Last Dec 4th 2006, I had my last cigarette. As per doctor's orders, I either stop smoking or be "under ground" in 2.5 years. After 7 doctor visits during a 3 month period from breathing problems, along with X-Rays, perscriptions for inhalers, etc. etc., it finally sunk into my thick skull. Stop smoking or it stops my life. There's no middle ground on this one. So, I quit "cold turkey" last Dec 4. Although, I did use a package of nicorette gum during the holiday season - when things got too stressful.
For those of you who have family, friends or co-workers who want to stop smoking as well, here's my 1 year lessons learned:
- Cravings & Widthdrawl: For month 0-1, it was brutal. The widthdrawl symtoms were unbelievable. Many times, I would have emotional explosions and physical reach for my pockets. Same pockets I used to keep my cirgarettes in. The cravings would hit me like a huge tidle wave. For moth 1-2, the widthdrawl symptoms were less. But when I least expected it, a craving would knock on my door. For month 3, the cravings / widthdrawl symptoms were as bad as the first month. Very demanding and very tempting to go back to smoking. Month 4 to 11 were easy. The odd craving but it was only 1/2 as bad as month 3. Month 12 was as hard as month 3. It must be "the cravings" one last attempt to pull my mind back into the dark side. And yes, I won every battle. Been an ex-smoker for 1 year. Or should I say, "been a non-smoker for 1 year".
- Change of smell: Since quitting, the "smeller" in my nose has become super sensitive. I can now smell a parked vehicle (with its engine off) and tell you if its diesel or gas, I can smell someone who is smoking behind their house (re: they don't smoke indoors), I can smell if some smokes in their own vehicle and I can smell my dog. My dog smells so bad, I had to kick it outside. Smelling "wet dog" inside our house was too much. It either stays outside or its gone. And, when I work outside my home, I can smell what my wife is cooking inside. Yes, even the side dishes she's cooking with the main plate. Amazing how much better my "smeller" has become.
- Change of taste: Since summer, I now love eating spicy foods. Also love ice cream (which is very bad for my Type 2 diebetis) and I love frozen popsickle sticks. Before, this stuff was just food. But today, my taster loves these foods - like a kid who loves chocolate. Funmy in a way because chocolate now tastes "too sweet" to me. I can only eat a mini-chocolate bar and that's it. Guess change of taste is due to change of my "smeller". Many doctors say these 2 senses are linked.
- Change of body weight: Overall, I probably added 25 lbs. So yes, my body looks like my avatar picture. Doctors call this TEMP "weight gain" a side effect from my stop smoking. Since adding the 25 lbs, I've dropped 5 lbs this month. For long term, these extra lbs will be removed. And, I will continue to lower my body weight via extra long nightly walks with my family's dog. We (the dog and I) walk 2 miles every night. As stated, this extra weight gain is only a TEMP side effect. Back to my ideal body weight under 2 more years.
- No more pnemonia or sinus problems: Since quitting, the 3 inhalers ontop of my fridge have been sitting there "collecting dust". Didn't have to use them since last Dec. And no "walking pnemonia" after a common cold either. I got a head cold last April and it was gone within 3 days. (yes, gone in 3 days) Usually, my head colds last for 12-22 days and sink between my ears, down to my throat, onto my upper lungs and within days, I got walking pnemonia again. Since last Dec, NO more doctor visits for breathing problems. And, last April was the only time I got a cold. Before quitting, I'd always felt congested - which I would assume the many bugs were being trapped by my plugged nose. Plugged from "too much" pollution - from my previous smoking. In a way, one could say I've been "cold-less" since quitting. Which is a great thing.
- Change of breathing: Before, I would run up 1 story set of stairs to answer the phone and the person who called me felt I just ran a 10 mile run. That's how much "gasping for air" my lungs were doing. Now, I can run, jump and still win a basket ball game against my son. And at night, no more wheezing. Before, it was like I was breathing through a thin straw. I would wake up and think to myself "who is that poor person in the same room gasping for air". Then, I'd realize that I was the only person in the room. Talk about a shock of reality. Today, sometimes I have to purposely force my body to take "less breath". Yes, purposely slow down my own breathing by taking less deep breaths - because my lungs are starting to hyper-ventilate. Especially when I lay down in my lazyboy chair and am near my "quick nap" sleep state.
- My lung pain is almost gone. Some say that lungs do NOT hurt. Regardless, the pain between the back of my right lung and back is 99% gone. Before I quit smoking, it felt like someone was stabing me in the back with a sharp knife. Especially after I had a cigarette (which meant it was lung related).. X-rays don't show visable damage but my doctor feels that some lung damage was done. Or, my right back area wouldn't be in so much daily pain. Since quitting, that pain has gone down and down each month. I still feel this pain (maybe 1 day in 7) but each week, the pain is less and less. Which is a great thing as well.
** Going forward... Even today, I would like to have a cigarette at the end end of a long stressfull day. Like many, I "love the action of smoking". But I know my body cannot have another cigarette again. It's pollution was (and will) kill me. Today, I no longer like its "pollution" smell either. In a strange way, I will miss smoking (the "action of it") but that part of my life is now behind me. Like they say.... "Been there, done that and do NOT want to do that again". Time to move on and "enjoy a longer life".
I have been quit for 1Y 1h 9m (365 days). I have saved $4,015.52 by not smoking 7,300 cigarettes. I have saved 3W 4D 8h 20m of my life. My Quit Date: 12/4/2006 10:50 AM. For many famous folks who continued to smoke, surf bottom of: www.tobacco.org/Misc/losses.html
Keep up the good work Spike ! I'm about 7 mounths ahead of you being a non smoker and it get better . My weight has stablized And the last cold I got only lasted 1/2 as long
Spike that is something to be very proud of...I gained weight also but I decided Iwould take one thing at a time and just didnt worry about the gain....
Congratulations and keep up the good work gang. You all are doing great!!!
This coming March 22, it will be three years for me. No weight gain to speak of because I've been an Atkins follower since 1997. I did develope Hashimoto's Thyroditis and put on 14 lbs but took off 5 of them.
Spike--Your quit smoking story is great and so well said. I'm going to send the video to some friends of mine who are fighting the quit smoking battle. Thanks for posting this, Joyce
