Quitting smoking while in med school...

[Colba55o]

---

Members don't see this ad.

First let me preface this by saying, everyone here knows how bad smoking is, so bashers please don't even bother before you start on how we are killing ourselves, etc.
But are there any other med student smokers out there? I have been on an off for 10 yrs, quit for half of my 1st year of school, but have been smoking again throughout most of my 2nd year. I'm very surrepetious about it, as there are no open smokers in my class, or the school for that matter. I would not be surprised if there were other undergrounders like me tho.
It is a pain in the ass cuz I have to come home in the middle of the day just to smoke. I'm going to get a prescription for chantix or wellbutrin tommorrow and see if that works because the patches, gum and lozenges haven't.
PLEASE no disparaging remarks. Its amazing how people (esp sanctimonious med students) are more sympathetic to heroin and cocaine addicts and their struggles to quit, but we are labeled as weak minded and told that we stink. An addiction is an addiction people. What makes the smoking addiction so hard to break is that it is legal, the damage is insidious, and you can live a productive life, and get As in your classes, be successful, which would be near impossible to do as any other kind of addict.
Basically looking for a quit buddy/someone whos done it before while in a high pressure situation like we are in now

 

[OncoCaP]

First let me preface this by saying, everyone here knows how bad smoking is, so bashers please don't even bother before you start on how we are killing ourselves, etc.
But are there any other med student smokers out there? I have been on an off for 10 yrs, quit for half of my 1st year of school, but have been smoking again throughout most of my 2nd year. I'm very surrepetious about it, as there are no open smokers in my class, or the school for that matter. I would not be surprised if there were other undergrounders like me tho.
It is a pain in the ass cuz I have to come home in the middle of the day just to smoke. I'm going to get a prescription for chantix or wellbutrin tommorrow and see if that works because the patches, gum and lozenges haven't.
PLEASE no disparaging remarks. Its amazing how people (esp sanctimonious med students) are more sympathetic to heroin and cocaine addicts and their struggles to quit, but we are labeled as weak minded and told that we stink. An addiction is an addiction people. What makes the smoking addiction so hard to break is that it is legal, the damage is insidious, and you can live a productive life, and get As in your classes, be successful, which would be near impossible to do as any other kind of addict.
Basically looking for a quit buddy/someone whos done it before while in a high pressure situation like we are in now

Can you afford a "quit smoking" treatment program (e.g., an organized program, not just a prescription for patches)? I know my school offers one. I've know of several people who have had success with that. One lady took this program where you progressively give yourself nicer rewards as you stay off the cigarettes. For the longest period in the program, she rewarded herself with a dog, which I thought was a bit humorous (but, hey, it worked for her). A different person ... one of my former employees quit successfully on his own eventually after trying and failing a handful of times. From what I've seen ... don't be discouraged if you don't succeed in quiting the first time. Obviously try every time, but don't be discouraged if it takes a couple of tries.

 

[shivasHeroLike]

i did for most of undergrad, especially during exam time.


but then i started workin out at the gym.

after a good work out, you won't desire a smoke because it will feel like you're wastin' everything you just did.

best of luck

 

[Arctic Char]

i can sympathize greatly. i chewed tobacco for 9 years before starting med school. somehow, i ended up quitting chewing when i started med school (nicotine in 1 can of copenhagen = 341 cigs. i chewed 3 cans a week). but i was successful only because i was weaning myself off chew with cigarettes. bad news. i then became a regular, 2 pack/week smoker. but, now i have finally quit it. i've been tobacco free for 2 months, and it feels good.

now, everyone's addiction is unique in particular ways, so there is no magic bullet for everyone. but there are ways to counter all kinds of triggers and cravings. for me, it turned out that the nicotine addiction was the most significant aspect of my behavior. so, nicotine patches worked extremely well for me, like a charm. i simply never had any cravings anymore, and the rest was just out of sight, out of mind. the hard part was after a week or two, i would forget to put the patch on, and around 11:30 am, i would go looking for a smoke. so, i had to remind myself to keep putting on the damn patches. but they worked, for me.

now, i do still miss chew. but i haven't had a chew for 2 years, and i don't think i want to go back. i don't want to go back to smoking either.

and yes, condescneding looks from non-smokers are as unpleasant as the looks we probably have on our faces when we get caught. its a fact of life, so i stopped trying to hide it. if they have a problem with me smoking, they aren't payng enough attention to their own problems - 'cause we all have them. but in reality, people are judgemental in so many ways that being a smoker is probably just one thing on a list of behaviors others' shake their heads at. hard-core christians who think i'll go to hell, or send my patients to hell if i don't love christ, or if i treat a homosexual; or the selfless bleeding hearts who condemn any references to commerce in medicine (who, usually, are the ones coming from rich families who don't have $100K's in debt);, etc etc etc

please no one reply to christian comments. i'm a very welcoming and understanding person, but i have recently learned of classmates with "ulterior motives" and frankly, unbelievable assertions.

anyway . . . good luck on your struggle. it isn't easy, but it is worth it. best wishes . . .

 

[Tired]

Can you afford a "quit smoking" treatment program (e.g., an organized program, not just a prescription for patches)? I know my school offers one. I've know of several people who have had success with that. One lady took this program where you progressively give yourself nicer rewards as you stay off the cigarettes. For the longest period in the program, she rewarded herself with a dog, which I thought was a bit humorous (but, hey, it worked for her). A different person ... one of my former employees quit successfully on his own eventually after trying and failing a handful of times. From what I've seen ... don't be discouraged if you don't succeed in quiting the first time. Obviously try every time, but don't be discouraged if it takes a couple of tries.

It really seems like, had you thought harder, you could have worked up a much more impressive speech about how terrible smoking is.

I'm just saying.

 

[Tired]

First let me preface this by saying, everyone here knows how bad smoking is, so bashers please don't even bother before you start on how we are killing ourselves, etc.
But are there any other med student smokers out there? I have been on an off for 10 yrs, quit for half of my 1st year of school, but have been smoking again throughout most of my 2nd year. I'm very surrepetious about it, as there are no open smokers in my class, or the school for that matter. I would not be surprised if there were other undergrounders like me tho.
It is a pain in the ass cuz I have to come home in the middle of the day just to smoke. I'm going to get a prescription for chantix or wellbutrin tommorrow and see if that works because the patches, gum and lozenges haven't.
PLEASE no disparaging remarks. Its amazing how people (esp sanctimonious med students) are more sympathetic to heroin and cocaine addicts and their struggles to quit, but we are labeled as weak minded and told that we stink. An addiction is an addiction people. What makes the smoking addiction so hard to break is that it is legal, the damage is insidious, and you can live a productive life, and get As in your classes, be successful, which would be near impossible to do as any other kind of addict.
Basically looking for a quit buddy/someone whos done it before while in a high pressure situation like we are in now

This will sound like a terrible suggestion, but I swear to you, this is what I did.

Make the switch from smoking cigarettes to the dip.

It sounds gross at first, but here are the advantages.

1) You still get you nicotine. If you dip often enough, you even get more.

2) You don't smell, so you don't have to worry about running to bathroom to wash your hands and spray yourself with cologne. No matter how comfortable you are with your smoking, you would always rather that your residents don't know, right?

3) You spare yourself the ugly sanctimony of your fellow med students (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE).

Seriously think about this. You dip long enough, and you don't even want a cigarette any more. Trust me, I speak from my own experience.

 

[Arctic Char]

thats is probably the worst advice i have ever heard.

 

[Tired]

thats is probably the worst advice i have ever heard.

Is it really? Switch to the dip and avoid all the lung cancer and cardiovascular complications involved in smoking. Why is that such awful advice?

Oh wait, I know, because if you're a "smoker" then you are, by definition, a terrible person. And until you break the hold of your addiction, you are not considered a full member of society.

Listen. If you're in med school, and you're a smoker, life sucks ass. If you switch to dip (which is infinitely easier than quitting outright) you will be much more acceptable to your faculty and coworkers. Later, when you have more time, you can put in the effort to quit totally.

Again, I'm only saying this because I was/am in the exact same situation.

 

[Scoot]

This will sound like a terrible suggestion, but I swear to you, this is what I did.

Make the switch from smoking cigarettes to the dip.

It sounds gross at first, but here are the advantages.

1) You still get you nicotine. If you dip often enough, you even get more.

2) You don't smell, so you don't have to worry about running to bathroom to wash your hands and spray yourself with cologne. No matter how comfortable you are with your smoking, you would always rather that your residents don't know, right?

3) You spare yourself the ugly sanctimony of your fellow med students (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE).

Seriously think about this. You dip long enough, and you don't even want a cigarette any more. Trust me, I speak from my own experience.

This is what I did too. The reason this works is that eventually I gave up dipping on my own easily for a few reasons:

1) It's hard to dip unless you build you life around it. You can't do it in the library or class or at most jobs. So you end up going for longer and longer periods without the nicotine rush and eventually you just get tired of the time commitment required to take a dip.

2) It really is unappealing, more so than smoking to friends, family, and the opposite sex.

I guess I only have two, but it has worked for me many times(!). Suffice it to say that the only way you'll probably ever stay of the smokes is to get in shape. That's all that has kept me off for any amount of time. But the dip works. Good Luck!

 

[78222]

My old roomie used the combination of self help books, nicotine patches, and an SSRI. Good luck!

 

[jdh71]

Most student health docs are actually pretty savvy with this. Make an appointment, tell them you want to quit, and start work. The bupropron helps tremedously. I tried the gum for awhile, but just found myself addicted to the gum - HA! And he patches made me anxious and figity. Try it all - its ifferent for everyone. Don't be so hard on yourself. Work with your doc.

 

[Law2Doc]

I tried the gum for awhile, but just found myself addicted to the gum - HA!

That's kind of the point of the gum. You WANT to get addicted to the gum, since it's the nicotine you are addicted to, not the cigarettes. So if you can get your nicotine fix elsewhere then that's a GOOD thing because you won't likely get the major illnesses of smoking from the gum.

 

[Colba55o]

Switch to dip? Its funny, cuz I used to dip in high school. The day I quit was the day I woke up and took a drink from my opage arizona iced tea bottle, which I had forgotten was my spitting can from the night before😱
It still never fails to amaze me how smokers are treated with so much more animosity than any other addicts. Even though we know that nicotine is more addictive than any of the other substances abused. I really think it makes some people feel good about themselves to put others down (well at least I'm not a smoker..eww)
I'm going to try to make another attempt while we are on winter break now.

 

[Law2Doc]

It still never fails to amaze me how smokers are treated with so much more animosity than any other addicts. Even though we know that nicotine is more addictive than any of the other substances abused. I really think it makes some people feel good about themselves to put others down (well at least I'm not a smoker..eww)

I suspect the disdain is largely because smoking causes a lot more casualties, and drives up healthcare costs far more than other addictions. But few addicts are well treated -- you are just more attuned to the treatment of smokers.

 

[Arctic Char]

Tired -

why don't you read my first post.

and besides, i shouldn't even have to illustrate why its a bad idea.

 

[jdh71]

That's kind of the point of the gum. You WANT to get addicted to the gum, since it's the nicotine you are addicted to, not the cigarettes. So if you can get your nicotine fix elsewhere then that's a GOOD thing because you won't likely get the major illnesses of smoking from the gum.

Yeah, I know. 😀 But trading one addiction for another, or more properly changing the method of administering your drug of choice seems a bit . . . unproductive IMHO. Most addicts lack the will power early on to do any sort of taper on their own, and I would presonally suggest cold turkey when the time comes. I know there is a lot of nuance here - important nuance - but at the end of the day the best way to stop doing a drug is to stop doing it. I can speak as someone who knows. I also know it is nothing close to easy.

 

[logos]

I've heard good things about chantix just mentioned in passing from our (preclinical...) professors.

I sent some info on it to my dad and now he is going to give it a try after christmas sometime. Hes tried just about everything and failed so i'm crossing my fingers..

 

[PralineT-8]

I quit after seeing just one to many COPD patients. It's been over a year now and I don't understand how I used to do it.
Paul

 

[PugMD]

It takes a few times to quit successfully, so don't get discouraged. However, if you really, really want to kick the habit, it's completely within your grasp. I used the gum and told myself that if I could stay away for 3 months I'd let myself buy a new flat screen😀

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

Is it really? Switch to the dip and avoid all the lung cancer and cardiovascular complications involved in smoking. Why is that such awful advice?

I'm not a pro by any means, nor do I have any statistics handy to back me up, but isn't this just trading lung cancer for throat/mouth cancer?

 

[Scoot]

I'm not a pro by any means, nor do I have any statistics handy to back me up, but isn't this just trading lung cancer for throat/mouth cancer?

Clearly, the goal is not to continue dipping indefinitely...at least I thought that was clear in my earlier post. For most professionals and students who are in a prof. setting, dipping is difficult and most people find it unpleasant after long enough. You lose your sense of taste to a much higher degree than while smoking and it stains your teeth worse too. Many people who were originally smokers and switch to dip eventually are able to wean themselves off dip.

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm not a pro by any means, nor do I have any statistics handy to back me up, but isn't this just trading lung cancer for throat/mouth cancer?

Agree. If you are going to switch nicotine delivery systems you really want to use the gum, patch or candy versions, which are not as dangerous. Folks can get pretty messed up with dip.

 

[TPROrgoTutor2]

Chantix has been working very well for me so far.

 

[RRS]

If you review package insert info, Chantix has a lot better results than wellbutrin or nicotene replacement. It's a partial agonist / antagonist of the nicotinic receptor in the brain. No high from continuing to smoke.

As for dip vs smoking, deaths (per user) are much less in the dip groups. Plus it can noticed earlier than a lung cancer. But it destroys the teeth and gums.


I've had a lot of success with Chantix (as well as auriculotherapy) with my patients.

Neither is covered by most insurances. Pfizer isn't sampling Chantix in my area anymore - they're having too much trouble keeping enough in the pharmacies

 

[Hodad]

I smoke pipes and cigars. I'm assuming responsibility for the health risks and simply playing the odds, because to be honest, I enjoy it. My only "fear" was the possibility of addiction, which is pretty much tempered by 1) the expense (pipe tobbacco and cigars are so damn expensive) and 2) the hassle of the amount of equipment and time you need to sit down and smoke a pipe. I don't know how the people that smoke pipes on the street do it.

My smoking frequencies increase around the time of exams, and for the rest of the year the habit sort of goes away on its own, and I've never felt a craving for them.

If you can't quit out of hand, I would suggest switching to these to help ween you off the habit, from a completely unscientific and unfounded perspective, merely from personal experience and opinion not scientifically reviewed, take it at your own risk.

Had to make sure the disclaimer was understandable enough. 😀

 

[Dr. McDreamy]

First let me preface this by saying, everyone here knows how bad smoking is, so bashers please don't even bother before you start on how we are killing ourselves, etc.
But are there any other med student smokers out there? I have been on an off for 10 yrs, quit for half of my 1st year of school, but have been smoking again throughout most of my 2nd year. I'm very surrepetious about it, as there are no open smokers in my class, or the school for that matter. I would not be surprised if there were other undergrounders like me tho.
It is a pain in the ass cuz I have to come home in the middle of the day just to smoke. I'm going to get a prescription for chantix or wellbutrin tommorrow and see if that works because the patches, gum and lozenges haven't.
PLEASE no disparaging remarks. Its amazing how people (esp sanctimonious med students) are more sympathetic to heroin and cocaine addicts and their struggles to quit, but we are labeled as weak minded and told that we stink. An addiction is an addiction people. What makes the smoking addiction so hard to break is that it is legal, the damage is insidious, and you can live a productive life, and get As in your classes, be successful, which would be near impossible to do as any other kind of addict.
Basically looking for a quit buddy/someone whos done it before while in a high pressure situation like we are in now

wow, the people at your school must be a lot smarter than the people at my school. I have several friends who are heavy smokers. One is trying to quit (but mostly just chews nicorette constantly). the other openly smokes and i often take study breaks with him while we're studying to smoke. I also see quite a few other people at parties smoking....but i dont know if they are only drunk smokers or what. no one really seems embarrased about it though...it's certainly not surreptitious.

it's definitely something you're going to have to get under control. come 3rd year you're not going to be able to go home during the day to have a smoke when you're at the hospital for 12 hours a day.

 

[Dr. McDreamy]

Switch to dip? Its funny, cuz I used to dip in high school. The day I quit was the day I woke up and took a drink from my opage arizona iced tea bottle, which I had forgotten was my spitting can from the night before😱
It still never fails to amaze me how smokers are treated with so much more animosity than any other addicts. Even though we know that nicotine is more addictive than any of the other substances abused. I really think it makes some people feel good about themselves to put others down (well at least I'm not a smoker..eww)
I'm going to try to make another attempt while we are on winter break now.

smokers are treated with more animosity than other addicts b/c smoking exposed everyone else in the vicinity to foul smelling smoke. it makes eveyrone else stink whether they like it or not. at least if you're doing lines in the bathroom it doesnt affect me

 

[MattD]

smokers are treated with more animosity than other addicts b/c smoking exposed everyone else in the vicinity to foul smelling smoke. it makes eveyrone else stink whether they like it or not. at least if you're doing lines in the bathroom it doesnt affect me

I was going to chime in on this very point. The main reason non-smokers dislike smokers so much is that we are forced to breathe the byproducts of your habit, it makes everything around us stink, and if we complain about the smoke and smell many smokers give some sort of ignorant and self-righteous speech about how they have a 'right' to smoke, and if we don't like it, that's our problem (they're often QUITE rude about it as well). Now I'm not saying every smoker has that attitude, but it's still annoying.

I'm not coming down on the OP in any way though, hell, I've smoked in the past and definitely enjoy the occasional cigar. I wish you luck in quitting and hope you can do it without too much trauma 🙂 I do however think the 'switching to dip' method is, frankly, idiotic. There are other ways to quit that don't lead to a resection of your jaw. People aren't going to be any less disgusted when they have to watch you spitting in a cup either. Anyway, good luck to you, I don't envy you on trying to quit during med school, the stress is making me want to START smoking these days 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

If you review package insert info, Chantix has a lot better results than wellbutrin or nicotene replacement.

While I'm sure it's a good drug, I hope you aren't taking drug company insert info as gospel. All of these products are on the market because they all work to some degree.

 

[Tired]

I do however think the 'switching to dip' method is, frankly, idiotic. There are other ways to quit that don't lead to a resection of your jaw. People aren't going to be any less disgusted when they have to watch you spitting in a cup either.

It may gross out everyone, but it's a hell of lot easier to sneak off and get a dip in on the wards than it is to find somewhere to smoke. And when you come back, you don't have to worry about your classmates, residents, and patients turning up their nose at you and making comments about how bad you smell.

My comments to the OP are coming from the perspective of someone who actually likes smoking, but recognizes how socially unacceptable it has become. If you want to quit for health reasons, obviously dipping isn't the way to go, although it is certainly less hard on your heart, lungs, and vascular system than smoking is. But if you still want the nicotine rush without getting ripped on by your coworkers, the dip is viable alternative. The nicotine replacement products, while effective in helping people quit, simply don't give you the rush that tobacco products do.

 

[RRS]

While I'm sure it's a good drug, I hope you aren't taking drug company insert info as gospel. All of these products are on the market because they all work to some degree.

I think well run double blinded placebo controlled studies give me about the most I can hope for in terms of evidence for efficacy. They don't promise safety (too small for pre-marketing data), of course

 

[Colba55o]

I was going to chime in on this very point. The main reason non-smokers dislike smokers so much is that we are forced to breathe the byproducts of your habit, it makes everything around us stink, and if we complain about the smoke and smell many smokers give some sort of ignorant and self-righteous speech about how they have a 'right' to smoke, and if we don't like it, that's our problem (they're often QUITE rude about it as well). Now I'm not saying every smoker has that attitude, but it's still annoying.

As much as I want to quit this kind of thinking still pisses me off. There are very few things in life that you are FORCED to do and being around people who are smoking, I refuse to believe is one of them. What are these circumstances in which you are forced to breath in smoke? Bars? Clubs? Well naturally you are forced to frequent these establishments.
Unless there is a smoker living in your home, there arent many places left where you are allowed to smoke other than bars. Newsflash, if you don't like smoky bars, then don't go!

As for the smell, people smell for a number of reasons, its just that if they smell like smoke that makes it fair game to call them out on it.
And trust me, if that person doing lines in your bathroom is your anesthesiologist, her/his actions will affect you more than a cig would.
Ever heard of drunk drivers, or the kind of trouble alcoholics get in that affect others around them? Ever heard of an innocent kid being shot in a cigarette deal gone bad? Why is it taboo to harshly criticize substance addicts except for nicotine?
Ultimately all smokers should quit, but its the kind of thinking that its ok to ridicule and berate smokers, that propagates the idea that it's not an addiction, just a choice they make because they have nothing better to do with their money and time and lungs then waste them on cigs.

 

[RRS]

While I'm sure it's a good drug, I hope you aren't taking drug company insert info as gospel. All of these products are on the market because they all work to some degree.

I think well run double blinded placebo controlled studies give me about the most I can hope for in terms of evidence for efficacy. They don't promise safety (too small for pre-marketing data), of course

 

[deleted77919]

There are very few things in life that you are FORCED to do and being around people who are smoking, I refuse to believe is one of them. What are these circumstances in which you are forced to breath in smoke?

I can think of one. Recently I was on a crowded plane sitting next to a lady who had clearly smoked about three packs simulatneously right before running in the airport at the last second to run through security and jump on the plane. I thought I was going to die for the entirety of that 2 hour flight. I almost offered $50 to anyone on the plane willing to switch with me.

 

[jdh71]

It may gross out everyone, but it's a hell of lot easier to sneak off and get a dip in on the wards than it is to find somewhere to smoke. And when you come back, you don't have to worry about your classmates, residents, and patients turning up their nose at you and making comments about how bad you smell.

My comments to the OP are coming from the perspective of someone who actually likes smoking, but recognizes how socially unacceptable it has become. If you want to quit for health reasons, obviously dipping isn't the way to go, although it is certainly less hard on your heart, lungs, and vascular system than smoking is. But if you still want the nicotine rush without getting ripped on by your coworkers, the dip is viable alternative. The nicotine replacement products, while effective in helping people quit, simply don't give you the rush that tobacco products do.

Yep, the dipper-dog is a great way to get your nicotine without smelling like an ashtray. It's also great or the library and studying in general. Although for me there always seemed to be some sort of dipper-colic reflex 😉 .

Although since it is associated with oral, throat, and esoaphageal cancers, I do not reccomend anyone take up this approach.

I remember, whilst doing what I thought would be a chill ENT elective during surgery last year, all of the oral cancer we did. We were in the OR all day long with those jaw surgeries and when you read in your text about 1-2 cm margins . . . well . . . we got them, and what was left . . . let's just say: do not plan on dating again

 

[Tired]

Yep, the dipper-dog is a great way to get your nicotine without smelling like an ashtray. It's also great or the library and studying in general. Although for me there always seemed to be some sort of dipper-colic reflex 😉 .

A "dip-colic" reflex? Holy crap, for me it's completely the opposite. When I still smoked, I used to take a dump like 8 times a day. I used to wonder if I had Crohn's Disease or something. Then I quit, and I crap like a normal person now . . .

I remember, whilst doing what I thought would be a chill ENT elective during surgery last year, all of the oral cancer we did. We were in the OR all day long with those jaw surgeries and when you read in your text about 1-2 cm margins . . . well . . . we got them, and what was left . . . let's just say: do not plan on dating again

That sounds like an awesome rotation. I'm kind of jealous now that I didn't do any ENT this year . . .

I'm not going to continue to belabor my point. Of course, the dip is fricking gross and no one should ever do it. I think though, what all the "never-smoked" people miss is that quitting is physically and emotionally painful for many weeks (if not months). It's hard for a normal person, and much harder for a medical student. Sometimes all our choices are hard, and sometimes we make bad short-term choices in order to avoid much worse short and long-term choices.

Am I justifying my own choice? Probably. But let me tell y'all, even with the NRT products, quitting is a nightmare. With the dip, quite a bit easier. Just my two cents.

 

[jdh71]

A "dip-colic" reflex? Holy crap, for me it's completely the opposite. When I still smoked, I used to take a dump like 8 times a day. I used to wonder if I had Crohn's Disease or something. Then I quit, and I crap like a normal person now . . .

Exactly! Put in a dip, take a crap. It's simple physiology 😀

That sounds like an awesome rotation. I'm kind of jealous now that I didn't do any ENT this year . . .

I'm not going to continue to belabor my point. Of course, the dip is fricking gross and no one should ever do it. I think though, what all the "never-smoked" people miss is that quitting is physically and emotionally painful for many weeks (if not months). It's hard for a normal person, and much harder for a medical student. Sometimes all our choices are hard, and sometimes we make bad short-term choices in order to avoid much worse short and long-term choices.

Am I justifying my own choice? Probably. But let me tell y'all, even with the NRT products, quitting is a nightmare. With the dip, quite a bit easier. Just my two cents.

I don't even think dipping is that gross. Some people do quit this way, others just start dipping. HA! I loved smoking. That first smoke in the morning, followed by the amazing crap was a great way to start the day. Normies will never understand this. I hate to say it but it wasn't health cosnideration that made me quit . . . it was my wife going out of her way to make sure every smoke was more miserable than the last. She won that one.

 

[Tired]

I don't even think dipping is that gross. Some people do quit this way, others just start dipping. HA! I loved smoking. That first smoke in the morning, followed by the amazing crap was a great way to start the day. Normies will never understand this. I hate to say it but it wasn't health cosnideration that made me quit . . . it was my wife going out of her way to make sure every smoke was more miserable than the last. She won that one.

Seriously, you are my new favorite person on SDN. You're my f*cking hero. Rock on, my friend.

👍

 

[jdh71]

Seriously, you are my new favorite person on SDN. You're my f*cking hero. Rock on, my friend.

👍

Nice! Talk about Christmas early! Thank you for the kind words.

 

[MattD]

As much as I want to quit this kind of thinking still pisses me off. There are very few things in life that you are FORCED to do and being around people who are smoking, I refuse to believe is one of them. What are these circumstances in which you are forced to breath in smoke? Bars? Clubs? Well naturally you are forced to frequent these establishments.
Unless there is a smoker living in your home, there arent many places left where you are allowed to smoke other than bars. Newsflash, if you don't like smoky bars, then don't go!

As for the smell, people smell for a number of reasons, its just that if they smell like smoke that makes it fair game to call them out on it.
And trust me, if that person doing lines in your bathroom is your anesthesiologist, her/his actions will affect you more than a cig would.
Ever heard of drunk drivers, or the kind of trouble alcoholics get in that affect others around them? Ever heard of an innocent kid being shot in a cigarette deal gone bad? Why is it taboo to harshly criticize substance addicts except for nicotine?
Ultimately all smokers should quit, but its the kind of thinking that its ok to ridicule and berate smokers, that propagates the idea that it's not an addiction, just a choice they make because they have nothing better to do with their money and time and lungs then waste them on cigs.

Dude, this is the exact sort of entitlement I'm talking about. Why should I have to refrain from enjoying a night out at a bar, perhaps listening to a local band or seeing a good comedy act, just because I don't want to breathe in secondhand smoke all night and come home smelling like an ashtray? Now I'll grant you that these establishments are welcome to set a smoking allowed or no smoking allowed policy at their preference, but no bar or club is going to do so because it would cost them so much business. Perhaps that's just too damn bad for the non-smokers, but SURELY you can at least understand the frustration of being unable to enjoy a night out without having to accept secondhand smoke exposure as the price! Why is it that we have to be 'considerate' and ignore the exposure from smokers, but smokers don't have to be considerate and perhaps, oh, I don't know, step outside for 5 minutes to get their fix? I couldn't possibly care less if you smoke or not. I don't think less of you for doing so. All I ask is that you not force me to smoke along with you. I recognize that it's an addiction, so if you want to quit, and overcome this addiction, hey, I totally support you, and would want to help just as I would if you were a coke addict. But from a purely selfish point of view, if you sit at home and smoke pot, or snort a few lines and party at home, that in no way affects me. If you come to the place that I'm trying to enjoy a nice night out, and start blowing smoke on me, that affects me.

 

[Writer1985]

Dude, this is the exact sort of entitlement I'm talking about. Why should I have to refrain from enjoying a night out at a bar, perhaps listening to a local band or seeing a good comedy act, just because I don't want to breathe in secondhand smoke all night and come home smelling like an ashtray? Now I'll grant you that these establishments are welcome to set a smoking allowed or no smoking allowed policy at their preference, but no bar or club is going to do so because it would cost them so much business. Perhaps that's just too damn bad for the non-smokers, but SURELY you can at least understand the frustration of being unable to enjoy a night out without having to accept secondhand smoke exposure as the price! Why is it that we have to be 'considerate' and ignore the exposure from smokers, but smokers don't have to be considerate and perhaps, oh, I don't know, step outside for 5 minutes to get their fix? I couldn't possibly care less if you smoke or not. I don't think less of you for doing so. All I ask is that you not force me to smoke along with you. I recognize that it's an addiction, so if you want to quit, and overcome this addiction, hey, I totally support you, and would want to help just as I would if you were a coke addict. But from a purely selfish point of view, if you sit at home and smoke pot, or snort a few lines and party at home, that in no way affects me. If you come to the place that I'm trying to enjoy a nice night out, and start blowing smoke on me, that affects me.

Agreed. And it's not just bars and clubs - restaurants, too. My friends and I like to hit up the IHOP near our school for study breaks, but their smoking section is laughable. It's separated from the non-smoking section by a one-foot wall, and there's no ventilation to suck the smoke-filled air away. So naturally, it wanders over to us. Every time I've gone there, I come back with my hair smelling of smoke, and it's almost impossible to get the stink out of my coat. So I've stopped going entirely, which is sad, because where else can you get a stack of chocolate chip pancakes at 2 in the morning?

Most of the so-called animosity towards smokers is because of situations like this. But anyone who looks down on someone trying to quit needs to fix up some of their own habits first.

 

[alexnaison]

In the new year 2007 I want to stop smoking, loooking now for some guides, what do you think about this stop smoke guide or can suggest something?

 

[Tired]

In the new year 2007 I want to stop smoking, loooking now for some guides, what do you think about this stop smoke guide or can suggest something?

Go see your doctor.

 

[deleted77919]

Is it really? Switch to the dip and avoid all the lung cancer and cardiovascular complications involved in smoking. Why is that such awful advice?

Well . . . looks like you aren't avoiding all of the cancer . . .


"Switching Poor Substitute for Quitting

In the study, published in Tobacco Control, researchers compared death rates among a group of more than 116,000 men who participated in an ongoing cancer prevention study from 1982 to 2002.

More than 4,000 of the men were former cigarette smokers who switched to smokeless tobacco products; nearly 112,000 were smokers who quit using tobacco entirely.

After 20 years of follow-up, smokers who switched to smokeless tobacco products had a higher risk of death from any cause, and were much more likely to die from tobacco-related diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

For example, switchers were 46% more likely to die of lung cancer than were quitters.

In addition, researchers found switchers were more than twice as likely to die from cancers of the mouth and throat as quitters.

Thun says the results support previous studies that show there is no evidence to support the promotion of alternative tobacco products for smoking cessation."

 

[OrangeTide]

Is it really? Switch to the dip and avoid all the lung cancer and cardiovascular complications involved in smoking. Why is that such awful advice?

at least cardiovascular complications and lung cancer are all internal vs. oral cancer where they start hacking away at your jaw, cheekbone and pretty much the whole area where the dip stays.

and come to think of it, another poster was right on. bleeding hearts are more sympathetic towards coke and heroin addicts than they are smokers. smoking is practically a crime in some "progressive" cities now.

 

[beefballs]

i can sympathize greatly. i chewed tobacco for 9 years before starting med school. somehow, i ended up quitting chewing when i started med school (nicotine in 1 can of copenhagen = 341 cigs. i chewed 3 cans a week). but i was successful only because i was weaning myself off chew with cigarettes. bad news. i then became a regular, 2 pack/week smoker. but, now i have finally quit it. i've been tobacco free for 2 months, and it feels good.

now, everyone's addiction is unique in particular ways, so there is no magic bullet for everyone. but there are ways to counter all kinds of triggers and cravings. for me, it turned out that the nicotine addiction was the most significant aspect of my behavior. so, nicotine patches worked extremely well for me, like a charm. i simply never had any cravings anymore, and the rest was just out of sight, out of mind. the hard part was after a week or two, i would forget to put the patch on, and around 11:30 am, i would go looking for a smoke. so, i had to remind myself to keep putting on the damn patches. but they worked, for me.

now, i do still miss chew. but i haven't had a chew for 2 years, and i don't think i want to go back. i don't want to go back to smoking either.

and yes, condescneding looks from non-smokers are as unpleasant as the looks we probably have on our faces when we get caught. its a fact of life, so i stopped trying to hide it. if they have a problem with me smoking, they aren't payng enough attention to their own problems - 'cause we all have them. but in reality, people are judgemental in so many ways that being a smoker is probably just one thing on a list of behaviors others' shake their heads at. hard-core christians who think i'll go to hell, or send my patients to hell if i don't love christ, or if i treat a homosexual; or the selfless bleeding hearts who condemn any references to commerce in medicine (who, usually, are the ones coming from rich families who don't have $100K's in debt);, etc etc etc

please no one reply to christian comments. i'm a very welcoming and understanding person, but i have recently learned of classmates with "ulterior motives" and frankly, unbelievable assertions.

anyway . . . good luck on your struggle. it isn't easy, but it is worth it. best wishes . . .

Ironically I used cope to quit smoking and was able to drop that habit pretty easily. SMoking is so rare and frowned upon in med schol that the habit/stimuli fo a smoke isn't there. I know a handful who do smoke when they are drinking, but as for the people who have at least one a day, I don't see them.

 

[Yachtclub]

Ironically I used cope to quit smoking and was able to drop that habit pretty easily. SMoking is so rare and frowned upon in med schol that the habit/stimuli fo a smoke isn't there.

For the OP, listen to this dude! Here's a sure-fire way to quit nicotine:
1.) Quit smoking, and switch to a wussy dip like Skoal Peach for a week to stave off the cravings.

2.) After about a week or two of "training wheels" dip, get yourself a can of Cope Snuff.

3.) Take a massive, four-fingered lipper and pack your whole bottom lip (anyone who played hockey will know this as "the gagger")

4.) Wait 15 minutes for the assloads of nicotine to do its job.

5.) Throw up your life. I'm serious, you will think you're giving birth through your esophagus.

After this, you will not want to touch nicotine for quite some time. I speak from experience; that was one terrible lacrosse practice- but I quit smoking and tobacco altogether after that one.

 

[emotis]

Honestly. Nicorette is the greatest thing ever invented.
1) Choose a date and stick to it
2) Find a quit buddy (they don't have to be a smoker, just willing to listen to you talk about the glory that is smoking)
3) If you mess up, it doesn't mean you're back to square one.
4) Try nicorette, its great because you can chew it during tests.
5) know that the first month will be no fun.
6) keep busy. I never thought about it during surgery rotations but it was harder when I had free time.
I am eight months off smoking. This was my 4th try and the longest I've gone.

 

[cfdavid]

I'm not bashing. You know what you have to do. But, even in first year (and I can imagine even more as the years go by), you'll hear how horrible it is for your health, and the problems it causes. You'll get this in class. So, pehaps that kind of "peer" pressure will work for you.

 

[johankriek]

www.quitnet.com