Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• June 11, 2008 10:03 a.m.

  I quit 14 days ago...cold turkey. It sure is not easy. I smoked for 25 years. The urges are so strong, I wish they would just go away.(I haven't given in to the urges though) Someone said that they never will go away. This is my first time quitting. Everyday I ask for strength and I eat a lot of jolly ranchers and chew a lot of gum. This is the hardest thing that I have ever done. I have been very irritable. Will it ever get easier? Is the nicotine out of my system by now? Should I take something for my irritability or will that go away? Oh, this is so hard.

  - Tina

• June 11, 2008 9:43 a.m.

  After reading the comments of smokers trying to quit, I came to realize how lucky I am to be here today. On the morning of July 4, 2002 I had a brain aneurysm bleed. Prior to this time, I had been praying for the strength to quit smoking. Well, my quitting involved 18 days in ICU recovering from brain surgery. Those poor nurses...besides the normal problems that go along with people recovering from brain surgery, I was going through nicotine and caffeine withdrawal. My family tells me I was not a happy camper. Today, I can honestly say that God has answered my prayers because I can be around smokers and not crave one. I also found out that smokers are almost 70% more likely to have a brain aneurysm than non-smokers. I can understand completely how difficult it is to quit and 2 of my children are smokers and cannot quit. In fact, they structure their lives around when they can smoke. I wish I could help them, but I also understand nicotine is as addictive as heroin. I did try group therapy around 25 years ago, and found it very helpful, then our HMO discontinued the program...bad move. I was nearly smoke free. The insurance companies want smokers to quit but don't really offer help in the way of making medications more affordable or with group therapy. Sadly, until the Insurance Companies really become more proactive, smokers are left floundering on their own, and without much success.

  - Barbara

• June 11, 2008 7:52 a.m.

  My mom is 83 and has COPD and I would like to know how to help her quit smoking. She says she has to die of something! Where are our 12 steps programs for quiting smoking?

  - Marie George

• June 11, 2008 7:28 a.m.

  I quit smoking on July 10, 2004, I went thru nightmares, depression, cold sweats, headaches, sleepless nights and a lot more, and to this day I still want one. Sometimes I just want to go buy a pack so bad and then I do something else. I am not good at advice but the best time to quit is winter, lock your cigarettes in the car so that you will have to go outside to get one, of course you people that have a garage that is inside it will not help. I went cold turkey, and I can tell you this it is no fun, all the things they tell you can happen with Chantix these are the same things you go thru without medication. I wish you all good luck because in later years you will find it hell when you cannot breath.

  - Pat

• June 11, 2008 7:23 a.m.

  Recently, my 50 year old daughter went on Chantix. It's helping, but she struggles especially on her long drive home. I'm proud of her & want her to succeed. She's doing it to lower blood pressure & is eating healthier. Good luck to all you smokers, good health is to be cherished.

  - JoAnn

• June 11, 2008 1:17 a.m.

  for the best chance of quitting read Allen Carr's easy to read book..can free download from his web site. Marje west australia Guarantee you will quit

  - Marje Hearn

• June 11, 2008 1:02 a.m.

  Please tell me what the "straw method" is? Is it just using a drinking straw? margaret.mcfadden@wits.ac.za

  - Margaret, South Africa

• June 10, 2008 10:22 p.m.

  I quit for 8 years...Had one cigarette and have been smoking for 4 years now. I am on my second prescription of Chantix which is not cheap as my insurance will not pay for it. It is a daily struggle as the Chantix makes my stomach very ill. Pray for me to quit, I need all the help I can get

  - MJ in Iowa

• June 10, 2008 10:13 p.m.

  I started Chantix about 6 weeks ago after being diagnosed with early stages of COPD, and chronic bronchitis. I have really been struggling with smoking too. I do find that cutting a straw in 1/2 has helped with some of the cravings. I am not a total nonsmoker, but have to have a few puffs every 3-4 days. The chantix has helped a lot, but for some reason I don't want to let them go after 37 years of smoking. I didn't want to quit, but was forced to after spending sometime in the hospital, which really scared me into reality. Any suggestions as to why I can't let them go, even if I know it is for my own good? Best of luck to all of you out there who are trying to quit.

  - Joann in Illinois

• June 10, 2008 7:30 p.m.

  My husband and I quit together about 10 years ago (each of us had smoked 25+ years) and I still cannot believe we were successful. It was his first attempt, but I had made several attempts. We did use the patches for about 2 weeks and I KNOW that helped. We started walking, which seemed to ease stress and help keep our weight down. For the last 5 years, we had not smoked in the house, so that wasn't a habit to break, but we did smoke in the car. I chewed on and toyed with a straw to which I give a lot of credit. BUT, the most important success tip I KNOW I can give is this: YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE CIGARETTE...NOT ONE. Don't fool yourself under any circimstance into thinking that you can have "just one"...you cannot. Addiction is addiction, whether it's drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. Give an alcoholic one drink, he'll go buy a case. I know without a shadow of a doubt (I cannot stress this enough) that if I have ONE cigarette, I'm headed to the gas station to buy a carton. Maybe it sounds like a no-brainer, but constantly reminding myself that I could not have ONE and KNOWING it to the core helped me go from stopping smoking to be permantly smoke-free. And, I cannot tell you how good it feels to know that they no longer control me and my life-style. I so hope one person takes my advise and is successful. I lost my mom to an awful case of lung cancer six months ago...I hope I did not wait too long to quit and I hope that "one person" doesn't either.

  - NJ in Texas

• June 10, 2008 7:13 p.m.

  I stopped smoking in the 1980s when I was about Forty years of age,it took several attempts and about A year to stop.Here in New Zealand the Govt has banned smoking in just about every building,forbidden at work places and vehicles used at work,if found to be smoking at your place of work you may be dismissed from your job,smoking in bars/restaurants is strictly forbidden.The advertising or displaying of Tobacco products is strictly forbidden.If you suffer from A smoking related disease Doctors don't really want know you,they will help you out and thats about it.Not many people, only A very few now smoke here in New Zealand.The cheapest price of 20 smokes is Eleven dollars and Fifty Cents(US$9).Smoking her is considered very Anti-Social,well for all the rules and regulations to stop smoking our health is better

  - Wayne -- New Zealand

• June 10, 2008 6:38 p.m.

  I find stopping relatively easy. I get about to day six and begin obsessing on having a cigarette. I just fell off the wagon after a six day non-smoking time, this time with the patch. All I can say is that tomorrow I'll stop again. How to you get rid of the obsession with cigarettes while you're not smoking?

  - Jane in Canada

• June 10, 2008 4:37 p.m.

  I find that the more people talk about quiting the stronger the desire to light up as soon as possible. I know that it is not good for me; could cause any number of health problems; makes you smell bad; stains your teeth; and any number of other issues (cost). I like so many others don't really want to hear it. I just want something that is going to make me want to stop smoking and will be easy to help me quit and not go back to smoking as I have already quit 2-3 and each time it is harder.

  - Daily Smoker

• June 10, 2008 4:14 p.m.

  For Diane - you asked "What can I do to make him see how important it is for him to quit?" As I just indicated, it wasn't until I perosnally decided to quit that I've been successful. He is the only one who can decide to quit - not you, your kids, doctors, etc. Try prayer. In filling out the Chantix on-line questionnaire, I put that my ongoing motivation was to see my grandkids graduate from high school (when I'm in my 80s). When I make it to that milestone, will have another one.

  - Lynn in Naples

• June 10, 2008 4:04 p.m.

  I e smoked for 55 years and although I've quit a few times for short periods of time, never really WANTED to. I enjoyed smoking and always quit because someone nagged me to do it -- kids, doctor, etc. Obviously, I wasn't successful. In early February I decided to quit. Wish I could BOLD that statement, especially tha "I". My doctor prescribed Chantix and I am still taking it, but only once a day now. My last cigarette was Feb. 24 at 10:30 p.m.

  - Lynn in Naples

• June 10, 2008 3:16 p.m.

  I have a husband who has smoked since he was a teen. He was hospitalized once and was placed in a non-smoking room to try to help kick start him into quitting. His family came, wheeled him outside and brought him cigarettes. He is now on inhalers and has early COPD. He was given a prescription for Chantrix but only takes half the dose. What can I do to make him see how important it is for him to quit?

  - Diane

• June 10, 2008 2:59 p.m.

  I began smoking in 1995 and I quit smoking on May 4, 2003 when I was diagnosed with the beginning stages of cervical cancer. I was 21 yrs old and found that the nicotine was the main cause of the growth of my cancerous cells. In order to receive the surgery, I had to quit but was certainly not ready. I was not able to use any nicotine aides to help me which made the withdrawal symptoms very tough. You may say that I didn't have it so bad because I only smoked for 8 years but those cigarettes were my only friend through many difficult times in my life including my parent's divorce, my Mother's attempt at suicide, bankruptcy, etc. It was the only thing in my life that didn't change. It was much more then just a smoke to me. What worked for me is to carry a toothbrush and toothpaste around in my purse and anytime I had a craving I would find a bathroom or kitchen sink to brush my teeth. It gave me the oral and hand to mouth fixation I was looking for with the added bonus of cleaning those yellow dingy tar stained teeth. I also kept a goody bag with me everywhere I went filled with different types of chewing gum. During cravings I would pull out a piece. I kept several different flavors and varieties in the bag to avoid bordem. I was "forced" to quit in a very bad situation but I must say I would have it no other way. Today, 5 years and 37 days after my quit date, I am 1,862 days strong and smoke free. That's 55,860 cigarettes I have NOT smoked and an extra $13,96

  - Jen from Pennsylvania

• June 10, 2008 2:53 p.m.

  One of my sons uses smokeless tobacco. He is in his 40's and started in high school. What is out there to help hi? Am so very worried.

  - Pat Glasser

• June 10, 2008 2:31 p.m.

  Here's hoping none of you get in my shape with COPD and PAD and CIDP! PAD needs an immediate popliteal/femoral bypass but hospital/pneumonia last week prevents the scheduled surgery. Quit smoking for 1 yr 15 yrs ago. Sure wish I had stayed quit! Chantix seems to help....Just turned 80!!! Sci/chem/bio tchur

  - Helen Stone

• June 10, 2008 10:47 a.m.

  I'm in the process of quitting. I'm using the American Lung Association: Freedom from Smoking. But I'm wondering about Chantix. I've heard the other side of the story, the dark side. How it can make you mentally ill in a very bad way. Has anyone heard these stories? KT

  - No name given

• June 10, 2008 10:03 a.m.

  592 days ago, I completed the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center Program. This was the in-patient program. See: http://www.mayoclinic.org/ndc-rst/. The supervised combination of Chantix and nicotine patches along with education and support did it for me. My insurance wouldn't pay for it, but the savings from not buying cartons of Marlboro will have paid for it by next year. There are almost 18,000 unsmoked cigarettes out there and I credit the folks in Rochester.

  - Richard

• June 10, 2008 8:18 a.m.

  Hi everyone, it's me again. Is anyone on Chantix? I was hoping maybe someone would share their experience with it? Because I had such good luck with it, three people where I work went on it, and they all quit. No kidding.

  - Angela

• June 9, 2008 1:06 p.m.

  I have been using a self-hypnosis tape and also a book on tape written by the lady that started Smoke Enders. The self-hypnosis tape helped the most but I also get support and a lot of good adivise from the other one. I have not smoked in 3 days and 16 weeks. That's how I count it. I started smoking at about 15 and stopped at 62. I am so very lucky nothing really serious has happened. I used the tapes as a bridge. I did not stop smoking right away. It took about 4 months of listening. I gradually cut back on cigarettes till the nicotine was reduced. That made it easier and also my mental state changed from listening to the tapes. I am worried I may go back but I am hopeful I won't. I still listen to both tapes. I listen at home and also in the car on my way to and from work. I listen to the tapes every day. I do believe this is what did it for me. When I started I really did not want to quit. The tapes did act as a bridge to quitting.

  - Elaine

• June 9, 2008 8:49 a.m.

  Karlisa, Prayer does work that is how I quit the first time. God does answer your prayers. I guess I'm just not really ready to quit...I think I want to yet I keep lighting up...Kristie

  - Kristie

• June 9, 2008 8:42 a.m.

  Hey everyone, I smoked since I was about 15 yrs old and I quit at around age 31 or 32, for 5 years I did not smoke; however now I started back. It has been almost a year now since I sarted smoking again and already I have had two sinus infections, bronchitus and my asthema is acting up. I have noticed an extreme change in my ability to breathe, yet I am still smoking; am I crazy?

  - Kristie