Running out of Vices

Ric O'shay

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Feb 12, 2018
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Last week my dentist strongly advised quitting or strictly limiting the number of cigars I smoke. We had been watching some pre-cancer indicators within my mouth for six months prior. These indicators worsened as of last week.
So I burned my last cigar last night to the nub, and chose today as the day I quit.
I am kind of an all or nothing guy, and my cigar consumption ramped up to 2-3 per day. That seems like a lot but I work most days from a home office, and the cigar breaks got me up and away from the keyboard and computer screen.
I gave up alcohol consumption, three years and eight months ago, and may have used cigars as a bit of a crutch. I can never go back to drinking because I know how that would end. I am still working out in my mind if a cigar on special occasions may be an option.
So we will see how the week goes, I will probably go from my baseline stressed and crabby to downright incorrigible.
 
I quit dipping a couple of years ago because I was starting to get gum disease. I still miss it, but I like my teeth more.

I feel like I am pretty much vice-less now myself. I am not the picture of health or a moral paragon, but I'm pretty moderate in my indulgences so they aren't even close to a problem. Like everything else in my life I've become boring as hell and I suck. I just have a lot of good stories about when I was young, interesting, and invincible. Once I run out of them there's no reason to hang with me anymore. :whistle:
 
Teeth and throat are quite important

I stopped smoking several months ago. I miss my ciggies. However, I know how bad they are for you. I still have an occasional cigar but that is one every 2-3 weeks and don’t inhale.
 
Last week my dentist strongly advised quitting or strictly limiting the number of cigars I smoke. We had been watching some pre-cancer indicators within my mouth for six months prior. These indicators worsened as of last week.
So I burned my last cigar last night to the nub, and chose today as the day I quit.
I am kind of an all or nothing guy, and my cigar consumption ramped up to 2-3 per day. That seems like a lot but I work most days from a home office, and the cigar breaks got me up and away from the keyboard and computer screen.
I gave up alcohol consumption, three years and eight months ago, and may have used cigars as a bit of a crutch. I can never go back to drinking because I know how that would end. I am still working out in my mind if a cigar on special occasions may be an option.
So we will see how the week goes, I will probably go from my baseline stressed and crabby to downright incorrigible.

Kudos to you for quitting. There are MANY more people out there who lie to themselves and say "I'll slow down a little" in the face of potentially catastrophic consequences.

Several years ago a small stroke made me quit several activities that were too risky to continue (including cigar smoking), so I wish you luck. In the last 8 years I've smoked probably 4 cigars on those "special occasions" but even then I felt like i was cheating on myself.

I go to the gym or run every day now, shoot, reload, and I started playing music.

You can absolutely find something else to fill the void.
 
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I smoke a pipe on occasion. Probably 3 - 4 times a month during nice weather and hardly even once winter sets in.

It, and its tobacco, will immediately go to the trash if it ever looks like something might be happening to my mouth because of it.
 
^^Totally, I was scared straight when doc started talking about how ugly oral cancer is. And how pre-cancer shit can go right to actual cancer.
But really? How I enjoyed good whiskey, and cigars. Oh well I still get to enjoy the aroma of burnt powder.
 
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^^Totally, I was scared straight when doc started talking about how ugly oral cancer is. And how pre-cancer shit can go right to actual cancer.
But really? How I enjoyed good whiskey, and cigars. Oh well I still get to enjoy the aroma of burnt powder.

If you don't mind, how did you come to find out you were pre-cancer? Symptoms?
 
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Hookers and blow
 
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IdealJoe, about a year ago I went to a Periodontist the spend a small fortune on pearly white veneers.
He informed me of some Irregularities of concern at that time and made a point to keep any eye on them.
That lead to last weeks visit and finding the condition to be getting worse not better.
 
Last week my dentist strongly advised quitting or strictly limiting the number of cigars I smoke. We had been watching some pre-cancer indicators within my mouth for six months prior. These indicators worsened as of last week.
So I burned my last cigar last night to the nub, and chose today as the day I quit.
I am kind of an all or nothing guy, and my cigar consumption ramped up to 2-3 per day. That seems like a lot but I work most days from a home office, and the cigar breaks got me up and away from the keyboard and computer screen.
I gave up alcohol consumption, three years and eight months ago, and may have used cigars as a bit of a crutch. I can never go back to drinking because I know how that would end. I am still working out in my mind if a cigar on special occasions may be an option.
So we will see how the week goes, I will probably go from my baseline stressed and crabby to downright incorrigible.


8 years alcohol and Tobacco free. You can do it. Chewd a can and half a day of cope. Sure miss it but it's not worth losing your jaw over.
 
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Ric brother, you guys are killin me. I quit drinking beer because of all the carbs and me getting old and it was making me too fat. Took years to develop a refined taste for Bourbon and Scotch and more recently a good cigar. And now, I hear this. An now you all are trying to ruin hookers too??? WTF.
 
Thanks Dippy, I have considered both Heroin and Cookie Dough Ice Cream. Pretty sure I am going with the ice cream, it's less expensive.
Technically, heroin is cheaper if you pick up burglary or retail theft in tandem and count it as an exciting new hobby. Just a quick pro-tip.
 
After 16 years of dipping Cope, I quit cold turkey August 11th. It's been extremely difficult at times but it will be well worth not having half of my face removed due to cancer. I hope you can stick to quitting and remain strong.
 
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I hear you, Brother. I gave up cigars a few years ago after I gave up cigs. For all practical purposes, I have given up Scotch as well. That one really hurt. The worst pain was giving up motorcycles due to seizures. I still have a hard time with that one.
 
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Not me personally but there is a concern about HPV causing throat cancer in males. Now, if you go down on a hooker you gotta live with whatever might be headed your way.

I’m sure that if you explain the situation, your GP will gladly give you the HPV vaccine...
 
If you are successful in quitting, stay gone. Don't go back for the occasional. Same reason you don't start drinking again ;)


Yup. Smoking just 1 after several years without and I found myself hooked for another 5 years.
Quit again 6 months ago and I'm spending more on reloading than I did smoking, but at least I'll be better prepared rather than gasping and wheezing.
 
I had a cancer scare in July 2011. I quit dipping September 5, 2011 & haven’t cheated once. I still crave Copenhagen every day. I quit because I figured I was buying time w/ the kids.

That being said, if the world was going to end or I had a terminal disease, the first thing I’d do is buy a can of Copenhagen. I’d dip for as long as I could.

The bitch is that I dipped w/ all my hobbies. Hunting, shooting & hardball / softball. I also gained 30 lbs.
 
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Yup. Smoking just 1 after several years without and I found myself hooked for another 5 years.
Quit again 6 months ago and I'm spending more on reloading than I did smoking, but at least I'll be better prepared rather than gasping and wheezing.

Used to smoke two packs of Camel non filters per day...at least. Would wake up in the am feeling good and after the first smoke my hands would start shaking and Id start coughing up this black shit. Is that p/c?

36 years free of that poison and never looked back.
 
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Thanks Dippy, I have considered both Heroin and Cookie Dough Ice Cream. Pretty sure I am going with the ice cream, it's less expensive.

Cookie dough and cookie dough ice cream are for girls.

Next thing is, you'll end up with an iPhone.

Then it will be too late.

After that, you'll get your nails did, some highlights in your hair.
You'll begin wearing a thong under your spandex. And, if you don't get a handle on yourself, you'll end up with a butterfly tramp stamp.

Just sayin...