Cold turkey and lung cancer - Smoking Cessation Message Board

bellagee · 03-23-2009, 05:50 AM

Hi everyone, after 5 unsuccessful attempts at quitting, I am going to attempt again. Hopefully I will have the strength to quit forever. I am a pack a day smoker and I am starting to feel the effects after smoking for 23 years. My question is - is it 'safe' to go cold turkey after smoking so many years? I have heard that the lungs get used to nicotine and sudden withdrawal can actually cause lung cancer! Any thoughts on this?
thanks!

Liamsmom · 03-23-2009, 07:48 AM

As far as I know that would be a no. I quit cold turkey after smoking a pack a day for 25+ years and I'm grateful to say it's the best thing I've ever done. Apart from the weight gain I have to say no problems. It is really hard the first week sucks big time and you don't feel magically better after the 72 hours it takes for the nicotine to leave your system. It takes about three monthes before you'll start to feels better. But I have to say I can make it up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing even being a fatty I do it quicker than some of the smoking super models too. The benefits aside from not dying from lung cancer are, you'll smell better, you'll save money, you'll taste your food, and you won't have to add as much salt so you'll lower your blood pressue. Those are at least the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

I won't lie IT IS HARD work probably the hardest thing you'll ever do but you'll wind up breaking your own arm patting yourself on the back when you succeed. It'll be three years for me in June if I can do anyone can. Give it your best shot what do have to lose

bellagee · 03-23-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liamsmom

As far as I know that would be a no. I quit cold turkey after smoking a pack a day for 25+ years and I'm grateful to say it's the best thing I've ever done. Apart from the weight gain I have to say no problems. It is really hard the first week sucks big time and you don't feel magically better after the 72 hours it takes for the nicotine to leave your system. It takes about three monthes before you'll start to feels better. But I have to say I can make it up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing even being a fatty I do it quicker than some of the smoking super models too. The benefits aside from not dying from lung cancer are, you'll smell better, you'll save money, you'll taste your food, and you won't have to add as much salt so you'll lower your blood pressue. Those are at least the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

I won't lie IT IS HARD work probably the hardest thing you'll ever do but you'll wind up breaking your own arm patting yourself on the back when you succeed. It'll be three years for me in June if I can do anyone can. Give it your best shot what do have to lose

Dear Liamsmom, thank you for your reply. And well done - 3 years without a ciggarette is fantastic.
You are right - it is hard work and I feel like a complete failure yet again. I had my 'last' ciggarette before I went to bed and threw away the remaining ones left in the pack. I woke up this morning feeling anxious and depressed - so much so that I was hyperventilating. I attempted to go through the morning without a smoke and then I then ended up going to the corner store to buy a new pack. I feel so guilty and disgusted in myself. I couldn't even last a day. I can clearly tell that my body can no longer function as well as it used to and despite that I had to have a smoke. How did you deal with the temptation in the first week of quitting?

Liamsmom · 03-24-2009, 09:25 AM

I stayed in for a week. I was actually physically ill from quitting and that's why I call it hell week. The depression is very normal and so is the anxiety. What your going through is very normal you just have to decide you can get through it without the cigs. Evey time you have a craving do something else I cleaned alot, I called friends on the phone, I sucked on root beer barre candies, I took care of any and all tedious tasks that would require my intense concentration. A fact is most people try to quit at least three times before they succeed some can do it cold turkey some need some help theres nothing wrong with using a quit smoking aide as long as the desire is there it can be done. Just keep trying and cut yourself some slack quitting is REALLY hard.

Good Luck keep coming back here.

bellagee · 03-25-2009, 05:43 AM

Thank you so much Liamsmom for the tips. I've made an appointment to see my doctor in a few days to ask for assistance as well. I have now set my quit date as Monday 30 March. I will let you know how I go. Take care and all the best.