6 is the Bitch.

Every time that I've tried to quit smoking in the past, day 6 has always been terrible. It's been the day that I always have off (I usually quit smoking on Mondays, so day 6 has been a Saturday, so either a day off or a night out). It's also just been a day of temptation. So having quit on a Tuesday this time around, I feel like I'm not as obligated to go out or do anything that would involve smoking. I also walked by one of my old favorite smoking spots, the sidewalk in front of Fubar on Santa Monica Boulevard, and the smell creeping out of Fubar was SO FOUL that I don't think I'll ever be able to think of that piece of concrete the same way. It smelled like formaldehyde, bleach, and sewer gas. I seriously gagged. Not many smells make me gag.

So I spent today sleeping until noon and going to help a friend find apartments around Hollywood. I slept really, really well for the first time since I quit. The violent nicotine patch dreams are over, since I'm not using the patch anymore (I do keep one on me at all times just in case I feel like I'm going to break down and smoke), and I feel like I'm breathing more easily through my nose. I did spend most of yesterday with a runny nose, and I don't know whether it was some kind of 24 hour cold or whatever, but I took some DayQuil and it stopped. The coughing has really started in, but I'm glad, because I want that nasty shit out of me. 


In looking for apartments, we just kind of drove around and hung out, nothing special. I did actually see a part of Koreatown that wasn't totally disgusting and thought for a second that I may be able stomach living there someday.We had fast food lunch and I broke down and had a Coke, which is something that I tried to quit with smoking. I can tell you this: soda is a trigger. Some people love coffee and cigarettes, I love soda and smoking.

So... NUMBERS! I love the numbers.

Your heart rate and blood pressure have dropped: 100%

The CO level in your blood has dropped to normal: 100%

Your sense of taste and smell have improved: 100%

Nicotine has been removed from your body: 100%

Your dependence on nicotine has been eliminated: 40% (this one sure drags)

Withdrawal symptoms have subsided: 20% (So it takes a month to go through nicotine withdrawal? Heroin is faster. Lesson learned: Don't smoke, do heroin. It's easier to kick)

Your circulation has substantially improved: 6%

Smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue, or shortness of breath have decreased: 2%

Your excess risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke has dropped to less than half that of a smoker: 1%

Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker: 0%

Risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half: 0%

Your risk of smoking-induced tooth loss has declined to that of a non-smoker: 0%

Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked: 0%

Thank you everyone for the encouragement! I feel really good about this, I just need to keep remembering the good feelings to get through the rough ones... and there have been PLENTY. Thanks again!