COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
This discussion posting is dedicated to my new friend Purpleiris, and my lifelong friend Lorrie, who is still fighting the battle to quit as well. (Lorrie is not a member of daily strength. Although I did send her the link.)
I know what you are going through quitting those darn cigarettes. I feel so bad for you! The hardest thing I ever did in my whole life was giving them up. Especially since I enjoyed smoking. I liked it all. Opening the package, pulling out the cigarette, lighting it, holding it between my fingers, raising it to my lips and smoking it. That was all my psychological and physiological. Course in my day, every single billboard, all the TV commercials, (remember the Marlborol Man?) magazine articles, Tv sitcoms, the list is endless... they all said if you want to be cool, you have to smoke. So, of course I thought I had to be COOL. oH MY GOSH... WHAT WE THINK WHEN WE ARE YOUNG... foolish, foolish child that I was.
So, let me tell you what I did to break my addiction... You'll laugh I bet.
WEll, this is what I did, I cut straws to the lengths of my cigarettes. I put a few in an empty cigarette pack. I did not actually light them, although I did pretend to. After all that was part of the whole to me. However, that would have been abit much don't ya think? (smoking plastic...yummy!) But, in addition to my straw cigarettes I also used nicotine patches and nicotine gum. (yes, at the same time... I know, I know, that is definitely a no no. Sorry Dr. O.!) The gum tasted awful. In fact it tase like a dirty ashtray. Sounds delishious doesn't it? But thats ok, I would chew a piece of gum and gulp a cup of coffee. In that way I got a flood of nicotine...smoked my plastic cigarette at the same time. I inhaled and exhaled, pure and fresh air/oxygen through my plastic straw cigarette as I did this. I flipped the imaginary ashes into a real ashtray. the whole thing simulated the smoking process. Hey, know what I say? I say do whatever works! So that is what I did!
Now here is the thing... I have never told anyone, ever about my quitting smoking methods but you. (Which how many hundreds of people are on daily strength???) Heck, everyone would think I was crazy...Which of course, I am! Truthfully, I really, truly, did these things. Just never in front of anyone. AND IT WORKED!!!
November 19th, 2007 will be my four year quit smoking anniversary. I tell this story NOW, because if it helps one person just a tiny bit, I will feel I have done a bit of good! Hey, if ya ask me real nice.... I might tell you how I broke my addiction to nicotine gum! nOW...THATS A FUNNY STORY! LOL
On a serious note...to those still bound by the invisible chains of nicotine addiction... I wish for you freedom from its enslavement. I wish for you empowerment once and for all to be painlessly free of this enthralling addiction. If at first you don't succeed...keep trying. You can do it! I have every confidence in you!
God Bless and Breathe Easy...one and all! JoAnn
I know what you are going through quitting those darn cigarettes. I feel so bad for you! The hardest thing I ever did in my whole life was giving them up. Especially since I enjoyed smoking. I liked it all. Opening the package, pulling out the cigarette, lighting it, holding it between my fingers, raising it to my lips and smoking it. That was all my psychological and physiological. Course in my day, every single billboard, all the TV commercials, (remember the Marlborol Man?) magazine articles, Tv sitcoms, the list is endless... they all said if you want to be cool, you have to smoke. So, of course I thought I had to be COOL. oH MY GOSH... WHAT WE THINK WHEN WE ARE YOUNG... foolish, foolish child that I was.
So, let me tell you what I did to break my addiction... You'll laugh I bet.
WEll, this is what I did, I cut straws to the lengths of my cigarettes. I put a few in an empty cigarette pack. I did not actually light them, although I did pretend to. After all that was part of the whole to me. However, that would have been abit much don't ya think? (smoking plastic...yummy!) But, in addition to my straw cigarettes I also used nicotine patches and nicotine gum. (yes, at the same time... I know, I know, that is definitely a no no. Sorry Dr. O.!) The gum tasted awful. In fact it tase like a dirty ashtray. Sounds delishious doesn't it? But thats ok, I would chew a piece of gum and gulp a cup of coffee. In that way I got a flood of nicotine...smoked my plastic cigarette at the same time. I inhaled and exhaled, pure and fresh air/oxygen through my plastic straw cigarette as I did this. I flipped the imaginary ashes into a real ashtray. the whole thing simulated the smoking process. Hey, know what I say? I say do whatever works! So that is what I did!
Now here is the thing... I have never told anyone, ever about my quitting smoking methods but you. (Which how many hundreds of people are on daily strength???) Heck, everyone would think I was crazy...Which of course, I am! Truthfully, I really, truly, did these things. Just never in front of anyone. AND IT WORKED!!!
November 19th, 2007 will be my four year quit smoking anniversary. I tell this story NOW, because if it helps one person just a tiny bit, I will feel I have done a bit of good! Hey, if ya ask me real nice.... I might tell you how I broke my addiction to nicotine gum! nOW...THATS A FUNNY STORY! LOL
On a serious note...to those still bound by the invisible chains of nicotine addiction... I wish for you freedom from its enslavement. I wish for you empowerment once and for all to be painlessly free of this enthralling addiction. If at first you don't succeed...keep trying. You can do it! I have every confidence in you!
God Bless and Breathe Easy...one and all! JoAnn
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
inspirational. Just my secret,
but I love quirky people. So--um, already tried the smoking
a fake straw. I actually liked it for awhile cause I could inhale. Inhaling on cigs opens up my breathing----just the first puff or two---then it does not work and makes me shorter of breath.
Only God knows how much money I have spent on UNsmoked cigarettes. My routine: drive to the store and purchase
cigs, smoke one or two; pour water in the pack and dispose of. My son suggested I just drive to the store and throw
money out the window of my car.
LOL One neighbor suggested
that I throw the cig pack out the window for the homeless.
LOL Another couple of neighbors told me to just give them the cigs. Did this for ahwile, until they kept (and still do) encouraging me to smoke. And this part is not
funny.: I have been to the
hospital twice for nicotine poisoning. First, I put on the patch, then another. Got
deadly ill. Next, I put on a patch, chewed gum, and smoked.
The docs in the ER wanted to send me to the psych for a suicide attempt. My son told them "NO, she is just an ADDICT". How embarrassing and
really stupid.
I am so unstable or oversensitive that any little bump in the road makes me reach
for a cig. I suffer from
Major Depression and pretty
sever anxiety. Right, now I
am only using nic gum. Smoked
a few puffs today and made me
SOB immediately. Think I am having an exacerbation. See pulmonary doctor next Friday.
JoAnn: Thank you for thinking of me and routing for me.
Forgot to mention, I was in
love with the Marlboro man.
Thought he was sexy as all
get out. Married my own
Marlboro man. He died age
48 from Pulmonary failure.
We had divorced because he
was also an abusive alcoholic. Another story, another time. We sure had
some fun in our day, and produced a wonderful son.
(my new catch phrase)