My introduction

[andrew]

The dreams definitely started.....

Last night was the second night that I had to suffer through a dip dream. This time I was at a supermarket, and I just wanted to get out of there before I started getting an urge to buy a roll of dip. I kept trying to grab cans of food, but everything looked like dip...the whole store, every single shelf, was stocked with rolls of dip. I finally managed to grab a gatorade and some gum and was at the register when someone cut in front of me and I was left standing there next to a rack of check-out dip. I was going nuts, and I was running from register to register trying to get out of the store.....

I hope this doesn't last long, I felt like crap when I woke up.


(edit)

Broke down and bought some seeds today. I don't usually go to the store for any reason, but I was craving HARD today. I have avoided the store for many reasons, but mostly because behind the checkout is a giant wall of rolls and rolls of dip and snuff...all tax free, of course. I have to walk past it to get out the door. So I grabbed my seeds and got out of there as fast as I could, the person who checked me out probably was wondering why I was sweating so profusely...but I made it. I'm glad I got the seeds, I needed something other than gum to help with the cravings.

[sapperred1]

Great 2 week quit.

[andrew]

Well, I just woke up from a wonderful all-night sleep, hopefully this stays the trend from here on out. Unfortunately I dreamt that I was power-chain-smoking my way through a pack of cigarettes. I hope I don't start dreaming more about this, I woke up feeling like absolute shit for giving in to the nic. I got over it fast, but I really don't feel like waking up every day like that. Two weeks today, we're in it for the long haul now.





(edit)

So I was talking to a buddy, telling him that I was at two weeks, and a guy behind me spoke up and asked if I had really quit for two weeks. When I told him I did he told me that today was his four month quit day. That was really encouraging. Just thought I'd share....that there are those who go ahead and can help encourage those who are still just starting (like most of us).

[teamgreen]

You will be sleeping like a baby soon. After the first 3- 4 day suck,lack of sleep was the hardest part of my quit. But it only lasted a few weeks. Into my second month and beyond, I was sleeping much better, and now better than I ever did when I dipped.

[sapperred1]

Glad to hear you are sleeping better. The sleep will get even better. I think now I am sleeping better then ever. I have been using a little more Ranger candy then usual for aches and pains. Not sure if it is because of the quit or not. Anyway Keep it up and stay strong.

[andrew]

Thanks for the encouragement, I actually fell asleep last night between midnight and 1 am and woke up to look at the clock...it was right around 5 AM! I was ecstatic, that's the longest I've slept in over a week. I actually had to double check my clock against my watch to make sure it was really true!

Today's been a great one, 13 days and counting without dip, almost a full night of sleep, and some great encouragement from the guys on this site. Sure, it's been hard, but things are shaping up, hopefully for good.

I still have some triggers, not so much in the usual areas you'd expect, but when I talk to some certain people I always want to have a dip in my mouth. I think I was using it as a crutch as well to give myself something to do while I listened to other people talk who I am....not so fond of, I guess you could say.

My back is killing me too....I used to try to dull the pain a little through nicotine use, but coming off it will probably force me to go get it looked at when I get back to the states near the end of the year. That might sound bad, but in reality it's good! My overall health is going to be so much better than when I was dipping....

It may sound strange, but I smelled my breath the other day....and it smells completely different. I don't think I ever realized how nasty my own breath was when I was dipping...with parts of my mouth dying....but that smell is definitely gone now...amazing!

[sapperred1]

Sleep will get better. It does take a few weeks though. For me anyway. Still have trouble at times. Stay strong you can do this.

[HKS]

Your body is re-adjusting and your brain is getting re-wired. Not a bad idea to go to the doctor and get some bloodwork done as you have already started off the new year in the right direction. Tell your doctor what is going on and how you feel. I am sure they will be supportive and give you the best direction possible. Stay quit and god bless. :D

[andrew]

Andrew glad to have a fellow service member in the quit. Stay strong and stay quit. I am on day 30 and the sleep does get better. I am doing alot of PT to stop the cravings too. PM me if you need anything or help just making it one day. I know how hard it is to be deployed and then try to quit. Take care and stay strong.

Thanks, I appreciate it, even if it comes from a guy with "sapper" in his name. I've been running like crazy to help with things, but the sleep is really kicking my ass. Last night I decided I was just going to go to bed early, since I've been dead tired for the past week/10 days or so....I tossed and turned for 30 minutes, slept for 30 minutes, and continued that cycle all night long. Terrible. I know I have a much better life to look forward to, I hope relief comes soon. I'd like to sleep again....

[jcook]

Another question for people in general:

I know that nicotine is supposedly really bad for circulation, but has anyone else had issues with their arms falling asleep when they sleep? I've had this happen to me for the past two years, and I'm just wondering if this is something that might go away now that I've quite dipping.......

Just some thoughts on that, if anyone knows about that aspect of the recovery process I'd be very grateful.

I had a bad problem with my foot falling asleep at odd times. I never made the connection until I quit. I am on day 47 and the problem has basically gone away. It improved over the first 3 weeks so much that I finally made the connection. Like Redtrain, I'm just one guy, but this was my story. Just another reason I am soooooooooooo glad I quit.

[sapperred1]

Andrew glad to have a fellow service member in the quit. Stay strong and stay quit. I am on day 30 and the sleep does get better. I am doing alot of PT to stop the cravings too. PM me if you need anything or help just making it one day. I know how hard it is to be deployed and then try to quit. Take care and stay strong.

[redtrain14]

Another question for people in general:

I know that nicotine is supposedly really bad for circulation, but has anyone else had issues with their arms falling asleep when they sleep? I've had this happen to me for the past two years, and I'm just wondering if this is something that might go away now that I've quite dipping.......

Just some thoughts on that, if anyone knows about that aspect of the recovery process I'd be very grateful.

Interesting you mention this. This used to happen to me all the time. I always thought it was the way I slept. I can't say that my arms have fallen asleep on me in two years or better. I'm only one quitter.....interesting anyway.

[andrew]

Another question for people in general:

I know that nicotine is supposedly really bad for circulation, but has anyone else had issues with their arms falling asleep when they sleep? I've had this happen to me for the past two years, and I'm just wondering if this is something that might go away now that I've quite dipping.......

Just some thoughts on that, if anyone knows about that aspect of the recovery process I'd be very grateful.

[andrew]

Well, today is pretty shitty. Yesterday I slept almost all night and it felt amazing. Tonight...not so much, I tossed and turned almost all night long. It was hard for me to fall asleep at all, and then I kept waking up at least once an hour. Terrible.

To make it worse I had an argument with my girlfriend over IM last night....for no real reason at all, I just started yelling at her for no reason. It's hard enough keeping a good relationship over here, even worse when I'm in a bad mood and pissed off from quitting.

I feel that huge buildup of stress during the day...one of the reasons why I started dipping in the first place. I've been trying to get rid of it through working out at the end of the day, but that only works sometimes. Definitely didn't work yesterday at all.

Ah well, there are great people on here encouraging me, but last night and this morning were just straight shitty.

Hopefully I'll be doing better this afternoon, I'm dead tired and yet stressed out at the same time.....

[Maverick55]

Andrew - tons of respect for you - thank you for your service! Stories like yours are incredibly motivating to this entire group - if you can quit while on deployment, what little shit problem that I'm dealing with could possibly be worth caving? Come here, post your promise, keep your word, scream if you need help - that's it. Let me know if I can do anything to help!