Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:19 am Post subject: Yet another attempt.
Today is the first day that I am into my no-smoking campaign. Last night I found it rather difficult to get off to sleep, and awoke early this morning. I have been up since six a.m. and although so far (it is now almost 08.30hrs), I have resisted the "urge" to roll up a ciggy.
I have, however, munched my way through a cold sausage, a Scotch Egg, half a tube of Polo Mints, two mugs of tea, and all this time catching up on other Blogs and News Sites.
I shall be getting dressed, shortly to pay my usual visit to my local market.
I do have some packs of filter tips left, also a brand new, unopened pack of tobacco.
I wonder if I will have the unopened pack of tobacco left by the time I go to bed tonight?
I'll try to keep you posted with regular(ish) updates, as to my progress or lack of it.
I am also posting these updates regularly on Newsvine, as I have joined a "Quitters" Group there, and have some virtual support from other Members.
_________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
Well done Sandie, I know of someone who got tablets from the doctor, mind you she lives in scotland so maybe they get more stuff than we do, I know when my OH gave up years ago how difficult it was, Have you tried the patches _________________
I am now into my fourth day without the dreaded weed, and I have to say that last night and so far this morning, it has been very hard.
Not because I crave a smoke you understand, I am not "craving" them, hardly even thinking about smoking, but I am certainly suffering "withdrawal" symptoms.
Sweating, slightly shaking, coughing and retching, vivid dreams when asleep, flatulence, you name it, I seem to be suffering from it.
Let me tell you, people, going through "Cold Turkey" from tobacco is almost as hard as coming suddenly off prescription tranquilsers, or going cold turkey from illegal amphetamines. How do I know this?
Because I have been there in the past, and know just how unpleasant stopping any drug that your body has grown used to, either because you have been prescribed it or scored it yourself illegally.
It makes no difference. Tobacco is a "legal" drug, but there, it is a "drug", your poor body and mind become so used to it, a smoke is just so "comforting", and reassuring, now the world suddenly seems much emptier and colder, a very dark, unfriendly place to dwell.
My body "needs" a nicotine "hit", so does my mind. I look longingly at the still unopened pack of hand-rolling tobacco on my bookcase, and imagine myself picking it up, removing the outer cellophane wrapper, and opening the flip-top box, removing the pack of fifty free papers that always come with a half ounce of "Amberleaf". Lifting out the inner pack and removing that outer cellophane wrapper.....(they always like to make sure that your poison comes to you as fresh as possible).
"Open Carefully" it reads, between the graphic pictures and messages that tells you just how bad for you smoking is, full of dire warnings that tell you "Smoking when pregnant may harm your baby", or "Protect your kids, don't let them breath second-hand smoke".
Somtimes there is a grim over-blown picture of some poor sods lungs, or teeth, all broken and discoloured, and the "piece de resistance" is that picture of the poor guy who is sporting a droopy mustach that looks like a throwback from the sixties or even earlier, then your eyes travel downwards and you see his throat and neck (or rather what's left of them).
A mass of putryfying rotting fleshy rolls of skin, the picture looks like it belongs to one of those Victorian "Black Museams", from the late Nineteenth Century.
Anyway, you open carefully, and smell that wonderful tobacco smell, you breath it in, and savour the moment, before transferring it very carefully to your carrying pouch.
Then the "ritual" of skinning up and lighting up, you inhale deeply and blow the smoke back through your nostrils.
Ah, Bliss!
This pleasure I will now have to forego for the rest of my life, it will be hard, but I am fully determined.
I was talking to lady I know yesterday who was telling me about her father. He stopped smoking suddenly when he was sixty-one, with the money he saved, he re-newed his Passport, and visited quite a few places that he had always wanted to go to, including America.
Sadly, he died in his seventies, of Cancer, but not however, smoking related.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life, I have already "saved almost £12, (about $9), and I have only just started.
Sandie it's not only the things you mentioned, today we went to visit my Sister -in-law and her Husband,both are not in good health,but my Brother-in-Law is a heavy smoker, we were only with them for about a hour in which time he had smoked three cigs, I felt like a smelly old ashtray by the time we left, I had to change my jumper when I got home it just smelled so bad, and you are right all that money going up in smoke what a waste _________________
Joan, except for a couple of "rough moments", it really hasn't been so bad.
I did a "medium" food shop today, and carried two full canvas shopping bags back home.
Yes, I did get a bit out of breath, but nothing like I did even a few days ago.
Apparently it only takes a couple of days to eliminate the toxins from your body, and, here on the evening of Day Four, I am feeling quite good. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
Day Six has dawned, and it's getting easier by the hour. I have now had another sound night's sleep, and woke up feeling good.
At this rate, I shall soon be able to take my packs of unused filter tips back to my friend's stall down the market, where I initially bought them from, and give the unopened pack of Amberleaf to my elderly neighbour who would really appreciate it. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
Day Seven dawned Bright and Sunny. I know this because I was up with the proverbial lark to see it.
My cough has all but vanished, and my sense of smell has returned. I can walk about again, and although I still get a bit "puffy", it's nothing compared with what I was like only a fortnight ago.
I cannot believe that just stopping smoking for only seven days can really make such a difference. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
It was that "health scare" that did it for me, Ken. I do not want a repeat of it, after all, when I go to Northumberland later this Spring, I am supposed to be going out "Hill Walking".
My friend is almost nine years older than me, and she can still do it, mind you, she has never ever smoked in her life. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
Well, if I'm honest, I have been really suffering these past couple of weeks. My breathing became very bad again, so much so, that I could hardly make it to the shops and back.
I was forced to sit on a bench, just to try to "catch my breath", and to force myself to put one foot in front of the other.
My cough has returned, a different type of cough this time, not the "smokers'" cough I had before I stopped.
I hit my two months milestone last evening (it's gone by very quickly), and if I am honest, I feel a lot worse than ever I did when I was smoking.
But, I am not giving in, and shall "stick it out" and try to be patient by thinking that my poor body is "working overtime" just to try to restore the balance and begin the healing processes.
Maybe a visit to the doctors is needed Sandie you sound like you may have an infection, and a few tablets will put you right, I know I don't like going but sometimes it's the only way let us know how you are feeling _________________
Thanks, Joan, first I need to register with a doctor, my last one was "stuck off" by the GMC for "outdated medical practices" (he kept his patient's files the old fashioned way, by hand, and could not (or would not) use a computer.
I think you are probably right, that I have some sort of infection, the aftershock to my system for suddenly stopping nicotine, no doubt. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
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