days and you have done it!!!!  When my Dad was in the hospital with colon cancer, he was so sick that he didn't want cigarettes (couldn't smoke in his room and didn't feel like walking down to the lobby).  After about 3-4 days he started coughing.  He coughed and coughed and actually coughed up stuff (sorry).  He did this for days.  The doctor told us that he was clearing the mucus and stuff from his lungs because of smoking.  My Mom had the same things happen when we decided she'd smoked long enough and put her on the patch to help her quit. 

I tried to find something that would explain it better and this is all I could find in short time.  I am not sure if the schedule is the same for everyone.  But it would explain all of the coughing.  Maybe you don't have a cold and your body is only clearing out the toxins.  http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/copd/a/smoking_facts.htm

You've made it this far.  Keeep it upppp!!!!!!  Mim's on her way to Stinking Real Purtttty!!!   

Billye

[Patze]

Hey Mim,

Way to GO!!!!  I'm so proud of you for getting this far - believe me, every day that passes, it will get a bit easier!

GO MIM GO - GO MIM GO - GO MIM GO!!!!!


Patze

[quiger]

Good job Mim. One day at a time.

Take care,
quiger

[irish]

mim, That is so great! I know what you mean about being able to breath better.  I have also heard that some people start to cough more when they quit smoking. Smoking paralyses the little "cilia" or very find hairs that propel the mucus up and out of the respiratory track. When a person quits smoking the cilia wake up and are dancing down there getting rid of the bad stuff.

Buy yourself a little treat on the 7th day. THink of all the money you have saved not buying cigarettes. You are soing good and I am so proud of you. Hang in there. IRish

[Linda196]

Way to go girls, everyday that passes is another "purty smellin" day in your new lives as non-smokers.

Just remember: IF YOU CAN CONCEIVE IT AND BELIEVE IT, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT.

[Rach]

Just remember: IF YOU CAN CONCEIVE IT AND BELIEVE IT, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT.

I gotta quote Linda...(that's real good)

Hang in there Mim.... just thinking & sending good thoughts!

Rach

[LenV]

O.K. Sandi,
How ya doin??  Report in girl. 

Billye

[Pooh]

We're behind you Mim.  GO FOR IT! 

It may get tougher for a few days, but then it will start to get easier.  Hang in there gal, you can do it!

Hugs and God Bless,
Pooh

[WiVal]

irish, I had the same ice eating addiction when I was anemic several years ago. It's called PICA and the ice craving is common with adults with anemia. How long has this been going on for you? If you are severly anemic you may develop all kinds of other symptoms including restless leg syndrome. You must be feeling pretty rotten. Is there a plan to raise your hemoglobin? Vitamins can take several months to work and transfusions are the best short term remedy.  Took a while but I'm done with anemia at least for now. VAL

[irish]

val, I do have restless leg syndrome although it isn't as bad as it was. I have been on the iron and vitamin C and am supposed to take iron one time a day for the rest of my life. I skipped it for several months as I had such a upset stomach etc and now I have started it up again.

I have so many autoimmune issues plus chronic infections and both of these can lower the hemoglobin and the ferritin level. At one time I was eating 10 trays of ice cubes a day. I am not chewing that many now. In fact hardly had any at all today. I can usually tell how bad my anemia is by looking at the inside of my lower eyelid. When hemg was 9.8 and ferritin was 6 I had a very pale face and not much red in my inner lid.

I have always enjoyed chewing ice and since I quit smoking I think it is really a great oral gratification. I am so happy that I have dentures so that I can chew the ice. I try to let it melt some so it is not so apt to wreck my dentures. I love the ice crystals with the cold pepsi. Really satisfies my thirst. Another thing that is good for satisfying the thirst is the flavored carbonated water without any sugar or "fake" sugar. Irish

[WiVal]

Irish, Wow, you might have been taking too much iron if your stomache was upset. Check over your vitamin tablets carefully if you are taking a multi/with iron you need to add that total to the other iron supplements. ALSO check any other vitamin tablets or capsules read the labels really carefully. Sometime B-12 tablets will also contain IRON! Many breakfast cereals contain IRON! All of a sudden you can get overloaded without even knowing it.  It takes months for your liver to reabsorb and store iron. FE - iron is essential for your body to make red blood cells. Fatigue, shortness of breath and sometimes restless legs can be symptoms. Too much may upset your stomache and could cause constipation. I HATE THAT and used a stool softener like Ducolax until the levels were high enough.
I had much trouble with anemia in the past and even had to give up being a vegetarian and started eating more meat and eggs a few times a week. I hope you can get this cleared up. Being anemic is not fun, it can make you tired and crave ice. The cold ice really hurts my teeth and I ended up eating Hall's menthol cough drops several at time.  Now that was really wierd cause those Hall's were not my favorite at all. VAL

[mim]

Hey Ho,

6 days down now and not had a cigarette.

Yesterday and today were quite bad, did not get up for chat in the middle of the night could not face sitting here for 2 hours without a smoke, so stayed in bed.

Friday is always a busy stressful day at work and I got through it without a cigarette so quite pleased with myself.

Still got the mental attitude not quite understanding that this is for life.  Will persevere, have saved £35.00 already this week by not buying cigarettes so some good is coming from it.

Has anyone heard from Sandi - let us know how you are doing girl!!!

Well will give you peace now

Love hugs and immeasureable thanks

Mim

Stinking even purtyer  -  Stinking even purtyer

[dbab]

Way to go Mim!!!!