Quit Smoking Success Stories

Well here I am day 52 of being a happy non smoker after having a 55 year habit.... this is my first attempt and very confident I will be successful.... feel so much better already....

Lucky 13 years! But my quit did not happen by luck! Wow – here I am at 13 years quit – not since I was a child have I been quit this long as I started smoking at age 12. I debated writing a ramble this year because I thought what else can I write so I asked DH for suggestions and he said for me to teach, tell people what can happen if they do not quit. I will try not to be preachy, but still keep it real. When I quit 13 years ago it had to be after almost a year of the doctor nagging me before the heart attack, I might not live to quit after. I could not breathe when I walked any distance or at a fast pace. I could not climb a flight of stairs or walk up a hill without using an inhaler. I still remember the summer I had pneumonia. I smoked less but still smoked. I remember having to go into the hospital to have a breathing treatment because I had the beginning of COPD. I thought it was Asthma; I walked out of the hospital and had a smoke, how crazy was I. Not crazy, addicted and my drug was impacting my ability to breathe and let’s be honest if you can’t breath you can’t live let alone do activities that you enjoy that require movement. Quitting was not easy. Messed with my depression, impacted my sleep but with this final quit, I finally quit playing with quitting and got down to it. I would quit for hours, days, weeks on previous attempts and make an excuse to smoke. Still unable to breathe well, but kept coming up with the excuses to smoke. There is never a reason to smoke folks. Addiction is lying to you, as I say you have to get past the smoke screen to see the lies of addiction. We cannot romance the smoke; the smoke has never given us anything. It tries to take credit for all you do for yourself. You do not love smoking, you love the relief you feel when you smoke and I have to keep it real. Smoking causes smoking. You crave because you smoked not because you quit, period. As many know, my DH lost his right leg due to a diabetic related infection. I am proud to say that not once during this time have I thought of smoking. Thankfully, he has never smoked because if he did the problems, he has would be so much worse. While he was in the hospital, I overheard a doctor speaking to a patient. He was telling them if they kept smoking, they were likely to lose a leg. It was just another thing in the long list of what smoking gives us, none of it good. Asthma, COPD, cancer, stroke, heart attacks, artery problems and I am sure many other things as well as poor to no quality of life. I would not want to be out hiking with an oxygen tank attached to me. I want to be honest. I do not think I would be alive today if I had not quit smoking 13 years ago. We suffer; I suffered when quitting because we smoked not because we quit. We were not born with a sickerette in our mouths and it is addiction that makes it hard to quit. I can walk upstairs, I can walk for miles up and down hills hiking. I can exercise and even when sick, I seldom require an inhaler anymore. Quitting is not easy – I admit that – but I do not imagine dying is either and for most of us smoking is a death sentence. The price of us dying is paid not only by us, but also those we love, as they will have to watch us die. Join me on the Freedom Road. Life is not perfect there but it is so much better then being tied to a sickerette that is killing us. Quitting is doable. We can all quit! Shout out a big HELL NO to smoking today and get it done. You will in time, be happy you did. Loud and proud at 13 years Cara D4748 2Y 11M Life saved $71,220 Money saved 142,440 Unsmoked

On my 49th birthday I decided I would be a non smoker by my 50th birthday. I started smoking when I was 17-18 so 31-32 yrs of smoking. I chose at random a day in my calendar and had a friend type in QUIT DAY with a day before reminder. That was June 2018. Well on Jan 29, 2019 my phone dingled and low and behold tomorrow was quit day. I opened my pack and shrugged. I am a long haul truck driver smoking 2 packs a day while driving. On Jan 30, 2019 I woke up popped some gum in my mouth and started my work day. It has now been 6 weeks since I quit COLD TURKEY and living with smokers I have no desire to have one. I was ready and set in my mind I was done...if someone who smoked 2 packs a day for 31 to 32 yrs can quit cold turkey you betcha you can too...best of luck to all of you who keep trying never stop stopping...this was my 6th attempt...we do have success.

I have been smoking since I was 12 years old and drinking since I was about 15. Both my parents smoked and drank, although they have both been quit smoking for about 30 years now, they still drink on occasion but not like they use to. I can't count the number of times I have attempted to quit, at least 50. Sometimes I make a couple of hours, other times, I make a couple of days, other times, a couple of weeks, a couple of months. The longest is about 4 months. I have had COPD since 2005. I also have an alcohol issue. On November 7, 2018, I quit smoking and drinking for what I am praying for will be my last time. My husband still smokes and drinks so that doesn't make it easy for me but I can't use that as an excuse anymore. I am also a closet smoker. Other than my husband and my daughter, no one in my family or at work knows that I smoke (or drink for that matter)This is my time to quit and I have to own that. I have been smoke and alcohol free for 6 days now. This time I have talked to my doctor. I am reading all kinds of success stories from people that have quit both smoking and drinking. I really hope I can do it this time but I know it's all up to me. A friend once told me that you won't quit until you are really determined to do it. I think I am totally determined this time. My health is suffering so much for all the bad choices I have made it my life and it's time for me to take back control. I hope my husband joins me someday, hopefully if I can be successful this time that will inspire him to also quit, but that's his choice, my choice is to beat this damn addiction once and for all.

I am only young still, began smoking when I was 15, thinking it would make me cool in high school and cure my depressive thoughts and teenage hormones! I was wrong, very wrong, and nearly 5 years later, after quite a few attempts, I’ve been quit now for 9 days and counting. This time, it’s been a little different, I actually was, in most ways, ready to quit. The previous times was to please the family members who kept nagging me to do so, my own guilt, and so forth. However, without the consistent nagging of my loved ones, I wouldn’t be here smoke-free! My boyfriend and I both smoked; if you’ve got a significant other who also smokes I believe it makes getting up that hill ten times harder. We quit together and I’ve used the aid prescribed by my doctor of Zyban, he, nicotine replacements for now. We are both hopeful in staying quit, feeling the benefits of our health, a better balance in our bank account, and a happier family. I would love to smoke cigarettes forever, but I know I can’t. Seeing my grandmother have COPD and always constantly stuck with her oxygen tank really struck me. So, one thing to keep me motivated is always that, if my grandma smokes for 60+ years and she quit at 80, me smoking for 4.5 years and not “heavily” does not seem like such a challenge. Both my grandparents lived to ripe old ages into their nineties and smoked for 60+ years, my grandpa being the only of two not to have any issues caused by smoking, but they quit at 80. I could take the gamble and hope my genes do me well in missing the boat of all the nasty things cigarettes can do to you, but I’d rather stay safe on the shore. After all, what I learned from quitting is that it’s not always about the big impacts, it’s the little things I noticed. Like how I am able to get up those stairs a whole lot easier just 9 days later, or how I feel more energised to take on tasks during the day. Also, how my mind is not constantly having to squeeze cigarette breaks into my days, not having to worry when I can have my next one. I feel free, and I love it. I hope it can stay this way and I hope all of you reading, no matter what age or what story or how long you’ve smoked or how many, I hope that you all can quit and stay quit! It’s never too late.

Hasn't been easy and its getting tougher as my mom is in hospital as of last week (lung cancer and other issues); she is 88 but its still not easy. Thought of having a smoke and then I was like "how is that going to help this situation" - so I didn't and I still haven't and I am very proud of myself. I was a smoker for a long time and I can't believe I'm doing so well! Take care of yourselves and have a good week!

It's only been 1 1/2 months since I smoked my last cigarette but so far, so good. While I have moments where I crave a smoke, they are short-lived. & I am doing it without any aids!! Yay Me!! :D

It’s a long story but with a happy ending. I tried my first cigarette at 11. Both my parents smokes and allowed me to do so. By age 14 I was a regular smoker. In my late teens and early 20,s I’d sometimes be up to 2-3 packs a day. I never met my grandmother as she died of lung cancer at 42 years of age. She was a social smoker only but it’s all the same. I vaguely remember my grandfather. He was a heavy smoker and died also of lung cancer when I was 8. In 2008 my father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and he died a year later at the age of 60. My mother died a few months ago at the age of 67 from endometrial/bladder cancer. Watching my parents suffer was terrible. The worse thing I have ever experienced in my life. The memories are forever burned in my soul and I will never forget the pain and agony they lived in their last days. I am now 41 and have no parents. I don’t want my son and husband to go through what I went through. I don’t want them to Suffer the heartache of watching me die from a smoking related illness that I could have prevented. I have made the choice to be a non smoker and am now heading into week 3. This is it for me. I am done. I will never have another cigarette again. It’s my promise to myself, my son, my husband, my bank account and to everyone in my life who cares for me. I am done!

Wow, 2 weeks today, it's been tough some days, but I made it here. I have been handling social situations well and I feel better every day. There have been some touch cravings to get through (I'm using Zyban to help with the quit), but still some very tough ones. I have a long commute from Fort Saskatchewan to Edmonton and use to easily have 3 cigarettes during the commute, always 2 for sure. This was the toughest part of breaking my habit. Lots of Hard candies in the car now is helping. I'm feeling positive for the future. Have a great week everyone!

I've realized there's never going to be a good time to quit. I'm 35, been smoking since 13-. No health problems so far- I just want yo be healthy and happy. I want to be active and fit-. I'm getting married and I don't want to die young. I have to push through this no matter how hard it is

On April 23rd, 2018 my husband and I had our last cigarette. That day is significant to us now as that is the day my husband was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. He is 42 years old. He and I had both smoked since our teenage years and thought we were invisible. We have always known what smoking can do but never thought it could happen to us. You always hear those stories about so and so's grandma or grandpa who had smoked until they were 90 and in the end it wasn't cancer that took them. In the back of your mind you are always thinking you might just be that 90 year old. Well we have now seen first hand that you are literally playing kamikaze each time you smoke that cigarette. Whether it be cancer, stroke or heart attack and any other disease that is associated with smoking you are putting your health at risk. Smoking is the #1 cause of bladder cancer and we are now on that rollercoaster and my husband deeply regrets that he ever started smoking. Bladder cancer is treatable if caught early, so know the signs. And yes, seeing how it can be a treatable cancer when caught early it still isn't pretty and my husband does not wish upon anyone what he is going through. Emotionally, mentally and physically. Cancer is cancer! About a month ago we got news the cancer hadn't spread and this past week my husband had the tumors removed and we are just waiting to see what the next step is. I am sad that it had to come to this for us to quite this nasty addiction. We still get cravings and know it will always be a battle. However in one of the most stressful times imaginable we quite. When in our minds before we used smoking as our crutch for stress we won't anymore. The reality of smoking came to us and now we are fighting something we wish we could have prevented.

Finally have become serious about quitting. Made plans I never did before. Have made feeble attempts before. But this time I’m arming myself with more support, aids (gonna use them properly this time by using them as per instructions instead stopping too soon). I have a plan now. I went to a pharmacist and got an intake done on my smoking( never did that before) I’m reading more educational material especially hints on how to beat the cravings. I also signed up here. I think this will make me more accountable. I’ve smoked for 30 plus years. My main reasons for quitting:1.no one to smoke with anymore ( the stigma of smoking) 2. My husband is influenced by me and believes he won’t live long if he continues to smoke ( has heart issues) 3. Health ,money,you name it Tired of this habit that rules your day. Anyway thanks for listening. Pray for me if you pray. Send good thoughts my way.

I have smoked for 50 years and have recently retired and am unable to take part time work so I don't have any money for anything extra so I have to quit smoking. My granddaughter also just quit and I don't want to let her down. I am having a hard time am on the patch but it is a generic brand so don't know how good it is but I had quit for 8 days and couldn't stand it any more so bought a pack. I just finished it and am trying again. Hope it works this time

I’ve been smoking for 43 years. I went to the doctors for the renewal of my license and she suggested “Alberta quits. This was because my blood pressure was through the roof and I was on medicine to bring it down yet couldn’t bring it down. Her face was white that I was still walking around and didn’t have a stroke or a heart attack. So I decided this is enough ! Today is my 10th day of not smoking and yes I still have a cravings once in a while for 3 to five seconds . No I’m feeling a lot healthier and exercising visiting my grandkids more and just all-around feeling great, my roommate who smokes for 40 years told me he’s amazed that I haven’t had a puff yet he continues to smoke but no he’s thinking if I can do it he can do it and you know what he’s absolutely right and I told him I would support him if you did Which he should and knowing that I helped at least one person to quit smoking makes me feel a hell of a lot better.

When I was 9 I tried my first smoke due to peer pressure. I didn't pick up another smoke until I was 15 and started smoking heavily to the point I was up to a pack a day. I quit in 2006 for a month, not because I wanted to but because my ex made me. My sisters ex came up to me and asked me if I wanted a smoke. I told him I was a non-smoker. The whole day I kept thinking about that smoke and how good it would be to just have one (bad mistake remember: NOPE). That one turned into one on the weekends and then one once a day. I was eventually right back up to a pack a day. I am almost 35 so almost 20 years smoking. A year ago I went for a Pulmonary Test. The doctor told me that if I continued to smoke I would end up with COPD. My breathing was like an 80 year old woman. I have asthma and was going through them every 2 weeks. I didn't want to quit at that point in time. Back in January of this year, I finally got a family doctor and still at that point had not been thinking about quitting. You know how it is, you go to see your doctor and they tell you "you should quit smoking". She referred me a Health Nurse for smoking cessation. I started QuitCore workshop (every Thursday) with a group of people (I found this really helpful in changing the way I thought about smoking and reworking my brain). I was not very confident at that point to quit smoking. My doctor asked me a few questions that hit home and asked why I would want to quit smoking. I knew that I didn't want to end up with COPD and I wanted to live to see my kids grow and their kids grow. I was spending over $400.00 a month on a stick that would eventually kill me. I could only come up with one reason why I was smoking (stress relief, relaxation which pretty much are one and the same) and a million reasons why I wanted to quit. I made the choice then that I would give it an honest to goodness try (and this time it was my choice). I set my quit date for February first. I saw my doctor again mid January and she prescribed me Champix. I started Champix on January 16, 2018. Smokes started to taste really gross. I still wasn't confident that I could quit smoking. But I was determined and this time it was my choice (though still not confident). Even the day before I quit I was not very confident to quit. But I kept telling myself that I can do this. Here I am today, One month and one week in and I feel great. I still get my urges but I keep telling myself why I quit. I really hope this is my forever quit. I do not have the smokers hack any more, however, I am still coughing stuff up. I still have the urges but remind myself WHY. I was able to sit with my grandma smoking in front of me. And now I can have a few beers without the urge to smoke. I also have been using the Quick Mist to help the really bad cravings. Better than picking up a cig in my opinion. I am pretty proud that I have made it this far and I know that it will take a lot to get me to smoke again. Advice Make yourself of list of why you like smoking, why you want to quit, benefits of smoking and benefits of quitting. Come up with a plan for the urges of smoking and how you will handle them. I never thought I could do it, however, if you have determination and the will power ANY ONE CAN QUIT IF I CAN. Keep positive. :)

I started smoking when I was 14 and now, 38 years later I know I have to quit. At the moment, no signs of health issues, other than being inactive because I get short of breath just going up a flight of stairs! I just NEED to do this....I don't want to die too young....I want to be more active and enjoy my life....I don't want to be the one sneaking off on coffee breaks at conferences to go outside to smoke. I want to be the one that joins in and meets people at events! I have decided to use Champix and the nicotine spray (and maybe a patch if I need it) and have found myself a 'work buddy' to help me through those cravings and help me break the habit of 'going for a smoke' and I have other support at home too. I have tried several times over the years to quit, and once, made it for 10 months....this time will be for good. I have a great doctor who is going to meet with me every couple of weeks to check in and I'm not just going to 'give up' if I happen to slip up! I have two grown boys that I want to spend lots more time with and good friends and a good productive life ahead of me...I want to have money to travel, lungs to sing and a mind clear of the hold of cigarettes. Thanks for sharing all your stories, they are good to hear.

I smoked for 40 years and smoking is cravings like wild fire. what is a cig-its a pinch of tobacco with fire on one side and a fool on the other side. I have stage 4 copd with emphazma on oxygen for 2 years. on 6 litres of oxygen I will never run again. l am the worst with 3 21mg patches on and 3 packs of smokes

My name is Barb, and I have smoked for 40 years. I can't believe I have been an idiot for that long. I was instantly hooked the first time I tried it at age 13, and eventually went from a casual smoker to realizing I wasn't able to quit. I have tried off and on over the years to quit and I did when I was pregnant, however the day I quit breastfeeding was the day I took up smoking again. Which is crazy!! I was recently diagnosed with COPD, and although I deserved the diagnosis, I was crushed. So now I have decided that is it, I'm done with smoking forever. I am grateful that my children and husband do not smoke and have never smoked. I have always been active and athletic which was something I planned on when I retire, however from being able to run 10km in less than an hour I have deteriorated to the point where I can barely run as I am unable to breathe. I hate myself for this and I just think what a waste

I smoked for 45 years and today I am 6 months without even a puff, I used champex, alberta quits and every smoking aid used by man, I still use the occational gum , but it is better than having a smoke, this week has been stressful for me and I have the urge to smoke , I was sitting in the hospital waiting room when I saw some old fellow in a wheelchair , with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth heading for the exit to have a smoke , it is -33 outside but that did not stop him. when he returned I could hear him hacking all the way to his room. I feel sorry for him , but lost my urge to have a smoke, if I have one I will start again, think I will have a Nicorette gum and think about how nice it is to be 6 months smoke free.

The week of Sept. 19: Sitting at my computer, smoking a cigarette, I reach up to a shelf and instantly feel a tightness in my left side of my chest. I go take an aspirin and it subsides. Sept. 20: I'm at my laptop, smoking a cigarette and feel a tightness in the left side of my chest. I go take an aspirin, but this time it doesn't go away. I feel it wrap around to the upper left part of my back. I can't breathe properly and the pain is getting worse. I wake my husband, we rush to the hospital. They kept me over night. I had 4 blood clots in my left lung. The next day, while I'm waiting for my prescriptions I all of a sudden say out loud, "Fk this shit, I quit!" I looked at the pharmacist and said, "I think I just quit smoking. Now what? I have been smoke free for 46 days and yesterday was my worst day since I quit. I live a half a block from the hotel where they sell cigarettes. I did not leave my house for two reasons; 1) I didn't want to buy any, it would have been too easy and 2) If somebody would have looked at me the wrong way I would have been facing assault charges. Today I'm feeling more in control again.