CAMH

Home
Main Forum
Quit Smoking
Coping with Cravings
Non-Smokers: How many days were the ABSOLUTE worst?

Advanced Search Form

Non-Smokers: How many days were the ABSOLUTE worst?

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

I have quit since November 2017. It wasn't a choice. I was visiting Lake Tahoe on the vacation of a lifetime. I had asthma and still smoked. That coupled with the cold I had was a recipe for disaster.

I woke up at 5 am not able to breathe. I woke up my husband and said please we need to go to the urgent care. At 7 am when they opened we were first in.

My oxygen saturation was at a 79-80 normal is 95 or better. They put me on Oxygen and started steroids immediately.

As I lie in the bed with the cannula of Oxygen not knowing if I would have to wear this for life or not I was terrified. I had seen people smoking on oxygen before. Couldn't believe my eyes.

At this point they were giving me 4 liters of O2 per hour I think? Anyway they told me 2 days later I could go home but would need to leave with an oxygen tank. They put me on a steroid and said to buy an Oxygen meter at CVS and take it off about every 8 hours and check to see if my oxygen levels got better. We came off the mountain and booked a hotel in San Diego. I had a tank and a box with 50 feet of tubing so I could walk around the room. I remember praying not religious but said "God if you give me my oxygen back I will never smoke again." 8 days later I took it off and my Oxygen was at 92. Wore it one more day and my oxygen was 95 percent. I kept testing every hour to make sure that it would stay. I thanked the Man/woman/thing upstairs and have kept my end of the bargain ever since. Don't let this be you. I still crave cigs every day and have gained around 15 pounds from quitting and steroids. At 50 years old I am not sure if I will ever be able to go to the mountains again. But I have no oxygen and wake up every morning and try and get 30 minutes on the treadmill. It is not easy. I made a promise to someone and intend to keep it. Sucks that I ever started. Glad I quit but should have done it many years ago. Good luck to everyone. Chewing gum helps. Nothing will ever give you that feeling of a cig in your hand and the meditation effect it has. But you will live and not walk around with a tube in your nose. Don't wait to learn the hard way. Do it now!!

Quit Meter

$248,070.60

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 6476 Hours: 1

Minutes: 54 Seconds: 38

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45939

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

551,268

Cigarettes Not Smoked

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12

As you have beem told it's different for everyone as for me its 10 months since i quit I took chantix to start that took the edge off of the cravings but they were still there and still bother me remember this is for your health you Will feel better in time I do no more hacking cough very little flem craving come and go they are hard but stay strong good luck on your quit it takes time let us know how your doing.

Ermio

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 808

Hey Nightlight,

As you said, it's different for everyone. No two quitters are the same, and no two quits are the same for the same quitter.

The triggers will be there for the rest of your life. You just need to learn how to deal with them. As for the cravings, I do not have an answer for you. I'm one of the lucky ones. After I started my quit, my mind was made up that I would never smoke again, and I never have had a real craving. I tried to be prepared for what to expect. You have to be prepared mentally for your quit to work.

The unknown is scary, and once again, that's why you need to be prepared. If you know what to expect, you'll know how to deal with it. Learn learn learn! You can never know enough.

Stay strong and I wish you the best on your journey.

N.O.P.E.

Quit Meter

$26,396.15

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 879 Hours: 5

Minutes: 7 Seconds: 48

Life Gained
Quit Meter

4363

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

95,986

Cigarettes Not Smoked

Stay safe & Strong.

Not One Puff Ever (NOPE)

Tim

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

Tomorrows my quit day, and I'm hoping to pick your brains in preparation!

For you, how many days are the very worst for cravings/triggers? How many days were there where you felt like you were hanging on by a thread, so to speak?

Are they the first 2 days, 4, 7, 45.....

I know it's different for everyone- but by asking about your personal experience, I'm hoping that learning about them will help ease the anxiety of the unknown. Just trying to get a feel for the water before I dive in.

Thank you in advance for your time and help!

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

Non-Smokers: How many days were the ABSOLUTE worst?