Iron Lungs

[redkamel]

Just curious if anybody here smokes cigarettes and if so, how many a day.

[Sparky]

I currently smoke about a pack a day, but am going to quit soon....and for good this time.

I have a baby on the way and do not want to smoke around the baby.

Plus, I can't really justify spending this much money on smokes with a baby to put through college one day.

Add in to that the fact that having a baby has got me thinking about 40 years into the future instead of a month. I can't justify slowly killing myself anymore.

So my plan is that I will quit on Dec 31st and will put the money I would've spent on smokes into a savings account. If the price of smokes goes up, then so will the amount I put into savings.

This way....if I have a moment of weakness and feel like buying a pack...it will be like robbing my kids college fund. (Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.)

That's my plan anyway. I have quit before, but have always gone back after a period of time.

They say quiting smoking is harder than quiting Heroin. I don't really know because I have never done Herpoin, but quiting smoking is pretty darn hard. But with the proper motivation, I am sure that I can do it.

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-Sparky

[dkiefner]

I was a pack-and-a-half a day smoker. Even did those Red Kamels at one time - wicked.

Anyway, I'm coming up on two years next week - I just quit one day. It is a tough habit to break, but you're better off in the long run.

[Nikon]

Sparky, I just went to my Doctor a few months ago. He asked if there was any chance of me quiting, and I told him not in the immediate future.(I'm at about 1.5 packs a day). He told me that when I was ready to let him know, because there are some pretty good drugs out now to help you quit. If it is real tough for you to quit, you might want to check with your Doctor, and see if he can help. My guess is that the meds would cost more than your smokes, but it would only be a short time cost. I'm starting to think about quitting, but I think I would miss the coughing fits in the morning too much. http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif Good luck in quitting, and with the new baby.

[This message has been edited by Nikon (edited 11-24-2000).]

[CaptSchmooze]

Sparky,
Good luck with the quiting and congrats on the Sparky Jr. http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I wish anyone luck in stopping smoking, fortunately I am just a caffeine addict.

Mikey

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Tights and a cape, the true uniform of a crime fighter.

[204]

My mother quit smoking when she was diagnosed with an activated cancer cell in her lungs they had to do extensive throat surgery very painful the cell has not returned,but only since she quit the day she found out after 25 years i dont know how the heck she did that(must be will to live).My dad is trying to quit now insurance will pay for the meds if your insurance co. is half decent try "zyban" it helped my mom alot.I smoke cigars casually ,and need to stop so I guess i will try to do that soon i have been saying that since age 12 i am 16

[retired]

Hi,
To all of you who smoke, I quit 38 years ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. I have lost three brother-in-laws to lung cancer, all who were heavy smokers, and all were 49 years old and younger. Think about it all you smokers! I know, of course it won't happen to you!

Retired

[redkamel]

thanks for all the responses you guys! Its good to know I wasn't the only one who traded my lungs for that acme bad mitton set (only 8,000 more camel bucks to go!) http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif seriously though, it's a bad habit that has been following me around for a long time. I've been smoking since I was 13 and I am now 24. I just recently graduated from the academy and even more recently got hired on with a department so I think it's time to kiss the little Ba$tard$ goodbye.I start wednesday so that sounds like a good quit date to me. Sparky good luck with quitting too!

[Blue23]

Pack a day for 24 years. Don't enjoy em anymore. Just a mindless addict right now so I'm ready Spark. I'm with ya on the 31st brother.

Let's get through this together. Shifty, you in? Anyone else?

[Sparky]

I'm with you Blue!

I've tried the patch, the gum, and Zyban....none of it worked for me. And yes! I WAS really trying.

I haven't tried the inhaler or the nose spray. I talked with my doctor last time when I tried the Zyban. He asked me some questions about my smoking habits and told me that I was one of those smokers that is addicted two ways. I smoke both to relax and to get "up". (In addition to the physical addiction.) From my past experience at trying to quit, the physical addiction is not so hard to get over. You gritt your teeth a few days, but after a couple of weeks, the physical cravings are about gone.

The doctor said that he had seen folks like me before and that he thought that one day I would just get tired of smoking and would put them down for good.

I think what always got me was the phsychological addiction. And you smokers know how it is, that first cigarrette after a month is SO GOOD!!!

What gets me is that you really have to change your habits. If I quit cigarrettes, then I will have to quit coffee and alcohol. Drinking either of these just makes me want to smoke more.

But, you can't just want to "not smoke"...you have to want to actually quit and stay quit.

Oh well....Dec 31st is rolling around soon.
Letsee, me and Blue are trying....anyone else????


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-Sparky

[Don]

Well I wish I could respond in a positive way to this. The problem is that I enjoy my cigars. I know they are not good for me. I know that they are expensive. I know they stink! But I still enjoy them.

My brother died of lung cancer, and frankly I am worried about it. So why can

[ldyblu103]

Hye guys. I would like to jump in on the Dec 31 quit smoking day. I have been smoking since late teens, hit thirty this year and still puffin a pack a day. Like everyone else I've tried to quit a bunch. Even took the Zyban for awhile, it seemed to be working good for a few days then all the sudden I couldn't sleep, at all, I would be up like 20 hours, get one hour sleep, then be up again. Apparently sleeplessness is a side affect. But anyway, I'll give it another shot. Anyone else??

[redkamel]

Count me in! that will give me a little more time to smoke! http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Dave]

pack and a half a day for ohh about 15 years, that is up till a month ago, was chacing a suspect, after a 20-30 minut foot chace i could not breath right, i also had a real bad chest cold, nedless to say i got an express trip to the hospital. doc told me straight up it is your life do what you want but if you want to quit let me know. next day i stopped cold turky. have not had one since, went to see him and he gave me some stuff to try. and so far like i said it is working.....and thank god dont know why i started in the first place. my house actually smells clean for a change http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Niteshift]

I did the patch and it worked for 4 months. Then I started again........starting with a good Monte Cristo cigar.

About the only improvement was that I switched to Ultra Lights.

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[retired]

As an incentive for those thinking of quiting smoking, Readers Digest has an article that states a study indicates, those who smoke AND drink are more susceptible to cancer than those who do not drink and smoke.

The article indicates that there are those who smoke and never get cancer. But, there is strong evidence that those who smoke AND drink have a greater risk for cancer. In other words, smoking is really not the best thing for your health.

retired

[Blue23]

You gettin in on this shifty? Hate to think the rest of us are suffering without you http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif