Tammy's Quit Smoking BLOG - Again

Pics

2006-09-12T05:41:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone... It's nice to put a face to my new quit smoking friends.

Here a resemblance of Fred. Hi Fred, don't give up on me.

Here's Jo. Hi Jo, I hope you're doing well in your quit.

Here's Peg. Hi Peg, you have been such an inspiration to us all. I'm so thankful to still have you here with us.

Hurray for Jo...

2006-09-11T05:38:00.000-05:00

Good job Jo and good luck.

Thank you for the picture. I will post them later today.

I'm doing ok I guess. I had a rough weekend but I'm hanging in there. I'm just sleeping a lot.

I have to get ready for work so I'll post more later.

Hugs to all.

Oh Fred....

2006-09-09T18:31:00.000-05:00

What am I going to do with you. You are such a man. : )

I know what you're say'n...Shit or get off the f'n pot. You're right! You're a little rough but you're right.

I don't want you to waste your time here...I just need some support. I think I need to stop whining though. Let's see if kicking myself in the ass will do it.

Fred, I don't remember. How long did you smoke? Do you think that I want to quit but I don't have what it takes? Is it easier for men then women?

I was thinking...Everyone send in a picture so I can do a group picture post. What do you guys think? Lets have some fun with this. I want to see what everyone looks like so we can put a face with the words.

Send them to ttetrault1@verizon.net.

Love ya guys!!!

Made it another day

2006-09-09T05:22:00.000-05:00

I read your comments Fred and Peggy and I know you guys are right. I wish I could just get rid of the patch and deal with it for a few days and be nicotine free. I'm afraid!

I do want to do this and I am strong but it's not easy. What keeps me going is thinking about how I was coughing and hacking the day and weeks before I quit.

I was very worried last night. I had thoughts of buying butts but I knew that's not what I wanted. I went to bed instead. The sleep helps but I can't do that forever.

I have to do it this time. I'm sure I don't sound strong...I guess I'm not as strong as I thought I was.

This is life changing...Most people I know smoke. I can't go out on a Friday night and have a drink because I know from experience that I will smoke. I have to figure out what the heck to do with myself.

I'm 43 and getting divorced, my daughter lives with her boyfriend and has her own life. My son is 17, a senior and has his own car now so I hardly ever see him. All my friends have small kids and a husband so they have their own life.

I'm not having a pity party I just have to figure out what to do with my new smoke free life. I'll figure it out.

Thank you guys for being there for me. Reading your comments this morning made me feel a lot better about what I am doing for myself. You guys are awesome.

Feeling Much Better Today

2006-09-08T14:51:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling a lot better today and I'm sure it's because I haven't had any caffeine since breakfast.

I am worried about the weekend though. I'm not sure what to do tonight. I know if I go out and have even one drink I will smoke. If I sit at home by myself I'm going to have a pity party and probably go get smokes.

I need to come up with a plan.

The only fool proof plan is to sleep I guess.

Whew!

2006-09-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

I made it through yesterday without smoking. I feel so much better today. I think part of my problem yesterday was I had too much caffeine and it made me very edgy. I have to watch that.

I really didn't have any cravings this morning. For now... The key is to get to bed as early as I can. This weekend is going to be a test. I have to keep moving or sleeping or both.

My lungs feel so good today. I make myself visualize the way I was coughing just before I quit. I never want to go back there...Ever.

The plan today is no more caffeine and walking when I can. I took a walk yesterday and it helps so much.

Exercise, very little caffeine, eat healthy and lots of sleep. I have to keep saying that to myself. When I feel weak I need to pick one from the list.

Having a Tough Day

2006-09-07T14:26:00.000-05:00

I'm having a hard time today. I'm not on the verge of smoking but I'm having bad withdrawal and just a plain bad ass day.

I'm having a very hard time sitting still and I can concentrate.

Rob (he's the other quitter at work) seems like it doesn't even bother him. What's up with that?

I think it'll be easier when I get home and can move or go to sleep.

Day 2

2006-09-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

I left work yesterday and was planning on going home and getting a lot done. I got home, took Ruby out and was in bed by 7 and slept all night. I'm so glad. It's easy to fight a craving when you're sleeping.

Peggy, I wanted to thank you for keeping the group together. You are such an inspiration to us all.

Fred, You are so right about the reasons for quitting. I quit on 1/1/06 with you guys but I wasn't really planning on it. I was approached by about.com to quit and do the blog there. If you can remember I had a very hard time. This time I'm quitting for me, for my health and for quality of life. I don't want to hack and cough any more or smell like a dirty ashtray. I'm tired of this addiction controlling my life. It's all the right reasons to quit.

Fred, I look in the mirror as see a person who is disgusted with smoking. A person that is taking control. I am in control!!!

Jo,
You can do it. 5 cigarettes a day??? You are almost there. I'm glad you picked a quit date. You go girl!!! We can do this.

Peter...You're awesome. I'm so glad you are still smoke free.

I'm glad you guys are here with me. It was an unexpected pleasant surprise.

I can't believe how much better I'm breathing just on the 2nd day. My cough is better although I know it'll get worse soon before it goes away. I do feel like I'm hyper-ventilating a little some times. It must be all the fresh air.

Almost through the first day

2006-09-06T15:35:00.000-05:00

I've had some struggles today but got through them somehow. The thing is I don't even want to smoke...It's just getting through the withdrawals and physical cravings.

I like to post a pic of my Mom...She gives me strength. Some that have read my other blogs already know this but my Mom died a year and a half ago from a massive heart attack. I know that had she not smoked for 50 years she would be with me today. I miss her very much.

As I posted earlier, my daughters grandfather has lung cancer. He smoked for 55 years. While I was there I visited with a lot of family and my uncle Matt has emphysema and is on oxygen 24/7. They all smoked and are dying because of it.

It helps me to remember what smoking does to us. It's so easy just to light up and not think about it. I HAVE to think about it. We all do.

Wish me luck for tonight. The first night is tough. My co-worker said he's going to smell me when I get in to make sure I'm not smoking. : )

I'll have to take Ruby for a walk tonight and hopefully get a good nights sleep. As I immerse myself in the first day of not smoking the memories are coming back to me. I remember having trouble sleeping for the first couple weeks. Then I remember sleeping too much.

My patch will be on my nightstand tonight so it's waiting for me in the morning. I'll probably do more posting tonight. I always post a lot when I first quit.

Nice to hear from you.

2006-09-06T12:07:00.000-05:00

I just read the comments from my last post and it is so nice to hear from you guys again.

Fred... Sooooo happy that you're still smoke free. Way to go!

Jo, I hope you're there with me. I was a few days late but I'm here.

Hi Peggy...All you guys are such great support. Welcome to all new comers. Lets quit this freakin addiction once and for all.

I was coughing so hard this morning on the way to work I pulled a muscle in my chest. If that doesn't tell you to quit I don't know what will.

Hang in there everyone and welcome to my new smoke free blog.

Hugs,

Tammy

Okay, I was a few days late!

2006-09-06T11:02:00.000-05:00

I quit today - 9/6/06

I'm not feeling very well. I feel light headed tired and confused. I started with the 21 mg patch.

I know it will get better after the first few days. Right now I just want to go home and go to bed. I'm going to try and stick it out for the rest of the day.

There are 2 people at work that are quitting also. It will help a lot knowing that I'm not doing this alone and I have support at work and at home.

My daughter Heather and her boyfriend Rocco are supposed to be quitting also but I haven't heard if they have actually quit.

I've done this so many times that I know what to expect and once I get through the first couple days I will feel a little better.

I always get very tired when attempting to quit so I need to make sure I get a lot of rest.

This has got to be the last time. I can not go through this again. Next time it will be an illness that makes me quit instead of a bad cough and I can't let that happen.

3 and half days until my quit

2006-08-30T11:49:00.000-05:00

I just go back from a trip to western NY where I grew up. My daughters gradfather (my first husbands father) has lung cancer. How sad it is to see someone that was so strong and so full of life be a mere 115 pounds and needs help getting dressed, all within a few months.