Post by Ann on Jun 28, 2004 12:59:32 GMT -5
August 09, 2003
I have 2 weeks until I reach the 9 month mark. I used to smoke 4 packs a day for 37 years. That is a repulsive thought to me now. One of great embarrassment.
It is important to "ramble" because it only takes 9 months to bring a new life into this world. I feel like I have been REBORN! There is so much information about how to deal with the physical side of this addiction. There is so little information about how to deal with the psychological part of this addiction. Newbies have no idea that quitting smoking will change their entire lives! How dramatic that sounds!
Now I understand why the failure rate is so high. You have people telling you that you are a failure unless you can do this cold turkey. My doctor told me MY addiction would be "over" after 90 days. What a crock of ****! I never craved soooooo badly as I did from day 90 to day 99! Patches are the way to go! Hypnosis! Nicotine gum is the way to go! Smoke Away is the way to go! On and on and on the debate goes.
Do you want to know what I discovered? Standing on your head works - if you BELIEVE it! There is no right or wrong way. It does not matter if this is your first quit or your 99th. This is a fight for your life. It is NOT a contest!
When you make the committment 150% - bring your heart to your quit - your body will follow. Is it easy? Yes for some. No for most of us.
Some of us NEVER become nonsmokers. My Dad died of lung cancer. No surgery, no chemotherapy, no radiation. He died with only 2/3 of one lung left. His number one love was PALL MALLS. They were his "lover" from age 14 until his death at age 66. He was on oxygen 24/7. He was on heavy morphine. At the end of his life ALL he wanted was "one more drag" - not a kiss from me. Sadly, I understood. He didn't remember my name. He called me, "YOU. Sit me up. Light it up and give me a drag, okay?" He could not eat that night. He did not want any water. He did not want any medication. I lit his Pall Mall, he inhaled deeply - coughed and coughed and coughed. Then he gasped - like he was trying to exhale and couldn't. His fingers clawed at the hospital bed we had rented for him. He squirmed all over - gasping and making the worst noises I have ever heard in my life. I remember thinking the sheets must be ripped. Then he **** all over. He peed the bed. My very proud, prim and proper father. Lying in a bed filled with **** and piss. He made an exhaling noise and then it was over. He died with his mouth wide open - like he was GASPING for air. It was NOT pleasant and it was NOT quick. The "end" took approximately 7 minutes. Start your clocks and time it. It was horrible. Not romantic - like the cigarette ads. Did it stop me from smoking? Do pigs fly? Of course not. My tears and cigarette butts littered his grave.
Today I am 260 days quit. I think the first 100 days are hard - d**n hard. I did not think I would live through them. How stupid! That is so little time compared to death - death is forever.
Hang on - even if you have to do it by your toenails
Found on QuitNet
I have 2 weeks until I reach the 9 month mark. I used to smoke 4 packs a day for 37 years. That is a repulsive thought to me now. One of great embarrassment.
It is important to "ramble" because it only takes 9 months to bring a new life into this world. I feel like I have been REBORN! There is so much information about how to deal with the physical side of this addiction. There is so little information about how to deal with the psychological part of this addiction. Newbies have no idea that quitting smoking will change their entire lives! How dramatic that sounds!
Now I understand why the failure rate is so high. You have people telling you that you are a failure unless you can do this cold turkey. My doctor told me MY addiction would be "over" after 90 days. What a crock of ****! I never craved soooooo badly as I did from day 90 to day 99! Patches are the way to go! Hypnosis! Nicotine gum is the way to go! Smoke Away is the way to go! On and on and on the debate goes.
Do you want to know what I discovered? Standing on your head works - if you BELIEVE it! There is no right or wrong way. It does not matter if this is your first quit or your 99th. This is a fight for your life. It is NOT a contest!
When you make the committment 150% - bring your heart to your quit - your body will follow. Is it easy? Yes for some. No for most of us.
Some of us NEVER become nonsmokers. My Dad died of lung cancer. No surgery, no chemotherapy, no radiation. He died with only 2/3 of one lung left. His number one love was PALL MALLS. They were his "lover" from age 14 until his death at age 66. He was on oxygen 24/7. He was on heavy morphine. At the end of his life ALL he wanted was "one more drag" - not a kiss from me. Sadly, I understood. He didn't remember my name. He called me, "YOU. Sit me up. Light it up and give me a drag, okay?" He could not eat that night. He did not want any water. He did not want any medication. I lit his Pall Mall, he inhaled deeply - coughed and coughed and coughed. Then he gasped - like he was trying to exhale and couldn't. His fingers clawed at the hospital bed we had rented for him. He squirmed all over - gasping and making the worst noises I have ever heard in my life. I remember thinking the sheets must be ripped. Then he **** all over. He peed the bed. My very proud, prim and proper father. Lying in a bed filled with **** and piss. He made an exhaling noise and then it was over. He died with his mouth wide open - like he was GASPING for air. It was NOT pleasant and it was NOT quick. The "end" took approximately 7 minutes. Start your clocks and time it. It was horrible. Not romantic - like the cigarette ads. Did it stop me from smoking? Do pigs fly? Of course not. My tears and cigarette butts littered his grave.
Today I am 260 days quit. I think the first 100 days are hard - d**n hard. I did not think I would live through them. How stupid! That is so little time compared to death - death is forever.
Hang on - even if you have to do it by your toenails
Found on QuitNet
