40+ combined years

[wildirish317]

Got the most amount of sleep that I have had for awhile last night.
Woke up three times, and took a melatonin each time.
Doing better this morning

That's good. It gets better. Just take it one day at a time. Today is all that matters. Don't worry about tomorrow.

[swishnomo]

Got the most amount of sleep that I have had for awhile last night.
Woke up three times, and took a melatonin each time.
Doing better this morning

[worktowin]

There are times that I think the anxiety is getting better.
And there are times, like last night that the insomnia/anxiety is worse.
4 good hours sleep = headache this morning.
I have tried the Natural Calm that was suggested.
The downside is, on a 61 year old guy, it makes you have to get up and pee in the night.

Praying constantly and thankful for a wonderful wife...

There is a guy named SamueL that hits his first year around the sun today. I would strongly suggest that you read his intro.

It will get better.

[swishnomo]

There are times that I think the anxiety is getting better.
And there are times, like last night that the insomnia/anxiety is worse.
4 good hours sleep = headache this morning.
I have tried the Natural Calm that was suggested.
The downside is, on a 61 year old guy, it makes you have to get up and pee in the night.

Praying constantly and thankful for a wonderful wife...

[FLLipOut]

We are all pulling for you, Bob! Exercise is a good idea. I also recently started cutting back on caffeine because it contributes to anxiety. Hopefully the Lexapro will kick in soon - those kinds of meds usually take awhile.

I hope you are getting excited for your trip!

[pab1964]

My Dr. encouraged me to go ahead and purchase the tickets for the Uganda Missions trip with my son.
The trip will be for 11 days, over Thanksgiving. My Dr. thought I should be much better by then.

Insomnia has been a problem, and all the Tylenol PM and melatonin just didn't help.
Dr. prescribed a mild sedative to help me sleep, as needed.
Used it a few times 10 days ago, when my wife was gone, and had to use it the past two nights to sleep.
But really didn't like it because it makes me groggy in the morning.
Hopefully the Lexapro will fully kick in now and I won't need that.
It will be 14 days today that I have been on the Lexapro.

I really don't crave a chew. Besides the anxiety, I have had a sour/metal taste in my mouth, like my tongue is coated.
Seeds / salt just cauterizes/ makes it loose more taste.
I had gained weight in the first 2 months, but lost 5 pounds in the past 3 weeks.
Just wish some of these withdrawing and re-wiring symptoms would go away soon.
At Day 108, I can say the past 4 weeks have been much tougher than the first 80 days.
Thanks for all of you that have 'been through the Valley' and continue to offer encouragement.
I hope to be able to do the same, further down the road...
Bob

Do you exercise bro?

Cuz, I'm tellin' ya, some purposeful concentrated physical activity can do sooo many things.

Burn off anxiety
Regulate stress
Ramp metabolism
Help sleep

I mean, the list goes on and each item is a benefit to you.

You're getting there man. Don't lose focus and lean on the quitters who have reached out to you. Freedom is worth it.

Water and exercise are huge. Damn proud of you! Every damn second your quit you should be excited. This addiction is extremely hard to drop but definitely not impossible, I'm living proof. Keep doing what your doing and by the way your helping all of us letting us help you and you sharing your experiences with us, it strengthens our qiits! Quit on badass!

[AppleJack]

My Dr. encouraged me to go ahead and purchase the tickets for the Uganda Missions trip with my son.
The trip will be for 11 days, over Thanksgiving. My Dr. thought I should be much better by then.

Insomnia has been a problem, and all the Tylenol PM and melatonin just didn't help.
Dr. prescribed a mild sedative to help me sleep, as needed.
Used it a few times 10 days ago, when my wife was gone, and had to use it the past two nights to sleep.
But really didn't like it because it makes me groggy in the morning.
Hopefully the Lexapro will fully kick in now and I won't need that.
It will be 14 days today that I have been on the Lexapro.

I really don't crave a chew. Besides the anxiety, I have had a sour/metal taste in my mouth, like my tongue is coated.
Seeds / salt just cauterizes/ makes it loose more taste.
I had gained weight in the first 2 months, but lost 5 pounds in the past 3 weeks.
Just wish some of these withdrawing and re-wiring symptoms would go away soon.
At Day 108, I can say the past 4 weeks have been much tougher than the first 80 days.
Thanks for all of you that have 'been through the Valley' and continue to offer encouragement.
I hope to be able to do the same, further down the road...
Bob

Do you exercise bro?

Cuz, I'm tellin' ya, some purposeful concentrated physical activity can do sooo many things.

Burn off anxiety
Regulate stress
Ramp metabolism
Help sleep

I mean, the list goes on and each item is a benefit to you.

You're getting there man. Don't lose focus and lean on the quitters who have reached out to you. Freedom is worth it.

[swishnomo]

My Dr. encouraged me to go ahead and purchase the tickets for the Uganda Missions trip with my son.
The trip will be for 11 days, over Thanksgiving. My Dr. thought I should be much better by then.

Insomnia has been a problem, and all the Tylenol PM and melatonin just didn't help.
Dr. prescribed a mild sedative to help me sleep, as needed.
Used it a few times 10 days ago, when my wife was gone, and had to use it the past two nights to sleep.
But really didn't like it because it makes me groggy in the morning.
Hopefully the Lexapro will fully kick in now and I won't need that.
It will be 14 days today that I have been on the Lexapro.

I really don't crave a chew. Besides the anxiety, I have had a sour/metal taste in my mouth, like my tongue is coated.
Seeds / salt just cauterizes/ makes it loose more taste.
I had gained weight in the first 2 months, but lost 5 pounds in the past 3 weeks.
Just wish some of these withdrawing and re-wiring symptoms would go away soon.
At Day 108, I can say the past 4 weeks have been much tougher than the first 80 days.
Thanks for all of you that have 'been through the Valley' and continue to offer encouragement.
I hope to be able to do the same, further down the road...
Bob

[worktowin]

One day at a time, Bob...

You are doing great!

[swishnomo]

I went to the Dr. yesterday. He says the Lexapro should kick in the end of this week.
The insomnia contributes to the anxiety.
Thanks for all of the encouragement that it will get better.
Go Tribe!
Bob

[FLLipOut]

Prayers going up!

[swishnomo]

I am scheduled to go with my 36 year old son and 11 year old grandson on a Missions trip to Uganda for two weeks over Thanksgiving.
We need to finalize the purchase of tickets by 10/20.
With the anxiety, I cannot imagine going, but I also cannot imagine not going.
Praying the Lexapro kicks in soon and the Lord takes the anxiety away.

I also will not be able to post roll for those two weeks.
Thanks for caring and prayers,
Bob

[brettlees]

Spend a lot of time on this site swishnomo. You will find a lot of support, everywhere you look. The only thing we all have in common is our quit.

^^^^ yep. Glad to be quitting with you. Keep it up! keep posting in the intros here so we know how you are doing. Posting here lets more quitters, of all levels, see where you are (and how to help). keep it going strong!

[wildirish317]

Spend a lot of time on this site swishnomo. You will find a lot of support, everywhere you look. The only thing we all have in common is our quit.

[swishnomo]

Congrats on day 100!

Glad to hear your cancer wasn't any worse  the Good Lord has given you second chance at the rest of your life. Congrats on not wasting that opportunity  joining us here!

I'm sorry to hear you've had anxiety though. It's not uncommon,  what was for me one of the worst aspects of quitting. I never thought I was an anxious person either, but had to have worktowin talk me down one night a couple weeks into my quit for quitting for me surely would've ended right there that night otherwise. I didn't yet understand what was happening. I'm still not clear if tobacco is used to mask anxieties, or if the brain chemistry becomes so messed up from it that it takes awhile to mentally heal. Either way it's common enough to experience, even for guys who haven't had those symptoms before.

Lexapro is a wonderful drug though. I'd made it to about where you're at in my quit,  about broke down out of completely irrational anxiety. Thankfully I got a good doc who's helped me through it. I took ativan for the first couple weeks they say it takes the Lexapro to kick in. Low enough dosage to not be addicting. Lexapro though isn't really habit forming,  your doc will of course monitor you on it. From my experience, that's only a good thing. I still take it a couple years later, at a lower dose ( not every day) to keep general stress/anxiety in check, but don't have the panic attacks I once did. After a long regimen I can see my way off it.

Congrats again nomo! Your body has already been healing for a hundred days now  you're on the path to success. You'll notice the healing comes more  more each day. One day at a time. Also with daily posting, it helps everyone to know we're all sharing the same struggle. Posting is quick insurance that no matter what happens that day, you won't go back. Day 1,151  I know I'm not cured of the addiction. I probably never will be. But as long as I post, that option is off the table. For today. I could always choose not to post tomorrow, but eventually as you work your way through the site  get to know some good guys ( gals) that have your back, you won't want to let the down  will keep posting. Even when you don't feel like doing it for yourself. When I was dipping alone, tomorrow was always soon enough to think about quitting. With a group of brothers ( sisters) doing it together, quitting has to get done today.

Thank you Mike.
Sharing your experience of anxiety is helpful.
I just cannot understand why it came in so bad at 75- 80 days.
I would have expected it more so in the first 2 months.
I slept great the first month, now with the anxiety I am having trouble with insomnia.

I told worktowin that given a cancer diagnosis is a great motivator to never go back.
Having a surgeon take a hunk out of you, also doubles determination down.
I have a great accountability partner in my wife of 41 years, she is from The Lord.
I appreciate your support.
Bob