posted on March 4, 2001 07:52:04 AM
I think I am drawn back to this thread because of my additive personality....
Boy, you guys that suggested Chepi check with the doctor were right on.... I just recently purchased the book "Worst Pills, Best Pills" updated 1999 by Sidney Wolf's group. I looked up Wellbutrin, and under
adverse effects it said "Call your doctor immediately if you experience...skin rash, itching." It also lists other problems. [P. 253]. Nicotine [Habitrol, Nicorette, Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Prostep] P. 692 and Zyban P.739.
If you have time to visit the library, or bookstore you might want to check the pages out. It gives stopping smoking suggestions, and cautions on these meds.
Neat book. I purchased "Worst Pills" because my Mom is getting my Dad's doctor to change from new, virtually untested drugs to old standbys that are listed as being just as effective in the book, alot cheaper too. Unfortunately, they probably won't get free vacations for the doctor!!!
Hang in there all...try some cheese sticks...close to cig size...Lab Rat.
[Edited because I forgot a word.]
[ edited by labrat4gmos on Mar 4, 2001 07:54 AM ]
posted on March 4, 2001 11:22:26 AMLab Rat that's ok, I read it as addictive.
I felt so guilty about chepi's close call yesterday. God, I thought she was making a joke. I was thinking side effects not allergic reactions. I could have killed her. Thank God Rosiebud was around to shout the warning.
I'm not so down on myself today. I'm still smoke free today. mybiddness I wish you continued success.
I'm glad everyone is still posting encouragement here and that some of us are going to try to quit. Heck, even cutting down for us is a huge success. I'm glad that the "pre-game" rules stated that there will be no shame in slips. It makes it so much easier to pick up and start again or decide to wait until another time to try. We'll all make it...in our own time.
posted on March 4, 2001 11:47:06 AM Boots I'm back with ya. I really went nuts smoking last night, but stopped and re-set my quit meter 4 a.m. this morning. I have ten hours and 40 minutes off cigs again. Whew.
Notice that tricky addiction last night trying to get over, saying "Do I HAVE to re-set my quit meter?" LOL!! Talk about denial!!
MyBid I am SO happy for you. I want to get to the point where you are. I am going to keep trying and you are a great inspiration to me, thank you for your encouragement!
enchanted If I keep setting aside money I DON'T spend on cigarettes, I will be able to afford the hypnotist QUITE SOON!! Thank you for the thought, my sweet, yours is my favorite neck to bite
Rocker
[ edited by nycrocker on Mar 4, 2001 11:48 AM ]
Rocker I'm so GLAD you're back and reset your quit meter. You made a good choice to keep going, yay!!! I was worried about you last night. Ok, now you can bite my neck but don't slurp the blood too loud ok?
posted on March 4, 2001 01:28:41 PM
OK.... we're still a team! rocker LOL about the quit meter. I look at it this way...if this IS the successful quit, I want to be so proud of the exact day and time that I can tell my kids (who smoke) and grandkids "if I can do it...you can too!"
mybiddness of course you know with your extra time in you have to be everyone's sponser now.
posted on March 4, 2001 02:01:32 PM
bootsnana, I know what you mean. I have had every kind of reaction to food, chemicals and drugs [more chemicals] and thought Chepi was having toxin elimination though her skin. Took me awhile to find the book after she sounded frantic. I hope everything is okay.
If you all are in the storm tonight, how about having a peppermint stick candy with some hot chocolate. I remembered that those little sticks also worked as a great sub with my coffee back then.
posted on March 4, 2001 04:30:47 PM
Hi all!
labrat "Chepi was having toxin elimination"
sounds like a pretty personal experience! teehee! was it good for you, too?
boots
I'm so proud of you and your smoke free day! Yes, you're right, we will all make it ~ either now or when the time is right for us. I hope that we can pull it off this time, we owe it ourselves to kick this weed. OTOH, we owe Mr Morris nothing.
nettak
You're words of encouragement mean so much. I spent the day with my BF and am feeling better. It was time to move forward rather than turn around five years from now wondering how I got there.
My heart goes out to you and your MIL. I know the smell as well as the overpowering aura. It is not an easy place to be. Please know that I am right there besides you to hold you up when you need it.
enchanted the important thing is to keep putting one foot in front of the other going forward. It's not a test of strength it's about going forward and continuing with making a new smoke-free life.
thank you for that {{a biggun}}
rocker
you can do this, and you will. I fell down too but we can get up. Do you want to quit yet? I think I want to this time, I'm not sure. I want to be around for my kids and I never want to be sick like the stories everyone has so generously shared here. I don't want to "disappear" in an unexpected death like my dad did at 63.
When you are ready, you will quit. Please try your hardest to make it now. No matter what, we are incredibly proud of you.
BTW, you must be pretty peeved at your ex to want to stick a pessimistic anal retentive engineer on her. teehee!
hmmm...get married and live happily ever after?
Isn't that a contradiction in terms? How 'bout we just shack up?
xoxox to all (extra xox if I left anyone out!)
"In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail." (coaching mumbo-jumbo)
GO TEAM!
chepi*
posted on March 4, 2001 04:56:30 PM Enchanted {{{{{BIG HUGS!!}}}}}
Boots Yes I agree I want the meter to say EXACTLY what day and time I quit too. And yes I think Mybiddness should be our sponsor!
chepi Do you want to quit yet?
NO I absolutely don't, and that's the truth. I want to WANT to quit, know what I mean? In other words, I love to smoke, have a great desire to smoke, and it is that desire I wish I could lose. I know I SHOULD quit, I know I NEED to quit, I also know I DON'T want to give my money to the tobacco industry and I do agree with EVERYTHING that's been said on this thread regarding smoking. The sad truth is I am still so attached to it. And I have said I will quit when I'm ready, but then it got to the point where I realized I don't think I'll EVER be ready. I think that's an excuse I can drag out forever, and just never ever be ready. So I have tried forcing myself to do it, ready or NOT. I made it five months once. I made it ten days last month. Now once again I have fifteen hours and 51 minutes, and honestly, I don't know if I can even make it the first 24 hours. I think I am lacking a true willingness . THAT may be exactly my problem.
you must be pretty peeved at your ex to want to stick a pessimistic anal retentive engineer on her.
She is a pessimistic anal retentive ex-architect!! PERFECT!!
hmmm...get married and live happily ever after? Isn't that a contradiction in terms?
LOL Ya got a good point there Chepi!!!
How 'bout we just shack up?
What??? And ruin my traditional old-fashioned gentlemanly values???
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh
Rocker
[ edited by nycrocker on Mar 4, 2001 05:00 PM ]
posted on March 4, 2001 05:08:34 PMChepi I'm so glad you're o.k. It never occured to me that you could be having a reaction to the Wellbutrin. I'm glad someone else made the connection.
It's great to see everyone hanging in there.
Rocker Don't be so hard on yourself. You'll know when the time is right. Quitting smoking is the hardest thing in the world and almost impossible if you're not 100% ready to do it. I know exactly how you feel because even though I'm trying to stay on the quitting path I just enjoyed the hell out of smoking my cigs and I miss it. I've smoked for as long as I can remember and in a wierd way they're a part of who I am.
I'm afraid Boots & Rocker that I'm not up to sponsoring right now. I feel like I'm hanging on by the tips of my fingers... The panic is really starting to set in. I'm trying to tell myself to take it by days instead of thinking of it as forever. When I think it's forever then I seem to freak about that... Forever is *$#%*@ FOREVER! I'm staying under the covers as much as possible so to speak today. I thought I would be through with the nicotine withdrawals by now but today is the worst yet. I can't seem to concentrate on anything except thinking that a cigarette would make it stop. I went to the grocery store and I think every person I saw was smoking... I hate that. Then I came home and cleaned the kitchen and found my favorite ash tray. I thought they had all been thrown away. Just looking at that stupid ash tray had me in tears again. I still think if I can get past the next day or two I'll have a chance of quitting for good this time. I'm sure the tapes will help me get back on track once I get past the withdrawals. It just seems pretty overwelming today. Tomorrow HAS to get better.
It's really nice to see so many people supporting each other - even some new faces popping in. This place is great!
posted on March 4, 2001 05:22:30 PMenchanted chepi something tells me you've had a better day today, I'm happy for you.
thank you sweetie! I've been reading a lot of my "motivational mumbo-jumbo" for the new little league season ~ trying to put together my team strategy. Did you know that reading too much of that crap can unknowingly pull you into a positive mode? For example:
"Never, NEVER, NEVER Quit"
Winston Churchill
okay, bad example for those of us in the process of becoming quitters or dumping their significant other! This is the one that got to me today:
"The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
it pretty much hit home about the smoking, the mark thing, a lot of stuff.
One more:
"It is all right to forget your mistakes if you remember their lessons."
rocker
you gotta cut it out. stop rationalizing reasons to smoke. It tastes like sh*t, it makes you smell like sh*t, it will turn your voice to sh*t, etc, etc, etc.
I don't have the desire to quit either. I tell myself "I have two kids, two dogs, the cat, the house, the car ~ it's the one friggin thing I do for myself". How stupid does that sound? Smoking is something I do for myself? This addiction makes us irrational ~ don't we do that to ourselves enough (LOL)? Please keep trying with me. If we can make the desire go away, we're there. That bastard NICK is almost out of us (forget hypnosis, is there an exorcist in the house??)
*climbing off the soapbox now*
ruin my traditional old-fashioned gentlemanly values???
as if! I was born at night, sweetie, but not last night! LOL!
GO TEAM GO!
posted on March 4, 2001 05:30:44 PMmybid
We know that you're with us, whether you can be a shoulder or feel whether you need a shoulder. You are so good to all of us ~ we're here for you! Crawl into bed, take a bath, eat some ice cream, go have sex, whatever takes you "someplace else". Try to hold out a little longer ~ if we can kick this crap we will never have to deal with this again. Your team is here for you! You can always e-me directly if you are up to posting ~ [email protected]. Stay with us...
{{{grouphugformybid}}}
chepi*
posted on March 4, 2001 06:09:15 PM Chepi "born at night but not last night" LOL!
Mybiddness I can't say forever either, NO WAY. Right now I am literally taking it about an hour at a time. I keep saying "I'm gonna go get cigs" and then I tell myself "Okay well, do it later, go in about an hour." That is how I've gotten by all afternoon and night so far.
Ya know I noticed that too Mybid - how all of a sudden everyone I pass on the street is smoking!! D'oh!!! When I was smoking, if I realized I didn't have a match, I would look around for someone with a light or a lit cigarette, and NO ONE on the street was smoking, it was as if I were the only one!! NOW that I'm trying NOT to smoke, EVERY freakin person I pass on the street has a cig. Now WHAT is up with that?!?!?!?
Rocker
[ edited by nycrocker on Mar 4, 2001 06:11 PM ]
posted on March 4, 2001 07:17:00 PM
I like that plan of taking it an hour at a time... very wise
To me "wants" and "needs" are very different things. I think it is quite logical for an addicted person to not "want" to stop smoking. The addiction makes them want to keep smoking just like usual, even though your body needs to stop smoking. Sometimes I still don't want to stop smoking, even though I did it.
Being willing to do what you need to do even when it's not what you want to do .... Rocker, that's it in a nutshell. Oh, being willing is tough, but it gets easier with practice.
Learning to be honest and admit to myself, OK I want to do X, even though X is bad for me, is part of the first step to getting better and leaving the behavior behind.
BTW, sex and icecream sound pretty good even if you're not quitting smoking. which reminds I'm going to go finish watching the Sopranos with my husband
posted on March 4, 2001 08:04:07 PM
Thanks Chepi I'm thinkin I'll have sex in the bathtub then eat some ice cream in the bed. I just wanted to post before I crash and say thanks for cheering me up and I'm sure the world will seem much better tomorrow. Today it's pretty much lookin like a big bunch of #*!@!
Rocker I'm so glad you get what I'm talking about. It seems like everybody in the whole damned world is smoking - what's with that? LOL I watched an old John Wayne movie tonight called Hell Fighters. I couldn't enjoy the movie cause everyone on it was smoking.... is that ridiculous or what? Every where I look I see people smoking!!!
All day today I reminded myself of the guy on the movie Ghost who's dead and in a real whiney and drawn out voice he says "oooohhhhh, If only I could have - one - more - drag." LOL
Enchanted You're post is helping me to stay on track. Thanks!
Tomorrow will be better, I'm sure. I've decided we're all staying on VeryModerns' horse... we just gotta watch out for the mud holes.
posted on March 4, 2001 08:19:08 PMenchanted Being willing to do what you need to do even when it's not what you want to do Sounds like you want us to be responsible for our actions ~ does that mean we have to grow up, too
BTW, let us know how the sex and ice cream were oops I mean how the Sopranos was
labrat [i]I looked up Wellbutrin, and under
adverse effects it said "Call your doctor immediately if you experience...skin rash, itching."[/i]
how creepy is that?!? Good thing we got rosie
ummm...I think I was itchin before the wellbutrin though ~ can't remember, just glad to not feel flea infested anymore!!
mybid
sounds like you'll be going to sleep with a smile on your face for sure
sweet dreams princess! Everything will look better in the morning!
posted on March 4, 2001 08:47:12 PM
yes, snowy, it will pass.
As soon as you chew your nails down to the cuticles, your palms will stop bleeding.
hang in there......
posted on March 4, 2001 09:43:49 PM
Hey All - Thought I would stick my head in and distribute Big Electronic Hugs for those in need.
{{{BEH's}}}
It's for sure that people will stumble trying something this hard - but getting to your feet and striding on, is the way.
It's kinda like the LA Marathon - if you have to lean on others to get across the line - I for one am glad to lend a hand to carry some of the load.
On a lighter note - I was talking to a friend and he suggested that the East Coast folks could take a round trip to Hong kong via a US carrier - That does not allow smoking anyway.
As soon as you get to Hong Kong - Come home.
30 some hours on a plane would likely leave you so toasted from Jet Lag that the Smokes would be the least of your troubles. You wouldn't even notice that you were missing them. (Likely want to sleep as well for those suffering from insomnia)
I said he had an idea - I didn't say it was a GOOD one
Good/bad idea? hmmmmmm......it couldn't hurt as long as someone could afford it!
I like the sleeping thing! This way my body could go through all of its withdrawal contortions while I am asleep! Now that's idea I like! lol I'd probably have to sleep for the next month though until my body is through making me miserable.
I AM HANGING IN THERE (by the skin on my teeth)! Thats all I can say!
posted on March 4, 2001 10:49:19 PM enchanted I love everything you said. That wants and needs concept makes perfect sense. I need to try this again.
Unfortunately, when we were all on VM's horse, Mybidd, I fell off into a mudhole again tonight. Okay should I just pick a new date and start all over again? Cos I am not doing well here.
Yadda There already is a 12 step program for this, it's called Nicotine Anonymous, seriously. But I'm not going, d@mmit, I'm in enough d@mn 12 step programs already!! LOL!! My latest one is Debtor's Anonymous.
Think I have a slightly addictive personality? Sigh.....
posted on March 5, 2001 08:41:47 AM
Hi Non-Smokers! Guess what - it does get better! I woke up at 2:45 a.m. and wanted a smoke so badly that I actually went around and checked every pocket of every piece of clothing I have. Thankfully, I came up empty handed. I officially took my last drag at 4 p.m.ish on March 01st (the one I found in the van).
For the first time since then I actually woke up this a.m. without that overwhelming craving. Maybe I'm through the withdrawal stage? It just feels different today. I feel completely in control again... WOW!!!
I stumbled across a great passage that I could relate to and maybe some of you will too:
To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.
For the first time since I put the cigs down fear isn't in control. I'm trying to re-focus my thoughts toward the future and how life will be as a non-smoker instead of worrying over what I think I've lost. I hope this helps someone else. And thanks so much for helping me through the weekend rut. I warned y'all I'd be whiney if I quit smoking. LOL
posted on March 5, 2001 12:11:34 PM
Rocker/yadda/chepi/mybid/snowy/boots/anyone else - KEEP GOING.
It matters not if you fall off the horse... what matters is if you pick yourself up, dust off your butt and get back on. Hate to tell you how many times I've fallen off this particular horse and a bunch of others.
PROGRESS not perfection.
and in honor of HJW, who said she likes this saying:
Every day is a new day.
I'll try to check in again later, need to go to the post office
enchanted
PS we were out of icecream but I ate one of my Aussie candy bars and the Sopranos were great
posted on March 5, 2001 12:54:20 PM
hi all! Just peekin in to see how you all are doing! I don't like people very much today so I'll be on my way soon...
rocker
"Think I have a slightly addictive personality? Sigh....."
I'm more the obsessive-compulsive type ~ I guess Atlantic City would not be good for us?
mybid
You sound GREAT!!! (must have been your "aquatic activities last night, eh?)
"I warned y'all I'd be whiney if I quit smoking"
LMAO! I don't remember being warned but I'll be happy to supply the cheese for the next few days....keep going sweetie!!
enchanted
LMAO! Sorry about the ice cream. I hope you enjoyed the Sopranos enough for all of us! teehee.
"dust off your butt and get back on"
I just keep climbin back on the horse! I'm still working at this. I have no fingernails left. I think I am going to the loo about an average of every 10 minutes from all the water I've been drinking. I'm still sweating out the nicotine. very attractive sight NOT!!!
nutspec
thank you for all of your encouragement and BEH's! smooooooch!
rhonda
"Do you smoke after sex?"
"I don't know ~ I never looked!"
There are very many good smoking jokes out there, are there? After five years of bartending you'd think I'd have something better than that ~ sorry
BTW, not to get too personal, but is anyone else experiencing the "smelly feet" side effect?
{{{hugs to all}}}
posted on March 5, 2001 01:48:08 PM
Hello my friends, Chepi, Rocker, Mybid, Boots, Snowey, Yadda and anyone else I may have forgotten. I am glad you are all back on track.
Now we have established that no one wants to stop smoking, but everyone wants to break the habit. From what I can see everyone is on the way to breaking this nasty old habit. You know even after 4 months I still wanted to smoke, so I think it is a long time before we are able to say that we do not want a smoke. But the day does come when you do not think about it all the time and that is the day you have broken the habit.
Rocker, okay so you fell off the horse, but you didn't bolt with it, you keep coming back to this group. That says a lot.
It tells me you are ready for this major step in your life, you just haven't quite realised it yet. LOL You know you should be proud, because even if you cave in at night (that was always my downfall, smoking at night), you are not smoking during the day that takes real effort. Keep going because you will win this battle and victory will be yours.
Rhondalee, HAVE SEX AGAINLMAO
Hi Enchanted, you are doing a wonderful job for team morale.
[ edited by nycrocker on Mar 4, 2001 11:48 AM ]
I feel like I'm hanging on by the tips of my fingers... The panic is really starting to set in. I'm trying to tell myself to take it by days instead of thinking of it as forever. When I think it's forever then I seem to freak about that... Forever is *$#%*@ FOREVER! I'm staying under the covers as much as possible so to speak today. I thought I would be through with the nicotine withdrawals by now but today is the worst yet. I can't seem to concentrate on anything except thinking that a cigarette would make it stop. I went to the grocery store and I think every person I saw was smoking... I hate that. Then I came home and cleaned the kitchen and found my favorite ash tray. I thought they had all been thrown away. Just looking at that stupid ash tray had me in tears again. I still think if I can get past the next day or two I'll have a chance of quitting for good this time. I'm sure the tapes will help me get back on track once I get past the withdrawals. It just seems pretty overwelming today. Tomorrow HAS to get better. 
D'oh!!! When I was smoking, if I realized I didn't have a match, I would look around for someone with a light or a lit cigarette, and NO ONE on the street was smoking, it was as if I were the only one!! NOW that I'm trying NOT to smoke, EVERY freakin person I pass on the street has a cig. Now WHAT is up with that?!?!?!?
Sounds like you want us to be responsible for our actions ~ does that mean we have to grow up, too 
[i]I looked up Wellbutrin, and under
Okay should I just pick a new date and start all over again? Cos I am not doing well here.
