As the smoke clears
I spent over 10 years with a cigarette in my hand. And I was an on-again/off-again smoker before that. But just over three weeks ago, I snuffed out my last butt.
No patches, no gum, no supplemental medication and no sissy half-assed-attempt quitting device. I did what many call “Cold Turkey“. I think the best way to quit smoking is to STOP BUYING cigarettes and STOP SMOKING them.
Anyway, I’ve had some interesting experiences since quitting and none of them are mentioned in any list of what is supposed to happen. And additionally, the great stuff that was promised to me hasn’t shown up yet…
Dreams
My dreaming has become more vivid and frequent than I can ever remember it being in the past. I’ve been told that this is a common side-effect of the quit smoking drug Chantix, but didn’t expect it from quitting on my own. Makes me wonder if the dreaming is an effect of quitting, but the drug enhances it?
Allergies
Another interesting side-effect is allergies to pollen and weed and such, which before only flared up for a few days in the spring, now are a consistent source of sneezing and coughing. Perhaps the smoking was suppressing my natural allergies, or more likely suppressing my body’s natural reaction to the allergens.
Stronger sense of smell
This was a big promise on the list that hasn’t come to realization. And it’s one that aggravates me a little, since it would be a welcome enhancement. I’ve detected no change in my ability to smell anything except the presence of cigarette smoke. Since I no longer smoke, I can smell that a mile away. Otherwise, my sense of smell is unaffected.
Whitening of the teeth
Another empty promise. I’m using the whitening mouth wash, and the whitening toothpaste, and I have yet to see any difference. There’s no way I’m quitting coffee too.
The big promise
The really big pluses of quitting don’t show up until you’ve been smoke free for a year or more: Lessened chance of stroke, coronary heart disease and heart attack, improved lung function, decreased occurrences of cough, shortness of breath and so on. But I’ll get there, and I really hope I pick up that super sense of smell along the way, and some pearly’er whites would be appreciated too…
I’m glad to see we’re finally taking this seriously. Well, as serious as the BBC can be, anyway.