Eons: View message "Newbie " in Kickin' Butts! Group

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Newbie

Hi. I'm Carol, new to the group and smoke free over 72 hours now. Cold turkey.
Decided I had to quit when I saw my doctor Thursday and he asked me twice to
"breathe deep" because he heard nothing at the bases of my lungs. He gave me
antibiotics and aerosols, asked me how much I was smoking, and wrote on my
slip (that I give to the desk people when I leave) "COPD, exacerbation." He never
told me I had it, although as a retired RN, I'd kinda figured that out several weeks ago.
So--I decided that the next day, I would quit. I was down to 7 cigarettes, last pack,
and when I went CT, I had 3 left.
Smoked for 40 years....quit once for 3 months when I got a bad pneumonia, but resumed again because all the nurses I worked with smoked....see what bad is that!
Questions....1) has anyone felt they are on an emotional roller coaster when quitting....like very sad and tearful, then ok? Up and down? 2) I thought one was supposed to feel better once quit....I'm having poor sleep, feeling so tired, no energy, the longer this goes on.
Can anyone honestly tell me it's going to level off and get better? I don't feel like I have any options except to stick with this, but I need to hear that it IS going to get better. I've read that it does, but that seems very far away from me right now.
Thanks!

posted by Tzumomma

Hi,I'm the post right below yours! and YES! It does ease up up tremendously,I can tell you from wnen I quit smoking the first time,that feeling of being like a tightly wound spring or walking a tightrope,Does go away,but the big thing is time,that's what I'm dreading,hanging in there...till it lets up.

posted by xstorm
3 months ago

Thanks for the reassurance, Judy.
Bummer that you relapsed after 7 years clean....I know that stuff happens and we can never really feel safe in our quit.
I've not taken Chantix (it's way expensive and I'm on fixed income) but I've heard very good things about it. Mostly people get bad dreams for side effects, or vivid dreams,
but apparently it works.
I'm sure someone with some firsthand experience here can give you feedback on that.
Hope you'll be thinking on another quit date soon....esp. if your mom passed from lung cancer. That's too close to home!
Best to you!

posted by Tzumomma
3 months ago

Hi Carol,

Welcome and I'm glad you posted and introduced yourself. I also quit cold turkey on January 1st. Yes, it was tough and I had to use every bit of my inner strength to get through it. But just take some time and go back and read some of the things we did to keep from lighting up. There may be something in here that will help you.
My biggest help was cutting straws in half and carrying a few with me everywhere and when I felt the urge to smoke, I just stuck a straw in and puffed away.
But there were other aids people used too. Use our new found experience to help you get through. I promise, it does get easier, but it takes it's time to get there, so you have to be a warrior during the first month.

Debbie

posted by LkeeperDeb
3 months ago

When we went for the acupuncture treatment we watched a video, then they talked with us before the procedure. One of the things that struck me was that the staff told us it was going to be emotional. It's a long term relationship; to be a former smoker you will have to sever it.

Looking at it from that aspect, I wasn't surprised to have slept more this weekend. I've spent more time thinking of endings in my life. The difference is, this one I want to end.

posted by Lollykoko
3 months ago

Nicotine is a wicked-powerful drug. It has been my experience as the nicotine leaves my body, I am up, down and sideways. I cry, can't concentrate, laugh hysterically for no apparent reason and I sleep a lot... for about a week.
Things level off once the drug is out of your system.
Try drinking lots and lots of water (more than you think you can or should) to help flush out the drug.
You'll pee like a race horse, but feel much better soon.
Be well.

posted by cooakers1
3 months ago

Carol, welcome to KB! I applaud you for your quit, and amespecially proudof you for doing it as Deb and I both did - cold turkey. It's the only way I could accomplish my goal, after countless attempts.

I promise you, this will get easier. As is the case with any addiction, recovery takes time, and since quitting tobacco is more difficult than quitting alcohol or heroin, it will require tinme and patience. The effects of smoking won't be completely gone for 15 years, but the body begins to heal within 20 minutes of your last drag. It's a process.

The single most important thing to remember here is that you have to resist the next smoke, and you have to want to quit more than anything else. This is hard work, no doubt about it. But the reward is a longer, healthier life. And a healthier bank account!

posted by ScotFree
3 months ago

Hey, Carol - welcome. I just wanted to help explain WHY you are so "wired". Nicotine is, basically, a suppressant. That's why a smoke "calms you down". When you quit, you are really only feeling your NATURAL levels of emotion, without all the suppression. At first, it seems like you are out of control. You'll learn to enjoy your emotions again, without all the suppression!

No worries, it won't take long to calm down!

Gald you have joined us!