Done with Snuff

[rockyraider]

Hey guys. I have been eyeing this board for some time now. I have been dipping for quiet a few years, mostly later in HS and on and off in college. I have been dipping fairly regularly for a few years now. I do not feel that I am addicted to snuff. I don't crave it, shake from withdrawl, get headaches when I don't dip, etc..... I can actaully put it down for a week and not physically need it at all. Same thing with coffee, cokes, etc... I just don't have an addictive personality. I believe for me it is more of a habit, something that tastes good and that I enjoy doing. I ususally take one dip per day (in the evenings after the kids go to bed), sometimes none over the weekends, and don't dip at all during the day. Anyways, for quiet some time now I have been thinking about quitting. Every time I get an ulser or something, I am fearful that it is something bad. I know I probably dip far less than most of you guys did, but every little bit can harm you. I have decided to throw my can away from this minute on. I have had a sore throat for about 5 days now, its all red and irritated. I went to the doctor on Tuesday, thinking that it may be Strep Throat or something. The quick Strep swab was inconclusive and the doc prescribed anitbiotics just in case it is Strep. The doc did look at my throat but said that it really didn't look like anything bad, maybe just allergies/sinus irritation. Couple this with the fact that my kids were sick and running fever all last week, and hopefully it is just something I caught from them. The ani-biotics have not helped as of yet and my throat feels like something is very wrong. It feels like it is actaully scalded or something. All I can see is that it is red and irritated looking, no sores or anything like that. I am scared to death it is something bad. I have thrown away my snuff can and God willing, if this turns out to be nothing, I will not start dipping again. I know that I am probably making a big deal out of nothing, but its just not worth the risk any more. Enough is enough. Thanks guys for listening to my rambling. I also was just looking at http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/slide_show.htm, which scared the **** out of me. Good luck all.

[dash8dvr]

Hey Rock, welcome to the group and congrats on your quit. I am far from a doctor but what you are describing does not sound like any oral cancer I have ever heard of. Just remember this feeling you have right now thinking that you may have done this too yourself and try not to start up again. I imagine we have all had scares about oral cancer and quit for a while. I quit for a few months about six years ago until I found out I was alright. Then back to the can. You are fortunate that you are not among the majority of us that put a dip in the first second out of bed and spit one out the last second before going to bed....hopefully this will be easier for you. Again, welcome to the group and post roll every morning to let us all know you will not dip that day.

[rockyraider]

Thanks for the reply Mitch. I finally found the culprit, it was two nasty ulsers right in back of my throat. Couldn't even see them till I held my tongue just right. I think they were the result of me scalding my mouth and throat with hot coffee the other day. Scared the heck out of me when I couldn't figure out what the problem was. It has made me slack off on the snuff. Haven't had a dip in several days and will try to continue it. Good luck all.