Anyone successfully quit smoking cold turkey?

[boiseboy]

So I made a thread kind of like this in the health and well being forum, but nobody gave a shit, so I'm making a more general one for hot topics.


Anyways, I just smoked the last cigarette in my pack, and I'm not going to buy anymore. Ever.

Some back history; I've only smoked for 2 years and I'm a 3-5 a day type person.
I had been planning to quit for awhile, but my doctor just diagnosed me with chornic bronchitis, so I decided it's really time for me to quit for good. Right now, no excuses.


I just started my antibiotic dosages yesterday, so I'm hoping I feel better soon. I've had this for 4 weeks and I'm absolutely sick of being sick.


So I have some questions for whoevers quit smoking cold turkey.


A.) How long did your cravings last until they stopped? (this including nicotine withdrawal symptoms like headaches.)

B.) Any techniques you used to help you out?

C.) Any smokers been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis? How long did it last before you got better?


Thanks. I understand that even starting smoking was completely stupid, and I regret it.

 

[operafan]

It has probably been 30 years since I quit. Unfortunately, I could start again today, but it was such a bitch to quit that I don't want to go there again.

I suppose the real cravings left after a couple of week.s

 

[Beachguyj]

My father did. He used to smoke cigarettes and cigars when he was younger and then switched to pipes. He quit in the early 80's (I think I don't recall when he stopped) The reason he quit was because a cousin of his (in another country) developed lung cancer.

 

[boiseboy]

It has probably been 30 years since I quit. Unfortunately, I could start again today, but it was such a bitch to quit that I don't want to go there again.

I suppose the real cravings left after a couple of week.s

Out of curiosity, what do you mean when you say you could start again today? Like, you still kind of jones for one or what?

And I hope I don't crave them a whole lot. I've descovered if I dont have a cigarette for a few days, I get pretty bad headaches. But I never get pissy or desperate. Just thinking about what the next few weeks are going to be like is really making me nervous.

 

[gsdx]

I started smoking when I was 16. I quit cold turkey when I was 56.

The craving for nicotine lasted only a week or so. After that, the biggest battle was a craving for 'act of smoking'.

It will be 3 years for me come February. I don't have the cravings anymore, but I occasionally have the 'desire' to smoke, but it's easily overcome. I've not yet been tempted to run out and buy a pack.

My roommate smokes. I've even gone out to buy tobacco for him. Occasionally he buys packages of cigarettes instead of rolling his own and sometimes he leaves them on the end table beside the sofa. I've never been tempted to light one up.

For me, it wasn't a matter of wanting to quit smoking. It was a matter of not wanting to smoke anymore. Think about it. There is a difference.

 

[boiseboy]

When I quit, I used the nicotine patch.
The program was for 12 weeks. I stopped using the patch after 2 weeks. I didn't have the cravings. I had it in my mind that I was done smoking. I had no cravings.

Everyone is different.

Unfortunately thats not considered cold turkey. I don't want to spend money on nicotine patches because in my mind, if I'm going to buy patches I might as well buy a pack. I know it sounds messed up, but It's an inner ocd type thing.

 

[boiseboy]

I tried repeatedly to quit cold turkey and I couldn't manage it. I recently used Champix to quit but smoking 3-5 a day I doubt you'd be able to get the US version of them.

Best of luck with quitting. According to research if you can get passed 72 hours you're physically free of nicotine and the other 4000 chemicals in your body because they don't store. After that it's all will power.

Thanks a lot, that's really reassuring. I think I have enough will power to last 72 hours. If I'm not having headaches then I'm perfectly fine without ever smoking again.

I just really want to get done with being sick. It sucks waking up in the middle of the night to cough up pounds of built up congestion.

 

[boiseboy]

I started smoking when I was 16. I quit cold turkey when I was 56.

The craving for nicotine lasted only a week or so. After that, the biggest battle was a craving for 'act of smoking'.

It will be 3 years for me come February. I don't have the cravings anymore, but I occasionally have the 'desire' to smoke, but it's easily overcome. I've not yet been tempted to run out and buy a pack.

My roommate smokes. I've even gone out to buy tobacco for him. Occasionally he buys packages of cigarettes instead of rolling his own and sometimes he leaves them on the end table beside the sofa. I've never been tempted to light one up.

For me, it wasn't a matter of wanting to quit smoking. It was a matter of not wanting to smoke anymore. Think about it. There is a difference.

Thank you. Your story proves that really anyone can do it. That long smoking, I don't even think I can comprehend what its like to quit after all that time.


Ever had any lung problems btw?

 

[miaedu]

I've never smoked but my dad did after 20+ years of heavy smoking. still clean after many years.

 

[queenscarlet]

--nevermind--

 

[boiseboy]

A. Couple of weeks. I just removed the cues like not going to bars or drinking alcohol. I used to smoke a pack a day, easy, in 6 hour timeframe if I was heading to the bars. Once in a great while I will get a craving but it's just not fucking worth it anymore. I quit 11 years ago.... I was a sporadic smoker. Smoked for 3, quit for 5, smoked for 2, quit for 2, so a total of about 5-6 years continuous.

B. Again, just stopped drinking and going to places like bars where people smoked until I was comfortable going back in to those establishments.

C. Nope. Doctor told me my lungs are functioning now as if I have never smoked. I do an hour of cardio a day and workout so proper lung function for me is essential.

I just need to quit raiding the fucking cookie jar! Fuck!... love cookies.

Your lungs begin the healing process after you finish a cigarette. You will start to feel better in several weeks as your body adjusts to removing the nicotine and your lungs will go through some good changes too. Karabulut (JUB member) is a good one to contact for this info. He could more specific. All I know is that you are saving a ton of money and saving more breaths of life!

Good luck!

Thanks. I'm actually pretty excited about quitting for the most part.
Not only will I have extra money, but I wont have to worry about hiding the smell of cigarettes and ash getting my car all dirty.

 

[gsdx]

If I'm not having headaches then I'm perfectly fine without ever smoking again.

I don't recall getting withdrawal headaches, but I found this for you. It might help:

http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/cravingsandurges/a/withdrawal.htm

And don't underestimate the support you'll get through JUB. It certainly helped me to get through the rough spots.

 

[boiseboy]

I don't recall getting withdrawal headaches, but I found this for you. It might help:

http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/cravingsandurges/a/withdrawal.htm

And don't underestimate the support you'll get through JUB. It certainly helped me to get through the rough spots.

Yeah, I get withdrawal headaches all the time if I don't have a cigarette.

Usually around the times I would usually have one, i pretty much smoke at the same time everyday.

And thanks for the link, I'll check on it now.




And I posted a thread more about my chronic bronchitis that was actually borderline pneumonia in the health forum but no one cared. I knew i would get better reception in the hot topics forum.

 

[gsdx]

^^ Just keep us updated and, if you're having a tough time of it, drop in here and post about it rather than dropping in on your local tobacconist.

 

[boiseboy]

I did.

I have quit long term twice. I was off them for 15 years, picked up a clove cigarette once (not realizing they had nicotine), and ended up smoking for five years.

I quit—this time cold-turkey—a little over three months ago.

I tell people that both times I quit, I hit three distinct phases. Phase one lasted about three days—it was three days of sheer hell. Phase two, about three weeks, wasn't quite as bad, but still, several times I almost gave up the effort.

The third phase lasts three months. This phase involves fewer and fewer cravings.

After three months have passed, some kind of quantum leap seems to occur in the cells of the body; it's all downhill from there. Cravings come further and further apart, and only last a split-second, anyway.

So the stages are three days, three weeks, and three months.

The last time I quit, seven full years passed before the cravings completely stopped, but those very rare cravings in those seven years were easy to fight. In those seven years, you might get a split-second craving one time in a month or two.

ITEM: I read someplace that people who gain weight after smoking cessation have a significantly higher chance of staying off them. Why, nobody knows...

Oh god I hope I dont gain weight. Reading that link gdsx posted, exercising will probably be my choice to fight off cravings.

Thanks for the heads up! These next few weeks should be exciting nonetheless.

 

[boiseboy]

^^ Just keep us updated and, if you're having a tough time of it, drop in here and post about it rather than dropping in on your local tobacconist.

Thanks, I definitely will.

 

[frankfrank]

EXCELLENT NEWS, BOISEBOY!

You certainly have my support, and ALL of my best wishes, for your success in this. May it continue for the rest of your life, which more than likely now has a far longer expectancy than it would have a few weeks ago.

And JohannBessler, likewise to you! It always makes me feel good to see somebody deciding to smoke no more.

 

[boiseboy]

EXCELLENT NEWS, BOISEBOY!

You certainly have my support, and ALL of my best wishes, for your success in this. May it continue for the rest of your life, which more than likely now has a far longer expectancy than it would have a few weeks ago.

And JohannBessler, likewise to you! It always makes me feel good to see somebody deciding to smoke no more.

Thank you very much. I don't even understand why I kept smoking. All I had were complaints about it.

 

[Red Storm]

I quit cold turkey, it is a 3 day hump after that is up to you. What I did notice is weight gain though. Maybe it was just me but I was hungrier after had just quit.

 

[saymyname]

I don't smoke cold turkey. Cigarettes, on the other hand...