Been a while since I posted here so I thought I'd give a little update. It's been 56 days and taking it one day at a time is a virtue. Some parts of the quit have gotten better. The biggest things for me have been the relief from the headaches and sore gums. I must admit, it's an awesome feeling to be able to floss and brush without sore gums. Guess it's the little things in life!
I'm glad the fog has gone, but all of those who told me it would come rolling back in periodically unexpectedly were correct. The fog in the 30 day range was pretty intense at times. I feel like my rage has went down a bit, but I'm still filling a gap with caffeine. That'll be the next obstacle I need to overcome. I'd like to cut that down considerably. I have managed to get away from the fake dips. No ifs, ands, or buts about it...the fake stuff was a must for me. I finished out using the Teaza pouches and they were fantastic and filled a void.
I'm a little over halfway to HOF and this place has been the catalyst to getting this far. I've accepted that I am and always will be an addict. Following the program as designed (WUPP, ODAAT) has proven to be successful for me. I don't plan on deviating from the plan. I've been fortunate enough to have amazing support from my quit group and have built a real brotherhood with people I've never met. We share a lot of similarities and can relate to how we are each battling the quit. Our February group has really came together and I think we all have one another's backs at the end of the day.
It's exciting to be able to drive around and not have to worry about spilling a spitter in my vehicle. It's awesome to not plan my schedule around when and how I can dip the most. It's AMAZING to not be a slave to the C-store tobacco counter. It's funny because I've removed myself from the Cope mailing list and the bastards still send me coupons. The first time it happened post-quit it got to me....it was begging me to get that 1/2 off can of cope. However, thanks to this place, the temptation fought away because I had given my word to my brothers. The next time I got their coupons, I just tore them up and chucked them in the trash.
When I was growing up, smokeless tobacco, whether dip or leaf, was around me everywhere. It was welcomed accepted as a part of my culture. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that's not the case for my son. I spent over 20 years of my life a slave to a chopped, diced and chemically infused leaf in a little plastic can. Those days are over. Those days won't occur for my son if I have anything to do with it. I'm proud to quit with everyone on this site. Thanks to those who've supported me along the way. I will do everything in my power to pay that blessing forward.