Comments on: Copenhagen meets YouTube

By: Matt C.

Matt C. — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:47:41 +0000

Thanks for the blog post and the comments. For someone trying to quit, I think it does help to focus on the negative consequences. Hopefully my story will help someone join me in the fight against this addiction. I had been dipping for 13 years, since the age of 17. Nearly everyone I came across in life would ask me why I dip, and I usually gave some bullshat answer. I always knew that quitting was the right answer, but I always took the easy way out and kept doing it. About a month ago, I was at work and had an episode that I would say was similar to a severe panic attack. My heart was racing, and I felt like I was on the verge of passing out for at least a full 5 minutes. That night I couldn’t sleep, and my girlfriend was worried, so she took me to the ER. All of the scans and blood tests were fine, and they diagnosed me with anxiety. Now, my job is not very stressful, so I didn’t buy that diagnosis at all. But, day after day, I kept having the lightheadedness and discomfort in my chest area, mostly while at work. And the pills that were prescribed to me were working. Even then, I still didn’t truly believe that it was stress or anxiety. Well, after doing everything I could possibly do to find the cause for 2 or 3 weeks, I figured it out. Over the last few days I’ve started trying to take smaller dips and taking them less often. The difference in the way I feel is definitely noticeable. Today I’ve only taken 2 dips the entire day. The pills I have are a sedative, so I’m hoping I can use them to help me sleep while fighting through the withdrawal phase. I’ll try to update this in a few days with my results.

Side note: David mentioned Copenhagen in his article. I also have been dipping Copenhagen since they came out with the wintergreen. I really wonder if something is up with Copenhagen these days. The brand may or may not have been the contributing factor in my problem, but I don’t care. I’m using this situation as a motivator to quit all types of dip for good.

By: scott

scott — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:14:24 +0000

Thanks for your story. My heart has been having sharp pains. I have been dipping for 24 years (since age 12). I drink pretty heavy (once or twice a week) and I have started having many problems (I think heart related). If I drink and don’t dip, my heart isn’t too bad. If I drink and dip, my heart has many start and stops to it. I don’t want to stop drinking or dipping, but what can I do to regulate my body from shutting down? If I need to stop all bad addictions I possibly will be able to do (but not probably over the long term). I have a 4 and a 7 year old boy that I want to grow old to see, but I don’t know if I can kick my addiction enough. I’m weak from many years of addiction. What do you suggest. What is the best path to take?

By: David

David — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:25:02 +0000

Im not sure if anyone searching will ever see this, but in Oct. 2009, I think i had a reaction to copenhagen. Anyone who dips knows its better when its fresh. But, one morning (after finishing my old stale can the night before) I bought a new can of copenhagen, with the date on the bottom I noticed it was a good can!! (you know what i mean) As soon as I put it in I thought, it seemed it was very strong.. But assumed it was only because it was so fresh…. I had dipped Copenhagen for several years, so I’m not a noob here, LOL..

But after about an hour of enjoying my fresh dip, i started feeling really bad. This was about 9 a.m. in the morning. I thought maybe i dipped too much and it was just making me a little sick. No big deal, so I spit it out… But I just kept feeling worse.

My heart was really pounding!! And I have never had ANY health problems, didnt even have a family doctor. I noticed my heart seemed to be skipping, and just beating all “out of whack”!!! I decided that something was definitely not right..

I decided to go to the hospital and get checked out. Good thing I did!! My heart was out of rhythm, I was in Atrial Fib, with a heart rate around 170 bps. After about 3 hours my heart started beating normal again. But i was hospitalized for the next 3 days while they ran every test to find out what caused it.. Thankfully all my test showed nothing was wrong, maybe it was just a one time thing, huh..

I tried to dip a little bit, the second night i was in the hospital. (the same fresh can) I immediately started feeling horrible and put it out!! So that was it, I havent touched it since.

So here I am 36 years old, never been sick before, 5′10″ 175lbs. And this heart condition comes from nowhere. I got a lot of unfinished business on this earth!!!!!

Just do a google search for ” smokeless tobacco and atrial fib ” I think the tobacco was the cause of my problem. I have not touched it since, and i have not had anymore A-Fib!! I think I must have gotten nicotine poisoning or something…

If anyone has experienced this, please post back.

By: Murphy

Murphy — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:51:59 +0000

@Jack The best way is whatever works.

By: JD

JD — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:21:13 +0000

Great site! Almost sounds like reading my life story with Copenhagen. Nice to know their are a few others out there. Started dipping at 13 and am now 34. Am about to start day 3 with no dip and am using the lozenges. Best of luck

By: joe d

joe d — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:45:06 +0000

http://www.killthecan.org/yourquit/what.asp

I’m still hanging in there. Still can’t sleep, but I haven’t caved. FYI, check out the link above. I go on there every day. It really helps knowing what the timeline of this whole process is.

Matt, you still there?

Joe, good call on the valerian. It does help, but I still wake up way too early for no reason. oh well.

By: curious jack

curious jack — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:32:44 +0000

if a can has 255 mg how many dips are in one can

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:22:51 +0000

Matt, I hope you are doing good with the ‘quit’. I miss seeing your words of wisdom. joe d- You still hanging in there tough? My quit began on Jan. 4 about 24 days and it’s going well. I think what has helped me so far… is that I quit from my heart rather than just in my head. You might try meditating or even valarian, which helps sleep. Good luck

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:54:06 +0000

Hey man – next time, quit cold turkey. It’s the only way to go. I quit for like 3 years that way.
And don’t write a blog about it.

By: joe d

joe d — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:36:12 +0000

matt, good post. keep us posted on your progress. I quit on 1/1 as well using the commit lozenges. I gave them up on the 10th, so I’ve been nicotine free for 15 days and it’s been rough. I still can’t sleep right. good luck and i’ll keep checking in. -joe d