I smoked my last cigarette

[Mikkel]

Yep thats right, I smoked my last smoke at 8.30pm and have decided to go cold turkey and give up. I have had this habit for 17 years so for me this is a HUGE issue. I have reflux (for those of you who don't know what this is, it means that my stomach produces too much acid and therefore I have constant heartburn and I'm sick quite a lot). My smoking and excess coffee intake has irritated my reflux to the point where I have been sick for the last week and I have decided enough is enough.

Good on ya! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you down here...


Regarding the reflux - have you had a proper diagnose on it? It's quite important that you keep it in check. If you don't and the reflux gets out of control (and this is not to be an alarmist but I know people it has happened to) it can increase your risk of getting cancer in the asaphogous (sp?) and it's NOT pretty.

I got diagnosed with a hiatus hernia back one and a half year ago and got a prescription for some pills called Nexium 40 mg. (Getting the diagnosis is a bit nasty - they put a gastroscope down your throat...)

Anyway, by training my core stability and maintaining a relatively good level of fitness I'm symptom free today and I don't take the pills except for when it comes on. So you can beat it if you get at it.

[Midnight Special]

Good on you , id like to give up i just dont want to give up and you have to want to give up to give up !

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Go Chicky.


You can do it if you want it bad enough. And I recon you do. You could be like me one day. I gave up many years ago now I can have a few one day and not smoke again for months. it is great.
You go girl.

[Edbear]

Some good comments here! Good on you! While I've never smoked, I was addicted to prescription painkillers and it was a living nightmare to get off them!

One thing that may help is my own pet peeve with smoking, the attitude of the manufacturers. Cigarettes are one of the few products which when used as intended will kill you in one of the most horrible and painful ways there is!

I've seen smokers die of cancer, and it's not just the lung cancer,(try suffocating, only in the most painful way you can), but imagine having your throat and face chopped away, losing your voice box and being horribly disfigured before you die. Can't speak, can't look at yourself in the mirror, can't eat, you can imagine, right? Throat and mouth cancer are common.

The tobacco companies couldn't care less how you suffer and die, they just want your money! About 25 years ago, they tried Nicotine-free ciggies. They flopped as no-one liked them. It's the Nicotine that keeps you hooked so the manufacturers lace them with as much as the law will allow to keep you addicted. In lands without strict laws on quantity and advertising they push the limits to hook more people, younger, and stronger. These guys are true murderers and make my blood boil! It's no different from someone torturing and killing another, worse because they do it to make money from their victims!

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I gave up smoking 11 odd years ago... best thing I ever did, now I can afford to ride... (especially with the price of petrol)

Stick at it... you won't regrette it...

It's not all that hard, I did it dozens of times before I finally gave up!

You know how funny that sounds... "its easy I don't it dozens of times..."

[yungatart]

Boom tish.

And, hmm, Stickchick is definitely not a homo...

Are you sure..I mean, she does like men!
Well done SC!
We will see you in a few weeks- when the grumpiness has passed!

[BarBender]

Good on ya and good luck with the next few months Stickchick.

[Skyryder]

Hang in there! My wife gave up about 13 years ago - did it cold turkey too... Still doesn't smoke. Had a few friends who've given up fairly recently - the big thing that they've noticed is all the EXTRA $ CASH in their pockets! Now there's some motivation for you.

And the sex is better too.

Skyryder

[imdying]

NOBODY LIKES A QUITTER!

[Stickchick]

And the sex is better too.

Skyryder

I'm curious....why do you say the sex is better?

[kiwifruit]

Good move Jody.
Giving up is pretty easy i've found. It all changes post 10 standard drinks and a mehsion however... thats when you'll really want a fag

[imdying]

I'm curious....why do you say the sex is better?

Because even without doing any extra exercise your level of energy and fitness goes up, meaning you can pound away longer, and harder

[Stickchick]

Because even without doing any extra exercise your level of energy and fitness goes up, meaning you can pound away longer, and harder

Great!!!!!! That gives me more incentive then

[imdying]

I think the food tasting better bit is bollocks, but that's just imho, taking deeeep breaths without wheezing, that however is worth the price of entry

[Stickchick]

Well I'm halfway through today and to be perfectly honest, I'm not finding it that bad, Yes I'm having cravings but I'm managing to make myself busy (reading KB, doing crosswords etc as I have no work) until they pass. I'm assuming that it does get harder?