Day 5 and still going...

They say the first two weeks are the hardest... I just keep telling myself that. I would have thought that the intense cravings and dizzy head spins would have stopped by now... but they have not. I guess I have been chewing for so long that my body is very used to high levels of chemicals provided from the chew that it is in complete panic mode now that they are gone.

Mints, fake chew, gum... trying to think of other things... I've even thought about chewing tea bags! I know eventually the cravings will subside and I will be back to an even keel. I just hope it happens soon!

Hanging in there...

Trip to the Dentist

I made it my New Year's resolution to actually quit. On the morning of the 1st, I threw out about half a can of Timber Wolf and decided to go "cold turkey". Sugar free gum in my pocket, I was off. The first two days were ok, but the third day and especially evening was aweful. My mouth and teeth were in severe pain... almost as it they were crying out for tobacco. Today, the 4th, I went to the dentist to see what the dammage of chewing over the past few years really was. Amazingly, the soft tissue in my mouth, my gums, teeth, and bones were all ok. I am scheduled to have my teeth cleaned and talk to a dentist about crowning my back molars which have been worn down from grinding. I didn't even have a cavity!

Staying "quit" is a little harder today. I talked to a few people about it and I think the magic number of days is 14... My friends who have successfully quit said that the first 3 or 4 days are the worst, but after two weeks things get significantly easier.

I'll keep you posted.

Situation

So... I am trying to use this blog as a method to quit chewing tobacco. I have been a heavy user for several years now and I am sure it is affecting my mouth and my overall health. My hope is that just by "writing down" much of what I am thinking and feeling, these issues will become more real and I will be motivated to take action. I have tried to quit over and over again, only to go for a day or two and come right back to chew.

I started chewing Red Man back in 2003-2004 during a deployment to Iraq. I chewed very heavy for about 6 months. Upon return to the states I was able to quit until late 2005. I started chewing Red Man again off and on for about 6 more months. In 2006 I started a PhD program and stayed tobacco free for about a year and a half. Late 2007 I started chewing Red Man, Skoal and Copenhagen. I have been what I consider a very heavy user ever since. I go through a can every 2 to 3 days and there have only been a handful of "full days" over the last 2 years where I haven't chewed or dipped at all.

... more to follow... on the quest to quit!