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15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 15

I think the difference is that unlike alcohol/crack...etc. smoking has an effect on other people. It doesn´t harm me if someone drinks or snorts cocaine but I might get a headache, breathing problems if other people smoke around me (especially in a small closed room).

And that´s how I understood Goofy´s concerns. It´s not that he is tempted because other people smoke but it effects his health. I mean none of us wants to be the kind of ex-smoker who goes around making faces and waving there hand in front of their faces and being smug about not smoking anymore when other people smoke. But I think it would be the decent think to do to respect each other and try to work out a compromise.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 12/1/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 10
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 170
Amount Saved: �45.32
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 17 Mins: 27 Seconds: 36

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

hi there...i understand how you feel and it is a difficult place to be for sure....the unfortunate thing about this is - (as new non-smokers,) we are especially sensitive to the smell - the act itself - the lingering effects...etc....my first response is to say "they have a lot of nerve and are selfish" but the reality of the situation is we will never be able to rid ourselves of smoking completely...the world is filled with smokers and we have to learn to adjust. many of my friends were surprised when i didn't 'avoid them' when they had a cigarette break...i felt it was important for me to learn how to be with smokers - it is my issue, not theirs...and i cannot go around stamping out cigs and waving my hand in front of my face.....your throat was sore because the smoke was new to you - which is awesome - but it is not something you can't recover from and in the long run, handling it will make you a stronger person. I am not a heavy drinker - if i saw someone toting around a bottle of scotch..i would not be inclined to reach for it or ask him/her to stop drinking....i am not a drug user...i could be in a room with cocaine and not care.....we are non-smokers now.....we must be able to be around smokers and say "so glad that's not me" we cannot preach or pounce or pout. what do we care? it's beyond us...we kicked the habit. my opinion....but i work in NYC with an office of break-taking marlboro cigarette smokers. not me, not anymore. keep up the fight...it's hard but worth it.
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 308
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,240
Amount Saved: $3,927.00
Life Gained:
Days: 35 Hrs: 0 Mins: 41 Seconds: 39

Quit Meter

$7,293.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 805 Hours: 21

Minutes: 22 Seconds: 6

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5610

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

5,610

Cigarettes Not Smoked

This site has helped me tremendously - I have been a non-smoker for 12 years....it hasn't been easy every day but absolutely worth it....I've had 4,022 smoke free days -I saved $5,228.60 in wasted funds, I saved 528 days/1 hour/18 minutes and 3 seconds of my life....4022 cigarettes not smoked! I was a smoker from 12 years old to 50 years old....if I can do it - anyone can!

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1288

Goofy,

First off, Congratulations for your great achievements!

It would understandably be very dificult to sit through a 2 hour meeting with others smoking. We don't believe you're being over-sensitive, it's very hard to be put in that situation and not let it bother you. Try being honest and letting them know how hard you've worked to be where you're at now and you don't want to jeopordise your quit. Like others have suggested, a few outdoor smoke breaks are a great idea.

Let us know how your next meeting goes.

Sylvie, Bilingual Health Educator

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 15

Personally I think that the smokers are being rude. While I never liked non-smokers lecturing me about my smoking I always went to great lenghts not to disturb other people. We all know the smell is disgusting and I wouldn´t want to make other people suffer because of my addiction.
What would you have done when you where still smoking and someone told you that it bothered them (in a situation where they could not escape your smoke)? Wouldn´t you have at least tried to compromise? I think the idea of introducing smoke breaks is the way to go.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 12/1/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 10
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 170
Amount Saved: �45.32
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 17 Mins: 24 Seconds: 58

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1080

Goofy this is a tough one- as for being over sensitive to the smoke I can identify with that. I was recently in the Post Office stood between two people who stank of smoke (not smoking-just smokers) and to my own horror I find myself reeling from the smell- I dont mean to be so sensitive to the smell but I am, and yet my daughter was with me (never smoked-hates it) and she did not get the same overwhelming smell I did.

I dont know what to say in your situation though, because if it is affecting your health then thats not good for you-let me know what you decide its an interesting situation.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/10/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 215
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 5,375
Amount Saved: $3,225.00
Life Gained:
Days: 25 Hrs: 6 Mins: 17 Seconds: 20

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2534

Over-sensitive you maybe but probably understandably so.

Hate to say it but if your fraternity law allows for smoking in the meeting room, they are doing no wrong. If you follow the other suggestions here you may be confronted with the "Why do we have to meet his needs at the expense of our own."

Personally, and it ain't worth tuppence to you Goofy, I'd sit through it. Sometimes, other people's needs are greater than our own. Your call Buddy!

All The Best!

Pen

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/18/2004
Smoke-Free Days: 1668
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 41,700
Amount Saved: �10,425.00
Life Gained:
Days: 271 Hrs: 19 Mins: 57 Seconds: 21

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$57,288.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 1134 Hours: 15

Minutes: 2 Seconds: 44

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5208

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

114,576

Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 303

I agree. I think requesting that smoke breaks be taken outside is your best bet. After all many people have allergys and this results in not wearing any perfum, etc indoors anymore. Why should smoking be any different? At least then if they refuse you can make a point that you can no longer handle it and won't be able to attend anymore if there can't be a compromise.

Mr Q

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 8/4/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 129
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,096
Amount Saved: $967.50
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 20 Mins: 3 Seconds: 59

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0

Amount Saved
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Days: 0 Hours: 0

Minutes: 0 Seconds: 0

Life Gained
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0

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

0

Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1985

Well Goffy you are more tolerate than I. I get a sore throat just riding up the elevator with some who had just finished a smoke outside and came back in doors.

My wife never smoked and smoke bothers her. I did not smoke inside the house because of this and further more smoking in doors stains the walls, drapery and no getting rid of the odor. Maybe we are more sensitive and get the sore throat and for me aching lungs, because we just can't take it anymore, smoke too, too long in the past I guess. I am rambling here.

Ask your fraternity to schedule two, 7- minutes smoke breaks and have them take it outside the meeting room. Have a few pitchers of water on hand and offer them some when they return from their breaks.

Another option go virtual (call in, webX of both)

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/22/2006
Smoke-Free Days: 1054
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 18,972
Amount Saved: $6,165.90
Life Gained:
Days: 193 Hrs: 1 Mins: 11 Seconds: 55

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 37

Hey Goofy, I got mixed feelings! I hate to say it, but I could never, especially only a few days into my quit, but even 410 like you, be in that small a room with that many people smoking. The temptation would just be to much for me... Plus, it sounds like it is affecting you physically, as well. At the same time, I am just not big on telling other people to not smoke around me. I just leave. I have that east coast, uber-liberal hippie attitude (not to stereo-type :-) so.... My advice would be to have a heart to heart discussion with the smokers, let them know how it is bothering you, and see if a compromise can be reached. Always remember Thomas Jefferson on Compromise, that it's a good one if everyone walks away unhappy. :-)

Api

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 12/6/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 5
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 200
Amount Saved: $90.00
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 16 Mins: 23 Seconds: 58

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1107

I'm a member of a fraternal organization and a trustee. We hold meetings every other Wednesday in a room that is about

15 X 30. There are about 13 or 14 people in this room and 5 or so people smoke. Last month I sat through this for 2 hours and went home smelling awful. I woke up the next day with a sore throat and feeling like I smoked a pack of cigarettes myself. I now refuse to be in the meeting if people are smoking. As an officer of the club, I can be required to step down if I have too many unexcused absences. I know the smokers vote to not excuse me.

There are other members that have never smoked, and this doesn't seem to bother them. My question...Am I too sensitive to this as an ex-smoker?

Any advice would be welcomed!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 10/28/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 410
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 16,400
Amount Saved: $2,583.00
Life Gained:
Days: 73 Hrs: 15 Mins: 15 Seconds: 11

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