Quitting smoking...

we haven't spent about £130 grand on fags since we gave up. However, for some reason, I can't seem to find the money we saved......

Easiest way to give up smoking? Have a CT scan like I did three months ago that shows a large bulla (hole/space) in my left upper lobe, multiple smaller bullae (holes/spaces) all over both lungs, fibrosis in both lungs and emphysema in both lungs. I have smoked for less than 20yrs, usually 20/day.

Trust me, when you have a doctor apologising for breaking "such bad news" via the telephone due to circumstances beyond his control instead of in person, you'll give up there and then!

So, your choice, stop now and don't go through what I'm going through (shortness of breath, in a wheelchair, attending respiratory clinics etc) or say "Sod it" and carry on smoking......

I used to rationalise it to myself that grandmother/grandfather both smoked and lived into their 90's *but* what I was turning a blind eye to was the fact that my father died of lung cancer aged only 5yrs older than I am now. I am an idiot!

Given the chance I'd never have started (only did after the death of my father....as the yanks say, "Go figure!").

I gave up mainly through fear of dying sooner rather than later, and using nicotine lozenges and the inhalator. It has been easy! Very easy! In fact, I've tried three or four times in the past but always ended up cheating with a crafty one every day/second day and never lasting that long, couple of weeks maximum.

The smoking cessation service in your area might help, best of all they'd get your nicotine replacement therapy on prescription for you to save money, but here's a money saving tip anyway; Morrison's own brand nicotine lozenges are identical to the Nicorette ones

Good luck and trust me, when you see the attitude change in the CT scan staff and you *know* they've found bad news you'll wish you'd given up years ago! Don't put yourself through this......

Cold turkey doesnt work for me as so many of my mates smoke and when your down at the pub... or the ace... its just really hard to say no.

E cigs don't really address the root cause, addiction to nicotine. You are still getting it albeit in a less harmful way.

It functions as an antiherbivore chemical, being a potent neurotoxin with particular specificity to insects; therefore nicotine was widely used as an insecticide in the past, and currently nicotine derivatives such as imidacloprid continue to be widely used

Toxicology

The LD50 of nicotine is 50 mg/kg for rats and 3 mg/kg for mice. 40–60 mg (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) can be a lethal dosage for adult humans.[10] [11] This makes it an extremely deadly poison. It is more toxic than many other alkaloids such as cocaine, which has an LD50 of 95.1 mg/kg when administered to mice.

The carcinogenic properties of nicotine in standalone form, separate from tobacco smoke, have not been evaluated by the IARC, and it has not been assigned to an official carcinogen group. The currently available literature indicates that nicotine, on its own, does not promote the development of cancer in healthy tissue and has no mutagenic properties. Its teratogenic properties have not yet been adequately researched, and while the likelihood of birth defects caused by nicotine is believed to be very small or nonexistent, nicotine replacement product manufacturers recommend consultation with a physician before using a nicotine patch or nicotine gum while pregnant or nursing. However, nicotine and the increased cholinergic activity it causes have been shown to impede apoptosis[citation needed], which is one of the methods by which the body destroys unwanted cells (programmed cell death). Since apoptosis helps to remove mutated or damaged cells that may eventually become cancerous, the inhibitory actions of nicotine create a more favourable environment for cancer to develop. Thus nicotine plays an indirect role in carcinogenesis. It is also important to note that its addictive properties are often the primary motivating factor for tobacco smoking, contributing to the proliferation of cancer. At least one study has concluded that exposure to nicotine alone, not simply as a component of cigarette smoke, could be responsible for some of the neuropathological changes observed in infants dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).[12] It has been noted that the majority of people diagnosed with schizophrenia smoke tobacco. Estimates for the number of schizophrenics that smoke range from 75% to 90%. It was recently argued that the increased level of smoking in schizophrenia may be due to a desire to self-medicate with nicotine. [13] [14] More recent research has found the reverse, that it is a risk factor without long-term benefit, used only for its short term effects.[15] However, research on nicotine as administered through a patch or gum is ongoing.

Wasn't there a huge long thread about this?

This one

What about the electronic things do theese work for a social smoker?

I find it hard to resist after alchohol, which classes me a smoker lol. During the week I feel no desire to smoke, wake up on sunday hangover and sore throat.

Any one in the same position as a drinker/smoker?

Go outside with the smokers, enjoy the banter, 'enjoy' the smell of their fag smoke (I still do), but use your e cig

My biggest tester was with some people on here earlier this year, at the SpaItalia event and I managed not to smoke.

I still have nicotine, but I'm not wheezing or coughing like I was when smoking and haven't touched a fag for just over 8 months

with out sounding silly, does any onethink this is all in your mind??

i mean, you just WANT to smoke.. not actually NEEd to smoke?

or am i just going crazy?

I find it hard to resist after alchohol, which classes me a smoker lol. During the week I feel no desire to smoke, wake up on sunday hangover and sore throat.

Any one in the same position as a drinker/smoker?

All you need is a serious reason to make the committed decision, as it's not something worth playing at, you just have to properly decide to quit.

Smoking and drinking together multiply the risk of esophageal cancer.

Smoking and drinking together multiply the risk of esophageal cancer.

My e-Cig pack arrived today.... having sucked on JBT's (go on, open goal here ) on Monday, I decided to take the plunge (another open goal). 58 years old this year, still playing reasonably competitive sport and coughing for England every morning.

I have given up before, but always regressed. This kit gives me NO excuse. The novelty value is cool, doesn't taste too bad and hopefully my house won't smell like a 1970's brothel so much

Wish me luck,



Tim

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I think the true inspiration for me was when Theresa quit.
If she can do it then anyone can.

Bloody hell Theresa, you have saved so much money (theres also the health bit) well done! I'm on day 32 of quiting, I used patches and the spray (gave me awful hiccups). Wish i'd done it years ago. This is my second day without any replacement therapy, suffering from slightly higher anger levels but the chaps at work have had it easy for too long anyway so a bit of a shake up can't hurt

Why do smokers want a fag when they are stressed? Does it relax you?

Does help but smoking is a depressant don't forget.

36 hours ago...