Hi Mossy,

How are you doing ?  The early days can be rough so I thought I would check on you.  

                                            Lisa 

Hi there everyone.  I am still sick .  So glad I quit smoking or I would be coughing a lot too and having a crap load of phlegm. I am not tolerating the antibiotic well in the GI department.  After today I have 2 more days left of the poisonous Z pack antibiotic .  My son brought me takeout chicken noodle soup with a baguette tonight for dinner.  It feels like I have beaten with multiple bats and all my joints hurt too.

I have a mini calendar on my bedroom wall and each day before I go to bed since I quit on Feb 2nd I put a smiley face sticker on the day I just got thru without  smoking .   Lots of smiley stickers on there now.  A great sight to see !!  

                                         Lisa 

Lisa,

I’m so sorry you’re still sick! I spent yesterday in and out of sleep with a fever. Today is better. I was also thinking how thankful I am that I’m not smoking right now. I can’t imagine.

That sucks you have an antibiotic that isn’t being kind to you. Like not feeling well isn’t enough? So nice of your son to bring you the right kind of food. It’s easy to just not eat if there aren’t good food options around when sick, I think. 

What a great idea with the stickers! More than halfway through February!

Jenny

Hi Lisa,

In your sick bed and find time to ask how I am, that’s touching, many thanks.

i would like to say fine, but fine is the wrong word. Muddled, confused, happy and concerned! Long time planning, didn’t just decide last Thursday to stop but was afraid to name a day. That was the day and now got to pull out all of the stops and get my life back. A life without smoking is my goal/ dream/intension.

Need good people around me, harder on my own and hopping I’m in the right place here.

get yourself better and write again soon.  
Maurice 

I feel for you, Maurice, the first couple weeks are so rough but as you pointed out, your strong intention and positive visualization of your new life as a powerful nonsmoker is exactly what you need to make it through the mental challenge of early withdrawal.  I had to tell myself over and over that it was all in my head, even though the physical aspects of the withdrawals (my fight/flight parasympathetic nervous system was in overdrive) were hitting me like really painful waves.   Like physical pain.  

In meditating or just hiding out under my covers dealing with the first weeks I tried to imagine myself being reborn.  Change/transformation can be painful but is worth it, always.  You know this already.  Thank god for this site as it introduced me to the NOPE philosophy and taking away the option of relieving the withdrawal pain with just one drag or smoke has ultimately made this whole process a lot easier.  

You're doing so great!   This is definitely our time to finally finally beat the addiction and to start our new lives as healthy nonsmokers.  Reading your posts and everyone else's on here, plus the encouragement of those who have already walked the path and made it to the other side, just makes me feel so grateful for this community.  I've never had this kind of support before.  We got this!

Erika

Hi Lisa!  I hope you feel better soon.  I love your idea of a positive visualization using stickers.  I'm gonna do that too.  Thank you!  You're doing so great!

Erika

Maurice,

Understandable you aren’t fine. I’m sure you know it gets soooo much better. Not knowing when is hard. I hope you get little bits of betterness (yes, I’m sure that’s a word) here and there that grow soon. 

Jenny

So very sorry to hear you are not feeling well.  Thankfully, you have a good son looking after you. That is a real blessing.  Not smoking is a great help.  Being sick will keep you from even thinking about smoking which is also  blessing.   Count your blessings and rest.  You will feel better and emerge a full blown non-smoker as well.

Thinking of you.  Cheers!

The first few weeks are a bit off from the norm, but that is what you signed up for.  You are a different person now.  You are a non-smoker and that will take some time and practice getting used to.  After all, who are you now?  This is the fun part.  You can go anywhere and do anything without that ball and chain (the cigarette and lighter).   What a relief.   You are free.  All you have to do now is stay free.  Your sense of well being will increase every minute of every day, of every week of every month.  Hang in there.  THere is nothing better than freedom from addiction.

Cheers and congratulations.

Lisa, 

Are the antibiotics starting to help yet? Hoping you’re feeling better!

Jenny