re: #124 CuriousLurker

I quit 7 yrs ago when an oral surgeon found a lesion in my mouth. It turns out it was an abrasion caused by a badly chipped back molar. I threw my cigarettes out that day. It wasn’t easy at all, I used nicotine patches for a couple weeks before my surgery, but the doctor told me I had to stop them no later than three days before I had to undergo anesthesia. I didn’t use them after the surgery. It was probably a month before I got through a day without wanting to smoke. It’s worth it though. I feel a lot better and have the stamina to hike and spend lots of time in the garden.

I also spent time doing stuff of a crafty nature, spool knitting, origami, that kind of stuff, just to occupy my hands. I never believed the people who told me kicking nicotine was as hard as narcotics, but I don’t doubt it now.