Since I quit... - Smoking Cessation Message Board

velveeta · 02-18-2008, 08:35 AM

Just want to share how I feel since I quit 11 months ago. Within a week of my quit, my awful, really awful cough ceased! This was such a relief to me as I thought such terrible thoughts about that cough. When the cough stopped so did the terrible thoughts of death. Who knows, I may still die of smoking related causes but at least I am no longer contributing to them. I laugh more and my laugh sounds different than before too. My voice has actually changed to some degree also. When I laugh really hard now I don't go into one of those coughing fits either. I sleep better at night and have not been sick with anything since I kicked the butts, like those colds that seem to hang on forever. My sons are very proud of me. I have even gotten my husband to quit and one of my sisters and her husband also. In some small way I feel as if I have inspired some to quit. And no I did not nag them!! No amount of nagging made me quit. I was ready! My lung capacity has increased alot. I go to the gym now and can do things that were not possible when I smoked. I gained a few pounds but can shed them just as easy as I shed those cigarettes. I posess power that I never knew existed but was always there. Just tap into that! If you really want to quit you all will do this when it is the right time for you. Just never give up! I always thought I would die with a cigarette to my mouth. Not gonna happen now and I am thrilled at that. It is not always an easy journey but I promise you will get to a place that will make you happy that you stuck with the quit. This board and the folks I met on my journey played a big part in my quit too! Hang in there everyone, I know you can do it. I smoked 35 years an average of 1 and a half packs a day! You are stronger than you think you are!!

Reyne · 02-18-2008, 10:36 AM

I so agree with everything you said velveeta! I am a quitter of 1 1/2 yrs. I was a die hard smoker, I was NEVER going to quit. Now I cannot imagine myself as a smoker. I love not hacking, smelling and being a slave to the smokes. And best of all this winter, I am not freezing my a$$ off to have a smoke.

I can promise all of you it will get better!! There will come a day when you do not even think of smoking. You do not have to worry about if you can smoke here or there. The withdrawls you are going through will go away. You will and can live smoke free.

Get help if you need it, do whatever you need to and stay quit. Treat nictotine for what it is a drug. You can beat this, there are two of right now on this board as proof!!!

Good for you velveeta!

GeorgiaGirl404 · 02-18-2008, 11:41 AM

Congratulations velvetta, you are an inspiration!

Today is my 11th day being smoke free. I have smoked way too many years. Never thought I could make it this long but I'm hanging in here.
Do you remember how long it took before your energy level increased? It feels so good not to wheez and smell like a dirty ashtray. My only negative so far is I want to eat more.

Oh well, I will deal with that later.

velveeta · 02-18-2008, 05:58 PM

My energy level, it gets better by the month but the best I felt was about 5-6 months into the quit. I had alot going on while I was quitting. My mom died 5 days into my quit and I had a hysterectomy 2 months later and hormones were all crazy. I got everything worked out pretty good now. I actually feel fantastic. I go to the gym 3-4 days a week and have started to change my eating habits. Eating more frequently and making better choices and totally cutting out some things, I am slowly moving the scales back down. I take no meds other than a hormone patch and some creams, and also take vitamins. I want to keep it that way for as long as I can. Between quitting and changing my eating my energy level is better than it has been for a long time. I am 50 and feel pretty darned good! I hope you all feel just as good!!

Reyne · 02-19-2008, 08:14 AM

velveeta-
Wow you over came alot after your quit. Sorry about your mom that must of been hard and not having your usual "crutch"..you are strong.

I did have a question about your hormones. Did you have hormone problems after your quit? I am 37 and for some reason I started having pelvic & groin pain. After a year of pain killer, every MRI, CT Scan, Bloodtest and about 15 Doctors, I finally have some relief. I am on the Lupron shot which shuts my system down to menopause. They are thinking estrogen/endometriosis is the cause.

I am wondering if it had to do with when I quit!? Any reason for you to think the same?

Once again...I admire what have been through and still smoke free!!!!