I need HELP!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2004
I need HELP!!!
9
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 8:55pm

Please, someone, tell me what to do! I quit smoking yesterday, had my last one Sunday night, and now I am going absolutely crazy! I'm so depressed and I'm crabby and tense and, worst of all, I'm eating everything that isn't nailed down! I knew that this would probably happen but the reality of it is SO much worse than I expected! How long is this going to last? Is there anything I can do to make it easier, besides buying a pack of smokes? My budget is really tight right now, so I can't afford nicotine replacements or anything like that. I'm trying to keep myself busy, drinking lots of water, and I'm chewing on straws, but nothing is helping. I'm snapping at everyone, crying with the least little provocation. I need HELP!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2004
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 8:58pm
I was able to quit when I got pg.. every time I got pregnant!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 9:07pm

Oh I sympathize... It is REALLY hard. More difficult than kicking heroin. (Or so I've been told.) THE GREAT NEWS is that TONS of people DO quit and you can too!

Apologize to those close to you and ask forgiveness for your snarkiness in advance... Just tell them to give you 3 days. The first THREE are the worst. (But DON'T even have one smoke... it just keeps the chemicals in your blood longer, will extend the three days to a much longer period. After that (72 hours) your body is free of its actual chemical dependency and then it's *just* the pyschological to battle with...but THAT IS HELPED by carrot sticks, gum, something to fiddle with etc.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! Be as snarky as you want! You can be all sweet and nicotain free later! (And your heart and lungs will LOVE you.)

~Butt free (well, in one sense anyway, lol!) for five years, C!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2004
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 12:39am

I never have been a smoker...but if money is tight...why not e-mail one of those patch companies and ask for some samples...use what ever method you can to get them. Tell them you want to compare brands...or tell them you are broke and need enought to get started (maybe they will send you 3 days worth) and then you may be able to purchase more later...tell them what ever it takes.

Or, maybe your doctor has some samples that he can give you...or one of his doctor friends has some that he can pass along to you....

Sussie_Q

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2003
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 8:47am
I am so proud of you. I have never smoked, but my mother did for years and I saw first hand how hard it was to quit. Unfortunatly she was never able to although she tried for years and she ended up with lung cancer. I know this isn't much help, but I just wanted to offer a little encouragment. Good luck. sharla
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2004
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 10:03am

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement and support! I really appreciate it!

Corrina -- "Snarky"?? I LOVE that word. That is totally how I'm feeling right now! Actually, I'm extremely grouchy and about ready to throw something (anything) through the window. Yesterday, here at work, I actually broke down in tears because people started teasing me for having a cup of coffee, which I gave up drinking when I started my new eating lifestyle (figured creamer with a splash of coffee wasn't exactly healthy). Anyway, I was going to have a cup yesterday and someone made a comment about how I'm not allowed to drink coffee anymore, just teasing, and I just started crying. It was horrible! Fortunately, everyone knows I'm quitting smoking so they're all being supportive; actually, I think they're a little amused by all of this.

The thing that worries me is the fact that I can't seem to stop eating. And I don't mean just the "I bored and don't have anything else to do" kind of eating, either. I mean my stomach is actually growling and I start feeling light headed unless I eat. Is that normal when you quit smoking? Is smoking that much of an appetite reducer? It would suck to gain back all of the weight I've lost; that's almost enough to start smoking again!

Aggie
276/252/136

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2004
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 12:03pm

It sounds like your body is throwing a temper-tantrum because it can't have the things it wants = a good smoke....

Well if your stomach is growling...then give it food. Give it every thing that isn't going to let you gain weight. I don't remember what diet you are on, if you ever mentioned it but I am sure there are a lot of things you can eat that won't affect your WOE while you are trying to quit smoking...

I have to say you got some good sized "tanatas" to try to diet and quit smoking at the same time!

Sussie_Q

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 12:04pm

Girl...I just went through this!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2004
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 2:23pm

Shawna --

Thanks for showing me quitmeter.com. That really cool. Hard to believe that I've already not smoked 32 smokes.... that's actually kinda scary. It is extremely hard to do this and diet at the same time; I just hope I'm not setting myself up to fail. But, quite simply, I couldn't afford to smoke anymore, health wise or financially. I've only been smoking for just under 2 years and have been averaging about a pack a day. That's over $1200 a year I've been spending so that I can feel like crap! I really think I can kick this thing!

Aggie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2004
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 2:57pm

Here's a HUGE on the back to you for quitting, WTG!!! I've never smoked so I don't know what you are going through, but I do know that you are doing an amazing thing for your health! Don't stress yourself out more than is needed, that'll only make it harder. Try and relax a bit about your diet, at least for the first few days anyway. Get over the nicotine withdrawals first, a few days of eating a lot isn't going to completely destroy the hard work you've put in losing weight. You can do it!!! (((HUGS)))

Amanda

Amanda

mom to Ethan (7), Ryen (6), and Katelyn (2)