Jennifer's Trip To Non-Smoker Land

Our terrific assistant Jennifer has quit smoking. We are so proud of her.

She wanted to put a sort of diary of her trip on our web site. It's meant to help others who are giving up smoking and to share the experience with our patients. Great idea. So here's Jennifer:

Hi, I'm Jennifer, Dr. Ross' Dental Assistant. We work together to help our patients have the best dentistry possible. I wanted to share my experiences with quitting smoking so it can help others with their decision to quit. So here goes. If you want to send me e-mail, you can send it to the office (just click on the envelope at the top of the page). I'd love to hear from you.

Friday, 8/14/10: I started my journey. I had smoked for almost 20 years. Today I began taking Chantix. You continue smoking for the first week on Chantix. So I did. After about five days I noticed that smoking wasn't giving me the satisfaction it normally did. I started to cut back.

Saturday, 8/22/10: OK. This is it! First day with no smoking. I was very nervous. I didn't know how I was going to feel and behave. But I was amazingly comfortable. I actually hardly thought about smoking at all. Of course, I was busy and that probably helped. I decided it would help to replace my addiction with a better addiction. So I joined Gold's Gym. They have lots of classes for women so you don't have to hang out with the huge muscleheads who all grunt and sound like rhinos. No smoking today. Wow! First day without a cigarette in a long, long time. Yay!

Sunday, 8/23/10: I slept pretty well overnight. I woke up craving sweets before going to the gym. I resisted. After the gym I bought some fruit and vegetables to use as munchies. As the day went on, I had some desire to smoke, but I found that if you wait about 3 minutes, it passes. I guess that's the Chantix at work.

Monday, 8/24/10: First day back to the office. Dr. Ross and Joan are unbelievably supportive, a real cheering section. A good day. No real problems. I was a little "antsy", but it passed quickly. I notice that the hardest part is driving to work. That's when I notice the craving. I'm going to bring along a little bag of carrots or string beans for car trips.

Tuesday, 8/25/10: Wow, weird dreams overnight. My Facebook friends tell me that's a side effect of the Chantix. Not an actual problem, just weird. Another day with very little desire to smoke. Lots of good things to do for and with patients. Keeping busy and focused on others is great.

Wednesday, 8/26/10: More weird dreams, very intense. A little nauseated this morning. Another Chantix side effect. People tell me it gets much better after a little while. No real problem. I notice how horrible the smell of cigarettes is now. I put on a light jacket this morming because it was a little cool out, but I had to take it off because I couldn't stand the smell - it hadn't been washed since before I quit. I really can't stand the smoking smell now. I'm going to have my car detailed to get the smell out of it. How could I have stood it before?

Thursday, 8/27/10: Still a little nauseated in the morning. But still no real problem. Hardly any desire to smoke. In fact, the idea of smoking is actually a turn-off now. Gold's Gym is very good. They have clases for women. Zumba, the fitness instructors, very supportive. I like it. Busy in the office, great patients who are all so behind me with this. We do so many interesting things here, so I'm occupied all the time. Dr. Ross is going to write a blog about my trip to Non-Smoker Land. He told me when I reach a month he'll buy me a box of great cigars (he was joking). I told him no thanks.

Friday, 8/27/10: No nausea today. Feeling much better. Even less cravings today. Had people even smoking around me and had no desire to smoke. Went to Gold's Gym and did my usual workout. I had a great workout. I went home, took my 2nd Chantix pill and rested for the rest of the night. Each day is getting much better with not feeling many cravings.

Saturday, 8/28/10: Woke up without nausea and went to the gym. Had breakfast. Then took Chantix. No urge to smoke and no nausea! Took trip to Atlantic City, gambled a little, won $100 at blackjack. Went out with some friends. Felt fine, even though people were smoking around me. Wow! Stayed overnight in A.C. Did OK.

Sunday, 8/29/10: Checked out, had breakfast, took Chantix, went to a festival in Atlantic City. Went to visit friends and family in Asbury Park. Had dinner and drove home. Felt great the entire day. Every day is better and better. Even the nausea is less and less. Very little urge to smoke, even at the tough times, like after a meal.

Monday, 8/30/10: Back to Dr. Ross' office for a full day of restorative dentistry for our terrific patients. Feel pretty good. Hardly any urge to smoke. In fact, the smell of cigarettes now is horrible to me. I did not think it was going to be as easy as it has been so far. I do recommend Chantix (if your Doctor approves). Everybody has been wonderful to me and has given me total support. I thank everyone who has sent me e-mail (JennCDA@aol.com).

Tuesday, 8/31/10: Still doing well. It is much easier day by day. Most of the cravings have gone away. Thank you, Chantix and all those who have encouraged me. If I got this far I definitely will not go back to smoking. I don't know what I was thinking to ever start smoking. Now I know how non-smokers feel about smokers. Smoking is a nasty habit and it stinks. I was driving and stopped at the light. The guy in front of me was smoking, the light turned green and I went through his puff of smoke and it came into my car. Now I see what they mean about second hand smoke.

Wednesday, 9/1/10: Wow, it's September already. It's still hot, but we know the summer is almost gone. My progress has been just unexpectedly good. I had no craving to smoke at all the whole day. I worked out after work for two hours and have no soreness. Feeling good. It is amazing to see how bad smoking made me feel now that I feel so much better. You just don't realize. I smoked for 20 years and I know I did damage, but I know I'm healing now. If you are a smoker, you can stop. If I can do it, so can you. Ask your doctor if Chanix is right for you. Or maybe there's another way that will work for you.

Thursday, 9/2/10: Another good day. I told Dr. Ross as we left the office at the end of the day that I don't see how I would ever smoke again. Maybe that's the Chantix talking, but I really do feel that I've experienced life as a non-smoker enough to know that I do not want to go back to feeling like I did.

I'm going to take the weekend off from posting and then I'll share how I did over the long Labor Day break.

Tuesday, 9/7/10: Had a good, quiet weekend. Just me and the dogs. Craving to smoke did not appear. Had some food dreams, which I do not like. Also discovered that I gained 3 pounds, but that's a Chantix side effect. It's not from eating more. Also can be due to my workout sessions at the gym (1 to 2 hours a day) which is adding muscle. Dr. Ross noticed that I'm looking trimmer. That was nice. So all in all, I'm a non-smoker and loving the way I feel.

Thursday, 9/9/10: Office closed for the holiday so a nice long weekend. Happy Rosh Hashanah to our Jewish patients. Feeling good. I have to say this: if you smoke and have wanted to quit, just do it! Get help. I'm using Chantix and it is working amazingly well for me. But there is the patch, hyponsis and other things to help you. Talk to your doctor. You will not believe how much better you will feel. Just do it!

Monday, 9/13/10: Well, Saturday was my last day on Chantix. I did not know what to expect. But I have no craving to smoke at all. I did feel kind of tired over the weekend and slept more than usual. I did not go to the gym Sunday. But all in all, I'm doing very well. The important thing is: no urge to smoke and everything feels better healthwise. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, 9/15/10: I'm feeling a little nicotine withdrawal -- Chantix said I would for the first 6-8 weeks after I stopped the drug. Today I had a slight cigarette craving but I wasn't even close to smoking. That's history. It just passed in about 3 minutes. No biggie. Also expected. Also having some hot and cold flashes (no, I'm not pre-menopausal). Also expected and predicted. I'm working out at the gym and all is well. Feeling really good without cigarettes. Huge difference.

Friday, 9/17/10: Still having cravings, but no problem resisting. Once I discovered how much better I feel without cigarettes, and how much I notice - and hate - the smell of cigarettes when I get near anyone who smokes or in a room or a car where people smoke, I have no trouble not smoking. How could I ever have let myself and my clothes and my car have that horrible odor? I feel so much better. I'm working out, losing some weight. Wow! One of the best things I've ever done. And thanks to Dr. Ross and Joan and our great patients and my friends and family for their encouragement.

Tuesday, 9/21/10: As I was told to expect, the desire to smoke hits at certain times, like driving in the car. But no problem. Not tempted. Dr. Ross says that at this stage my body is like a cornered animal, frantically fighting to win and smoke. It will pass, this is expected and normal. I am really liking my physical routines, which include yoga, zumba, cardio blast, running (treadmill, not in the road) and elliptical training. I'm so much stronger and I can BREATHE! No huffing after a flight of stairs. Not reaching for my inhaler after exertion. It is amazing how much better I feel after only five weeks off cigarettes. I'll never go back.

Friday, 9/24/10: Weekend coming. I'm so busy, which is good. All I can say is that if you want to quit smoking, you can do it. Don't wait anymore. Just get help (I used Chantix, but there are so many kinds of help) and do it. You will be so glad. Do I have cravings? Yes. But when I think of how much better I feel now physically and what I was like as an out of breath and smelly smoker, I just do not want to smoke.

Sunday, 9/26/10: Well, I was at a wedding today and lots of people smoked. Guess what? I didn't have any problem. Yesss! And my partner Laveeda drove us there in her car and she still smokes and her car smells like cigarettes and guess what? No problem! Feeling good. My zumba instructor says I have better color in my face than when I started. If can do it, you can do it.

Thursday, 9/30/10: Last day of September and what a rainy, windy day. Drive to the office was slow, poor visibility, lots of splash and puddles on Route 84. This makes stress, but no urge to smoke. Feel too good to want to smoke. I like it here in Non-Smoker Land.

Tuesday, 10/5/10: Something I ate at breakfast this morning make me feel sick, but Dr. Ross gave me some digestive enzymes and I feel better. Have no desire to smoke these days. That's history. I'm at the gym every day except Thursday and the physical activity is great. I feel stronger than I have for years and I really enjoy the workouts. The scale says I've gained four pounds but everyone says I look tighter and actually my clothes fit looser. I think the weight is muscle mass from the working out. No doubt that I am much healthier. I know it's dumb to say, but I should have done this years and years ago. Thanks to everyone for all your support and encouragement.

Monday, 10/11/10:  Today I have a cold.  IT FEELS LIKE IT DID WHEN  I WAS SMOKING!  OMG!  It is amazing how much clearer everything is now that I am free of the poison and inflammation that used to be my everyday reality.  I'm taking it a little easier than usual at the gym until the cold clears up.  I sure wish I had quit smoking sooner.  I like Non-Smoker Land.

Friday, 10/22/10:  Well this last week Dr. Ross' office has been on vacation.  So I had a chance to see how I do when I'm not super busy at work.  I did great!  I feel good.  I'm working out at the gym.  I do not have an urge to smoke.  My lungs are clear now that my head cold is gone.  The transformation from being a smoker to being a non-smoker is terrific!  I'm going to post about weekly for a while, and whenever there is something unusual to report.  And I say again: I am very appreciative for all your encouragement and support.

Thursday, 11/4/10:  I am doing so well.  It is one of the best things I've done. Life is better, way better, without cigarettes.  Again I want to say thank you to all of you who have been so encouraging.  I hope my little journal has encouraged others to take this step.  I will add to this journal whenever there is something new or exciting to report about my trip to Non-Smoker Land.  In the meantime, I'll see you in the office.


(More to come)