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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sebastian on February 22, 2004, at 14:56:31
I've been smoking for 10 years, since 16, I'm 27 now. How do you quit smoking and still be successfull at work, and not get bad anxiety. It happens every time, no matter how long I've quit. I actualy get mentaly ill more than when I smoke, much more. I take so many prescriptions already. Wellbutrin, celexa, zyprexa. But none make me quit, I even chew the nicotine gum some times. I still can't successfuly quit smoking. I don't even smoke that much, 1/3 of a pack a day. Help!!!
Posted by Lllucy on February 22, 2004, at 21:15:17
In reply to Nicotine addiction - help!!!!!, posted by Sebastian on February 22, 2004, at 14:56:31
Hi Sebastian,
Nicotine addiction can be extremely tough to kick, but it is possible. I had failed many times before I figured out that I had to do enough soul searching to figure out why and how I kept sabotaging myself, psyche myself ahead of time, put an entire arsenal of supports and aids in place, and commit to making it THE most important focus of my life for a time. Have you talked to your pdoc? Your meds may need to be adjusted once you quit. Chewing NRT gum once in awhile is not going to help...you have to follow the directions and stick to the recommended program. A support group can make a big difference, if possible find one that is lead by a doctor who has experience. And there are support groups on-line too - one I found especially helpful is "quitnet.com".
Let me know if you'd like more ideas. This is a subject I have a lot of experience with! I smoked for 15 years, had been quit for 10 years when I relapsed. After years of trying again, I successfully quit smoking just over 2 years ago.
Lucy
Posted by caleb96 on March 21, 2004, at 13:42:35
In reply to Nicotine addiction - help!!!!!, posted by Sebastian on February 22, 2004, at 14:56:31
Sebastian:
This is a tough one. The only way you can quit is just make up your mind and do it. You have to do it, nobody can quit for you. Talk to people who've quit, stay away from smokers, stay away from bars, chew gum or use mint. You have to develop a hatred for tobacco, think of the 200+ million people in the US who don't smoke--tell yourself you want to be like them. Visit hospitals and comfort the people who've had a lung removed, or part of their throat or face-- people who are breathing their last breaths through a plastic tubes--I guarantee it will scare the bejesus out of you. Tell yourself you don't want to end up like that--if you stop using tobacco, odds are you won't ever develop any problems with your mouth, throat, or lungs.
I once lost 7 pints of blood--the average male has about 15 pints--it was a horrible feeling, I was gasping for air and my wife was struggling to keep me conscious. When the EMTs arrived they put me on oxygen but I was still having trouble getting enough oxygen. At the hospital they gave me transfusions but I was still breathing through a tube. I was like that for two days--it was a terrible experience. Think good and hard about that--that's how people with lung cancer or emphysema spend the last months of their lives. It's a living hell. Morphine might kill the pain but the levels needed put the victim to sleep.
Before he died of throat and lung cancer in 1985, the Oscar winning actor Yul Brynner established a foundation to support victims of throat and neck cancers. He also made a TV commercial that was to be played after his death. I still remember that commercial; Yul starts out by saying something like "I'm speaking to you from the grave...." He ends by saying firmly "You MUST stop smoking, you MUST stop smoking...." It was a very powerful ad. So think of the future, what you're risking--and people die young from smoking too--I had a friend who died at 40, his wife had just given birth to a baby daughter. But he'll never have the chance to see her grow up.
Friend, all I can tell you is you MUST stop smoking, you MUST stop smoking.
Good Luck,
Caleb
Posted by Sebastian on March 22, 2004, at 12:00:17
In reply to Re: Nicotine addiction - help!!!!!, posted by caleb96 on March 21, 2004, at 13:42:35
How about chewing tobacco, what does that do? Especialy if you just swalow it, with minimal chew. Is it bad for you intestin. I read that stomack cancer is the least likely.
Posted by caleb96 on March 25, 2004, at 7:07:01
In reply to Re: Chewing tobacco Nicotine addiction - help!!!!!, posted by Sebastian on March 22, 2004, at 12:00:17
Sebastian:
Tobacco in any form is bad. Chewing tobacco and snuff deliver MORE nicotine to you body so don't go that route. It will cause cancer (oral, throat, etc.) just like any form of the weed. Chewing tobacco is full of carcinogens--especially nitrosoamines. This is not a viable option. If you must get a nicotine fix, use the patch or nicotine lozenges. Wellbutrin or another dopamine reuptake inhibitor might take the kick out of any form of nicotine and help you QUIT.
See you doctor for help.Mike Tierney
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