I had been up to almost 2-packs a day and decided to try to quit. So, over a period of about 6 months I whittled it down to about 6 a day. But, during the same period I had lost about 25 pounds over less than a year and I looked like a skeleton. I thought surely I had the "Big C", so in June 2020 I went to the doc who ran a bunch of tests, including a chest and abdominal scan.
Blood tests came back with ultra-low levels of vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid, both of which help with weight metabolism, and both of which are lowered by the presence of nicotine. OK, B-12 and Folate supplements. I couldn't quite get past that 6-per-day thing, so the doc put me on Chantix. Was supposed to be a 6-week regimen, but after 2 weeks I smoked my last cigarette on 07/02/2020.
Chest scan came back with a spot on my lower left lung - and minor emphysema. Diagnosis was a calcified "nodule". OK, no more smoking. And back for another CT in 6-months...no change. Then another one annually for the next 2 years...no change. I don't really feel the emphysema, but the doc said it was barely noticeable on the scan so maybe I got lucky.
Don't really miss it, but once in a while after a meal I feel like a cigarette. If I ignore it for a minute the feeling goes away. A carton was up to about $70 when I quit, so I figure just in 3.5 years I've not spent about $13,000.