how to stop smoking

[stoic]

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i'm starting another thread on this topic because the previous one was closed. i don't smoke, but i know many people who have struggled with trying to quit while dealing with the stress of med school. as such i think that it is an entirely appropriate thread for the allopathic forum. i don't see how it's a "misuse" of the forum.

from what my friends have told me, it's almost impossible to quit during med school. it's a stressful time with lots of late nights and frustrating exams. it's enough to drive many people BACK to smoking even if they quit sometime ago.

as such, it seems to me it might be in your best interest to quit right now and get the initial withdrawls out of the way before classes start up. you'll need to figure out some coping mechanisms to help you deal with urges to smoke with things get stressful. i know some folks who chew a lot of nicorette around exam time. there are also some meds that can help, and i think a new one approved for smoking ceasation comes out very soon (w/n a month or two).

i don't have much person insight into the matter, but i know these threads have come up before... so hopefully some posters who have quit or are trying can give you tips.

i'd again like to state that i feel this thread is appropriate for the allopathic forum. there are smokers in med school, many who would like to quit. the stressors of med school are unique enough that there is certainly something to be gained for the exchange of coping stratagies.

ok, that's my 0.02 cents.

 

[gunit07]

i have no idea how to quit smoking, since i dont smoke nor have i ever...
but i definitely agree that the topic is NOT a misuse of the forum....
i'm sure if someone posted something like "i like to volunteer for 50 hours per week, how will i be able to cut down once med school starts?", it would not get shut down.

there's a thread about advice about cooking for heaven's sake!

med school is a special situation in that it has particular stressors that a large majority of the population doesnt even know exist much less has expierenced.
So this is actually a perfect way to get ideas on what other people did that worked.

I hope the OP of the thread that gets shut down finds some good advice🙂 good luck!

 

[TX515]

To quit smoking is to quit, not trade off nicotine in one medium for a different one. You have to quit cold turkey. Just stop. That is all there is to it. The strength and ability is comes from both within and from Him.

 

[erasable]

To quit smoking is to quit, not trade off nicotine in one medium for a different one. You have to quit cold turkey. Just stop. That is all there is to it. The strength and ability is comes from both within and from Him.

I disagree with 'cold turkey'. In my dubious experience with caffeine, withdrawal hits hard.

The most important question to ask yourself is: How long can I keep this up without reprecussions? and keep it in mind as you go. Pick a low stress time period and switch to nicotine gum/patch/etc. Try to schedule it at least a few months before anything major stress events.

Disclaimer: I don't smoke.

 

[StudentDoc327]

i'm starting another thread on this topic because the previous one was closed. i don't smoke, but i know many people who have struggled with trying to quit while dealing with the stress of med school. as such i think that it is an entirely appropriate thread for the allopathic forum. i don't see how it's a "misuse" of the forum.

from what my friends have told me, it's almost impossible to quit during med school. it's a stressful time with lots of late nights and frustrating exams. it's enough to drive many people BACK to smoking even if they quit sometime ago.

as such, it seems to me it might be in your best interest to quit right now and get the initial withdrawls out of the way before classes start up. you'll need to figure out some coping mechanisms to help you deal with urges to smoke with things get stressful. i know some folks who chew a lot of nicorette around exam time. there are also some meds that can help, and i think a new one approved for smoking ceasation comes out very soon (w/n a month or two).

i don't have much person insight into the matter, but i know these threads have come up before... so hopefully some posters who have quit or are trying can give you tips.

i'd again like to state that i feel this thread is appropriate for the allopathic forum. there are smokers in med school, many who would like to quit. the stressors of med school are unique enough that there is certainly something to be gained for the exchange of coping stratagies.

ok, that's my 0.02 cents.

For somebody who has stopped smoking during medical school, it is pretty easy with the patch. Most are 3 step systems that last 6 weeks (weaning the dose of nicotine every 2 weeks), get the packages at Walgreens or CVS. Basicaly they subdue withdrawal symptoms so that you dont crave cigarettes anymore. I didnt have a hard time at all because I really wanted to quit, the only thing that was stopping me was the withdrawal symptoms and i didnt have time to fool around with those because I had to study or get to the wards. I never got withdrawal symptoms with the patch and only had minimal/moderate cravings every time the dose stepped down. You or your friends or whoever can really stop during school if you want to with the patch, I highly recommend trying it at least. Hope this helps.


Oh yeah I have a friend who quit cold turkey but I think that was during 1st year so it wasnt as bad. I also dont recommed the gum, i tried it for one day and it didnt work well. Good luck.

 

[Northerner]

To quit smoking is to quit, not trade off nicotine in one medium for a different one. You have to quit cold turkey. Just stop. That is all there is to it. The strength and ability is comes from both within and from Him.

By "Him", I can only assume you're referring to Patrick Swayze...?

 

[TX515]

By "Him", I can only assume you're referring to Patrick Swayze...?

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 

[Sophie]

I've never smoked, but I did spend the last year working for a smoking cessation program.

Cold turkey is fine for some people, but they are the vast minority. No one should ever feel like a lesser person, or think they lack will-power, if they attempt to quit cold turkey and fail, because nicotine is such an incredibly addictive substance. I think the best approach is a combination of: 1) really wanting to quit, 2) patches and/or gum and/or bupropion, and 3) behavior modification. However, it really depends on the person, so obviously what works for someone else may not work for you.

I've heard from a lot of patients that bupropion (aka Zyban aka Wellbutrin) actually makes cigarettes taste awful. It also reduces withdrawal symptoms, without giving your body more nicotine. Many of my patients took both bupropion and the patches, and were successful with this combination.

The gum is great for people who need some sort of oral substitute. For a lot of people the act of smoking is as addictive as the nicotine itself, so they need something to put in their mouth instead of a cigarette. The major downside with the gum is that you don't just chew it. You have to chew it a certain amount, then stick it in the side of your mouth for a certain amount of time.

Also, if you tend to smoke with your morning cup of coffee, or smoke when you go out clubbing, or have some other activity that you associate with smoking you should avoid that activity. It's a lot easier to quit if you aren't constantly reminded of what you're missing.

Best of luck to everyone trying to quit. It's really one of the most important things you can ever do for yourself.

 

[78222]

I think its funny how everyone has to put a "I dont smoke" disclaimer up.

BTW - I don't smoke.

😉

 

[MD2b20004]

i'm starting another thread on this topic because the previous one was closed. i don't smoke, but i know many people who have struggled with trying to quit while dealing with the stress of med school. as such i think that it is an entirely appropriate thread for the allopathic forum. i don't see how it's a "misuse" of the forum.

from what my friends have told me, it's almost impossible to quit during med school. it's a stressful time with lots of late nights and frustrating exams. it's enough to drive many people BACK to smoking even if they quit sometime ago.

as such, it seems to me it might be in your best interest to quit right now and get the initial withdrawls out of the way before classes start up. you'll need to figure out some coping mechanisms to help you deal with urges to smoke with things get stressful. i know some folks who chew a lot of nicorette around exam time. there are also some meds that can help, and i think a new one approved for smoking ceasation comes out very soon (w/n a month or two).

i don't have much person insight into the matter, but i know these threads have come up before... so hopefully some posters who have quit or are trying can give you tips.

i'd again like to state that i feel this thread is appropriate for the allopathic forum. there are smokers in med school, many who would like to quit. the stressors of med school are unique enough that there is certainly something to be gained for the exchange of coping stratagies.

ok, that's my 0.02 cents.

Aha, the thread was reopened after it was closed by SDN dictators, ooo do I love america and freedom of speech, and how the people's say really mean alot and the politician usually has to play "politically correct" to stay in as Commander in Chief, or SDN-in-Chief in this situation. But I am happy the thread was re-opened when it was abruptly closed for NO justifiable reason. The thread are for all of us to use and get informed, not abuse ofcourse, but say what we have to say and be heard and hear others without fear of being closed down. Darn politics...

 

[psipsina]

I smoked for about six years and quit successfully. You have to really want it or no trick in the book is going to work, and cold turkey is what worked best for me. Yeah the physical withdrawal symptoms suck, but just grit your teeth and deal with it and the worst is over in a few days. The rest of it is almost all pyschological. For me I got mad at the companies selling me this drug that is detrimental to my health and quit to spite them. I still break every once in a while, once I had one durring a really awful migraine, and I had a few in the days following katrina as I watched my home destroyed and had a genuine emotional meltdown. But I have gotten to the point that I can have one and not be re-hooked, . . I don't reccomend this in the beginning. Anyway, point is no trick works if you don't really want it, and you don't need any tricks when you reach that point. Just keep trying and eventually you will get there.

 

[PH7.4]

Get some nicotine gum.

Get a giant box of Tootsie Roll Pops.

When you want a cigarette and it's stressing you out, chew the gum.

When you 'could go for' a cigarette, have a Tootsie Roll Pop. Don't forget to keep some in the car.

Wean off the gum. It will be easier after a week.

 

[Kris1]

i'm starting another thread on this topic because the previous one was closed. as such i think that it is an entirely appropriate thread for the allopathic forum. i don't see how it's a "misuse" of the forum.

I saw where this had been closed yesterday and I spent the whole day trying to figure out how this topic deserved to be closed.

 

[Margaritaville]

Aha, the thread was reopened after it was closed by SDN dictators

No, it wasn't. This is a new thread, started by "stoic." The old thread is still closed.

Don't strain something trying to pat yourself on the back, bud... 🙄

 

[Northerner]

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So you would rephrase your post by saying, "Just stop. That is all there is to it. For me, the strength and ability comes from both within and from Him."

Not everyone is Christian. In fact, most aren't - and thus do not get strength to quit smoking from Christ.

 

[Darth Asclepius]

I smoked for 9 years and quit 4 years ago. The problem is that you have to really want to quit. And "I want to quit because smoking is bad/expensive/going to give me cancer" probably won't work. Those are reasons you should quit sometime, but in my experience, I needed a reason I was going to quit TODAY. For you, this could be starting med school soon. You don't want to tell patients that smoking is bad then go smoke yourself. You're not going to want to smell like smoke around sick patients. You're going to be living on a very strict budget. The money you spend on cigarettes will have to come out of your grocery/spending money. Also, starting a new phase in your life is a good time to quit. It can be somewhat symbolic. You leave behind undergrad and smoking to start med school and healthier life for yourself.

I tried to quit several times before I was successful. I even quit for 6 months once and went back to it. The patch didn't work for me. It might work if you really want to quit. There's nothing to stop you from taking the patch off and smoking. It's not a solution for someone who is just quitting because they think they should but doesn't really want to.

I quit when I had pneumonia. The doctor told me if I kept smoking, I'd be in the hospital and wrote me a prescription for Wellbutrin. It did help a lot. I was only on it for a month and I did feel a big difference the first few days I was off it, but that first month on the medication helped me to start breaking the habit. I have heard several friends say that they can't use the Wellbutrin because it's too expensive and their insurance won't pay for it. If this applies to you, just know that's a bullsh*t excuse because we all know you spend more than that on cigarettes in the long run. I used the nicotine gum for when I got those nasty nicotine withdrawal headaches. I could use a piece of the gum and the headache went away, but didn't have to give myself a constant supply of nicotine with the patch. Honestly, I think the reason I was successful that time was because I really wanted to quit. I could really see that my health was being affected (I had bronchitis a lot too before the pneumonia) and also, my boyfriend who had never given me any crap about the smoking, was visiting me (we lived in different states at the time) and he told me that if I was going to smoke, he was going home because he wasn't going to watch me kill myself. That really hit me hard.

So, think of a few really good reasons you need to quit right now. If the threats to your health are too abstract for you right now, see if you can spend a little time with a thoracic surgeon and see some lung cancer patients.

General advice that worked for me:
- Figure out what things correspond with smoking for you and do what you can to break that connection (for me it was driving, being around other smokers, and being at work- I worked in a restaurant and the only time we got a break was to smoke, so I bugged my manager until they would let me just sit outside for 5 minutes not smoking instead of taking a smoke break). Be creative. Break the habits. If you smoke with your morning coffee, have your morning coffee somewhere you can't smoke, etc.

- Clean out your car. Make it look and smell like you never smoked in it. It takes a lot of effort, but it's worth it.

- Try Wellbutrin. It might help you. Try the patch or the gum. Give it a shot.

- Don't make a regular habit of cheating. No rewarding not smoking with a cigarette. It seems stupid, but people think "I haven't smoked all week. I can have one now." No. If you cheat, it's not okay, but don't beat yourself up about it.

- If you cheat and buy cigarettes, take one out of the pack, right there in the store, and throw the rest of the pack in the trash right there. DON'T EVER TAKE A PACK OUT OF THE STORE. When it costs you $3 and a trip to the store for a cigarette, you will be less inclined to cheat. You are not allowed to bum a cigarette off of someone ele. If you want one that bad, you have to go to the store and buy a pack. If you want another one, well then you have to go back to the store and buy another pack. Quitting smoking is hard and takes a lot of willpower. Make this the rule that you absolutely must follow. No exceptions. This was perhaps the best thing I did that kept me from smoking again.

- Try to avoid socializing with only smokers. This could be hard if all of your friends smoke. If they do, have them hang out at your place for a while and don't allow smoking inside. Don't go outside with them when they go out to smoke. If they give you crap about this or try to talk you into smoking, they suck as friends and you should tell them that.

Good luck. It's really hard to quit, but it's worth it. Someday you will realize that you have truly quit. For me, I realized it on the day of the MCAT. I got home that night and it occured to me that I hadn't even thought about cigarettes that day until then. That's when I knew I had quit for good. You'll have a day like that sometime. Decide to quit and stick with it.

 

[univscience]

great advice with a sweet avatar to boot.

for me, smoking always came up when i was with certain people. i rarely bought cigs myself, but if someone asked i'd often accept. undergrad is especially difficult because when you're drinking or smoking other stuff, cigs are even better.

i applaud everyone on this thread for sharing stories and advice. it seems this is taboo on this forum.

 

[radioh3ad]

i've worked with an acupuncturist who's done wonders for people. sometimes in combo with wellbutrin/patch. mostly tho, patients are successful without any other help. most of them have tried other methods and failed.

of course, first it takes the will to admit that you have a problem that you need to solve. then get the help you need.

and i know at least ghi covers acupuncture for quitting.

 

[MossPoh]

For girls getting pregnant and then the guilt trip of smoking seems to do it....since everyone looks at you like you are the spawn of satan when you touch alchohol or cigs while pregnant. Got my mom to quit with me...after 4 months. I always tell her she stunted my growth (I'm 6'5")

 

[Law2Doc]

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I don't know who this Phil is, but it doesn't sound like he ever tried to give up smoking. 😀

 

[Army_Doc]

Decide on a day to quit, that's half the battle. Then buy a pack, and smoke the whole thing one after another as fast as you can. Unless you're a hardcore smoker, you'll feel sick after doing this. In my case, i almost threw up.
For the next few days, the smell of smoke made me feel queezy. For a short period of time I associated the sick feeling with smoking, so for the next week or so (the hardest time in quitting) I was less inclined to smoke. It sounds crazy, but it worked for me after 1 year of trying.

I also totally agree with whoever said that when cheating, to buy a pack and throw it away after smoking one cig. If you live in an area like NYC, where a pack is 7 bucks, you'll realize you can't do this often.

 

[lilnoelle]

Decide on a day to quit, that's half the battle. Then buy a pack, and smoke the whole thing one after another as fast as you can. Unless you're a hardcore smoker, you'll feel sick after doing this. In my case, i almost threw up.
For the next few days, the smell of smoke made me feel queezy. For a short period of time I associated the sick feeling with smoking, so for the next week or so (the hardest time in quitting) I was less inclined to smoke. It sounds crazy, but it worked for me after 1 year of trying.

I wish this worked for giving up Mountain Dew... I've tried this method and it basically means that I end up drinking 7 mountain dews a day from then on out instead of 2 or three.

 

[TX515]

I don't know who this Phil is, but it doesn't sound like he ever tried to give up smoking. 😀

Smoked cigarettes for 7 years, quit cold turkey, haven't smoked one in over 3 years. Don't even want to now. Phil def knows what he's talking about.

 

[100041]

Smoked cigarettes for 7 years, quit cold turkey, haven't smoked one in over 3 years. Don't even want to now. Phil def knows what he's talking about.

So does Paul. 😉

 

[wmh]

Surefire way to avoid the physical cravings associated with nicotine withdrawal:

1) two week course of Wellbutrin
2) quit
3) two more weeks of Wellbutrin

Works like a charm.

 

[velo]

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I looked it up and my version says Patrick Swayze

 

[MossPoh]

I looked it up and my version says Patrick Swayze

I thought patrick swayze was dead until he popped into that movie a few months ago with Mr. Bean..whatever his real name is.

 

[Law2Doc]

I thought patrick swayze was dead until he popped into that movie a few months ago with Mr. Bean..whatever his real name is.

Rowan Atkinson, I think.

 

[Northerner]

Rowan Atkinson, I think.

Just to clarify, TX515 gets strength to quit smoking from Mr. Bean?

 

[liverotcod]

Just to clarify, TX515 gets strength to quit smoking from Mr. Bean?

No, no. Remember, TX515 doesn't smoke. He's saying that all the weak-in-spirit commie smokers out there need to trust in Blackadder to cure their addiction.

 

[jeanneson]

Nicotine gum worked best for me since I was only a social smoker. I didn't need the constant nicotine infusion from the patch, just a piece of gum now and then when I would have been smoking.

Also I found that starting to exercise really helped. After a run the last thing in the world I wanted to do was smoke.

And, yes, avoiding places/situations where you used to smoke. I know quite a few people who have had to quit drinking in order to quit smoking...

 

[TX515]

No, no. Remember, TX515 doesn't smoke. He's saying that all the weak-in-spirit commie smokers out there need to trust in Blackadder to cure their addiction.

The posts directed to me are, unfortunately, expected. What I said is it takes a lot of determination and prayers to quit. If someone doesn't believe in a higher power, that is also unfortunate, and I sincerely hope they come to knowledge and understanding.

 

[Northerner]

The posts directed to me are, unfortunately, expected. What I said is it takes a lot of determination and prayers to quit. If someone doesn't believe in a higher power, that is also unfortunate, and I sincerely hope they come to knowledge and understanding.

We're so lucky you're here to save us.

Per your divine recommendation, I bought a shirtless Patrick Swayze poster to help me stop wetting the bed.

 

[liverotcod]

The posts directed to me are, unfortunately, expected. What I said is it takes a lot of determination and prayers to quit. If someone doesn't believe in a higher power, that is also unfortunate, and I sincerely hope they come to knowledge and understanding.

Yah, sorry. I was having fun playing with the absurdisms, and didn't mean to be hurtful. Mea culpa.

 

[MossPoh]

Rowan Atkinson, I think.

Aw yes...there you go. Good call.


Anyway.. The religion stuff from both sides should probably be left off.lol Never seems to lead to any good.

For some it is unfortunate that a person doesn't believe in a higher power,and for others they feel it is a shame that they do....that issue won't be solved. I myself will stick with the church of the flying spaghetti monster...but we all have our own beliefs.

 

[100041]

Anyway.. The religion stuff from both sides should probably be left off.lol Never seems to lead to any good.

For some it is unfortunate that a person doesn't believe in a higher power,and for others they feel it is a shame that they do....that issue won't be solved. I myself will stick with the church of the flying spaghetti monster...but we all have our own beliefs.

Now, let's be fair here - one person stated their beliefs and another mocked them. It wasn't exactly an argument.

I got the same sort of immature response one time when I mentioned that I waited until marriage to have sex... apparently that makes me homosexual. 😉

 

[Law2Doc]

Now, let's be fair here - one person stated their beliefs and another mocked them. It wasn't exactly an argument.

No, lets be really fair. This is a thread about quitting smoking, not religion. Nowhere in the bible is smoking discussed. To throw religious views in here, totally off topic -- is a non sequitor, and was surely calculated to get a response. Let he who cast the first stone... 🙂

 

[100041]

No, lets be really fair. This is a thread about quitting smoking, not religion. Nowhere in the bible is smoking discussed. To throw religious views in here, totally off topic -- is a non sequitor, and was surely calculated to get a response. Let he who cast the first stone... 🙂

Actually, it's "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." 😉

It's not totally off topic. The guy presented an anecdote about how he managed to quit smoking. You may not believe that God answers such prayers and I'll leave you to that belief, but it's perfectly valid to say that is what helped him quit. I'm biased as a Christian, but it seems like a better method to me than smoking a pack as fast as possible to make yourself sick. 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

Actually, it's "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." 😉

It's not totally off topic. The guy presented an anecdote about how he managed to quit smoking. You may not believe that God answers such prayers and I'll leave you to that belief, but it's perfectly valid to say that is what helped him quit. I'm biased as a Christian, but it seems like a better method to me than smoking a pack as fast as possible to make yourself sick. 🙂

Sure, but we would have ridiculed that method as well. And at least it relates to smoking, not just a quote from Phil.

 

[100041]

Sure, but we would have ridiculed that method as well. And at least it relates to smoking, not just a quote from Phil.

TX515's first comment:

To quit smoking is to quit, not trade off nicotine in one medium for a different one. You have to quit cold turkey. Just stop. That is all there is to it. The strength and ability is comes from both within and from Him.

His second comment was the quote from Paul's Letter to the Phillipians (not just a guy named Phil), and was in response to a comment that asked if "Him" referred to "Patrick Swayze." Oh, and no one ridiculed the method of making oneself sick that I mentioned, which was actually a suggestion made on the first page.

I expect great attention to detail from lawyers. 😉

 

[Law2Doc]

His second comment was the quote from Paul's Letter to the Phillipians (not just a guy named Phil),

Duh -- everyone on this thread is aware of this, we were just yanking his (and apparently your) chain. Perhaps you guys should turn the other cheek.

And that still doesn't explain why he is praying to Rowan Atkinson...

 

[Vox Animo]

Pretend cigarretes are religion/jesus, then you should have no problem quitting. At least judging from the responses seen above. 😀

Come on people relax. If you quote the bible for the sake of plugging it into your opinion, you will get inflammatory responses. Non-religious people find that offensive, sort of like belching at a fancy dinner.


I'm sure whatever you believe is fine, but the quote you gave initially seemd out of context, if you had said that prayer and reading the bible gave the the dedication to quit, no one would be flamming you.