Smoking

So do you say I've been quit for three years, well except for the three I had in Vegas or do you say I've been quit for two weeks?

Four overweight males (and fluf and looseankles), and all y'all see is smoking. You're just like my doctor! I'll tell ya the same thing I tell him: every time I quit, I go right back to shooting heroin!

So SHUT IT. 

I'm still lying through my teeth to anyone that didn't witness me smoking in Vegas. I always thought that once I had one I'd slip right back to it, but I don't think about smoking after. Perhaps I could be that rare breed that can truly just have one every blue moon.

If you are then I hate you more than words can tell. I KNOW if I have one then within a month I am smoking a pack a day. How do I know that? Because I have quite for multiple years several times and that is how it always ends. Always. Since the initial quitting cravings subsided I have not been tempted at all. I've been quit this time a couple 3-4 years. I think I was still smoking at L1 but not sure. I don't even dream about smoking much anymore.

But if they announced an asteroid was on it's way then the first thing I would do would be to loot a convenience store for all the Camel Lights they had.

This exact line... ironic since it was my brain that made me quit. I was "accidentally" diagnosed with a cerebral arteriovenous malformation after an unrelated tension headache in which a routine CAT scan revealed it. My neurologist recommended monitoring it as it seemed benign, and at my five year check up it revealed I had grown three aneurysms. My new radiologist and neurosurgeon would only operate if I quit smoking, as he was certain they caused the three aneurysms in the first place.

Three brain surgeries later the aneurysms are gone and the AVM reduced to 15-25% of its original size. I still need radiation (which I keep delaying for numerous reasons) in order to get that last bit, and it is scary as hell walking around not knowing if that slight headache or brain twitch or momentary blurred vision is "the end" (i.e. me dropping dead of another aneurysm) but choosing life over cigarettes was very hard.

Quit cold turkey, no cessation aids or patches, and cried my eyes out for days, followed by awful nightmares for about a year. I'm embarassed of the slip, but KNOW that the scarier prospect of more aneurysms will keep me off them full time. As a former addict of "other things" I am easily able to recognize impulses and steer clear of bad choices fairly easily (avoided giant mounds of "other stuff" in our LV hotel rooms for four days- yay me!), but if the trade off is the random puff of a cig with a beer, I shall consider that my reward. 

But for YOU my friend, I respect you immensely for your choice. How wonderful! Love makes you do some pretty spectacular things, and I wish you the best of luck. As with overcoming any addiction, talk about it and don't feel bad about it. Cry, chew gum like mad, eat some good food, go for long walks. Download one of those fun apps that remind you much you're saving or what part of your body is starting to heal. And always go back to the reason you want to quit in the first place when you feel weak. Imagine smooching your gal with fresh breath and clothes that don't reek of smoke. And set yourself a nice little reward with your saved money. That's important. 

Sorry for the long post and oversharing- I will expect worf rat to post tl;dr as a response. 

Say it like lobster with me now: "cigrits."

My buddy used the patch for a few weeks and vaped for the harder moments. It worked. He still vapes but only occasionally

Every time someone urges me to quit I tell 'em, "Sure! Can I stay with you for a week while it gets out of my system?" Never had one taker.

Not about to do that to Susan. Would literally rather die.

My door is open! Always! But be warned, we treat heroin problems with duct tape. Nashua, the good stuff, not the cheap duck tape. (~);}

You can stay with me.

Sure, the folks who live comfortably far away make the offer, knowing I'll never take 'em up on it.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue...