I have mentioned a time or two that I have been wanting to quit smoking. I have done it! I would like to share my story with you and maybe it will inspire someone else to quit smoking too.
I woke up Saturday morning and the first thing I thought of was that I had bronchitis! My son had been sick the week before and I must have caught it. I ended up feeling really rotten and my chest hurt horribly. I had a fever and slugged around all weekend. I had two cigarettes on Saturday. The last one I had Saturday hurt and I threw it out before I even smoked half of it. I went the rest of the day without smoking.
When I woke up Sunday, I figured I might as well not smoke because it hurt too darned much. I went all day Sunday without smoking. I woke up Monday and thought, I am this far into a quit so I had better not smoke today either. It was really very easy compared to other times probably because I was sick so I went with it.
Today is Thursday and I am on my fifth smoke-free day!! I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to smoke. Sure, I have felt withdrawl and have heard "that voice" a time or two. The difference is that I truly do not want to smoke this time. My chest is still in an uproar from the bronchitis and now from not smoking.
I am so excited because I know that this is it! I never want to go back to the smoking lifestyle. I do not want to go outside in the freezing cold to get my fix. I don’t want to go out on a warm summer day and ruin the fresh air by smoking. I refuse to harm my lungs any further. From now on, I will let my body heal and hope I did not do too much damage.
After I stopped smoking, I came across a website called WhyQuit. If you have not been there, go now. It scared the living crap out of me! Sure, I have heard it all before but for some reason this site really made it sink in. It helped to diminish the feelings of withdrawl. Maybe it was my recent birthday that helped me this time. I am not getting any younger…… the time to quit for me is now. I did it and I will never go back. Not one puff, not ever!
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WTG!!!!
I've been smoke free for almost 11 years. I quit cold turkey like you're doing.
You can do it!! So don't give into the urges. Keep going smoke free!
Posted by: Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings | February 28th, 2008 8:26 am |
Congratulations! This is great news, other than the whole having to have bronchitis thing.
Posted by: Ivy | February 28th, 2008 9:44 am |
Thank you Laura and Ivy! I am just relieved to finally have it behind me.
Posted by: KellyBax | February 28th, 2008 10:45 am |
Congratulations, Kelly! I quit about 8 years ago myself, so I know it can be very difficult. You may have cravings for the first year or two, but they'll eventually go away. Be strong!
Posted by: Kathy T. | February 28th, 2008 11:12 am |
Good for you Kelly! It has to be a hard habit to break but every time you feel the urge click on that website…UGH
Posted by: kathylynn | February 28th, 2008 2:15 pm |
Congratulations Kelly on taking back your mind and life. It isn't pleasant looking in the mirror while fully understanding that nicotine addiction is every bit as real, permanent and enslaves the same dopamine pathways as alcoholism or heroin. But a willingness to be completely honest about where we find ourselve just might save our life. Why? It makes the quitting rules simple. It's all or nothing, there is no inbetween, no having our cake and eating it too. It also destroys the need for the giant laundry list of excuses we each invented to explain why we smoke. We smoke nicotine for just one reason, because we must, because our brain's insulas will punish us with a rising tide of anxieties and craves if we wait too long between feedings.
Millions of words, Kelly, but just one rule … no nicotine today! Congratulations again!
John R. Polito
Editor, WhyQuit
Posted by: John R. Polito | February 28th, 2008 5:32 pm |
You go Kelly. With that kind of determination, you'll make it for the long haul and your kids and grandkids will thank you for being around that much longer.
Now if I could just quit CHOCOLATE!
Posted by: Kathy H | February 28th, 2008 6:11 pm |
Congrats…you go, girl! Stick with it and keep us updated. This is great news!
Posted by: Amber Stevens | February 29th, 2008 7:21 am |
Congrats!
Posted by: Sara L. | February 29th, 2008 9:54 am |
Thank you to everyone for your support! I am halfway through my 6th day and am still doing great. I am looking forward to a time where it no longer occurs to me, but I will get there soon enough.
Posted by: KellyBax | February 29th, 2008 10:45 am |
I have bronchitis right now and am feeling awful…but guess what? havent smoked in three days and am never going to again!! Getting sick like this is a pain, but a perfect way to quit, because you so don't want a cigarette. Im finding this bronchitis is much worse than it ever was in the past because of my recent smoking…my chest absolutely kills when I cough…should I be worried.
Posted by: Coco | September 30th, 2008 12:01 pm |