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1. a.m

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   25 Feb 2019
   03 Mar 2019

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   Hi , i'm new to all of this .
   My name is Amy i'm a 40yr old single mom of 4 who recently had a heart attack resulting in having 2 stents put in . i've smoked for 31 yrs and very heavy at times up to 2 packs a day . I just quit feb 26 2019 so im now on day 6 , im on 42mg of the patch and have the inhaler , the withdrawls have been very intense but i have not given in i'm trying very hard to do this for my kids bit im also finding i still want a cigarette so bad ! 
2. atp

   

   501 posts
   Registered:
   31 Dec 2018
   03 Mar 2019

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   A.M.,
   
   Congrats on making it 6 days so far! 
   
   Quitting is hard work, but so well worth it. You have a great motivation in your kids and that will help you push through the cravings. It will get better before long. The first week is usually the hardest. 
   
   You know you can always call the smokers helpline and talk to a quit coach - they are fantastic. 
   
   I also found reading posts here and also posting my own trials and progress helped keep my qit going. 
3. lucky

   

   32 posts
   Registered:
   13 Feb 2019
   03 Mar 2019 in reply to a.m

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   Hi Amy,
   
   First of all, congratulations of being smoke free for 6 days, be proud of yourself for coming this far.
   It is not easy to quit, but it gets easier in time.
   I am 4 weeks smoke free next Wednesday, and have been a heavy smoker for 50 years!
   After a couple of weeks the cravings are less intense, I usually distract myself right away, going on Smokers helpline and reading the posts. It helps me to fight the urge to smoke. Drinking some water or doing some stretching also helps. 
   
   You can do this!
   
4. wandam

   

   241 posts
   Registered:
   05 Feb 2019
   03 Mar 2019

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   Hi a.m,
   
   Welcome Amy! Congrats on making the decision to be smoke free & being on day 6. Like atp stated quitting is hard & there is no easy way around it but you are doing it!
   I also smoked for about 35 years, a pack a day smoker & found it very hard when I quit, especially in the beginning. I did my homework from this site, identified my triggers & all my positive reasons for quitting. It also helps to have supports like this site.
   
   
5. a.m

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   25 Feb 2019
   03 Mar 2019 in reply to atp

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   Thank you the encouragement means alot and really helps ! 
   It is soo hard and then to have people think im crazy and exaggerating the withdrawls or tell me quiting is all in my head  .
   But I won't let this beat me !! 
   Yes looking at my kids and knowing they could end up motherless way too early is my biggest motivation !! 
   
   
6. a.m

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   25 Feb 2019
   03 Mar 2019 in reply to lucky

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   Thank you so much and congratulations to you as well !! I can't wait to be at the 4 week mark and hopefully be done with these withdrawls .
   I think I've figured out my triggers now , i just keep telling myself i don't smoke anymore ! 
   I have not wanted to do anything or be around people this week so i'm hoping going into a new week being almost a week smoke free will help with energy mood and motivation .
   
   
   
7. atp

   

   501 posts
   Registered:
   31 Dec 2018
   03 Mar 2019 in reply to a.m

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   A.M.,
   
   Yeah, I too realized not many of my friends were as supportive or understanding as i thought they would be. I spoke out loud to myself an awful lot the first 3 weeks. That really helped to just vocalize my withdrawal and struggle.and I posted a ton on this site. Headaches, sweats, shortness of breath, pounding heart, crawling skin, thirst, you name it i felt it going through my withdrawals. First week is hell, 2nd week is heck, after that it gets much better. 
   
   For me it was my 19 year old son who started smoking that made up my mind to quit. We quit together. Amazing what kids will make us want to do for them. 
   
   6 days in...you're probably noticing some smell and taste improvements, maybe even a bit of increased lung activity going up the stairs (although the stents probably helped too!). 
8. mari_m

   

   92 posts
   Registered:
   03 Jan 2019
   03 Mar 2019 in reply to atp

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   hi Amy, good for you in your decision to quit smoking. It is likely the toughest decision I have ever made, but knew for me it had to be done. I smoked for too many years, quitting a few times but always going back to the old habits. I had planned to quit on my birthday last November, but it still took me another 5 days to get the courage to actually quit! Reading these posts have helped, and being good to myself is so important. I kinda like this new feeling of being 'Special'.  Take it One Day at a Time, and I sometimes find myself repeating out loud - Not One Puff Ever.  Believe in yourself, and it really does get easier, we just have to be patient. And is also good that you do not have to go through this journey alone, as we are here for you! - m
9. renee, quitcoach

   

   117 posts
   Registered:
   16 Jul 2018
   03 Mar 2019 in reply to a.m

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   Congratulations Amy on quitting! 
   
   One huge benefit of quitting is that your risk of heart attack and stroke reduce immediately once you have quit. 
   
   Wow 6 days in! Keep it up! 
   
   Renee 

   Last modified on 03 Mar 2019 18:24 by renee, quitcoach
10. jeyan

    

    180 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2017
    05 Mar 2019 in reply to renee, quitcoach

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    Hi Amy, welcome to SHO.  Quitting smoking can be done, as long as you keep at it.  Relapses and setbacks are part of life, we just need to get back to where we were the next day.  As long as you never give up quitting you will soon quit forever . :)    My journey here started in 2011 after couple of relapses since then, I am now on my third attempt and well on my way to 3rd year smoke free. This can be done. We all can do this as long as we don't give up!
11. a.m

    

    4 posts
    Registered:
    25 Feb 2019
    01 Apr 2019 in reply to mari_m

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    Hi Mari , i'm sorry i didn't respond to you sooner life has been crazy so i haven't had a chance to get on here . Congratulations on quiting ! I am so incredibly proud to say that i have now made it to the one Month mark smoke FREE 😁 I never in my life thought i would or could quit never mind make it a month ! I still have daily cravings and want to have one but i have been able to resist and get through each day even with being around other smokers i have NOT given in . Having support and people to talk to or message with ,  that know what you are going through helps alot !! Stay strong everyone and enjoy being able to breath ☺💪 
12. wandam

    

    241 posts
    Registered:
    05 Feb 2019
    01 Apr 2019 in reply to a.m

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    Way to go Amy,
    
    Congratulations on celebrating 🥳 1 month of being smoke free! Keep up the good work!
13. mari_m

    

    92 posts
    Registered:
    03 Jan 2019
    02 Apr 2019

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    Good for you Amy for being smoke free for one month! Do something nice for yourself, you really deserve it. I think I will always have triggers at times that make me want to have a smoke again, but I choose to stay strong, and am noticing it doesn't happen as often as it did in the beginning, and doesn't last as long. I have some gum or candy close by in case of a 'moment'. When l go out, I check to make sure to have some in my pocket, just like I used to make sure I had my smokes. I think of these items as my ammunition against the addiction playing out in my head.      I hope everyone is having a good day where ever they are in their smoke free journey, One Day at a Time  - m
14. nadia b, quit coach

    

    47 posts
    Registered:
    18 Jan 2019
    02 Apr 2019 in reply to a.m

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    Hi Amy - CONGRATS ON YOUR HUGE MILESTONE.
    Reading your post from March 3 to April 1, it's like you're a brand new person. We are all so proud at how far you have come.
    
    WAY TO GO AMY!