Author Topic: Given up the 'Cope  (Read 14721 times)

Son of Pappy

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Given up the 'Cope
« on: November 21, 2012, 12:09:51 AM »
Been 72 hours since my last chew.  2nd morning woke up with the shakes and feeling sick.  First cup of coffe tested my will.  I'm using the 2mg gum to help.  I'm thinking the next week will be better than the last 3 days as rumor has it the chemical addiction is broke after 72 hours. 
The why?  I love my wife and to show solidarity I decided to join her (she has COPD) as she has no choice.  I was rather blunt and cold, I told her this is the last time I quit and I expected the same from her.  Wish us well and I would ask, is there anyone else out there who wants to give it a shot?  Jay???  I'm already decideing what farkles to buy with the money I save.  New panniers for the GS, new battery for Silverdammit, and a trip south for me.  All it needs to do is cut back on the rain, 2 inches a day is a bit much for a 4 hour ride each way.

Offline Walker18

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2012, 01:47:43 AM »
Good for you and your SO, Chet!! The money is a great motivator, as the savings will add up quick! Just keep that money separate from all other monies,
it's a motivational thing.. As for myself, a recovering pack and a half a day man, I'm saving close to 10 bucks a day here in SE Pennsylvania. It's been
67 months, 4 days, and 15 hours, 11 minutes to date since I quit, not that I'm counting... And a whopping savings of $20,145.00 as of today.
Now, that's MY money. I can go back to smoking anytime, BUT I have to fund it by selling off my toys.. That's just not going to happen.
I've grown rather fond of my toys, and nobody can play with them except ME. minemineminemineminemine.. This is my reward for quitting the
hardest habit. Leaving the wicked friend. What a bitch she was. I'm fatter, healthier, and my knee, that just would not recover fully after serious surgery,
to finally heal to almost pain-free. The doctor told me that's because I quit the cancer sticks. My house, oh God, my house smelled like an ash tray, and I never
knew it, 'cause I couldn't smell it until I quit. After a few weeks from quitting, I had all the carpets and furniture cleaned, called all my family and friends
that didn't smoke, and apologized to them, admitting that I never knew what they put up with when visiting me at my home. I cleaned all my clothes, coats, jackets, blankets.
I painted my entire interior, what a coating that damn nicotine leaves on everything! Sold my truck, bought a new car and financed it with just the savings.
As for me, no cancer showing up yet, knock on wood. This is personal, but it needs to be shared. I hope to hear your story of success, and your final good bye
to your and SO's habit. Sorry for carrying on, but this testimony is good for the soul, and a reach out to all who may need a helping hand out of the
trenches of tobacco dependence.

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Offline Conrad

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2012, 04:48:10 AM »
Keep strong Chet!    :thumbs:

Both you and your wife are giving up the chew?    :o
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Offline Toxz Qwaste

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2012, 07:14:01 AM »
Thanks to both of you for sharing. I quit smoking cigs years ago and went for a good time without the weed. I started smoking for a short while after my divorce and then switched to chew and then snus. My lungs feel good but my mouth is taking a beating. Amazing when you do the math. $20,000+ savings in 6 yrs buys alot of cool stuff but the health benefit is the real prize. My dad had COPD and other heart trouble but wouldn't (couldn't?) give up the cigs. I believe continuing to smoke after developing these illnesses took him sooner than otherwise. A few days ago my son, 8 yrs old, asked me what I was putting in my mouth and I told him "adult candy". He asked if he could try one. I said no and he asked why. I did not give an answer. I need to quit.

Offline Scaffolder

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2012, 07:31:30 AM »
Great job guys!!! It is such a horrible habit. TOBACCO in any form.
This May will be my 20th smoke free anniversary. I started smoking between 9 and 10 and during that second quarter of my life I pushed them to 2 and a half packs a day. Nasty-nasty. I would smoke 7-8 cigs before punching in to work. I now can't even figure out how I smoked that much, but I think it surprises anyone after they quit. I spent the first 3-4 weeks very sick and almost gave up. Somehow managed to pull it off.
So congrats to anyone to free themselves from the biggest burden I ever broke free from. Stay strong!!!!
Joel from Maine.

Offline Outback_Jon

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2012, 07:56:11 AM »
Both you and your wife are giving up the chew?    :o
I was thinking the same thing.

After reading it in print in your post, I got the mental image of a couple of teen lovers swapping their gum when kissing.   :rotflmao: :pukeface: :rotflmao: :pukeface:  Can't decide which smiley works better for that image.
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Son of Pappy

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2012, 08:35:43 AM »
Thanks guys!!  No, she is/was a butt sucker.  I think her biggest challenge will be the little $20 casino night.

Gonna see how long I can hold out today without chewing the gum, I slept better last night and didn't wakeup in a puddle of sweat this morning so everything is indeed getting better.

Toxz, join in the pain and suffering, misery loves company ;D

Offline Cholla

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2012, 09:53:54 AM »
Hang in the Chet!
Ya gottawanna in order to quit.
Dad cold turkeyed after 60 years of Pall Malls...only after the doc said he had emphysema.
He lasted 8 years after that but the last few weren't worth living.
I wish you and the wife the best of luck.
You can do it!
Beware the Black Widows...Feared throughout the land!

Offline ZG

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2012, 09:56:39 AM »
Good luck Chet!
 
FWIW I've found that in the first couple weeks (at least for me) that doing the patches and the nic gum together seemed to help fight the craving the best. I would always wear the strongest strength patch and then in moments of craving chew the strongest strength nic gum. Doing one or the other never seemed to be enough nic for me, but I do chew quite a bit, odds are if I'm not eating or sleeping I have a chew in, I go through about 10 cans a week... The toughest times for me were always during the morning coffee, after eating, and drinking beer, which are obviously tough things to avoid.  :(
 
I found that having something big as a motivater mentally is the way to go, at least for me. The longest I ever quit was when I bought my Carrera Turbo, I told myself that if I bought it I would quit and I did, everytime I felt weak I'd just go for a drive in that car or even just hang out in the garage with it and that helped me big time mentally. After I sold that car though I somehow stumbled back into it...  :-\
 
I wish ya all the best bro!  :chugbeer:
 
Gumbi chewed for quite some time too and kicked it a while back, he might have some insight on what worked for him.
 

Offline wally_games

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #9 on: November 21, 2012, 09:58:25 AM »
Good luck, Chet.

My last smoke was Aug. 27, 1980. That was the day before my first child was born. That was my motivation to go "cold turkey".

Wasn't as hard as it would have been if I had waited until today. I was still young and the addiction wasn't as strong. I wish you both well.
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Offline Necron99

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2012, 10:36:40 AM »
Good on ya!
Do not go gentle into that good night.
-Dylan Thomas

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Son of Pappy

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2012, 10:51:21 AM »
Thanks again guys, my biggest motivator?  Incentive for the misses to stay off the butts, I wanna keep her around as long as possible.  COPD is a disease of her making and quitting is nothing more than a means of slowing things down a bit.  Nothing can be done to reverse the damage but we can at least delay when she goes on the bottle.  I'm thinking of converting a fuel cell holder on the panniers to an 02 holder for our trips into the woods :)
I did 7-9 cans a week since I was 15ish, quit 3 times for a year each, quit smoking back in 85, never went back to that.  This WILL be the last time I quit, the only thing that would put me back would be for my wife to start smoking again, nothing sucks more than quitting daily, each and every morning.  Yes, I am using this as leverage for her to stay off the smokes and yes, I would use this as a HUGE guilt trip should she start again.  She's my best friend and I will do anything to keep her around as long as possible, the world needs more Mona's.

Offline sherob

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2012, 01:35:44 PM »
Congrats and good luck!   :)

I quit smoking the day of my back fusion, 1/9/2012... box of Marlboro 100's a day at least.  I missed a smoke with my morning coffee for a while, then that went away... now don't even think of it.     
Rob
Brighton, CO... missing Texas!

Offline Gumby

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #13 on: November 21, 2012, 01:55:21 PM »
Gumbi chewed for quite some time too and kicked it a while back, he might have some insight on what worked for him.
Yes, I quit almost four years ago now, I don't even think about it anymore. I always thought to myself why am I putting this rot gut crap in my mouth if it really does nothing for me. I know beer is not good for me either but at least if makes me feel better.  :chugbeer:

Ten cans a week?  :nuts:

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #14 on: November 21, 2012, 02:19:45 PM »
I watched my mom die a slow death from COPD and other smoking related diseases.  She never got cancer from it, but dad did.  He died at 45 from lung cancer.  Stop smoking, chewing, whatever if you can.  When I was in rescue I took many a COPD patient in.  Not a pleasant way to die (not that there is one that's not unless it's totally sudden or in your sleep).   :thumbs: if you can.  It's a craving that never goes totally away.  My mom told me she would love to smoke another one and that's being off of it for nearly 6 years after smoking until her early 70's.  But she held off and lived a fairly decent life until about Fall of 2011.

It's funny, though.  I don't hold any animosity (I think I should) against the tobacco manufacturers or the growers.  I just think it's sad all over. :'(
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #15 on: November 21, 2012, 02:25:23 PM »
Yes, I quit almost four years ago now, I don't even think about it anymore. I always thought to myself why am I putting this rot gut crap in my mouth if it really does nothing for me. I know beer is not good for me either but at least if makes me feel better.  :chugbeer:

Ten cans a week?  :nuts:

That's my vice as well, if you didn't already know it.  I love a good drink or two.  Not to excess, but about once a night or maybe more depending on the mood.  It's strange with alcohol, if I'm down for whatever reason, it does absolutely nothing.  I'm an enigma, I think.

I tried smoking a cigarette when I was a teenager and got nothing out of it.  I've smoked one cigarette in 56 years.  Cigars on the other hand (I didn't inhale) I enjoyed quite a bit, especially Cubans.  But I haven't had one of those in years.
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Offline Gumby

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #16 on: November 21, 2012, 02:45:15 PM »
I had a Cuban once, they are much fun  ;D
http://youtu.be/mGKYoYIrAg8

Offline sherob

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #17 on: November 21, 2012, 02:47:02 PM »
OK... there is something to be said about a good Cuban Partagas robusto and a nice single malt scotch.  8)
Rob
Brighton, CO... missing Texas!

Son of Pappy

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #18 on: November 21, 2012, 02:48:22 PM »
So, come on fellas, who's joining in the quit craze?  Jay?  If Gumbi can do it?
I'm doing fairly good today, only on the third piece of gum, cleaned the house, vacumed, did the wood floors, dishes, heck, I even finally washed my dirt boots, they was caked like a clay pot.  Next up?  The dogs need a bath.

Dag nab it, I need a smoke after that vid Gumbi >:( ;)  Nice body art BTW, I sure wish I could hold a paintbrush to help with the cause.

Offline ZG

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Re: Given up the 'Cope
« Reply #19 on: November 21, 2012, 05:30:06 PM »
Mmmm.... Cuban, I love finger painting too, thanks Gumbi!  :thumbs: :chugbeer: