The first morning of my nicotine withdrawal is gray, gloomy, chilly, and it's pouring rain. Half asleep, I make myself a cup of tea. I should probably avoid my morning tea, since my waking ritual involves a big mug of tea and three cigarettes to replace the nicotine I've slept away. I figure giving myself a caffeine deprived headache isn't going to improve my craving for a cigarette (or three) so I make the tea and take my morning Zyban.
Last night at midnight, watching Betrayed with Deborah Winger and Tom Berenger, I smoked what I hope will be my last cigarette. It didn't even taste that good and indeed, made me hack quite a bit.
The Zyban seems to be helping. I would like a cigarette, sure, but I'm not frantic. I just keep telling myself to think of something else and keep my hands moving, typing. I might actually get some creative writing done today.
OH LISA I'm so proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!
Try the patch too... and make a goal to spend that $5 a day on, nice new Coach purse maybe?
Good luck! I'm going to be thinking of you!
Posted by: holly | October 27, 2007 at 07:43 PM
Lisa, at 61, moi still has her little puffs on the patio. I have no lung thing gorn awn. I am just grabbing a few when I can stand the weather. Husband # 2 did it with unfiltered camels and preferred his merry-otherthing. He coughed. I never coughed. Genes and weather and stress and immune system are factors. It is not an easy deal. I have done the patches and the nicorettes. To my body they feel like poison. I am not your example as I still dilly-dally. I am the only person in the state of Cally-fornie who still smokes... even on the street. I had my rebel bloom later in life. Quien sabe. & Buena Suerte my friend. Is Loretta trying to stop before her trip? I am agog at Ronni for staying stopped. merde on toast pointes.
Posted by: moi | October 27, 2007 at 09:48 PM
John does not care if I smoke, you have your dear daughter. I have my dear parrot who is just as sensitiff. Also, my Virginia called moi tonight to say that sweet lilly had rolled 2 feet off the bed where they were sleeping. Ah, oui, I assured her that all of us have berry hard heads and if there is no wide pupills, knot to wurry. The dad is ovseseef,bornpusiff. So we will not inform hymn a cette pointe, as miss Lilly is okie-dokie. Just a bit grumpie as to bean awakened to discover if she was injured. Pah de toot. and stop wurrin. is what I told her. So, Lisa... doughnot wurry, as to your child and husband... maybe wurry about your inlaws. Merde a pointe on toastie post. as you know a riff.
Posted by: moi | October 27, 2007 at 11:40 PM
Dear john stopped at berkeley, however he has never gotten into my space about it. It depends on the individual's choice to take the step. It is not about anybody except toi. Know what I mean? xxoomoi
pee ess to all you non-smokers, just take a brake from the cheer-leading mode. For sure that does so knot werk. Letter alone.
Posted by: moi | October 27, 2007 at 11:44 PM
Lis, I am soooo proud of you! I am positively delighted and ecstatic!
I have a suggestion for some of that manic energy you spoke of potentially having: clean everthing. Wash all of your clothes, towels, linens, anything fabric at all. Steam clean your carpets and upholstery. It will help in two ways, you won't have as much of the smell aroud to tempt you, and hopefully after being rid of it for a while, you'll go back to the state of hating the smell. That has always been one of my brother's downfalls when he quits, he'll be doing very well and then pulls out some coat that stinks of smoke and he gets cravings and gives in.
I know smoking is a very expensive habit, but I had no idea it was that expensive! That is astounding! Think of all you could do with even a portion of that money.
I truly wish you so much good luck and willpower and ease in the transition.
Love ya, Broad!
PS: Use whatever help you need to. Sorry if this is rude to your friend, but cigarettes are the poison, any temporary crutch to help you eliminate the poison from your life is a good thing.
Posted by: Darr | October 28, 2007 at 07:51 AM
I am so proud of the effort you are putting into getting rid of that nasty habit. I am not sure that I have ever told you this BUT:
I took my first cig at 10. Was I hooked?? Good Lord it's not like smoking crack! But I puffed away acting so cool. Man was I a COOL 10 year old!
By age 16 I was inhaling and knowing I was one cool chick!
By 40 I was so damn tired of puffing and feeling like a smokestack that I began to resign myself to accept death. I figured if I kept smoking I would be dead by age 50. I was up to three packs per day and could not do anything without a cigarette. I didn't even need a lighter because I lit from cig to cig.
In January 1992 I called my DR and asked for a prescription for the patch. I began by making my mind up that I would ONLY smoke the cigarettes that I was aware of--that cut my usage down. Everytime I lit a cigarette I took time to ask myself WHY I was smoking it. Then I threw away ALL my ashtrays with the exception of one. I finally decided that I was going to smoke my last cigarette at 11:15pm the night of January 20, 1992.
The next morning I got up and could smell the ashtray next to my bed. I took it, a whole pack of cigs, my lighter and a trashbag---out to the dumpster. I came back in the house, got a cup of coffee, took a shower, threw on the 21mg patch and popped a lemon drop. Long story short--never smoked since.
2 weeks on the 21mg patch
2 weeks on the 14mg patch
1 week on the 7 mg patch
1 year on lemon drops.
I HATE LEMON DROPS! THAT WAS EASY TO STOP.
I am proud of you, Lisa, and I know you can do it!
Posted by: Beth | October 28, 2007 at 08:14 AM