My Introduction Journal

[bryank530]

I have not spent a lot of time here as we are moving across country in 10 days but I had some thoughts I wanted to write down, Hopefully I can get a little more KTC time after the move.

I was mid twenties when I first quit, and stayed quit for almost 7 years, the dates are foggy what a blur those years were.. My point being the NIC Bitch never goes away, it was always there and eventually it found an excuse... Better said I let it find an excuse to get back in my life. The feeling of wanting a dip really never went away, there were always triggers.

Now after 7 or so years of dipping I am 38 and quiting again. Lets say round two so I have been through this dog and pony show before. My only advice to anyone just getting started is quit cold turkey, the patches and all that crap will not work. After the first few days do whatever it takes to funnel all hate and anger in your body towards dipping, US Tobacco. If you have any pain in your mouth convince yourself its cancer (and have it checked out). This is as my title says a mental game, you have to be strong and get ready for a battle!

Go into stores and don't look at the counter - avoid drinking for 6+ months - HATE THE MAN, U.S. Smokeless can fuck off, any company that sits there and denies that their product causes cancer, death needs to be burned to the ground.

Anyway's just a thought on day 25 for my fellow Quitters

[Bean]

Good to hear. Stay strong and stay quit.

[Scowick65]

It's amazing how fast things are changing...Most of the symptoms from a few days ago are gone, dry mouth, no sleep (second night of good sleep), mouth numbness and jaw pain. I do have an issue on the left side of my mouth which I think is tooth related (seeing dentist again Thurs).

Taste Buds!!!!!!!!a few days ago I really started tasting food... The normal crappy McDonalds Angus burger tasted like a 5 star meal, it was so damn good, I haven't tasted flavors like that in a long time, everything I eat is like that right now.

Great job. It great that things are getting better for you. Try to remember all of this good stuff. You can use against the nic bitch when she tries to fuck with you from time to time.

[bryank530]

It's amazing how fast things are changing...Most of the symptoms from a few days ago are gone, dry mouth, no sleep (second night of good sleep), mouth numbness and jaw pain. I do have an issue on the left side of my mouth which I think is tooth related (seeing dentist again Thurs).

Taste Buds!!!!!!!!a few days ago I really started tasting food... The normal crappy McDonalds Angus burger tasted like a 5 star meal, it was so damn good, I haven't tasted flavors like that in a long time, everything I eat is like that right now.

[Larry Drummer]

great to see your Roll Posted this morning and you got sleep. My sleep was horrible for the first couple of days, although I have been waking up early and feeling refreshed and ready to go!
Hang in there and continue to post and quit. One day at a time!
Keep up the quit!

[Greg5280]

Welcome to the party...

Check your inbox ( 1 ) . That will get you started.

[jaygib]

Welcome Bryan, glad to have you with us on the journey to freedom.

Post roll everyday, I thought it dubious the first few days myself but then I figured that there may be somebody that's struggling today that may get energized by seeing my name saying I won't use today. Then I can try to give some encouragement to others even as I will want to use today and that in turn encourages me to hang tough--fake it til I can make it for now.

[Scowick65]

I went to the dentist on Friday as I have this bump on my lip that is scaring the crap out of me. It's been there on and off over the past 6+ months. According to my dentists she said it was an irritated salivary gland, I am not sure I buy that one but she did not seem overly concerned. She also said my gland below my jaw was slightly swollen and she wanted to see me again in two weeks. Since then I know that gland under my jaw has went down to normal.. the bump on my lip is the same one day its nothing, next day its irritated and sore. No discoloration or anything just hurts.

  Other symptoms are as I posted in my first roll calls, I wake up every 2 hours, sleeping is horrible right now. My jaw hurts most of the day and I have the occasional  itching sensation HAHA on the outside of my chin/jaw area. I may be over reacting but I tend to do that.

You may just be hypersensitive right now, or if you are really concerned, go to a doctor. In the event it is more than just an irritated Salivary Gland, you need to know NOW. If you read the stories, the kind of cancer dippers get we don't find out usually until it is too late.

One of the vets will be sending you instructions. That said, post roll everyday. This the most important thing. It builds commitment and accountability. About the sleep thing. Expect trouble sleeping for a bit. For me, it was around three weeks. The site will have a list of symptoms to expect to experience. I pretty much had them all. You probably will as well.

Great decision on your part. I am glad you joined us.

[rhester03]

I went to the dentist on Friday as I have this bump on my lip that is scaring the crap out of me. It's been there on and off over the past 6+ months. According to my dentists she said it was an irritated salivary gland, I am not sure I buy that one but she did not seem overly concerned. She also said my gland below my jaw was slightly swollen and she wanted to see me again in two weeks. Since then I know that gland under my jaw has went down to normal.. the bump on my lip is the same one day its nothing, next day its irritated and sore. No discoloration or anything just hurts.

Other symptoms are as I posted in my first roll calls, I wake up every 2 hours, sleeping is horrible right now. My jaw hurts most of the day and I have the occasional itching sensation HAHA on the outside of my chin/jaw area. I may be over reacting but I tend to do that.

You may just be hypersensitive right now, or if you are really concerned, go to a doctor. In the event it is more than just an irritated Salivary Gland, you need to know NOW. If you read the stories, the kind of cancer dippers get we don't find out usually until it is too late.

[bryank530]

I went to the dentist on Friday as I have this bump on my lip that is scaring the crap out of me. It's been there on and off over the past 6+ months. According to my dentists she said it was an irritated salivary gland, I am not sure I buy that one but she did not seem overly concerned. She also said my gland below my jaw was slightly swollen and she wanted to see me again in two weeks. Since then I know that gland under my jaw has went down to normal.. the bump on my lip is the same one day its nothing, next day its irritated and sore. No discoloration or anything just hurts.

Other symptoms are as I posted in my first roll calls, I wake up every 2 hours, sleeping is horrible right now. My jaw hurts most of the day and I have the occasional itching sensation HAHA on the outside of my chin/jaw area. I may be over reacting but I tend to do that.

[bryank530]

Hi everyone...It is so nice to say that my last dip was 16 (almost 17) days ago. I doubt my dipping story is that different from many others but here it goes, enjoy my horrible grammar and really bad jokes.

I started dipping at age 17. For 10 years I chewed about a can a day and for some of those years smoked in an attempt to quit chewing... Well I saw some Dateline/48hour TV special (1998). It was about chewing and the lies of the smokeless tobacco industry and at the end of the show there was a guy holding his baby, crying and talking about tossing his can out the window only to drive home from work and pick it back up. Well that message hit me pretty hard at the time and I did not dip or smoke for the next 8 years. That is some pointless history before the unfolding disaster...

Fast forward those 8 years, I was fighting a drinking problem that was completely out of control, 18 to 30 beers a night for 5 of those years, here is the best part. In my infinite wisdom I thought “hey if I start chewing I can ease out of the drinking” So besides being an alcoholic I started chewing again. Needless to say I drank just as much if not more and picked up my old habit of chewing a can a day.

First I am very proud to say that my last drink was Aug 9th 2009. I continued to dip because I was allowed one bad habit. Right? Well I am here today thinking I may have played roulette a little to long. I have tried to quit a few times over the past 2 years, usually the one or two week quits but used the “I don’t want to drink again” as my excuse to start up again.

To become sober was one of the toughest things I have ever been through, the physical withdrawal symptoms were hell. Chewing hasn't been as bad but I am more pissed off at the entire situation, so mad that most cravings or triggers are shot down quickly...But in both cases I firmly believe one needs a great support system to stay clean and this looks like a great resource... I look forward to hanging out here, sharing some stories and next year cheering (dip free) when the Cowboys win the Super Bowl.

For some reason this site confuses me, I posted in the roll call and I do this everyday?

Bryan