Who's Stopped Smoking Lately.

[grandpajoe]

I have about 7 weeks ago and am struggling a bit. Am 67 and started when i was 13!! smoked roll-ups for the last 40 years, about 10 per day, and feel "I deserve a ciggy", which is silly i know. How long does it take to become a proper non-smoker?? Am coughing up small amounts of "soot" a couple of times a day! how long does this go on for??

Please don't tell me I've posted in the wrong place as I can't find the right place!!

[mazie]

You haven't posted in the wrong place Joe.... and good luck with the non-smoking.

[Canary42]

Better late than never. I gave up in 1984 after twenty years, and from what I remember the coughing up didn't last long.

As for how long to become a proper non-smoker, you've already achieved that, so keep going.

[Maydup]

Well done Grandpajoe you've done it!

Keep going and your lungs will clear. It can take between 10 and 20 weeks to clear them which means you're nearly here with the coughing, it can only reduce from now on.

[pussyfoot]

Stick with it grandpajoe & don't be tempted to have a 'deserved ciggy' or you'll be back to square one. I gave up nearly 4 years ago after 35 years and things do get much better. I think the soot will last for a 3/4 months but gradually it'll ease off.

You'll know when you've become a proper non-smoker because you'll start to nag at other smokers to give up - it's what ex-smokers do best.

Well done to you so far - keep it up!

[joggerjayne]

Who's stopped smoking recently?

Lily Allen?

[grandpajoe]

I would like to be a non-smoker but not one of those self righteous "reformed smokers"! They don't arf give me the s...ts! I also stopped drinking beer and spirits 3 years ago and found that very easy. i just have a glass of wine once or twice a week now and feel much better for it!! Muck Fee I'll be the fittest corpse they've ever seen when i finally snuff it!!

[Chipchopper]

Things can only get better Joe, keep it up!

I kicked the weed way back in 205. I like coffee and chocolate now

[lady-janine]

i don't smoke but all best wishes to you in your battle.

[Nini74]

well done and very good luck with sticking with it! i know you don't drnk much but maybe try to stay off the wine for a week or two as that will weaken your willpower. I gave up last year and was doing really well - then I had one, as a reward when I was out drinking, then i decided I would just smoke socially if I was out drinking, then I had one when I was stressed after work, then I decided that I would only smoke when drnking or stressed.......as you can probably guess, I slipped all the way down the slippery slope to being a smoker again :-( so don't kid yourself that you can have just one or two - it really doesn't work. YOu've quit. You are an ex-smoker. YOu should be very proud of yourself - 7 weeks is amazing! well done xxx

[grandpajoe]

Thanks for all the support folks. Nini your experiences are EXACTLY what I have always done in the past. I find that when I am fishing I could eat a ciggy and in the past I have wandered the bank to a complete stranger and bought a couple of tipped ciggies (which I hate BTW) from him 'cause I was so envious. Stupid or what!!???

[wiltsman]

Good luck with your struggle to give up the ciggies.

I gave up when the price rose to 2s 10d (approx 14 pence) for 20.

[wardlaw]

I'm probably the wrong person to answer this as I have ben a non-smoker now since 1997. Diagnosed with oral cancer (complete remission) caused by smoking. Stopped there and then. No fake fags, no patches. All it takes is willpower which I found easy when the big 'C' word was used. Feel so much healthier because of it. WELL DONE for quitting. Stick with it - and NO reward fags.

[hc4361]

Well done! I smoked 40 a day and struggled and struggled to stop - finally did it with the aid of patches.

I know that even one cigarette will be the start of the cycle but I can honestly say I no longer get tempted. It really does get easier but for me, 12 weeks was the make or break. So many times I had stopped only to cave in during week 12.

Pleased to say I haven't smoked for over 10 years. Never again.

[mrs.chappie]

Ooh dear, coughing up soot? I'm so glad I never started smoking, that sounds horrendous.

Good luck with giving up. You're doing very well.

[hc4361]

The coughing up 'soot' is a good sign. At last your lungs are able to clear themselves of that horrid muck you've been clogging them up with - it takes as long as it takes. I think I had it for 10 weeks or so, maybe longer.

I certainly don't cough it up now!

[excelsior-1]

Congratulations on giving up

Of course it is tough to begin with, as tobacco is an addictive narcotic drug. However, as time passes it will get easier for you

Once again, very well done ... Keep it up

[Canary42]

///I would like to be a non-smoker but not one of those self righteous "reformed smokers"! They don't arf give me the s...ts!///

Yes, a lot of us ex-smokers share your opinion about the self-righteous ones - but we considerably outnumber them so don't worry about any danger of slipping into that mode. We more modest ones only come out of the woodwork to give encouragement to the likes of you, we know how difficult it can be.