Nicotine and alcohol

[MyOwnWoman]

I "quit" smoking about a month ago. But then I'd buy a few single cigs on my 2-3 drinking nights each week (drinking cut down from 7 nights a week). Then two weekends ago I came down with pneumonia - and I feel somehow certain that it was those cheap awful cigarettes that got me sick. Now, two weeks later and still fighting congestion in my lungs, I'm disgusted by the thought of drinking or smoking. Yesterday when wine crossed my mind it grossed me out, and I knew I wouldn't want it without smoking, and I sure as hell am not going to smoke again.

By the way, a coworker of mine died 3 days ago after a long battle with cancer that began in his lungs. He was a smoker before he got sick. Married, 5 kids, only 45 years old. His illness is what finally motivated me to give it up. We have to accept that the consequences are REAL. Alcohol kills, smoking kills.

[mickyshell]

Hi all above,

I've always giving up smoking whenever I've been pregnant, and during the first few months afterwards, and during that time, still been able to have my minimum allowance of 2 drinks twice a week. smoke free. Then as soon as baby gets a bit older, and I can start to have a bit more me time, as I get onto the 3rd and 4rth drink, all smoking resolve goes out the window, and off I go again.

Then, after a couple of sober (or hungover) days, because I still class myself as a non smoker who just had a lapse of a couple of rollies, as the need for a rollie returns, I dont give in, but what I do do, is decide to have a drink, as then, I know full well that after a few, I'll allow myself to have a rollie, (or lots) with the excuse that it was because of the drink! over the years, I've never smoked unless drinking. But now find that I'm drinking much more than I would like to be.

The need for a couple of rollies = having 1 bottle of wine! so in my experience, they definately go hand in hand, and I so agree with the comment about noticing smokers drink more and stay out later, as an ex barmaid I too noticed that that is so the case, a smoke kind of keeps you less drunk, so you can have another drink, (although I'm sure it doesn't really). Have just ordered that book by caroline, so sad to hear she's died.

[mickyshell]

Thats terribly sad about your friend. I feel for his family and friends. I have 4 children, none of whom think I smoke. I've kept it a hidden "down the pub" secret. I had phneumonia and pluresy when I was 18, and gave up then as you have now, and was never going to do it again, but being so young, as soon as I was better it all went out the window, and now at 37, am serious about both smoking but more of a problem to me, the drinking (or is it? culd it be the need to smoke?) catch 22? hope your recovering myownwoman and stick with the clean lifestyle! Good luck!

[boozehag]

Glad to see this thread bumped back up again and welcome mickyshell. I am convinced that the smoking makes you drink more - well it certainly did for me. I have been smoke free since 1st April thanks to champix and I have also had more than 60 days now AF. I am going to try moderating AL for June as it seems in my brain anyway that without the ciggies there is very little desire to drink to excess. I had a few drinks over the weekend and without the double whammy nicotine hit a couple of drinks was just fine - it did not fuel any binge feelings and I just had enough after two drinks. I just hope it stays that way and that I dont get used to drink without ciggs and then be back to square one. I dont think I will but we will see.
BH

[mickyshell]

cheers boozehag for the welcome and Hi, when you've had a couple of drinks, doesn't that then make you really want to smoke??? and what is champix? thanks, and congrats on the 60 days AF! i'm on day 4 now of botha and am such a snappy ol'mare! will my bad mood level out? I hope so or this could be divorce!!! also I'm mrs puffy face! apart from being hangover free, the pro's aren't looking that great at the mo!!! haveing a bottle of wine with a couple of rollies is becoming a good idea again slowly! oh dear.

[boozehag]

Hello Mickyshell
I have always binge smoked when I drank and not just a couple of rollies either - a whole pack of 20 and more on occassion. I took the anti-smoking pills chantix (in US) or champix in UK and other civilised countries! It took away the craving for cigs and drink seeing as I only ever did both together. When I got to 30 days I had a couple of drinks to make sure I could drink without smoking and even thought it was hard - as others were smoking I did it. Everyone kept saying to me how do you know you have given up smoking if you dont have a drink!! Anyway once I did that I knew I had the smoking beat (thanks to the champix) so went AF again for May. It is bizarre people think that it is hard giving up the 2 addictions at once but I have actually discovered that without the cigs my mind has no real interest in drinking. You might find that yourself. I think now that what I thought was a craving for a drink was in fact a craving for a cig and the the alcohol was just the nicotine delivery system. Very lucky for me as it turns out - so far so good. Two friends are also on champix and it has suceeded in them giving up smoking - they are not giving up drinking but said that the champix made them cut down seriously. One friend said it put her off drinking so she had to force herself!
BH

[Doggygirl]

I gave up cigarettes (finally) on Feb 26 2007 - so over a year ago. Of course when drinking, I always smoked more if that was possible - I was two packs a day on a good day.

I don't know why, but when I quit smoking, by desire for alcohol skyrocketed. That's really with the 7AM (or other rediculous hour) drinking got going full tilt. Don't get me wrong - I drank too much before I quit smoking. Daily, and too much. But it really did get worse which sort of shocked me...and led me to MWO last July.

Our brains are really complicated with this stuff, I think. And it seems to work a bit different for different folks.

I just hope I've stopped all this madness in time to avoid direct and dire consequences at 50 YO.....

DG
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[mickyshell]

Thanks for the info boozehag, I'm afraid to say that yesterday on day 8 for me, I gave in and had a bottle and a half of wine plus about 4 cans of lager. I smoked loads, and now have a minging hangover and am starting again from day one today. It was a hot day, and sitting in the garden just didn't seem right without a glass of wine. But I had to have a whole bottle just to get myself to a good starting point. I'm going to try to tackle it from the smoking side I think. I'll go to the docs and see about the chantix, and any other supps he might have that'll help, vit b etc. I've got a bit of a stutter today, which I noticed I still had in the week while I wasn''t drinking, but I know it's because of drinking. feeling pretty fed up with myself, but looking forward to changing and learning to get over difficult trigger points. Will post back after been to docs. Thanks again.

[mickyshell]

Hi DG, your right , our brains are complicated things, I wonder if you craved for alcohol as your brain new it may weaken your resolve? or did you manage to drink and never smoke? Thats just something I can never seem to do, even when I haven't smoked for over a year!!! absolutely crazy, stupidness! Good luck on your quitting both, hopefully soon I'll be saying the same. How did manage to give up the cigs?

[greeneyes]

For me, smoking and AL tag teamed. I gave up smoking cold turkey due to a vacation that was full of exercise. 1996. I think alcohol had a life of it's own. They sort of led separate lives for me. But over time, the alcohol gradually increased. I do not even think about nicotine. And hope to soon be that way about alcohol.