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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kristi on September 17, 2001, at 20:13:09
Hi kiddo,
Ugh... how are you doing with this????? I did great my first 2 weeks... of course I was in the hospital for one(I had that surgery) then off a week. I went back to work last tuesday.... the day from hell....
I only had one..... one the next day, one the next day, now this morning I bought a pack. I also felt tremendous guilt and bought a pack of that nicorette you spoke of and am planning on trying again tomarrow. Damn... I wish their was a way my mind could stop this whole craving thing......... I put myself thru hell one day, smoke the next, feel guilty, smoke, quit..... go thru hell again, smoke again, feel guilty, quit.............ergggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.
Posted by Jane D on September 17, 2001, at 23:19:54
In reply to Sar-- Given into smoking, posted by Kristi on September 17, 2001, at 20:13:09
> Hi kiddo,
> I only had one..... one the next day, one the next day, now this morning I bought a pack. I also felt tremendous guilt and bought a pack of that nicorette you spoke of and am planning on trying again tomarrow. Damn... I wish their was a way my mind could stop this whole craving thing......... I put myself thru hell one day, smoke the next, feel guilty, smoke, quit..... go thru hell again, smoke again, feel guilty, quit.............ergggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.Kristi - Believe it or not this is the way I quit. It took me months and months of this kind of thing - in fact I broke down every single day. But I have been a true ex smoker now for a couple of years. Don't think that your smoking now is a failure to quit. Think of it as succeeding at Stage One. I found a few things helpful. One was to switch brands to something similar but not identical to what I usually smoked. Another was to avoid buying packs for myself. I would bum cigarettes and buy the packs for the people I bummed from. Not to hold for me but as a gift. Good luck. - Jane
Posted by Kristi on September 17, 2001, at 23:55:02
In reply to Re: Keep at it » Kristi, posted by Jane D on September 17, 2001, at 23:19:54
Thankx for your response. I don't feel bad at all smoking just one a day... it's just the "finality" of it right now that makes it difficult i think.... never having something again type of thing. And bumming them off of people is a good idea. That's what I did.... but then I had a day off at home by myself.. today, that's when I went and bought a pack and pretty much smoked it all.
Thanks for the encouragement tho.... a big part of me is just like "okay, you can't do this ... don't stress.... just smoke and don't feel guilty about it".... but your right... maybe for me it's just going to be a "process with hopefully the end result being a non smoker. Congrats for you,.. I would have never imagined this being so difficult!!!! But your right... it's too soon in the game to give up. Thankx
> > Hi kiddo,
> > I only had one..... one the next day, one the next day, now this morning I bought a pack. I also felt tremendous guilt and bought a pack of that nicorette you spoke of and am planning on trying again tomarrow. Damn... I wish their was a way my mind could stop this whole craving thing......... I put myself thru hell one day, smoke the next, feel guilty, smoke, quit..... go thru hell again, smoke again, feel guilty, quit.............ergggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.
>
> Kristi - Believe it or not this is the way I quit. It took me months and months of this kind of thing - in fact I broke down every single day. But I have been a true ex smoker now for a couple of years. Don't think that your smoking now is a failure to quit. Think of it as succeeding at Stage One. I found a few things helpful. One was to switch brands to something similar but not identical to what I usually smoked. Another was to avoid buying packs for myself. I would bum cigarettes and buy the packs for the people I bummed from. Not to hold for me but as a gift. Good luck. - Jane
Posted by sar on September 18, 2001, at 0:40:39
In reply to Re: Keep at it » Jane D, posted by Kristi on September 17, 2001, at 23:55:02
Kristi,
i've smoked probably about 10 cigarettes in the past 3 weeks. it's when i visit austin that i cave in--beer and good flood flowing, feeling good about this boy feeling carefree, *everyone* smokes there.
nicorette is really helpful...but i thought your doc didn'teven want nicotine in your body? i still slap on a patch every morning and keep the gum to alternate with regular chewing gum.
i'm trying not to feel guilty about it...i don't really...10 in 3 weeks? normally i'd smoke 10 in 10 hours! so i think i'm doin all right.
and i agree with Jane's advice: bum. i like her idea of buying people packs of cigs as gifts. i haven't done that, i don't feel guilty bumming from my friends 'cos i've always been *the* smoker, the one who always had cigarettes and shared them.
let's keep it up at a slow pace, eh?
i think i told you this before--the trick that works for me is visualisation. i imagine how my face will look at age 60 if i keep smoking...it's really so much tougher on woman than it is men, the wrinkles voice etc...ya got any vanity? now is the time to use it!!
do you think it's easier to not make that "forever" pledging type decision, but the whole AA one-step-at-a-time philosophy? i try not to think about it too much, but obviously i've given into my 10 strongest urges.
i do want to be a complete non-smoker one day...but also when i'm 75 and vacationing in france, i'd like to smoke some cigs at a cafe. i'd like to drink champagne and smoke on new years.
are you still with the herbals? mine smell like weed so everyone is all suspicious of me! they taste horrible, but they do satisfy that puff-puff urge.
hope you are well,
sar
Posted by kregpark@yahoo.com on September 18, 2001, at 3:53:01
In reply to Sar-- Given into smoking, posted by Kristi on September 17, 2001, at 20:13:09
I'm 34, smoking lightly (about 4 Carlton's a day last 10 years, and 19-23 maybe
1/3 pack a day Merit.Anyway I quit about 6 weeks ago. I think it's in large
part due to 2 things.
1) I decided to.
2) I started taking Provigil (first with Serzone,
but then without, added to Nardil and Klonopin,
about 2 months ago. Provigil feels more like
Wellbutrin (Zyban) or generic name bupropion,
the quit smoking antidepressant/stimulant than
any other psychotropic I've taken and I've taken
most all of them. Although Provigil has been
at all anxiety provoking like Zyban. They both
boost self confidence for me though when added in.I treat my social anxiety with the 3 in combo.
My website is new and at :
Check it out!!! :) Its pretty good.
Good luck - ever tried Provigil? Dopamine
enhancement like cigarretes do, but sustained
(not up and down like cigarrettes, and safe too.)Also high dose caffeine can help, not nearly as
good though, but does cut craving for me.> Hi kiddo,
>
> Ugh... how are you doing with this????? I did great my first 2 weeks... of course I was in the hospital for one(I had that surgery) then off a week. I went back to work last tuesday.... the day from hell....
> I only had one..... one the next day, one the next day, now this morning I bought a pack. I also felt tremendous guilt and bought a pack of that nicorette you spoke of and am planning on trying again tomarrow. Damn... I wish their was a way my mind could stop this whole craving thing......... I put myself thru hell one day, smoke the next, feel guilty, smoke, quit..... go thru hell again, smoke again, feel guilty, quit.............ergggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.
Posted by Krazy Kat on September 20, 2001, at 16:05:08
In reply to Sar-- Given into smoking, posted by Kristi on September 17, 2001, at 20:13:09
> Hi guys! Not to interrupt your support here, which is great, I just felt like confessing since fluffykitty had done so below.
Haven't smoked since college, but for about a month I've started again. I don't smoke a lot, but I think it's a real surprise to hubby and something I had not ever planned on doing again.
The reason? I had a craving. Also, I figured it might help me not drink, and it has.
Is this just discouraging? I think I was trying to be helpful. :)
- K.
Posted by Kristi on September 21, 2001, at 9:23:45
In reply to Sar and Kristi - started smoking, posted by Krazy Kat on September 20, 2001, at 16:05:08
It is helpful. How did you get thru the "quitting" part?????? It's hard to know you can still have that craving years later. People that have quit 10 years tell me they still get cravings. I've been doing good this week. For you.... it helped you drink less alcohol. Is that because you knew if you did.... you would want to smoke? I feel that way about eating. But I had an eating disorder when I was young. But I always smoked after I eat. I hardly ever eat now.... cuz I don't want to fight that urge. That's not good.... I only weigh 107 as it is.
Thanks for sharing. Kristi
> > Hi guys! Not to interrupt your support here, which is great, I just felt like confessing since fluffykitty had done so below.
>
> Haven't smoked since college, but for about a month I've started again. I don't smoke a lot, but I think it's a real surprise to hubby and something I had not ever planned on doing again.
>
> The reason? I had a craving. Also, I figured it might help me not drink, and it has.
>
> Is this just discouraging? I think I was trying to be helpful. :)
>
> - K.
Posted by Krazy Kat on September 21, 2001, at 10:05:51
In reply to Re: Sar and Kristi - started smoking » Krazy Kat , posted by Kristi on September 21, 2001, at 9:23:45
> It's all kind of intertwined, isn't it? I didn't have a problem stopping smoking for some reason, but have a strong addiction to alcohol.
And when I started smoking again, it was as easy as it was before, no coughing or hacking. ;)
AND, I'm fairly thin right now, because I just came out of a depression, hardly ate at all, and I'm sure subconsciously I'm smoking because I want to stay that thin again, which is Ludricrous I know.
Why can't we control our leetle minds better? :)
Thanks for the comments.
Good luck!
- K.
Posted by Kristi on September 21, 2001, at 10:12:51
In reply to Cravings beget cravings..., posted by Krazy Kat on September 21, 2001, at 10:05:51
> > It's all kind of intertwined, isn't it? I didn't have a problem stopping smoking for some reason, but have a strong addiction to alcohol.
>
> And when I started smoking again, it was as easy as it was before, no coughing or hacking. ;)Yah.... I don't think I've coughed once when I quit, I was expecting to hack my brains out. I've come to terms with not feeling guilty about what I do..... I smoke one in the morning(that's when I have the biggest craving) and one at night. Sort of get's me thru the day. So I'm smoking 2 a day for now... would like to get down to zero... but for now, it's working for me. Still good.... 2 compared to a pack and a half a day?
> AND, I'm fairly thin right now, because I just came out of a depression, hardly ate at all, and I'm sure subconsciously I'm smoking because I want to stay that thin again, which is Ludricrous I know.
Ludicrous? Yes. But also human nature. Who wants to gain that ten pounds? I sure don't. Now question..... that only happens when you replace smoking for food correct? Or is it regardless? Cuz that I can control.
> Why can't we control our leetle minds better? :)Tell me about it.....
> Thanks for the comments.
>
> Good luck!You too, kiddo.
> - K.
Posted by sar on September 21, 2001, at 13:09:42
In reply to Re: Cravings beget cravings..., posted by Kristi on September 21, 2001, at 10:12:51
krazy kat--
i laughed when i read that you'd picked up smoking to help you quit drinking; i've been drinking more heavily in an effort to stop smoking!
kristi--
good for you, 2 a day! that's discipline...i've been giving in recently because i've run out of patches and gum, haven't had a chance to replace them. i bummed a Newport from a woman today and really enjoyed smoking it (also smoked a bunch of Kamels last night with heavy-smoker friends)...i've held back from buying smokes and don't want to binge like last night (but we were discussing very serious things) (what rationalization!)...i'm so sick of the herbals, they are gross...
i haven't coughed either! do a feel a bit healthier, don't feel the need to brush teeth as often...
sar
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