Having once been a smoker working construction. The laws changed in the late 90’s. You couldn’t smoke on site anymore. I switched to chew.
Wake up, sit in traffic on my way to work, I had one in. Arrive on site, had one in throughout the day. At almost all points throughout the day, I chewed.
These last couple days have been stressful. I woke up with a lesion under my tongue. I threw my last three rolls in the trash and, quit that same morning. The first 24 hours sucked. Since nicotine is only in your system for 24 hours I knew after that, it was mental. It wasn’t/isn’t a big deal to go without it. I haven’t given it a second thought. Other than the pain under my tongue. I finally set up an appointment that was two days out, got tested for everything. HSV (since I was a slut before getting married) and, everything in between including cancer. Waited three more days for the results while just keeping my fingers crossed.
Negative… It turned out to be an ulcer caused from stress.
I used to think that it could never happen to me but, these last few days proved, if you fuck around, you can in fact be next in line to find out. I’m done with that shit.
I figured I would do my part and say, if you chew. Quit.
Thinking, how the fuck is my wife going to get by financially since she has had her fair share of health issues over the years. A kid who’s deployed. He doesn’t need think about anything outside of his duties. Thinking, if it’s really bad, getting a piece of my tongue cut out. All the shit that comes to mind being irresponsible from a position of health. I work hard, play hard, exercise 6 days a week, don’t drink but, half ass’d it by chewing.
Anyways, that’s been the last week for me. I’m just thankful the news was good. I guess it was the scare I needed.
Like I said, if you chew, quit.
That's nasty stuff. And from what I read it's not just mental. Very challenging, you need to get off that shit. Don't a lot of people get throat cancer from chew? We'll have to check in on you brother to keep you on track!
I’m not sure if it’s just mental or, not. Once I make my mind up, that’s it for me. It’s been a week so far and, I haven’t given it a second thought.
A lot of people I know, can’t seem to quit. They’ll go a few hours then, it’s the only thing they think of and, end up having to run to the store to grab a can. I’ve heard it’s harder to quit than amphetamines but, I quit that when I was 19. I just decided one day I’ve had enough. Stopped cold turkey and, never looked back. I’m guessing it’ll be same thing for chew.
As far a throat cancer, yes. Also other various types.
What were you dipping?
Not to hijack your thread but I recently went through something similar. Back in November I felt a lump in my throat ,like below my ear near my jaw bone . I had quit smoking 10 year prior but you cant help but go into panic mode ,especially with young kids at home. Turns out it was bronchial cleft cyst . They actually just removed it this past friday and left me with an almost 5 inch incision on my neck.
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Not sure if it works the same or not but the nicotine patches made quit smoking very achievable for me after failing numerous times .
Grizzly Fine Cut Natural
I actually feel pretty good without anything at day six.
Strong work my dude. Glad it wasn't something more. Its great that you've turned a scary situation into a moment of reflection and are making very positive (and difficult) changes from this. We all have our vices.
The majority of people live their lives in a constant state of stress, it's great for business - whether social media, tobacco/cigarettes/alcohol/junk food, you feeling like you need to work more to keep up with the constantly rising cost of living, the medical interventions as a result of all of the aforementioned, etc.
I think one of the most important things we all could benefit from is figuring out how to balance our nervous systems in a healthy and sustainable way, whatever that is for you the individual.
Thanks for sharing this, it certainly made me pause and reflect a bit.
Try Grizzly pouches if you want to gradually cut down and ween yourself off of it.
Good job man, you're not a slave to that shit
I’m good. I’m not having any issues going without it. No nervousness, irritability. Nothing.
I’ll know for sure come October. Coho fishing on those cool crisp mornings. Cup of coffee while sitting on the river bank before getting started with a chew in. Those were always my zen moments that went hand in hand with one another.
Glad everything checked out for you Chance . Great decision to put that stuff down . When I was in the trades , I would always tell the apprentices if they chewed or smoked, to stop. I’d tell them you’re working establishing a great career, great benefits , great money and retirement. Don’t ruin your health for the days when you are retired…… Mostly fell on deaf ears , but it never stopped me from giving my shpeel.
My friend, Chance.
The King of Fuck It!
Always making me smile.
Life is pretty fucking good.
🐿
Most of the apprentices I’ve seen end up chewing. They see some of us older guys doing it and, I feel like they follow the example trying to fit in. Most would ask me, hey. Can I try one of those?. I’d always refuse and, tell them you don’t want to start. Couple days later they’d show up with a can.
One kid that I really liked years ago asked for some. Knowing he was naive, I told him sure but, you have to swallow the juice. He took it. About ten minutes later he was throwing up all over the place. Dizzy as fuck. I couldn’t help but to laugh. I just asked. Are you willing to go through all that to pick up a bad habit?
15 years later, he still hasn’t picked up a can.
Don't forget about after riding, mtb or anything physical, that was the toughest for me. There are a couple of older threads on vital about dipping and quitting, might want to check them out. Good luck!!!
Dang, sorry to hear about that.
Yeah, the tobacco industry are a bunch of criminals in my opinion.
Does anyone remember when it was proven they put stuff in the tobacco to make it more addictive? Looking at pictures from the fifties and sixties, the majority of people smoked.I wonder how many of them died from cancer?
My lifelong friend i've known for 60 years, has smoked for at least 55 of them. When we're about twelve, we were riding tandem on the local trails on his taco lawn mower powered minibike AFTER eating a bowl of chili. Then, we went to his house to smoke some cigarettes.I turned green and vomited like I had never done before! 🤢
It was the best thing that ever happened to me because I never smoked a cigarette again. He still does and his teeth are brown and his skin is very dry and wrinkly. I can only imagine what his lungs must look like.
Yep...I remember that.
I smoked for 20 years...Marlboro red. Quit in 2008. I found things I wanted more than cigarettes. Didn't beat nicotine right then though...ended up using Copenhagen black for the next 7 years. One day in 2015 I got tired of the raw spot on the inside of my lip and quit that too. Like Chance I didn't give it another thought.
In 2022 I quit drinking. I needed to do that because it was a problem for me....taking me places in my head I didn't want to be. Unlike nicotine, that shit still eats at me from time to time.
Some people might say where's the fun in life after quitting the vices. I own dirt bikes, street bikes, a road bicycle and a MTB. I also have an imagination. I got this 🤙
My dad smoked back in the days when everyone did it ( 40’s). He did this until the early 80’s. Then, one day I took him and my mom to the emergency room because he was feeling pain in his arms. While he was there, he had a massive heart attack and was shocked 8 times before he stabilized. He never picked up another cigarette and the doctors told him that one of the reasons for his heart attack was due to 40yrs of smoking. A year later he had a quadruple bypass and lived another 25yrs. I remember him telling me that after he stopped smoking, every day and every week that went by, he felt better and could breathe more. He never realized how much smoking had affected him.
Pit Row
My brother smoked from age 15-45. He quit, I think he knew he af cancer. He found out 3 months later. He died before he was 45.5 years old. I smoked when young partying. I quit around 22. I do smoke a cigar maybe once a year, so not perfect.
I smoked from 14-21. I switched to chew.
All the men in my family smoked and, “partied hard”.
One thing I never did was let my kids know I smoked or, chewed. I’d go without those things and, drinking when I was around them. I figured, kids with parents that did any of those things would pick it up. Thankfully, none of them started.
Sorry for the loss of your brother. And, no. Nobody is perfect.
I'm not perfect but I figured out early on i best not even dable in nicotine as I would hate to find out I liked it. Then that knowing is always on my back for the rest of my life to battle.
My step son is 32. He and all his friends are blue collar and vape.
Best wishes Chance and thanks for sharing your story
I never smoked cigarettes or chewed other than here and there mess’n around with friends in a party atmosphere. 3 puffs and I was done. Did smoke a little weed at times though.
I chewed Copenhagen from 12-30 years old. I quit cold turkey after my doctor "chewed" me out. It has been 28 years since I have chewed.
Great to hear, Chance! Stay strong.
I’m not perfect either, but I’m one of those that was lucky enough to never even be tempted by alcohol, tobacco or drugs.
I did a lot of stupid things in my past ( still today ), but never had the excuse of being impaired.
Hey thanks for sharing/posting @Chance1216. Quit yesterday, ironically on 4/20 day, a day of "counterculture". When I quit drinking 4 years ago, my "every once in a while" chew habit went up. I was at about a can a week (skoal long cut classic straight).
For me, it's not so much chew/smoking being bad for you, but that feeling when you have to have it. Whether my stress levels have subsided or realizing it's becoming a problem for me, it's time. Thanks for the nudge. 👍
Stress and, frustration were probably my biggest contributing reasons. The prints I deal with on site are garbage. The help/info I get from my shop is minimal. Leaving me to figure out most of it on my own. It would be easy if the type of work I did was repetitious. Unfortunately, my scope of work is constantly changing.
I went from three cans a week to, two cans a day. It’s an excuse but, was really the only thing minimizing the angry mindset dealing with everything.
If only I could work less 😂
You two need to meet. You’ve both got water on the brain! 🤣
Before Ted picked up his dad’s sword and went boat racing…he could always be found on local rivers and lakes wake-boarding-surfing & just hanging out on the water. All of this rubbed off from his dad.
And we all know about Chance nabbing fish every chance he gets.
Good on you for quitting, Chance. We all have our habits, and some are worse than others. As for me, I'm struggling to quit soda. I don't smoke, drink coffee, take any drugs or medications, and rarely drink alcohol. But if I try to go the whole day without a Coke, it's a tough day.
I was addicted to soda, years ago. It was one of those things where for me anyway , it wasn’t a caffeine addiction, I just liked drinking it and it was more of a habit, if that makes any sense. I still have a soda every now and then but don’t keep the fridge stocked like in the past.
My brother in law and I talked about this once and surmised that it was an addiction...that's too strong of a word...to carbonated drinks.
He drinks a ton of club soda. At times, like last night I will have a strong desire for a pop. So I drank most of diet grapefruit Shasta. Very satisfying.
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