charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
....James when you see quitting as a plus rather than giving something up you'll be able to quit for good. It would appear you've reached that point.
Also smoking as far as how you feel....I would equate the energy of a smoker as similar to driving a car with the brakes dragging.
Charlie, once a 5 pack a day smoker...
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
Good for you, James! One day at a time will get you off for good.
Charlie, five packs a day? Glad you were able to quit. That's pretty amazing!
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Nicotine from smoking causes acetylcholine to last longer in our brains. When we stop smoking, we then have less acetylcholine available. Borrelia toxins reduce acetylcholine.
I mention this because everyone in my family that has quit smoking got sick with lyme symptoms within 6 months. I hate to post that here but it is the truth. That is 4 of us!!
I wondered for years why. I believe the decrease in acetylcholine is one reason why that happened to us.
I haven't smoked in 23 years. You can do it.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
That's so awesome! *hangs head in shame* That's something that's been very hard for me. I am thinking about trying again soon. I feel sick when I think about smoking a cigarette, but I always drag my butt out there to smoke one. I'll be so glad when I do. It's funny because I always tell myself "Ugh, now is not a good time, things are too stressful, I can't do it."...
Now things REALLY ARE stressful and I think I can't but I'm also physically sick which I *think* will make it a bit easier. I've realized how important health is and became very aware of my body. I want to treat it good but now I don't feel good and I can barely stomach a meal a day...and I smoke because I feel anxious and upset.
Not a good combo and especially with Lyme. Thanks for sharing your success. Maybe it's not impossible.
-------------------- "~*~My smile hides my bite~*~." Posts: 506 | From N/A | Registered: Jun 2008
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I started smoking as a teenager in the late '50s (yes, I am that old, very old) and quit in '81 but 15 years later I restarted (stupid me) because my daughter was Dx with Lyme and I was going through a very stressful time in my life.
I quit again in '04 when I was Dx with CAD and had a cardiac catherization and stent implanted ... this time it was so easy to just go "cold turkey". Today, 4+ years later, I have absolutely no desire to smoke!
You can do it ... don't get me wrong 'cause it's not easy but if you persist and just resist you will win ... think about all the $$$ you will save!
Good luck ... you can do it,
-------------------- Lou B Posts: 2200 | From Mount Hope, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
Lou...approximate same ages and twice start and stop timelines for both of us. I never think about smoking either, it's like I never smoked.
Charlie
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Next week is my one year anniversary of being a non-smoker. If I can do it- I KNOW you can as well!
Great job James! Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
Good for you Melanie! I didn't know you'd been quit that long, now it's time to brag....
I remember us at the lyme float in Arkansas, self-enveloped in a toxic cloud while poor Maddog and Just Don were trying not to gag on the fumes....
Jenny still smokes though but not much.
Charlie
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
They were REALLY good sports, weren't they?
hahahahaha...love to Miss Jenny
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Fantastic! Congrats! I started smoking at sixteen. Quit the first time when my two toddlers told me they did not want me to die. Relapsed twice, but have been "smoke-free" since 1975 and thank God, I'm able to breathe!
-------------------- Else Posts: 82 | From Florida | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
My 2 year anniversary of not smoking will be this November 10th.
So glad to have that behind me.
Still have cravings...believe it or not......but find it hard to believe I smoked for 22 years. So gross.
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
I smoked today...geez
well, I will stay on chantix as they say it takes about 1 week to kick in.
I grabbed onto the one post claiming that smoking is "good" for the brain, BUT, considering chantix covers the receptors in the brain that smoking does exactly the same thing, I suggest that chantix would also be "good" for the brain. Will try again to quit..tonight at bedtime.
I WILL quit again tonight...at bedtime.
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
James, You misunderstood my post if you think I said that smoking was good for the brain.
I simply wanted to point out the facts about how smoking and borrelia affect acetylcholine.
My point was that you might want to consider taking something to boost acetylcholine because you will no longer be taking in nicotine which affects acetylcholine.
I don't know a thing about chantix so maybe that will take care of acetylcholine for you if it is a problem.
As I said, I really hesitated to bring this up but I thought it might be helpful to you. It was not meant to refute the fact that smoking is not healthy. If I thought it was, I'd still be smoking.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Charlie--
5 packs a day- did you smoke in your sleep???
One time I figured out how much $$ it cost me to pay for my wife's smoking and it was around $1200 per year-
This was 20 yrs ago when smokes were 1.75 per pack -
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
I think it was Dr. B that suggested that ONE cig is enough to delay recovery by 3-4 months.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
Congrats! Tobacco is in the nightshade family which causes pain with many lymies. It will take a year after you quit tobacco and the nightshade family (eggplant, potatoes, etc.) to be pain free.....from my LLMD's info packet.
Good luck.
CherylSue
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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