KillTheCan.org – Quit Dipping Today!
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!!!
When you’ve made the decision to quit dipping you need support. You’ll get it right here at KillTheCan! This site is dedicated to helping people QUIT dip, smokeless & chewing tobacco! It will be a long & difficult road, but we are confident that you too can be successful and quit dip!
All articles on KillTheCan.org are written by members of our forums. These are people who understand what it means to quit. They write these articles from the perspective of a quitter. Don’t believe the “experts” that you find out there on the web – believe someone that has successfully QUIT DIP.
hi name is Mark. Have been dipping since 1977. God this is going to be hard to stop.
Congrats on a great decision Mark – you’re not alone and you CAN do this!
Good luck, I just hit 30 days, it’s definitely a process
You can do this I just got to the 7 day mark and I’m feeling pretty good, You have to believe you can. But good luck.
Mark you can do it. I dipped for well over 25 years and today i am on day 571. I bought some fake dip Jakes and Smokey Mountain when i quit and it helped alot. Life is truly better when you are not a slave to the habit and your mouth is gonna feel alot better. Good luck buddy
Russell – I’m day 238. When did you give up the fake stuff? Or did you yet?
Evan i still have an occasional jakes mint dip but nowhere near what i used the fake stuff in the beginning. I also use Teaza when i am in the gym. At this point i am comfortable with that use i don,t feel any wear inn my mouth from this limited use of the fake shit. Day 575 fuck yeah
Mark,
You’ll be treading a hard worn trail. I had often thought I was the most addicted person to ever dip. I couldn’t count how many times I was brave enough to toss a can out the window only to stop on the way home and grab another. I had a list of excuses a mile long and now all I got is 54 days quit. 54 days ahead may as well be an eternity as 54 days behind is a blink of an eye. Stay quit. It’s important.
I’m in the same boat as you. I’m on day 3 and haven’t lapsed yet.
I came across this awesome site when I finally made the decision to quit Skoal pouches on January 18th of this year and was seeking support for what I now consider to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life….the withdrawal symptoms I’ve been experiencing have absolutely sucked to the least, ESPECIALLY the horrible insomnia, which still persists today and I’m currently at 60 days today. I chewed for more years than I care to remember and I have had nicotine in my system from either smoking or chewing since I was 13 and I’m 49 now. I quit smoking cigarettes many years ago, but then Skoal became my new crutch and I never looked back. I’ve been lurking a while, but this is my first post.
One very important question for you guys that are at least as far along in your quit now as me or further. Is it normal or fairly common at all for someone to still be experiencing bad insomnia issues at this stage in the game (60 days)?? The insomnia has been the absolute worst part for me. I just went to the doctor this morning make sure there was nothing else wrong with me and they found nothing. I actually started sleeping fairly decent last week and would fall asleep within an hour or so and would only wake up once or twice in the night. NOW this week its like the first week all over again for some reason. I went to bed around 9 PM and couldn’t get to sleep until around 3 AM and had get up for work around 6 AM. If the sleep issues do eventually pass on its own, how long did it roughly take for your sleep issues to clear up? I realize every one is different, but how long did it take you guys roughly for your sleep issues to clear up??
Any words of wisdom/comfort you can guys can provide to ease my mind a bit about the the insomnia I’ve been experiencing this far in the game would be greatly appreciated.
Correction….my math was a bit off. I’m at 56 days tobacco free today, not 60. 🙂
Hey Bob – congrats on 60 (56) days of freedom! The short answer is “yes”… totally normal. It can take a fair bit of time, but your sleeping WILL return to normal. I didn’t personally, but I know several quitters who gone to their doctor to prescribe sleep aids.
https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/symptoms-of-quitting-dip-chew/
Thanks for the reply and info Chewie. I am trying real hard to not go the prescription med route because I don’t want to run the risk of getting addicted to yet another drug and have to go through possible withdrawals from that as well. I’ve been experimenting with different herbal remedies (ie. Valerian root tea, chamomile tea, melatonin, 5-htp and a suppliment I came across from doing A LOT of googling thats called “source naturals theanine serene with relora” . I bought a bottle at my local vitamin shop and have been taking it every night an hour before the last couple of weeks, along with 5mg of melatonin and its been helping somewhat. Still far from normal sleep, but a little better than it was. Just out of curiosity, since you didn’t use prescription meds either, how long did it take you personally to get past the sleep issues?
Hmm… it’s been a while since I quit so I don’t remember the exact timeline but I think it was right around the 3 month mark where I started to feel like I was getting a decent night’s sleep again. That said, I also had a 53 day old son the day I quit so he may have had some input into the whole lack of sleep situation 😉
Idk i still have insomnia but i had it before i even quit. Reading this brought back memories of when i chewed. I remember how i would ration a can out and have that one dip saved for right before i g2 bed. Then i wouldnt be able to fall asleep and after an hour of tossing and turning id be heading to the store to get more. Not understanding nic is a stimulant and id end up chewing another half a can that night. Yes i still have a hard time going to sleep sometimes but its easier to deal with now. I dont get stressed or upset. If i cant fall asleep ill find an old movie to watch until i get sleepy.
Thanks for the feedback Tom. How long ago did you quit?
I quit back on oct 15, 2015. I used nicotine in one form or another for almost 27 years. Its crazy i havnt gone this long without it since i was 13. I have said it 100 times but quitting was one of the best decisions i ever made for myself. Im feeling alittle under the weather today but normally i feel great. It was really warm last week and was loving it, now we got storms rolling in and its cooling off so maybe its all mental lol? Im looking forward to hiking up to my old camping spot and checking it out. Cant wait to get out and do some backpacking this year. If i was still using nicotine i wouldnt even care, id still be burned out living my life around one dip after another. If you are having trouble sleeping 3 things help me. First is getting enough exercise. not only will you start sleeping better you will start feeling better, just be careful dont hurt yourself. 2. my first trick i use if i dont fall right to sleep is just clear my mind, start counting your breaths. breath in count 1-2-3 out 1-2-3, 1 and i say if i get up to 50 or 100 then ill find a movie to watch but that usually works. If that doesnt work ill find a movie to watch. I find watching weird sci fi ones like the twilight zones, 2001 space odyssey , flat land, etc takes my mind off whatever is keeping me awake. My favorite twilight zone was shatterday with Bruce Willis. That was me early in my quit and now.
Congrats on 60 days. I’m on day 51 after chewing about 5-7 tins a week for as long as I can remember. I had sleeping issues in general, and lack of sleep was my main trigger. I did get on Wellbutrin and have as as needed prescription for alprazolam. Hate taking meds. But I will chase melatonin and valerian root with NyQuil before I allowed myself to stay up all night. I really don’t have cravings or temptations, the hard part now is staying vigilant. It’s easy the first couple of weeks because the hatred you have for the stuff is still fresh, and you literally have that bad taste in you mouth and ass-breath in the morning.
Life is Good now. 60 days is the longest I’ve gone. It shouldn’t be a problem. I’m on a good place right now. It helps.to have favorable circumstances I never really had.
Thanks Skedaddle and congrats to you on being 51 days free! Hang tough!
Many congrats on your quit Bob, it’s not EZ for us old timers to quit, I’m 46 yrs old, 1st dip when I was 10 yrs old, quit 2 yrs ago. It was not EZ & I absolutely suffered from insomnia, which was weird because I always heard nicotine was a stimulant & kept you awake, so I figured I’d sleep better. Nope…… It’s gotten better, I tried melatonin, which worked pretty well for me & I like that it’s natural. I had anxiety problems too, so watch out for those. It gets better & better as time goes on. Drink water, exercise, & don’t be afraid to use fake dip. Keep up the great work Bob. Double thumbs up.
I’m only on day 14 Bob but my nicotine use mirrored yours except I’m 64 years old, sheesh that’s 51 years of using nicotine, amazing that I’m in good health. But I can relate to the not sleeping issue. I fall asleep fairly quickly but wake up about every 2 hours during the night….hopefully this will pass. Good luck with your quit.
Bob….I’m day 90…chewed can a day skoal, for 34 years…same thing up like a rooster at 3 am…my blood pressure was high, I cut my hand and had to get stitches, the PA said why is your blood pressure so high, I said not sure, she told me to go see my regular doctor, I did not go….I quit that day….and it has been horrible from day 1…Buddy told me it can really make your blood pressure go up after a long period of usage… I said this shit will kill me, if it already hasn’t….
Update: Day 5 still going strong with no dip. The urges are still their but have gotten noticeably more subtle than ever. I feel great!
Day 73, I’m nearing 30 years old and I dipped for 8 years. I bought my last can on January 1 and finished it at 1pm on the 2nd. I’ve gone cold turkey all the way. I have been getting late term craves, especially late at night and first thing when I wake up the last few days. I just have to remind myself how bad Copenhagen tasted in my mouth in the days leading up to my quit. I’m done with it for good! If you’re thinking about quitting or are early on in your quit, it’s hard but I promise you it gets easier every single day! To those of you who stories I’ve read, thank you! Your testimonies have really helped encourage me to keep going and to know that putting down this expensive and disgusting habit is very possible!
Day 7 here. I’m 27 and have dipped since I was about 15-16. I’ve dipped a can of Grizzly Wintergreen a day for the last 7-8 years. My wife has been pressuring me to quit for quite a while now, but I loved dipping too much. Nothing better than a dip after eating, or while watching a ball game. I recently moved from Florida to Texas to take a different position within my company, and now that the stress involved with moving is over, I figured this would be the best time to start. Went cold turkey and haven’t had a dip in a week now. Cravings are intense, I’m not sleeping very well, and I’m definitely irritable. I bought a couple cans of Grinds to at least fool myself into thinking I can still dip. Hating the transition, but know it’s for the better.
Hey Kevin,
I’m on day 7 too. I’m 30 but after reading your situation, mine is very comparable. Agree about the after dinner and ball game chews 🙁 I’ve been having trouble getting to sleep, but when I finally do it has been less interrupted and with less crazy dreams. Physically, I’ve felt great. But yeah the cravings are strong and after work or when driving I put in a lifesaver mint to help cuz I feel like a cut off my arm or something. I do find I am no longer saving every water bottle I come in contact with and my car is much cleaner!
Yesterday, day 6, something new happened where I started craving these non-pareils (chocolate) in my freezer. Been craving sweets like crazy the last 2 days and I don’t eat much junk food. Not sure what the deal is there. But I can already feel the difference at the gym. Anyway, just sharing my story. Hang in there
Day 440………… truly can’t believe it. If you would’ve told me 441 days ago I would be in this position I would’ve bet the world that you were wrong.
As so many others have said, speaking for myself at least, there were 2 things that made this attempt different:
1) I wanted to quit. For years, everyone would tell me to quit. Asking, begging, pleading…. I kid you not, my wife is a dental hygienist…. real fun conversations we had. The thing is, until I alone truly wanted to quit, all that noise from all those other people only accomplished one thing: me digging my heals in even harder.
2) For me, the biggest thing was one day at a time. Actually, the first few days I broke into 15 minute segments. “If I can get through this 15 minute window, I will keep going.” And as the days went on, those 15 minute windows became 30 minute windows, and then 60. The minutes became hours and they eventually became days.
Do I miss it? Sure, I LOVED it, I mean I loved to chew…….. everything about it. But it got to a point that I had to decide if I loved chew more than myself, more than my wife and children…….. more than my future.
Was it worth it? Absolutely. I sleep better, I feel better. I go to bed when I am tired rather than fighting to stay awake to get that last dip. I don’t chew during movies, sporting events, car rides (that was my favorite), in the shower……… the point being, I have regained control. Chew doesn’t control me…… honestly, no different than an alcoholic or drug addict.
I truly believe it will be a lifelong decision to stay off it, but that’s alright by me.
Good luck everyone- YOU CAN do it. Embrace the suck…… it’ll be worth it.
God Bless
JB
Justin,
Very well said my friend! We both quit around the same time and you wrote exactly what I’m feeling. It’s awesome to feel free! Always stay quit my friend.
Day 564. I dipped for well over 25 years. Kodiak was my vice and I dipped a can every 2 or 3 days. I was never able to quit but on Aug 28 2015 i bought some fake dip and just wanted to get through the first day. 564 days later i am so happy i made the choice. The only reason i share this is to encourage you that it can be done. If i can do it you can do it. The key for me was to get some days of no nic in then take pride in those days and realize i can not give them up.
Good luck,
Russell
515 days. I am some what reluctant to share my story. I certainly had a tough time in the beginning. I actually fought with quitting for over 10 years. I used to smoke then about 10 years ago i quit that and started chewing. I thought chew would be easier to quit..wrong. Not only does chew give you even more nic i also did not have to go outside anymore to get my fix. Towards the end i had a chew in mouth almost constantly, all waking hours. It got to the point where it didnt make me feel good or relaxed. I did not enjoy it but if i wasnt chewing i would certainly feel it. I couldnt even sit through a 2+hour movie without having a nic fit and either ruining the end of the movie or leaving early so i could chew. I didnt have enough brains to care about cancer but i was sick of being an addict, i didnt want to live like that with nic controlling so much of my life. One thing different with my quit was i never did experience any kind of fog in the beginning? I was certainly an asshole who would bite your head off though. I deleted all my friends from facebook because i would tear into anyone who argued or disagreed with me. Another thing about my quit is not long after i quit i really started feeling the benifits of it. i started feeling alittle better each day and that really helped to fight off the urges to relapse. From what ive read the years or decades of using nicotine created pathways in your brain that associate nicotine use with pleasure. Thats part of why its so tough in the beginning because every time you fight off an urge you are destroying those pathways. But its also why it gets easier as you go. As you destroy those your brain is healing and creating those pathways naturally and you wont need nic to feel good. I remember when i used to chew the horrible tooth aches i had daily. Now my teeth are all solid, no looseness or pain. I imagine if i hadnt quit my front teeth would be rotted out by now. Plus i used to get chest pains like i was having a stroke. Ive lost 25-30 pound since quitting. I used to drink a soda after every chew to get the taste out of my mouth. I just remembered too when i chewed i used to get this cold sickly sweat for seemingly no reason. I have no idea if it was because of all the sugary sodas i drank or all the nictotine in my system or both but that has also quit. i only drink water now and i dont even eat dinner anymore(because i cant afford it not because of quitting chew lol). Besides exercising i found i feel even better eating healthy natural foods like fruits and vegetables. This stuff i do today i dont do because i feel like i have to, i do it because i want to because it does make me feel better/good. If someone had told me i had to do all this when i quit theres no way i would have made it but it comes naturally. As Your mind and body will heal you will want to do more in life. The amount of energy and motivation i have gained naturally. I spent alot of today laying in the backyard soaking up the sun (getting a sunburn). This morning out walking my dog watching the sun come up. Saw a huge golden eagle. Sat and watched him for maybe 30 min. All these ducks and geese i see flying over makes me feel good, i think winter is finally over. I would have never even given a sht if i was still using nicotine. I try hard to tell people that i know who still use tobacco how much better life is without it but its true you really have to want to quit to do it. I never knew what i was missing out on when i was using and i probably wouldn’t have listened or believed either.
Wow, that’s a great story! Good for you and I can honestly say I’ve gone through much of the same myself, more energy, feeling healthy, the list goes on. Get over NIC and your life changes forever.
22 year old here living in south Florida. I’ve dipped a can a day of Copenhagen wintergreen long cut since I was 16 years old. I just got back from a camping trip in the Florida keys that me and my father had planned for a while. I intended on cutting cold the day of that trip. I told myself I wouldn’t bring a can or purchase one right before from a nearby gas station or so forth. I initiated the plan and put into action, my quit date is March 11th 2017 and in 5 hours at 6 pm eastern it will be 48 hours since I’ve had a lip. I’m worried for my first big driving trip in a while, that was my biggest trigger any drive over 10 minutes I threw a hog in. I think I’m gonna have to put down the gaming consoles also because it just doesent feel right playing without a lip in. I understand progress is a process I just need some reassurance. 6 year dipper 22 years old trying to turn it around before I dig my hole to deep. I’ve read the stories on this forum and its honestly eye opening.
Hey Danny – if you’re having a hard time doing things you’ve always done with a dip in (like gaming) there are a ton of nicotine and tobacco free dips out there that may be very helpful: https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/smokeless-alternatives/
Keep it up Danny. I quite Saturday March 11th around 5pm. I am at work, I usually dipped all day, every day at work. The struggle is real, but We can beat it.
Kudos to you Danny, I have been quit 2 yrs this Feb & I’m 46 & I know there’s no way I would’ve out down this poison when I was 22. Let me echo Chewie’s words, get some fake dip & don’t be afraid to use it. Wintergreen is the most widely made fake dip, try Hooch, Smokey Mt, Truimph. Teaza is a great pouch product. Check in here often too. Good luck Danny, you can do it.
Nick, after 20 years of dipping I had had enough. I did what you are doing with the gun for about a week to minimize withdrawals. After a week I was nicotine free. Now I am on day 70! You will get there.
Currently on day 83 being nic free. I am 21 years old and have been dipping skoal daily for 6 years or so and was up to a tin a day for the past 4 years. 83 days ago I drove my father to the hospital because he had a yellowish tint to his skin. Turned out his liver was failing due to alcohol and the doctors only gave him a 40% chance of making it through it. That day I promised him I will never do dip again if he never touches the bottle again. Amazingly 83 days later my dad is only a couple weeks away from being released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Seeing him go through that hell from his addiction really opened my eye. It’s been a extremely hard 83 days especially with my baseball season now in full swing. My timeline went like this. Day 1-20 was all a fog I never thought I would make it but I just kept pushing and eventually made it out of that fog. Now I have my bad and good days still. A few weeks ago I was driving home from school one night (about an hour drive) I expierenced a terrible panic attack. I knew nic was the reason I was expierencing it because every time I was driving I would have a lip in especially at night. I’m now trying to avoid driving at night after that terrible experience.
The reason I found this site is because I’m sitting on a charter bus driving to Florida for my baseball teams spring break trip. I loaded up for the trip with many bags of seeds while my teammates fill their checks with dip. I’ve spent 2 hours now reading everyone’s comments and story’s and they have helped me a ton on this drive. Thank you all.
I refuse to give up. I refuse to let everyone down. Addiction is a terrible thing let’s all keep pushing and do it together.
God Bless
Thanks for sharing. 45 days quit. I just turned 41 and was 11 when I started lifted dip from my old man. I honestly can’t say that in 30 years I’ve gone more than 18 months without cigs or dip.
KTC is the first thing I look at in the morning. I read most every comment and find belonging and strength in a brotherhood of quiters.
I quit with all of you today.
Day 8 no snus!
7 days no snus!
Nice. You got this. The hardest part is over. Stick with it, trust me it is worth it.
Yup doing it cold turkey.
I’m on day seven without any nicotine also.
I chewed for 32 years.
It is going better than I feared. Somehow reading the posts on this site helps.
Thanks
Welcome! Keep up the good work.
I’ve made it to day 10. Using Nicolette gum has helped me with extreme cravings, I only use 1-2 pieces per day max,none today. I highly recommend trying it over any fake dip, IMO oral fixation is only cured by the real thing. Currently having trouble sleeping but it’s all worth it. I hope to check back in at 2 weeks. Best of luck to the rest of you out there.
Lose the gum, Nick. You are still a slave to nicotine – which is the root of the problem. Quitting cold turkey is, statistically, the most successful method of quitting. Justin R day 110 no nic
Day-5. I pledge not to chew today and forever! I swear to eat / chew healthy food and drink lots of water
Day-4. I pledge not to chew today and forever!
Congrats but let’s just promise no nicotine one day at a time.
74 days quit. Today has been a very tough day, I’m stressed and all I can think of is just packing a lip. My gums hurt from the amount of gum I’ve chewed today….battling!
Burn the boats dude. 74 days, quit romancing that shit
202 days free of tobacco today! Feels really good and thanks for everyone on this site, If it had not been for everyone’s testimonies, I probably would have failed. Knowing everyone else is going through the same thing really helps a lot! I quit with all of you today!
Yes the support is huge, 109 here and doing well. Energy levels are returning to normal as well! Stay strong everyone!!
Today’s day 1 of my journey to quit. Been chewing the past 7 years. Wish me luck guys!!
I wish you all the luck – stay the path. This is my one year anniversary today and I feel much better for it.
Will do. Thanks for the support. This is a big step in the right direction. I just need to buckle down and stay tough. Congrats on the one year anniversary. That’s awesome news to hear!
This was my quit day 4 years ago. Best decision I ever made. Couldn’t have done it without this site. Good luck and stay quit!
Day 72 for me, Thank you everyone for the motivation in knowing your not alone.
I’m rock solid, I do miss it though. All I know is I cannot do that first 2 weeks again.
34 years, can of skoal a day…good luck guys, stay strong
I too have chewed for over 30years. Finally quit a little over a month ago. Weird thing is I get this periodic swolling on tip of my tongue almost like an allergic reaction. Have u heard of anyone experiencing that ?
I’ve been a week free as of yesterday. I dipped for 8 years. Just chew a lot of gum
509 days Thinking back you know its crazy all this time i never read any of these cancer stories on this site until just now. I remember when i used tobacco i was so miserable and depressed i didnt give a F— if i got cancer. My mindset was id just end it myself if that happened. I have changed so much since quitting i cant even comprehend the person i used to be. When i quit tobacco i also quit drinking. I knew drinking would be a trigger. As i went on i slowly picked up more good habits like eating less, eating healthier and lifting weights. That certainly helped. when id get a craving id do a set and by the time i was done the craving would be gone. Plus the healthier i got the easier it was to resist and the more i did not want that shit in my life anymore. At the doctors office a few months ago i weighed myself and ive lost alittle over 20 pounds since i quit. It continues today. A few months ago i cut my soda consumption down to 2 a day then just 2 a week then 3 weeks ago i quit drinking any soda. I had been feeling even better, jogging and enjoying life even more. Then i had a seizure 4 days ago. Ive had them for decades but when i used tobacco i used to have them bad and every single month. Sometimes taking a week to recover. After quitting nicotine i only had 3-4 all of last year and they were not that bad. It isnt so much the seizures as the postictal recovery. It leaves my brain just fried for days like i am on some kind of narcotic. This last one i had was bad and i am still somewhat awkward. There were a few times in my confusion i was looking around for a can of chew and it took a second before i remembered that i had quit chew a long time ago. Then i would be jonesing for a few min? It has been a long time since ive had an urge to use chew and it caught me off guard. Thank god i did not screw up. I think i am starting to feel better today. My mind is somewhat hazy but that could be partly because my stinking dog woke me up at 1am this morning. I think he was having a nightmare or he heard something because he was acting scared panting and shivering. Of course now he is fast asleep and here i am 4 hours later wide awake lol. I know i dont get on this site enough. Sometimes i will go days without even thinking about nicotine. Before these last couple of days i dont even remember the last time i had an urge to chew. Since quitting its odd how my sense of smell is starting to come back but i cannot stand the smell of cigarrette smoke or alcohol(luckily since quitting i havent been around one person who was chewing). I never knew how bad that shit stunk to other people when was doing it around them. Anyway sorry for ranting. All you guys early on in your quit or just starting stick with it. My biggest regret Is i did not quit sooner, i could have saved myself years of being a slave to that crap and been getting so much more out of life. Uuurrgghhh….. guess its time to get up. if my dog thinks hes getting a long walk this morning he already ruined his chance for that one today. >= (
I know… nobody is going to touch that one with a ten foot pole lol. Thats ok i dont blame you. My doctor i dont think even knows what to tell me except to keep throwing medications at me. I hate these godam seizures. Like i said since i quit nicotine they have gotten less frequent and less intense for the most part. I had 2 in jan and was able to just shake them off the next morning and within an hour or two was fine but this last one kicked my ass. My brain still feels alittle shaken but im feeling alot better tonight. Thank christ i had enough sense and did not screw up my quit. To alot of you guys just starting out one thing that really helped me is to just get on this site and rant when i was having a rough time. It still helps even if it seems like nobody’s listening its good to just get it off your chest if youre stressed or overwhelmed. P.S. my spoiled dog still got to go for his long walk tonight anyway and even got a chewy but he goddam better let me sleep tonight.
Somebody’s always listening Tom. Even if there are no replies.
Unreal post Tom. I’ve had a couple seizures as well – 2 in the last 10 years, and yes, they suck bad. I cannot imagine having them with the frequency you have. Thank you for the amazing post. All the lifestyle changes you have made are truly inspiring. Good for you! Day 39 for me. Stay quit and stay healthy.
Appreciate it Dizzle. As my head started feeling better i was feeling dumber for possibly making an ass of myself on this site while my brain was recovering lol. Im feeling 100% better today thank god. Been exercising like crazy today, went to the store and restocked on my healthy food, carrots, apples etc and feeling better. I am just thanking my lucky stars i had enough sense to not throw away my quit. It would not have made me feel any better, it would have killed any motivation i have gained since quitting. Grats on 39 days. Stick with it, i promise you it is worth it. Some of the stuff today i would have never taken the time to enjoy when i was using nicotine. This morning, getting up before dawn to go walk my dog. Sitting out in the field about a mile from my house watching the sun rise. Watching the birds and other wildlife. Just taking my time enjoying life today. I never would have using nic, i would have just be in a hurry to get it over with and get back home. I would have never guessed that my life would have changed so much for the better before i quit. The crazy part is it came naturally with time. I dont push myself today because i feel like i have to, i do it because i want to and because i know it will make me feel even better. I sleep better now(when my stinking dog doesnt wake me up lol), i have more energy, i have more motivation, my patience is 100x what it used to be and im no longer a short ahole to people who might be doing things i find irritating, i feel i want to help people now. All the new hobbies i enjoy like lifting weights, archery, bird watching, reading, all kinds of things. i am more interested in life today and if i had never quit i would have never known what i was missing. I know it sounds hokey but it is the truth. Thats why my biggest regret is i did not quit sooner.
My husband wants to quit but he doesn’t know how, he feels helpless. I sent this link to him. I hope he reaches out. We have 4 children, one who recently had a heart transplant and is 15 months. Today my husband is going to see a Dr. for a nagging pain in his neck, he’s worried it’s something major. Im not sure what to expect with the visit our his writing but I plan on reading these posts to try to understand. Thank you for sharing…I’m glad I found this site!
how does it goes???
2nd clean day followed by 4 days of relapsing and 10 days on nic. gum.
Yesterday found cyst on my tonsil, looking reddish but not hurting, though saw ENT. Need to wait for 7 days. Biopsy if no joy 🙁
Day 80 and feeling similar to you… I get tired of the triggers but keep battling through them.
Honestly, that’s why I carry gum and a deck of cards. Shuffling is actually quite therapedic.
Good for you, stay strong.
I’m at Day 105, been clean the entire time but now I am doing Smokey Mountain about 3 days a week, might by a tin once every 8 days. Should I work to knock that out as well? It’s not cheating but in a way I feel it is, satsisfying the oral fixation piece.
Ruckus i am on day 557 and still throw in a Jakes or Teaza because of the same reason. The important thing is to be nic free so keep doing what you are doing that got you to day 105. I can tell you i do use the fake stuff less and less but its nice to have it there when u need it.
I’ll trust your judgement, thank you. Would feel better if I quit the fake stuff for sure. That’s my next step.
Everyone here is awesome
I’ll be joining you all soon
Hopefully gonna be starting a new job so I have to quit
24 now dipped since I was 14 I did it before and I was about 2months in and I had no cravings and didn’t even think about it then I got kicked out and just said F it
After that pinch I should of kept continuing to not dip BEACAUSE that dip I took it didn’t even feel like I got anything out of it
But sure enough I kept throwing em in and I started to feel like I needed it again
Well I got to that point of being sober as a dumb kid
I know now at 24 I could out do my last run
Here’s to the future anxiety and pins and needles fellas
See you soon
Today marks day 50 for this guy. It’s been a challenging ride so far to say the least. I check in on this site at least once a day and I just want to throw a big thank you out to everyone and their support. Keep up the good fight boys!
Day 88…..
I’m starting to realize what my triggers are.
After I eat, walking around a store, smell of coffee, ect… The fog is still lingering. But when I come across a trigger, it comes back full bore, its like you’re in your own world!
But stay strong, and looking forward to day, 89!
And of course Day 100
Day 7….. Almost caved yesterday…. But I pushed through it…. I keep on getting these out of body type experiences, anyone else notice that?
I read it… I’m glad you kept quitting. Hang tough my man!
Day 506 Ok i was having one F’d up day. I started having seizures last night while sleeping and off and on all day. They leave my brain scrambled like im on some kind of medication. They have gotten much less intense and much less frequent since i quit tobacco. Then i started getting urges out of nowhere? I dont even remember the last time i had an urge to go get some chew but im sure it was close to a year ago. What a weird feeling? Even though my brains feeling alittle scrambled now i know better. If i were to give in and go get chew one at this point it would make my head feel even worse and probably sick to my stomach. It would taste like crap and idk if i could even keep it in my lip, i would imagine it would burn. It would screw up me getting to sleep tonight and make these seizures worse . My teeth and gums are completely healed, no loose teeth anymore, bleeding gums or that nasty ass after taste in the morning. If i screwed up now it would probably only take days to fall back down to where i was. When i quit chew it wasn’t making me happy anymore, i was miserable and i used dip because i thought it made me feel normal. Towards the end near when i quit it wasnt even doing that, i was miserable all the time even when chewing. The idea of that shit controlling my life again. I would not give up my quit for anything. Sorry for ranting, my heads still feeling somewhat fubar from these seizures. that urge to chew today caught me off guard.
Day 37 quit and so far the worst day as far as cravings. Not really tempted, though. 38 days ago I’d be heading out to the store to pick up a can of Grizzly. Today is just another day to fight on.
Checking in at day 295. Chewed 1-2 tins of Kodiak for 25 years. One thing I never could quite relate to is when others talk about these “sudden cravings out of nowhere”. I felt like I had a constant craving almost every second of every day for 6+ months. If it got any easier it was so gradual I couldn’t notice it. It was a downright stressful period in my life that caused other issues to surface. But now finally in this past month I can finally feel a little bit of relief from this constant struggle.
I am still on the fake dip although that has even decreased. I have finally found Smokey Mountain pouches to be the best alternative. This surprises me because on Kodiak I would never go with pouches because it wouldn’t have given me the punch I wanted, yet with the fake stuff it is actually more satisfying. And it is a heck of a lot cleaner not to have that dirt and spit all over the place – that actually seems disgusting to think about now.
Runner up I go with Jerky Chew. It is actually the most satisfying but I will go through the whole can in half an hour. But what the hell for a $1.50 I will buy a can whenever I am at a store that sells it.
I think I might have actually personally increased the stock of all these products around town.
Mint snuff – similar to smoky mtn but not as good.
I bought the sampler pack of Grinds on line and I barely tried it a few times as it didn’t do much for me. They also seem to have very invasive advertising as my computer and phone have since been blitzed with Grinds ads in the middle of articles I read.
Day 219. Bam. Hang in there everyone.
Day 56. I’m really craving one pinch right now. I quit during a combat deployment. First time drinking liquor since I’ve been back, it was always beer that made gave me the urge before. Trying to stay strong but it’s hard right now
Oh and some background. Dipped since 2009. At least a can a day. Only long break was 2 months for basic training. Decided to quit cold turkey. Day one was the hardest but after that I was smooth sailing. One day turned into one week and one week turned into one month. Tomorrow marks two months nicotine free, and I’ve made it through everything that sparks the urge but tonight is different.
Day-1 today, spent past 7 days on nic. gum.
You can do it… there will be good days and bad days. committ to it, don’t chew. Pay your penance for years of chewing, come out the other side, happier, healthier and wealthier lol
I feel really silly, but how the hell do I post comments on this general discussion board and not just reply to someone’s comment? And how do I actually join a quit group. I’m on my 11th day right now, so I’ve already started, but everytime I click something it bumps me around and back and fourth between killthecan.org and killthecan.org/index – the latter of which is the online community page and has a really difficult to navigate interface. Getting pretty frustrated and I really want to figure this stuff out….
This is essentially a threaded comment on THIS page. There are threaded comments available on every page of the main website (www.killthecan.org)
http://forum.killthecan.org/ is our forum that is laid out in more of a traditional “message board” way.
Thanks, Chewie!
Jack you are not the only one having problems joining the group. I have signed up, tried to get started. Not easy. Been quit now for 34 days.
What problems are you having Ryan? Shoot me an email (chewieATkillthecan.org) happy to help.
this is day one of my journey to quit chew. Let me tell you, it is hard. But after reading all of your guy’s comments, I believe, like many of you guys, that this can be done. I believe in all you guys on your journey.
Hey Craigselk66, congratulations on hitting the big 500! This is an amazing achievement. I hope you give yourself and your family a treat as a reward.
Craigselk66 and Dundippin-
Congrats men. I’m on day 425. I still want to post questions to both of you as time goes on. I’m doing fairly ok, but if I have any questions further on I know you two will answer! Great Job!
Hey Jake U. I with Craigselk66,
I will be here in any way to help. Feel free to join up so we can share digits in case you need to reach out to anyone.
Congrats on 425, day 500 is just around the corner.
I quit with you today.
Day 2….. I have been told I look rough… I feel it….
And while you have a ways to go you should take comfort in the fact that everyday gets easier. Just like atheletes say “one day/game at a time”. Very true, just keep winning and soon it’ll be second nature.
Today marks 2 yrs nic & tobacco free. Had I not came across KTC when I googled fake dips, no way I would have been able to stay quit. Keep it up quitters, it only gets easier, NO EXCUSES, JUST DO IT.
Damn i almost forgot. 500 days without nicotine today. Crazy. I am so glad to be finished with that crap.
So how do u feel after 500 days smoke free.
I’m 115 days smoke free and my head is really bothering me dizzy and headaches
Hello all… I’m on day 73. 1st time I’ve posted anything but make no mistake this site has helped me tremendously.
I’m 46 years old, 30 year can+ a day habit. I quit for about a year, but thought after that I could have just 1 dip. I was wrong, I couldn’t.
I spent the next 10 years being a can a day “ninja dipper”… I hid it from my wife, she occasionally would catch me and it would start a big fight.
I stumbled across this site in Dec 14th 2016 on my afternoon break and right then and there decided to quit.
When things get tough on come on here and read all of your comments… so I wanted to share my story and thank each and every one of you for sharing yours.
Good luck! You can do it!
Wow, sounds like me! First time poster, day 98 and doing alright. 48 YO that did a can a day for 25 years. Can’t believe the control Nic had over my life, never again will I go back. Just registered here but have been lurking everyday and this site is powerful! Hang tough guys!!!
I figured the best way to break free was to point my feet in the direction of QUIT and run like hell. 30 days quit, 28 days cold turkey.
Hello friends, last I posted was Day 1 of no dip. I’m on day four as of today technically. Let me tell you…. It’s been a long four days. On the first night of no dip, I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, and I didn’t fall asleep until 3 am (keep in mind I work 7a-7p in a hospital) and had work the next morning. I got nicotine patches today, and I feel great so far. I’ve been craving: After eating, driving, work, and before bed. I’ve been hitting the gym extra hard the passed few days and that helps a lot. Also, I’ve been hungry as HELL, and have been eating non-stop. My goal is to put on more weight physically and the gym. Hopefully by quitting, I’ll be saving my life and getting these damn gains! Thanks for all the support, friends.
Glad you are still trying to stick with it. But keep in mind, you are quitting nicotine, not dip. Nicotine patches and other “quitting aides” that have nicotine is not quitting. The hell you went through will always come back once you go completely cold turkey, because its the nicotine leaving your body that puts you through hell. It’s best to go through the hell once and never look back. Get rid of the patches, gum, inhalers, etc. You can do it. I chewed on ginseng root to help with the fatigue and fogginess during those early days.
You’re right, will do! What’s ginseng root? Thanks!
Ginseng root is what it sounds like. Roots of the Ginseng plant. Ginseng extract is common in energy drinks and other supplements that promote energy and brain function. I found good deals on Amazon.
Hey Evan, Have you registered with the forums, and posted roll with your quit group? You should definitely check it out, if you haven’t already.
Evan, you are one day 1 tomorrow if you throw that shit away. Don’t make any excuse. Throw the patches in the fucking garbage.
I used melatonin to help me sleep, helped immensely. I think it helped mentally, I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Day 4, I’ve finally exited the fog.
Just happen to stumble onto your site …Wow! Didn’t realize how bad I wanted to quit until I got here. Sooo wish I had found this place sooner!
I’m 50 years old … been chewing since I was 14, and I mean everyday all day. Quit for a week here and there, but always found a reason to pick up another can and get back to chewin. Thanx and congratulations to all who have written their stories of success here …because I really never thought it was possible to just quit and be done with it.
Kind of nervous writing this … because It kind of feels like I’m cutting off a piece of myself right now … but, TODAY I QUIT!
Good stuff bud! Today is day 4, and it’s tough. Good luck to you my friend. Stay strong and keep an iron will.
I’m on day 40 and man I understand what you are going thru, stay strong man it will get easier
I have a calendar that I mark each day
I’m 51, been dippin skoal fine cut since I was 15. I took my last dip on Feb 3rd, almost 4 weeks ago. First few days were tough to get through the nicotine draw. After that it’s easier at times but harder than hell at other times. Thought I was going to break down and have a big fat dip last night, my mind was was really playing tricks on me, but I made it through. I’m not taking a dip today! Can’t wait to report my 100 day without skoal!
Kirt, I turned 60 years old last spring, done it , Copenhagen, since 1971. All day every day. Numerous times quit here and there. Always rationalized a reason to go back. I really encourage you, it ain’t easy. Like the song,, there’s a devil in the bottle and he wants to see me dead….except it’s no bottle it’s a little can. Lot’s more I could say but sometimes too much talk sounds like preaching.
Kirk, well said my friend! Made for some good reading
Forget tomorrow being your first day. What is the matter with today?
Hello friends, tomorrow is day 1 of quitting. I work full time in an inner city ER, and it’s very stressful and that is the main reason why I dip a can a day. I see a lot of sick people, and I’ve got this constant nagging anxiety that I have oral/throat cancer. I went to my dentist and they scanned me for any abnormal cells and I was clear. Still, I’ve been having reoccurring sore throats, my tonsils were bleeding earlier. I know you’re not supposed to google symptoms, but I did. Which is another cause of my anxiety about cancer haha. Anyway, glad I found this site. Wish me luck brothers and sisters.
Great decision to quit Evan! I’m fairly new to KTC as well. My best advice is join the site, go to quit groups, and join “Pre HOF May 2017”. You will find a wealth of knowledge about what you are going through and what you will go through. More importantly, you will find a group of people (just like you) that will do what they can to support you through your quit. No luck needed, just fight like hell each day to stay quit.
Thank you! Day one is over and I can say I’m glad it is. I’ll join tomorrow, and I’m just stressed the hell out
Hello Evan, I highly highly suggest getting some things in place to lean on during your quit, some fake dips, something to help with the stress. Checkout the fake dip review section here. I quit & the stress got the best of me, ended up in the ER due to an anxiety attack. Never caved, but make no mistake, it is hard. Will be 2 yrs quit next week & proud to say I never cheated once. You can do it, exercise, get fake dip, ignore your asshole friends that give you a hard time, check in heard often. Good Luck.
Tomorrow should be day 2. Why put it off?
I’m not quite sure. But day one is over!
Tomorrow is day 1 for me as well. I’m here right alongside you!
Good luck and take it 1 hour at a time, then 1 day at a time, then 1 week, etc. It’s brutal in the beginning. Personally I couldn’t do the fake dip. I tried it with past attempts and it maintained my habit without the satisfaction, so I eventually caved. I am 115 days in now, best yet. I did have to find things to curb my oral fixation, ginseng root, gum, and cinnamon sticks, while still being different enough to break old habits and train new ones. That all this is after the first week, is retraining your brain and your body into healthier habits. The first week is sheer will power of not giving in.
Good luck Evan. I know how hard it is to not dip especially in a stressful situation. I recommend going to the gym if you don’t already. It’s a great way to spend time without the desire to dip. It also reduces stress. Good luck!
Hey Evan – the trick is to stay focused on what / why you are quitting…. Sounds like you are already there. The withdrawal is predictable so pay attention to the bad mood you are about to experience for the next 3 weeks. There is a weird fog that happens for another 6 months. Good luck
day 269 for me. I am 40 yrs old and I wish I was smart enough to never pick up the habit @ 14. I still salivate like crazy and wake up choking on spit. I think they are chew dreams. I need to lose weight (6,1- 225 lbs), My suits are all tight. But I do not care… I am not going back to chewing that weed… Life is short.. too short to be stuffing dip in my mouth and missing out on living. I miss my roll call group from time to time and hope they are all doing well… I could not of gotten started quitting without them or this site. (Rock on Brothers!,I wish you all very much a ton of success in your quit!)
Slick quit on Brother !
Yoo I had to post
Congrats to everyone. This stuff is so bad. Coming up to a year now-holes all over scars from ones that were inside and out. I guess mouth is still slowly healing. All docs say no cancer but tell that to tony Gwynn and others. Semper fi
I never posted but definitely credit this site I was looking when I first thought about stopping. So thank you good luck you just have to stop and face the consquences now while you still can.
I’m on day 74. Still in a pretty dense fog. Is this normal? Some days are worse than others. The anxiety has toned down quite a bit. Just fog.
It’s normal Timmy hang in there.
Yep. 100% normal. You’re entering a phase of your quit known as “the funk”.
https://www.killthecan.org/facts-figures/explaining-the-funk-part-1/
https://www.killthecan.org/facts-figures/explaining-the-funk-part-2/
Keep fighting – that fog will lift soon and you’ll be cruising on to triple digits!
Thanks for the support, and answering my question. Sometimes I feel so foggy, I trip myself out, worry and make the whole situation worse. But this place helps for sure.
I’m coming up on 160 days and I still have the fog issues too. Some days are worst than others and it comes and goes. Not sure what triggers it or what makes it better. It’s the number 1 most difficult quit symptom. Nothing else comes close. It makes work and everyday duties almost impossible. I don’t feel cognitively capable to make sound decisions, drive, carry on an articulate conversation. It makes me depressed and only want to lay around when it hits me. I can’t wait until it stops.
Day #460: Yes, I still get cravings from time to time, particularly a certain time. However, I wanna post something that I don’t think has been touched on which may still have an affect on us and don’t know it. How many of you experience some anxiety or irritability just after dinner? For me, this is still a bit of a struggle. I get really jumpy and moody after I finish eating. I think it is because that was when I would dip. I know we ALL remember how good a chew or dip was right after you finished eating, especially after pizza! Just like smokers do! Anyways, this has become the worst part of my day. If I go out for a walk or drive, I’m fine; but if I stay home and watch news or whatever, I’m just in a restless mood! I have just not found that replacement for chew yet, the after-dinner mint I’m still craving. At any rate, my spirits are fresher and I feel so much cleaner; I just never imagined, like so many of us, that this would be such a battle! I hope this post relates to someone and that your feeling on this is not a solitary one. Stay strong!
Day 517 I was walking around and my mouth tasted like I had a dip in. A genuine dip. Had not thought of that taste since I quit. It was weird. How could I be tasting a dip with no dip in my mouth. No wad under my lip. I wonder if this has happened to anyone else.
Then day 520 I got the craves again. Not as bad as in the past but I got them. I thought about something else and went about my day.
I had posted earlier that all was well now that I hit 500 and the craves were over. I guess you can never let your guard down.
Day 522, I quit with you today.
Hello-
This is Jake U. I haven’t posted in awhile but have a few questions. For Dundippin I have a question for you. Do you experience any fatigue this far into your quit? How about any headaches or dizziness 517 days into your quit? Just wondering because I’m 408 days into my quit and still experience these symptoms. And Craigselk66, we’ve spoke before-but how are the symptoms now? I was wondering about any level of fatigue that you’re experiencing this far into your quit. And if you’re still experiencing fogginess and/or headaches? Thanks.
Hi Jake,
Yes I do experience some fatigue. Thought it was more because I am 61 rather than being quit. This usually comes about when I go a day or two without working out. I really lose energy when I do not work out so I always try to get even a light cardio (bike and calisthenics ) every day.
As to headaches or dizziness, I only get these when I do not eat a meal. I become a monster when I miss a meal. For me it is critical to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner the same time every day. If I miss slightly then I do get dizzy, headaches and all around grouchy.
It is like common sense. Most advice is common sense but we do not follow our common sense and that is why there are so many Career and other coaches preaching common sense.
I suggest that if you eat 3 healthy square meals a day, workout every day and get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep that your fatigue and headaches will go away.
Also did you give up coffee when you quit because it was a trigger? Perhaps have a little coffee in the morning, it constricts blood vessels in your brain which may help with your headaches and dizziness.
Stay quit. I quit with you today.
Dundippin-
Thanks for the reply. I do still drink coffee. And I eat three healthy meals a day. Maybe I’m just experiencing different withdrawal symptoms than others. Craigselk66 was experiencing some of these symptoms. Hopefully he replies.
JCB… I’m day 50, can a day for 34 years….. I’m doing well, I still crave it but I’ can’t do those first 2 weeks ever again….sheer f’ing misery.
I’m working outside and would love one but I’m standing strong and just NOT going to do it…. If I can do it everyone can….cold turkey, no substitutes, smokey whatever, I’m over it…Let’s get on with it
On my 4th day of dip free. Absolutely losing my mind, getting extremely frustrated easy over nonsense. Haven’t used any alternatives. Quit cold turkey after having chewed for 8 years.
DO NOT go it alone, get some alternatives, go to the review section & check them out, way too easy to get your hands on some good stuff. Another DO NOT, do not think some fake dip will replace what you dipped, won’t happen. Good Luck, you can do it.
Barnswing,
I am with you. I had rages into my 400s. Make sure you do alot of cardio workouts that will wear you out so you get rid of that extra energy. Make sure you eat 3 square meals a day. Do not pass a meal up. That could add to the tension and rages. Get plenty of sleep.
I finally felt clear of the frustration and rages by mid 400s.
I quit with you today.
Funny, you have same quit date as me and chewed about the same length of time. First four days were really not awful compared to previous quit attempts but today has been a complete blur. Can’t focus to save my life, literally, pretty sure I ran a red light earlier today just completely zoned out.
Today is day 47 of the quit. Can per day habit x 30 years. Went cold turkey for the first 3 weeks and was out of my mind. I then started using the Smokey Mountain product and it really made a difference. I’m also starting to drop the 15 lbs I gained in the first 20 days of the quit. Never ever going back. For those of just starting your quit, it will absolutely suck for the first week. But IT WILL get better.
I am started to quit I am dipping smokey mountain Wintergreen. It very good