Day 10 and Moving Forward

[RNC]

RNC,
You are right on track with quitting, welcome to the insane asylum :). I was chewing a pack of gum or two a day, my jaw muscles and ears were sore. I had to cut back and mix it up. I would say, give yourself some time, if you ENT said it is all good, then trust them. I was also soo stressed that I was grinding my teeth and biting my cheek when I was sleeping.

http://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/sym ... -dip-chew/

Hang in there, your body is healing and getting used to the new you.
Proud to quit with you, Idaho Spuds

Thanks, I do have teeth grinding problems and have been wearing a nightguard for two years to limit the damage. Surprisingly I haven't needed gum or the herbal fake dip but I am going through some Icebreakers mints, the ones that come in a container almost the size of a dip can.

If the tinnitus doesn't subside in the next week or two I'll see a doctor again.

[Idaho Spuds]

I had my info removed from the RJR mailing list but they say it takes 6-8 weeks to process. That's crap but oh well.

About two years ago I suddenly started experiencing almost constant tinnitus in my left ear. Maybe it was caused by nicotine or other mess in the smokeless tobacco but I'm not sure. I had quit drinking two months before the tinnitus started and during that time my dipping frequency increased. The ENT doctor couldn't find anything wrong with my ear.

The tinnitus seemed to be better a year later but would come and go. Ever since I quit 17 days ago, the tinnitus has been constant again, loud and terrible. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I'm still having good days and bad days otherwise. Today was all right, but yesterday was not. Some days like yesterday I have this general feeling of doom, get very anxious about my life and future and can barely function.

RNC,
You are right on track with quitting, welcome to the insane asylum :). I was chewing a pack of gum or two a day, my jaw muscles and ears were sore. I had to cut back and mix it up. I would say, give yourself some time, if you ENT said it is all good, then trust them. I was also soo stressed that I was grinding my teeth and biting my cheek when I was sleeping.

http://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/sym ... -dip-chew/

Hang in there, your body is healing and getting used to the new you.
Proud to quit with you, Idaho Spuds

[RNC]

I had my info removed from the RJR mailing list but they say it takes 6-8 weeks to process. That's crap but oh well.

About two years ago I suddenly started experiencing almost constant tinnitus in my left ear. Maybe it was caused by nicotine or other mess in the smokeless tobacco but I'm not sure. I had quit drinking two months before the tinnitus started and during that time my dipping frequency increased. The ENT doctor couldn't find anything wrong with my ear.

The tinnitus seemed to be better a year later but would come and go. Ever since I quit 17 days ago, the tinnitus has been constant again, loud and terrible. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I'm still having good days and bad days otherwise. Today was all right, but yesterday was not. Some days like yesterday I have this general feeling of doom, get very anxious about my life and future and can barely function.

[Nomore1959]

Well, I made it through the business trip and returned home late Friday night. Waiting in the mailbox was a fucking Grizzly brochure with many coupons for $1 off per can. About a month ago before quitting I foolishly gave my contact info to a RJR representative at a Sheetz station in order to get three tins of Grizzly for $5. Now two weeks into my quit I get this damned thing in the mail.

It went straight into the shredder except for the small part which gives the number to call to have one removed from the mailing list. I will be calling that number Monday morning. F you american snuff company.

Nice victory! I suspect your savings are greater than their offer these days. 'winker'

You know that to keep in mind when you call that number?

Yup, this guy 'Finger' and his friend 'arse' for the Grizzy Mafketing Department.

Quit Hard!

[RNC]

Well, I made it through the business trip and returned home late Friday night. Waiting in the mailbox was a fucking Grizzly brochure with many coupons for $1 off per can. About a month ago before quitting I foolishly gave my contact info to a RJR representative at a Sheetz station in order to get three tins of Grizzly for $5. Now two weeks into my quit I get this damned thing in the mail.

It went straight into the shredder except for the small part which gives the number to call to have one removed from the mailing list. I will be calling that number Monday morning. F you american snuff company.

[RNC]

Thanks everyone. Today was my first business trip since quitting and the cravings were stronger than they have been so far, in places where sadly I used to dip all of the time (on the airplane, in the airport during a layover, in the taxi on the way to the hotel, within 30 seconds of entering the hotel room).

I'm posting from my phone since everything on my work laptop is monitored. If the phone can't handle the roll post tomorrow I'll PM someone for assistance.

[JB65]

Welcome BRun. Nice job on the post today. Keep it up. I smell a strong quit here and March looks to be a good group of bad ass quitters. You can do this. As all the vets above said, get active in March group. Before you know it, double digits will be here. Then the fog will begin to lift

You are still a young man and quitting at your age is exactly what you need to do. Don't be a stubborn ninja addict like me, and wait until your 50 to quit. I lost so many years.

Life is so much better in the quit side of the fence. You'll see.

Proud to be quit with you today ! See you on roll tomorrow morning!

[pab1964]

I have little round bumps on both sides of my mouth where i used to hold a pinch, they are salivary gland nerve growths. I also have this geographic tongue scarring. Both caused by dipping. I dipped for years after I these occurred. Sad but it's too late too change it now so we both need to just let it go and try not to think about the damaged we caused and move on to a healthier lifestyle. Especially oral health.

Like you, I continued dipping for years after realizing damage was being done. I have the little round bumps on both sides of the mouth also. After close examination today, my dentist said they, among other things in my mouth are abnormal but not dangerous. Yes, we have to realize what's done is done and move on to a healthier life.

Just keep in mind that there is nothing you can do about the past. You can only win for today. Continue to do so and it will ensure that no further damage is done. Who knows, maybe that next one was the one that was going to start those cells mutating...

No one's promised tomorrow but life is so much better without nic. I hardly ever missed my dentist appointment in my 38 year's of disgusting shit but my first 6 month check up after I quit, I never told the gal I quit dipping and guess what she knew immediately something had happened! So yes every day of quit is huge in healing and recovery, no more abuse on the ole body, the rewards of staying clean are huge! Damn proud of you! Stay quit at all cost!

[KingNothing]

I have little round bumps on both sides of my mouth where i used to hold a pinch, they are salivary gland nerve growths. I also have this geographic tongue scarring. Both caused by dipping. I dipped for years after I these occurred. Sad but it's too late too change it now so we both need to just let it go and try not to think about the damaged we caused and move on to a healthier lifestyle. Especially oral health.

Like you, I continued dipping for years after realizing damage was being done. I have the little round bumps on both sides of the mouth also. After close examination today, my dentist said they, among other things in my mouth are abnormal but not dangerous. Yes, we have to realize what's done is done and move on to a healthier life.

Just keep in mind that there is nothing you can do about the past. You can only win for today. Continue to do so and it will ensure that no further damage is done. Who knows, maybe that next one was the one that was going to start those cells mutating...

[Nomore1959]

Good call going to the dentist. Knowledge helps with anxiety -- your mouth will heal over time.

Congrats on double digits! It will get better. Stay strong, stay quit.

[Wt57]

Congrats on 10 days! And thank you for remembering your promise and your name on roll. I can promise you that it will get better. I'll quit with you every day. I'm glad your quitting younger than I did. I lost most of my teeth from dipping. The main reason I go to the dentist is to remove another tooth.

[RNC]

I have little round bumps on both sides of my mouth where i used to hold a pinch, they are salivary gland nerve growths. I also have this geographic tongue scarring. Both caused by dipping. I dipped for years after I these occurred. Sad but it's too late too change it now so we both need to just let it go and try not to think about the damaged we caused and move on to a healthier lifestyle. Especially oral health.

Like you, I continued dipping for years after realizing damage was being done. I have the little round bumps on both sides of the mouth also. After close examination today, my dentist said they, among other things in my mouth are abnormal but not dangerous. Yes, we have to realize what's done is done and move on to a healthier life.

[andrew33]

I have little round bumps on both sides of my mouth where i used to hold a pinch, they are salivary gland nerve growths. I also have this geographic tongue scarring. Both caused by dipping. I dipped for years after I these occurred. Sad but it's too late too change it now so we both need to just let it go and try not to think about the damaged we caused and move on to a healthier lifestyle. Especially oral health.

[RNC]

I probably should post an introduction, so here goes. Day 10 nicotine free is drawing to a close. I joined the site on day 5 and have been posting roll since then. The range of emotions during these last 10 days has been staggering, but for me, extreme anxiety has been the most prevalent.

My nicotine addiction began about 13 years ago at age 26 during a lengthy work assignment in Japan. Many people there smoke, the people I met smoked and I began smoking. I continued smoking after returning to the US 3 years later in 2005, and at that point we're talking about 1 pack/day.

In the summer of 2007, my 11 years younger brother who was a marine infantry officer at the time introduced me to Grizzly Wintergreen. While the first few lips induced dizziness and nausea, I continued to partake and left the cigarettes behind. This is a way to quit smoking, said my already addicted mind.

And here we are today after 8+ years abusing Grizzly Wintergreen. I noticed the mouth and tongue sores, receding gums and loose teeth quite a while ago. Those weren't enough to make me quit. What made me quit? A Saturday night of drinking with family, running out of Grizzly, bummimg Pall Mall cigarettes (and smoking for the first time in at least a year) and feeling like death on Sunday morning made me quit.

As I mentioned, anxiety has been the dominant emotion so far. I had convinced myself that I had cancer and it was too late. My left cheek is feeling swollen (has been for a while), there are rough patches all over my mouth and sores on my tongue. I focused on any strange feeling and amplified it into a personal emergency.

So I finally went to my dentist today, was completely honest and had a very thorough exam and cleaning. This is the first dentist visit in 3 years. The visit 3 years ago was the first since I started dipping. Before dipping I visited the dentist every 6 months as recommended. He found no suspected cancerous tissue, just significant scarring from the fiberglass in the dip cutting gum and lip tissue over the years. The tongue sores are likely a condition called "geographic tongue" and are benign. The swelling in the left cheek is probably a blocked saliva gland.

I have to admit, after the relatively positive news from the dentist, the thought of dipping again flashed through my mind. My next thought was the roll post I made this morning. Promise to quit for today, and I will do the same each day.