What To Expect When You Quit Dipping
So you want to quit dipping and you would like to know what to expect when you do. We’re not going to pull any punches around here, it’s tough. That’s why we’re all here. This timeline has been put together over the years with the input of THOUSANDS of quitters. It has been shown to be remarkably accurate from the time you STOP USING NICOTINE.
Days 1 through 3 – Pure hell. You will walk in the fog. Nothing will seem real. Your brain is wondering where the hell its fix is and it is going to punish you until you come up with it. 72 hours, that’s all you need to get the nicotine out of your system. This is where you start to deal with the physical withdrawal associated with quitting dip. Drink lots of water. Read, post, read and post. Don’t take your anger out on your loved ones. We always tell everyone………Make this quit about YOU. If you quit for your wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, kids, mommy or daddy, you will resent them during this period. Quit for yourself and come in here to rant. Yell at us. Bitch at us. We can take it. We’ve been there.
Days 4 through 20 – Here comes the mind games. The nicotine is out of your system now. You will still have some physical things to deal with.
- Cravings
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Inability to Concentrate
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Constipation, gas, stomach pain
- Dry mouth
- Sore tongue and/or gums
Yep, you have this to look forward to. Your brain is rewiring itself. It isn’t used to being in an oxygen rich environment. Your body is responding in kind. Everything is a mind game now. All the cravings you have are actually due to triggers. Triggers are events where you are in a situation you would normally dip in. Mowing the grass, playing poker online, playing golf, working on the car………you get the picture. Keep drinking water, use seeds, the fake stuff, whatever you need to keep the dip out of your mouth. Remember, oral fixation is part of our habit, something you will eventually need to break. For now though, use all the tools you have.
Days 20 – 50 – You’re winning. Life isn’t great, but you probably had a couple of nights where you actually got some sleep. You might notice you’re going to bed earlier than you normally do. Not staying up to get in that last dip. You may notice some sores in your mouth. You’re thinking, “great, I quit dipping and now I have cancer.” You almost certainly don’t. Your mouth is healing itself. Tiny ulcers you’ve had for a long time are healing. We recommend you visit your dentist around the 30 day mark. Don’t be a pansy, just do it. He or she will be very supportive and they can explain the sores much better than we can. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t go out drinking with the fellas or the girls. We also recommend that you don’t drink for at least the first 50 days. Drinking is a huge trigger event and it weakens your resolve.
Days 50 – 70 – Cruise control. Life is really good. You still think about it, but this is good stuff here. Some people may suffer anxiety attacks during or a little before this stage. Some doctors say we dipped to relieve anxiety anyway. Some people can push right through this, others need a little help. Talk to your doctor before you quit or immediately after you quit. They will know what to do. Some give Wellbutrin or Lexapro. Lots of people in the support community take or have taken these medicines and can help you with the affects. Don’t wait till you get to this stage of the game to talk to a doctor. You’ll cruise through this stage much easier if you know how to take care of the anxiety or at least know it’s coming.
Days 70 – 90 – Late term craves, the doldrums, the blahs, the blues. Some people end up feeling like they are right back at day 1. The fog, the haze, the craves. It can be a tough time. You need to let people in your group know this is happening. Time to circle the wagons to get through it. It usually only lasts a few days. Fight through this and make sure your order your HOF Knife or Coin. Here are a couple of articles about this time period which we refer to as “The Funk”
Days 90 – HOF – Houston, resume the countdown. Enjoy the hell out of these last 10 days. You will be celebrating with your group as you all enter the HOF. It is a great feeling and an accomplishment you should not take lightly. Do something special for yourself and your family. They put up with your sorry ass for the last 90 days and they deserve something too.
100+ Days – Stay vigilant. Use the tools you have, to continue beating back any cravings or urges. You will still experience dip dreams and longings, but you are fully qualified to beat them down. Continue to post roll with your group. Get into the newer groups and help somebody out. Pass it along. Live the dream.
Day 1, chewed thru 2 packs of gum, and a bag of seeds. Shits ridiculous!! Constantly telling myself that I’m still young and invincible to cancer or whatever else. But this shits gotta stop. Too expensive and I’m sick of scrapin off dead skin for real!
Love this post. Beating addicition is a huge part of bettering yourself, and I know dip can be one hell of a hard addiction to beat. I’ve been there (still) am! I have my own personal development blog that I would like to share this on! It’s at http://www.hiddendominion.com. I’ll probably make a post about beating addiction and will be sure to put killthecan in the post! It’s a great resource.
Quit day was 11-24 at 1030 PM, so I’m officially past 72 hours. Hasn’t been too bad this far, gum has been my savior. Already noticed a difference in my resting heart rate among other things, little bit of an anxiety issue the other night but was able to push through it. Haven’t failed yet thankfully, another incentive is I got 20 bucks riding on me staying clean haha.
This was very well written. I guess I’m coming out of the proverbial ‘tobacco can’ closet with this one. At 41, I’ve dipped since 15 so that’s 26 years. Started with some kind of Hawken type, went to Skoal cherry – wintergreen, fine cut wintergreen, Copenhagen, back to fine cut wintergreen, and then back to longcut. Few different times switching to smoking a bit but always crawled back. It was so easy to hide and just more practical in office environments. The pouches, gums, patches, never did it for me. All about the nicotine and that sugary kind of taste that seemed to mix with it so well.
I never even really thought to quit before. As a cyclist, I monitor my heart ratings on a daily basis. I can push up to 160 bpm for an hour at a time in peak training mode. I mostly swim in the off-season so I also get my share of cross-training in as well. I suppose I could drop dead at any time but I would think it’d be pretty sneaky if it did happen. I get blood work done on a regular basis too. But there is a reason why I’m here so quitting may be an option in the near future.
What did it for me was a sports injury. I had a few different muscle groups seize up on me near the abdomen region. It came out of nowhere really but before I figured it out, I was thinking the tobacco had finally done me in. I was like, yep – time for stomach cancer. I was starting to think would Hawaii be a good place to see on a last minute bucket list? It was a tough injury to have. But your life flashes before your eyes when you’re thinking it could be something far far worse. I guess you really don’t know until you have one of those moments. People told me about it long before and I was always just like eh whatever won’t happen to me.
Ever since that episode a couple months ago, I’ve been eating right, no fast food, veggie drinks, you name it. No urges to drink, straight and narrow. The last step is really the tobacco. I’ve cut down from one can per day to about one every other day now. Thinking of how I may survive my last days of stomach cancer, that altered my outlook on things. So I’ll probably be back to this page. You guys got some good ideas.
Okay so I’m 20 and I started dipping when I was 14 and I use be able quit cold turkey. But now it seems I can’t even get through a day without dipping I just lose my mind I get tired and get aggressive like the littlest things will set me off. But I know I need quit cause my gums have started to reced and my teeth hurt at times. But I was wondering is it to late for me to quit I want quit and get my teeth fixed and my gums. I need help any suggestions best ways to quit and is it to late for me.
Today is supposed to be day 59 for me! Just started thinking, and 10 days ago without even thinking I took a couple puffs of a blunt(marijuana). From what I understand their can still be trace amounts of nicotine on the blunt wrapper even when all tobacco is emptied. Does anyone know if I have to start my timeline all over? I’ve been doing so good and would really suck if I have to start over at day 10.
The next morning I woke up and it felt like a lot of the fog had lifted! Felt very energized throughout the day, almost felt surreal. The biggest thing now is the stomach/ mild chest pains. Been going on for over 2 weeks now. I know a lot of people experience these same symptoms, but is it normal that I’ve have the stomach issues for over 2 weeks now?
A blunt is tobacco even the wrap is tobacco but you should be ok
I am 47 years old. I chewed cope from 21 years old to about 42 years old. I stopped and started something to keep my mind off what what I would normally do with I chewed. I started running. The running actually help clear my head a little. This lasted three years. I fell victim to the cave in. I started again at 45 have am not 48. (can a day guy). I am now on day five and WOW is the fog bad. It feels as if my head is moving one way when is it still. I do not remember it being this bad. I know it gets better but now my knees are to bad to try to use running as a vice.
I am about to start my journey on quitting been a habit for a little over 13 yrs. 27 now looking to get myself healthier for my daughter so hopefully I can get a bit more time here with her. Wish me luck I’m gonna need it I think lays and daves sunflower is gonna be the route I take. I tried Grinds Coffee after a dip of it made me want the real thing.
Im on day 2 myself. Day 1 was not actually all the bad….but it got worse as the day went on. I woke up with a nasty headache….which I still have now. I’m angry. Intense cravings. Very rough. Hope I pull it out…but I want this
John: join the Pre HOF February quit group so you have a chance at survival.
Over seven months this time. Last time I quit for 6 1/2 years but I bought some Red Man while on vacation 3 1/2 years ago and boom, it was all over again. I started dipping when I was 11 and quit the first time on my 40th birthday. I’m almost 50 now and it is much harder to quit this time. Stomach problems, weight gain, sleeplessness, fits of extreme irritability, intense cravings, loss of sex drive…. The only good thing is I’m taking less blood pressure medicine now and my tongue doesn’t hurt all the time.
I started dipping when I was 13 stopped at 19 for 2 years. Joined the military and have been dipping a tin a day now for about 5 years. I recently decided enough is enough and have been dip free for seven days. First few days I found it relatively easy. I’ve always been good at quitting cold turkey as I did with smoking, but then that’s another thing that made me start dipping. Hoping I can make it but beginning to good strong triggers.
I started at 13 and stopped, joined the military and right there with you. It’s been 10 years and i’m still dipping. Started Wellbutrin as this is my 3rd time this year trying so why not. I’m on day 1.
Hi I’m 44 I been dippping since I was 7 the longest I ever been with out it was a month because I had too ..My gum started too receede a 1 year ago I swallow the spit since I was in high school I have no problems with my stomach and my health is good but I’m very scare that i going to get cancer I’m really going to take that step to quit
Been only dipping for 2 years but on a regular basis. I guess from what I have read here, at 2 cans a week, that’s not as heavy as the “can a day” people. I have been able to hide it from most easily but I got pretty sick at myself recently when I kept finding empty chew cans stashed all in places where I hid them. I was amazed at the total number of cans when I did a thorough cleaning of my stuff, garage, car etc.
Also I’m getting tired of the insides of my cheeks being raw and sore all the time. I’m sure that’s normal and people get used to it??? Is that normal?
Decided to just stop flat out. It will be hard, but the habit is not one I want to live with. Good luck to others as well!
Ive been 50 days roughly without a dip after dipping for about 10.I dont crave it really much anymore.Once and a while i think about it but then i tell myself i dont want it i dont need it and its over with.My gums look a lil irritated in some places is that normal? I am a hypocondriac so i freak out about everything and think the worst but other than that i am ok
Yeah something like that i dip a tub of stokers in a week
hellow everybody! i am 21 years old and live in pakistan i have been dipping for about 10 year’s now i did 3 failed attempts to Quit dipping but i lose..i have many stomach problems now once again i am thinking about quitting ..i take 155 dips a day and i am thinking about slowly quitting i-e cut it to 6 dips a day…plzz tell me will it help or anyone else ready to quit ? lets quit together
You take 155 dips a day?
155 dips?
I thought a can-can in a half a day was alot..wasn’t even aware there was enough time in the day to take that many! Glad you’re scaling back.
Yeah I did that, slowly quit, got down to 1-2 dips a day and then quit. It sucks, it’s hard but then it gets better after a month or two
Im 23 been diping going on 11 years as soon as i spit in out ill drink a bottle of water as fast as i can and put one right back in well this past year my throat has been vary dry feels like something is stick in it i go to the er they check me out im fine if i can get pasted the whole feeling like i cant breath part i would like to quit i have baf anxitiy and. Idk if the er will give me something to help me quit
David I feel your pain dude I have been thru those exact feelings it sux very bad and people that haven’t been there have know idea. You are in the rite place just about everyone here has had issues in one form or another with dipping and quitting dip just hang in there dude it will pass anxiety is hell but it want kill you just makes you feel like it will drink lots of water and try taking a walk just to get some air and chill out a lil it will get better in a few weeks or at least mine did I still get jacked up from time to time but it’s better.
Well guys, I’ll be in the field with the military so I won’t have a chance to post, but Thursday will be a month since ive quit. Honestly, I have to say I feel amazing. I’ve finally started sleeping through the night again, my back problems stopped, my stomach issues stopped, and I have more time with my kids. Thanks to the support of you guys, I have made it this far. Although the urges get strong some days, I can happily say I’ve left sipping behind.
Great Job Aaron, well on your way to 100..keep on keeping on!
-JP
Thank you JP! I honestly thought this was going to be the worst thing ever, but seeing my kids faces everyday remind me to keep it up. Plus reading every bodies quit stories has helped me as well.
Hey man, I’m in military as well, looking at my last year in. Away from states for that year and want to come home dip free. How is quitting while serving honestly? With half a squad that dips how do you beat all those triggers?
I’m on day 4 of quitting, been chewing on and off for 25 years. This go around has been easier than before, a lot of that is because I feel mentally ready to “quit”. I’m over “thinking” about chew. I have one in and I think “I shouldn’t be doing this”, then when I don’t have one in, I think “I wish I had a chew”. Basically dominating my day from morning to night. I am SO OVER IT.
Now I feel I just need to watch out for those triggers and traps. I quit on time for 5 YEARS! and started up again because I was curious and thought I couldn’t get trapped again. Well that didn’t work and here I am five years later chewing a tin a day. Absolutely done with it.
I recently read Alan Carr’s The easy way to quit smoking. Lots of really good advice in there and makes you realize that nicotene doesn’t do one positive thing- and it doesn’t even give you any type of a real buzz. All it does is make you feel like you are missing something when you are not doing it. So you repeat this cycle of trying to fill a tiny void that is created by the first chew/cigerrette. Vicious cycle that I hope to never reenter.
Holy cow, this is hard. I hadn’t dipped for about 5 years…trying to quit this time has been tough. I’ve made it around 10 days a couple times but life/work stress seems to pull me right back in. The gum soreness after a few days is crazy….makes me really worry. When will it stop? Any oral medicine for that?
Hello everyone,
I just kicked the habit 3 days ago, I have been dipping for 10 years and the being the military didnt help either. Can anyone honestly tell me, if they peeled a little bit of skin after not dipping for certain amount of days ? is that a sign of healing ?
Yeah that happens. I still have some dead skin peeling on my inner lip (and im 40 days out). Should last probably 2 months from what I hear.
Ive been 50 days roughly without a dip after dipping for about 10.I dont crave it really much anymore.Once and a while i think about it but then i tell myself i dont want it i dont need it and its over with.My gums look a lil irritated in some places is that normal? I am a hypocondriac so i freak out about everything and think the worst but other than that i am ok.
Hello everyone …I am really going to need yalls help! I am 30 and been dipping since i was 11…I have tried to quit before a few times but i always give in! I get panic attacks and think im having a heart attack when i tried to quit! But with yalls help maybe i can do it… i want to grow old with my beautiful kids and loving wife! I just decided to quit 3 hrs ago and this is the time im going to do it!!
Hang in there. Day 14 here. Think about quitting hour by hour and not forever. You have a couple of shitty days ahead of you. Remember you have had that shit in your lip for years so you need to replace it with something. Good luck
One day at a time brother
That’s kind of how I quit. I just decided enough is enough. I went to the doctor and picked up a script for wellbutrin. I really can’t tell you which it was but either the meds or withdrawals had me so anxious I couldn’t of dipped anyway. Brother I am at day 20 now and I am so excites to be free of the chains of snuff addiction. Just don’t give uo.
Hey guys on day 3 right now and feeling great. Not great but great if you catch my drift. A coworker of mine dips too and we thought of a solid option to help with the quitting. I’m a wintergreen guy, always have been so what we did for two weeks is fill half a can of the real stuff and the other half with smokey mtn and now we are both on 100 percent smokey mountain 2 weeks later. Don’t try to go from real to fake right away, your mind catches on way too fast but instead, if you gradually introduce the new flavor into your mouth you get use to it and comfortable with it and it makes the switch SO MUCH EASIER when your ready to go full fake dip. Stay positive everybody
I’ve been rubbing for 20 years solid quit here and there for a week or so, this time I’m in it to win it… It’s been 5 days and the dying part of wanting it is getting easier. Tried all fake snuff time and time before always ended up back to regular Copenhagen.. Problems I have is my work and outdoor activities never keep me inside, so it was always in my mouth.. One thing I’ve been doing is put $4.00 a day away that’s about a cost of dip.. End of the month buy your self something..
I’ve hit one month dip free today and it feels great. I feel so awak through out the day now for some crazy reason. More time with family and fiancé since I’m not sneaking to be a ninja dipper. On the flip side I do have times where I have those cravings but I beat them. I also have times where I do feel the depression like I’m missing something that I hope will go away soon. I also have sores in the month that hopefully will go away, nothing painful which is good.
I quit with you all today.
Congrats on one month free Stephen. Give yourself more time to heal, the depression and cravings will come and go…but the longer you stay away from the nicotine, these feelings will go and stay “go”. Promise! And yeah, the mouth needs time to heal, probably wouldn’t hurt to have a dentist take a peak in there, just to make you feel ok about it. They will probably like to hear you quit as well.
Keep up the good work, it’s quitter like you that keep my quit!
-JP
2 years, 70 days free.
I am a month in a half in and I feel like I get better sleep had sores once but not any more
Well guys, I must say day 1-3 were a living hell. Today I feel better, less headaches. Have been extremely gassy though, really weird. Thanks to this forum, ive honestly been more motivated to quit. Thanks so far guys
17 been dipping on and off since I was in 6th grade currently a junior in high school been dipping almost everyday since my freshman year decided it’s time to quit. I’ve spent too much money I could have for better things, will be rough on a football full of dippers but hopefully I make it through it started Day 1 today so hopefully I can do this
Is the smokey mountain a good idea??
I’m personally a huge fan of using any tool (fake dip, seeds, etc.) that helps you in your quit. For some people it’s too close to the real thing and makes it more difficult but for me it was a life (and quit) saver.
When I tried to quit last time I found that the fake chew was making me crave more, but then I tried sunflower seeds, be careful with these our gums and teeth are already weekend so we cut easier! Unfortunelly I relapsed but I’m gonna try again Cold turkey that’s why I am here
After 4 years of dipping, smokey mtn has helped me out a LOT. I’m on day 4 as of today, wouldn’t have made it this far without it.
Well guys, officially made it past 24 hours without nicotine. Smokey mountain has helped with the oral fixation. Felt really good, mouth feels better already.
I’m on day 3, I also use smokey mountain to help me through it. This is hard, harder than I thought. Constantly thinking about it sucks, keep it up Aaron.
Well, I’m thinking of quitting, I’ve been dipping for 4 years, and I can’t even make it past day 1…it does get easier right?
Be strong, Aaron. It gets better and it is totally worth it.
Any tips on how to keep myself from breaking down and buying another canote. I want to quit for my kids.
Aaron, I suggest getting yourself a can of nicotine free herbal dip to start. There is a whole page on this site that has alternatives to smokeless tobacco for you to look at. Smokey Mountain is really the main one that is in the Market. Walmart carries it and many smoke shops do too. there are better ones, but you’ll need to order. It will not taste the same, but the lip will have something in it and the spit will be brown. Sunflower seeds were also very helpful. Excersise, lots of water…stay busy, work out…get out here on the site and read, learn about how the quit is affecting you. Youll learn a lot reading and talking to other quitters. you are not alone with this. Vent to other quitters, they want to help make this successful for you too.
Good luck and stay strong and away from the poison!
-JP
2 years, 62 days free
I know it sounds weird, but I break up a toothpick and mix it in with a piece of cinnamon gum. Helps with the oral fixation….
I’m on day 5 right now. I fight the craving of the nicotine with the though of how disappointed my family would be. I fight the need to have something in my mouth with beef jerky chew and Cowboy Coffee Dip. The herbal dips just don’t work for me. Good man i’m hoping it gets easier past day 7.
I’m officially on day 1, the nicotine cravings are kinda riugh, BUT I’ve ate more today than I normally do. Which is great, I never felt really hungry while dipping during the day. Just want to continue down this path…I used to be a can a day….thus is really rough.
Day 5- I replaced dipping with chewing gum and/or doing a set of 30 pushups. I thought that if i did something that got my heart rate up, then i could cope better. I am an active person already so I changed my meal plans. I know i will expect to eat more, so what I did was cut down the amount of food that I ate and instead ate more often that way i could fill the vice of eating. Will report back on day 30
Hey guys I was on here about 8 months ago talkin about how I was maybe 3 weeks into quitting, Well unfortunately that didnt plan out until May 28th, that is which is my birthhday, I had ended up getting sick (Sore Throat) My uncle had unfortunately just passed from cancer and scared the sh## out of me. I took my full can that I had bought that morning and threw it away so since then I have yet to have one single pinch or thought about dipping, it took about 2 months a little more to just stop caring, One thing you rely alot on is food and I surely did I gain 15-20 pounds but Im starting to work that back off but I always thought O couldn’t do it and put it off but you can just set it away and dont look at it!!
so I’ve been dipping about 6 months does that make it easier?
Stop now
Here we go, time to quit.
MarkR
Day number 15 off of a can and a half 38 year habit. Never made it past the first day before. The fog is all gone now, cravings remain but get a little better everyday. If I can make it this far so can anybody else who really wants too.
Congrats on 15 of freedom Mark, here’s to 16!
-JP
Woke up this morning not wanting to go to work or get out of bed at all. My jaw was sore mouth hurts and is drying out and throat feels weird as well. Ugh day 8 a lot worse then day 7. I know they will pass just wanted to get on here and post
I quit with you all today
Going on day three here and the cravings have been the easy part for me I have to say. Other then that my anxiety has been at an all time high thinking of health issues and getting mad at myself for letting this kick me for 6 years.
A can of grizz every three days was my routine so I wasn’t as heavy as some on here. I will never let it control me again and I know it can only get better from here. I know anxiety usually gets a high at the 50 – 60 days but here I am at day 3 and I’m going crazy distracting me from work as well as just getting me down. Any ideas to help with this or has anyone felt like this before?
I quit with you all today.
Normal Steve, this is what healing from nicotine feels like. It’s pure hell those first 3 days….the nicotine should all be out, or close to it. Next l, the mind games, again, totally normal.
My best advice, pound the water, stay busy, through exercise, chores or a project. Go talk to a Doctor is you’re overly concerned. Listen to your body, it’s thanking you!
Spend time here. There are alot of others joining you on the journey. There is also a wealth of knowledge from other Quitters and also on other threads/pages.
I got myself some fake chew in the beginning, I pounded a can a day of that, just like I would the junk. Gum, Seeds….anything that prevents you from using the junk, do it.
This all will pass, so long you refrain from using nicotine….i promise.
Hang in there and Good Luck
-JP
2 years, 42 days free from that shit
I fell off the wagon today, and I had a pinch. I quit cold turkey last Saturday night. It’s been hell all weak. Using the fake mint stuff. But today, I fell for a bit. I desperately do want to quit but I sure did /do enjoy it. Just need to charge forward tho. Been dipping for years. Really want to get healthy and not freak out cuz of sores in my mouth. Smh
What happened? Why did you make a decision to go back to the thing you’re trying so hard to escape from? You were nearly a week quit. The nicotine was 100% out of your system. Now you’ve got to start over and go through those first couple of brutal days again. Learn from the fall… move forward and don’t look back. Take tobacco off the table as an option. You CAN do it.
It happens. Hope ypu got back on the horse. O am now almost 6 months now and it gets better, it really does
Jim, I too obsessed about sores in my mouth. Got some stuff called “Mouth Kote” that helps with the dry mouth. Been using 36 years and have been quit for two days. Got off the s..t for three years back in the 80’s using the patch. I slipped in 85 and have been using a can of Grizzly a day. I’m again using the patch but am experiencing the fog and ir atability as well as the dry mouth. Can only imagine what it would be like without them. Hang in there guys.
Keep your head up. Ive dipped for over 30+ years and Im 40. I tried quitting here and there. I thought the nicotine gum and fake chew would help. No I relapsed time after time.
So i decided Im going all in cold turkey and Im 5 days in and to say i have had cravings but not as bad as i thought i would. Im done with tobacco–I will never dip again. Tired of the bad breathe and addiction that crap had over my life for a long long time.
Get yourself hard candy, gum, keep yourself busy. You can kick that crap.
I was a 2 can a day Skoal dipper. 37 days in and while I will say I do have cravings every now and then that is about it. Hasn’t made me feel bad or not sleep or be irritable. I took advantage of a 2 week vacation to Europe to quit, made it very easy as they don’t sell the stuff over there. Was having so much fun I didn’t even think about it until I got back home. Smooth sailing since.
the vacation advantage is nice…. I used the Flu advantage. When I was sick in May 2016 with the flu, I used that to help. 7 day head start… 85 days in and holding strong. Do I have the urge, yeah, but I am not weak and I won’t give in to use that cancer causing, gum rotting garbage ever again. I chew gum now and bite the shit out of my lips and tongue by accident. I feel my mouth has been thru a war. I just want to be free and live to see my girls grow up happy, healthy and successful. Stay strong… Live long….. do not ever give up…
I’m reading the what to expect page
and i’m definitely familiar with the first 30-45 days of withdrawal..tried multiple times…i’m currently 4 or 5 days into this one but am using patches
does that mean I am essentially not starting any of these withdrawal stages based on the fact that there’s still nicotine in my system technically from the patch?
Yes. The timeline laid out starts from the time you stop ingesting nicotine.
Made it 3 days went back to it im going to man up and try again this site makes me think i can do this 3 days seems to be as far as i can get
On day 3. Chewed a can and a half a day for 16 years. Like some of you, I thought I might not see my daughter grow up, so I realized it was time. I’ve been using Smokey Mountain herbal snuff, and I think it has helped replace the ritual.
Now I’m having the irregular heart beats and mind glitches, so I guess that means the bad stuff is leaving.
Ashamed I let something like this control my for so long.
Karl… day 6 for me…agree on the smokey mtn….and also have some bloating and irregular heart beats from time to time….i started feeling like it was bearable on day 4 ..tomorrow should be much better for ya
Don’t feel bad brother. I’m in the same boat
I quit 9 days ago now. Can’t say i have it rough as some of you fellers out there. I chewed 2 tins of Kodiak wintergreen for about 18 years. I’m 38. All i have been dealing with is my mind trying to trick me into giving up. I went through a period of time where I would get pissed off real easy but that’s going away slowly. I still have a shorter fuse than when I was chewing. The urges are not as bad as they were in the first 4 days. It’s worse in the afternoons now. Fuck it, I’m not going back.
Ok, so I decided to do it. Couldn’t look at my kids anymore without wondering how much longer would I get to see them grow up. 21 years of a can and a half a day. I am DYING right now. Last dip was yesterday morning. Anybody have a ringing and dullness in their ear? Entire jaw numb with soreness? Can’t sleep, but tired as hell. If this is day one then holy shit. It’s not until now that I realize how much of a coward I have been for letting something take absolute control over my life.
Jaw numbness and soreness. CHECK. Thought my jaw was going to damn near crawl off my face when I quit. Hang in there brother. Believe it or not, you’re right on track.
If you were dipping a can and a half a day for that long then you are in for a wild ride. I was a can a week and am just over a month and its been the worst days of my life. I have had anxiety, palpatations, stress, chest pain, sweating, fatigue, faint, memory loss but these are all normal. You have to fight through it. All those years of poison in your body isn’t good but your body is amazing and has to heal itself and it starts with your brain all the way down to your toes my man. I have done more research on this over the past month then a normal human would. I have been to emergency rooms thinking I was dying. I wasn’t I was perfectly healthy and so are you just stay strong. I found whenever I felt like losing my shit I would take a 30 min hot shower and lay down in it and it would relax me.
Hang tough buddy. I quit for the same reasons. I looked at my daughter and wandered if I would make it to her graduation. I was a can a day dipper and August 8th was one year clean of nicotine. I did it so I know anyone can. It’s tough as shit…..I would carry a picture of my daughter with me and when I wanted a dip I would pull it out and look at her. It’s a hell of a motivation.
If you can, run or exercise, take niacin, drink green tea like it’s going out of style and then run some more. Make your body so physically tired, it’s too tired to miss dip. Worked for me every time and knew friends that pushed through the first through days the same way. The endorphins will help, but mainly exhaust yourself.
I quit yesterday, and I’m experiencing the exact same thing.
I’ve had anxiety and no good sleep for 5 days. It sucks. I had a pouch today for about 2 hrs and realize I can do this. I don’t need this crap
Tin a day for the last ten years. Day 4 off the Cope. I wish there was a place I could bash in the heads of baby seals. This is my life now.
I can remember thinking that after 37 years of chewing Red Man . That I had 0(zero) chance of ever quitting . In fact I knew I was never gonna guit. I had tried , and it never lasted more then six hours. I mean everything else in the world was gonna happen, but me quitting Tobacco. I mean I loved it. I couldn’t quit, so I didn’t even think about it. Year after year, day after day
Chew chew chew chew never thinking I ever had a chance in the world. To quit
But then Tony Gwynn the Baseball player died.and I started to get worried . You know me being a former Pro player, and all that.
It really started to hit me. The fact that I’m losing teeth one at a time. And I keep chewing and I can’t stop. I mean I literally can’t stop. But then my chance came, I know it was Heaven Sent . But I’ll take it.
Two years ago this September , I came down with bronchitis . And my throat got so sore, I could not chew for 4 days and that’s when I stumbled on Killthecan.
And thank God I did. This website got me thru the 6-8
Months it takes to get the Beast out of you System . It was a struggle , but I wanted to do it for all the people that wrote in and got me thru it. It ain’t easy in fact the things you go thru. Make you realize that you can do it not only for yourself but for the people that come after you. My friends it I quit.
Let me repeat that if I quit.
One more time , if I quit. Anybody can quit .
This may sound Corny , but I’m so happy for it that if you Chew or Smoke I’m gonna get down on my knees and Beg you to quit
That’s how grateful I am to this website
Please do it not for me but for you and everyone else. Each one teach one
Hi I am currently on day 35 cold turkey. I dipped about a can to a can and a half a week. Copenhagen Mint. Let me tell you this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I have been on the severe side of symptoms. I have had chest tightness/pain. Anxiety and hot flashes like I’m going to faint, irratibilty, depression. Everything you can possibly imagine I also gave up caffeine cold turkey at the same time so that probably doesn’t help lol. I am 30 years old and have been dipping on and off since I was 18. My symptoms have been so bad I have gone to the emergency room and undergone all heart tests possible, had blood work done I mean everything. It is all anxiety related and stress. I wish this on no one. I am staying strong though! I will not be beat. With all those years of putting poison in my body there is this price to pay and boy am I paying it. I wish everyone trying to quit the best of luck and if you need any help or pointers or someone to talk to to get you through It email me at hurley786@gmail.com. I have experienced it all.
I chewed about the same amount off and on or 25 years. I just quit last Thursday. It’s day 5 for me. I plan on following this site to quit. I purchased some 2mg gum and split the pieces into 1/3rds to gradually reduce the nicotine in my body. So, I’m chewing one piece of this gum a day total. I’m doing this with one pack of 10. A 30 day supply or more as I cut back to two. 1/3 doses a day week 2, a one 1/3 dose for the last 2 weeks.
This isn’t going to be easy, but I’ve had someone close to me get diagnosed with stage 4 oral cancer. Half his jaw, lymph node, and many of his teeth had to be removed. And now he is fighting for his life.
Sorry to hear about your friend and thanks for sharing your story. Did your friend chew… if so how long?
I’m 26 and I chewed pretty heavily for 8 years. I’m 72 hours in. Hardest tonight is sleep, I miss it already, but happy to finally be kicking the can! Waiting for my Grinds to come in the mail, those coffee pouches aren’t half bad. Stay strong boys.
My quit day was Thursday, July 14th, right as I left the dentists office. Doc told me, “come back in a month and we will see if you need to have those sores biopsied.” Haven’t had a dip since and I go back to the dentist in two days. Sores have cleared so that’s a good sign. I have encountered heartburn, sleeplessness, and a bit of irritability. Oral fixation is a bitch. The struggle is real, boys.
I am on day 4. I have dipped and smoked on and off for 15 years. Did any of you ever have red irritation on the inside of your cheeks or discomfort in your mouth. Not really burning or pain just uncomfortable.
Gary, EVERYTHING is “uncomfortable” when starting the quit. Nothing is normal, you’ll probably have other side effects than the sores or soreness in the mouth. Wouldn’t surprise me that you have a run with anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, weight gain, brain fog, over all weirdness, withdrawal, laziness, less sleep, again, weirdness, then….one day (for me, between 40-60 days), you”all have a half-assed normal day…then a few weeks, then you may feel shitty again, then things will feel normal again, for longer…then you’ll realize life without the junk is more normal than you once thought.
In short, totally normal to be dealing with strange things. Go see a dentist if your worry (anxiety) is too much. Same with a doctor, they can help give you something to knock off off the edge…and will be happy you have decided to get free of nicotine.
It takes a while, if it were easy, there would be no such thing as addiction, one day at a time my friend, good luck!
-JP
2 years and 25 days free
Hey dude I am on day 35, and did you have chest pain and palps and ever feel likg you were going to pass out and cold sweats?
Absolutely David. I felt weird as hell…cloudy, palps, paranoid. Luckily, if you want to call it that, I had a bout with Anxiety about 18 months before my quit. Never had anything happen like that to me before. I say Lucky, because when I quit, I was familiar with what those symptoms were, so the feelings I endured during those first 30-40 days, weren’t as alarming.
Honesty, I thought my anxiety was returning during those first 30-40 days. I was researching quitting nicotine quite a bit and found that several people who cease nicotine, that is, quit cold turkey, DO experience anxiety. I also read that we as users, used nicotine to treat our anxiety, which stems from both worry and stress.
I knew it was just the quit, not anxiety returning, after I read that and because it stopped between 60-70 days, then returned again for a very short time around 90 days, then was spotty after the 100 mark. Id say at about 150 days, I finally felt myself again. Yes, all of this symptoms point to anxiety IMO.
If you get really worried or stressed (what anxiety needs to get started in the brain), I’d go see your doctor…or at least a doctor. He/she can prescribe you something to help you through. Personally, I did not do the prescription thing during this first 100 days, since I learned how to deal with anxiety without the Rx’s, after the initial bout. But there isn’t a dam thing wrong with getting some help (counselling, meds, relaxation, reading…whatever) if you’re all “amped-up”. I get that…so yes! To answer your questions, the long way, totally normal. Stay the course, and I promise, you’ll never have to go through this shit again. My favorite passage during those first 100 days…”This Too, Shall Pass”.
Good Luck!
-JP
JP thank you man! The feed back helps put my tensions at ease thank you for checking back and taking the time out of you’re day to answer my question. Tell me… what natural ways did you combat anxiety? Also I have seen my doctor who has prescribed me Xanax. I have taken it here and there when it gets bad but don’t want to continue to take it. What gets me is at this point in my quit I’m pretty good during the day but ill get palpatations here and there but for some reason around 6:30 7pm everyday I get like this fog/depression/anxiety feeling and it last a couple hours then goes away I also get tired. This all started after I quit dipping.
Dave, for me, it was 3 prong. Diet, Excercise and Relaxation. I also had the help of a wonderful book called “At last a life”. Had I read that when I first encountered anxiety, I would have never taken meds. It was very informative and offered explanations and techniques on how to cope. Will my way, work for all? I’m not certain. I do know, that once I had been offered an alternative way to look at my situation, it certainly helped me.
I too tried Xanax, twice. A took a half pill one night, gave me horrible nightmares. I figured it was just my body adjusting. I took the other half and had the same results the following night….i said Hell to the NO and went back to the doctor for something else. I was on probably 4 different things for a few weeks at a time before the counselor suggested Zoloft. That one worked well for me, but after about 6 months, finding that gem of a book and taking on excersise and a better diet, I was able to cut ties with the prescriptions.
Then I decided to quit dipping, lol!! Was a long couple years.
Again, I have not a problem with prescriptions, I absolutely NEEDED that Zoloft back then, I was a f-ing mess. Once I got a handle on life, I told myself it was time to break free from the meds too. I still had my good and bad days, but eventually the good started to outnumber the bad, then the bad ones were far and few in-between.
If I can point to one single thing that got me through the anxiety when I quit dipping, hands down, it was running and lifting weights. I did gain 20 lbs (that I have since lost), when I quit. It probably would have been 40 if I hadn’t exercised.
My own advice, get out there and get to running and pushing the weights….it definitely knocked off the edge.
You will feel like shit in the beginning, but I promise, sunny days are ahead, if you stay away from the nicotine….and you will no longer be an addict.
Good Luck, reach out to people here, we all want you to succeed.
-JP
1st day off this shit! Did anyone experience thumping gums with very much pressure? This is killing me!?
Day 10 in the books. Does the heartburn get any better? Mine has only worsened since quitting
Hey Matt,
Day 57 here, I know exactly what you mean with the heartburn, this was probably the worst side effect early on for me. Mine was terrible like day 15 through day 35ish. Seemed like no amount of tums or pepto would do the trick. Keep fighting man as it will get better and eventually go away. I think the PH level is more or less balancing out again in your stomach/throat/ mouth, so tough through as it will get better.
only reason i came on was b/c of my heartburn..im on day 6…..anyone experience bloating …to point your stomach pops out big time a few times a day…thought it was food but its not…and ive been to dr. for full inspection….had stress test and echo cardio…all good…. gotta be related to the chew….
Well i found going down to the truck stop and blowing a few truckers took care of the oral fixation thing and i made a few extra bucks win win
Day 30 today….. Longest month ever. i am NEVER going through this again. Quit once in early 30’s for about 2 years and now at 55 quitting again. Lotsa sleepless nights but over the really tough withdrawals i think…. always helps to read about everyone else triumphs and struggles against the dip habit.
Day 4.. was tough last night, but waking in morning still taste the contamination coming out in my mouth.
Jeff, Jay gave you some great info. I also ordered up some cinnamon toothpicks on Ebay the other day, they are awesome. I’ve been quit since Feb 2015 & during the start of my quit, I ENGULFED Skittles. I was buying the big bags & would kill it in a few days. About 6 mos into my quit I knew I had to cut back on the Skittles, they are like crack to me. I now use Teaza, Hooch, Skittles (cut way back on them), seeds sometimes & toothpicks for the oral fixes I need. Try to find replacement for the food. Good luck buddy.