Chewing Tobacco

[fistofrage]

I would highly recommend you try to quit if you can. I've chewed for 15 years or so. Over the last month, I have been sweating bullets over a sore ear, sore jaw, stiff neck, all the classic symptoms of throat/oral cancer. I went to the doctor and he couldn't see anything in regards to an ear infection or sinus infection. So I went to the dentist and he couldn't find anything either, but thought it may be tooth related. I went to the orthodontist and he found it was a molar that was most likely causing the problem. I had a root canal yesterday and it seems to have almost immediately cleared up the pain. The dentist didn't seem real concerned about the chewing though, which was good.

Anyway, waking up in the middle of the night worrying about the prospect of it being some type of cancer just wasn't worth it. As much as I hate the dentist, I have no desire to have anyone operate in my mouth or throat area.

Quitting really wasn't bad, the cravings went away after about a week and I have no urge for it when I see my friends pop one in. It will save me alot of money and fights with the wife to boot.

[fistofrage]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Mods can you move this to the neighborhood, unless you find chewing tobacco entertaining.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Tried it once...puked my brains out. Don't see how anyone can enjoy using that stuff.

[nemesis04]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

That stuff is just plain wrong. My roommate in college chewed and always had that nasty cup of mouth jizz sitting around. Gross!

[jake44np]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

I would highly recommend you try to quit if you can. I've chewed for 15 years or so. Over the last month, I have been sweating bullets over a sore ear, sore jaw, stiff neck, all the classic symptoms of throat/oral cancer. I went to the doctor and he couldn't see anything in regards to an ear infection or sinus infection. So I went to the dentist and he couldn't find anything either, but thought it may be tooth related. I went to the orthodontist and he found it was a molar that was most likely causing the problem. I had a root canal yesterday and it seems to have almost immediately cleared up the pain. The dentist didn't seem real concerned about the chewing though, which was good.

Anyway, waking up in the middle of the night worrying about the prospect of it being some type of cancer just wasn't worth it. As much as I hate the dentist, I have no desire to have anyone operate in my mouth or throat area.

Quitting really wasn't bad, the cravings went away after about a week and I have no urge for it when I see my friends pop one in. It will save me alot of money and fights with the wife to boot.

Been diping for almost 20 years now and I am with you.
Every time I get a sore in my mouth or a stiff neck I think it is because of the tobacco.
I have quit 2 or 3 times once for about 6 months but I always come back. My biggest weakness is wanting a dip while I am gaming late at night.
I do not dip at work or in front of my family, I only dip at night while I am gaming or while I am driving alone.
My denist cant believe I have been dipping for as long as I have as my teeth are in perfect shape. I think my gums are a different story but my teeth are good.
I starting dipping while I was playing baseball in college and just cant seem to kick the habit. I have buddies that always have a dip in, they go through 3 or 4 cans a week. One can will last we over a week. I really need to quit, as soon as the can I have is gone. lol

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

I've only dipped a few times. I liked it but it was nothing special and I wouldn't spend money on it. I had an old roomate who fell asleep with it in his mouth once, and always had dip in. It is real popular in the Navy, so the temptation is always there.

[NDAlum]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

I never gave into the peer pressure through my ~20 years of playing baseball.

It is disgusting!

[fistofrage]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

I never gave into the peer pressure through my ~20 years of playing baseball.

It is delicious!

Wait, aren't you about 25 or 26 years old? You had people pushing tobacco in little league?

[VDusen04]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco has always been one of those wonders of the world in my case. I could never put my finger on what exactly draws so many people to give it a whirl. I understand once someone gets going, it's tough to stop, but I'm flumoxed as to what gets so many people started in the first place. The idea just seems so littered with negatives. Nasty breath, funk gums, increased risk of cancer, the necessity to carry a makeshift spitoon all about, a turnoff to most of the fairer sex, etc. Not to mention, one has to hold a pile of tobacco in their mouth to get the effect.

I hope those who want to stop, can do so. I've heard it's a tough thing to drop.

[fistofrage]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco has always been one of those wonders of the world in my case. I could never put my finger on what exactly draws so many people to give it a whirl. I understand once someone gets going, it's tough to stop, but I'm flumoxed as to what gets so many people started in the first place. The idea just seems so littered with negatives. Nasty breath, funk gums, increased risk of cancer, the necessity to carry a makeshift spitoon all about, a turnoff to most of the fairer sex, etc. Not to mention, one has to hold a pile of tobacco in their mouth to get the effect.

I hope those who want to stop, can do so. I've heard it's a tough thing to drop.

I have to agree noone likes the Makeshift Spittoon. Last month I had a Coke Zero 2 litre as Spittoon. Then my Black Lab thought it was play time and went to the basement, grabbed it and came running through the livingroom with it in his mouth sideways. My wife saw it and started screaming. The dog thought it was tug of war time and wouln't release it. Good thing it didn't break open or I would have been toast.

[av7]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco has always been one of those wonders of the world in my case. I could never put my finger on what exactly draws so many people to give it a whirl. I understand once someone gets going, it's tough to stop, but I'm flumoxed as to what gets so many people started in the first place. The idea just seems so littered with negatives. Nasty breath, funk gums, increased risk of cancer, the necessity to carry a makeshift spitoon all about, a turnoff to most of the fairer sex, etc. Not to mention, one has to hold a pile of tobacco in their mouth to get the effect.

I hope those who want to stop, can do so. I've heard it's a tough thing to drop.

I started because my dad and uncles did it while on job sites for construction, so I did it during the summer with them. I wasn't pressured to do it or anything, just something I ended up trying it. I dont do it anymore so I've luckily escaped a bad habit. Smoking is another big thing in construction because its something to do, sadly.

[NDAlum]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Wait, aren't you about 25 or 26 years old? You had people pushing tobacco in little league?

Oh yea...so make that about 7-9 years of peer pressure...

I just thought about all the years of baseball, didn't even think about age

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Been chewing since I was 16, so that would be 13 years.

I've quit twice for months at a time a few years back. The times where I crave them the most is gaming, golfing, driving, and sitting on the throne.

I want to try to quit again, this time for good. The nice thing is that there are programs available through my insurance at work. They include a structured program, coaching, and reimbursement for up to $150 of out of pocket costs (copays for cessation pills, mileage to and from any doctor visits or meetings, etc.). So really, the only thing stopping me from quitting is me. Maybe a few of us could turn this thread into part of our quitting strategy.

[fistofrage]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

Been chewing since I was 16, so that would be 13 years.

I've quit twice for months at a time a few years back. The times where I crave them the most is gaming, golfing, driving, and sitting on the throne.

I want to try to quit again, this time for good. The nice thing is that there are programs available through my insurance at work. They include a structured program, coaching, and reimbursement for up to $150 of out of pocket costs (copays for cessation pills, mileage to and from any doctor visits or meetings, etc.). So really, the only thing stopping me from quitting is me. Maybe a few of us could turn this thread into part of our quitting strategy.

I chew on Baby Carrots while I game now. Actually I stopped gaming for a few days because thats when I wanted it most. After about a week the cravings went away. But basically I quit because I was scared. Not even so much for my well being, but my family would be f'd if I went down, so its not real prudent taking that unnecessary risk.

[HealyMonster]

Re: Chewing Tobacco

I chew on Baby Carrots while I game now. Actually I stopped gaming for a few days because thats when I wanted it most. After about a week the cravings went away. But basically I quit because I was scared. Not even so much for my well being, but my family would be f'd if I went down, so its not real prudent taking that unnecessary risk.

Congrats on quitting. I actually started at 16 in HS, got up to about a can a day until I graduated and joined the army. Quit while in basic, started when I got out, got to my first assignment and realized it sucked trying to dip during 10 minute breaks so I did the most logical thing, I quit dipping and started smoking. I smoked for about 8 years, got out of the military and went back to dipping and never smoked again. A little less than 2 years ago I was like having some serious gum pain, like it got raw and irritated, I went looked in the mirror, and it looked like my gum was like waaaay down on one tooth on my bottom row of teeth. I flipped, threw out my last 4 or 5 cans and quit that day and never did it again. Id say now, my gums look normal, but when I looked in the mirror that one time, I saw what I needed to see and boom, it just got me to quit.


I will say I did use some nicorette lozenges to help but I didnt even go through a full pack of them, I just did it every once in a while as opposed to throwing a temper tantrum cause I want my nicotine lol.