Day 5 (Since some of you asked for updates)

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Going strong. No real cravings, no irritability (no more than usual anyway ), snarkiness, or headaches, etc. The only time I've wanted one has been when I'm at a bar, and the guys around me light up. When that happens, it's more out of habit that I reach for a butt than cravings. Other than that, no issues. 2 of the 4 nights though, I've had at least one dream about smoking a cigarette, then I woke up in the morning and felt really guilty, thinking it was real, then felt dumb when I realized it was just a dream. I'm guessing the dreams are telling me I want em more than I think I do. Oh well, I'm stronger than my subconscious.

On a slightly related note, the pain in my chest, and coughing, which I thought would go away with quitting, have intensified. Yep, turns out I have a mild case of bronchitis (just a guess, given that I've had it before, and it I've been doing my research). I attributed the symptoms to smoking, but have since removed smoking from the possible culprits. Oh well, I bought a bunch of cough drops today, and I'll let it go for a few weeks, and if it doesn't improve, I'll go see a doctor. (I had it for about a month and a half last time).

[spc]

OK, bronchitis, here's what you do.
Mick Dundee style.
Take about $400 worth of coke and mix it in with some green tea in a pot.
Boil.
put head directly over pot and place towel over head.


Swear to god, you won't notice that nasty bronchitis

[trumpetguy]

Hang in there, man!

I would not expect to feel better until at least a few weeks have gone by.  It will take a while to get that crap out of your tissues.  Then you should notice that foods taste better and you can breathe more easily.

I admire your strength and discipline.  I have asthma and have never smoked, but I know what it's like to have trouble breathing.

I have a close friend who is dying of lung cancer right now.  He's on oxygen 24/7 and they're trying one last round of chemo to give him a few more weeks or months.  He had surgery, radiation, and chemo two years ago and has about half of his lung capacity left (and now the cancer is attacking that half).  It's not the way you want to die.

[Jarrett]

Go to the dr and get something for that bronchitis.  No point in being sick for a month if you don't have to.  When i smoked, I'd get bronchitis once a year.  i quit last year, and haven't had it again yet.

[Mk1inCali]

Takes longer than most folks think to flush all that crap out of your system, if you ever do.


I think it's shameful that we as a modern society (world-wide, not just the US) have let such a nasty habit/product permeate our everyday life.


EDIT:  Props to you, NGFL, for doing this.  Good on ya!

[frankieG]

my MA had a stroke over the weekend, smoking was a major factor.  she was released from the hospital today and within 1/2 hour she was smoking.  it kills

[spc]

Slap her in the back of the head everytime she lights up............It works.
Seriously, my mother picked up the habit...............and at first I would just snatch the ciggarette, that didn't work so I started slapping her in the back of the head hard enough to knock it out of her mouth.   Told her the next step was a taser.    Smoking is f%$king nasty and stupid.  People respond to pain more effectively than any other training method, primarily because people are animals.

[Jay_wolf]

Hm, This reminds me of a southpark Episode ,

People no smoking kills , they no the Damage it causes , yet people like me choose to smoke ,

I think that if u dont smoke good on you , If u do smoke , then Enjoy it ,

Lung cancer is bad i no , i no more people who have died of cancer who never smoked , then no are dying from smoking ,

[frankieG]

know

[Jay_wolf]

Yea thanks Frankie ,  Just as Helpful as before...

I was making a seroius point , smokers will smoke , Simple as , But keep going NGFL , u can do it bud

[trumpetguy]

Lung cancer is bad i no , i no more people who have died of cancer who never smoked , then no are dying from smoking ,

So your personal experiences are more believable to you than research and statistics?  Even if you know more people who are dying of cancer and who didn't smoke, so what?  YOUR chances of getting cancer are significantly increased by smoking.  If you still want to smoke after knowing that, you don't value yourself very highly.  Or you don't think reality applies to you.  One or the other.

[spc]

It's a reality issue.   Very common amongst my generation.  Hence all the morons on liter bikes with no helmet, but they're damn sure to put on they're sandals.  A very serious issue with acceptance of the consequences of reality.   As another example, look at all the prisoners belonging to 'my' generation.  Many of them, especially the violent offense ones, are completely clueless and scared out of their mind.  This is due to their inability to gauge the limits of reality and pre-determine the possible consequences of their actions.   It's f%$king pointless and sad.  I really am quite afraid for the future of mankind.

[Jay_wolf]

Smoking , or not wearing a helmet,. Both bad for your health

dangourus i no , and yes , i no my chances are increased , but its MY choice , that was my whole point

People Smoke , its Just what happens , Considering most of the Tobacco companys are in the US , and there so much cheaper , makes people might wanna smoke ,  smoking is just a fact , people no its bad, they do it ,end off

[CndnMax]

i no more people who have died of cancer who never smoked , then no are dying from smoking ,

Would it be from second hand smoke by any chance? if i remember correctly more people die from 2nd hand then 1st hand 

[jordanearl]

most people could give a crap less about their health, they live in the moment right now, whther it be drugs, smoking, unprotected sex, no helmet on a bike. even excessive sun tanning, obesity.  people just don't care, they know the consequences, we are just too stupid to head the warnings. 

[Jay_wolf]

Jordan , That Somes It Up Perfect

[jordanearl]

i no more people who have died of cancer who never smoked , then no are dying from smoking ,

Would it be from second hand smoke by any chance? if i remember correctly more people die from 2nd hand then 1st hand 

i always wondered, is that cuz they aren't suckin it down with a filter?

[spc]

Ya know, humans are remarkable incredible and remarkable stupid creatures.  We are the only species on the face of the planet that knowledgeably engages in activities know to be lethal.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I knew smoking was bad for me from the start. That's why I quit now. It was a phase for me, more or less.

[Jay_wolf]

We are a cancer on this earth

Burning , Killing , raping The earth of its resources , the only Type of animal that sucks a area dry and moves on , cuts down trees needed to breath ,Releasing gases destroying the Ozone ,

The Matrix was alot of that info lol